A cleaning system connected to an air suspension system. The disclosed subject matter generally relates to a cleaning system for cleaning a surface of a device of a vehicle by means of applying an air jet to the surface. The proposed cleaning system is adapted to be combined with an air suspension system in such a way that the cleaning system receives exhaust air from the air suspension system which air may be used for cleaning of device surfaces. Thus, the proposed cleaning system can receive exhaust air from the air suspension system and apply the air to the device surface via nozzles without the need for a source of air dedicated to the cleaning system.

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.

The present invention pertains to an automotive vehicle windshield cleaning system for cleaning outer windshield surfaces by an alternative means to wiper blades. The alternative windshield cleaning system includes a windshield component that applies a nano-hydrophobic coating or photocatalytic coating. A plurality of nozzles are arranged near the windshield periphery to spray or distribute generated compressed air. A control valve controls compressed air flow to the plurality of nozzles and regulates compressed air flow. A control unit operably connects and controls valving based on information received from one or more sensors. The control valve regulates compressed air flow towards the plurality of nozzles. Nozzles spray or direct compressed air onto a windshield's outer surface to remove extraneous elements residing on or along windshield surfaces.

A device is described for protecting a sensor window. The device includes a two-piece nozzle system and is configured for generating a first and a second fluid flow, a first piece of the two-piece nozzle system being fixedly situated with respect to the sensor window, and a second piece of the two-piece nozzle system being configured for assuming different positions with respect to the first piece of the two-piece nozzle system, and the two-piece nozzle system being aligned with respect to the sensor window to direct a predominant portion of the first fluid flow in parallel to the sensor window and to direct a predominant portion of the second fluid flow in the direction onto the sensor window.

Systems and methods for cleaning transmission surfaces for optical and sensor surfaces in order to maintain optimal performance under a variety of weather and environmental conditions using synthetic jet actuators. The actuators can emit a jet of water or air depending on environmental conditions and the waveform, frequency, amplitude of the actuator can be adjusted based on particle characteristics and transmission signal quality in order to better clean the surfaces.

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning at least one viewing area of a motor vehicle, the cleaning apparatus may have at least one cleaning nozzle and an evaluation and control apparatus. The evaluation and control apparatus is configured to receive at least one sensor signal which comprises at least one piece of information on a motor vehicle environment condition and/or a motor vehicle parameter, to evaluate this information in order to determine an operation situation in this manner, to select a predetermined cleaning profile from a plurality of predefined cleaning profiles based on this information, and to control the at least one cleaning nozzle depending on the selected cleaning profile in order to clean the at least one viewing area.

A method of controlling an air blowing apparatus includes: determining whether there is precipitation through a rain sensor by a controller; determining whether the air blowing apparatus is in an automatic mode in a precipitation condition by the controller; determining a vehicle speed when the air blowing apparatus is in the automatic mode in the precipitation condition; and setting power and a spray angle of the air blowing apparatus by comparing a rainfall received from the rain sensor to a stored rainfall by the controller. Setting the power and the spray angle of the air blowing apparatus includes compensating the spray angle and a spray amount by measuring a flow speed and a flow angle of rainwater through the rain sensor by the controller.

An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including at least one aperture, at least one sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, at least one annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber, and at least three vanes extending from the disc to the panel and arranged radially asymmetrically around the disc.

A method of controlling an air blowing apparatus includes: determining whether there is precipitation through a rain sensor by a controller; determining whether the air blowing apparatus is in an automatic mode in a precipitation condition by the controller; determining a vehicle speed when the air blowing apparatus is in the automatic mode in the precipitation condition; and setting power and a spray angle of the air blowing apparatus by comparing a rainfall received from the rain sensor to a stored rainfall by the controller.

A device is described for protecting a sensor window. The device includes a two-piece nozzle system and is configured for generating a first and a second fluid flow, a first piece of the two-piece nozzle system being fixedly situated with respect to the sensor window, and a second piece of the two-piece nozzle system being configured for assuming different positions with respect to the first piece of the two-piece nozzle system, and the two-piece nozzle system being aligned with respect to the sensor window to direct a predominant portion of the first fluid flow in parallel to the sensor window and to direct a predominant portion of the second fluid flow in the direction onto the sensor window.