Sensor-cluster apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11898879-B2
Application number	US-202217885504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2022
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A sensor-cluster apparatus includes: sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors including one or more kinds of sensors; a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted; a case on which the body member is fixed, the case including: an inner space in which the body member is mounted; and an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors are exposed through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case, wherein, the sensors are configured to be detached from the body member through the opening of the case with the body member fixed to the case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor-cluster apparatus comprising:
sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors comprising one or more kinds of sensors;
a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted;
a case that is fixed to the body member, the case comprising:
an inner space in which the body member is disposed; and
an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors being exposed through the opening; and
a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case,
wherein the sensors comprise:
a camera sensor configured to recognize an object in a visible region;
a lidar sensor configured to map a distance from an object by emitting an optical pulse and detecting a carrier signal reflected from the object; and
a radar sensor configured to map a distance from the object by emitting electromagnetic waves and detecting the carrier signal reflected from the object,
wherein each of the camera sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor is screw-coupled to the body member.

2. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensors further includes an infrared sensor being configured to recognize an object in an infrared region,
wherein each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor are disposed in the inner space of the case facing the opening,
wherein, the sensors are configured to be detached from the body member through the opening of the case with the case fixed to the body member.

3. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor comprises a male screw thread disposed on an outer circumferential surface of one distal end,
wherein the body member comprises a mounting groove, the mounting groove comprising a female screw thread disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the mounting groove, and
wherein each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor is coupled to the body member by screw-coupling the male screw thread to the female screw thread.

4. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a material through which infrared rays, visible light, optical pulses, and electromagnetic waves are transmittable.

5. A sensor-cluster apparatus comprising:
sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors comprising one or more kinds of sensors;
a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted;
a case that is fixed to the body member, the case comprising:
an inner space in which the body member is disposed; and
an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors being exposed through the opening; and
a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case,
wherein the sensors comprise:
a camera sensor configured to recognize an object in a visible region;
an infrared sensor being configured to recognize an object in an infrared region;
a lidar sensor configured to map a distance from an object by emitting an optical pulse and detecting a carrier signal reflected from the object; and
a radar sensor configured to map a distance from the object by emitting electromagnetic waves and detecting the carrier signal reflected from the object,
wherein each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor comprises a flange disposed between both distal ends, the flange having increased diameter,
wherein one distal end of each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor is inserted into a mounting groove defined in the body member, and
wherein the sensor-cluster apparatus further comprises a coupling bolt coupled to the body member passing through the flange and fixed to the body member.

6. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the radar sensor and the camera sensor are disposed at a center of the body member, the camera sensor being disposed above the radar sensor, and
wherein the lidar sensor and the infrared sensor are disposed at respective sides of the body member with the camera sensor and the radar sensor disposed therebetween, the infrared sensor being disposed above the lidar sensor.

7. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the radar sensor and the camera sensor are disposed facing perpendicular to a surface of the body member,
the infrared sensor is disposed facing angled at an angle in the range of equal to or greater than 20 degrees to equal to or less than 70 degrees from the camera sensor, and
the lidar sensor is disposed facing angled at an angle in the range of equal to or greater than 20 degrees to equal to or less than 70 degrees from the radar sensor.

8. A sensor-cluster apparatus comprising:
sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors comprising one or more kinds of sensors;
a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted;
a case that is fixed to the body member, the case comprising:
an inner space in which the body member is disposed; and
an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors being exposed through the opening; and
a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case,
wherein the sensors comprise:
a camera sensor configured to recognize an object in a visible region;
an infrared sensor being configured to recognize an object in an infrared region;
a lidar sensor configured to map a distance from an object by emitting an optical pulse and detecting a carrier signal reflected from the object; and
a radar sensor configured to map a distance from the object by emitting electromagnetic waves and detecting the carrier signal reflected from the object,
wherein the cover comprises a material through which infrared rays, visible light, optical pulses, and electromagnetic waves are transmittable,
wherein the cover is configured to open and close the opening by a sliding device, and
the sliding device comprises:
a motor configured to axially rotate a rotation shaft;
a gear assembly configured to convert rotation movement of the rotation shaft into sliding movement; and
a slidable part coupled to the cover, the slidable part configured to slide by the gear assembly.

9. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sliding device further comprises:
a worm gear connected to the rotation shaft; and
a worm wheel engaged with the worm.

10. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sliding device further comprises:
a pinion gear connected to the rotation shaft; and
a rack engaged with the pinion.

11. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the gear assembly comprises a link work configured to convert rotation movement of a driving shaft into sliding movement of a driven shaft, and
wherein the rotation shaft is configured to rotate the driving shaft of the link work, and the driven shaft is coupled to a sliding part.

12. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the radar sensor and the camera sensor are disposed at a center of the body member, the camera sensor being disposed above the radar sensor, and
wherein the lidar sensor and the infrared sensor are disposed at respective sides of the body member with the camera sensor and the radar sensor disposed therebetween, the infrared sensor being disposed above the lidar sensor.

13. The sensor-cluster apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the radar sensor and the camera sensor are disposed facing perpendicular to a surface of the

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chun Jun Su
• Roh Hee Chang

Classifications

• B60R11/04

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

• B60W50/032

  Fixing failures by repairing failed parts, e.g. loosening a sticking valve · CPC title

• G01D11/245 Primary

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• G01S13/86

  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