Abstract: There is provided a rain sensor capable of adequately detecting raindrops in a captured image. The rain sensor includes: a surface light source 14 which emits light to a windshield G to cause light to be incident on a raindrop detection region T set on the windshield G at a critical angle or more; a camera 15 which is arranged on the optical path of light totally reflected by the detection region T and captures the detection region T; and a detection unit which detects raindrops adhering to the detection region T from contrast in the image captured by the camera 15; the detection unit detects the raindrops adhering to the detection region T based on at least one of the captured image in the detection region T to which light is emitted from the surface light source 14 and the captured image in the detection region T to which light is not emitted from the surface light source 14.

Abstract: There is provided a rain sensor capable of adequately detecting raindrops in a captured image. The rain sensor includes: a surface light source 14 which emits light to a windshield G to cause light to be incident on a raindrop detection region T set on the windshield G at a critical angle or more; a camera 15 which is arranged on the optical path of light totally reflected by the detection region T and captures the detection region T; and a detection unit which detects raindrops adhering to the detection region T from contrast in the image captured by the camera 15; the detection unit detects the raindrops adhering to the detection region T based on at least one of the captured image in the detection region T to which light is emitted from the surface light source 14 and the captured image in the detection region T to which light is not emitted from the surface light source 14.

Abstract: To improve detection performance without requiring precise positioning of a light-emitting element and a lens, a rain sensor 10 having a light-emitting element 13 for emitting light to a windshield glass G; a light-receiving element 14 for receiving the light reflected from the windshield glass G; and a convex lens 18 provided between the light-emitting element 13 and the windshield glass G, for collimating the light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 into parallel light, in which a collection prism 20 is interposed between the light-emitting element 13 and the convex lens 18 so as to provide, at a focal position for the convex lens 18, a light-exiting surface for the light from the light-emitting element 13 having entered the collection prism 20, in order to collect rays of diffused light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 and then emit the collected rays of the light to the convex lens 18 from the focal position for the convex lens 18.

Abstract: An electronic flasher system adapted to change an operating sound in dependence on situations surrounding a vehicle when the vehicle changes its direction or lane, so that the driver can grasp the situations surrounding the vehicle by merely listening to such operating sound. The flasher system includes a flasher circuit 21A connected with a sound generator 3 for generating operating sound, and a situation detecting sensor 6 for outputting an output signal in dependence on a running state of the vehicle. The flasher circuit 21A causes a change of the turn-signal operating sound generated by the sound generator 3 in accordance with an obstacle detection signal from an obstacle sensor 61 and a vehicle speed detection signal from a vehicle-speed sensor 62.