2) United States Patent ‘Veerasamy RAIN SENSOR WITH SELECTIVELY RECONFIGURABLE FRACTAL BASED. SENSORS/CAPACTTORS oa (75) Investor: Vijayen 8. Veerasamy, Aan Arbor, MI ws) 0) Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp., Auburn Hills, MI (US) (#) Notice: Subjct to any disclaimer the tem of this pateat is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 15400) by 34 days, en Appl. No 11/700,281 (22) Filed: Sam, 31, 2007 6s) Prior Publication Data US 2007/0200718.A1 Aug. 30,2007 Related US. Application Data of application No. 11/340,847, filed on Jan. 27, 2006, and a continnation-in-part of application No. 11/340,86, fled on Jan. 27, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,492,270, and a continuationin-part of pplication No, 11/340,859, filed on an, 27,2006, and 8 continuationsin-part of appliation No. 11/340,869, filed on Jan, 27, 2086, @) Continuation-in Provisional application No. 601757479, filed om Jan, 10,2006. US 7,551,095 B2 Jun, 23, 2009 ‘USOO7SS1095B2 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4805070 A 2198) Koontz tal (Continved) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS iP ome Vi997 (Continved) (OTHER PUBLICATIONS Inverasional Seach Report dad May’ 28, 2008 (Continsed) Primary Examiner “Assistant Examiner (94) Attorney, Agent, oF Firm ‘George A Bugs ‘Samuel J Walk, Nixon & Vanderhye PC on A system and/or method for sensing the presence of moisture (ex. rain) andor other materials) on a window such as a vehicle window (e... vehicle windshield, sunroof or back- Tie) In certain example embodiments, a plurality of sensing capacitors are supportedby a window suchas a vehicle wind- shiek, the capacitors each having a different field andlor pattem. A sensing circuit outputs an analog signal that is based on andlor related tothe capacitances of one or more of the seasing capacitors, In certain example embodiments, a switching eireuit is provided in onder t0 selectively switch between diferent sensing capacitors or combinations thereot (oreven possibly antennas andor bands), in order to change the sensing Beld being analyzed and/or ehange the feanire being searched for For example, in certain example embodi- ‘ments, the switching circuit may selectively switch between: () capacitors) for detecting ruin onan exterior surface ofthe ‘window, and (b) capacitors) for deteting one or more of ice ‘on an exterior surface of the window, mist on an exterior stefaceof the window, andor moisture onan interior surface of the window. ABSTRACT 20 Claims, 29 Drawing Sheets x 18 4 ‘6 ‘Computing Wiper Module Contot Decision System Algorithens Motor Cl Gus 21700 (2006.01) (2) US.CL ‘4602: 340/438, 3401608 340604; 324/688; 324/668 (58) Field of Chassitcation Sear 3.401602. 604 See aplication file foe complete sarc history yo Power Supply 12 Read Out Electronics| DSP Unit Eletical Noise Pick e Cable Capacitive ‘Sensor CT. 7 npUS 7,551,095 B2 era lee $040.41 A 8/1991 Medzius 6,975,257 B2 12/2005 Reefman et al. eal ae he wear Baw Re Sega eels ree faite oy er ze sam 6326613 BI 122001 Soak a opens 63415 B2 1/2002 Lynam Wo Wo 2007006781 2007 6,392,218 BI 5/2002 Kuehnle Fedele ahha saith 6,603,137 B2 82003 Hochstein Lah oe eee eee VRS IS oeUS 7,551,095 B2 Sheet 1 of 29 Jun, 23, 2009 U.S, Patent Vi ‘Bld AWN JO}OW wash [oU0D 9inpoW } Buyndwwo: A Jedi Nn! o OL vb a” g Josuag aanioedeg, aiqeD wun dSa s01U04}99} ino peasy zh | A\ddng JOMOd OL Ld dnyjold OSION [291}09}3U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 2 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 Sun Electric Sensing Field Line (ES) Rain Drop C1,C2,C3 or ca 7 Opaque Layer Vehicle interior e Fig. 1B Electric Field Sensing Line (ES) Glass Substrate Vehicle Interior { K . 7 C1,C2,C3 or C4 Fig. 1CU.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 3 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 @ a Electric Sensing “T* Field Line Vehicle Exterior Glass Substrate Low-E Coating (Optional) Polymer inter! ™mH! 1 olymer interlayer sf 8 Glass Substrate Opaque Layer Vehicle Interior Fig. 1D Electric Sensing Field Line Glass Substrate Vehicle Interior Fig. 1E1,095 B2 Jun, 23,2009 Sheet 4 of 29 U.S, Patent Electric Sensing ~ O- > Line Vehicle Exterior 1 \ 1 1 ’ 1 1 7 1 v ' 1 Glass Substrate Optional Low-E Coating Polymer Interlayer 7 1 1 ' i 1 ' i Glass Substrate Vehicle Interior 12 it ( 9 C1,C2,C3 or C46 v2 ‘bla wa eld 1,095 B2 2 Q wugo=deg zZ a 3 9z SS peg jeu a wwgg = yy6ue7 5 7 70 -LO sojoedeg yea v% Wu | = UIPIAN Ud Jeans U.S, PatentUS 7,551,095 B2 Sheet 6 of 29 Jun, 23, 2009 U.S, Patent gz ‘big ww), = sped joeju0o ueemjaq eouelsiq | WWE], = Je}OWIP e011 11NO Wig = Ja}@WeIP aJou19 JaUU] wu ul ese sun ily wwg"9 = deb uly WU) = YPM eul| JauUy WWZ = UIPIM eu!) 481NOU.