RAIN DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A rain detection apparatus comprising:
- a camera adapted to view a surface being a window of a vehicle; and
a processor adapted to capture at least one image from the camera, whereinthe processor is further adapted to generate at least one signal indicative of the presence of rain on the surface from information contained in the at least one captured image, andthe apparatus is adapted to capture images focused at a plurality of distances comprising a first distance corresponding to viewing the window of the vehicle and a second distance corresponding to viewing a road ahead of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rain detection apparatus includes a camera that views a surface and a processor that captures an image from the camera. The processor generates a signal indicative of rain on the surface from information contained in the captured image and optionally drives a surface cleaning apparatus in response thereto. The apparatus captures images focused at a plurality of distances. The processor includes an edge detector that detects edges visible in the captured image and a difference structure that calculates the difference between the number of edges visible between differing images. The edge detector disregards edges close to areas of light larger than the largest raindrop that is desired or expected to be detected. The apparatus optionally includes a backlight, and the difference in numbers of edges between frames with and without the backlight illuminated are used to distinguish between background features and rain on the surface.
8 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A rain detection apparatus comprising:
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a camera adapted to view a surface being a window of a vehicle; and a processor adapted to capture at least one image from the camera, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate at least one signal indicative of the presence of rain on the surface from information contained in the at least one captured image, and the apparatus is adapted to capture images focused at a plurality of distances comprising a first distance corresponding to viewing the window of the vehicle and a second distance corresponding to viewing a road ahead of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of detecting the presence of rain on a surface being a window of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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capturing images of the surface; and then determining the presence of rain on the surface from the captured images, wherein the captured images are focused at a plurality of distances comprising a first distance corresponding to viewing the window of the vehicle and a second distance corresponding to viewing a road ahead of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification