Visibility sensor system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A visibility sensor assembly comprising:
- a housing having a sensor head opening;
a removable sensor head assembly removably coupled to said housing within said sensor head opening, said sensor head assembly having a sensor enclosure and a connector wherein said sensor enclosure defines a first optical port and a second optical port each having a respective first hollow opening and a second hollow opening; and
an electronics module coupled to said sensor head through said connector.
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Abstract
A visibility sensor system includes a housing having a sensor head opening. A removable sensor head assembly is removably coupled to the housing within the sensor head opening. The sensor head assembly has a sensor enclosure and a connector. An electronics module is coupled to the sensor head through the connector.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A visibility sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing having a sensor head opening; a removable sensor head assembly removably coupled to said housing within said sensor head opening, said sensor head assembly having a sensor enclosure and a connector wherein said sensor enclosure defines a first optical port and a second optical port each having a respective first hollow opening and a second hollow opening; and an electronics module coupled to said sensor head through said connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A visibility sensor for an automotive vehicle comprising:
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a housing having a sensor head opening; a sensor head assembly including a mechanical fastening device configured to removably couple said assembly to said housing within said sensor head opening, said sensor head assembly further including a sensor enclosure having a first opening through which a light source in accordance with an input signal illuminates a sample volume outside said housing and a second opening through which a light detector detects light and generates an output signal indicative of the amount of light scattered from particles in the sample volume, said input signal and said output signal terminating in one or more connectors associated with said sensor head assembly; means for selectively covering at least one of said first opening and said second opening; an electronics module coupled to said sensor head assembly through said connector; and a display electrically coupled to said sensor head assembly, said display coupled within the automotive vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A sensor head assembly for a visibility sensor unit including a housing, said sensor head assembly comprising:
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a sensor enclosure having a plurality of walls defining a first optical port and a second optical port, said first optical port having a first opening associated therewith and said second optical port having a second opening associated therewith; a light source responsive to an input signal and disposed in said first optical port, said light source being configured to emit a light beam along a first optical axis through said first opening to illuminate a sample volume located outside of said head assembly; means for selectively covering at least one of said first opening and said second opening; a light detector disposed in said second optical port and configured to detect light through said second opening along a second optical axis and generate an output signal in response thereto indicative of the amount of light scattered from particles in the sample volume; wherein said light source and said light detector are located at respective ends of said first and second optical ports distal from said first and second openings thereof to thereby minimize contamination of said light source and said light detector due to entry of contaminants through said first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification