Sensor assembly cover lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812124-B2
Application number	US-202016749235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2020
Priority date	Jan 22, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle includes an exterior body panel and a sensor assembly supported by the exterior body panel. The sensor assembly includes an image sensor and a cover being moveable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor. A pressure sensor is activated by the cover in the assembled position. A lock releasably connects the cover to the exterior body panel and is actuatable framed on the pressure sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
an exterior body panel;
a sensor assembly supported by the exterior body panel and including an image sensor, the sensor assembly including a cover being movable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor;
a pressure sensor activated by the cover in the assembled position; and
a lock releasably connecting the cover to the exterior body panel and actuatable based on the pressure sensor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes two side panels spaced from each other and a top panel partially overlapping each side panel, the lock is between the top panel and the exterior body panel.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a frame mounted to the exterior body panel, the lock releasably connects the top panel to the frame.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensor is compressed between the top panel and at least one side panel in the assembled position.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a frame mounted to the exterior body panel, the lock releasably connects the cover to the frame in the assembled position.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the lock as a result of the pressure sensor being activated by the cover.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to, upon authenticating a controller, unlock the lock as a result of receiving a message from the controller.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lock includes a magnetic surface and an electromagnet releasably engageable with the magnetic surface.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic surface is supported by one of the cover and the exterior body panel and the electromagnet is supported by the other of the cover and the exterior body panel.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the electromagnet is magnetized in an absence of electric current and demagnetized in a presence of electric current.

11. A sensor assembly comprising:
a frame;
an image sensor and a cover being movable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor;
a pressure sensor activated by the cover in the assembled position; and
a lock releasably connecting the cover to the frame and actuatable based on the pressure sensor.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cover includes two side panels spaced from each other and a top panel partially overlapping each side panel, the lock is between the top panel and the frame.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the lock releasably connects the top panel to the frame.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pressure sensor is compressed between the top panel and at least one side panel in the assembled position.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the lock includes a magnetic surface and an electromagnet releasably engageable with the magnetic surface.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic surface is supported by one of the cover and the frame and the electromagnet is supported by the other of the cover and the frame.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnet is magnetized in an absence of electric current and demagnetized in a presence of electric current.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
determine that the cover of the sensor assembly is positioned to at least partially enclose the image sensor based on a message from the pressure sensor; and
then actuate the lock to fix the cover relative to the exterior body panel.

19. The sensor assembly of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to, upon authenticating a controller, unlock the lock as a result of receiving a message from the controller.

20. The sensor assembly of claim 18 , wherein the lock includes a magnetic surface and an electromagnet releasably engageable with the magnetic surface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh
• Phinisee Rashaun

Classifications

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• B60R11/04

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R25/34

  of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors · CPC title

• E05B47/0002

  with electromagnets · CPC title

• E05B81/08

  using electromagnets or solenoids · CPC title