Sensor system, sensor module, and lamp device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248767-B2
Application number	US-201916978556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 5, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A first camera unit (111) acquires an image including at least an area ahead of a vehicle based on a first optical axis (X1). A second camera unit (112) acquires an image including at least an area on the left of the vehicle based on a second optical axis (X2). When viewed from an up-down direction of the vehicle, the first optical axis (X1) and the second optical axis (X2) intersect with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor module adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
a housing defining an accommodation chamber and formed with an opening;
a support configured to be attached to and detached from the housing from the outside of the housing;
a first sensor unit supported by the support; and
a second sensor unit supported by the support,
wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit supported by the support are caused to pass through the opening to be disposed in the accommodation chamber, and
wherein when the support is attached to the housing, the support closes the opening and defines a portion of the accommodation chamber.

2. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are entirely located inside an outer edge of the support when viewed from an attaching direction of the support.

3. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support and the housing have such shapes that regulate a posture of the support when the support is attached to the housing.

4. The sensor module according to claim 3 ,
wherein each of the support and the opening is in a shape of a modified rectangle when viewed from an attaching direction of the support, and
wherein one of four corners of the modified rectangle has a shape different from other three corners of the four corners.

5. The sensor module according to claim 3 ,
wherein one of the support and the opening is in a circular shape when viewed from an attaching direction of the support and formed with a protrusion, and
wherein the other one of the support and the opening is in a circular shape when viewed from the attaching direction of the support and formed with a notch for receiving the protrusion.

6. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein an attaching direction of the support is along a detecting reference direction of the first sensor unit and a detecting reference direction of the second sensor unit.

7. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a detecting reference position of the first sensor unit is not offset from a detecting reference position of the second sensor unit in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

8. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a detecting reference position of the first sensor unit is not offset from a detecting reference position of the second sensor unit in an up-down direction of the vehicle.

9. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are so configured to be attached to and detached from the support individually.

10. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a gathering member configured to gather a signal line connected to the first sensor unit and a signal line connected to the second sensor unit is provided with the support.

11. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a control device configured to control at least one of an operation of the first sensor unit and an operation of the second sensor unit is supported by the support.

12. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support is made of material containing metal.

13. The sensor module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing member configured to be placed between the support and the housing.

14. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit is a camera unit provided with a shading cover surrounding an image pickup face of the camera unit.

15. The sensor module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a detecting reference direction of the first sensor unit and a second adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a detecting reference direction of the second sensor unit are supported by the support.

16. The sensor module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sensor module supported by the support.

17. A sensor module adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
a housing defining an accommodation chamber and formed with an opening;
a support configured to be attached to and detached from the housing from the outside of the housing;
a sensor unit supported by the support; and
a lamp unit supported by the support,
wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit supported by the support are caused to pass through the opening to be disposed in the accommodation chamber, and
wherein when the support is attached to the housing, the support closes the opening and defines a portion of the accommodation chamber.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watano Yuichi
• Nomura Yukio
• Nakanishi Yoshiyuki
• Muramatsu Teppei
• Xie Yichao

Classifications

• G01S7/4026

  Antenna boresight · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S17/86

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• G01S17/42

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

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title