Apparatus for operating a windshield wiper

摘要

An apparatus for operating a windshield wiper having a sensor device for determining the state of wetness of a windshield, an evaluation device which receives the sensor signal, a dirt-recognition stage and an adjusting device for updating a reference value when dirt is present on the windshield, and an actuating unit for the windshield wiper which can be actuated by the evaluation device in order to initiate a wiping process if the difference between the reference value and a current measured value of the sensor signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The measured values can be evaluated by the dirt-recognition stage with respect to signal breaks of the sensor signal caused by the wiping action of the wiper across the sensor surface.