A photographing device for a vehicle includes: an imaging element configured to receive a photographing beam passing through a beam transmission section of a window section; a heater constituted by a heating wire; a section to be heated to which the heater is fixed, the section to be heated being opposite to an inner side surface of the beam transmission section; a switch element configured to switch electrical connection state to the heater; and a current limiting element disposed at the section to be heated and being configured such that current flowing through the heater becomes zero or is reduced when the electric circuit is short-circuited such that power is supplied to the heater while bypassing the switch element and a temperature of the current limiting element become equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

A control device for a vehicle including: a peripheral information detection section that detects peripheral information of a vehicle; a sensing section that senses dirt at the peripheral information detection section; a removal section that removes dirt at the peripheral information detection section; and a control section that controls the removal section to remove the dirt, in at least one of a case in which removal of the dirt by the removal section is instructed or a case in which the dirt is sensed by the sensing section.

Methods, systems and computer readable program products for maintaining windscreen visibility using surface monitoring are disclosed. In embodiments, the system comprises a set of sensors for monitoring a state of a windscreen surface and for generating one or more signals representing that state; a control system for analyzing the one or more signals to identify defined conditions of the surface of the windscreen and to generate one or more control signals; and a set of activatable devices for receiving the one or more control signals. The control signals activate the activatable devices to remove the identified conditions of the surface of the windscreen. In embodiments, the set of activatable devices includes air jets and cleaning fluid jets, and the control signals activate these jets to direct air and cleaning fluids onto the windscreen. This may be done to remove rain drops or dirt from the windscreen.

Systems and methods for cleaning vehicle sensors are disclosed that optimize sensor cleaning fluid usage. An exemplary vehicle sensor cleaning system includes a sensor cleaning fluid delivery system that delivers sensor cleaning fluid to a sensor of a vehicle and a sensor cleaning control system in communication with the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system. The sensor cleaning control system determines a target cleanliness level for the sensor based on sensor cleaning data associated with the sensor. The target cleanliness level is less than a maximum cleanliness level indicating indicates a contaminate-free sensor. The sensor cleaning control system further monitors a cleanliness level of the sensor and initiates a sensor cleaning operation when the cleanliness level of the sensor is less than an operational cleanliness threshold, such that the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system delivers sensor cleaning fluid to the sensor to clean the sensor to the target cleanliness level.

The invention relates to a device for cleaning an optical sensor (2) of an optical detection system of a motor vehicle, which comprises spray means (4) for spraying a cleaning liquid onto an exterior surface (20) of this optical sensor (2). The device comprises suction means (7) of which a chamber (5) opens onto at least a portion of the periphery of this optical sensor (2).

Provided is a heater control device including a camera sensor configured to capture an image of an outside of a vehicle through an image capturing transparent region of a window glass, a camera heater configured to heat the image capturing transparent region, and a glass heater configured to heat a specific region being a stop position region of a wiper blade. The heater control device executes heating control of energizing the glass heater to heat the specific region during a period from an operation start time of an operation switch to an operation end time of the operation switch at the earliest. The heater control device executes deicing control of energizing the camera heater in order to deice the image capturing transparent region when a deicing execution condition, which is satisfied during a period from the operation start time to the operation end time at the earliest, is satisfied.

An imaging device images rearward of a vehicle through a windshield from inside a cabin of the vehicle, and a vehicle washing device includes a wiping device and a controller. The wiping device is capable of reciprocatingly wiping a predetermined range of the windshield. The predetermined range of the windshield includes an imaging range for the imaging device. The controller switches operation of the wiping device to one of a first mode or a second mode in accordance with an input. In the first mode, the wiping device wipes the predetermined range of the windshield. In the second mode, the wiping device wipes the imaging range of the windshield preferentially compared to the first mode.

A sensor enclosure comprising a domed cover and a base. The base can be encased by the domed cover. The base comprises an inner frame, an outer frame, one or more wipers, and a powertrain. The inner frame can provide surfaces for one or more sensors. The outer frame, disposed underneath the inner frame, the outer frame includes a slewing ring. The slewing ring comprises an inner ring to which the domed cover is attached and an outer ring attached to the outer frame. The one or more wipers extends vertically from the outer frame, each wiper having a first end attached to the outer frame and a second end attached to a support ring, and each wiper making a contact with the dome cover. The powertrain, disposed within the outer frame, configured to rotate the ring and the dome cover attached to the inner ring.

An imaging device for a vehicle and a vehicle are disclosed. The imaging device includes: a casing, a camera, a wiping member, and a drive device. The casing includes a casing body and a transparent cover disposed to the casing body, and the transparent cover is rotatable relative to the casing body. The camera is disposed in the casing and configured to obtain image information outside the transparent cover through the transparent cover. The wiping member is disposed to the casing and is stationary relative to the camera. The drive device is connected with the transparent cover and configured to drive the transparent cover to rotate to enable the wiping member to wipe an outer surface of the transparent cover.

A vehicle monitor clearing system includes an air source for generating an air flow at a desired pressure. A channel is connected to the air source. The channel receives the air flow from the air source and delivers it to at least one nozzle connected to the channel. The system further includes at least one nozzle for discharging the air flow toward a vehicle monitor located proximate to the nozzle. The system operates by applying forced air at the vehicle monitor, clearing road spray accumulated on a surface of the vehicle monitor.