Abstract: An optical sensor device that can be used as a rain sensor has a light emitter, a light receiver, and an optical plate with rotationally symmetrically shaped Fresnel prism structures, which is coupled to a pane, in particular a windshield of a vehicle, by means of a coupling layer. On its opposite side, the optical plate takes up light from the light emitter. The light is coupled into the pane and, after a total reflection on an internal surface of the pane, is directed onto the light receiver.

Abstract: An optical rotation angle transmitter includes a code disc that has a digital coding and an analog coding. The digital coding has multiple tracks and is configured so as to be secure against error. A current angle interval can be determined from a plurality of possible angle intervals by means of the digital coding, and a precise angle position of the code disc can be determined within the current angle interval by means of the analog coding. Each of the tracks of the digital coding has a light sensor associated with it. Further provided is a method of scanning a code disc of a rotation angle transmitter.

Abstract: An optical sensor device for detecting ambient light is adapted to be coupled to a pane (10), in particular to a windshield of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device has a sensor unit which includes at least one light receiver (26) and a lens plate (12). By means of the sensor unit, an ambient light beam having entered the pane (10) is coupled out of the pane (10) and directed onto the light receiver (26). On a surface (12b) which faces the pane (10), the lens plate (12) includes a first Fresnel prism structure (22) having a plurality of individual structures (24). The individual structures (24) of the first Fresnel prism structure (22) are designed such that they deflect the light beam at different angles.

Abstract: An optical sensor device has a sensor unit, which includes a light transmitter, a light receiver and a lens plate, with which a beam of light emitted by the light transmitter is coupled into the window pane, coupled out of the window pane and directed onto the light receiver. On its surface facing the light transmitter and the light receiver, the lens plate includes Fresnel lens structures, and on the opposite surface facing the window pane it includes Fresnel reflector structures. This embodiment is particularly useful as rain sensor. Without light transmitter, the sensor device can be used as a light sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensor device (10) is able to be coupled to a window (14), in particular to a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device (10) comprises a sensor unit (12), which includes a emitter (26), a receiver (28) and a light conductor unit (30). By the light conductor unit (30), a light beam (34) emitted by the emitter (26) is coupled into the window (14), coupled out of the window (14) and directed onto the receiver (28). The light conductor unit (30) includes Fresnel lens regions and associated reflecting regions.

Abstract: An optical sensor device that can be used as a rain sensor has a light emitter, a light receiver, and an optical plate with rotationally symmetrically shaped Fresnel prism structures, which is coupled to a pane, in particular a windshield of a vehicle, by means of a coupling layer. On its opposite side, the optical plate takes up light from the light emitter. The light is coupled into the pane and, after a total reflection on an internal surface of the pane, is directed onto the light receiver.

Abstract: The method operates with successive, continuously repeated measuring cycles. In a first cycle section, a measuring capacitor is charged up to a first threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a first optical measuring section. In a subsequent, second cycle section the measuring capacitor is discharged to a second threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a second optical measuring section. The light transmitters of the optical measuring sections are regulated over several measuring cycles to predetermined rated values for the charging time and the discharging time. A wetting of the pane is concluded from the momentary deviations between the rated values and the actually measured values of the charging times and discharging times. The available modulation range is adapted dynamically to the prevailing conditions by the systematic control of the intensity of the light transmitters in the two optical measuring sections.

Abstract: An optical sensor has an optical plate which is adapted to make surface contact on a pane, in particular a windshield of a motor vehicle. It further has one or preferably a plurality of photoreceivers arranged on the side of the optical plate facing away from the pane. An optical mask is arranged in the optical path upstream of each photoreceiver, the optical mask having light-blocking and light-transmissive surface areas. The light-transmissive surface areas each allow an optical path to traverse the optical plate, impinging on the photoreceiver and is delimited by the light-blocking surface areas.

