Optical sensor, rain sensor and vehicle

• US 10,800,383 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accendo Motion Research Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Park, Jong Min, Kong, Nak Kyoung, Chang, Seung Hyeok, Lee, Ki Hong, Yoo, Nam Joon, Hong, Yong Pyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Valentiner, Jeremy S
• Application Number:
  US16/035,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20190291697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/087 including an ambient light sensor control of vehicle lights B60Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/25 for modifying the output characteristic, e.g. linearising
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/101 Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/502 LED transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an optical sensor having constant sensitivity regardless of changes in temperature. The optical sensor may include a light emitting device configured to emit light; a light receiving device configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting device, and to output current based on an intensity of the light; a temperature sensor coupled with the light emitting device, and having electrical resistance varying with temperature; and a microcontroller including a first channel for supplying first current directly to the light emitting device, a second channel for supplying second current to the light emitting device via the temperature sensor, and a third channel for receiving the current output from the light receiving device.

Claims

1. A rain sensor comprising:

first light emitting device configured to emit first light;

second light emitting device configured to emit second light;

a light receiving device configured to;

receive the first light or the second light emitted from at least one of the first lighting emitting device or the second light emitting device; and

output current based on an intensity of the first light or the second light;

a temperature sensor coupled with the second light emitting device, wherein the temperature sensor has electrical resistance varying with temperature; and

a microcontroller comprising;

a first channel configured to supply first current directly to the first light emitting device;

a second channel configured to supply second current to the second light emitting device via the temperature sensor; and

a third channel configured to receive the current outputted from the light receiving device,

wherein the microcontroller is configured to;

adjust a setting value of the first current based on the current output from the light receiving device when the first current is supplied such that an intensity of the light output from the first light emitting device is within a predetermined intensity; and

adjust the setting value of the first current based on the current output from the light receiving device for a temperature compensation when the second current is supplied.

2. The rain sensor of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine the setting value of the first current based on the current outputted from the light receiving device when the second current is supplied to the second light emitting device.

3. The rain sensor of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

determine whether rain drops on a front window based on the current outputted from the light receiving device.

4. The rain sensor of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device is greater than a predetermined upper limit value, decrease the setting value of the first current.

5. The rain sensor of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device is less than a predetermined lower limit value, increase the setting value of the first current.

6. The rain sensor of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device increases, supply the second current to the second light emitting device through the second channel; and

decrease the setting value of the first current.

7. The rain sensor of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device decreases, supply the second current to the second light emitting device through the second channel; and

decrease the setting value of the first current.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a front window;

a rain sensor configured to detect raindrops on the front window;

a wiper configured to remove the raindrops on the front window; and

a controller configured to operate the wiper based on a signal from the rain sensor,

wherein the rain sensor comprises;

first light emitting device configured to emit first light;

second light emitting device configured to emit second light;

a light receiving device configured to;

receive the first light or the second light emitted from at least one of the first light emitting device or the second light emitting device; and

output current based on an intensity of the first light or the second light;

a temperature sensor coupled with the second light emitting device, wherein the temperature sensor has electrical resistance varying with temperature; and

a microcontroller comprising;

a first channel configured to supply first current directly to the first light emitting device;

a second channel configured to supply second current to the second light emitting device via the temperature sensor; and

a third channel configured to receive the current outputted from the light receiving device,

wherein the microcontroller is configured to;

adjust a setting value of the first current based on the current output from the light receiving device when the first current is supplied such that an intensity of the light output from the first light emitting device is within a predetermined intensity; and

adjust the setting value of the first current based on the current output from the light receiving device for a temperature compensation when the second current is supplied.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine the setting value of the first current based on the current outputted from the light receiving device when the second current is supplied to the second light emitting device.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

determine whether rain drops on a front window based on the current outputted from the light receiving device.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device is greater than a predetermined upper limit value, decrease the setting value of the first current.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device is less than a predetermined lower limit value, increase the setting value of the first current.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device increases, supply the second current to the second light emitting device through the second channel; and

decrease the setting value of the first current.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

when the current outputted from the light receiving device increases, supply the first current to the first light emitting device through the first channel; and

decrease the setting value of the first current.