Detection of raindrops on a pane by means of a camera and lighting
First Claim
1. A device for detecting rain (4) on an outer surface of a pane, comprisinga camera disposed behind an inner surface of the pane (2), wherein the camera (1) is focused onto a far range that lies in front of the outer surface of the pane (2), anda lighting source (3) adapted to generate a source light beam and configured and arranged to direct the source light beam (h;
- n) through air onto the inner surface of the pane (2) so as to cause a resultant transmitted beam that is transmitted in the pane and impinges on the outer surface within the pane and is partially reflected from the outer surface (2.2) within the pane (2) to cause a partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
) that impinges on the camera (1); and
wherein the camera is configured and adapted to measure a light quantity of the partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
) impinging on the camera.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and a method for detecting rain on a pane, e.g. of a motor vehicle, use a camera or other light sensor and a lighting source. The camera is disposed behind an inner surface of the pane and focused onto a far range that lies in front of an outer surface of the pane. The lighting source generates a source light beam and directs it onto the inner surface of the pane such that at least one resultant reflected beam (r2; r2′) that is reflected from the outer surface of the pane impinges on the camera. The light quantity of the at least one resultant reflected beam is measured by the camera.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device for detecting rain (4) on an outer surface of a pane, comprising
a camera disposed behind an inner surface of the pane (2), wherein the camera (1) is focused onto a far range that lies in front of the outer surface of the pane (2), and a lighting source (3) adapted to generate a source light beam and configured and arranged to direct the source light beam (h; - n) through air onto the inner surface of the pane (2) so as to cause a resultant transmitted beam that is transmitted in the pane and impinges on the outer surface within the pane and is partially reflected from the outer surface (2.2) within the pane (2) to cause a partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
) that impinges on the camera (1); andwherein the camera is configured and adapted to measure a light quantity of the partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
) impinging on the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- n) through air onto the inner surface of the pane (2) so as to cause a resultant transmitted beam that is transmitted in the pane and impinges on the outer surface within the pane and is partially reflected from the outer surface (2.2) within the pane (2) to cause a partially reflected beam (r2;
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20. A method for detecting rain (4) on an outer surface (2.2) of a pane (2), comprising the steps:
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providing a camera (1) disposed behind an inner surface of the pane (2) and focused onto a far range in front of the outer surface of the pane, with a lighting source (3), generating a source light beam (h;
n), and directing the source light beam (h;
n) through air onto the inner surface of the pane (2) so as to cause a resultant transmitted beam that is transmitted in the pane and impinges on the outer surface within the pane and is partially reflected from the outer surface (2.2) within the pane (2) to cause a partially reflected beam that impinges on the camera (1),using the camera, measuring a light quantity of the partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
), andevaluating the measured light quantity of the partially reflected beam (r2;
r2′
) to detect whether there is rain (4) on the outer surface (2.2) of the pane (2).
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21. A device for detecting rain on an outer surface of a pane, comprising:
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a light source arranged behind an inner surface of said pane, adapted to generate a source light beam, and configured and arranged to direct said source light beam through air onto said inner surface of said pane at an incidence angle so as to cause a resultant first transmitted beam that is transmitted within said pane and impinges on said outer surface within said pane, and such that said first transmitted beam is only partially reflected from said outer surface internally in said pane to cause a second reflected beam that is emitted through said inner surface out of said pane; and a camera that is arranged behind said inner surface of said pane, and is focused onto a far range that lies in front of said outer surface of said pane, and is configured and arranged to receive said second reflected beam and measure a light quantity of said second reflected beam. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification