Sensor housing with particle blocking feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11313952-B2
Application number	US-201816222120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2018
Priority date	Dec 17, 2018
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

This technology relates to a system for preventing particle buildup on a sensor housing. The system may include a sensor housing including a first surface, a motor, and a spoiler edge. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The spoiler edge may be positioned adjacent to the first surface and extended away from the first surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the sensor housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor housing for preventing particle buildup on a housing window, the sensor housing comprising:
a first surface in which the housing window is incorporated, wherein the housing window is configured to allow signals that are transmitted and received by one or more sensor components within the sensor housing to penetrate the sensor housing; and
a spoiler edge positioned adjacent to the housing window and extended away from the first surface in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the sensor housing, the spoiler edge being configured to generate an airflow when the spoiler edge is at a leading position relative to the housing window as the sensor housing is rotated around the axis, the airflow causing trajectories of particles heading toward the housing window to be altered in order to prevent the signals from being blocked, and causing particles coming in contact with the housing window to move away via a centripetal force generated by the rotation of the sensor housing around the axis.

2. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is coated with a hydrophobic coating in order to reduce an adhesion force of the particles with the first surface.

3. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein a height of the spoiler edge is equal to a percentage of a diameter of the sensor housing.

4. The sensor housing of claim 3 , wherein the percentage of the diameter of the sensor housing is between 5% and 100%.

5. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the airflow generated by the spoiler edge is substantially parallel to the first surface during the rotation of the sensor housing.

6. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the centripetal force is proportional to a particle's mass, which can grow as a cubic function of the particle's diameter.

7. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the particles have different sizes.

8. The sensor housing of claim 7 , wherein the airflow is configured to alter a trajectory of a first particle by a first amount and a trajectory of a second particle by a second amount, and
wherein the second particle is smaller than the first particle and the second amount is greater than the first amount.

9. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the centripetal force causes particles coming in contact with the sensor housing to be ejected from the sensor housing.

10. The sensor housing of claim 9 , wherein the centripetal force is generated by a motor rotating the sensor housing around the axis of rotation.

11. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler edge is configured to cast a shadow region on the sensor housing.

12. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler edge is configured to cast a shadow region on the first surface.

13. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is substantially flat.

14. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the airflow generated by the spoiler edge prevents the particles from building up on the sensor window.

15. The sensor housing of claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is configured to be mounted on a vehicle.

16. A sensor housing for preventing particle buildup on a housing window, the sensor housing comprising:
a first surface in which the housing window is incorporated to allow signals to be transmitted and received therethrough; and
a spoiler edge positioned adjacent to the housing window and extended away from the first surface in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the sensor housing, the spoiler edge being configured to generate an airflow when the spoiler edge is at a leading position relative to the housing window as the sensor housing is rotated around the axis, the airflow causing trajectories of particles heading toward the housing window to be altered in order to prevent the signals from being blocked, and causing particles adhering to the housing window to be ejected via a centripetal force generated by the rotation of the sensor housing around the axis.

17. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein the first surface is coated with a hydrophobic coating in order to reduce an adhesion force of the particles with the first surface.

18. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein the spoiler edge is configured to cast a shadow region on the housing window.

19. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein the airflow generated by the spoiler edge is substantially parallel to the housing window during the rotation of the sensor housing.

20. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein the sensor housing is configured to be mounted on a vehicle.

21. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein the airflow generated by the spoiler edge prevents the particles from building up on the sensor window.

22. The sensor housing of claim 16 , wherein a height of the spoiler edge is equal to a percentage of a diameter of the sensor housing.

23. The sensor housing of claim 22 , wherein the percentage of the diameter of the sensor housing is between 5% and 100%.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Ellgas Simon
• Andrade Justin Matthew
• Remesch Bryce

Classifications

• G01S2007/4977

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/027

  Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness · CPC title

• G03B17/08

  Waterproof bodies or housings · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title