When a first driver setting mode indicates an OFF mode or an AUTO mode, a VP accepts a light operation mode request from an ADK. When an operation is performed by a user, the VP changes an operation mode of a headlight in accordance with the operation by the user. When the operation by the user has not been performed, the VP changes the operation mode of the headlight in accordance with the light operation mode request.

A motor device includes a motor having three-phase windings; a rotation speed detector detecting a rotation speed of the motor; a drive signal generator controlling a duty ratio not to exceed a duty ratio upper limit value, and performing control for an energization angle of each phase and performing advance angle control shifting the phase from a reference position to generate a drive signal corresponding to the duty ratio; and an inverter supplying alternating current to the windings based on the drive signal. The drive signal generator includes an advance angle/energization angle controller changing the energization angle to 120 degrees or less while performing advance angle control when the duty ratio is equal to or greater than the duty ratio upper limit value and the rotation speed is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value in a state where the energization angle is greater than 120 degrees.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a wiper drive shaft configured to drive a wiper arm between a start position and an end sweep position. The wiper drive shaft includes external threads defined therein and at a distal end thereof. An axial length of the external threads along the wiper drive shaft defines the start position and the end sweep position, and a total desired sweep angle between the start position and end sweep position. The wiper drive shaft includes and a first hard stop groove and a second hard stop groove, each defined at a respective first axial offset and a second axial offset from the external threads to define a first hard stop position and second hard stop position.

A wiper control method and a wiper control device are provided. An arm falling position for stopping wiper arms for a predetermined time is set above a lower reversal position. When the wiper arms stopped on the side of an upper reversal position with respect to the arm falling position, such as a service position, are moved to a storage position set below the lower reversal position, or when a wiping operation is to be performed again, the wiper arms are temporarily stopped for the predetermined time at the arm falling position. Then, after the predetermined time elapses, the wiper arms are moved to the storage position in the case of a storage operation, and moved to the upper reversal position in the case of restarting, and then the normal wiping operation is performed.

A wiper control device includes an acquisition unit, an estimation unit, and a drive unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. The estimation unit is configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor. The current ripple has a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor. The drive unit is configured to reduce an electric power supplied to the wiper motor when a position of the wiper is just before the first position or when the position of the wiper is just before the second position.

A wiper control device includes an acquisition unit and an estimation unit. The estimation unit is configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. The estimation unit is configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor. The current ripple has a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor.

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.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system include, a wiper arm configured to sweep along a sweep zone defined between a start position and an end sweep position. A wiper drive shaft is operatively connected at a proximal end to the wiper arm to drive the wiper arm between the start position and the end sweep position. At least an angular encoder is operatively connected to a distal end of the wiper drive shaft configured to record an actual position of the wiper arm. A controller is operatively connected to the encoder to receive positon wiper arm position data therefrom.

The system comprises a controller, an electronic data processor, or both that are configured to control the wiper motor consistent with an operator-defined wiping intensity request. A user interface is configured to input the operator-defined wiping intensity request. In a learning mode, the electronic data processor can learn or record the operator-defined wiping intensity request associated with a respective operator identifier for a series of sampling intervals during operation of the vehicle. First, in the learning mode, a windshield clarity detector is configured to detect an observed clarity state of the windshield of a vehicle for the series of respective sampling intervals to augment the operator-defined wiping intensity request associated with a respective operator identifier. Second, in the learning mode for the series of sampling intervals, the electronic data processor configured to store in a data storage device the augmented observed clarity state of the windshield, and the operator-defined wiping intensity that are associated with a respective operator identifier.

A computer-implemented method causes data processing hardware to perform operations including, based on adjustment of a power mode of a vehicle from an ON state to an OFF state, and based on a current operation mode of a wiper system of the vehicle including an active state, storing the current operation mode of the wiper system. The operations also include, based on the stored current operation mode including the active state, and responsive to adjustment of the power mode of the vehicle from the OFF state to the ON state, operating the wiper system in an inactive state and generating a notification to a vehicle user. Furthermore, the operations include, based on the stored current operation mode being the active state, and responsive to passage of a threshold period of time after generating the notification to the vehicle user, operating the wiper system in the active state.