Rain sensor device for detecting the wetting and/or soiling of a windscreen surface
First Claim
1. Device for detecting the wetting and/or soiling of a windscreen surface, in particular in a vehicle, comprisinga camera with a sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged as an array and adapted to be illuminated according to an illumination cycle, and having a focusing optic for a camera focus set to almost infinite, anda light source for illuminating a detection portion of the screen surface detectable by the camera,whereinthe light source is switched on and off according to a predeterminable ON/OFF cycle,the ON/OFF cycle is synchronized to the illumination cycle of the camera sensor, andthe wetting/soiling of the screen surface is detected by comparing the image information from the sensor of the camera when the light source is turned on and when the light source is turned off.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting the wetting and/or soiling of a windscreen surface, in particular in a vehicle, comprises a camera with a sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged as an array and adapted to be illuminated according to an illumination cycle, and having a focussing optic for a camera focus set to almost infinite. The device is further provided with a light source for illuminating a detection portion of the screen surface detectable by the camera. The light source may be switched on and off according to a predeterminable ON/OFF cycle. The ON/OFF cycle is synchronized to the illumination cycle of the camera sensor, and the wetting/soiling of the screen surface may be detected by comparing the image information from the sensor of the camera when the light source is turned on and when the light source is turned off.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. Device for detecting the wetting and/or soiling of a windscreen surface, in particular in a vehicle, comprising
a camera with a sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged as an array and adapted to be illuminated according to an illumination cycle, and having a focusing optic for a camera focus set to almost infinite, and a light source for illuminating a detection portion of the screen surface detectable by the camera, wherein the light source is switched on and off according to a predeterminable ON/OFF cycle, the ON/OFF cycle is synchronized to the illumination cycle of the camera sensor, and the wetting/soiling of the screen surface is detected by comparing the image information from the sensor of the camera when the light source is turned on and when the light source is turned off.
Specification