Sensor assembly for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10914820-B2
Application number	US-201815885308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a first body that rotates a sensor component about an axis, and a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap. The separation gap extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier of the second body. The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor assembly comprising:
a first body to retain a sensor component, the first body being rotatable about an axis;
a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap that extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier point of the second body; and
a set of air guide structural features integrally formed with at least one of the first body or the second body such that the set of air guide structural features are provided within the separation gap to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of air guide structural features form one or more channels, the one or more channels including at least an entry channel that is aligned to intersect an incoming airflow from the gap inlet.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the set of air guide structural features form multiple channels that are radially offset from one another.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the multiple channels includes a vertical wall that forms an outlet passage for the channel, the outlet channel of each of the multiple channels allowing for air from the air intake to move radially inward.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein an interior channel is stepped up in height with respect to an outer channel, so that air from the air intake moves upward and radially inward.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second body forms a base on which the first body revolves.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separation gap includes an entry channel that maintains eddies from air intake received through the first gap inlet.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the entry channel includes a vertical wall structure that adjoins an interior channel, with a channel outlet joining the entry channel and the interior channel.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the vertical wall structure extends from a ceiling of the separation gap.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separation gap includes a floor that elevates towards the sealed barrier.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the floor elevates using one or more step structures.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separation gap includes a ceiling that is formed by the first body, and a floor that is formed by the second body.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the set of air guide structural features include a first structure that extends from the ceiling to form at least a portion of a first channel, the first channel maintaining eddies from air intake received through the first gap inlet.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the set of air guide structural features include one or more step structures formed on the floor of the separation gap.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first body rotates at a speed that exceeds 100 revolutions per minute, while retaining a signal emitter as the sensor component.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly is a light detection and ranging sensor, and the signal emitter emits a beam of light.

Assignees

• Uatc Llc

Inventors

• Ratner Daniel

Classifications

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• G01S17/08

  for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48) · CPC title

• G05D1/0231

  using optical position detecting means (position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16) · CPC title