A micro-sized structure and construction method for a fluidic oscillator wash or spray nozzle (100 or 250) has a nozzle housing (110 or 252) enclosing an interior cavity (112 or 262) which receives an insert (114 or 254) having internal fluid passages defining first and second power nozzles (120, 122 or 280, 282). The power nozzles receive pressurized fluid (130) flowing through the interior cavity of the housing, where the fluid flows into the cavity at the bottom of the housing and flows upwardly to inlets (140, 142) for the power nozzles so that accelerating first and second fluid flows are aimed by the power nozzles toward one another in an interaction region (154 or 284) which exhausts laterally along a spray axis through a horn-shaped throat defined partly within the insert and partly within the flared spray outlet orifice (160 or 290) defined through the sidewall (162) in the housing.

The invention concerns a vehicle camera system (2), comprising a camera (8) comprising a camera lens (80), a movable shutter (10) for protecting the camera lens when the camera is not used, and an integrated lens cleaning mechanism, comprising at least one cleaning liquid nozzle (12) that is part of the shutter (10). The integrated lens cleaning mechanism further includes a collector (14) for collecting used cleaning liquid dripping off the camera lens (80).

The invention concerns a vehicle camera system (2), comprising a camera (8) comprising a camera lens (80), a movable shutter (10) for protecting the camera lens when the camera is not used, and an integrated lens cleaning mechanism, comprising at least one cleaning liquid nozzle (12) that is part of the shutter (10). The integrated lens cleaning mechanism further includes a collector (14) for collecting used cleaning liquid dripping off the camera lens (80).

An abnormality in an imaging apparatus configured to generate an image or in an optical member located on an optical path for capturing the image can be accurately determined, irrespective of the environment. An image processing apparatus includes a first receiver configured to receive a first image, a second receiver configured to receive a second image having an imaging range that includes at least a portion of an imaging range of the first image, and a controller configured to determine an abnormality in the first image or the second image based on a common portion in the imaging ranges of the first image and the second image.

A vehicle, detection system of the vehicle and method of cleaning a surface of the vehicle is disclosed. The detection system includes a sensor, a cleaning system and a controller. The sensor is located at a surface of the detection system and is configured to detect a contaminant making contact with the surface and generate a signal. The cleaning system cleans the contaminant from the surface. The controller is configured to activate the cleaning system in response to the signal.

A vehicle, detection system of the vehicle and method of cleaning a surface of the vehicle is disclosed. The detection system includes a sensor, a cleaning system and a controller. The sensor is located at a surface of the detection system and is configured to detect a contaminant making contact with the surface and generate a signal. The cleaning system cleans the contaminant from the surface. The controller is configured to activate the cleaning system in response to the signal.

A visibility enhancement system for a vehicle with heating conduit and a method of making a windshield wiper system where a wiper blade is configured to wipe windshield of the vehicle, a wiper blade assembly holds at least one end of the wiper blade, a motor is configured to move the wiper blade upon activation of the visibility enhancement system, and a heating conduit warms the surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The visibility enhancement system may include a wiper blade to wipe a side window of the vehicle, a pair of wiper blades to wipe a side rearview mirror. The heating conduit may comprise of any of the following: heating filaments that warms the wiper blade; heating filaments running within the windshield; an air vent that runs inside the wiper blade; and an air vent that runs parallel to the wiper blade.

Described herein are sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses and methods of operation thereof that utilize a fluid such as pressurized air to cause dispersion of debris, rain droplets/water droplets from other sources, condensation, or any other environmental contaminant that may obscure a transparent surface such as a glass window of a camera housing from the glass window. In this manner, the pressurized air acts to clean the transparent surface, and as a result, improve the clarity of the field-of-view provided through that transparent surface to a camera housed in the camera housing. In addition, sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses described herein can include a water nozzle that is adapted to eject high pressure water onto the transparent surface as well as towards an air nozzle or an air vent that is adapted to eject the pressurized air. The water nozzle can thus be used to remove debris form the air nozzle.

Described herein are sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses and methods of operation thereof that utilize a fluid such as pressurized air to cause dispersion of debris, rain droplets/water droplets from other sources, condensation, or any other environmental contaminant that may obscure a transparent surface such as a glass window of a camera housing from the glass window. In this manner, the pressurized air acts to clean the transparent surface, and as a result, improve the clarity of the field-of-view provided through that transparent surface to a camera housed in the camera housing. In addition, sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses described herein can include a water nozzle that is adapted to eject high pressure water onto the transparent surface as well as towards an air nozzle or an air vent that is adapted to eject the pressurized air. The water nozzle can thus be used to remove debris form the air nozzle.

A sensor lens cleaning system for a cylindrical sensor having a sensor lens surface includes an extended member having a first end coupled to the cylindrical sensor and a second end opposite the first end, a nozzle coupled to the second end of the extended member, an actuator coupled to the extended member and configured to control the extended member, and a controller in electronic communication with the actuator and configured to communicate an actuator control signal to the actuator. The nozzle generates an air stream directed at the sensor lens surface.