A device for cleaning a sensor can include a first valve, a second valve, a set of fluid nozzles, and a housing structure. The housing structure includes a first channel to enable fluid to move from the first valve to the set of fluid nozzles, a cavity, a second channel to enable air to move from the second valve to the cavity, and a slit opening to enable air to move from the cavity to outside the housing structure.

An optical module includes a translucent portion, a tubular vibrator supporting the translucent portion, a piezoelectric element at the vibrator to vibrate the vibrator, and an inner-layer optical component at an inner side portion of the vibrator. A recess recessed in a thickness direction of the translucent portion and includes a curvature at a surface of the translucent portion facing the inner-layer optical component, the inner-layer optical component includes an inner-layer lens that faces the translucent portion and includes a first portion that protrudes toward the translucent portion and includes a curvature and a second portion at an outer periphery of the first portion, a first gap is located between the first portion and the translucent portion in the outer periphery of the first portion, a second gap is located between the second portion and the translucent portion, and the second gap is larger than the first gap.

A camera unit includes a camera, a supporting part, a nozzle, and a hose. The supporting part supports the camera on a front surface side thereof, has a back surface side fixed on a body for placement thereof, and has a through-hole that penetrates through the front and back surface sides. The nozzle has a proximal end part inserted into the through-hole from the front surface side and a distal end part that is arranged to be capable of discharging a fluid toward a lens of the camera. The hose passes through an opening of the through-hole on the back surface side and is connected to the proximal end part of the nozzle in the through-hole to supply the fluid to the nozzle. Furthermore, the supporting part has a pressing part that protrudes in a radial direction thereof in the through-hole and presses an outer circumference of the hose.

A camera unit includes a camera, a supporting part, a nozzle, and a hose. The supporting part supports the camera on a front surface side thereof, has a back surface side fixed on a body for placement thereof, and has a through-hole that penetrates through the front and back surface sides. The nozzle has a proximal end part inserted into the through-hole from the front surface side and a distal end part that is arranged to be capable of discharging a fluid toward a lens of the camera. The hose passes through an opening of the through-hole on the back surface side and is connected to the proximal end part of the nozzle in the through-hole to supply the fluid to the nozzle. Furthermore, the supporting part has a pressing part that protrudes in a radial direction thereof in the through-hole and presses an outer circumference of the hose.

An external lens washing system has an aiming fixture configured to support and constrain an external lens which is exposed to the elements and apt to become soiled with debris. A nozzle assembly is configured to be supported and aimed toward the external lens by the aiming fixture and has at least one laterally offset washing nozzle projecting from the aiming fixture to a spray washing fluid toward the external lens surface, spraying at a shallow, glancing spray aiming angle to impinge upon and wash the lens external surface. Optionally, an integrated image sensor and lens washing assembly is configured for use with a remote control method for cleaning an exterior objective lens surface and includes a sealed image sensor housing assembly including an integral, remotely controllable lens cleaning system with an optimized configuration for aiming one or more cleansing sprays from one or more laterally offset fluidic oscillators.

An external lens washing system has an aiming fixture configured to support and constrain an external lens which is exposed to the elements and apt to become soiled with debris. A nozzle assembly is configured to be supported and aimed toward the external lens by the aiming fixture and has at least one laterally offset washing nozzle projecting from the aiming fixture to a spray washing fluid toward the external lens surface, spraying at a shallow, glancing spray aiming angle to impinge upon and wash the lens external surface. Optionally, an integrated image sensor and lens washing assembly is configured for use with a remote control method for cleaning an exterior objective lens surface and includes a sealed image sensor housing assembly including an integral, remotely controllable lens cleaning system with an optimized configuration for aiming one or more cleansing sprays from one or more laterally offset fluidic oscillators.

A vehicle rack system includes elongate structural members coupled together to form a rack for use on or within a vehicle's cargo area. At least one of the elongate structural members has an elongate pressure tight lumen for holding a fluid therein, and a nozzle allows the fluid to enter and exit the lumen. A vehicle having a rack system includes a vehicle and a plurality of elongate structural members removably coupled together to form a rack removably coupled to the vehicle. A first of the members has a longitudinal slot between and behind a pair of flanges. An anchor is positioned in the slot, and the anchor is irremovable from the slot while the system is at an assembled configuration. The anchor is removable from the slot while the system is at unassembled configuration. The anchor is used to secure the first member to a second of the members.

A vehicle rack system includes elongate structural members coupled together to form a rack for use on or within a vehicle's cargo area. At least one of the elongate structural members has an elongate pressure tight lumen for holding a fluid therein, and a nozzle allows the fluid to enter and exit the lumen. A vehicle having a rack system includes a vehicle and a plurality of elongate structural members removably coupled together to form a rack removably coupled to the vehicle. A first of the members has a longitudinal slot between and behind a pair of flanges. An anchor is positioned in the slot, and the anchor is irremovable from the slot while the system is at an assembled configuration. The anchor is removable from the slot while the system is at unassembled configuration. The anchor is used to secure the first member to a second of the members.

An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.

An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.