According to the present disclosure there is provided a wiper assembly for removing contaminants from a surface of a housing provided around a sensor, comprising: a drive system; a moveable part connected to the drive system to be driven by the drive system; and at least one wiper connected to the moveable part, wherein the drive system is configured to drive the moveable part, thereby to cause movement of the at least one wiper at least partially around the housing thereby to wipe the surface of the housing to remove contaminants therefrom. Further, according to the present disclosure there is provided: a sensor assembly comprising a sensor and a wiper assembly; a vehicle; and a method of operating a wiper assembly.

A sensor-cleaning system includes a sensor of a vehicle, an electrode, and a computer communicatively coupled to the electrode. The sensor includes a lens. The electrode is positioned to draw dust from the lens when the electrode is energized. The computer is programmed to energize the electrode in response to the vehicle moving and deenergize the electrode in response to the vehicle being stationary.

A vehicle control method is provided for a vehicle having an ultra wide band (UWB) sensor configured to measure a rainfall value. The method includes waking up the UWB sensor in response to a trigger instruction for starting rainfall detection, to cause the UWB sensor to measure a rainfall value; acquiring the rainfall value measured by the UWB sensor; and controlling the vehicle to execute a preset control instruction action according to the rainfall value.

A control device for a vehicle, comprising: a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an outer surface of a window glass; and a flexible solar cell module capable of generating electricity by being irradiated with sunlight, wherein the solar cell module is deployed along an inner surface of the window glass, and the control device is capable of storing the solar cell module, the control device including a controller for controlling the deployment and storage of the solar cell module and the cleaning mechanism, wherein the controller includes an expansion determination unit for determining that the solar cell module is deployed, and a cleaning mechanism control unit for operating the cleaning mechanism so as to clean the outer surface of the window glass when it is determined that the solar cell module is deployed.

A control device for a vehicle, comprising: a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an outer surface of a window glass; and a flexible solar cell module capable of generating electricity by being irradiated with sunlight, wherein the solar cell module is deployed along an inner surface of the window glass, and the control device is capable of storing the solar cell module, the control device including a controller for controlling the deployment and storage of the solar cell module and the cleaning mechanism, wherein the controller includes an expansion determination unit for determining that the solar cell module is deployed, and a cleaning mechanism control unit for operating the cleaning mechanism so as to clean the outer surface of the window glass when it is determined that the solar cell module is deployed.

The invention provides a device for wiping an optical surface of at least one optical element of a vehicle, including a wiping unit having a wiping part for wiping the optical surface and a support element for supporting the wiping part, moving the wiping part so that it wipes the optical surface by making contact with the optical surface, a drive member for driving the wiping unit, the wiping unit being in one piece. The invention gives the device a simple structure.

Disclosed is a wiper blade control system for a vehicle comprising: a wiper blade electronic control unit, a temperature sensor, at least one of a windshield monitoring camera, a windshield precipitation monitor, or combinations thereof, and a wiper blade elevation motor. The wiper blade electronic control unit is connected to the temperature sensor to the at least one of the windshield monitoring camera or the windshield precipitation monitor, to the wiper blade elevation motor, and to a vehicle transmission electronic control unit. Provided the vehicle is in park, the system raises a set of wiper blades off the windshield if the external temperature either exceeds a high temperature threshold or is below a low temperature threshold. The system also raises the wiper blades if snow or ice are detected on the windshield. The system lowers the wiper blades when the conditions are no longer met.

Sensor cleaning systems are disclosed for cleaning an entrance surface through which light beams are transmitted from an environment to a vehicle-mounted sensor. The sensor cleaning system includes multiple washing elements that dispense a heated or non-heated washer fluid over the entrance surface from different angles, and multiple wiping elements that move independently over the entrance surface. The washing and dispensing elements wash and wipe the entrance surface in a sequence of reconfigurable wiping and washing steps. During vehicle shut down and startup processes, the sensor cleaning system automatically performs a cleaning process. After a last cleaning process performed during a vehicle shut down process, the wiping elements cover the entrance surface to shield the entrance surface from dirt and other debris that could interfere with sensor operation.

Sensor cleaning systems are disclosed for cleaning an entrance surface through which light beams are transmitted from an environment to a vehicle-mounted sensor. The sensor cleaning system includes multiple washing elements that dispense a heated or non-heated washer fluid over the entrance surface from different angles, and multiple wiping elements that move independently over the entrance surface. The washing and dispensing elements wash and wipe the entrance surface in a sequence of reconfigurable wiping and washing steps. During vehicle shut down and startup processes, the sensor cleaning system automatically performs a cleaning process. After a last cleaning process performed during a vehicle shut down process, the wiping elements cover the entrance surface to shield the entrance surface from dirt and other debris that could interfere with sensor operation.

A wiper control device for controlling an operation of a wiper device is provided. The wiper control device includes an arm operation determination portion sets a stop position for stopping a wiper arm for a predetermined time above a lower reversal position, and when moving the wiper arm stopped on an upper reversal position side with respect to the stop position to a storage position set below the lower reversal position, temporarily stops the wiper arm at the stop position for a predetermined time, and moves the wiper arm to the storage position after the predetermined time elapses. The stop position is an arm falling position at which the wiper arm in a locked back state falls without contacting an engine hood of a vehicle, and a wiper blade contacts a windshield.