The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 18, 2000
Frank Blasing, Werl, DE;
Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG, Ludenscheid, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and device for detecting objects ( ) on a windshield ( ). The method comprises the following steps: Placing an optical sensor array ( ) on the inner side of a section of the windshield ( ), said array having a plurality of individual pixels and being focused on the outer side ( ) of the windshield ( ); determining the local frequency spectrum S(f) of the intensity fluctuations of pixels of the sensor array ( ), said pixels being combined in one or more blocks, and afterwards; evaluating the local frequency spectrum, whereby the detected local frequency spectrum S(f) is compared to one or more reference frequency distributions, and whereby a control signal for triggering one or more actuators is generated when the determined local frequency spectrum S(f) sufficiently conforms to a reference frequency distribution. The device comprises a detecting unit ( ) connected to a data processing unit ( ). The detecting unit is a sensor array ( ) which is provided with an aperture ( ) and is arranged at a certain distance behind the windshield ( ).