Localized window contaminant detection
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsBenjamin Frevert, Shashank Sharma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to contaminant detection systems and related optical systems and methods. An example contaminant detection system includes an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system additionally includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler. The plurality of detector devices is also configured to provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.
Claims20
A contaminant detection system comprising:
- a first optical coupler configured to couple light into an optical element;
- a second optical coupler configured to couple light out of the optical element;
- a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the first optical coupler, wherein the first optical coupler is configured to couple at least a portion of the emission light into the optical element as coupled light that propagates along the optical element by way of total internal reflection, and wherein the second optical coupler is configured to out-couple at least a portion of the coupled light from the optical element;
- and
- a plurality of detector devices configured to:
- detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the first optical coupler, the optical element and the second optical coupler;
- and
- provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.
An optical system comprising:
- an optical element;
- a camera configured to capture an image of a field of view by way of the optical element;
- a first optical coupler configured to couple light into the optical element;
- a second optical coupler configured to couple light out of the optical element;
- a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the first optical coupler, wherein the first optical coupler is configured to couple at least a portion of the emission light into the optical element as coupled light that propagates along the optical element by way of total internal reflection, and wherein the second optical coupler is configured to out-couple at least a portion of the coupled light from the optical element;
- and
- a plurality of detector devices configured to:
- detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the first optical coupler, the optical element and the second optical coupler;
- and
- provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.
A vehicle comprising:
- an optical element;
- a sensor optically coupled to the optical element, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain information indicative of a field of view by way of the optical element;
- a first optical coupler configured to couple light into the optical element;
- a second optical coupler configured to couple light out of the optical element;
- a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the first optical coupler, wherein the first optical coupler is configured to couple at least a portion of the emission light into the optical element as coupled light that propagates along the optical element by way of total internal reflection, and wherein the second optical coupler is configured to out-couple at least a portion of the coupled light from the optical element;
- and
- a plurality of detector devices configured to:
- detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the first optical coupler, the optical element and the second optical coupler;
- and
- provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.