Patent US6353392B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6353392B1
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US
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Rain sensor with fog discrimination
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-30
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Granted: 2002-03-05
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Expires: 2018-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular rain sensor system for detecting precipitation on an exterior surface of a window includes an illumination sensor that is decoupled from the window. The illumination sensor is preferably an imaging array sensor which communicates a signal to a control which further determines whether rain is present on the window. The control includes an edge detection function for detecting edges of precipitation droplets on the window in response to the light values sensed by the sensor and activating the windshield wipers of the vehicle when the sum of the light values exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The rain sensor system may further include a polarizing filter and an illumination source, such that the rain sensor system not only prevents false signals of rain when only fog is present on an interior surface of the window, but also actually detects fog particles on an interior surface of the window.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Schofield
- 👤 Mark L. Larson
- 👤 Brent J Bos
- 👤 Niall R Lynam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00642; B60H1/00735; B60H1/00785; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; B60S1/0822; B60S1/0833; B60S1/0844; B60S1/0874; B60S1/0888; G; G06; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/50; G06V20/56; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/002; B60N2210/00; B60N2210/10; B60N2210/16; B60N2210/22; B60N2210/24; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/12; B60R2001/1223; B60S1/0837; B60S1/0885; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S318/00; Y10S318/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A vehicular rain sensor which senses at least one of rain and fog on a vehicle window, said vehicular sensor comprising: an imaging array sensor directed at the vehicle window from inside the vehicle, said imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, said pixels sensing a light value of incident radiation; and a computer based control having an edge detection algorithm, said edge detection algorithm being operable to sum light values sensed by said pixels and compare the summed light values to a predetermined threshold value, said control being responsive to an output of said imaging array sensor and the predetermined threshold value in order to indicate precipitation on a surface of the window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A vehicular rain sensor which senses at least one of rain and fog on a vehicle window, said vehicular sensor comprising: an imaging array sensor directed at the vehicle window from inside the vehicle, said imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, said pixels sensing a light value of incident radiation; and a computer based control having an edge detection algorithm, said edge detection algorithm being operable to sum light values sensed by said pixels and compare the summed light values to a predetermined threshold value, said control being responsive to an output of said imaging array sensor and the predetermined threshold value in order to indicate precipitation on a surface of the window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 , wherein said surface of the window is an exterior surface exposed to weather conditions and the precipitation indicated is rain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 , wherein said surface of the window is an interior cabin surface and the precipitation indicated is fog.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 , wherein said edge detection algorithm detects edges of particles of precipitation on the window, said control responding when a threshold amount of said particles is detected by said edge detection algorithm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 4 , wherein said edge detection algorithm analyzes a quantity of edges present on the window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 5 , wherein said edge detection algorithm further analyzes a size of the edges present on the window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 4 , wherein the vehicle has a windshield wiper, said control controlling said windshield wiper when said threshold amount is detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 7 , wherein the control varies a rate at which the windshield wiper is wiped according to a level of edges detected by said edge detection algorithm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 further including a polarizing filter between the window and said imaging array sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 including an optic between said imaging array sensor and the window, said optic establishing a small depth of field, thereby focusing on an area at or immediately adjacent to the vehicle window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 10 , wherein the window comprises an angled surface, said imaging array sensor and said optic being oriented relative to the window such that scenic information at the angled surface of the window is focused on said imaging array sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 including an illumination device for illuminating the window.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 12 , wherein said illumination device provides illumination having an illumination wavelength approximately that of an infrared wavelength.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 12 , wherein said illumination device provides illumination having an illumination wavelength approximately within a range between 820 and 880 nanometers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 12 further including an illumination device control for at least occasionally activating said illumination device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 15 , wherein said illumination device is pulsed on and off by said illumination device control.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 16 , wherein during low light conditions, said illumination sensor is exposed to the vehicle window when said illumination device is pulsed on and not exposed to the window when said illumination device is pulsed off.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 15 , wherein said illumination device control operates said illumination device during low light conditions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 18 , wherein said illumination device control senses ambient light and operates said illumination device in low ambient light conditions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 19 , wherein said control is operable a windshield wiper on the vehicle when a threshold level of particles of precipitation on the window is detected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 20 , wherein said threshold level varies according to a level of ambient light present on the window.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 19 , wherein said illumination device control operates said illumination device when the ambient light conditions are below approximately 250 lux.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 19 , wherein said illumination device control operates said illumination device when the ambient light conditions are below approximately 150 lux.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 19 , wherein said illumination device control operates said illumination device when the ambient light conditions are below approximately 100 lux.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 19 , wherein said illumination device control operates said illumination device in response to when a vehicle's headlamps are activated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 18 , wherein said illumination device control determines a level of ambient light by monitoring light received by said pixels on said imaging array, said illumination device control switching to said active mode when light received by said pixels is below a second predetermined threshold value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 12 including a polarizing filter along an optic path between said illumination device and said imaging array sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 27 , wherein said polarizing filter is oriented to filter out light signals radiating from fog particles on an interior surface of the window.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 , wherein said imaging array sensor is a CMOS sensor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 wherein the window is a vehicle windshield and the vehicle includes a windshield wiper and a rear window wiper, wherein said control causes the rear window wiper to cycle for every N cycles of the windshield wiper, wherein N is greater than one.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 30 , wherein the value of N varies as a function of the speed of the windshield wiper.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 1 , wherein said control comprising a micro-computer having one of an embedded control application, a custom digital logic circuit and a digital signal processor circuit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicular sensor in claim 32 , wherein said control is adaptable to be positioned substantially adjacent a rear view mirror housing.
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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) | 2005-03-04 | 2005-09-03 | 2006-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-04 | 2009-09-03 | 2010-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-09-03 | 2014-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |