Importance

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Abstract

A vehicular rain sensor system for detecting precipitation on an exterior surface of a window includes an illumination sensor that is decoupled from the window. The illumination sensor is preferably an imaging array sensor which communicates a signal to a control which further determines whether rain is present on the window. The control includes an edge detection function for detecting edges of precipitation droplets on the window in response to the light values sensed by the sensor and activating the windshield wipers of the vehicle when the sum of the light values exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The rain sensor system may further include a polarizing filter and an illumination source, such that the rain sensor system not only prevents false signals of rain when only fog is present on an interior surface of the window, but also actually detects fog particles on an interior surface of the window.

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First Claim