Littelfuse, Inc.
Optical rain sensor with dynamic optical configuration control comprising a plurality of photo elements each capable of being selectively activated to emit light and deactivated to receive light

Abstract:

An optical rain sensor for detecting rainfall on a transparent substrate, the optical rain sensor including a housing disposed on a surface of the transparent substrate, a plurality of photo elements disposed within the housing, each photo element capable of being selectively activated to emit light and deactivated to receive light, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of photo elements and configured to alternatingly drive the plurality of photo elements between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein, in the first mode of operation, at least a first photo element is activated and at least a second photo element is deactivated and, in the second mode of operation, at least the second photo element is activated and at least the first photo element is deactivated.