Lens retainer ring with compliant element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11402602-B2
Application number	US-201916586144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2019
Priority date	Sep 27, 2019
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

The technology relates to lens assemblies for sensor units that provide a low but consistent preload force over the entire operational temperature range of the device. Consistent preloading helps to avoid cracking and plastic deformation. In particular, a compliant structure of a polymeric material is able to expand and contract across temperature extremes. In addition, the polymeric material is arranged in conjunction with a retainer ring to form a discontinuous seal with the lens. This provides in a leak path that is able to reduce condensation or contaminants. As a result, moisture within the sensor unit is permitted to escape, reducing or eliminating impairments on the lens or other parts of the sensor unit that could otherwise impair device operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor assembly comprising:
a lens;
a housing including a sidewall;
a support element affixed to a first section of the sidewall of the housing and receiving a first portion of the lens along a first section thereof; and
a retainer assembly in direct contact with a second portion of the lens to secure the lens in the sensor assembly, the retainer assembly including a retainer ring and a polymeric material coupled thereto, the retainer ring being removably affixed to a second section of the sidewall, the polymeric material being in direct contact with a plurality of sections of the second portion of the lens;
wherein the polymeric material forms a discontinuous seal between the retainer assembly and the lens, and the polymeric material has an elasticity and an operational temperature range for operation of the sensor assembly; and
wherein the discontinuous seal between the retainer assembly and the lens provides a leak path for condensation or contaminants to leave the sensor assembly to avoid impairing sensor assembly operation through scattering or refraction of incident light.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the operational temperature range for operation of the sensor assembly is −40° F. to 185° F.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer ring is metal.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the metal ring is aluminum.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the aluminum metal ring is formed by stamping or machining.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is formed along the retainer ring using insert molding or overmolding.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer ring does not directly contact the lens.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is arranged as a plurality of compliant components affixed to discrete portions of the retainer ring.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material forms the discontinuous seal with the lens by providing one or more gaps between sections of the polymeric material.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the lens comprises a plurality of lenses; and
the retainer assembly comprises a plurality of retainer assemblies, each of the plurality of retainer assemblies securing one of the plurality of lenses to the housing of the sensor assembly.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of lenses is configured in a stacked arrangement within the housing of the sensor assembly.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a camera sensor.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises at least one of a lidar sensor and a camera sensor.

14. A sensor assembly comprising:
a lens;
a lidar sensor;
a housing including a sidewall;
a support element affixed to a first section of the sidewall and receiving a first portion of the lens along a first section thereof; and
a retainer assembly in direct contact with a second portion of the lens to secure the lens in the sensor assembly, the retainer assembly including a retainer ring and a polymeric material coupled thereto, the retainer ring being removably affixed to a second section of the sidewall, the polymeric material being in direct contact with a plurality of sections of the second portion of the lens;
wherein the polymeric material forms a discontinuous seal with the lens, and the polymeric material has an elasticity and an operational temperature range for operation of the sensor assembly; and
wherein the discontinuous seal with the lens provides a leak path for condensation or contaminants to leave the sensor assembly to avoid impairing sensor assembly operation through scattering or refraction of incident light.

15. A vehicle, comprising:
a front end;
a rear end;
a left side panel coupled to the front end and the rear end;
a right side panel coupled to the front end and the rear end;
a roof coupled to the left and right side panels; and
a sensor assembly comprising:
a lens;
a housing including a sidewall;
a support element affixed to a first section of the sidewall of the housing and receiving a first portion of the lens along a first section thereof; and
a retainer assembly in direct contact with a second portion of the lens to secure the lens in the sensor assembly, the retainer assembly including a retainer ring and a polymeric material coupled thereto, the retainer ring being removably affixed to a second section of the sidewall, the polymeric material being in direct contact with a plurality of sections of the second portion of the lens;
wherein the polymeric material forms a discontinuous seal between the retainer assembly and the lens, and the polymeric material has an elasticity and an operational temperature range for operation of the sensor assembly;
wherein the discontinuous seal between the retainer assembly and the lens provides a leak path for condensation or contaminants to leave the sensor assembly to avoid impairing sensor assembly operation through scattering or refraction of incident light; and

wherein the sensor assembly is disposed along either a perimeter of the vehicle or on the roof of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly is disposed along the perimeter of the vehicle at one of the front end, the rear end, the left side panel or the right side panel.

17. A method of fabricating a sensor assembly, the method comprising:
providing a retainer ring;
providing a compliant component, the complaint component having an elasticity and an operational temperature range for operation of the sensor assembly;
forming a retainer assembly by fixedly securing the compliant component to the retainer ring;
arranging a first portion of a lens along a first section of a sensor housing; and
securing the lens to the sensor housing with the retainer assembly by coupling the retainer ring to a second section of the sensor housing so that the compliant component is in direct contact with a plurality of discrete sections of a second portion of the lens;
wherein the complaint component forms a discontinuous seal between the retainer assembly and the lens; and
wherein the discontinuous seal provides a leak path for condensation or contaminants to leave the sensor assembly to avoid impairing sensor assembly operation through scattering or refraction of incident light.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein forming the retainer assembly by fixedly securing the compliant component to the retainer ring is performed by insert molding or overmolding the compliant component to the retainer ring.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein securing the lens to the sensor housing with the retainer assembly by coupling the retainer ring to the second section of the sensor housing includes one of threadedly securing, adhesively bonding, or snap fitting the retainer ring to the second section of the sensor housing.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Last Matthew
• Henrie John
• Kakani Chandra
• Shepard Ralph
• Ulrich Drew

Classifications

• G02B7/028

  with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation · CPC title

• G02B7/026 Primary

  using retaining rings or springs (G02B7/027 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B7/021

  for more than one lens · CPC title