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:
Sep. 02, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2001
Peter A. Hochstein, Troy, MI (US);
Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and assembly for sensing moisture on the exterior surface of a sheet of glass ( ) comprising the steps of emitting light rays from an illuminator ( ) on an illuminator axis (I) intersecting the glass ( ) at an illuminator angle of incidence I to reflect the light rays on a reflection axis (R) at an angle (R ) of reflection to the glass ( ) and capturing on an imaging axis (C) the reflected light rays including reflections of moisture ( ) on the exterior surface of the glass ( ). The method is characterized by isolating the reflection of moisture ( ) from the direct reflection of the illuminator ( ) to prevent the capture of the direct reflection of the illuminator ( ). This can be accomplished by offsetting the imaging axis (C) from the reflection axis (R), or by stopping the direct reflection of the illuminator ( ) from being captured, as with a beam stop ( ).