The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 1990
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1988
Donald L Millerd, San Diego, CA (US);
Marl J Bell, Valley Center, CA (US);
Robert S Alpert, Encinitas, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An automatic control system for operating an electrically actuated device, such as a windshield wiper, power window, sun roof or convertible top of a motor vehicle, in response to the presence of water moisture. The control system includes a moisture sensor having a plurality of spaced apart, exposed conductive strips, the strips being arranged in adjacent pairs; a voltage source coupled to one strip of each pair; a current detector coupled to the other strip of each pair to discriminate between the presence or absence of moisture droplets on each pair; a drop accumulation detector, coupled to the current detector, for determining the number of pairs of sensor strips which are contacted by moisture droplets; and an electrical switch, coupled to the droplet detector, for switching on the electrical device in response to the number of droplets present on the moisture sensor.