Sensor cluster device and vehicle including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448750-B2
Application number	US-201916726902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A sensor cluster device including a radar sensor configured to emit electromagnetic waves onto an object and receive the electromagnetic waves reflected from the object so as to acquire information on the object, a lidar sensor configured to emit laser beams onto the object and receive the laser beams reflected from the object so as to acquire information on the object, a camera sensor configured to capture an image of surroundings of the object and acquire information from the captured image, and an infrared sensor configured to detect heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to acquire the object and the peripheral objects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor cluster device comprising:
a radar sensor configured to acquire information concerning an object by emitting electromagnetic waves onto an object and receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected from the object;
a lidar sensor configured to acquire information concerning an object by emitting laser beams onto the object and receiving the laser beams reflected from the object;
a camera sensor configured to capture an image of surroundings of the object;
an infrared sensor configured to detect heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to observe the object and the peripheral objects; and
a body member on which the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor are installed,
wherein the body member comprises:
a body block;
a lower block provided on a lower portion of one surface of the body block and in which the radar sensor and the lidar sensor are installed; and
an upper block provided on an upper portion of the one surface of the body block and in which the camera sensor and the infrared sensor are installed.

2. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein the body block, the lower block, and the upper block are integrated with each other.

3. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein the lower block and the upper block are detachably coupled to the body block.

4. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein the lower block comprises:
a lower central part on which the radar sensor is installed; and
two lower lateral parts which are respectively provided on both sides of the lower central part,
wherein the lidar sensor is installed on each of the two lower lateral parts, and the lidar sensors respectively installed on the two lower lateral parts are installed so that azimuth angles of the lidar sensors overlap each other by a first azimuth angle.

5. The sensor cluster device of claim 4 , wherein an installation surface of the lower lateral part, on which the lidar sensor is installed, is provided as an inclined surface, and the two lidar sensors are spaced apart from each other so that the azimuth angles of the lidar sensors overlap each other by the first azimuth angle.

6. The sensor cluster device of claim 5 , comprising a lower angle-adjusting member that allows the lidar sensor to rotate, relative to the lower lateral part, in a direction of the lower central part or in a direction opposite to the lower central part to increase or decrease in first azimuth angle.

7. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein:
an installation surface of the lower central part, on which the radar sensor is installed, protrudes further outward than the installation surface of the lower lateral part, on which the lidar sensor is installed; and
the radar sensor protrudes further outward than does the lidar sensor.

8. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein the upper block comprises:
an upper central part on which the camera sensor is installed; and
two upper lateral parts which are respectively provided on both sides of the upper central part,
wherein the infrared sensor is installed on each of the two upper lateral parts, and the infrared sensors respectively installed on the two upper lateral parts are installed so that azimuth angles of the infrared sensors overlap each other by a second azimuth angle.

9. The sensor cluster device of claim 8 , wherein an installation surface of the upper lateral part, on which the infrared sensor is installed, is provided as an inclined surface, and the two infrared sensors are spaced apart from each other so that the azimuth angles of the infrared sensors overlap each other by the second azimuth angle.

10. The sensor cluster device of claim 8 , further comprising an upper angle-adjusting member configured to allow the infrared sensor to rotate, relative to the upper lateral part, in a direction of the upper central part or in a direction opposite to the upper central part to increase or decrease in second azimuth angle.

11. The sensor cluster device of claim 8 , wherein an installation surface of the upper central part, on which the camera sensor is installed, is provided to protrude further outward than the installation surface of the upper lateral part, on which the infrared sensor is installed, and
the camera sensor protrudes further outward than does the infrared sensor.

12. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover member configured to accommodate the body member on which the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor are installed,
wherein the cover member comprises:
a case in which an accommodation space with one surface opened is provided to accommodate the body member on which the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor are installed; and
a cover which is coupled to the opening of the case.

13. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , wherein the body member is made of a heat dissipation material.

14. A vehicle comprising:
four sensor cluster devices, each of the sensor cluster devices comprising:
a radar sensor configured to acquire information concerning an object by emitting electromagnetic waves onto an object and receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected from the object;
a lidar sensor configured to acquire information concerning an object by emitting laser beams onto the object and receiving the laser beams reflected from the object;
a camera sensor configured to capture an image of surroundings of the object; and
an infrared sensor configured to detect heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to observe the object and the peripheral objects; and
a vehicle body on which the four sensor cluster devices are installed,

wherein the four sensor cluster devices are installed on a top surface of the vehicle body so as to be directed toward front, rear, left, and right sides, or installed in both front lateral portions and both rear lateral portions of the vehicle body.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the lidar sensors provided in two of the four sensor cluster devices corresponding to each other are installed so that azimuth angles of the lidar sensors overlap each other by a first azimuth angle; and
the infrared sensors of the two sensor cluster devices corresponding to each other are installed so that azimuth angles of the infrared sensors overlap each other by a second azimuth angle.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the radar sensors of two of the four sensor cluster devices corresponding to each other are installed so that azimuth angles of the radar sensors overlap each other by a first azimuth angle; and
the camera sensors of two of the four sensor cluster devices corresponding to each other are installed so that azimuth angles of the camera sensors overlap each other by a second azimuth angle.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , comprising a coupler configured to allow the four sensor cluster devices, which are installed on the top surface of the vehicle body, to rotate in left or right directions.

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chun Jun Su
• Roh Hee Chang

Classifications

• G01S13/86 Primary

  Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder · CPC title

• G01S13/865

  Combination of radar systems with lidar systems · CPC title

• B60R21/0134

  responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} · CPC title

• B60K31/00

  Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator · CPC title

• B60W30/14

  {Adaptive} cruise control · CPC title