Denso Corporation

Nippon Soken, Inc.

Akira Utida

Masayuki Imanishi

Katsunori Michiyama

Atsushi Yamamoto

A raindrop sensor includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor captures an image of a windshield from inside a vehicle. The image processor performs a frequency analysis of the image to detect a high-frequency component in the image. When the high-frequency component is detected, the image processor detects a width of a change region where a change in gradation of the image occurs. When the width of the change region is within a predetermined range corresponding to a diameter of a raindrop, the image processor determines that the raindrop is on the windshield. Even when a foreign matter such as a water stain appears as the high-frequency component as a result of the frequency analysis, the raindrop and the foreign matter can be distinguished from each other based on the width of the change region.

Raindrop sensor for detecting rain on a vehicle windshield including an image sensor and processor for performing a frequency analysis of an image and wiper controller having the same

Growing community of inventors

Okazaki, Japan

Akira Utida