Rain sensor operation on solar reflective glass

• US 6,232,603 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabor, Otilia
• Application Number:
  US09/182,554
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.25, 250/341.8, 250/339.11
• US Class Current: 250/339.11
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0877 at least part of the sensor being positioned between layers of the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A device for detecting the presence of moisture on an outside surface of a windshield is disclosed. The device includes am emitter for transmitting energy, a sensor for receiving energy, an energy absorbing member and a controller for monitoring energy.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the presence of moisture on an outside surface of a windshield comprising:

a first glass layer and a second glass layer forming the windshield, the first glass layer for securing the device, and the second glass layer forming the outside surface of the windshield;

a reflective layer disposed between the first glass layer and the second glass layer;

an emitter for transmitting energy through the first and second layers;

a sensor for receiving energy reflected from the outside surface;

an energy absorbing member for contacting the first glass layer, the energy absorbing member disposed between the emitter and the sensor for absorbing energy reflected from the reflective layer; and

a controller for monitoring the energy received by the sensor and determining the presence of moisture.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the reflective layer includes a material which is reflective of infrared light energy.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the emitter is a photoemitter for transmitting infrared light energy.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a photodetector.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a potion of the energy transmitted from the emitter passes through the reflective layer.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing member has a width which is two times a thickness of the windshield.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein a portion of the energy received by the sensor is internally reflected two times by the outside surface before being received by the sensor.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is capable of operating on one of a reflective windshield and a non-reflective windshield.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller provides a signal for operating a wiping frequency of a wiper system associated with the windshield.

10. A rain sensor for detecting the presence of rain on an outside surface of a windshield which is reflective of light energy at the infrared spectrum, said windshield having a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and an infrared reflective layer disposed therebetween, and wherein the rain sensor is secured to an inside surface of the first glass layer and the second glass layer forms the outside surface of the windshield, said rain sensor comprising:

a photoemitter for transmitting infrared light energy through the first and second glass layers and toward the outside surface;

a photodetector for receiving infrared light energy reflected from the outside surface;

an energy absorbing member for contacting the first glass layer, the energy absorbing member disposed between the photoemitter and the photodetector for absorbing infrared light energy reflected from the reflective layer; and

a controller for monitoring the infrared light energy received by the photodetector and determining the presence of moisture on the outside surface;

wherein a portion of the infrared light energy transmitted from the photoemitter passes through the reflective layer, and is reflected from the outside surface toward the photodetector.

11. The rain sensor of claim 10 wherein the energy absorbing member has a width which is two times a thickness of the windshield.

12. The rain sensor of claim 10 wherein a portion of the infrared light energy received by the photodetector is internally reflected two times by the outside surface before being received by the photodetector.

13. The rain sensor of claim 10 wherein the controller is capable of measuring the intensity of rain accumulating on the outside surface of the windshield.

14. The rain sensor of claim 10 wherein the controller provides a signal for operating a wiping frequency of a wiper system associated with the windshield.