Sensor device and condensate water removal device with a sensor device

A sensor to detect water, the sensor comprising:

• an inlet connector with an inlet opening, the inlet connector being connectable to a source of water, the inlet opening forming at least a part of a reservoir for reception of water from the source of water;
• at least two sensor elements positioned within or adjacent to the inlet opening and/or the reservoir, such that the sensor elements protrude into the reservoir or form an interface of the reservoir and are positioned at different measuring positions along a measuring axis;
• and
• a vent in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vent venting the reservoir to the surrounding air to prevent a siphon effect,
• wherein at least one sensor element of the at least two sensor elements is an optical sensor,
• wherein the sensor further comprises a transparent sensor body, which is arranged adjacent to the reservoir and further comprises a prism-shaped or conical-shaped reflection face, which faces towards the reservoir and is in contact therewith,
• wherein the optical sensor comprises a set of one light emitter and one corresponding light receiver, which are arranged adjacent to or integrated into a back surface of the sensor body, which is essentially opposite to the reflection face,
• wherein light of the light emitter is directed towards the reflection face and the light receiver provides an electronic sensor signal that is indicative of an amount of light internally reflected back from the reflection face and received by the light receiver,
• wherein an electronics unit is connected to the optical sensor and is adapted to determine whether water is present or absent at the reflection face, based on the electronic sensor signal of the light receiver,
• wherein at least two of the optical sensor are provided on the sensor body,
• wherein each of the at least two optical sensors comprises a set of one light emitter and one corresponding light receiver,
• wherein the sensor body has an elongate shape and extends along or in parallel to the measuring axis,
• wherein the sets of light emitters and light receivers of the at least two optical sensors are arranged adjacent to or integrated into the back surface of the sensor body, which is essentially opposite to the reflection face, facing away from the reservoir,
• wherein the sets of light emitters and light receivers are positioned at different measuring positions along the measuring axis,
• wherein the light of the light emitters is directed towards the reflection face and the light receivers provide electronic sensor signals that are indicative of an amount of light internally reflected back from the reflection face and received by the light receivers, and
• wherein the electronics unit is connected to the at least two optical sensors and is adapted to determine whether water is present or absent at each measuring position at the reflection face, based on the electronic sensor signals of the light receivers.