Rain Sensor

1. Overview
A wiper is necessary when driving during rainy or
snowy weather. It can be operated when the driver
needs it. With a multifunction switch, it can be
operated in various modes. While driving, however,
the driver would be inconvenienced if he has to
control the switch according to the amount of
rainwater that hits the windshield. Especially, for a
novice driver, this may be dangerous as it may cause an accident.

The RAIN SENSOR detects the amount of rainwater that hits the car’s windshield and
automatically controls the wiper’s operation. It operates the wiper at the proper wiping
speed according to the amount of rainwater that hits the car’s windshield. The wiper
automatically stops when the rain stops.

2. Components

Rain sensor
unit

Wiper Motor Multifunction

switch
3. Operating Principle
When rainwater drops on the windshield, the photoreceiver detects the emitted infrared
light reflected from the raindrops and determines the
amount of rainwater that dropped on the windshield.
It can detect small raindrops with a diameter of 0.4
mm. As the rain sensor can compensate for the
transmission of glass, it can correctly calculate the
amount of rainwater even when the glass
transmission is not good.
 ■ The rain sensor detects the amount of rainwater
that drops on the windshield through its LED and photosensor.
■ By transmitting infrared light from the LED and receiving reflected infrared light from
the raindrops on the windshield’s surface via photodiode, the amount of rainwater that
drops on the windshield can be alculated.
■ The windshield’s transmission is decided within the range located above the center
point between the LED and photosensor.

4. Kinds of Rain Sensor

4.1 Type in which ETACS Controls the Wiper Motor
By setting the wiper motor operating time at the INT position of the multifunctional
switch, ETACS controls the operating time of the wiper according to the input signal
of INT volume resistance. (It would be inconvenient for the driver, however, to
control the operating time according to the amount of rainwater that drops on the
windshield).
4.2 Type in which the Rain Sensor Controls the Wiper Motor
Instead of ETACS, through the detection of the amount of rainwater by the rain
sensor and unit installed at the upper interior side of the windshield, the wiper
operating time and speed automatically switches to LOW/HIGH without any operation
by the driver.

5. Operating Mode
The wiper control system with a rain sensor includes an auto mode (corresponding to
the INT position) in addition to the conventional wiper functions, such as OFF, MIST,
LOW, and WASHER. By setting the system on auto mode, the wiper operating time and
speed automatically switches to LOW/HIGH when the amount of raindrops that hits the
windshield is detected.