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 7 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 Fig. 3U.S, Patent “WL o_| Ciky, US 7,551,095 B2 Q3 8 1 jas Vout Vout (or Vo) Cint eta) Cint,U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 9 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 Bias EE ec 4 Vout aa /--——* e——_ ¢— Vout (or Vo) as 06 a Chg, | JL “3, Capacitors \ Array eat Bs Spe 6s Cine} Fig. 5U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 10 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 Fig. 6 ies ec c2 c3 Clky, Clk, Ciky, Clk, Clky, Cl, Clk, Read VariableU.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 11 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 $702 Start/Intialization ‘Operating Mode Selector $708 ‘Auto Mode ‘$710 $706 ‘Autocorrelator Engine $712 Park Wipers/ Stop Motor S716 Yes Lowest Speed S718 Cross-Correlator Engine $720 Rain Degree Assessment $722 Speed Selector Fig. 7U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 2009 Sheet 12 of 29 US 7,551,095 B2 $808 rT Clear Buffer ‘Sigma Delta Modulation [~ starviniiaizaton — | ~seoo | Read multiple channels | ~S802 inputs C1,C2,...Ck. | $804 Autocorrelator Engine (to identity rain from other disturbances) 3 conditions ‘A. Rix has no negative values B. The gradient is greater than 4 C. The shape of Rxx curve is different from database data (normalized non-disturbed autocorrelation) T $806 ‘Are all conditions met? $810 Wiper @ Lowest Speed $812 Cross-Correlator Engine (to detect rain levels) ‘Compare the two sides of the cross-correlation curve Determine the symmetry level: L t S814 S818 $816 Lowest Speed Yes Speed#i [*— 8820 Speed #2 b+ uct is t_min< L ing wo another example embodiment of this invention, that may'usethe features of FIG. (a) andor one or moreot FIGS. 212, FIG. (eis. eros sectional view of a rain sensor accont- ing wo another example embodiment of this invention, that may use the features ofFIG. 1(@) and/or one or more of FIGS. 22, FIG. A()is across sectional view of arain sensor according ‘w another example embodiment of this invention, that may use the features oF FIG. 1(@) andlor one o more of FIGS. 22, FIG. 28 is an exemplary optimized patter fora quadrant ccapacitative ary based on Hilbert fractals, where such pacitors may be provided on the window as a sensor army inthe embodiments of one of more of FIGS. Ha)-lG) and 4412 for example. FIG. 2B isanother exemplary optimized pater fora quad rant capueitative array, where such capacitors may be pro- vided on the window a. sensor array inthe embodiments of ‘one or more of FIGS. 1(a)-1() and 4-12 for example. FIG. 3 is an enlarged picture of yet another exemplary ‘quadrant capacitative aray, where such capacitors may be provided on the window as sensor aray inthe embodiments ‘of one or more of FIGS. 1(a}-1() and 4-12 for example. FIG. 4 isa example circuit diagram including exemplary irvitty used fora write clock pulse in readout electronics, orusein one or more of the embodiments of FIGS, N(a)-19) and 8-12 for example FIG. 8 isan example circuit diagram inchading exemplary try used for an erase clock pulse in readout electonics, ore in one or more ofthe embodiments of FIGS. (a) and 612 for example, 0 o 8 FIG, 6s an exemplary timing diggram derived from read out circuitry of FIGS. 4 FIG. isan exemplary owchartor state diagram showing how autocorrelation and cross-corrlaton data may be used ‘ocontrol wipers acconting oan example embodiment ofthis invention, which may be used in conjunction with one of ‘more of FIGS. 1-6 and 8-12, PIG. Bis an exemplary fowchart showing how autocorre- Jation andeross-cortelation data canbe sed to contol wipers according oan example embodiment ofthis invention, which ‘maybe use in conjunction with oneof moreof FIGS, 1-7 and 912, FIG. 9 is an exemplary stylized view of how a rain droplet, night travel across a Windshield FIG. 10 is an graph plotting example experimentally-ob- ‘ained maximum values of non-normalized autocorrelato {or dfferent disturbances. FIG. 114 isan example experimentally-obtsined sutocor- ‘elation snapshot indicative of heavy rain FIG, 142 isan example experimentally-obtained autocor- ‘elation snapshot indicative ofa ight mist. PIG. 11C isan example experimentally-obtained autocor- ‘elation snapshot indicative of CB radio interference. FIG. 11D isan example experimentally-obtainedautocor- relation snapshot indicative of @ grounded body with a volt ‘ge. FIG. 12A isan exemplary correlation matrix indicative of Tight rain, FIG. 122 isan exemplary correlation matrix indicative of | heavy rain, FIG. 13 is an example of autocorrelation according to an ‘example embodiment ofthis invention FIG, 14 is 9 chart setting forth example cross-cortelation| ata from capacitors C1, C2 acording to examples of eetain ‘embodiments ofthis invention, FIG. 18 isa erosseorreation graph, ploting eroscorrela. tion valves versus time lags (he time logs are in terms of _merosoconds inthe time domain) according oan example of this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 16 isa crosseorrelation graph, plotting erosseormeae tion valves versus time lags (he time logs are in terms of :mjeroseconds inthe time domain) according to anexample of this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 17 is a rosseorreation graph, ploting eroseorrela. tion valies versus time lags (te time lags are in terms of _mierosoconds in the time domain) according 10 anexampleot this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 18 isa crosseorrelation graph, plotting ersseorneae tion valves versus time lags (the time lags are in terms of :mjeroseconds inthe time domain) according to anexample of this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 19 isa crosseorelation graph, plotting erosseormeae tion valles versus time lags (lie time lags are in terms of ‘microseconds inthe time domain) according toanexampleof this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 20 sa crosscorrelation graph plotting ersscorrela- tion valves versus time lags the time lags are in terms of :mjeroseconds inthe time domain) according to anexample of {his invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 21 isa crosseorelation graph plotting erosseorneae ‘ion valves versus time lags the time lags are in terms of ‘microseconds inthe time domain) according oan exampleof {his invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 22 isa crosseorrelation graph plotting ersscorrela- tion valves versus time lags (the time lags are in terms of ‘microseconds inthe time domain) according toanexampleof {his invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14US 7,551,095 B2 9 FIG. 23 isa crossconelation graph, plotting erosseorre tion values versus time lags (lhe time lags are in terms of microseconds inthe tine domain) according oan example of this invention, wsing certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG, 24 is crosscorrelation graph, platting erosseorreae tion values versus time lags (Ihe time lags are in terms of microseconds in the time domsin) according ton example of this invention, using certain signals from FIG. 14 FIG. 25 is-a block diageam illustrating cireitry andor processing of ignals according an example embodiment of this invention wherea sensing capacitor (e., C1) is present, including sigma-delta modulation, FIG, 26 is a block diagram ilustrating cireitry andor processing of signals according an example embodiment of thisinvention where} fe IG. 27 isa block diagram illustrating sigma-delta mx Jation according to an example embodiment of his invention: this processing being performed in circuitry, firmware andior sofware, FIGS. 28(2) AND 28() are schemati diagrams ilustrat- ing advantages of using owting electrodes. for sensing capacitors (ex, C1-C4) according to cenain cxample ‘embovdiments ofthis invention, IG. 29 isa block diagram illostratng sigma-delta mx Jation seconding to another example invention: this processing being performed in circuitry, fim ware and/or software TFIG. 30 a block diagram illustrating sigma-delta modu- Jation aceoting to yer another example embodiment of this ‘ventions this processing being performed in cect, frm- ware and/or software TIG. 31 illustrates switching circuit which may beusedin ‘conjunction with any of te oer embodiments of this inven tion, so as to selectively switch between different sensing ‘capacitors in onder to change the sensing Held being analyzed andlor change the feature being searched fr. