FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [See Section 10; Rule 13]
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A WINDSHIELD WIPING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
APPLICANT
TATA MOTORS LIMITED
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001,
Maharashtra, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a windshield wiping system for a vehicle, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the windshield wiping system for the vehicle, the displays number of fluid wipes available in the fluid container or the like for informing the driver about the quantity of fluid available in the fluid container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A clear windshield is of prime importance for the drive to drive the vehicle. Windshield cleaning system has been provided in vehicles that enables cleaning of the windshield either manually or automatically. Windshield cleaning is performed by a mechanism that uses water which is stored in the washer bottle. Every time wipe and wash stalk is operated, the water is sprayed onto the windshield and the wiper cleans it. However, at no point of time, it is informed that what is the amount of the water is left in the washer bottle. The situation arises when the driver is driving in a windy situation and the washer bottle is out of water. In such situation, wiping of the windshield even worsen the situation by spreading the mud on the windshield. Moreover, it also results in forming scratches on the windshield surface.
US6236180 B1 discloses Smart windshield wiper wash system which comprises of a wind shield wiping device. A controller unit is disclosed in this patent application wherein it uses counter to count the number of wipes to be given for cleaning windshield in case of an automatic mode. However, the in case the water is low or empty in the washer bottle, the controller unit is completely silent on that and in fact in automatic mode, it may result in wiping of the windshield without water that may result in further worsening the situation for the driver and also may result in scratching of the windshield.

Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide an efficient windshield wiping system for a vehicle that provides information to the driver about the amount of the water left in the washer bottle or container to enable the driver to decide whether to use wiping system or not to avoid deteriorating situations as explained above, and the problem is solved in the present invention by a windshield wiping system that includes a level sensor that senses the amount of fluid currently in the container and transmit it to the control unit, which compares the current level with the pre-defined level and if the current level of fluid in the container is lower than the pre-defined level, the control unit displays number of fluid wipes available in the container.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a windshield wiping system for a vehicle wherein a level sensor is used to detect the level of the fluid in the container and display amount of the fluid in the container.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide to provide a windshield wiping system for a vehicle wherein a eTape level sensor is used to detect the level of the fluid in the container and display amount of the fluid in the container in terms of number of fluid wipes available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a windshield wiping system for a vehicle comprising, a container for storing fluid for wiping a windshield; a level sensor configured to sense level of the fluid in said container; a control unit electrically coupled to said level sensor and configured to receive level of fluid in said container sensed by said level sensor, said control unit stores a value indicating the pre-defined level of fluid and; and a display unit configured to display amount of the fluid in said container based upon the fluid level sensed by

the level sensor, wherein said control unit compares level of fluid in said container with said pre-defined level, and when level of fluid in said container is lower than the pre-defined level of fluid, said control unit enables said display unit to display number of fluid wipes available in said container.
In an embodiment of the present invention the level sensor is an etape level sensor.
In an embodiment of the present invention the control unit converts level of fluid sensed by said eTape level sensor into a percentage value.
In an embodiment of the present invention the value stored in said control unit is 30 percentage.
In an embodiment of the present invention the control unit includes a counter that updates the number of fluid wipes available in said container.
In an embodiment of the present invention the counter updates the number of fluid wipes available in said container whenever a stalk is operated for wiping said windshield.
In an embodiment of the present invention the control unit stops a wiping mechanism when said container becomes empty and said stalk is operated.
In an embodiment of the present invention the display unit includes an indicating light that blinks when said level of fluid in said container is lower than the pre-defined level of fluid in said container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting different elements of the windshield wiping system.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting flow chart reflecting flow of signal in windshield wiping system.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting block diagram reflecting flow of signal in windshield wiping system..
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting flow chart of the working of the invention.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

Referral Numeral:

Reference Numeral Description
1 Key Switch
2 Control unit
3 Level sensor
4 Display unit
5 Pump
6 Wiper motor
7 Stalk
8 Container
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a windshield wiping system for a vehicle. The windshield wiping system comprises of a container (8), a level sensor (3) and a control unit (2). The control unit (2) enables a driver to see the amount of fluid in the container (8) so that proper refilling can be done to avoid the situation of empty container (8), which may result in worsening of the situation when windshield is covered with dust and when the stalk (7) is operated. This can also result in scratching of the windshield.
As shown in Fig. 1, the windshield wiping system comprises of a container (8) that stores fluid therein. The fluid can be water or any other liquid that can be used for wiping windshield. The container (8) has a pump (5) that pumps the fluid from the container (8) for wiping windshield. The container (8) also has a level sensor (3) which is configured to sense the level of fluid in the container (8). This level sensor (3) can be an eTape sensor. The level sensor (3) divides the level of fluid in the container (8) into an appropriate percentage value. For example if the container (8) is full with fluid, it will depict 100% on the display unit (4) and whereas if the container (8) is empty, it will be depicted as 0% on the display unit (4). The signal from the level sensor (3) in electronic form is transmitted to the control unit (2). The control unit (2) is electrically coupled to the level sensor (3). The control unit (2) receives the current level of the fluid in the container (8), which is sensed by the level sensor (3). The control unit has an algorithm to convert the signal received from the level sensor (3) with respect to level of fluid in the container (8) into equivalent percentage value, which is displayed on the display unit (4). The control unit (2) also includes or stores a value indicating the pre-defined level of the fluid in the container (8). The control unit (2) is also electrically coupled to the display unit (4) such that the amount of the fluid or level of fluid available in the container (8) is displayed to the user in the percentage value. For example, if the container is half filled with the fluid, the display unit (4) will display current level of fluid as 50%. The control unit (2) is also electrically connected to the key switch (1) to receive input as and when the vehicle is ignited or started. Every time the vehicle starts, the control unit (2)

