Window defrost control using rain sensor

Abstract

A window defrost control apparatus and method for a vehicle can include at least one obstruction sensor operable to monitor at least one surface and operable to output an obstruction detection status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the at least one surface being monitored and/or at least one temperature sensor operable to output a temperature signal. A deice/defrost/defog HVAC system can be operable to remove ice, frost, fog, and/or condensation, collectively referred to herein generically as moisture, from the at least one surface being monitored. A controller can be operable to receive the status signal output from the at least one obstruction sensor and/or at least one temperature sensor, and can be operable to control activation of the deice/defrost/defog HVAC system in response to the obstruction detection status signal received and/or the temperature signal received.

1 . A window defrost control apparatus for a vehicle comprising: 
 at least one obstruction sensor operable to monitor at least one surface and operable to output an obstruction detection status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the at least one surface;    an HVAC system operable to remove moisture from the at least one surface; and    a controller operable to receive the status signal output from the at least one obstruction sensor and operable to control activation of the HVAC system in response to the status signal received.    
   
   
       2 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control deactivation of the HVAC system in response to the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a wiper system operable to wipe the at least one surface being monitored; and    the controller operable to activate the wiper system, prior to activation of the HVAC system, in response to the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       4 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a remote engine starter device operable to send a signal to an engine control unit; and    the controller operable to activate the HVAC system in response to remote engine startup and the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       5 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface is selected from a group consisting of a windshield surface, a window surface, a mirror surface, a lens surface, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one temperature sensor operable to send a temperature signal to the controller.    
   
   
       7 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor is selected from a group consisting of an engine oil temperature sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, an engine intake air temperature sensor, a transmission oil temperature sensor, an automatic heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) temperature sensor, an exterior outside air temperature sensor, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the controller operable to automatically activate operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear an obstruction detected on the corresponding at least one surface being monitored, prior to the controller being operable to automatically activate the HVAC system for the corresponding at least one surface being monitored, and the controller being operable to determine if a monitored temperature is below a predetermined temperature prior to automatically activating the HVAC system.    
   
   
       9 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the controller operable to automatically activate operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear an obstruction detected on the corresponding at least one surface being monitored, prior to the controller being operable to automatically activate the HVAC system for the corresponding at least one surface being monitored.    
   
   
       10 . The window defrost control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one obstruction sensor is selected from a group consisting of an infrared sensor, a camera/video processor, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus for a vehicle comprising: 
 monitoring at least one surface with at least one obstruction sensor operable to output an obstruction detection status signal corresponding to detection of an obstruction on the at least one surface; and    controlling activation of an HVAC system operable to remove moisture from the at least one surface with a controller operable in response to the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 controlling deactivation of the HVAC system with the controller in response to the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 controlling activation of a wiper system operable to wipe the at least one surface being monitored with the controller, prior to controlling activation of the HVAC system, in response to the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 controlling activation of the HVAC system with the controller in response to a remote engine startup and the status signal received from the at least one obstruction sensor.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 sending a temperature signal to the controller with at least one temperature sensor.    
   
   
       16 . A method for controlling a window defrost apparatus for a vehicle comprising: 
 detecting ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture on at least one window of a vehicle with an obstruction sensor; and    automatically activating a corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC system in response to detection of ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture on the at least one window of the vehicle.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 monitoring the at least one window of the vehicle continuously during vehicle operation.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 monitoring a temperature with at least one temperature sensor; and    automatically activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC system in response to detection of ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture on the at least one window of the vehicle in combination with the monitored temperature being below a predetermined temperature.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 automatically activating operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear detected ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture prior to automatically activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC system, if the monitored temperature is below a predetermined temperature.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 automatically activating operation of a wiper system in an attempt to clear detected ice/frost/fog/condensation/moisture prior to automatically activating the corresponding window deice/defrost/defog HVAC system.