Sensor for detecting raindrops, wiper drive apparatus using the device, and vehicle using them

Abstract

A raindrop sensor of the present invention including light emitting part which emits a strip-shaped light; light receiving part which receives the strip-shaped light emitted from the light emitting means; and detecting device which detects a raindrop based on the amount of the light received by the light receiving device. The raindrop sensor of the present invention is applied to a wiper apparatus of a vehicle. The wiper apparatus includes a wiper for wiping a windshield of the vehicle, and a control unit for instructing a given wiper operation to the wiper in accordance with a given output signals from the raindrop sensor, the wiper being driven in accordance with the instruction from the control unit. Also, the wiper apparatus using the raindrop sensor is applied to a vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.