Patent Document ID: 4355271
Application ID: 06112510
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A control apparatus for a vehicle having a windscreen, windscreen wiper apparatus and windscreen washer apparatus; said control apparatus comprising: (a) emitter means having an emitter device for generating energy and directing the generated energy away therefrom; (b) first sensor means having a control sensor device for sensing energy directed thereto from said emitter means; (c) first switch means for coupling to said windscreen wiper apparatus for effecting operation of said windscreen wiper apparatus pursuant to a change of stage of said first switch means; (d) second switch means for coupling to windscreen washer apparatus for effecting operation of said windscreen washer apparatus pursuant to a change of state of said second switch means; (e) support means supporting said emitter device and control sensor device for mounting these against the interior surface of said windscreen so that when energy is directed away from said emitter device portion of said energy may be reflected back to said control sensor device; said sensor means being responsive to the magnitude of said portion of said energy reflected back to said control sensor device to cause a first alteration of electrical condition of the sensor means when there is water on an outer surface of said windscreen opposite said interior surface and to cause a second alteration of said electrical condition when there is dust on said outer surface; and (f) switch control means coupled to said sensor means and to said first and second switch means and being responsive to effect said change of state of said first switch means pursuant to occurrence of said first alteration of electrical condition of said sensor means for effecting said operation of said windscreen wiper apparatus, and said switch control means being responsive to effect said changes of state of both said first switch means and said second switch means pursuant to occurrence of said second alteration of said electrical condition of said sensor means, for effecting said operation of both said windscreen wiper apparatus and said windscreen washer apparatus.