Ambient light detector for off-the-glass rain sensor
First Claim
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1. An optical moisture detector for measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
- an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels; and
processor means for receiving the signals, for determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to existing ambient light conditions using the signals, and for emitting a control signal if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value.
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Abstract
An optical moisture detector for determining a value corresponding to ambient light conditions and comparing that value to a predetermined value. The detector includes an optical moisture sensor and a processor. The optical moisture sensor can be a photo array, a CCD or a CMOS. The processor can be a microprocessor. The processor can emit a control signal to engage or disengage a light generating device based on the result of the comparison of the value to the predetermined value.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical moisture detector for measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
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an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels; and
processor means for receiving the signals, for determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to existing ambient light conditions using the signals, and for emitting a control signal if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
means, responsive to the control signal, for controlling a light generating device.
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3. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the processor means is operable to compare the absolute ambient light value to a predetermined value, the optical moisture detector further comprising:
timer means for selectively disabling the processor means from comparing the absolute ambient light value to the predetermined value for a programmed period of time.
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4. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the optical moisture sensor is operably mountable with respect to a windshield of a motor vehicle.
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5. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the optical moisture sensor is operably positionable in a spaced relationship relative to a windshield of a motor vehicle.
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6. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the optical moisture sensor further comprises:
a CCD camera.
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7. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the optical moisture sensor further comprises:
a CMOS camera.
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8. A The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the processor means further comprises:
a microprocessor for operably receiving the signals from the sensor.
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9. The optical moisture detector of claim 1 wherein the processing means compares the absolute ambient light value to a plurality of predetermined values such that the processing means compares the absolute ambient light value to a first predetermined value to determine if a signal to turn on a light generating device is to be sent, and compares the absolute ambient light value to a second predetermined value to determine if a signal to turn off the light generating device is to be sent.
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10. An optical moisture detector for measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
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an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels for sensing the presence of moisture on a windshield of a vehicle, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels; and
processor means for receiving the signals, for determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to existing ambient light conditions using the signals, and for emitting a control signal if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
means, responsive to the control signal, for controlling a light generating device.
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12. The optical moisture detector of claim 10 wherein the processor means is operable to compare the absolute ambient light value to a predetermined value, the optical moisture detector further comprising:
timer means for selectively disabling the processor means from comparing the absolute ambient light value to the predetermined value for a programmed period of time.
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13. The optical moisture detector of claim 10 wherein the processor means is operable to compare the absolute ambient light value to a predetermined value, and wherein the processor means emits the control signal only if at least two successive comparisons indicate the absolute ambient light value is less than the predetermined value.
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14. The optical moisture detector of claim of claim 10 wherein the optical moisture sensor is operably mountable with respect to a windshield of a motor vehicle.
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15. The optical moisture detector of claim of claim 10 wherein the optical moisture sensor is operably positionable in a spaced relationship relative to a windshield of a motor vehicle.
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16. A method of measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
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sensing an image with an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels;
receiving the signals and determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to the existing ambient light conditions with processor means using the signals; and
emitting a control signal with the processor means if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
mounting the optical moisture sensor to the windshield of a vehicle.
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18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:
disposing the optical moisture sensor in a spatial relationship relative to the windshield of a vehicle.
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19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:
controlling a light generating device in response to the control signal.
Specification