Patent ID: 11965991
Assignee: WAYMO LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 16:
17. A method for detecting presence of precipitation or fouling on a sensor assembly, the sensor assembly having a base layer that is configured to pass signals of one or more wavelengths therethrough, a sensor device arranged adjacent to a first surface of the base layer and configured to perform at least one of emit or receive signals of the one or more wavelengths through the base layer, and a waveguide layer having a waveguide pattern disposed along a second surface of the base layer opposite the first surface, the method comprising:
emitting, by an emitter device operatively coupled to a first side of the waveguide layer, a signal of a selected wavelength having a first waveform for propagation along the waveguide pattern;
receiving, by a detector device operatively coupled to a second side of the waveguide layer, a second waveform, the second waveform being a modified version of the first waveform when an object is disposed along an exterior surface of the waveguide layer; and
determining, by a processing device, whether the object is precipitation or fouling based on an evaluation of the second waveform.