Multilayer, cushioned liquid drop detector

• US 6,147,753 A
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited
• Inventors: Koyama, Tadashi, Tsunetomo, Keiji, Tanaka, Shuhei, Imanishi, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DASTOURI, MEHRDAD
• Application Number:
  US09/307,756
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 356/237.3, 356/445
• US Class Current: 356/237.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0837 with a particular arrangement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit

Abstract

A liquid drop detector which may be fixed or attached by a simple operation, without machining, to a window glass, includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element and light guiding bodies wherein the light emitted by the light emitting element is introduced through a diffraction grating into a first light guiding body and after undergoing total internal reflection within the first light guiding body it is introduced through a silicon member, through an elongated light guiding body, through an additional silicon member, and into a windshield. After traveling within the windshield by total internal reflection, the light passes through a silicon member, reenters the elongated light guiding body, passes through another silicon member and enters a second light guiding body which guides it to a receiver. When rain drops adhere to the outside surface of the windshield at points corresponding to the total internal reflection points at the outer surface of the windshield, the light will leak out of the windshield. As a result of this, the amount of light received by the light receiving element is lessened, thereby providing for detection of the adhesion of rain drops based thereupon so as to output a signal for driving a device such as the windshield wiper.

Claims

1. A liquid drop detector attached on a first side surface of a transparent substrate to detect plural liquid drops present upon a second, opposite side surface thereof, comprising:

a case body attached on the first side surface of the transparent substrate;

a light emitting device which emits a light;

a light receiver which receives the light;

a light guide constructed and arranged to guide the light into the transparent substrate, and to guide the light from the transparent substrate to the light receiver,

the light receiver, the light guide and the light emitting device each being disposed within the case body,

the light guide comprising;

a first light guide member, disposed adjacent to the light emitting device,

a second light guide member, disposed adjacent to the light receiver,

an elongated light guide, having a first end disposed adjacent to the first light guide member and a second end disposed adjacent to the second light guide member,

conformable material disposed between the first light guide member and the elongated light guide, between the second light guide member and the elongated light guide and between the elongated light guide and the transparent substrate, the conformable material substantially filling gaps therebetween, and having an index of refraction substantially equal to indices of refraction of the first light guide member, the second light guide member and the elongated light guide.

2. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, wherein said conformable material has elasticity.

3. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, wherein the first light guide member and second light guide member are formed separately.

4. A light drop detector as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second light guide members have light shielding constructed and arranged to prevent entrance of light other than the light emitted by the light emitting device.

5. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second light guide members are provided inside a light shielding member for preventing intrusion of any exterior light.

6. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, wherein said case includes a base to be fixed onto the first side surface of said transparent substrate and a cover to be attached onto said base, and an inside of said case is kept air-tight under a condition that said cover is attached onto said base.

7. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, wherein a desiccant is provided within said case.

8. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, further comprising a monitor which detects a portion of light emitted from said light emitting, device wherein an amount of light emitted is adjusted so that the light received by the monitor is kept constant.

9. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 1, wherein said conformable material comprises a non-volatile liquid.

13. A liquid drop detector as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said light guide further comprises an optical member for guiding the light emitted from said light emitting means into said light guiding means at a predetermined angle.

14. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 13, wherein said optical member is a diffraction grating or a prism.

15. A liquid drop detector as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said light guide further comprises an optical member for emitting the light toward said light receiving means from said light guiding means at a predetermined angle.

16. A liquid drop detector as defined in claim 15, wherein said optical member is a diffraction grating or a prism.

10. A liquid drop detector comprising:

a case body attached on one side surface of a transparent substrate;

a light emitter which emits a light;

a light receiver which receives the light;

a light guide which guides the light emitted from said light emitter into said transparent substrate wherein the light undergoes total internal reflection, the light guide further guides the light undergoing total internal reflection within said transparent substrate to said light receiver, wherein said light emitter, light receiver and said light guide are provided inside said case body;

wherein said light guide is constructed with a plurality of light guiding bodies piled up in a direction of the thickness of said detector, and non-volatile liquid lies between any among said plurality of light guiding bodies or between said light guiding body and said transparent substrate.

11. A liquid drop detector attached on a first side surface of a transparent substrate to detect plural liquid drops present upon a second, opposite side surface thereof, comprising:

a case body attached on the first side surface of the transparent substrate;

a light emitting device which emits a light;

a light receiver which receives the light;

a light guide constructed and arranged to guide the light into the transparent substrate, and to guide the light from the transparent substrate to the light receiver,

the light receiver, the light guide and the light emitting device each being disposed within the case body,

wherein said light guide comprises a light guiding body constructed and arranged to guide light from the light emitting device into the transparent substrate, the light guiding body widening, as the light proceeds downstream, the widening occurring in a dimension perpendicular to the propagation of the light and parallel to the transparent substrate.

12. A liquid drop detector attached on a first side surface of a transparent substrate to detect plural liquid drops present upon a second, opposite side surface thereof, comprising:

a case body attached on the first side surface of the transparent substrate;

a light emitting device which emits a light;

a light receiver which receives the light;

a light guide constructed and arranged to guide the light into the transparent substrate, and to guide the light from the transparent substrate to the light receiver,

the light receiver, the light guide and the light emitting device each being disposed within the case body,

wherein said light guide comprises a light guiding body constructed and arranged to guide light from the transparent substrate into the light receiver, the light guiding body narrowing, as the light proceeds downstream, the narrowing occurring in a direction perpendicular to the propagation of the light and parallel to the transparent substrate.