Optoelectronic sensor device

• US 7,589,836 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS)
• Original Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS)
• Inventors: Mack, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Hoa Q
• Application Number:
  US12/052,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 3562371-2375, 356/239.7, 356/239.8, 250573-574, 250/227.24, 250/227.25, 318/119, 318/140, 318/34, 318/483, 318/806
• US Class Current: 356/239.8
• 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: G01N 2021/435 Sensing drops on the contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence

Abstract

An optoelectronic sensor device is described for recording of soiling on a transparent cover, with at least one light source that emits at least two light beams, a test surface arranged in the cover, having a concave surface exposed to environmental effects, through which the light beams emerge and reenter, as well as at least one receiver that measure the radiation powers of the light beams, on which the light beams are imaged independently of each other after reentry. The test surface has at least two areas with different microstructurings, in which a first microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area provided with the first microstructuring is held together drop-like, and a second microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area provided with the second microstructuring is distributed film-like, in which at least a first light beam emerges and reenters through the first area and at least a second light beam emerges and reenters through the second area, so that by comparison of the radiation powers of the two light beams, a conclusion can be drawn concerning the transparency of the cover exposed to soiling. In addition a method is described for determination of the transparency of soiling by a transparent surface exposed to environmental effects.

Claims

1. Optoelectronic sensor device (08) arranged for recording of soiling on a cover (09) transparent for electromagnetic waves of a certain wavelength range, with at least one light source (12, 13) that emits at least two light beams (10, 11), a test surface (15) arranged in cover (09), having a concave surface (14) exposed to environmental effects, through which the light beams (10, 11) emerge and reenter, as well as at least one receiver (16, 17) that measures the radiation powers of the light beams (10, 11), on which the light beams (10, 11) are imaged independently of each other after reentry in an unsoiled surface (14), characterized by the fact that the test surface (15) has at least two areas (18, 19) with different microstructurings, in which a first microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area (18) provided with the first microstructuring is held together drop-like, and a second microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area (19) provided with the second microstructuring is distributed film-like, in which case, in the unsoiled state of surface (14), at least a first light beam (10) emerges and reenters through the first area (18) and at least a second light beam (11) emerges and reenters through the second area (19), so that a conclusion can be drawn concerning the transparency of the cover (09) exposed to soiling by evaluation of the radiation powers.

2. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the light source emitting at least two light beams includes a device for beam widening and/or beam splitting.

3. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the optoelectronic sensor device includes at least two light sources that each emit a light beam.

4. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the at least one receiver (16, 17) that measures the radiation powers of the light beams (10, 11) includes a device for beam joining, as well as beams to distinguish the two light beams (10, 11).

5. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the optoelectronic sensor device includes at least two receivers (16, 17), on which one light beam each is imaged.

6. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the first microstructuring is designed as a smooth surface.

7. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the second microstructuring is produced by a fine surface structure below the drop size that ordinarily forms on the material of the test surface (15) in liquid drops.

8. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the first microstructuring is produced by a hydrophobic nanostructure and the second microstructuring by a hydrophilic nanostructure.

9. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the microstructurings are produced by at least partial coating of the test surface (15).

10. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that microstructurings are produced by at least partial embossing of a fine surface structure.

11. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the test surface is an integral component of the cover.

12. Optoelectronic sensor device according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the test surface is part of a radiation conductor that can be integrated in cover (09).

13. Method for determination of transparency of soiling by a surface (14) exposed to environmental effects, transparent for electromagnetic waves of a certain wavelength range, characterized by the process steps:

Arrangement of at least two areas (18, 19) provided with different microstructurings on surface (14), in which a first microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area (18) provided with the first microstructuring is held together drop-like, and a second microstructuring is designed, so that a liquid applied to the area (19) provided with the second microstructuring is distributed to a liquid film,

Generation of at least two light beams (10, 11), at least a first one of which emerges and reenters through the first area, and at least a second of which emerges and reenters through the second area in the unsoiled state of surface (14),

Measurement of the radiation powers of the light beams (10, 11) independently of each other, as well as

Evaluation of the radiation powers of the two light beams (10, 11), in which the result of evaluation is an unsoiled surface (14), if, for both light beams (10, 11) an essentially unchanged radiation power is measured relative to an assigned start value and the result of the evaluation is a surface (14) wetted by a transparent liquid, if, for the first light beam (10), a reduced radiation power is measured relative to the assigned start value and, for the second light beam (11), a higher radiation power relative to the assigned start value is measured.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that a degree of transparency of the surface (14) is determined by independent comparison of the radiation powers of the two light beams (10, 11) with the characteristics that apply for the corresponding areas (18, 19).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that a conclusion concerning the soiling of a cover (09) connected to the surface is drawn by determination of soiling or transparency of surface (14).