Vehicle sensor mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099630-B1
Application number	US-201715637103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A sensor mount system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a sensor cover having a plurality of walls defining a cavity, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls comprises a window; and a movable rack, within the cavity, having a platform, wherein, when the rack is in an operative position, a location of the platform corresponds with a location of the window.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor mount system, comprising:
a vehicle sensor cover having a plurality of walls defining a cavity, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls comprises a window; and
a movable rack, within the cavity, having a platform, wherein, when the rack is in an operative position, a location of the platform corresponds with a location of the window.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises a plurality of platforms, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of windows, wherein, when the rack is in the operative position, the respective locations of the platforms correspond to the respective locations of the windows.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an opening for a door, wherein, when the door is in an open position, the rack is movable through the opening to a service-able position.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the door comprises a locking mechanism that couples to the movable rack.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the rack further comprises a slide rail for supporting a sensor, the rail comprising a lock element, wherein the mechanism engages the element to retain the door in a locked position.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a first movable rack and a second movable rack, wherein the first movable rack moves independently of the second movable rack.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second movable racks include at least one sensor which provides data to a computer programmed to operate a vehicle, comprising the system, in a fully autonomous mode.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises at least one slide rail coupled to the platform and at least one guide rail, wherein the at least one slide rail moves relative to the at least one guide rail.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a vehicle roof comprising a plurality of cross-members, wherein the at least one guide rail is coupled to at least some of the plurality of cross-members.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cross-members is a non-pillared cross-member.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises a first rack and a second rack, wherein each of the first and second racks comprise a pair of guide rails and a pair of slide rails, wherein the first rack is arranged as a mirror-image of the second rack.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one guide rail is coupled to a first wall of the cover, wherein the at least one slide rail is movable through an opening in a second, opposite wall.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one slide rail comprises a hinge-able segment so that, when the rack is in a service-able position, a first portion of the at least one slide rail is pivoted relative to a second portion thereof.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises at least one fluid nozzle positioned to apply a fluid to the window.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the window comprises at least one of the following: an acrylic material, a polycarbonate material, an Indium Antimonide material, or a heating element.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a display.

17. A sensor mount system, comprising:
a cover having a plurality of walls defining a cavity, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls comprises a window; and
a sensor mounting rack, located within the cavity, coupled to both a roof of a vehicle and the cover, having a platform, wherein, when the rack is in an operative position, a location of the platform corresponds with a location of the window.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the rack comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of windows, wherein, when the rack is in the operative position, the respective locations of the sensors correspond to the respective locations of the windows.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises an opening for a door, wherein, when the door is in an open position, the rack is movable through the opening to a service-able position.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of racks, wherein each of a first rack and a second rack comprise a pair of guide rails and a pair of slide rails, wherein the first rack is arranged as a mirror-image of the second rack.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh
• Phinisee Rashaun
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Petrey Roger
• Lobo Harry

Classifications

• G01S7/4813

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• B60J10/00

  Sealing arrangements · CPC title