A wiper arm device (10a; 10b) having at least one wiper arm adapter (12a; 12b), having at least one fluidic coupling element (18a; 18b) for forming a fluidic connection with at least one wiper blade (62a; 62b), having at least one wiper arm rod (14a; 14b), having at least one fluid line (16a, 16a′; 16b, 16b′) for transporting wiper fluid along the wiper arm rod (14a; 14b) to the fluidic coupling element (18a; 18b), and having an electrical heating line (20a, 20a′; 20b) which is arranged in the fluid line (16a, 16a′; 16b, 16b′) for heating the fluid line (16a, 16a′; 16b, 16b′). The heating line (20a, 20a′; 20b) extends through the at least one fluid line (16a, 16a′; 16b, 16b′) and is deflected at the fluidic coupling element (18a; 18b) to form a return through the fluid line (16a, 16a′; 16b, 16b′).

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 invention relates to a method for automated cleaning of an optical surface of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one cycle of cleaning (38) the optical surface which comprises a plurality of separate and successive steps of spraying fluid, said cycle of cleaning (38) comprising at least a first step of spraying (30) cleaning fluid onto the optical surface, a second step of spraying (32) cleaning fluid onto the optical surface, and a break step (34), of non-zero duration, between the first step of spraying (30) cleaning fluid and the second step (32) of spraying cleaning fluid.

Methods and systems for thermal management of sensors of a vehicle. The system includes a sensor that is attached to a vehicle, a temperature monitor configured to collect temperature data corresponding to the sensor, a processor, and a sensor cleaning subsystem. The sensor cleaning subsystem includes a cleaning fluid reservoir and a port that is positioned to direct cleaning fluid from the reservoir to the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive temperature data corresponding to the sensor from the temperature monitor, determine that a current temperature of the sensor is greater than a first threshold temperature, and cause the sensor cleaning subsystem to initiate a cleaning cycle and direct the cleaning fluid to the sensor to cool down the sensor in response to determining that the current temperature of the sensor is greater than the first threshold temperature.

Methods and systems for thermal management of sensors of a vehicle. The system includes a processor and a sensor cleaning subsystem including a cleaning fluid reservoir and a port that is positioned to direct cleaning fluid from the reservoir to a vehicle sensor. The processor is configured to: receive temperature data corresponding to the sensor from a temperature monitor, determine that a current temperature of the sensor is greater than a first threshold temperature, and cause the sensor cleaning subsystem to initiate a cleaning cycle and direct the cleaning fluid to the sensor to cool down the sensor in response to determining that the current temperature of the sensor is greater than the first threshold temperature.

A solvent heater for vehicular window washing solvent wherein the solvent heater is a vehicular exhaust pipe. There is a vessel having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window. There is a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle technology, and more particularly, to an unmanned vehicle and its sensor device and cleaning mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes: a housing, a cleaning element, a driving component transmissively connected to the cleaning element and a control unit installed within a receiving cavity. The housing has a light transmissive element provided on a side surface thereof. The cleaning element is pivotable about one end thereof and mounted to the housing. The cleaning element, when pivoting, frictionally interacts with a surface of the light transmissive element that is away from the receiving cavity to clean the light transmissive element. The control unit is communicatively connected to the driving component for controlling the driving component.

Methods and systems for thermal management of sensors of a vehicle. The system includes a processor and a sensor cleaning subsystem including a cleaning fluid reservoir and a port that is positioned to direct cleaning fluid from the reservoir to a vehicle sensor. The processor is configured to: receive temperature data corresponding to the sensor from a temperature monitor, determine that a current temperature of the sensor is greater than a first threshold temperature, and cause the sensor cleaning subsystem to initiate a cleaning cycle and direct the cleaning fluid to the sensor to cool down the sensor in response to determining that the current temperature of the sensor is greater than the first threshold temperature.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle technology, and more particularly, to an unmanned vehicle and its sensor device and cleaning mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes: a housing, a cleaning element, a driving component transmissively connected to the cleaning element and a control unit installed within a receiving cavity. The housing has a light transmissive element provided on a side surface thereof. The cleaning element is pivotable about one end thereof and mounted to the housing. The cleaning element, when pivoting, frictionally interacts with a surface of the light transmissive element that is away from the receiving cavity to clean the light transmissive element. The control unit is communicatively connected to the driving component for controlling the driving component.

A vehicle sensor system including a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to receive, from a temperature monitor, temperature of a sensor of a vehicle, and cause a sensor cleaning subsystem to, in response to the temperature of the sensor being less than a threshold temperature: heat a cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid configure to clean and heat the sensor, and initiate a cleaning cycle and direct the heated cleaning fluid to the sensor to increase the temperature of the sensor.