SENSOR FOR DETECTING WATER DROPS

Title:

SENSOR FOR DETECTING WATER DROPS

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/181506

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

This sensor (100) for detecting water drops has: a light-emitting element (10) for emitting a detection light; a refracting portion (30) for refracting the detection light so as to enter a transparent plate; a photoreceptor element (70) for receiving the totally-reflected detection light at the interface between the transparent plate and the air; and a detector (90) for detecting increase or decrease in the detection light entering the photoreceptor element, to thereby detect a that water drop has deposited on the outside surface of the transparent plate. The refracting portion has a plurality of entrance faces (31b, 32b). The plurality of entrance faces are arrayed within the plane of the transparent plate from the light-emitting element towards the photoreceptor element, while establishing the distances that connect the light-emitting element and the plurality of entrance faces, in such a way that the detection light entering the plurality of entrance faces has uniform intensity. Uniform detection sensitivity is achieved thereby, and sufficient surface area of the detection zone is ensured.

Inventors:

OTSUKA KIYOSHI (JP)
ANDO HIROSHI (JP)
ISHIKAWA JUNICHI (JP)
SUGIURA MAKIKO (JP)
MAKINO KAZUKI (JP)

Application Number:

PCT/JP2014/002234

Publication Date:

November 13, 2014

Filing Date:

April 21, 2014

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

DENSO CORP (JP)

International Classes:

G01W1/14; G01N21/17

Foreign References:

JP2009042250A	2009-02-26
JP2013057553A	2013-03-28
JP2009010368A	2009-01-15
JP2007278711A	2007-10-25