Off the glass imaging rain sensor
US6207967A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60S1/087
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An assembly (10) for sensing moisture (20) on the exterior surface (22) of a windshield (14) from a position spaced from the interior surface (18) of the windshield (14). The assembly (10) includes a focal plane detector (12) comprising a plurality of pixels (24) adapted for disposition in spaced relationship to the interior surface (18) of the sheet of glass (14), as on the backside of the rearview mirror. An imaging lens (16) is adapted for disposition between the focal plane detector (12) and the interior surface (18) of the sheet of glass (14) for directing light rays from moisture (20) on the exterior surface (22) of the sheet of glass (14) through the imaging lens (16) to produce a real image of the moisture (20) on said focal plane detector (12). A processing circuit (28) establishes a steady-state level of analog signals (26) representing a non-moisture (20) condition of the exterior surface (22) of the glass (14) and scans the analog signals (26) and analyzes the data to produce a wiper signal (30) in response to a deviation from the steady-state level. The processing circuit (28) also changes the steady-state level in response to permanent changes, e.g., scratches, in the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.