Apparatus for providing heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface includes an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid, a housing bounding a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid. A heater element heats fluid passing from the inlet port to the outlet port through the reservoir. A heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to fluid within the reservoir has a strut that divides fluid entering the housing through the inlet port into two flow paths and elongated fins extending outwardly from the strut at transverse angles that bound fluid flow channels for fluid moving through the reservoir. A control circuit energizes the heater element to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet port to the outlet port through the reservoir.

The present invention for rights for a system configured for use with an existing motor vehicle windshield washer system whereby a portion of solution is directed to a headlamp washing outlet.

A sensing system is configured to detect dirt adhering to an outer cover of a vehicle lighting device mounted on a vehicle. The sensing system is provided with: a LiDAR unit disposed in a space formed by the housing and outer cover of the vehicle lighting device, and configured to acquire point cloud data indicating a surrounding environment of the vehicle; a lighting device cleaner configured to remove dirt adhering to the outer cover; and a lighting device cleaner controller configured to acquire reflected light intensity information relating to the intensities of a plurality of reflected light reflected by a road surface after being emitted from the LiDAR unit, determine, on the basis of the acquired reflected light intensity information, whether or not dirt is adhering to the outer cover, and drive the lighting device cleaner in accordance with a determination that dirt is adhering to the outer cover.

One general aspect includes a system having one or more heat pads installed at a vehicle, the one or more heat pads configured to provide infrared energy transmissions to a vehicle component to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component. The system may also carry out the following steps: (a) determining that ice or fog or both ice and fog has accumulated on the surface of the vehicle component; and (b) based on the determination made in step (a), activating the one or more heat pads to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component.

A vehicle cleaner system includes: a cleaner unit configured to be mounted on a vehicle and to discharge a cleaning liquid to an external sensor that acquires information outside the vehicle so as to clean the external sensor; and a cleaner control unit configured to control the cleaner unit. The cleaner control unit is configured to acquire vehicle speed information related to a traveling speed of the vehicle, and control the cleaner unit such that at least one of a discharge amount of the cleaning liquid, a discharge amount of the cleaning liquid per unit time, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning liquid, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning liquid per unit time, and a discharge time of the cleaning liquid varies according to the vehicle speed information.

A heated light enclosure having an adaptable heating system is provided with a controlled heating system to deliver enough heat to a lens on a lamp assembly to remove snow, frost, and/or condensation without overheating the lens. By heating the lens using a combination of one or more of PTC heaters, heat sinks and heat pipes, accumulation of snow, ice, or vapor is mitigated or eliminated from a surface of the lens, thereby enabling light to transmit through the lens. Applications include lamps and bulbs on conveyance devices, including vehicles, boats, planes, and trains, as well as sedentary structures, such as lamp posts, street lights, railroad crossing markers and lights, and airport ground and runway lighting systems.

A sensing system includes a controller configured to acquire information on an object, a first sensor disposed in a space formed by a translucent cover and a housing and configured to acquire first data indicating a surrounding environment, a cover cleaner configured to remove a foreign matter adhering to the translucent cover. The controller is configured to determine whether a foreign matter adheres to the translucent cover, and drive the cover cleaner in response to determination that a foreign matter adheres to the translucent cover. When no foreign matter adheres to the translucent cover, the controller acquires the information on the object based on the first data. When a foreign matter adheres to the translucent cover, the controller acquires second data indicating a surrounding environment from a second sensor disposed outside the space, and then acquires the information on the object based on the acquired second data.

The invention relates to an image recording device for a body of a motor vehicle. The device comprises a housing part, an optical element having an outer surface, and a driving part for engaging an engaging part of a movable cleaning device. The movable cleaning device comprises furthermore a cleaning part, preferably formed by a wiper part, for at least partly cleaning the outer surface. The driving part is furthermore for driving the movable cleaning device to have the cleaning part at least partly clean the outer surface of the optical element. The image recording device is adjustable between a first condition in which the image recording device allows at least partly introducing or taking out the engaging part of the movable cleaning device and a second condition in which the image recording device prevents the engaging part of the movable cleaning device being taken out or being introduced.

A device for dispensing liquid onto a target area of a vehicle surface is described, and includes a mixing valve that is in communication with a pressurized fluidic supply system via a fluidic distribution system, and a controller. The mixing valve includes an outlet orifice that is disposed proximal to the target area, and the mixing valve includes first and second valve conduits that are fluidly connected to the outlet orifice via a mixing portion. The first valve conduit includes a first control valve, and the second valve conduit includes a second control valve. The fluidic distribution system includes a first fluidic conduit and a second fluidic conduit. The controller is operatively connected to the fluidic supply system, and the first and second control valves.

A light system comprising: (a) a plurality of light sources connected to a vehicle and creating light that radiates away from the vehicle so that the light substantially surrounds the vehicle; and (b) one or more sensors that detect light from another light source; and wherein one or more of the plurality of light sources are turned off in a direction of the another light source while some of the plurality of light sources remain on so that a tunnel having a reduction or absence of light is formed in the direction of the another light source between the plurality of light sources that remain on.