Rain sensor embedded on printed circuit board
First Claim
1. A rain sensor for a vehicle, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB) to be supported by a vehicle window, the PCB comprising first and second outer layers and at least one inner layer, the first outer layer adapted to be closest to an interior of the vehicle and the second outer layer adapted to be closest to an exterior of the vehicle;
first and second capacitor arrays, the first capacitor array being formed on an outer surface of the first outer layer of the PCB and the second capacitor array being formed on an outer surface of the second outer layer of the PCB, one or more sensing capacitors in at least one of the first and second capacitor arrays being sensitive to moisture on an external surface of the window; and
programmed logic circuitry configured to distinguish between at least moisture on the exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on the interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI,wherein the at least one inner layer is arranged so as to decouple the first and second capacitor arrays and to shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array, and vice versa, andwherein EMI is detected when the first and second capacitor arrays detect identical or similar signals substantially simultaneously.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and/or method for sensing the presence of moisture (e.g., rain) and/or other material(s) on a window such as a vehicle window (e.g., vehicle windshield, sunroof or backlite). In certain example embodiments, a plurality of sensing capacitors are supported by a window such as a vehicle windshield, the capacitors each having a different field and/or pattern. A sensing circuit outputs an analog signal that is based on and/or related to the capacitances of one or more of the sensing capacitors. In certain example embodiments, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) mountable in or on a vehicle window is provided. First and second sensing circuits are formed on opposing sides of the flexible PCB, with each said sensing circuit comprising a plurality of different fractal structures. A ground plane is located between the first and second sensing circuits, with the ground plane being arranged so as to decouple the first and second capacitor arrays and to shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array and vice versa. The electronic device is configured to detect moisture on an exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on an interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A rain sensor for a vehicle, comprising:
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a printed circuit board (PCB) to be supported by a vehicle window, the PCB comprising first and second outer layers and at least one inner layer, the first outer layer adapted to be closest to an interior of the vehicle and the second outer layer adapted to be closest to an exterior of the vehicle; first and second capacitor arrays, the first capacitor array being formed on an outer surface of the first outer layer of the PCB and the second capacitor array being formed on an outer surface of the second outer layer of the PCB, one or more sensing capacitors in at least one of the first and second capacitor arrays being sensitive to moisture on an external surface of the window; and programmed logic circuitry configured to distinguish between at least moisture on the exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on the interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI, wherein the at least one inner layer is arranged so as to decouple the first and second capacitor arrays and to shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array, and vice versa, and wherein EMI is detected when the first and second capacitor arrays detect identical or similar signals substantially simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) supported by a vehicle window, comprising:
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a first outer layer, the first outer layer being closest to an interior of the vehicle and comprising a flexible polymer; a second outer layer, the second outer layer being closest to an exterior of the vehicle and comprising a flexible polymer; a first capacitor array comprising a first plurality of sensing capacitors on the first outer layer of the PCB; a second capacitor array comprising a second plurality of sensing capacitors on the second outer layer of the PCB to be closest to the vehicle window; programmed logic circuitry configured to distinguish between moisture on the exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on the interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI, in dependence on signals generated by the first and second capacitor arrays; and at least one substantially metallic inner layer arranged so as to substantially decouple the first and second capacitor arrays and to substantially shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array, wherein the first and second capacitor arrays are formed on opposing surfaces of the flexible PCB, and wherein EMI is detected when the first and second capacitor arrays detect identical or similar signals substantially simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electronic device mountable in or on a vehicle window, comprising:
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a flexible printed circuit board (PCB); first and second sensing circuits formed on opposing sides of the flexible PCB, each said sensing circuit comprising a plurality of different fractal structures; a ground plane located between the first and second sensing circuits, the ground plane being arranged so as to decouple a first and second capacitor arrays and to shield the first capacitor array from fields emanating from the second capacitor array and vice versa, wherein the electronic device is configured to detect moisture on an exterior surface of the vehicle window, humidity on an interior surface of the vehicle window, and EMI.
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Specification