Sensor configuration for substantial spacing from a small aperture

A sensor assembly comprising:

• a housing having an aperture;
• a diffusing element positioned across said aperture;
• and
• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical signal in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define an optical radiation collector portion for collecting and redirecting incident optical radiation towards said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and reflecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element,
• wherein the vehicle accessory is a rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said sensor device is included in said rearview mirror assembly.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element;
• and
• a processing circuit coupled to said sensor device for generating light control signals to control at least one vehicle light in response to light levels sensed by said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element;
• and
• a processing circuit coupled to said sensor device for generating windshield wiper control signals to control windshield wipers of the vehicle in response to light levels sensed by said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element;
• and
• a processing circuit coupled to said sensor device for generating climate control signals to control a climate control system of the vehicle in response to light levels sensed by said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a housing having an aperture;
• a diffusing element positioned across said aperture;
• and
• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical signal in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define an optical radiation collector portion for collecting and redirecting incident optical radiation towards said sensing element.

A sensor device comprising:

• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant including an integral lens for directing incident optical radiation toward said sensing element;
• and
• a light collector surrounding the integral lens for collecting and reflecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens onto the active surface of said sensing element.

A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:

• a housing having an aperture;
• a secondary optical element positioned across said aperture;
• and
• a sensor device comprising:
• a support structure;
• a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical signal in response thereto;
• and
• an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define an optical radiation collector portion for collecting and redirecting incident optical radiation towards said sensing element.