Ultrasonic Phase Shift Moisture Sensing System With Temperature Compensation
First Claim
1. A sensing system for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate, said system comprising:
- a signal generator for generating a transmitter signal;
a transmitter operatively connected to the substrate and electrically connected to said signal generator for producing a wave corresponding to the transmitter signal to propagate through the substrate;
a receiver operatively connected to the substrate and spaced apart from said transmitter for receiving the wave and generating a receiver signal corresponding to the wave;
a phase shift detection circuit electrically connected to said receiver and said signal generator for measuring a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the substrate; and
a controller in communication with said phase shift detection circuit and said temperature sensor and determining the amount of moisture on the surface based on the phase shift and the temperature of the substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing system computes an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate, such as a window of a vehicle. The sensing system includes a transmitter which produces a wave to propagate through the substrate. A receiver receives the wave which propagated through the substrate. A phase shift detection circuit measures a phase shift between signals representing the transmitted and received wave. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the substrate. A controller, in communication with the phase shift detection circuit and the temperature sensor, calculates the amount of moisture on the surface based on the phase shift and the temperature of the substrate. A wiper motor and wiper blade may then be actuated automatically based on the amount of moisture calculated to clear the moisture on the substrate.
27 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A sensing system for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate, said system comprising:
-
a signal generator for generating a transmitter signal; a transmitter operatively connected to the substrate and electrically connected to said signal generator for producing a wave corresponding to the transmitter signal to propagate through the substrate; a receiver operatively connected to the substrate and spaced apart from said transmitter for receiving the wave and generating a receiver signal corresponding to the wave; a phase shift detection circuit electrically connected to said receiver and said signal generator for measuring a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the substrate; and a controller in communication with said phase shift detection circuit and said temperature sensor and determining the amount of moisture on the surface based on the phase shift and the temperature of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A window assembly comprising:
-
a substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface; a signal generator for generating a transmitter signal; a transmitter operatively connected to said substrate and electrically connected to said signal generator for producing a wave corresponding to the transmitter signal to propagate through said substrate; a receiver operatively connected to said substrate and spaced apart from said transmitter for receiving the wave and generating a receiver signal corresponding thereto; a phase shift detection circuit electrically connected to said receiver and said signal generator for measuring a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal; a temperature sensor operatively connected to said substrate for sensing a temperature of said substrate; and a controller in communication with said phase shift detection circuit and said temperature sensor and sensing the amount of moisture on the outer surface based on the phase shift and the temperature of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification