US 2019/0291697 A1 · OPTICAL SENSOR, RAIN SENSOR AND VEHICLE

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an optical sensor having constant sensitivity regardless of changes in temperature. The optical sensor may include a light emitting device configured to emit light; a light receiving device configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting device, and to output current based on an intensity of the light; a temperature sensor coupled with the light emitting device, and having electrical resistance varying with temperature; and a microcontroller including a first channel for supplying first current directly to the light emitting device, a second channel for supplying second current to the light emitting device via the temperature sensor, and a third channel for receiving the current output from the light receiving device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical sensor comprising:

a light emitting device configured to emit light;
a light receiving device configured to:
receive the light emitted from the light emitting device;
and
output current based on an intensity of the light;
a temperature sensor coupled with the light emitting device, wherein the temperature sensor has electrical resistance varying with temperature;
and
a microcontroller comprising:
a first channel configured to supply first current directly to the light emitting device;
a second channel configured to supply second current to the light emitting device via the temperature sensor;
and
a third channel configured to receive the current outputted from the light receiving device.

9 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a front window;
a rain sensor configured to detect raindrops on the front window;
a wiper configured to remove the raindrops on the front window;
and
a controller configured to operate the wiper based on a signal from the rain sensor,
wherein the rain sensor comprises:
first light emitting device configured to emit first light;
second light emitting device configured to emit second light;
a light receiving device configured to:
receive the first light or the second light emitted from at least one of the first light emitting device or the second light emitting device;
and
output current based on an intensity of the first light or the second light;
a temperature sensor coupled with the second light emitting device, wherein the temperature sensor has electrical resistance varying with temperature;
and
a microcontroller comprising:
a first channel configured to supply first current directly o the first light emitting device;
a second channel configured to supply second current to the second light emitting device via the temperature sensor;
and
a third channel configured to receive the current outputted from the light receiving device.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical sensor, rain sensor and vehicle

Life of this patent

Optical sensor, rain sensor and vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20