DEPOSIT DETECTOR, AND CONTROLLER USING THE SAME

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate the presence of a deposit deposited on a detection face, a kind of the deposit, and a state of the deposit. SOLUTION: Light via the detection face is image-focused by a lens, and photoreceived by a photoreceiving element part arrayed with plural micro photoreceiving elements. Total reflection light from the detection face is photoreceived by the photoreceiving element part in a deposit detecting mode. The each element is arranged at an angle where total reflection is satisfied when no deposit exists, and where the total reflection is not satisfied in the presence of the deposit. Scattered light from the detection face is photoreceived by the photoreceiving element part in a light scattering deposit detecting mode. Detection signal levels of the respective micro photoreceiving elements are coupled in response to an array of the micro photoreceiving elements to obtain a signal pattern. An increase portion and a decrease portion of the signal pattern in response to a difference in the presence and state of the deposit are analyzed to estimate the kind and state of the deposit such as a rain drop, mud water, fogging, freezing and the like.