In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a wiper drive shaft configured to drive a wiper arm between a start position and an end sweep position. The wiper drive shaft includes external threads defined therein and at a distal end thereof. An axial length of the external threads along the wiper drive shaft defines the start position and the end sweep position, and a total desired sweep angle between the start position and end sweep position. The wiper drive shaft includes and a first hard stop groove and a second hard stop groove, each defined at a respective first axial offset and a second axial offset from the external threads to define a first hard stop position and second hard stop position.

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.

A brushless motor comprises: a stator 21 having armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c; a rotor 22 which is rotated by a revolving magnetic field; and a switching element 30a, wherein the brushless motor has a rotation number control unit 33 which switches between low-speed and high-speed mode, wherein in the low-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at predetermined energization timing and controls a duty ratio to control the rotation number of the rotor 22, and in the high-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at energization timing advanced from the energization timing for the low-speed mode, thereby performing field weakening control of weakening the revolving magnetic field from that of the low-speed mode to control the rotation number of the rotor 22.

A brushless motor comprises: a stator 21 having armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c; a rotor 22 which is rotated by a revolving magnetic field; and a switching element 30a, wherein the brushless motor has a rotation number control unit 33 which switches between low-speed and high-speed mode, wherein in the low-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at predetermined energization timing and controls a duty ratio to control the rotation number of the rotor 22, and in the high-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at energization timing advanced from the energization timing for the low-speed mode, thereby performing field weakening control of weakening the revolving magnetic field from that of the low-speed mode to control the rotation number of the rotor 22.

A vehicle wiper system includes a plurality of first sensor elements, an adjustable wiper, and a second sensor. The plurality of first sensor elements is configured to be disposed at a periphery of a vehicle window to form a boundary. The adjustable wiper has a distal end and a proximal end, and an adjustment mechanism that enables a distance between the distal end and the proximal end to change. The adjustable wiper is configured to travel along a windshield to define a wiper path. The second sensor element is disposed adjacent the distal end, and is configured to operate in conjunction with the first sensor element to adjust the adjustable wiper such that a distance between the distal end and the proximal end changes, and a distance between the distal end of the wiper and the boundary remains substantially consistent as the adjustable wiper travels along the wiper path.

An integrated camera, ambient light detection, and rain sensor assembly suitable for installation behind a windshield of a driver operated vehicle or an automated vehicle includes an imager-device. The imager-device is formed of an array of pixels configured to define a central-portion and a periphery-portion of the imager-device. Each pixel of the array of pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each pixel in the central-portion is equipped with a red/visible/visible/visible filter (RVVV filter) arranged such that each pixel in the central-portion includes a red sub-pixel and three visible-light sub-pixels. Each pixel in the periphery-portion is equipped with a red/green/blue/near-infrared filter (RGBN filter) arranged such that each pixel in the periphery-portion includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a near-infrared sub-pixel.

A method of minimizing ice buildup on a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a state of the vehicle; (b) determining a state of the windshield wiper; (c) determining an ambient temperature of the vehicle; and (d) initiating a timer when the state of the vehicle changes from an on state if the ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature and the state of the windshield wiper prior to the vehicle changing to the off state is an on state, and turning the windshield wiper to the on state after a period of time. The windshield wiper may remain on at least through a full cycle from a park zone, to a fully extended position, and back to the park zone. The wiper may remain on for a predetermined period of time determined based upon the ambient temperature or other condition.

An environmental condition outside of a vehicle can be detected via a camera or sensor. A notification of the environmental condition can be sent to a remote device via a telematics system. A command can be received from the remote device in response to the notification via the telematics system, wherein the command is related to a vehicle system of the vehicle. The command can be communicated to the vehicle system to cause a preconditioning of the vehicle.

A brushless motor comprises: a stator 21 having armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c; a rotor 22 which is rotated by a revolving magnetic field; and a switching element 30a, wherein the brushless motor has a rotation number control unit 33 which switches between low-speed and high-speed mode, wherein in the low-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at predetermined energization timing and controls a duty ratio to control the rotation number of the rotor 22, and in the high-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at energization timing advanced from the energization timing for the low-speed mode, thereby performing field weakening control of weakening the revolving magnetic field from that of the low-speed mode to control the rotation number of the rotor 22.