A foreign substance detection system is disclosed to detect whether foreign substances are attached to an environmental sensor of a vehicle. The foreign substance detection system includes a detection loop through which current selectively flows. In particular, the detection loop includes a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle, and a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller. The environmental sensor includes a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop on the basis of whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached.

The disclosure relates to detecting and clearing debris from a sensor window. For instance, a system may include the sensor window and one or more processors. The sensor window may include a transparent thin film conductor. The one or more processors may be configured to identify a change in capacitance using the transparent thin film conductor, detect debris on the sensor window using the change in capacitance, and activate a cleaning system in order to clear the detected debris from the sensor window.

A rainwater detection device for detecting rainwater is provided. The rainwater detection device includes: a panel having a surface; rainwater sensing wires on the surface; and a rainwater sensor (i) physically connected with the rainwater sensing wires without an electrical connection if a condition is unsatisfied and (ii) physically and electrically connected with the rainwater sensing wires if the condition is satisfied; wherein a first wire, one of the rainwater sensing wires, is separated from a second wire, another of the rainwater sensing wires, by an interval, without contacting each other and wherein the rainwater sensing wires are connected to opposite polarity of an electrode connected with the rainwater sensor, and wherein the condition is that a first state where no current flows between the first and the second wires is changed to a second state where current flows between the first and the second wires due to the rainwater.

A rainwater detection device for detecting rainwater is provided. The rainwater detection device includes: a panel having a surface; rainwater sensing wires on the surface; and a rainwater sensor (i) physically connected with the rainwater sensing wires without an electrical connection if a condition is unsatisfied and (ii) physically and electrically connected with the rainwater sensing wires if the condition is satisfied; wherein a first wire, one of the rainwater sensing wires, is separated from a second wire, another of the rainwater sensing wires, by an interval, without contacting each other and wherein the rainwater sensing wires are connected to opposite polarity of an electrode connected with the rainwater sensor, and wherein the condition is that a first state where no current flows between the first and the second wires is changed to a second state where current flows between the first and the second wires due to the rainwater.

The disclosure relates to detecting and clearing debris from a sensor window. For instance, a system may include the sensor window and one or more processors. The sensor window may include a transparent thin film conductor. The one or more processors may be configured to identify a change in capacitance using the transparent thin film conductor, detect debris on the sensor window using the change in capacitance, and activate a cleaning system in order to clear the detected debris from the sensor window.

A method and apparatus for detecting an obstructed surface are provided. The apparatus includes: at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: detect a current draw from a generator; determine that a surface including a conductive coating is obstructed in response to the current draw being greater than a predetermined threshold; and output a signal to perform a function in response to determining that the surface is obstructed.

A method and apparatus for detecting an obstructed surface are provided. The apparatus includes: at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: detect a current draw from a generator; determine that a surface including a conductive coating is obstructed in response to the current draw being greater than a predetermined threshold; and output a signal to perform a function in response to determining that the surface is obstructed.

A detection device is provided for a motor vehicle (10) for detecting wetness (18) on a roadway (20). The detection device has a moisture-detection unit (12) and an evaluation unit (40) designed to determine wetness (18) on the roadway (20) on the basis of a moisture value (42) detected by the moisture-detection unit (12). The moisture-detection unit (12) is embodied as a sensor unit and is arranged at a rear region of the motor vehicle (10).

A foreign substance detection system is disclosed to detect whether foreign substances are attached to an environmental sensor of a vehicle. The foreign substance detection system includes a detection loop through which current selectively flows. In particular, the detection loop includes a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle, and a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller. The environmental sensor includes a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop on the basis of whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached.