US 12,092,516 B2
Sensor apparatus for detecting the wetness of a window, particularly the window of a motor vehicle
Viktor Gerlitz, Oldenburg (DE); Thomas Niemann, Delmenhorst (DE); Dirk Jegminat, Bremen (DE); and Alexander Göhmann, Lahnau (DE)
Assigned to HELLA GMBH & CO., KGAA, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed by HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/719,814.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 109 380.5 (DE), filed on Apr. 14, 2021; and application No. 10 2022 103 101.2 (DE), filed on Feb. 10, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333980 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G01J 1/42 (2006.01); G01N 21/3554 (2014.01); G02B 3/00 (2006.01); B60S 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 1/42 (2013.01) [G01N 21/3554 (2013.01); G02B 3/0068 (2013.01); B60S 1/0837 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor apparatus for detecting the wetness of a window, particularly the window of a motor vehicle, with at least one radiation emitter for emitting radiation and with at least one radiation receiver for receiving radiation, with at least one optical guide element which can be coupled to the inner side of the window for guiding the radiation emitted by the radiation emitter,
wherein at least one radiation inlet side of the guide element is assigned to the at least one radiation emitter, and at least one radiation outlet side of the guide element is assigned to the at least one radiation receiver,
wherein the radiation inlet side and the radiation outlet side of the guide element are each embodied as a lens arrangement,
wherein at least one lens arrangement is created by lens contours arranged side by side,
wherein the lens arrangement on the radiation inlet side includes at least two lens contours,
wherein inlet surfaces of the lens contours on the radiation inlet side, through which the radiation can enter the guide element, are inclined towards each other,
wherein the lens arrangement on the radiation outlet side has at least two lens contours,
wherein the outlet surfaces of the lens contours on the radiation outlet side, through which the radiation can exit the guide element, are inclined towards each other, and
wherein the lens arrangements on the radiation inlet side and the radiation outlet side each form at least one tier and that at least one lens contour is arranged on both sides of the tier.