Automatic heated wiper system

Abstract

A wiper system for vehicles is provided. The system includes a heated wiper blade assembly, a heated cowl assembly and a controller. The controller receives input from one or more sensors or systems and causes a power source to provide, reduce or stop power to heating elements in the blade and/or cowl depending upon sensed conditions. At least some components in the assembly comprise thermally conductive polymers. The system provides surprisingly advantageous results in that it is effective for melting and clearing ice and snow with a lower than expected pull on a power source such as a battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a windshield wiper heating element, comprising:
 receiving, at a controller, a set of information from an ambient temperature sensor and an at least two engine status sensors, wherein the at least two engine status sensors are selected from the group comprising a crank shaft position sensor, a voltage sensor, a tachometer sensor, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and a hall effect sensor, the set of information meeting a set of threshold initiation criteria; and   supplying a supply of power from a power source to the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of information includes information from a wiper assembly temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an ambient temperature below a predetermined temperature meets the set of threshold initiation criteria. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of information further includes information from a vehicle to vehicle system or a vehicle to infrastructure system. 
     
     
         5 . A method of controlling a windshield wiper heating element, comprising:
 receiving, at a controller, a set of information from an ambient temperature sensor and an at least two engine status sensors, wherein the at least two engine status sensors are selected from the group comprising a crank shaft position sensor, a voltage sensor, a tachometer sensor, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and a hall effect sensor, the set of information meeting a set of threshold reduction criteria; and   reducing a supply of power from a power source to the heating element.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the set of information includes information from a wiper assembly temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein detection of an ambient temperature above a predetermined value meets the set of threshold reduction criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein information from a wiper assembly temperature sensor above a predetermined value meets the set of threshold reduction criteria. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the set of information further includes information from a vehicle to vehicle system or a vehicle to infrastructure system. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling a windshield wiper heating element, comprising:
 receiving, at a controller, a set of information from an ambient temperature sensor and an at least two engine status sensors, wherein the at least two engine status sensors are selected from the group comprising a crank shaft position sensor, a voltage sensor, a tachometer sensor, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and a hall effect sensor, the set of information meeting a set of threshold stoppage criteria; and   stopping a supply of power from a power source to the heating element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the set of information includes information from a wiper assembly temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detection of an ambient temperature above a predetermined value meets the set of stoppage criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information from a wiper assembly temperature sensor above a predetermined value meets the set of stoppage criteria. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the set of information further includes information from a vehicle to vehicle system or a vehicle to infrastructure system.