# US 10,766,463 B2 · Control for passive wiper system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,463 B2 - Document ID: US10766463B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/820,559 - Filed: 2017-11-22 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-31 - Assignees: Waymo LLC - Applicants: Waymo LLC - Inventors: Graham Doorley; Paul Thomas Hansen Karplus; Peter Avram - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766463B2 ## CPC - B60S 1/08: electrically driven {(conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606)} - B08B 1/16: Rigid blades, e.g. scrapers; Flexible blades, e.g. wipers - B08B 1/34: rotating about an axis parallel to the surface - B60S 1/0848: {Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle} - B60S 1/0896: {including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed} - B60S 1/3404: {the wiper blades being moved substantially parallel with themselves} - B60S 1/482: {combined with the operation of windscreen wipers} - B60S 1/486: {including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed} - B60S 1/56: specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} - B60S 1/566: {including wiping devices (B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take precedence)} - G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)} - H02P 7/06: for regulating or controlling an individual DC dynamo-electric motor by varying field or armature current - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract A system includes a dome, a wiper assembly, a position sensor and a control device. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to rotate around the dome. The position sensor may be configured to send a signal to a control device when a wiper blade passes the position sensor. The control device may include one or more processors configured to receive the signal from the position sensor and determine a location of the wiper blade relative to the dome based on the received signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling movement of a wiper blade assembly, the system comprising: a wiper blade assembly including at least one wiper blade and a pivoting connector; and one or more processors configured to: receive a signal indicating that optical deterrents are present on a surface of a dome; in response to receiving the signal, cause the wiper blade assembly to move in a first direction around the dome by rotating a ring in a first direction around the dome so as to cause an actuator to move the at least one wiper blade from a stowed condition to a deployed condition, wherein the ring extends around the dome; and cause the wiper blade assembly to move in a second direction around the dome by rotating the ring in the second direction so as to cause the actuator to move the at least one wiper blade from the deployed condition to the stowed condition, wherein the second direction is opposite of the first direction, wherein the pivoting connector includes a post portion and the ring includes a ramp, and wherein the post portion is configured to interact with the ramp to move the at least one wiper blade from the deployed condition to the stowed condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the dome. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising a vehicle, wherein the dome is mounted on the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a clockwise direction and the second direction is a counterclockwise direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control a speed that the wiper blade assembly rotates around the dome. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a post mounted to the ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is a first signal, the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a second signal indicating that optical deterrents are cleared from the dome; and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the wiper blade assembly to move in the second direction in response to receiving the second signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a drive motor configured to cause the ring to rotate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a spray nozzle, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a signal from a position sensor indicating detection of the at least one wiper blade at a first position relative to the dome; and based on the first position, cause fluid to be dispensed through a spray nozzle when the at least one wiper blade is at a pre-determined position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: access information about a speed of the wiper blade as the at least one wiper blade rotates around the dome; determine a second position of the at least one wiper blade relative to the dome based upon the speed; and cause the fluid to be dispensed further based on the determined second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wiper blade is configured to rotate 360 degrees around the dome. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the post portion is configured to interact with the ramp to move the at least one wiper blade from the stowed condition to the deployed condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the post portion is configured to move along a top surface of the ramp when the ring rotates in the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the post portion is configured to move along a bottom surface of the ramp when the ring rotates in the second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ramp is configured to pivot in order to move the at least one wiper blade from the deployed condition to the stowed condition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ramp is configured to pivot in order to move the at least one wiper blade from the stowed condition to the deployed condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a second ring fixed relative to the dome, the ring being rotatable relative to the second ring, and wherein the ramp is arranged on the second ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a top plate, and wherein the wiper blade assembly is coupled to the ring via a mount. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the wiper blade assembly includes at least two wiper blades. ### Claim 20 A system for controlling movement of a wiper blade assembly, the system comprising: a wiper blade assembly including at least one wiper blade and a pivoting connector; and one or more processors configured to: receive a signal indicating that optical deterrents are present on a surface of a dome; in response to receiving the signal, cause the wiper blade assembly to move around the dome by rotating a ring around the dome, wherein the pivoting connector includes a post portion and the ring includes a ramp, and wherein the post portion is configured to interact with the ramp to move the at least one wiper blade from a deployed condition to a stowed condition.