Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co. Kg

Ralf Bobel

Detlef Kerkmann

Frank Blasing

Norbert Bendicks

Berthold Esders

Thomas Weber

Harald Donner

Christian Veltum

Andreas Muller

Holger Koch

An optoelectronic sensor includes optoelectronic converter elements having photosensitive surfaces arranged in a one or two dimensional array. A transparent cover protects the photosensitive surfaces of the optoelectronic converter elements. At least one portion of the transparent cover is shaped to include a light deflecting element such as a prism which enables the optoelectronic converter elements to be exposed to light beams coming from different directions.

Optoelectronic sensor having transparent cover shaped as light deflecting element

An optoelectronic monitoring device for a vehicle includes a single optical sensor array having a grid of optical sensor elements. Each optical sensor element generates an electronic signal in response to optical signals imaged onto the optical sensor elements. Optical imaging systems image respective optical signals onto the optical sensor array. The optical signals of each optical imaging system is representative of a monitored condition of a vehicle. The optical imaging systems form a single physical unit which is fixed with respect to the optical sensor array. Each optical imaging system is associated with a respective optical sensor element group of the optical sensor array such that the respective optical signal of each optical imaging system is imaged onto the respective optical sensor element group. The optical sensor elements are configurable by a processor to be arranged in optical sensor element groups for being associated with respective optical imaging systems.

Optoelectronic monitoring device for a motor vehicle

An optoelectronic sensor device for detecting precipitation on an outer surface (41) of a transparent pane (4) of a motor vehicle includes a beam guide element (1) having front and rear opposed parallel surfaces (2, 7) and first and second lateral opposed faces (5, 6). The front surface (2) is coupled to an inner surface (42) of a transparent pane (4) of a motor vehicle. Each of the lateral faces (5, 6) has a reflection region (52, 62). The rear surface (7) has first and second cut-out portions (8, 81) extending therefrom toward the front surface (2). Each of the cut-out portions (8, 81) has a reflective region (11). A beam transmitter (13) is disposed adjacent the rear surface (7) to transmit an infrared beam to the reflective region (11) of the first cut-out portion (8). The reflective region (11) of the first cut-out portion (8) reflects a beam transmitted from the beam transmitter (13) to the reflection region (52) of the first lateral face (5) which reflects the beam to the transparent pane (4). The transparent pane (4) reflects a part of the beam to the reflection region (62) of the second lateral face (6). The part of the beam reflected by the transparent pane (4) is a function of the precipitation on the outer surface (41) of the transparent pane (4). A beam receiver (14) is disposed adjacent the rear surface (7) to receive an infrared beam from the reflective region (62) of the second cut-out portion (81). The second lateral face (62) reflects the part of the beam reflected by the transparent pane (4) to the second cut-out portion (81) which reflects the part of the beam to the beam receiver (14).

Optoelectronic sensor device

An optoelectronic sensor device includes a waveguide element for affixing to a transparent pane on one surface and connected to a housing by way of latching barbs provided on U-shaped arms which engage corresponding recesses in the waveguide element. Slide-like locking elements are guided by the housing, parallel to the waveguide element and the pane, into the spaces defined by the U-shaped arms to prevent the arms from disengaging their respective recesses. The locking elements are adjustable by way of a handle which is flush with the housing when the latching elements are in their locked position. The locking elements include dome-shaped protrusions which cooperate with an edge of the housing to secure the locking elements within the housing.

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Dortmund, Germany

Ralf Bobel