Patent ID: 8001649

Claim:
A novel control system relating to a washing apparatus for washing a glass surface on a vehicle having a windshield wiper drive arm movably upwardly and downwardly relative to the glass surface, a fluid reservoir and a pump, which upon being energized, pumps fluid from the fluid reservoir, said washing apparatus comprising: (a) windshield washer assembly connected to the windshield wiper drive arm for controllably dispensing washer fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle; and (b) control means carried by the vehicle for controllably dispensing liquid from the windshield washer means immediately in advance of the direction of travel of said windshield washer means, said control means comprising sensor means operably associated with the pump for sensing the position of the wiper arm as it moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the glass surface and for energizing the pump based on the sensed position and direction of motion of said wiper drive arm, said sensor means comprising a magnetic sensor, said magnetic sensor comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced disc magnets.