Sensor device for detecting moisture on a pane

• US 9,709,493 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Eggers, Torsten, Niemann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, HEZRON
• Application Number:
  US14/157,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20140196525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 73 73
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0837 with a particular arrangement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection

Abstract

In a sensor device for detecting moisture on a pane comprising at least one transmitter which emits light which is reflected at the pane and received by at least one receiver, an optical system is provided between the transmitter and the receiver, which brings about a multiple reflection between the pane and the optical system. A particularly good measurement is thereby made possible.

Claims

1. A sensor device for detecting moisture on a pane comprising at least one transmitter which emits light which is reflected at the pane and received by at least one receiver,

wherein an annular optical system is provided between the only one transmitter and the only one receiver, which brings about a multiple reflection between the pane and the optical system,

wherein the sensor device has a frame which can be fastened to the pane,

wherein the frame has an annular shape,

wherein each side of the annular optical system is parallel with a corresponding side of the annular frame, and

wherein the annular optical system is disposed on the inner periphery side of the annular frame, facing a center of the annular frame.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system has a mirror which is disposed parallel to the pane.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the one transmitter and the one receiver are configured as diodes.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is designed such that the multiple reflection takes place at angles between 40°

and 50°

.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured in such a manner that the angle of reflection at the pane is smaller than the angle of reflection in the optical system.

6. A motor vehicle having a windscreen and the sensor device according to claim 1 disposed on the windscreen.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the sensor device is used for holding a component.

8. The sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the component is a camera.

9. The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein

the optical system has a mirror which is disposed parallel to the pane, and

the angle of reflection at the pane is smaller than the angle of reflection at the mirror.

10. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the entire frame is annularly disposed on a surface of the pane.

11. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system extends in parallel with the entire frame.