Moisture sensor utilizing stereo imaging with an image sensor
First Claim
1. A system for use in a controlled vehicle comprising:
- an optical system including two arrays of sensors and a spectral filter for filtering all but a specific spectrum of light rays from light rays projected onto one of the two sensor arrays;
a light source for projecting said specific spectrum of light rays onto a windshield of the controlled vehicle; and
a processing subsystem in communication with said sensors for sensing moisture on the windshield of the controlled vehicle.
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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.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for use in a controlled vehicle comprising:
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an optical system including two arrays of sensors and a spectral filter for filtering all but a specific spectrum of light rays from light rays projected onto one of the two sensor arrays;
a light source for projecting said specific spectrum of light rays onto a windshield of the controlled vehicle; and
a processing subsystem in communication with said sensors for sensing moisture on the windshield of the controlled vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for use in a controlled vehicle comprising:
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an optical system including two arrays of sensors and a spectral filter for filtering all but a specific spectrum of light rays from light projected onto one of the two sensor arrays; and
a processing subsystem in communication with said sensors for sensing moisture on the windshield of the controlled vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for use in a controlled vehicle comprising:
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an optical system including two arrays of sensors and a red filter for filtering all but a specific spectrum of light rays from light projected onto one of the two sensor arrays, wherein said optical system is operative to image a field of view that is less than approximately 17.4°
vertical and less than approximately 28°
horizontal; and
a processing subsystem in communication with said sensors for sensing moisture on the windshield of the controlled vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification