Integrated multi-purpose perception housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11203305-B2
Application number	US-201916407141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2019
Priority date	May 8, 2019
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

An integrated housing assembly can be mounted on a roof of a vehicle, such as a semi-trailer truck. The integrated housing assembly includes a main enclosure that includes four sides, a top panel, and a bottom panel. One of the four sides is a front panel that is inclined towards the ground. The main enclosure includes one or more cavities. A front panel of the integrated housing assembly includes one or more openings to allow cameras or sensors to be placed within the one or more cavities and behind the one or more opening. The cameras or sensors cameras can be clamped at a downward angle within multiple lock apparatus. The angled front panel and the inclined cameras or sensors within the lock apparatus allow the cameras or sensors to obtain images or sensor data from one or more regions of interest at some distance from the front of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated mount system, comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a top surface,
a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and
four side surfaces attached to the top surface and the bottom surface,
wherein the four side surfaces comprise a first side surface opposite to a third side surface, and a second side surface opposite to a fourth side surface, and
wherein the first side surface has an opening,

a cavity is located in between the four side surfaces, wherein the cavity is accessible via the opening;
a first set of holes that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the first set of holes are located between the cavity and the third side surface;
a top panel coupled to the top surface of the enclosure; and
a bottom panel coupled to the bottom surface of the enclosure, wherein an angle formed between the first side surface and the bottom panel is an obtuse angle;

wherein a perimeter of the top panel has a first shape that corresponds to a second shape of a perimeter of the top surface of the enclosure.

2. The integrated mount system of claim 1 ,
wherein the opening is separated by one or more frame portions of the first side surface to form a plurality of sub-openings in the first side surface,
wherein the cavity is separated by one or more side walls that extend between the first side surface and the third side surface to form a plurality of sub-cavities,
wherein each sub-cavity corresponds to and is accessible via each sub-opening, and
wherein the plurality of sub-cavities are located one after another along a length-wise direction of the enclosure from the second side surface to the fourth side surface.

3. The integrated mount system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second set of holes that extends from the third side surface to an inner surface of the cavity;
wherein each of the one or more side walls includes a hole that extends along the length-wise direction from one end to another opposite end of a same side wall,
wherein the second side surface includes a hole that extends along the length-wise direction from one end to another opposite end of the second side surface, and
wherein the fourth side surface includes a hole that extends along the length-wise direction from one end to another opposite end of the fourth side surface.

4. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first set of lock apparatus coupled to the bottom panel of the enclosure and located within the cavity, wherein each lock apparatus of the first set comprises:
a solid top portion comprising:
a first top surface,
a first bottom surface opposite to the first top surface and comprising a first set of cutout regions, and
a set of holes that extend from the first top surface to the first bottom surface;

a solid bottom portion comprising:
a second top surface attached to four side surfaces, wherein the second top surface comprises another set of holes corresponding to the set of holes, and wherein the second top surface includes a second set of cutout regions;
a second bottom surface opposite to the second top surface; and

wherein the solid top portion coupled to the solid bottom portion aligns the first set of cutout regions with the second set of cutout regions to form a plurality of through holes having a inclined angle relative to the second bottom surface.

5. The integrated mount system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a plurality of cameras partially fastened in between the plurality of through holes, wherein each camera has a lens that faces the opening.

6. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of fastener assemblies that couple the enclosure to a vehicle,
wherein each fastener assembly is located within each hole of the first set of holes, and
wherein a top of each fastener assembly is located below the top panel.

7. The integrated mount system of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle is a semi-trailer truck.

8. The integrated mount system of claim 6 ,
wherein each hole includes an inner wall having a protrusion at a depth less than a height of each hole,
wherein the height of each hole is determined from the top surface to the bottom surface,
wherein each fastener assembly includes a first set of washers located on top of the protrusion,
wherein each fastener assembly includes a second set of washers and a ball joint swivel bearing located below the protrusion, and
wherein each faster assembly includes a screw structured to engage one or more brackets on top of the vehicle.

9. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of holes comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole,
wherein the first hole and the second hole are located on opposite sides of the enclosure in between the cavity and the third side surface,
wherein the third hole is located in a middle region of the enclosure in between the cavity and the third side surface, and
wherein the first hole and the second hole have a first shape that is different from a second shape of the third hole.

10. The integrated mount system of claim 1 ,
wherein an exterior surface of the enclosure formed by the four side surfaces, the top panel, and the bottom panel includes a white high reflectivity exterior surface, and
wherein an interior surface of the enclosure formed by the cavity includes a black anodized interior surface.

11. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle is approximately 160°.

12. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , wherein the top panel and the bottom panel are flat.

13. The integrated mount system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first side enclosure coupled to the second side surface, and a second side enclosure coupled to the fourth side surface, wherein each of the first side enclosure and the second side enclosure, comprises:
a second top panel coupled to a top surface of each side enclosure,
a second bottom panel coupled to a bottom surface of each side enclosure, and
a plurality of side surfaces comprising at least a fifth side surface, a sixth side surface, and a seventh side surface,
wherein the fifth side surface of each side enclosure is coupled to the second side surface or the fourth side surface of the enclosure,
wherein each of the sixth side surface and the seventh side surface have another opening, and
wherein an angle formed between the sixth side surface and the seventh side surface is a second obtuse angle.

14. The integrated mount system of claim 13 , wherein the second top panel and the second bottom panel are flat.

15. The integrated mount system of claim 13 , wherein the second obtuse angle is approximately 135°.

16. The integrated mount system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second set of lock apparatus coupled to the second bottom panel of each of the first side enclosure and the second side enclosure,
wherein each lock apparatus of the second set is located within the first side enclosure or the second side enclosure,
wherein each lock apparatus of the second set comprises:
a solid top portion comprising:
a first top surface,
a first bottom surface opposite to the first top surface and comprising a first set of cutout regions, and
a set of holes that extend from the first top surface to the first bottom surface;

a solid bottom portion comprising:
a second top surface attached to four side surfaces, wherein the second top surface comprises another set of holes corresponding to the set of holes, and wherein the second top surface includes a second set of cutout regions;

Assignees

• Tusimple Inc

Inventors

• Li Qiwei
• Skinner Todd
• Liu Yishi

Classifications

• G01D11/30

  Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments · CPC title

• B60Y2200/148

  Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R11/04 Primary

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D65/16

  the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers {, exhausts} · CPC title