# US 2018/0320884 A1 · Vehicle light assembly sensing moisture with light reflection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320884 A1 - Document ID: US20180320884A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/586,667 - Filed: 2017-05-04 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart C. Salter; Paul Kenneth Dellock; Aaron Bradley Johnson; Stephen Kenneth Helwig; Pietro Buttolo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320884A1 ## CPC - F21S 45/33: specially adapted for headlamps - B60Q 1/0023: {the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera} - F21S 41/28: {Cover glass} - F21S 45/37: specially adapted for signal lamps - F21S 45/60: Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting - F21V 29/90: Heating arrangements - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle light assembly including a housing, a light source, a lens disposed in front of the light source, a light sensor disposed in the housing outside of light output from the light source directed at the lens for sensing light reflected off the lens caused by moisture, and a heater disposed on the lens for reducing the moisture when moisture is sensed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle light assembly comprising: a housing; a light source disposed in the housing; a lens disposed in front of the light source; a sensor disposed in the housing for sensing light emitted by the light source and reflected from moisture on the lens; and a heater disposed on the lens and activated based on the sensed light for reducing the moisture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the heater to heat the lens when moisture is detected with the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises an electric heater having a conductive circuit formed on the lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit comprises a visually transparent conductive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source directs light output within a beam towards the lens and the sensor is disposed within the housing outside of the beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle light assembly of claim 6 further comprises a light shield located between the light source and the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises a vehicle headlight on the front of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises a vehicle taillight on the rear of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 A vehicle light assembly comprising: a housing; a light source disposed in the housing; a lens disposed in front of the light source; a light sensor disposed in the housing outside of a beam of light output directed from the light source towards the lens for sensing light from the light output reflected from moisture on the lens; and a heater disposed on the lens for reducing the moisture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle light assembly of claim 10 further comprising a controller for controlling the heater to heat the lens when moisture is detected with the sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle light assembly of claim 10, wherein the heater comprises an electric heater having a conductive circuit formed on the lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle light assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductive circuit comprises a visually transparent conductive material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle light assembly of claim 10 further comprises a light shield located between the light source and the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle light assembly of claim 10, wherein the light assembly comprises a vehicle headlight on the front of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle light assembly of claim 10, wherein the light assembly comprises a vehicle taillight on the rear of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 A vehicle headlight assembly comprising: a housing; a light source disposed in the housing; a lens disposed in front of the light source, wherein the light source directs light output in a beam towards the lens; a light sensor disposed in the housing outside of the beam of light output from the light source directed at the lens for sensing light from the light output reflected from moisture on the lens; and a heater disposed on the lens for reducing the moisture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle light assembly of claim 17 further comprising a controller for controlling the heater to heat the lens when moisture is detected with the sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The vehicle light assembly of claim 17, wherein the heater comprises an electric heater having a conductive circuit formed on the lens. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The vehicle light assembly of claim 17 further comprises a light shield located between the light source and the sensor.