Sensor cluster device and vehicle including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11867797-B2
Application number	US-202217842820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2022
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

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;
one or more lidar sensors 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;
one or more infrared sensors configured to detect heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to observe the object and the peripheral objects;
a body member on which the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor are installed; and
a cover member configured to accommodate the body member,
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 a pair of the lidar sensors are provided, and are 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 overlap angle.

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

6. The sensor cluster device of claim 5 , comprising a lower angle-adjusting member that allows each of the lidar sensors to rotate, relative to the lower lateral parts, in a direction of the lower central part or in a direction opposite to the lower central part to increase or decrease the first azimuth overlap 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 each of the lower lateral parts, on which each of the lidar sensors is installed; and
the radar sensor protrudes further outward than does each of the lidar sensors.

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; and

a pair of the infrared sensors are provided, and are 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 overlap angle.

9. The sensor cluster device of claim 8 , wherein an installation surface of each of the upper lateral parts, on which each of the infrared sensors 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 overlap angle.

10. The sensor cluster device of claim 8 , further comprising an upper angle-adjusting member configured to allow each of the infrared sensors to rotate, relative to the upper lateral parts, in a direction of the upper central part or in a direction opposite to the upper central part, to increase or decrease the second azimuth overlap 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 each of the upper lateral parts, on which each of the infrared sensors is installed; and
the camera sensor protrudes further outward than does each of the infrared sensors.

12. The sensor cluster device of claim 1 , 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 one or more lidar sensors, the camera sensor, and the one or more infrared sensors are installed; and
a cover coupled to the opening of the case.

13. A vehicle comprising:
one or more sensor cluster devices; and
a vehicle body on which the one or more sensor cluster devices is installed,
wherein the one or more sensor cluster device comprises:
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;

one or more lidar sensors 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;
one or more infrared sensors configured to detect heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to observe the object and the peripheral objects;
a body member on which the radar sensor, the one or more lidar sensors, the camera sensor, and the one or more infrared sensors are installed; and
a cover member configured to accommodate the body member,
wherein four of the sensor cluster devices are provided, and are installed on a top surface of the vehicle body so as to be directed toward front, rear, left, and right sides, or are installed in both front lateral portions and both rear lateral portions of the vehicle body.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein:
a pair of the lidar sensors are provided in each of the sensor cluster devices and are installed so that azimuth angles of the lidar sensors overlap each other by a first azimuth overlap angle; and
a pair of the infrared sensors are provided in each of the sensor cluster devices and are installed so that azimuth angles of the infrared sensors overlap each other by a second azimuth overlap angle.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , 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

• G01S13/867

  Combination of radar systems with cameras · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/027 Primary

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