Patent · US Expired

Moisture sensor and windshield fog detector

US6681163B2 · kind B2 · utility

94Cited by
42References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 2001
Grant dateJan 20, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60S1/0833
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.