B60S1/08

Real-time, fine adjustment of driver current of a light emitting device of an optical rain sensor
11231518 · 2022-01-25 · ·

An optical rain sensor device includes a first light emitting element adapted to emit a first light pulse toward an inner surface of a transparent substrate, a second light emitting element adapted to emit a second light pulse toward the inner surface of the transparent substrate, a photodetector adapted to detect a light from the first light pulse and the second light pulse that is reflected by the inner surface of the transparent substrate, and a rain sensor controller. The rain sensor controller includes a regulated current source adapted to apply a compensation current signal at a terminal of the second light emitting element based on a regulation signal, so that a total current across the second light emitting element is increased or decreased to reduce an imbalance between the first light pulse and the second light pulse.

Vehicle cleaner nozzle and method of assembling vehicle cleaner nozzle
11230269 · 2022-01-25 · ·

A vehicle cleaner nozzle injects a cleaning medium on an object to be cleaned which is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle cleaner nozzle includes a housing, a nozzle chip accommodated in an interior of the housing, and a holder configured to support the housing in a state where the housing accommodates the nozzle chip. A feedback flow path for swinging and injecting the cleaning medium is formed by accommodating the nozzle chip in the housing.

Methods and apparatus for capturing and using images in a system including wipers

A wiper is controlled to sweep a surface area, e.g., a portion of a windshield, in front of a camera, e.g., a camera mounted inside a vehicle. An image captured from the camera after the wiper completes, e.g., immediately completes, the sweep of the surface area in front of the camera is used in generating a depth map. In some embodiments a first wiper is controlled to clear a surface area in front of a first camera while a second wiper is controlled to clear a surface area in front of second camera at the same time, and the first and second cameras are synchronized to initiate image capture at the same time, capturing images through recently cleared area, and the captured images are used to generate a depth map. A vehicle control operation, e.g., a direction, braking or speed control operation is performed based on the depth map.

MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A CAB BODY FIREWALL WITH A LOWER CROSSBEAM AND AN UPPER CROSSBEAM
20220009449 · 2022-01-13 ·

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a cab comprising a dashboard, a windshield forming an upper front part of the cab and having a lower extremity, a driver assistance system comprising at least one sensor and a control unit, a cab body firewall forming a frame structure of a lower front part of the cab on which the dashboard is attached, the cab body firewall comprising a lower crossbeam holding the windshield by the lower extremity on an upper side of the lower crossbeam, and an upper crossbeam holding the at least one sensor and arranged above the upper side of the lower crossbeam, above the lower extremity of the windshield, and below the dashboard.

Method for operating a dual sweep angle and indexable wiper system

A windshield wiper assembly for a dual sweep angle and indexable wiper system is provided. The system includes a wiper motor and a wiper arm for sweeping a surface of a windshield coupled to a first eccentric, the first eccentric comprising a primary eccentric and an indexable eccentric plate, wherein the indexable eccentric plate determines an eccentric offset of the wiper arm coupled to the first eccentric. The system further includes an output wiper shaft coupled to the wiper arm, a second eccentric coupled to a cam shaft, and a link coupled to the first eccentric and the second eccentric, the link having a first effective link arm length between the first eccentric and the second eccentric for driving the first eccentric to operate the wiper arm when operated in a first direction.

Outside viewing device for a vehicle, comprising a camera

An outside viewing device for a vehicle, having a camera that is housed in a casing having a frontal wall through which there passes an imaging window, and an internal partition which is parallel to the frontal wall and through which there passes an opening next to the imaging window. In addition, two peripheral wiper seals, disposed at the periphery of the window and the opening, delimit a guide in which a transparent screen slides, in a sealed manner, between at least two imaging positions, in each of which different surface portions of the screen are positioned next to the imaging window. Finally, a device for moving the screen is designed to slide the latter between its different positions.

Imaging device for vehicle, lighting device for vehicle and foreign substance removal system for vehicle

A camera module shoots a satisfactory image by suppressing the adherence of water droplets to a part in a light transmitting cover through which imaging light is transmitted. Provided are an outer casing comprising a housing having an opening and a light transmitting cover for closing the opening; and a camera module arranged inside the outer casing. A part of the light transmitting cover is provided as a transmission window through which imaging light incident on the camera module is transmitted and a restriction part for restricting the inflow of water droplets toward the transmission window is provided to the light transmitting cover.

Compact gearbox design for windshield wiper system

A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided and includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with a motor output shaft gear, a gear train and an internally cut sector gear. The gear train includes a first gear, which has a first diameter and engages with the motor output shaft gear, and a second gear, which has a second diameter that is shorter than the first diameter and rotates with the first gear. The internally cut sector gear is coupled with an output shaft and formed to define an internal geared groove that engages with the second gear.

Compact gearbox design for windshield wiper system

A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided and includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with a motor output shaft gear, a gear train and an internally cut sector gear. The gear train includes a first gear, which has a first diameter and engages with the motor output shaft gear, and a second gear, which has a second diameter that is shorter than the first diameter and rotates with the first gear. The internally cut sector gear is coupled with an output shaft and formed to define an internal geared groove that engages with the second gear.

Method for controlling wipers based on a camera exposure time

A computer implemented method for operating a wiper system of a sensor enclosure. The wiper system can be configured to receive a camera operating information from one or more cameras. The one or more cameras can be determined to be in an exposure mode based on the camera operating information. A first speed of one or more wipers can be adjusted such that the one or more wipers are not in field of views of the one or more cameras while the one or more cameras are in the exposure mode.