An optical rain sensor including a plurality of light detecting elements and a plurality of peripheral light emitting elements disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) and surrounding a central light emitting element disposed on the PCB, wherein, in a first mode of operation, the central light emitting element is configured to emit light beams toward the plurality of light detecting elements, and wherein, in a second mode of operation, each of the peripheral light emitting elements is configured to emit light beams toward the plurality of light detecting elements.

An illustrative example embodiment of a device for detecting rain or a substance on a windshield includes at least one radiation source, an internal reflection sensor situated to detect at least some of a first portion of the radiation that reflects from the windshield. The internal reflection sensor provides a first output that has a characteristic that differs based on whether at least one raindrop is on the windshield. A scattered reflection sensor is situated to detect at least some of a second portion of the radiation reflecting from rain near the windshield or a substance on the windshield. The scattered reflection sensor provides a second output indicative of an amount of radiation incident on the scattered reflection sensor. A processor is configured to determine a condition of the windshield based on the first output and the second output.

A method for determining a refractive power of a large-surface-area transparent object, such as a windshield, a visual aid, a cockpit glazing, a helmet visor, or the like, includes detecting a first imaging of a first line grating through the transparent object at at least one predetermined point of the object using a camera and determining a line spacing of the first imaging, the rotation of the lines relative to the first line grating or both through use of a computing unit on the basis of the first imaging at the at least one specified point and using the line spacing or rotation of lines to determine the refractive power at the at least one predetermined point of the transparent object.

The invention concerns an apparatus for determining a secondary image angle (20) of a light source (11) on a transparent object (14). To achieve the objective of building a simple apparatus and to determine the secondary image angle (20) with higher measuring point densities even on transparent objects (14) with large surfaces in a quick, reliable manner with few movements, the apparatus includes an illuminating device (10), which has multiple, simultaneously illuminating, punctiform light sources (11), a two-dimensional target (16a) with at least one camera (16), whereby at least one camera (16) is set up to capture the positions of a primary image (21a) and a secondary image (21b) of multiple simultaneously illuminating light sources (11) at the same time, whereby the primary image (21) and the secondary image (21b) of one light source (11) are generated on the target by one of the volume elements (14a) of the transparent object illuminated by the light source (11), and an evaluation device (18) is set up to determine the secondary image angle (20) of the respective volume element (14a) of the transparent object (14) based on the positions of the primary image (21a) and the secondary image (21b). Furthermore, a method for determining the secondary image angle is also specified.

An adhering detection apparatus includes a light source to emit probe light to a light translucent object during an emission period, and to stop an emission of the probe light to the light translucent object during a non-emission period, a light receiver to receive light coming from the light translucent object during the emission period and the non-emission period of the light source, and an adhering detection processor to perform an adhering detection processing for detecting a substance adhering to the light translucent object based on light quantity of the light coming from the light translucent object and received by the light receiver, and to output a detection result of the adhering detection processing. The adhering detection processor selectively performs one or more processes depending on the light quantity of the light received by the light receiver during the non-emission period of the light source.

A method and installation of inspecting a fragmentation pattern of a tempered glass panel by deflectometry, following a fragmentation test, the method including: (i) positioning the tempered glass panel in contact with a support; (ii) projecting by a display device a structured light pattern on the surface of at least one portion of the tempered glass panel; (iii) capturing an image reflected by the surface of the first portion of the tempered glass panel using an image capture device; and (vi) processing the images to determine the fragmentation pattern by an image processing device.

A method for determining a local refractive power in a volume element of a transparent object using a pattern includes observing the pattern through the transparent object by a first camera, determining, using the observed pattern, a three-dimensional (3-D) shape and position of a surface of a particular volume element of the transparent object facing the pattern and using the determined 3-D shape and surface position of the particular volume element, determining a local refractive power for the particular volume element.

The invention relates to a device for measuring panes. The device comprises a light source and a light sensor which are arranged in such a way that a light beam emitted from the light source passes through the pane and impinges on the light sensor. According to the invention, the light beam has a linear polarization, wherein the polarization direction forms an angle of between 50° and 130° with an incidence plane stretching between the axis of the light beam and the pane normal at the point at which the light beam impinges on the pane. The light sensor is dimensioned such that both a primary beam and a secondary beam of the light beam impinge on the light sensor. The invention also relates to a corresponding method. According to the invention, the second beam has an increased brightness, so that it is easier to measure both beams.

A system for detecting damage to a glass surface particularly vehicle glazing panels such as vehicle windscreens. The system uses a sensor unit disposed proximate the surface and a processor in communication with the sensor unit. The processor is configured to analyse data received from the sensor unit in order to determine the integrity of the surface and a communication unit is configured to output a signal in response to the processor determining that the surface has been damaged. For vehicle glass the system is preferably integrated into the vehicle management and control systems such that the system is active when the vehicle is active or moving. The management and or control system may monitor for instances or situations when changes, such as above threshold changes, occur in order to produce an output warning signal.

A method (and system) for the identification of defects in transparent slabs comprises at least the phases of supply of at least one transparent slab to be inspected; acquisition of at least one image of at least one portion of the slab along an acquisition line; identification of at least one defect in the slab depending on the acquired image; at least one emission phase of at least one light radiation transmitted inside the slab along an emission line substantially transverse to the acquisition line and adapted to be incident with at least one defect in the slab in order to identify the position thereof, the light radiation incident with the defect being diffused by the latter at least in part outside the slab.