RAIN DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A mist detection apparatus comprising:
- a camera adapted to view a surface; and
a processor adapted to capture at least one image from the camera and is adapted to generate at least one signal indicative of the presence of mist on the surface from information contained in the at least one captured image,the apparatus further comprising a backlight adapted to illuminate the surface, wherein the processor is arranged so as to calculate a difference in intensity of the captured image in a first area around a second area of the image in which a specular reflection of the backlight on the surface is found, between captured images in which the backlight is illuminated and where it is not,the processor further being arranged to generate the signal based upon the difference in intensity.
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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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A mist detection apparatus comprising:
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a camera adapted to view a surface; and a processor adapted to capture at least one image from the camera and is adapted to generate at least one signal indicative of the presence of mist on the surface from information contained in the at least one captured image, the apparatus further comprising a backlight adapted to illuminate the surface, wherein the processor is arranged so as to calculate a difference in intensity of the captured image in a first area around a second area of the image in which a specular reflection of the backlight on the surface is found, between captured images in which the backlight is illuminated and where it is not, the processor further being arranged to generate the signal based upon the difference in intensity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting the presence of mist on a surface comprising the steps of:
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capturing images of the surface with a backlight illuminated and not illuminated; and then calculating the presence of mist on the surface from the captured images, the method including the further steps of calculating a difference in intensity of the captured image between images in which the backlight is illuminated and where the backlight is not illuminated in a first area around a second area of the image in which a specular reflection of the backlight is found. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification