The present disclosure relates to contaminant detection systems and related optical systems and methods. An example contaminant detection system includes an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system additionally includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler. The plurality of detector devices is also configured to provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.

A method for detecting non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards an optical interface is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving one or more images from one or more imaging sensors of the vicinity of the optical interface, of particles movement towards the optical interface; analyzing the one or more images to detect non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards the optical interface and distinguish between rain and/or snow particles and the non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards the optical interface; and controlling one or more wiping elements activation based on the analyzed one or more images and removing the non-rain and/or non-snow particles from the optical interface.

The present disclosure relates to contaminant detection systems and related optical systems and methods. An example contaminant detection system includes an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system additionally includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler. The plurality of detector devices is also configured to provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.

A raindrop sensor device, including a substrate, a raindrop sensor element, a first light emitting diode, and an active element, is provided. The raindrop sensor element is located on the substrate and includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from each other. The first light emitting diode is located on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are closer to the substrate than the active element. The active element is located on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first light emitting diode.

An optical rain sensor for detecting rainfall on a transparent substrate, the optical rain sensor including a housing disposed on a surface of the transparent substrate, a plurality of photo elements disposed within the housing, each photo element capable of being selectively activated to emit light and deactivated to receive light, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of photo elements and configured to alternatingly drive the plurality of photo elements between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein, in the first mode of operation, at least a first photo element is activated and at least a second photo element is deactivated and, in the second mode of operation, at least the second photo element is activated and at least the first photo element is deactivated.

In a rainfall amount measurement apparatus, raindrop amount information corresponding to an attachment amount of raindrops attached to an outer wall surface of a windshield of the vehicle in a measurement period is acquired based on an output of a detector configured to generate an output corresponding to the attachment amount of raindrops. The raindrop amount information is used to set a wiping interval in a wiper wiping the raindrops attached to the outer wall surface. The measurement value of a rainfall amount per unit time is calculated based on the raindrop amount information, and outputted to an outside of the vehicle.

A droplet sensor includes an optical cover having an ellipsoid surface that is a portion of a spheroid, a light source disposed at or in proximity to a first focal point of the ellipsoid surface, and a light detector disposed at or in proximity to a second focal point of the ellipsoid surface. The ellipsoid surface includes an effective detection area configured to reflect light emitted by the light source toward the light detector, and an amount of light reflected by the effective detection area changes in accordance with adhesion of droplets on the ellipsoid surface. The optical cover includes a space having a hemispherical surface, the space being centered at the second focal point. The hemispherical surface includes a transmission scattering surface on a region that receives the light reflected by the effective detection area.

A droplet sensor includes: an optical cover having an ellipsoid surface that is a portion of a spheroid; a light source disposed at or in proximity to a first focal point of the ellipsoid surface; and a light detector disposed at or in proximity to a second focal point of the ellipsoid surface, wherein the ellipsoid surface is an effective detection area configured to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the light detector, and an amount of light reflected by the effective detection area changes in accordance with adhesion of droplets on the ellipsoid surface, and wherein the optical cover has a curved surface that is tangentially connected to an outside of the effective detection area and having a curvature greater than a curvature of the ellipsoid surface.

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.

A rain and temperature sensing module including a housing having a cover plate formed of a transparent material, a printed circuit board disposed within the housing and having a light emitter, a light receiver, and a temperature sensing element disposed thereon, a transparent compound disposed within the housing and covering the light emitter, the light receiver, and the temperature sensing element, the transparent compound filling a space between the printed circuit board and the cover plate, wherein the transparent compound has a refractive index that is substantially equal to a refractive index of the cover plate, and wherein the transparent compound provides a thermally conductive medium between the cover plate and the temperature sensing element.