Optical moisture sensor for a window or windshield
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A moisture detector for a window comprising two substantially identical prisms, positioned substantially symmetrically, each prism including:
- a main elongated, light conducting body having a longitudinal axis, a light transducer cavity at a first end and an integral reflector at a second end, opposite from said first end, so that light can travel along a light path between said light transducer cavity and said reflector;
said two prisms being positioned adjacent to each other so the longitudinal axes of each are parallel and the reflector end of a first prism is adjacent to the light transducer cavity of a second prism and vice versa, and being positioned so that the window adjacent to said two prisms is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the two longitudinal axes of said two prisms; and
said reflector of each prism being angled so that a component of reflected light in a first plane defined by the two longitudinal axes is pointed toward the reflector of the other prism and that a component of reflected light in a second plane, perpendicular to said first plane and including a line of sight between the two reflectors is pointed toward the window so that the amount of internal reflection within the window is affected by the presence of moisture on the other side of the window from said moisture detector.
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Abstract
A windshield moisture detector has two identical, symmetrically positioned prisms with an elongated body between an integral reflector and light transducer cavity. One light transducer cavity contains a light source and the other a light detector. The reflectors are angled so that when the moisture detector is partially in contact with the windshield, light can travel between the two reflectors through a light path in the window. The magnitude of light transmitted through the windshield is indicative of moisture on the windshield.
99 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A moisture detector for a window comprising two substantially identical prisms, positioned substantially symmetrically, each prism including:
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a main elongated, light conducting body having a longitudinal axis, a light transducer cavity at a first end and an integral reflector at a second end, opposite from said first end, so that light can travel along a light path between said light transducer cavity and said reflector; said two prisms being positioned adjacent to each other so the longitudinal axes of each are parallel and the reflector end of a first prism is adjacent to the light transducer cavity of a second prism and vice versa, and being positioned so that the window adjacent to said two prisms is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the two longitudinal axes of said two prisms; and said reflector of each prism being angled so that a component of reflected light in a first plane defined by the two longitudinal axes is pointed toward the reflector of the other prism and that a component of reflected light in a second plane, perpendicular to said first plane and including a line of sight between the two reflectors is pointed toward the window so that the amount of internal reflection within the window is affected by the presence of moisture on the other side of the window from said moisture detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification