Rain sensor with sigma-delta modulation and/or footprinting...

Details Rain sensor with sigma-delta modulation and/or footprinting... Rain sensor with sigma-delta modulation and/or footprinting...

2006-01-27

2009-02-17

Bugg, George A (Department: 2612)

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

C340S603000, C340S604000, C340S438000, C343S713000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07492270

ABSTRACT:
A system and/or method for sensing the presence of moisture (e.g., rain) and/or other material(s) on a window such as a vehicle window (e.g., vehicle windshield, sunroof or backlite). In certain example embodiments of the invention, at least one sensing capacitor is supported by a window such as a vehicle windshield, the capacitor(s) having a field that is affected by moisture (e.g., rain) on a surface of the window. A sensing circuit outputs an analog signal that is based on and/or related to the capacitance(s) of the sensing capacitor(s). The analog output of the circuit may be converted to a digital signal via sigma-delta modulation, and subjected to processing (e.g., correlation) for determining whether moisture (e.g., rain, dew, fog, etc.) or the like is present on the surface of the window.

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