Patent ID: 8248256

Claim:
A non-contact flood and moisture detector for detecting water on a remote surface, comprising: a source of IR radiation directed towards the remote surface and emitting an IR radiation and projecting a field of illumination on the remote surface; a receiver of IR radiation directed towards the remote surface, and collecting the IR radiation from a field of view of the remote surface; a non-contact flood and moisture detector for detecting water on a remote surface, comprising: a source; wherein a second portion of the IR radiation emitted by the source is specularly reflected from the remote surface and received by the receiver; wherein a first portion of the IR radiation emitted by the source is backscattered from the remote surface and received by the receiver; wherein a second portion of the IR radiation emitted by the source is specularly reflected from the remote surface and is not received by the receiver; An electronic circuit connected with the source and the receiver and adapted to compare the IR radiation received by the receiver by the receiver to a baseline dry condition level of the IR radiation; wherein a decrease in the IR radiation received by the receiver indicates presence of water; wherein the electronic circuit comprises an electronic logic circuit adapted to perform a self-test and a self-calibration and notify a user of contamination with dirt or grime; with the electronic logic circuit further adapted to automatically setting the receiver gain independent of an emissivity of the remote surface and of a distance between the remote surface and the non-contact flood and moisture detector.