Stereo imaging rain sensor
First Claim
1. A method for sensing moisture (10) on the exterior surface of a sheet of glass (12) comprising the steps of;
- viewing the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a first optical axis A to produce a first image, viewing the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a second optical axis B which intersects the first optical axis A at an intersection X disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the glass (12) to produce a second image, correlating the first and second images, producing an activation signal (24) in response to coincidence of moisture (10) in the respective correlated first and second images, and viewing along at least one of the optical axes through at least one mirror.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Two embodiments include a first image sensor (14, 114) for sensing a first image of the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a first optical axis A and a second image sensor (16, 116) for sensing a second image of the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a second optical axis B which intersects the first optical axis A at an intersection X disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the glass (12). Both embodiments include an image correlator (22) for correlating the first and second images and producing an activation signal (24) in response to coincidence of moisture (10) in the respective correlated first and second images. The rain sensor accurately interprets images of moisture that lie in a narrow measurement zone adjacent the exterior surface of the windshield while disregarding images of objects that lie outside that zone.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for sensing moisture (10) on the exterior surface of a sheet of glass (12) comprising the steps of;
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viewing the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a first optical axis A to produce a first image, viewing the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a second optical axis B which intersects the first optical axis A at an intersection X disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the glass (12) to produce a second image, correlating the first and second images, producing an activation signal (24) in response to coincidence of moisture (10) in the respective correlated first and second images, and viewing along at least one of the optical axes through at least one mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An assembly for sensing moisture (10) on the exterior surface of a sheet of glass (12) comprising;
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a first image sensor (14, 114) for sensing a first image of the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a first optical axis A, a second image sensor (16, 116) for sensing a second image of the exterior surface of the glass (12) along a second optical axis B which interests the first optical axis A at an intersection X disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the glass (12), an image correlator (22) for correlating the first and second images and producing an activation signal (24) in response to coincidence of moisture (10) in the respective correlated first and second images, and said lens system including a single lens (30) and a first mirror system for focusing the view along said first optical axis A onto said first image sensor (14, 114) and a second mirror system for focusing the view along said second optical axis B onto said second image sensor (16, 116). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification