An electromagnetic wiper system for a windshield of a vehicle includes a linear actuator, a wiper-arrangement, and control circuitry. The linear actuator includes at least one guide rail having permanent magnets and an electromagnetic moving block. The electromagnetic moving block includes at least one perforation that surrounds the at least one guide rail and at least one electromagnetic coil that surrounds the at least one perforation. The wiper-arrangement includes a wiper arm and a wiper blade, wherein at least the wiper arm is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block. The control circuitry controls a linear motion of the electromagnetic moving block along the at least one guide rail to steer the wiper arm that is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block back and forth across a length of the windshield to the windshield, wherein the electromagnetic moving block induces minimal friction during the linear motion.

An amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle is determined. A component in the vehicle is actuated based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

An amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle is determined. A component in the vehicle is actuated based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

A method for synchronizing acquisition of an analog signal value with a read signal for a state of an electrical contact of a motor vehicle. The method includes: controlling, at each start time of the first task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a read signal voltage pulse at the interface module input; at the same start time, triggering a counter for a predetermined duration shorter than the duration of the read signal voltage pulse; on the expiration of the counter duration, measuring the value of an analog signal generated by the interface module based on the state signal and of the read signal; and controlling, at the next start time of the second task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a zero voltage signal at the interface module input until the next start time of the first task.

A method for synchronizing acquisition of an analog signal value with a read signal for a state of an electrical contact of a motor vehicle. The method includes: controlling, at each start time of the first task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a read signal voltage pulse at the interface module input; at the same start time, triggering a counter for a predetermined duration shorter than the duration of the read signal voltage pulse; on the expiration of the counter duration, measuring the value of an analog signal generated by the interface module based on the state signal and of the read signal; and controlling, at the next start time of the second task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a zero voltage signal at the interface module input until the next start time of the first task.

A windshield wiper system for an aircraft is provided and includes a motor, an output shaft, a wrap spring and crank rocker mechanism (WSCRM) to which the motor and the output shaft are coupled and a controller. By way of the WSCRM, first directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor via a two-stage gear reduction is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a first sweep angle and second directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a second sweep angle. The controller is configured to control the motor such that the first directional rotation is continuously or non-continuously input during first or second flight conditions, respectively, and the second directional rotation is continuously input during third flight conditions.

A windshield wiper system for an aircraft is provided and includes a motor, an output shaft, a wrap spring and crank rocker mechanism (WSCRM) to which the motor and the output shaft are coupled and a controller. By way of the WSCRM, first directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor via a two-stage gear reduction is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a first sweep angle and second directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a second sweep angle. The controller is configured to control the motor such that the first directional rotation is continuously or non-continuously input during first or second flight conditions, respectively, and the second directional rotation is continuously input during third flight conditions.

A precipitation index estimation apparatus includes an operation mode data collection unit and an estimation processing unit. The data collection unit is configured to collect operation mode data indicating an operation mode of a windshield wiper, acquired in one or more vehicles positioned in a predetermined area within a predetermined period. The estimation processing unit is configured to estimate a precipitation index indicating an intensity of precipitation in the predetermined area within the predetermined period, based on a proportion of each of a plurality of kinds of operation modes, which is derived from the collected operation mode data.

A precipitation index estimation apparatus includes a data collection unit and an estimation processing unit. The data collection unit is configured to collect rainfall amount data that is detected by a rainfall amount sensor in one or more vehicles positioned in a predetermined area within a predetermined period. The estimation processing unit is configured to estimate a precipitation index indicating an intensity of precipitation in the predetermined area within the predetermined period, based on the collected rainfall amount data.

A precipitation index estimation apparatus includes a data collection unit and an estimation processing unit. The data collection unit is configured to collect rain-related data for estimating a precipitation index indicating an intensity of precipitation within a predetermined period from vehicle state information generated in one or more vehicles. The estimation processing unit is configured to carry out a statistical processing of the collected rain-related data and estimate the precipitation index within the predetermined period. The estimation processing unit is configured to correct, before the statistical processing, a value of the rain-related data to be used for the statistical processing, according to speed of a vehicle at the time at which the rain-related data is acquired.