Ambient light detector for off-the-glass rain sensor
AssigneeValeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
InventorJames A. Jackson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical moisture detector for determining a value corresponding to ambient light conditions and comparing that value to a predetermined value. The detector includes an optical moisture sensor and a processor. The optical moisture sensor can be a photo array, a CCD or a CMOS. The processor can be a microprocessor. The processor can emit a control signal to engage or disengage a light generating device based on the result of the comparison of the value to the predetermined value.
Claims19
An optical moisture detector for measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
- an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels;
- and
- processor means for receiving the signals, for determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to existing ambient light conditions using the signals, and for emitting a control signal if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value.
An optical moisture detector for measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
- an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels for sensing the presence of moisture on a windshield of a vehicle, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels;
- and
- processor means for receiving the signals, for determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to existing ambient light conditions using the signals, and for emitting a control signal if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value.
A method of measuring ambient light conditions comprising:
- sensing an image with an optical moisture sensor having a plurality of dark pixels and a plurality of standard pixels, the sensor operable to emit signals corresponding to sensed conditions at each of the plurality of dark pixels and each of the plurality of standard pixels;
- receiving the signals and determining an absolute ambient light value corresponding to the existing ambient light conditions with processor means using the signals;
- and
- emitting a control signal with the processor means if the absolute ambient light value is less than a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.