Abstract: An optical sensor device has a sensor unit which includes a light emitter (24), a light receiver (26), and a lens plate (12) that is used for coupling a pencil of rays, radiated by the light emitter (24), into and out of the pane and directing it onto the light receiver (26). The lens plate (12) includes a combined Fresnel structure (16a, 16b) having a Fresnel lens structure (18a, 18b) and a Fresnel reflector structure (20a, 20b) on a first surface (12a) facing the light emitter (24) and the light receiver (26), and a Fresnel reflector structure (22a, 22b) on an opposite, second surface (12b) facing the pane. This configuration is especially suitable for use as a rain sensor. Without the light emitter the sensor device is suitable to be used as a light sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a photoconductor structure having first and second partial members (16, 18) and a coupling surface (20) for coupling the optical sensor device to an opposing counter surface of a pane (22), particularly a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device further includes an optical transmitter (10) coupling a beam of rays into the first partial member (16), an optical receiver (12) receiveing a beam of rays emerging from the second partial member (18), and a printed circuit board (14) arranged parallel to the coupling surface (20). The transmitter (10) and the receiver (12) are arranged on the printed circuit board (14). The photoconductor structure is designed so that the central ray (28) of the transmitter (10) enters into the first partial member (16) perpendicularly to the coupling surface (20) and emerges from the second partial member (18) perpendicularly to the coupling surface (20).

Abstract: An optical sensor device has a sensor unit, which includes a light transmitter, a light receiver and a lens plate, with which a beam of light emitted by the light transmitter is coupled into the window pane, coupled out of the window pane and directed onto the light receiver. On its surface facing the light transmitter and the light receiver, the lens plate includes Fresnel lens structures, and on the opposite surface facing the window pane it includes Fresnel reflector structures. This embodiment is particularly useful as rain sensor. Without light transmitter, the sensor device can be used as a light sensor.

Abstract: The method operates with successive, continuously repeated measuring cycles. In a first cycle section, a measuring capacitor is charged up to a first threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a first optical measuring section. In a subsequent, second cycle section the measuring capacitor is discharged to a second threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a second optical measuring section. The light transmitters of the optical measuring sections are regulated over several measuring cycles to predetermined rated values for the charging time and the discharging time. A wetting of the pane is concluded from the momentary deviations between the rated values and the actually measured values of the charging times and discharging times. The available modulation range is adapted dynamically to the prevailing conditions by the systematic control of the intensity of the light transmitters in the two optical measuring sections.

Abstract: An optical sensor device (10) is able to be coupled to a window (14), in particular to a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device (10) comprises a sensor unit (12), which includes a emitter (26), a receiver (28) and a light conductor unit (30). By the light conductor unit (30), a light beam (34) emitted by the emitter (26) is coupled into the window (14), coupled out of the window (14) and directed onto the receiver (28). The light conductor unit (30) includes Fresnel lens regions and associated reflecting regions.

Abstract: An optical sensor device (10, 10?) is able to be coupled to a pane (14), particularly to a windscreen of a motor vehicle. A sensor unit (12) of the device (10, 10?) has a transmitter (26), a receiver (28) and a photoconductor structure with a first fresnel lens (42) associated with the transmitter (26) and a second fresnel lens (44) associated with the receiver (28). The fresnel lenses (42, 44) are arranged such that a diverging light beam (34) emitted from the transmitter (26) is oriented in parallel through the first fresnel lens (42) and is coupled into the pane (14) as a parallel light beam (34a) without further substantial deflection. The parallel light beam (34a) is coupled out from the pane (14) as a parallel light beam (34b) after at least one reflection inside the pane (14). The light beam (34b) impinges onto the receiver (28) as a converging light beam through the second fresnel lens (44).

Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a photoconductor structure having first and second partial members (16, 18) and a coupling surface (20) for coupling the optical sensor device to an opposing counter surface of a pane (22), particularly a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device further includes an optical transmitter (10) coupling a beam of rays into the first partial member (16), an optical receiver (12) receiveing a beam of rays emerging from the second partial member (18), and a printed circuit board (14) arranged parallel to the coupling surface (20). The transmitter (10) and the receiver (12) are arranged on the printed circuit board (14). The photoconductor structure is designed so that the central ray (28) of the transmitter (10) enters into the first partial member (16) perpendicularly to the coupling surface (20) and emerges from the second partial member (18) perpendicularly to the coupling surface (20).

Abstract: An optical rotation angle transmitter includes a code disc that has a digital coding and an analog coding. The digital coding has multiple tracks and is configured so as to be secure against error. A current angle interval can be determined from a plurality of possible angle intervals by means of the digital coding, and a precise angle position of the code disc can be determined within the current angle interval by means of the analog coding. Each of the tracks of the digital coding has a light sensor associated with it. Further provided is a method of scanning a code disc of a rotation angle transmitter.