Cover circulation type sensor protection unit and autonomous vehicle having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673534-B2
Application number	US-201916568766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2019
Priority date	Oct 8, 2018
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A sensor protection apparatus includes a first sensor cover movable between a sensor covering position and a first cover waiting position; a second sensor cover movable between the sensor covering position and a second cover waiting position, wherein each of the first and second sensor covers is located at the sensor covering position for protecting the surface of the sensor from being contaminated by foreign matter; and an actuator configured to move the first and second sensor covers such that the first sensor cover and the second sensor cover are alternately located at the sensor covering positions thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor protection apparatus comprising:
a first sensor cover movable between a sensor covering position and a first cover waiting position;
a second sensor cover movable between the sensor covering position and a second cover waiting position, wherein each of the first and second sensor covers is located at the sensor covering position for protecting a surface of the sensor from being contaminated by foreign matter; and
an actuator configured to move the first and second sensor covers such that the first sensor cover and the second sensor cover are alternately located at the sensor covering positions thereof,
wherein the first cover waiting position of the first sensor cover is different from the second cover waiting position of the second sensor,
wherein the first cover enters under the sensor by an exchange of the sensor covering position while the second cover enters above the sensor by the exchange of the sensor covering position,
wherein each of the first and second sensor covers is provided with cover legs having a distance spaced apart from the sensor and wherein the cover legs are coupled to a rotary shaft, and
wherein a width between the cover legs of the first cover is narrower than a width between the cover legs of the second cover so that the first cover and the second cover are assembled in a superposed state.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to pivot the first and second sensor covers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein actuator is configured to pivot the first and second sensor covers simultaneously, and further configured to move the first sensor cover from the sensor covering position to the first cover waiting position while moving the second sensor cover from the second cover waiting position to the sensor covering position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second sensor covers is coupled to the actuator via the rotary shaft.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator configured to move the first and second sensor covers such that both the first sensor cover and the second sensor cover are not located at the sensor covering position at the same time.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor housing and wipers coupled to the housing for removing foreign matter from the first and second sensor covers while changing the position of the first and second sensor covers.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a drainage culvert is provided at a location between the wipers and the sensor housing, and wherein the drainage culvert forms a space for collecting the foreign matter.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the drainage culvert is arranged in an inner space of the sensor housing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the drainage culvert is formed in a curved shape structure having a vertex at a central portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first wiper located at a first wiper position between the sensor covering position and the first cover waiting position of the first sensor cover and configured to clean the first sensor cover when the first sensor cover moves between the sensor covering position and the first cover waiting position thereof; and
a second wiper located at a second wiper position between the sensor covering position and the second cover waiting position of the second sensor cover and configured to clean the second sensor cover when the second sensor cover moves between the sensor covering position and the second cover waiting position thereof.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an electromagnetic wave transmission and reception sensor.

12. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
a radiator grille comprising a sensor hole;
a sensor coupled to the radiator grille and comprising a surface exposed to the outside through the sensor hole of the radiator grille; and
the apparatus of claim 1 coupled to the radiator grille such that at least one of the first and second sensor cover is located at a sensor covering position in front of the surface of the sensor.

13. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a radar.

14. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured to cause the actuator to implement a change of the position of the first and second sensor covers.

15. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is provided with a data map associated with control signal to be output to the actuator and wherein the data map comprises a table about sensitivity of the sensor and temperature of the ambient air.

16. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising a manual button and an automatic button configured to send signals to the controller.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Jung Hwi-Sung
• Lee Jeong-Ho
• Seo Jae-Wung
• Yoon Byung-Kyu
• Seo Sang-Hyeok
• Kim Seon-Min

Classifications

• G01S7/4043

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• B60R19/52

  Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)} · CPC title

• B60S1/60 Primary

  for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors · CPC title

• G02B27/0006

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title