An electromagnetic wiper system for a windshield of a vehicle includes a linear actuator, a wiper-arrangement, and control circuitry. The linear actuator includes at least one guide rail having permanent magnets and an electromagnetic moving block. The electromagnetic moving block includes at least one perforation that surrounds the at least one guide rail and at least one electromagnetic coil that surrounds the at least one perforation. The wiper-arrangement includes a wiper arm and a wiper blade, wherein at least the wiper arm is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block. The control circuitry controls a linear motion of the electromagnetic moving block along the at least one guide rail to steer the wiper arm that is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block back and forth across a length of the windshield to the windshield, wherein the electromagnetic moving block induces minimal friction during the linear motion.

A vehicle cleaning device removes an extraneous object collected on a cleaning subject of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaning device includes: a cleaning liquid supply device mounted on the vehicle; and a wiper device including a wiper driver and a wiper blade. The wiper driver includes a linear movement portion that produces a linear movement based on supply of a cleaning liquid that is pressure-fed from the cleaning liquid supply device, and a movement converter that converts the linear movement into a pivoting movement. The wiper blade is arranged to be contactable with the cleaning subject. The wiper device is configured to cause the wiper blade to perform a reciprocal wiping operation based on the pivoting movement of the movement converter.

A precipitation index estimation apparatus includes a data collection unit and an estimation processing unit. The data collection unit is configured to collect rainfall amount data that is detected by a rainfall amount sensor in one or more vehicles positioned in a predetermined area within a predetermined period. The estimation processing unit is configured to estimate a precipitation index indicating an intensity of precipitation in the predetermined area within the predetermined period, based on the collected rainfall amount data.

A method for synchronizing acquisition of an analog signal value with a read signal for a state of an electrical contact of a motor vehicle. The method includes: controlling, at each start time of the first task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a read signal voltage pulse at the interface module input; at the same start time, triggering a counter for a predetermined duration shorter than the duration of the read signal voltage pulse; on the expiration of the counter duration, measuring the value of an analog signal generated by the interface module based on the state signal and of the read signal; and controlling, at the next start time of the second task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a zero voltage signal at the interface module input until the next start time of the first task.

A method for synchronizing acquisition of an analog signal value with a read signal for a state of an electrical contact of a motor vehicle. The method includes: controlling, at each start time of the first task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a read signal voltage pulse at the interface module input; at the same start time, triggering a counter for a predetermined duration shorter than the duration of the read signal voltage pulse; on the expiration of the counter duration, measuring the value of an analog signal generated by the interface module based on the state signal and of the read signal; and controlling, at the next start time of the second task, the power supply module so that the power supply module generates a zero voltage signal at the interface module input until the next start time of the first task.

An apparatus includes an exterior surface including an aperture, a sensor defining a field of view oriented through the aperture, a nozzle shell on the exterior surface and including a nozzle panel facing the aperture, and a heating element disposed in or on the nozzle panel. The nozzle panel includes a nozzle.

A method of calibrating a windshield wiper system that includes moving a wiper arm, of the windshield wiper system, within at least a portion of a full range of motion defined by at least one physical boundary, determining a position of the wiper arm when it contacts the at least one physical boundary, defining, based on the determined position of the wiper arm, an operating range of motion for the wiper arm that is shorter than the full range of motion, and setting the wiper arm to operate within the defined operating range of motion.

A method of calibrating a windshield wiper system that includes moving a wiper arm, of the windshield wiper system, within at least a portion of a full range of motion defined by at least one physical boundary, determining a position of the wiper arm when it contacts the at least one physical boundary, defining, based on the determined position of the wiper arm, an operating range of motion for the wiper arm that is shorter than the full range of motion, and setting the wiper arm to operate within the defined operating range of motion.

A method for programming a wiper system for operating a vehicle windscreen wiper where a wiper module on the driver's side is programmed as a master module and a wiper module on the passenger's side is programmed as a slave module. The wiper modules include a reversing motor, a gear, a holder, and a control. A program sequence, vehicle-specific characteristic data and data for the operation of the wiper module as master or slave module are stored in the control. The wiper module on the driver's side is connected via an on-board wiring system interface and a first data communication line with a vehicle control unit. Provision is made that before the activation of the wiper module on the driver's side via the first data communication line in its control the wiper module is defined or respectively pre-programmed neither as master module nor as slave module.

A vehicle wiper system includes a drive mechanism, a wiper and a gutter each connected to the drive mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The wiper has a stowed position and an extended position. The drive mechanism reciprocally moves the wiper about a pivot axis to sweep a defined area of a windshield. The drive mechanism moves the gutter together with the wiper about the pivot axis between a stowed position and a deployed position wherein the gutter extends along a lateral edge of the windshield. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the gutter in the deployed position allowing the gutter to be statically disposed at the deployed position while the wiper is reciprocally moved about the pivot axis.