Windshield moisture detector

A moisture detector comprising:

• a first conductor disposed on a substrate;
• a second conductor disposed on the substrate surrounding the first conductor with a gap defined between the ends of the second conductor;
• a power conductor disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first conductor via the gap between the ends of the second conductor;
• and
• a ground conductor disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to one end of the second conductor.

A moisture detection system comprising:

• a moisture detector disposed on a substrate, said moisture detector comprising at least one conductor that has a zigzag path along a longitudinal axis of said conductor and an other conductor surrounding the one conductor with a gap defined between the ends of the other conductor;
• a temperature sensor disposed in operative relation to the moisture detector for measuring a temperature on or adjacent the moisture detector;
• means for measuring a property of the moisture detector that varies in response to an amount of moisture present adjacent the moisture detector;
• means for measuring a property of the temperature sensor that varies in response to the temperature adjacent the moisture detector;
• and
• means for causing a system to operate as a function of the measured properties of the moisture detector and the temperature sensor.

A moisture detector comprising:

• a plurality of conductors disposed on a substrate and defining along their longitudinal axes zigzag paths that track each other in substantially spaced parallel relation, wherein each zigzag path includes a series of short, sharp turns or angles that define a series of distinct points;
• a power conductor disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to a first conductor of the plurality of conductors;
• and
• a ground conductor disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to a second conductor of the plurality of conductors wherein:
• the second conductor of the plurality of conductors surrounds the remaining plurality of conductors and defines a gap between the ends of the second conductor;
• and
• the power conductor is electrically connected to the first conductor via the gap between the ends of the second conductor.

A method of moisture detection comprising:

• (a) providing a moisture detector on a substrate, said moisture detector comprising a conductor that has a zigzag path along a longitudinal axis of said conductor;
• (b) providing a temperature sensor in operative relation to the moisture detector;
• (c) measuring a property of the moisture detector that varies in response to an amount of moisture present adjacent the moisture detector;
• (d) measuring a property of the temperature sensor that varies in response to the temperature adjacent the moisture detector;
• and
• (e) causing a system to operate as a function of the measured properties of the moisture detector and the temperature sensor.