A method of calibrating a windshield wiper system that includes moving a wiper arm, of the windshield wiper system, within at least a portion of a full range of motion defined by at least one physical boundary, determining a position of the wiper arm when it contacts the at least one physical boundary, defining, based on the determined position of the wiper arm, an operating range of motion for the wiper arm that is shorter than the full range of motion, and setting the wiper arm to operate within the defined operating range of motion.

A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided. The WWS includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a wiper arm and blade, a gearbox/converter operably interposed between the BLDC motor and the wiper arm and blade and a smart motor drive configured to determine a WWS failure condition and to operate the BLDC motor according to the determination.

A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided. The WWS includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a wiper arm and blade, a gearbox/converter operably interposed between the BLDC motor and the wiper arm and blade and a smart motor drive configured to determine a WWS failure condition and to operate the BLDC motor according to the determination.

A wiper motor control circuit controls a drive circuit such that an actual speed of a wiper speed computed based on change in a rotation angle of an output shaft of the wiper motor detected by a rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation angle becomes a target speed corresponding to a position of a wiper blade indicated by the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle sensor. The wiper motor control circuit also controls the drive circuit so as to apply a braking current in the wiper motor when the actual speed has exceeded a threshold value when the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle sensor indicates a return position of the wiper blade.

A wiper motor control circuit controls a drive circuit such that an actual speed of a wiper speed computed based on change in a rotation angle of an output shaft of the wiper motor detected by a rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation angle becomes a target speed corresponding to a position of a wiper blade indicated by the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle sensor. The wiper motor control circuit also controls the drive circuit so as to apply a braking current in the wiper motor when the actual speed has exceeded a threshold value when the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle sensor indicates a return position of the wiper blade.

The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a moveable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.

A windshield wiper system includes a three-phase motor, the three-phase inverter, a brake circuit, and a controller. The controller transmits commutation signals to the three-phase inverter to drive the motor according to an inboard-to-outboard speed profile and to drive the motor according to an outboard-to-inboard speed profile. The controller activates the brake circuit based on the inboard-to outboard speed profile, or the outboard-to-inboard speed profile, and a direct current bus voltage.

A system includes a dome, a wiper assembly, a position sensor and a control device. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to rotate around the dome. The position sensor may be configured to send a signal to a control device when a wiper blade passes the position sensor. The control device may include one or more processors configured to receive the signal from the position sensor and determine a location of the wiper blade relative to the dome based on the received signal.

A system includes a dome, a wiper assembly, a position sensor and a control device. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to rotate around the dome. The position sensor may be configured to send a signal to a control device when a wiper blade passes the position sensor. The control device may include one or more processors configured to receive the signal from the position sensor and determine a location of the wiper blade relative to the dome based on the received signal.

An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for determining a state of visibility of a road object, such as a road sign, using vehicle sensor data. For example, the apparatus determines whether one or more sensors of a first vehicle observes a road sign. If the road sign is not observed by the one or more sensors, the apparatus determines whether one or more second vehicles is obscuring the road sign. If the one or more second vehicles is not obscuring the road sign, the apparatus determines whether the road sign is obscured due to a weather condition. If the road sign is obscured due to the weather condition, the apparatus generates a signal indicating that the road sign was obscured due to the weather condition.