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.

A raindrop detection device includes: a front monitoring camera for photographing a front of a vehicle through a windshield of the vehicle; a raindrop detection camera for photographing a raindrop adhering to the windshield; and an electronic control unit disposed away from the windshield, the front monitoring camera, and the raindrop detection camera, performing an image processing on an image data of a front image from the front monitoring camera, and performing an image processing on an image data of a windshield image from the raindrop detection camera.

A wiper is controlled to sweep a surface area, e.g., a portion of a windshield, in front of a camera, e.g., a camera mounted inside a vehicle. An image captured from the camera after the wiper completes, e.g., immediately completes, the sweep of the surface area in front of the camera is used in generating a depth map. In some embodiments a first wiper is controlled to clear a surface area in front of a first camera while a second wiper is controlled to clear a surface area in front of second camera at the same time, and the first and second cameras are synchronized to initiate image capture at the same time, capturing images through recently cleared area, and the captured images are used to generate a depth map. A vehicle control operation, e.g., a direction, braking or speed control operation is performed based on the depth map.

A system includes a sensor window, a sensor having a field of view through the sensor window, a piezoelectric vibrator positioned to impart vibrations to the sensor window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the piezoelectric vibrator. The computer is programmed to identify a type for an obstruction of the sensor window based on data from the sensor, and instruct the piezoelectric vibrator to vibrate the sensor window with vibrations having a vibration profile. The vibration profile has at least one of frequency or phase velocity chosen according to the identified type of obstruction.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a cab comprising a dashboard, a windshield forming an upper front part of the cab and having a lower extremity, a driver assistance system comprising at least one sensor and a control unit, a cab body firewall forming a frame structure of a lower front part of the cab on which the dashboard is attached, the cab body firewall comprising a lower crossbeam holding the windshield by the lower extremity on an upper side of the lower crossbeam, and an upper crossbeam holding the at least one sensor and arranged above the upper side of the lower crossbeam, above the lower extremity of the windshield, and below the dashboard.

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 present disclosure provides automatic cleaning system and method. The automatic cleaning system includes a control unit, a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a cleaning device and a sensor device. The control unit is configured to determine a cleaning type for cleaning a protective cover of a camera based on an image captured by the camera and the measured temperature and humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover. The control unit is also configured to generate a cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type. The control unit is also configured to send the instruction to the MCU. The MCU is configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction in response to receiving the instruction sent from the control unit.

The present invention relates generally to the field of camera covers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle camera cover for exterior cameras of a vehicle. The cover is comprised of a base that is further comprised of a padded magnet or adhesive layer that allows the cover to magnetically or adhesively attach to the exterior surface of a vehicle. A magnetic base layer with a magnetic bottom surface further attaches to the top surface of the magnet layer, and is comprised of a hinge. A transparent lid further attaches to the hinge, wherein the outer surface of the hinge is comprised of a water-repelling coating. Therefore, the cover ensures precipitation or debris cannot obstruct, cover, or damage the exterior cameras of a vehicle, and wherein the cover can be removed as desired without damaging the exterior vehicle surface.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a cab comprising a dashboard, a windshield forming an upper front part of the cab and having a lower extremity, a driver assistance system comprising at least one sensor and a control unit, a cab body firewall forming a frame structure of a lower front part of the cab on which the dashboard is attached, the cab body firewall comprising a lower crossbeam holding the windshield by the lower extremity on an upper side of the lower crossbeam, and an upper crossbeam holding the at least one sensor and arranged above the upper side of the lower crossbeam, above the lower extremity of the windshield, and below the dashboard.

A method for detecting non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards an optical interface is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving one or more images from one or more imaging sensors of the vicinity of the optical interface, of particles movement towards the optical interface; analyzing the one or more images to detect non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards the optical interface and distinguish between rain and/or snow particles and the non-rain and/or non-snow particles movement towards the optical interface; and controlling one or more wiping elements activation based on the analyzed one or more images and removing the non-rain and/or non-snow particles from the optical interface.