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the accompanying “drawings in which ike reference numerals indicate ike parts throughout the several views. Inceriin example embodiments of this invention, a mois- ture (eg. ain) sensor system and/or method is provided and inchides “capacitance-based detection which ‘translates physical input signal (eg. the presence of a drop of water on windshield, orthe lke) into a digital electrical volagesignal which is received and interpreted by a software program(s) or reutS) that decides whether windshield wipers should be ‘setivated, and, if 0, optionally their proper speed. ‘Thus ‘capacitive coupling is used to detect water andor other mate Fial in the exterior surface of a window such as a vehicle ‘windshield, sunroof, andor backlite. I will be appreciated that computational methods may be performed by hardware ‘or a combination of hardware and software in different ‘example embodiments of this inveation Ia ceeain example ‘embodiments ofthis invention, no reerence capacitance oF ‘capacitor is needed (Ge, no compensation capacitor is needed). In certain example embodiments ofthis invention a ph raity of sensing eapacitorsare supported bya window suchas a vohicle windshield, the capacitors cach having 2 diferent field. A sensing circuit outputs an analog signal that is based ‘on andlor related tothe eapacitances of the sensing caps bodiment of this 0 o ich between differe Sensing capacitors or diferent combinations thereof (or even possibly antennas andr bands), in order to change the sens- ‘ing field being analyzed andor change the feature being searched fore. see FIGS. 4,8, 26 nd 31) Forexample, in certain example embodiments, the switching circuit may selectively switch between: (a) capacitor) for detecting rain ‘nan exterior surface of the windew, and (b) capacitors) for etecting one or more of ice on an exterior surface of the ‘window, mist on an exterior surface of the window, andior ‘moisture on an interior surface ofthe window. Such embodi- ‘meals may or may not be used in combination with any other embodiment(s) ofthis invention discussed herein, Cerizin example embodiments of this invention take advantage ofa permitivity equation, which gives a physical ‘quantity that describes how an electric field alfets and is ‘fected by a medium. An example basic permitivity quae ‘ion is Deen ‘where Dis electrical fx, is the dielectrie constant of « vacuum, F is an electrical field (eg, the voltage setup ‘between plates or electrodes divided hy distance, orm), and P is polarization, Polarization P can be further deseribed ‘mathematically as Meet where 6, is relative permittivity (eg. the diclectrie constant ‘of water. ice, dir or anything csc that could be onan exterior surface of a window stich asa windshield), ln general, a igh valucof, wil eorespond thigh polarizability. The peri tivity of glass is approximately 8, and the permittivity of wwateris approximately 85. By substitution and factorization, thea, dhe permitivity equation can be rewritten as: preserve In this form, it will be appreciated that D isthe response to excitation E Capacitance C is given by C-QIV, where Q isthe charge and V ste potential, in volts, Additionally, “¥V, where js the electric ux associated with charge Q. By Gauss” Law: fe A, where dA js the area of a differential square on the closed surlaceS. By substitution, then, i becomes clear that capaci- tance is related to potential difference: cpp “These equations form the basis ofanexample technique for measuring the interaction of water on glass by using a sensor with a capacitive array to probe above the window (ez. slats), In particular, data froma sensor including atleast one, or two oF more, capacitors) (eg, C1, C2, C3, ee.) may be used to detect whether moisture (eg, ain, or the like) is present on an exterior surface of @ window such as a vehicle ‘Windshield orbacklite, The above equations illustrate tat the presence of water on the surface of a window can affect the ‘capacitance of an appropriately positioned sensing capacitor FIG. 1( isa block diggram of example components of a moisture (eg rain) sensor according to an example embodi- of this invention, Power supply 10 connected t read-