Patent US1881383A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4652745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4652745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical moisture sensor for a window or windshield
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-06
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Granted: 1987-03-24
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Expires: 2005-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A windshield moisture detector has two identical, symmetrically positioned prisms with an elongated body between an integral reflector and light transducer cavity. One light transducer cavity contains a light source and the other a light detector. The reflectors are angled so that when the moisture detector is partially in contact with the windshield, light can travel between the two reflectors through a light path in the window. The magnitude of light transmitted through the windshield is indicative of moisture on the windshield.
Inventors
- 👤 Vance P. Zanardelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; B60S1/0822; B60S1/0833; B60S1/0837; B60S1/0874; B60S1/0888; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/41; G01N21/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A moisture detector for a window comprising two substantially identical prisms, positioned substantially symmetrically, each prism including: a main elongated, light conducting body having a longitudinal axis, a light transducer cavity at a first end and an integral reflector at a second end, opposite from said first end, so that light can travel along a light path between said light transducer cavity and said reflector; said two prisms being positioned adjacent to each other so the longitudinal axes of each are parallel and the reflector end of a first prism is adjacent to the light transducer cavity of a second prism and vice versa, and being positioned so that the window adjacent to said two prisms is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the two longitudinal axes of said two prisms; and said reflector of each prism being angled so that a component of reflected light in a first plane defined by the two longitudinal axes is pointed toward the reflector of the other prism and that a component of reflected light in a second plane, perpendicular to said first plane and including a line of sight between the two reflectors is pointed toward the window so that the amount of internal reflection within the window is affected by the presence of moisture on the other side of the window from said moisture detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A moisture detector for a window comprising two substantially identical prisms, positioned substantially symmetrically, each prism including: a main elongated, light conducting body having a longitudinal axis, a light transducer cavity at a first end and an integral reflector at a second end, opposite from said first end, so that light can travel along a light path between said light transducer cavity and said reflector; said two prisms being positioned adjacent to each other so the longitudinal axes of each are parallel and the reflector end of a first prism is adjacent to the light transducer cavity of a second prism and vice versa, and being positioned so that the window adjacent to said two prisms is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the two longitudinal axes of said two prisms; and said reflector of each prism being angled so that a component of reflected light in a first plane defined by the two longitudinal axes is pointed toward the reflector of the other prism and that a component of reflected light in a second plane, perpendicular to said first plane and including a line of sight between the two reflectors is pointed toward the window so that the amount of internal reflection within the window is affected by the presence of moisture on the other side of the window from said moisture detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 1 further comprising an integral lens incorporated in each prism, at one end of said light transducer cavity, for transforming between parallel light rays and radial light rays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 2 further comprising: a light source positioned in said light transducer casing of said first prism; and a light receiver positioned in said light transducer cavity of said second prism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said light conducting bodies has a flat contact area adjacent the second end for abutting the window and a portion spaced from the window on the side of the light conducting body facing the window so as to provide increased light path coupling between the window and said prisms adjacent said reflectors and reduced light path coupling between the window and said prisms at other locations, and said flat contact area being positioned so that ambient light does not have a direct, unreflected light path to a light transducer cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 4 further comprising a coupling means between said two prisms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 5 wherein said coupling means on each of said prisms is a projection and an indentation adapted to mate with an identical indentation and projection, respectively, on the other prism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 6 wherein said moisture detector is coated with a nonlight transmitting material, except for each of said contact areas adjacent each of said reflectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 7 wherein said light transducer casing is generally cylindrical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 7 wherein the interface between said first prism and said second prism is along a plane at an angle to the longitudinal axes of said first and second prisms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said prisms is formed of injection molded transparent acrylic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 1 wherein said two prisms are longitudinally offset with respect to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A moisture detector as recited in claim 1 further comprising an intermediate shim for laterally and longitudinally spacing the two prisms so as to provide an increased light path between the two reflectors, said shim including symmetric coupling means on opposing sides of the shim for coupling to each of the prisms, the width of the shim and longitudinal displacement of the coupling means being such that light can be reflected with components in a direction along the line of sight between the two reflectors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-23 | 1990-09-22 | 1991-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-23 | 1994-09-22 | 1995-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-23 | 1998-09-22 | 1999-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |