Moisture sensor utilizing stereo imaging with an image sensor
US6861636B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S318/02
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A moisture sensing system of the present invention includes first and second sensor arrays, at least one optical system operative to image the same portion of the surface onto both of the sensor arrays, and a processing system in communication with the sensor arrays and operative to analyze images from the sensor arrays to detect moisture. The sensor arrays may be two-dimensional sensor arrays that are separate or different portions of the same sensor array. This system may be used to control the windshield wipers of a vehicle. The processing system may be configured to subtract an image obtained from the first sensor array from an image obtained from the second sensor array to distinguish between near field and far field objects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.