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Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

(OP)
Hi All -

Can anyone recommend a source for a windshield rain sensor ?  Preferably one that doesn't require a 10,000 unit purchase :)

I'll take pretty much any technology, resistance, refraction, whatever.  I just want to retrofit an auto-trigger for the wipers on our cars ...  Interfacing to a small microcontroller shouldn't be too much of a worry.  One pin for the output relay, one for an enable switch and one or two for the sensor input.

Thanks -

Dean.

RE: Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

This may be a stupid idea but what about that conductive tape that alarm companies put on glass to tell if the glass has been broken, you could put a couple of small pieces together and if water was present it could complete the circuit like a switch.

RE: Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

One option would be to use a camera poking out of the windscreen, typically behind the rear view mirror. This is used to detect drops on the windscreen.

Cheers

Greg Locock

RE: Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

You could try the MLX90255. It is a linear array which is suitable for automotive, the drawback is you would have to interpret a bit-stream to get the output information. I don't know if you already thought about this? But it's an appropriate sensor and you can buy them in single pieces I think at Melexis.com

RE: Recommendation for windshield rain sensor

Check out the QProx sensors from Quantum Research Group.They are very cheap($2) touch sensor IC's, they work very well at sensing rain through glass.

http://www.qprox.com/products/index.php

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