Optical sensor device for detecting wetting

• US 7,751,054 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Backes, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr.; Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLI, IYABO
• Application Number:
  US12/156,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 356/239.7, 356/239.9, 356/4.5, 356/442, 356/445, 250/227.24, 250/227.25
• US Class Current: 356/445
• 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

Abstract

An optical sensor device (10) is able to be coupled to a window (14), in particular to a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device (10) comprises a sensor unit (12), which includes a emitter (26), a receiver (28) and a light conductor unit (30). By the light conductor unit (30), a light beam (34) emitted by the emitter (26) is coupled into the window (14), coupled out of the window (14) and directed onto the receiver (28). The light conductor unit (30) includes Fresnel lens regions and associated reflecting regions.

Claims

1. An optical sensor device which is configured to be coupled to a window, the optical sensor device comprising a sensor unit which includes an emitter, a receiver and a light conductor unit, the light conductor unit being configured such that a diverging light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, coupled out of the window and directed and completely focused onto the receiver, the light conductor unit including Fresnel lens regions and reflecting regions associated to the Fresnel lens regions.

2. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor unit also includes Fresnel lens regions to which no reflecting regions are associated.

7. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor unit includes an input portion, through which the light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, and an output portion, through which the light beam is coupled out of the window and is directed onto the receiver.

8. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the light conductor unit has a mirror-symmetric design.

9. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the light conductor unit if formed in one piece.

10. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein in the input portion of the light conductor unit the Fresnel lens regions and the associated reflecting regions are each arranged such that part of the light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the light conductor unit via a Fresnel lens region and subsequently reflected on the associated reflecting region.

11. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein in the input portion of the light conductor unit the reflecting regions are arranged such that reflected parts of the light beam emitted by the emitter altogether are coupled into the window as a parallel light beam.

12. The optical sensor device according to claim 11, wherein an angle, under which the light beam is coupled into the window, is approximately 45°

.

13. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein an angle, under which the light beam is coupled out of the window, is approximately 45°

.

14. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein in the output portion of the light conductor unit the Fresnel lens regions and the associated reflecting regions each are arranged such that part of the light beam coupled out of the window is reflected on a reflecting region and subsequently coupled out of the light conductor unit via the associated Fresnel lens region.

15. The optical sensor device according to claim 7, wherein in the output portion of the light conductor unit the Fresnel lens regions and the associated reflecting regions are each arranged such that parts of the light beam coupled out of the window are reflected by the reflecting regions onto the associated Fresnel lens regions and thereby are directed onto the receiver as converging light beam parts.

22. The optical sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the whole diverging light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window as a parallel light beam.

23. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor unit converts the diverging light beam into a parallel light beam and couples the parallel light beam into the window, the parallel light beam, after being reflected in the window, being coupled out of the window and directed and focused onto the receiver.

3. An optical sensor device which is configured to be coupled to a window, the optical sensor device comprising a sensor unit which includes an emitter, a receiver and a light conductor unit, the light conductor unit being configured such that a light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, coupled out of the window and directed onto the receiver, the light conductor unit including Fresnel lens regions and reflecting regions associated to the Fresnel lens regions, wherein the Fresnel lens regions and the reflecting regions are formed in a stepped structure of the light conductor unit, said stepped structure including an input portion with a plurality of steps, at least two of said steps having an input surface shaped in the manner of an aspherical Fresnel lens and a reflecting surface associated with the input surface, said stepped structure including an output portion with a plurality of steps, at least two of said steps of said output portion having an output surface shaped in the manner of an aspherical Fresnel lens and a reflecting surface associated with the output surface.

4. The optical sensor device according to claim 3, wherein the light conductor unit is formed by a plate, a front side of the plate including the stepped structure, the plate being arranged such that the front side of the plate faces at least one of the emitter and the receiver.

5. The optical sensor device according to claim 4, wherein the reflecting surfaces are aligned substantially vertical to the window.

6. An optical sensor device which is configured to be coupled to a window, the optical sensor device comprising a sensor unit which includes an emitter, a receiver and a light conductor unit, the light conductor unit being configured such that a light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, coupled out of the window and directed onto the receiver, the light conductor unit including Fresnel lens regions and reflecting regions associated to the Fresnel lens regions, wherein between the individual Fresnel lens regions and the associated reflecting regions diverting regions are provided, the diverting regions having a refractive or reflective structure such that light impinging on the diverting regions is diverted in a direction which does not impair the function of the optical sensor device.

21. The optical sensor device according to claim 6, wherein the light conductor unit includes an input portion, through which the light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, and an output portion, through which the light beam is coupled out of the window and is directed onto the receiver, the diverting regions being provided in the input portion and the output portion.

24. The optical sensor device according to claim 6, wherein the diverting regions have a refractive structure.

16. An optical sensor device which is configured to be coupled to a window, the optical sensor device comprising a sensor unit which includes an emitter, a receiver and a light conductor unit, the light conductor unit being configured such that a light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, coupled out of the window and directed onto the receiver, the light conductor unit including Fresnel lens regions and reflecting regions associated to the Fresnel lens regions, wherein in a housing of the sensor device at least one additional daylight sensor unit is accommodated, the daylight sensor unit including a light receiver and a light conductor unit which maps light from a defined region of the surroundings on the light receiver.

17. The optical sensor device according to claim 16, wherein the light conductor unit of the daylight sensor unit includes an aspherical Fresnel lens.

18. The optical sensor device according to claim 16, wherein the light conductor unit of the daylight sensor unit includes Fresnel lens regions and associated reflecting regions.

19. A method of producing an optical sensor device, the optical sensor device comprising a sensor unit which includes an emitter, a receiver and a light conductor unit, the light conductor unit being configured such that a light beam emitted by the emitter is coupled into the window, coupled out of the window and directed onto the receiver, the light conductor unit including Fresnel lens regions and reflecting regions associated to the Fresnel lens regions, the method comprising the step of forming the light conductor unit by embossing a plate.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the same embossing step in which the light conductor unit is formed, at least one further light conductor unit for a daylight sensor unit is additionally formed in the same plate.