System and methods for exterior vehicle display and panel exciters

A method for controlling a panel exciter for display panel comprising:

• detecting a foreign material on a display surface of the display panel;
• detecting a temperature of an environment of the display panel;
• in response to detecting the foreign material and the temperature greater than or equal to a temperature threshold, activating a first control routine comprising activating the panel exciter to a first frequency for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• in response to detecting the foreign material and the temperature less than the temperature threshold, activating a second control routine comprising:
• activating the panel exciter at a second frequency;
• updating a detection of the foreign material following the activation of the second frequency;
• and
• in response to the foreign material detected in the updated detection, activating the panel exciter at a third activation frequency.

An exterior display apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

• a display panel comprising a display surface and a touch screen interface in connection with an exterior portion of the vehicle;
• an acoustic vibration device dynamically coupled to the display surface;
• a heating apparatus configured to heat the display surface;
• an environmental sensor configured to detect a temperature proximate the vehicle;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• detect a foreign material on the display screen based on a signal from the touch screen interface;
• in response to the detection of the foreign material and the temperature above or equal to a predetermined threshold, activate a first control routine comprising controlling the panel exciter at a first frequency for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• in response to the detection of the foreign material and the temperature below the predetermined threshold, activate a second control routine comprising:
• activate the heating apparatus for a heating duration;
• activate the panel exciter at a second frequency;
• verify the detection of the foreign material;
• and
• in response to the foreign material detected in the verified detection, activate the panel exciter at a third frequency, wherein the third frequency is greater than the second frequency.