The disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling a heating element of a window of a vehicle. The systems and methods include capturing an image of the window with a camera of the vehicle. The image is analyzed to determine a state of the window and the heating element is controlled based on the state of the window.

A light system having: (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.

A vehicle cleaner unit is configured to clean a cleaning object mounted near a bumper or a grille of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaner unit includes a blower configured to be attached to a rear surface of the bumper or the grille. The bumper or the grille is provided with an air outlet for jetting air blown from the blower toward the cleaning object.

This dirt detection system is composed to detect dirt attached to an outer cover of a lighting tool for a vehicle. A camera, a LiDAR unit, and a millimeter wave radar, which detect the surrounding environment of the vehicle, are each mounted on the lighting tool for a vehicle. The dirt detection system is provided with: a thermal imaging camera composed to acquire thermal image data showing the outer cover; a lighting tool cleaner composed to remove the dirt attached to the outer cover; and a lighting tool cleaner control unit composed to determine, on the basis of the thermal image data, whether the dirt is attached to the outer cover and to drive the lighting tool cleaner in response to the determination that the dirt is attached to the outer cover.

A vehicle monitoring apparatus including: a camera disposed in a vehicle lamp; a guide duct configured to guide outside air introduced into the vehicle; and a nozzle connected to the guide duct and configured to discharge the air to a front side of the camera, thereby improving stability and reliability.

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 camera unit is configured to capture an image of an outside area of a vehicle. A translucent cover covers the camera unit. A first air cleaner is configured to jet gas toward an area on the translucent cover located within an angle of view of the camera unit. The first cleaner is located above the area in an up-down direction of the vehicle.

A vehicular washing device includes: a nozzle (4); a flow passage forming body (2) of which an internal space is a flow passage of a fluid; and a valve (21) that has a pressing tube part (22) with an axial direction coinciding with a flow direction of the fluid, is elastically deformable in a direction in which the diameter of the pressing tube part changes, and opens and closes the flow passage according to the state of deformation. A first flow passage (2a) and a second flow passage (2b) are formed as the flow passage on opposite sides of the pressing tube part. A shaft (9) with which the pressing tube part is capable of coming into close contact is located inside the valve. The valve deforms elastically according to the magnitude of the pressure of the first flow passage or the pressure of the second flow passage relative to an atmospheric pressure.

The vehicular cleaner system is provided with: a tank (2) for storing a cleaning fluid; a motor pump (3) for pumping out the cleaning fluid in the tank (2); lighting fixture nozzles (4) for spraying the cleaning fluid toward headlamps (100); sensor nozzles (5) for spraying the cleaning fluid toward on-board sensors (200); a cleaning fluid passage (9) that connects the motor pump (3) to the lighting fixture nozzles (4) and the sensor nozzles (5); and a controller (8) for controlling the spraying of the cleaning fluid.

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.