Illumination for detecting raindrops on a pane by means of a camera

• US 9,671,336 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Bix, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Tri T
• Application Number:
  US15/102,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20160305873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 356445-448
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A device for detecting rain on a pane includes a camera (1) and an electrically drivable film (3) that actively emits light (h) as a light sheet (s). The camera and the film are arranged so that the camera can detect an image (i1, i2) of the light sheet that impinges on and is reflected by the pane. The signal detected by the camera correlates with light that has been emitted by the film, and reflected or scattered by the inner face (2.1) or outer face (2.2) of the pane and/or by a raindrop on the outer face of the pane.

Claims

1. A device for detecting rain on a pane, comprising

a camera, and

an electrically drivable film that actively emits light,

wherein the light emitted by the film emerges as a light sheet, and

wherein the camera and the film are configured and arranged so that the camera can detect a signal from the light which is emitted by the film, impinges on the pane and is reflected by the pane, wherein the camera can detect a first mirror image of the light sheet reflected at an inner face of the pane and a second mirror image of the light sheet reflected at an outer face of the pane.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror image and the second mirror image which can be detected by the camera do not overlap with one another.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises an organic light-emitting diode.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the film is an electroluminescent film.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the film has a plurality of individually electrically drivable areas that emit light.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting control unit configured and arranged to electrically drive the film.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens, wherein the camera is focused by the lens onto a remote region, so that the mirror images of the light sheet are shown as blurred images by the camera.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the film is arranged in a recess of the housing.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera includes a view funnel and the film is arranged on the view funnel or is integrated into the view funnel.