Multifocal Rain Sensor Reflective Plate Array for Glass Thickness Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rain sensors face challenges in efficiently collecting reflected light due to varying glass part thicknesses, requiring separate designs and reduced light collection efficiency, limiting their applicability to different vehicle glass parts.
Innovation Solution
A multifocal rain sensor design incorporating a second reflective plate with multiple focuses, configured to collect light reflected by the glass part and re-reflect it into a light receiving unit, enhancing light collection efficiency across different glass part thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional rain sensor uses a single reflective plate for light collection, then the structure is simple, but light collection efficiency is reduced when glass part thickness varies
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective plate is divided into multiple segments with different focal lengths arranged in an array. Each segment corresponds to a specific glass thickness range, allowing the sensor to maintain high light collection efficiency across varying glass thicknesses while keeping the overall structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective plate array structure serves multiple functions: it accommodates different glass thicknesses (4mm, 5mm, 6mm), maintains accurate rainwater measurement across all thicknesses, and eliminates the need for separate sensor designs for different vehicle types
2Measurement precision
If separate rain sensor designs are provided for different glass part thicknesses, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single rain sensor design with a reflective plate array can be universally applied to different glass thicknesses (4mm, 5mm, 6mm) by selecting the appropriate segment, eliminating the need for multiple separate sensor designs while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective plate segments have different focal lengths as a key parameter, allowing the same sensor structure to adapt to different glass thicknesses by changing which segment is active, rather than requiring entirely different sensor designs
3Measurement precision
If the sensor size is increased to collect reflected light from a wide region, then light collection efficiency improves, but the sensor becomes larger and more difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large reflective plate, the system uses multiple smaller reflective plate segments arranged in an array. Each segment handles a specific focal length range, achieving wide light collection coverage without requiring a large overall sensor size
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective plate segments are arranged in a spatial array configuration, utilizing two-dimensional arrangement to achieve three-dimensional light collection coverage, allowing efficient collection of reflected light from wide regions without increasing sensor volume excessively
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The multifocal rain sensor effectively collects light with improved efficiency, maintaining accurate measurements across glass part thicknesses from 4 mm to 6 mm without requiring separate designs, thus enhancing measurement accuracy and applicability to various vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light emitting unit configured to output light
Implementation Method 2
a glass part reflecting light after the light is reflected by the first reflective plate
Implementation Method 3
a second reflective plate re-reflecting the light reflected by the glass part
Data Source
AI summary
A multifocal rain sensor includes: at least one light emitting unit configured to output light; a first reflective plate corresponding to the at least one light emitting unit and disposed at a position spaced apart from the at least one light emitting unit by a predetermined distance; a glass part reflecting light after the light is reflected by the first reflective plate and forming a sensing region; a second reflective plate re-reflecting the light reflected by the glass part; and a light receiving unit configured to receive the light reflected by the second reflective plate. The second reflective plate includes a multifocal reflective plate having a plurality of focuses based on a vertical height of incident light that varies according to a change in thickness of the glass part.