Methods and apparatus for using two stage ultrasonic lens cleaning for water removal are disclosed. An apparatus can expel fluid from a droplet on an optical surface using an ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the optical surface and having first and second resonant frequency bands. A signal generator can generate a first signal including a first frequency to be coupled with the ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the surface, and can generate a second signal including a second frequency to be coupled with the ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the surface. Switching circuitry can activate the ultrasonic transducer at the first frequency to reduce the droplet from a first size to a second size, and to activate the ultrasonic transducer at the second frequency to reduce the droplet from the second size to a third size.

A rear liftgate window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. A heater grid includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at the inner surface of the glass window panel. A pair of busbars are established at the inner surface of the glass window panel and extend outboard of at least one side region of the inner surface of the window panel that contacts a seal at the vehicle when the glass window panel is in the closed position. Electrical connectors are electrically connected to the busbars outboard of the side region. The electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle when the rear liftgate window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.

Provided is an intake system of an air conditioning system for a vehicle, which is configured for simultaneously satisfying two conflict conditions of improving heating performance by increasing the inflow of inside air and of reducing the generation of moisture on a window glass, wherein a scroll case, in which a blower is mounted, is provided with a second partition member for dividing a passage, which is formed at an outlet port and includes a blower chamber around a blower fan, into an upper passage and a lower passage, and a flow guide for guiding air, which is separated by a first partition member and is introduced into the scroll case from an inlet case, to the respective upper and lower passages.

A housing including at least one flow path in fluid communication with a mixing chamber, a windshield air outlet, a windshield air flap, a dashboard air outlet, and a dashboard air flap. A bypass is in fluid communication with the dashboard outlet and configured to conduct a cool air flow around the at least one flow path and the mixing chamber. A flow conduit extends from the mixing chamber to the windshield air outlet. The flow conduit is constructed as one part and comprises a wall enclosing a circumference thereof. The flow conduit extends through the bypass, wherein the warm air flow is separated from a warm air flow through the flow conduit by the wall of the flow conduit. The bypass is formed in a bipartite manner around the flow conduit.

A heating tape for a vehicle includes a base layer, an adhesive layer, and an electrically-resistive layer. The base layer has a strap shape and has optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive having optical transparency. The adhesive layer is formed on one side of the base layer and is adhesive to a window glass of the vehicle. The electrically-resistive layer is formed of an electrically-resistive material having optical transparency. The electrically-resistive layer generates heat when an electric current passes through the electrically-resistive layer.

A method and apparatus for detecting an obstructed surface are provided. The apparatus includes: at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: detect a current draw from a generator; determine that a surface including a conductive coating is obstructed in response to the current draw being greater than a predetermined threshold; and output a signal to perform a function in response to determining that the surface is obstructed.

A method whereby a mobile fuel station may refuel vehicles is disclosed. Fuel reservoirs are provided in a mobile fuel station that may store fuel and dispense fuel through a hybrid fuel line. Fuel nozzles are provided which can be detachably connected to the hybrid fuel line and can measure and display fuel dispensed from the mobile fuel station. Communication devices and a network are provided that allow a vehicle and a mobile fuel station to communicate location and status information wirelessly with the network. The network uses vehicle location data to create an optimized fueling path and predict vehicle refueling locations. A prepay deposit account or other automatic payment services that allow refueling and maintenance services to be provided at a user's convenience are also disclosed and claimed herein.

A method of defogging an inner surface of a vehicle windshield glass. The method includes a first process of defogging by changing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system from a heating mode to a cooling mode when fogging occurs on the inner surface of the vehicle windshield glass; once the inner surface of the vehicle windshield glass is changed to a defogging state by the first process, a second process of pre-defogging by turning off a compressor of the HVAC system for a predetermined period of time under a prescribed condition to prevent flash fogging; and after the second process, when the predetermined period of time elapses, a third process of turning on the compressor to return from the cooling mode to the heating mode.

A window glass heating device for a vehicle is provided with: a window heater; a window heater control unit that controls operation of the window heater based on an operation on an operation switch; a camera heater; and a camera heater control unit that controls supply of power to the camera heater to defog the camera-imaging window area. The camera heater control unit is configured to acquire window heater operation information which is operation information on operation of the window heater and to limit supply of power to the camera heater when it is estimated that the camera heater is potentially overheated by heat applied from the window heater to the camera heater based on the window heater operation information.

An imaging system and method includes an imaging sensor, a processor in communication with the imaging sensor, a protective window or other exposed optical surface located between the imaging sensor and the scene to be captured by the imaging sensor, and a heater system in thermal communication with the window or other exposed optical surface. The imaging sensor configured to capture images of a scene, each of the captured images comprising a plurality of pixels. The processor is configured to receive information representing the images comprising the plurality of pixels captured by the imaging sensor, determine if rain splash artifacts or bright/dark non-uniformities are present, and remove artifacts in the information representing the images.