Optical sensor

• US 6,229,613 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Michenfelder, Gebhard, Lorenz, Stefanie, Hog, Norbert, Pientka, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/423,865
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 356/445, 356/239.1, 250/227.25, 250/227.24, 250/341.8, 318/483, 318/DIG. 2, 318/444, 318/480, 73/29.01, 340/602
• US Class Current: 356/445
• 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 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit

Abstract

An optical sensor for detecting wetting of a surface in a motor vehicle, the optical sensor has a measuring segment which has at least one transmitter of electromagnet waves and at least one receiver of electromagnetic waves and in which a windshield is disposable so that when a layer of moisture forms on the windshield upon wetting from precipitation a wave propagation between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver changes and an output signal generated by the receiver changes, a housing disposable on an inside of the windshield and having a bottom face adapted to be in physical contact with the windshield, the bottom face of the housing being oval.

Claims

1. An optical sensor for detecting wetting of a surface in a motor vehicle, the optical sensor comprising a measuring segment which has at least one transmitter of electromagnet waves and at least one receiver of electromagnetic waves and in which a windshield is disposable so that when a layer of moisture forms on the windshield upon wetting from precipitation a wave propagation between said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver changes and an output signal generated by said receiver changes;

a housing disposable on an inside of the windshield and having a bottom face adapted to be in physical contact with the windshield, said bottom face of said housing being oval.

2. An optical sensor as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a circuit board which has a contour selected from the group consisting of a trapezoidal contour and a rhomboid contour and mounting electronic and/or optical components of the sensor.

3. An optical sensor as defined in claim 2, wherein said circuit board has a longitudinal axis which corresponds to a diameter of a great circle of said oval bottom face of said housing, and a transverse axis which corresponds to a diameter of a small circle of said oval bottom face of said housing.

4. An optical sensor as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an optical waveguide which is adapted to be arranged in physical contact with the windshield and closes said housing.

5. An optical sensor as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a transparent adhesive film for securing said housing to the windshield.

6. An optical sensor as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an attaching frame for clipping or clamping the optical sensor to the windshield.