Snow sensor

A snow sensor apparatus and circuit for sensing the presence of snow on a snow sensing surface, comprising:

• a housing member having a wall whose surface forms the snow sensing surface;
• a single heating element coupled to the wall for heating the snow sensing surface;
• a single temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the snow sensing surface and providing a temperature sensor signal;
• controller means coupled to the heating element and temperature sensor for repeatedly activating the heating element and monitoring the temperature sensor signal in respective cycles, each as a function of time;
• logic means for processing a temperature sensor signal and providing an output signal indicative of the presence of snow on the snow sensing surface, as a function of the cycles controlled by the controller means;
• an electrical connector attached to the housing member for conducting the output signal therethrough;
• and
• a region on the wall having less thickness with respect to the snow sensing surface than the remainder of the wall and being in thermal contact with the temperature sensor and the heating element, wherein the reduced thickness region is formed by providing a circular recess on the sensing surface, and wherein the heating element comprises a metallic foil heating element disposed within the recess.