Toyota Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers

**rando** · 02-12-2005, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by 0l33l

Would help knowing what car you have.

One problem with your idea: POWER! The computer cannot be in standby if the rain sensor is to tell it something. That means that the computer will have to be on from when u start work till when you finish. Not a very good idea for batteries.

This is not strictly true. With just a little bit of circuitry, it would be possible for the rain sensor to turn on the computer when it need it to do something. Moreover, he didn't mention if actually expected his PC to participate in this at all.

**DeltaFX** · 02-12-2005, 02:33 PM

Ultraviolet ? Me think it's infrared, UV-sensors aren't that common

**Vchat20** · 02-12-2005, 08:26 PM

also, our windstar has a feature similar to this, although i doubt it is based on the rain amount, rather its probably speed based. basically you have to go through a long set of instructions listed in the owners manual to activate it (and you have to reactivate it every time you start the car). more or less it involes changing the ignition state and using the wiper controls and just properly coreographing(sp?) it all.

**scott_fx** · 02-12-2005, 08:34 PM

do some research on qtouch ic's I'm using them for a different applications but the watter on the windshield would cause a change in capacitance and trigger the ic. this would be the sensor...the logic is in your hands, i do like the auto pc power up because you could have it do some other cool things!

**0l33l** · 02-12-2005, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by rando

This is not strictly true. With just a little bit of circuitry, it would be possible for the rain sensor to turn on the computer when it need it to do something. Moreover, he didn't mention if actually expected his PC to participate in this at all.

True, but that's more complicated...

**Curiosity** · 02-13-2005, 02:26 AM

Just doing a quick

it looks like a glass thing:

http://www.rainsensors.com/Optical.htm

http://www.tricoproducts.com/brochur...8&brochure=238

A whole PIC project:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...ID=47178&TPN=2

It would seem to be best if the sensor is away from the wiper area, so it doesn't wipe the rain away and stop working.

**mushin** · 02-13-2005, 02:49 AM

A rain sensor triggered by actual exposure to water is pretty trivial. http://www.electronics-lab.com/proje...015/index.html I think this is what the original poster was referring to. Of course part of the circuit then has to be outside; I'm thinking along the rain channel just under the hood in front of the windshield.

Also, a 5 or 10 second 'memory' is simple enough, so that wipers don't interfere with the optical detectors.

**jbraddoc** · 02-13-2005, 03:43 AM

This is going to sound stupid, but Take one of the sprinkler systems rain sensors, modify it to your liking, and put it in the cowl of the car, so when it rains, it will trigger a relay, that you can take the solid signal, and convert it into a pulse, and have it pulse the window roll up module...

edit: but, it would have to take a bit of water to make the sensor work, which may defeat the purpose of having this. And, you could be driving down the road, hit a splash, it come in the cowl, and roll your windows up.. but heh you could go as far as making it turn your windshield wipers on.. heh

**n8scstm** · 02-13-2005, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by jbraddoc

This is going to sound stupid, but Take one of the sprinkler systems rain sensors, modify it to your liking, and put it in the cowl of the car, so when it rains, it will trigger a relay, that you can take the solid signal, and convert it into a pulse, and have it pulse the window roll up module...

edit: but, it would have to take a bit of water to make the sensor work, which may defeat the purpose of having this. And, you could be driving down the road, hit a splash, it come in the cowl, and roll your windows up.. but heh you could go as far as making it turn your windshield wipers on.. heh

Thats what I said on page 1.

**n8scstm** · 02-13-2005, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by grepzen

Try another approach:

:: default position of windows == rolled up (security)
:: when temp (outside) > x then "vent" (roll down) windows 1/2"
:: when temp < y roll up windows (rain would cool outside temp below y)

They already have complete kits for this, & you get to set x and y values.

Unless its a tropical climate. Ha, Fl....