A computer implemented method for detecting optical defects within a glass windshield. The method takes as input a map of angular distances between primary and ghost images of a periodical pattern viewed through said glass windshield, an image of the periodical pattern viewed through said glass windshield, and at least one shape parameter of the individual features of the periodical pattern. The method provides as output an image of optical defects within the glass windshield.

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 for measuring optical distortion in a contoured glass sheet includes the steps of conveying the glass sheet in a first direction, employing at least one display to project a preselected multi-phase non-repeating contrasting pattern, and employing at least one camera, and uniquely pairing each one of the cameras one of the displays. The method may also include controlling each of the cameras to acquire the desired images, analyzing and combining the data acquired by the cameras to construct a definition of the surface of the glass sheet, and performing one or more optical processing operations on the surface data to analyze the optical characteristics of the glass sheet.

A method for analyzing quality of a glazing including: generating at least one digital image of a test chart produced in reflection by an external surface of the glazing on an outside of the glazing; computation by at least one processing unit of quantities representative of the quality of the glazing based on the at least one image generated; and comparing values computed for the representative quantities with respect to reference values. The test chart exhibits a pattern including elements of closed contours arranged periodically. The representative quantities are representative of a deformation of the image of the test chart produced in reflection by the external surface of the glazing on the outside of the glazing, and the computation of a representative quantity includes the computation of a density of the elements.

An integrated sensor apparatus of a vehicle is provided that includes a light emitter that is configured to emit a light having an area of a predetermined range or greater to a first region of a windshield. A light receiver is configured to receive the light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the first region of the windshield and an external light incident from the exterior to the windshield. Further, a light guider is configured to be attached to the windshield to guide the light emitted by the light emitter to be reflected from the first region of the windshield and arrive at the light receiver. An image sensor is configured to sense a plurality of image patterns from the light reflected by the first region of the windshield and the external light incident into the windshield from the exterior.

A windowpane system (101) comprising: a windowpane (102); and at least one primary light source (105); each primary light source (105) being arranged so that light (106) from the primary light source (105) passes into the windowpane (102) through a first surface of the windowpane (102), the light (106) then travelling within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more second surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times, wherein at least some of the light from the primary light source is absorbed by the windowpane as the light from the primary light source passes through the windowpane.

A method for measuring optical distortion in a contoured glass sheet includes the steps of conveying the glass sheet in a first direction, employing at least one display to project a preselected multi-phase non-repeating contrasting pattern, and employing at least one camera, and uniquely pairing each one of the cameras one of the displays. The method may also include controlling each of the cameras to acquire the desired images, analyzing and combining the data acquired by the cameras to construct a definition of the surface of the glass sheet, and performing one or more optical processing operations on the surface data to analyze the optical characteristics of the glass sheet.

A method for detecting local defects on a reflective surface with a device having at least one pattern for reflection on the reflective surface, at least one camera and a data processing unit. The pattern has at least one substantially linear light-dark transition, the positioning and orientation of the camera are known, the camera captures the pattern reflected on the surface and generates image data of the reflected pattern which are transmitted by the camera to the data processing unit, and the data processing unit determines local defects on the surface on the basis of an evaluation of at least one property of the at least one light-dark transition in the image data of the reflected pattern. Also a device and a computer program.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for detecting and quantifying residues on a surface, such as a windshield, for a vehicle. In some embodiments, a system may include a light source assembly, a camera assembly, and a computing device. The light source assembly can direct a polarized light toward the surface. The camera assembly can capture the polarized light reflected from the surface to generate an image. The computing device can process the image to generate a processing result indicative of cleanliness of the surface.

A method for calibrating a rain sensor (3), the rain sensor (3) being configured to measure a quantity of rain on a window (101) of a vehicle (100), the rain sensor (3) including a transmitter (4) and a receiver (5), the transmitter (4) being configured to emit or transmit light to the window (101) and the receiver (5) being configured to receive measurement light that is emitted or transmitted by the transmitter (4) and guided to the receiver (5) by the window (101); the method comprising: varying (S1) an incidence angle () of the light emitted or transmitted by the transmitter (4) to the window (101).