The invention relates to a method for controlling a wiper device (10) by means of a control and/or regulating unit (12). At least one operating parameter is set dependent on at least one parameter which differs from a vehicle window coverage parameter.

A windshield-wiper system includes a precipitation-detector, a windshield-wiper actuator, an object-detector, and a controller. The precipitation-detector detects precipitation proximate to a host-vehicle. The windshield-wiper actuator clears the precipitation from a windshield of the host-vehicle. The object-detector detects a distance of an object to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the precipitation-detector, the windshield-wiper actuator, and the object-detector. The controller determines when the precipitation is present based on the precipitation-detector, determines the distance from the object to the host-vehicle based on the object-detector, and adjusts a speed of the windshield-wiper actuator when the precipitation is detected and the object is less than a distance-threshold away from the host-vehicle.

Provided are methods for acoustic emission based device control. Some methods described also include receiving information associated with a first acoustic emission sensor, a second acoustic emission sensor, and a third acoustic emission sensor is received. In embodiments, the information corresponds to an event. In accordance with the first, second, and third acoustic emission sensor information, the first, second, and third timestamps, and a geometry of the surface, a unit vector is calculated from each acoustic emission sensor in the direction of the event's origin. Parameters are calculated based on the unit vectors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

A windshield-wiper system includes a precipitation-detector, a windshield-wiper actuator, an object-detector, and a controller. The precipitation-detector detects precipitation proximate to a host-vehicle. The windshield-wiper actuator clears the precipitation from a windshield of the host-vehicle. The object-detector detects a distance of an object to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the precipitation-detector, the windshield-wiper actuator, and the object-detector. The controller determines when the precipitation is present based on the precipitation-detector, determines the distance from the object to the host-vehicle based on the object-detector, and adjusts a speed of the windshield-wiper actuator when the precipitation is detected and the object is less than a distance-threshold away from the host-vehicle.

Various techniques described herein relate to vehicle camera cleaning systems used for cleaning foreign matter off of a camera lens, including, for example, a water flow nozzle arranged to eject water flow, an air nozzle arranged to eject air, and a central controller used to control the water flow nozzle and air nozzle. In certain embodiments, a plurality of sensing devices are used for sensing the conditions of the camera lens, such as an infrared water drop sensor, a temperature sensor, a camera sensing sensor, and the like. The central controller may determine whether there are water drops, ice, snow, or other foreign matter on the lens based on signals received from the plurality of sensing devices, and may control the air nozzle and the water flow nozzle to clean the camera lens based on the foreign matter present.

Method for determining cleaning information for a camera sensor which includes a blockage on a transparent camera sensor component in an optical camera sensor path, the method including: processing a captured camera image with a neural network algorithm which determines as an output a degree of camera sensor blockage by segmenting a part of the camera image and a camera sensor blockage class by classification of a part of the camera image, determining cleaning information dependent on the camera sensor blockage degree and the camera sensor blockage class, wherein the cleaning information describes that a cleaning of the camera sensor is required if a cleaning criterion is assigned to the determined camera sensor blockage class and if a degree threshold is exceeded by the determined camera sensor blockage degree, and transmitting the cleaning information to a camera sensor cleaning device to clean the camera sensor.

A vehicle configured to automatically clear snow from windows of the vehicle includes: a prime mover, a first window with a first vibration sensor, processor(s) configured to: control speed or load of the prime mover to increase vibration detected by the first vibration sensor, control the speed or the load of the prime mover, within certain predetermined limits, to maximize vibration detected by the first vibration sensor; accept a user prioritization of the windows; control speed or load of the prime mover based on the user prioritization.

A wiper device is provided. An operating range of each of two sets of wiper arm units can be properly restricted. A first wiper arm unit is prevented from colliding with a first front pillar or a dash panel when a first output shaft of a first speed reduction mechanism has rotated beyond a first control angle, and a second wiper arm unit is prevented from colliding with a second front pillar or the dash panel when a second output shaft of a second speed reduction mechanism has rotated beyond a second control angle.

A temperature sensor system for a vehicle includes a temperature sensor assembly having a thermally insulating body, a temperature sensing element thermally insulated within the body, and a thermally conductive contacting element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the temperature sensing element. The thermally conductive contacting element is urged into contact with an interior cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle for sensing the temperature of the vehicle windshield. A controller, responsive to the temperature sensing element and another temperature sensing element and a humidity sensing element of the vehicle, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point. The other temperature sensing element is mounted in the vehicle away from the vehicle windshield.

A vehicle configured to automatically clear snow from windows of the vehicle includes: a prime mover, a first window with a first vibration sensor, processor(s) configured to: control speed or load of the prime mover to increase vibration detected by the first vibration sensor, control the speed or the load of the prime mover, within certain predetermined limits, to maximize vibration detected by the first vibration sensor; accept a user prioritization of the windows; control speed or load of the prime mover based on the user prioritization.