Moisture sensor and windshield fog detector

A system for detecting moisture on a vehicle windshield comprising:

• an image sensor having an imaging surface, said image sensor mounted in said vehicle such that said imaging surface is inclined with respect to vertical;
• an optical system operative to image at least a portion of the vehicle windshield onto the image sensor;
• and
• a processing system in communication with the image sensor and operative to analyze images from the image sensor to detect moisture.

A system for detecting moisture on a surface comprising:

• a lens;
• an image sensor inclined relative to an imaging plane of said lens, said lens positioned to image at least a portion of the surface onto said image sensor;
• and
• a processing system in communication with the image sensor and operative to analyze images from the image sensor to detect moisture.

A windshield wiper control system for a vehicle comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an optical system operative to image at least a portion of the surface of the windshield onto the image sensor, said optical system is further operative to blur distant objects in the imaged scene while sharply focussing objects on the windshield;
• and
• a processing system in communication with the image sensor and operative to analyze images from the image sensor to detect moisture on the windshield and to activate the windshield wipers when moisture is detected.

A windshield wiper control system for a vehicle comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an optical system operative to image at least a portion of the surface of the windshield onto the image sensor;
• an illuminator for providing supplemental illumination across substantially all of the imaged portion of the windshield surface;
• and
• a processing system in communication with the image sensor and the illuminator and operative to analyze images from the image sensor to detect moisture on the windshield and to activate the windshield wipers when moisture is detected.

A windshield wiper control system for a vehicle comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an optical system operative to image at least a portion of the surface of the windshield onto the image sensor;
• and
• a processing system in communication with the image sensor and operative to analyze images from the image sensor to detect moisture on the windshield and to activate the windshield wipers when moisture is detected, said processing system is further operative to detect operation of a windshield wiper and to obtain a baseline image of the windshield immediately after it has been wiped by the windshield wiper, said processing system utilizing the baseline image to distinguish moisture from bugs, cracks, dirt, and other debris on the windshield.