US 4,639,831 A · Sensor for detecting an amount of rain

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a transparent sensor for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, which does not prevent the passenger from seeing outside of a vehicle through a window glass. The raid sensor is made from transparent material, and the rain sensor is located within the wiping area on an exterior surface of the window glass. The rain sensor includes a pair of electrodes. One of the pair of electrodes has a plurality of projections, and an interval is defined between each two of the plurality of projections. Another one of the pair of electrodes has a plurality of projections, and an interval is defined between each two of the plurality of projections. Further, the plurality of projections of one of the electrodes are inserted into the interval being defined between each two of the projections of another one of the electrodes. A clearance is defined between the plurality of projections of one of the electrodes and the plurality of projections of another one of the electrodes. Accordingly, the pair of electrodes are insulated electrically by the clearance. An insulating protector film covers the plurality of projections of the electrodes and the clearance, and the insulating protector film is fixed to the plurality of projections of the electrodes and the exterior surface of the window glass. The insulating protector film is made from transparent material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sensor for detecting an amount of rain comprising:

a first conductor member being made of transparent material, the first conductor member including a plurality of first projections, each of the plurality of first projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of first projections;
a second conductor member being made of transparent material, the second conductor member including a plurality of second projections, each of the plurality second projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of second projections, at least one of the plurality of second projections being inserted between two of the plurality of first projections of said first conductor member with a clearance, said first conductor member being insulted electrically from said second conductor member by the clearance;
and
a first insulating member being mounted on said first and second conductor members, said first insulating member being made from a first transparent material.

1 more element

A sensor for detecting amount of rain comprising:

a base insulating member being made from transparent material;
a first conductor member being made from transparent material, the first conductor member being fixed to said base insulating member, the first conductor member including a plurality of first projections, each of the plurality of first projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of first projections;
a second conductor member being made from transparent material, the second conductor member being fixed to said base insulating member, the second member including a plurality of second projections, each of the plurality of second projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of second projections, at least one of the plurality of second projections being inserted between two of the plurality of first projections of said first conductor member with a clearance, said first conductor member being insulated electrically from said second conductor member by the clearance;
and
a first insulating member being fixed to said first and second conductor members and said base insulating member being defined between said first and second conductor members, said a first insulating member being made from a first transparent material.

2 more elements

A sensor for detecting an amount of rain comprising:

a windshield being made from transparent material;
a first conductor member being made from ITO film, the first conductor member being fixed to said windshield, the first conductor member including a plurality of first projections, each of the plurality of first projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of first projections;
a second conductor member being made from ITO film, the second conductor member being fixed to said windshield, the second conductor member including a plurality of second projections, each of the plurality of second projections being spaced from the other of the plurality of second projections, at least one of the plurality of second projections being inserted between two of the plurality of first projections of said first conductor member with a clearance, said first conductor member being insulated electrically from said second conductor member by the clearance;
and
a first insulating member being fixed to said first and second conductor members and to said windshield being defined between said first and second conductor members, said first insulating member being made from a first transparent material.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sensor for detecting an amount of rain

Life of this patent

Sensor for detecting an amount of rain

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20