displays the amount of fluid in the container (8) on the display unit (4). The control unit (2) also receives input from the stalk (7) such that every time the stalk (7) is operated, the control unit (2) refreshes the amount of the fluid on the display unit (4). Whenever the stalk (7) is operated a particular or fixed amount of wipe of fluid is dispensed on the windshield, and wiper motor (6) is operated to enable the wiper to clean the windshield.
As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit (2) receives input from level sensor (3), key switch (1) i.e. position of the key in the switch and from the stalk (7) operation. Based on these three input, the control unit (2) operate pump (5) and the wiper motor (6) to enable wiping of the windshield and simultaneously it enables display of the amount or percentage of the fluid left in the container (8) through display unit (4).
As shown in Fig. 3, when the key switch receives a key and the turned to be in active position, the control unit (2) receives a signal from the key switch (1). Thereafter, the control unit (2) receives signal from the stalk (7) i.e. when the stalk (7) is operated for the dispensing of the fluid on the windshield. The control unit (2) checks for the current level of the fluid in the container (8) and enabled dispensing of the fluid by a pump (5) which pumps the fluid on the windshield, thereafter the wiper motor (6) enables wiper to wipe the windshield. After every wipe, the control unit (2) further receives current level of fluid in the container (8) and displays the same on the display unit (4). The control unit (2) also includes a value for the pre-defined level of the fluid in the container (8). The pre-defined level can be adjusted as desired. For example, it can be 30 %. Whenever the current level of fluid in the container (8) becomes equal to or less than the predefined level i.e. 30%, the control unit (2) displays number of wipes left in the container (8) instead of percentage value. The display unit (4) also includes an indicating light that either turns ON or turns into a predefined color denoting that the level of fluid in the container (8) is less. The indicating light would keep blinking or remains ON as long as the level of fluid is lower than the pre-defined

level. Further, display unit (4) or instrument cluster also reflects signal for refill of the container (8). Once the container (8) is filled, the indicating light stops its operation. The control unit (2) also includes a counter that counts the number of times the stalk (7) is operated and simultaneously keeps on decreasing the count or number of wipes left in the container (8) by one. Further, whenever, the count or number of wipe becomes 0 i.e. the container (8) becomes empty, the control unit (2) stops the operation of pump (5) and the wiper motor (6) to avoid wiping of the windshield in the absence of water or fluid. The indicating light either starts blinking red color or stops blinking and continue in ON with red color or may be any other color as desired. The functioning of the indicating light can be changed as desired by the user.
Fig. 4 shows a flow chart depicting the working of the windshield wiping system. When the vehicle is ignited or ignition is turned ON, the control unit (2) checks for level of fluid or water in the container (8). If the container (8) is empty, the indicating lights turns ON and if the stalk (7) is operated, the control unit (2) stops a wiping mechanism i.e. the control unit (2) will stop the operation of the wiping system by stopping the operation of the wiper motor (6) and the pump (5). If the level of the fluid in the container (8) is more than the pre-defined level of the fluid, then the display unit (4) or cluster displays the amount of fluid left in the container (8) in terms of percentage and initiate the normal wiping system for the windshield. If the level of fluid is lesser then the pre-defined level of the fluid i.e. 30%, the display unit (4) displays the number of fluid wipes available. Whenever the stalk (7) is operated, the normal wiping system will function with decrease in count or number of fluid wipes available in the container (8). The indicating light will remain blinking as desired.

We Claim:
1. A windshield wiping system for a vehicle comprising,
a container (8) for storing fluid for wiping a windshield;
a level sensor (3) configured to sense level of the fluid in said container (8); a control unit (2) electrically coupled to said level sensor (3) and configured to receive level of fluid in said container (8) sensed by said level sensor (3), said control unit (2) stores a value indicating the pre-defined level of fluid; and a display unit (4) configured to display amount of the fluid in said container (8) based upon the fluid level sensed by the level sensor (3), wherein said control unit (2) compares level of fluid in said container (8) with said pre-defined level, and when level of fluid in said container (8) is lower than the pre-defined level of fluid, said control unit (2) enables said display unit to display number of fluid wipes available in said container (8).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said level sensor (3) is an eTape level sensor.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit (2) converts level of fluid sensed by said eTape level sensor (3) into a percentage value.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said value stored in said control
unit (2) is 30 percentage.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (2) includes a counter that updates the number of fluid wipes available in said container (8).
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said counter updates the number of fluid wipes available in said container whenever a stalk (7) is operated for wiping said windshield.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control unit (2) stops a wiping
mechanism when said container (8) becomes empty and said stalk (7) is
operated.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display unit (2) includes an
indicating light that blinks when said level of fluid in said container (8) is
lower than the pre-defined level of fluid in said container (8).