Capacitive Rain Sensor for Enhanced Automatic Wiper Control
This presentation discusses the development of a capacitive rain sensor designed to improve automatic wiper control systems. Unlike traditional optical sensors, this capacitive sensor offers higher accuracy, reduced false positives, a smaller size, and lower manufacturing costs. The design includes innovative sensor traces that change capacitance in response to rain, interfaced with a microcontroller for real-time wiper speed adjustments. Key highlights include the proposed hardware specifications, design methodologies, and the benefits of using capacitive technology over traditional optical solutions.
Capacitive Rain Sensor for Enhanced Automatic Wiper Control
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Presentation Transcript
Capacitive Rain Sensor for Automatic Wiper Control ECE 480 – Team 6 In Order of Presentation: Ishaan Sandhu DannY Kang Arslan Qaiser Eric Otte Anuar Tazabekov
Agenda • Introduction • Background • Design Specifications • Conceptual Design • Proposed Design Solution • Hardware Specifications • Reflection
Introduction GPS Ipod/MP3 In-Dash DVD Player Safety Satellite Radio
BackgroundOptical Rain Sensors • Transmits/Receives IR Beams • Expensive • Inaccurate (False Readings) • Uneven Sensing Area
BackgroundWhy Capacitive? • Higher Accuracy – Less False Positives • Smaller Size – Sleek Design • Cheaper • Fewer Components – Less Complex
BackgroundBasics of Capacitive Sensors • Three Main Types: • Displacement • Accelerometer • Pressure • Capacitance • Fringe Fields • Dielectric differences
Design Specifications • COMPATIBILITY • Fit in existing housing (1250 mm2) • Mount via adhesive • COST • Cheaper than optical sensor • Overall cost < $12 • FUNCTIONALITY • Sense water through windshield • Communicate with microcontroller • Control Wiper System • ACCURACY • Differentiate between various objects • Differentiate varying rain levels
Conceptual DesignSensor Traces • Not Your Typical Capacitor! • Sensing Area – Copper Traces • Designed for Base Capacitance ≈ 5 pF • Creates E-field When AC Voltage Applied • Objects Interfere with E-field – Change Cin • Design Parameters: Size, Spacing, Pattern • Dielectric Insulators are Vital!
Conceptual DesignCapacitance Monitoring Circuitry • Need Circuitry to Monitor the Capacitance Value of the Sensor Traces • Possible Design: RC Multi-vibrator - Change in C = Change in Time Constant • Better Alternative: Dedicated IC’s – Capacitance to Digital Conversion • Interface to Microcontroller for Software Processing
Conceptual DesignMicrocontroller / Processor • Inputs Capacitance Data from C-D IC • Sensor Response to Rain Can Be Characterized • Software Algorithms To Discriminate Rain from Others • Varying Wiper Speed In Response to Amount of Rain • Prototype – Microcontroller • Production – Body Control Module
Proposed Design SolutionCapacitance-to-Digital Converter • Use Analog Devices AD7746 • Measures 24-bit capacitance • Accurate to the femto-Farad • Built in temp and humidity sensor for auto-compensation • AD7151 and AD7747 models can also be used
Proposed Design SolutionDifferential Sensor Trace Design • Three Separate Traces • Source Excitation Voltage Applied To Center Trace • Two Differentially Connected Traces • Test Results to Determine Best Design (spacing, patterns, etc)
Proposed Design SolutionPIC18F4520 Microcontroller • Why we chose the PIC: • Variety of I/O Ports • Easy to use interface • C++ programming • Free! • Can compare voltages
Proposed Design SolutionPower Supply and Requirements • Prototype will use batteries (9V Batteries) • Production Design will use car battery • PIC needs steady 5V • AD7746 (C-D) needs steady 5.6V • Buck Converter Circuit
Proposed Design SolutionPCB Layout • Final design has two parts: • Flex PCB: • Sensor Traces • Mounts via 3M Adhesive • Standard 2-layer FR4 PCB: • C-D Converter • Microcontroller
Hardware Specifications • Overall Design uses 3 layers • Flex Layer – Capacitive Sensor • C-D Converter (AD7746) • Buck Converter Circuit • Microcontroller (PIC18F4520) • Wiper Switch
Reflection • Background • Design Specifications • Conceptual Design • Proposed Design Solution • Hardware Specifications • Questions?