Vehicle optoelectronic precipitation sensor with adjustable lens holder

• US 7,297,932 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Weber, Thomas, Hagen, Frank, Richwin, Matthias, Röhr, Michael, Georgiadis, Christos
• Primary Examiner(s): MONBLEAU, DAVIENNE N
• Application Number:
  US11/398,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 250573-575, 250/227.25, 250/239, 340/600, 340/602, 340/603, 318/483, 318/643, 73/290.1, 733/350.1, 73/290.2, 73/290.5, 257/80, 257/81, 257/84, 257431-434, 257/678, 257/680
• US Class Current: 250/227.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/087 including an ambient light sensor control of vehicle lights B60Q
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/43 by measuring critical angle

Abstract

An optoelectronic sensor for sensing wetting of a windshield includes a first circuit, and a radiation emitter and a radiation detector both arranged on the first circuit to emit radiation toward the windshield and to detect radiation reflected from the windshield. Beam shapers parallelize the emitted radiation toward the windshield and focus radiation reflected from the windshield toward the detector. A coupling element couples the emitted radiation into the windshield and couples the reflected radiation out of the windshield. A structural element is arranged between the lens holder and the coupling element. The structural element may have retaining elements for positioning a second circuit arranged between the lens holder and the structural element relative to the windshield. The structural element may have support elements for adjustably positioning the lens holder and thereby the beam shapers relative to the first circuit and the windshield.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic sensor device for sensing wetting of a motor vehicle windshield having precipitation, the sensor device comprising:

a first circuit support;

a radiation emitter arranged proximate to the first circuit support to emit radiation toward a windshield;

a radiation detector arranged proximate to the first circuit support to detect radiation reflected back from the windshield;

a lens holder holding beam shaping means respectively associated with the radiation emitter and the radiation detector, wherein the beam shaping means associated with the radiation emitter parallelizes and directs at least some of radiation emitted by the radiation emitter toward the windshield, wherein the beam shaping means associated with the radiation detector focuses and directs at least some radiation reflected back from the windshield toward the radiation detector;

a coupling element for coupling at least some radiation emitted by the radiation emitter into the windshield and for coupling at least some radiation reflected back from the windshield out of the windshield;

a structural element arranged between the lens holder and the coupling element; and

a second circuit support arranged between the lens holder and the structural element;

wherein the structural element has retaining elements for holding and positioning the second circuit support relative to the windshield.

2. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the structural element includes means for positioning the lens holder relative to the windshield.

3. The sensor device of claim 2 wherein:

the means for positioning the lens holder include support elements of the structural element.

4. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the structural element overlaps at least part of the second circuit support to protect the second circuit support from electrostatic discharge and improperly applied forces.

5. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

a plug-and-socket connector which electrically connects the first and second circuit supports.

6. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

heating elements arranged on the second circuit support.

7. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one additional radiation detector, wherein the at least one additional radiation detector is arranged on the second circuit support for sensing at least one of light conditions outside the motor vehicle, solar radiation penetrating into the motor vehicle, and condensation present on the inside windshield surface.

8. The sensor device of claim 7 wherein:

the structural element includes structures having refractive or diffractive properties in an area overlapping the at least one additional radiation detector.

9. The sensor device of claim 7 wherein:

the structural element includes diaphragm structures in an area overlapping the at least one additional radiation detector, wherein the diaphragm structures affect at least one of positional dependence, angular dependence, spectral composition of the radiation, and optical filtering.

10. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the structural element overlaps parts of the beam shaping means and includes, in areas overlapping the beam shaping means, refractive or diffractive structures which supplement the radiation parallelizing and focusing of the beam shaping means.

11. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the structural element overlaps parts of the beam shaping means and includes, in areas overlapping the beam shaping means, diaphragm structures.

12. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the structural element overlaps parts of the beam shaping means and includes, in areas overlapping the beam shaping means, optical filters.

13. The sensor device of claim 12 wherein:

the optical filters affect spectral composition of the radiation.

14. An optoelectronic sensor device for sensing wetting of a motor vehicle windshield having precipitation, the sensor device comprising:

a first circuit support;

a radiation emitter arranged proximate to the first circuit support to emit radiation toward a windshield;

a radiation detector arranged proximate to the first circuit support to detect radiation reflected back from the windshield;

a lens holder holding beam shaping means respectively associated with the radiation emitter and the radiation detector, wherein the beam shaping means associated with the radiation emitter parallelizes and directs at least some radiation emitted by the radiation emitter toward the windshield, wherein the beam shaping means associated with the radiation detector focuses and directs at least some radiation reflected back from the windshield toward the radiation detector;

a coupling element for coupling at least some radiation emitted by the radiation emitter into the windshield and for coupling at least some radiation reflected back from the windshield out of the windshield;

a structural element arranged between the lens holder and the coupling element, wherein the structural element includes means for positioning the lens holder relative to the coupling element; and

a second circuit support arranged between the lens holder and the structural element, wherein the structural element has retaining elements for holding and positioning the second circuit support relative to the coupling element.

15. The sensor device of claim 14 wherein:

the means for positioning the lens holder include support elements of the structural element.

16. The sensor device of claim 14 wherein:

the structural element overlaps at least part of the second circuit support to protect the second circuit support from electrostatic discharge and improperly applied forces.

17. The sensor device of claim 14 further comprising:

a plug-and-socket connector which electrically connects the first and second circuit supports.