LiDAR mirror sensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065079-B2
Application number	US-202318297821-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2023
Priority date	Jul 31, 2019
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for a LiDAR mirror assembly mounted on a vehicle, such as an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. For example, a LiDAR mirror assembly may include a base plate mounted on a hood of a vehicle, where the base plate is coupled to one end of a support arm. The opposite end of the support arm is attached to a housing. The housing includes a top housing enclosure coupled to a bottom housing platform, where a sensor and a mirror is coupled to the housing, and where the sensor is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top housing enclosure. The opening for the sensor is situated near an end of the housing furthest away from the base plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a base plate; and
at least one arm having a first end coupled to the base plate and a second end coupled to a platform,
wherein the platform is coupled to a top enclosure located on top of the platform,
wherein the top enclosure includes an opening located at a distal end of the top enclosure away from the base plate,
wherein the platform includes a first through hole that extends from a top surface of the platform to a bottom surface of the platform,
wherein the base plate includes a second through hole,
wherein the at least one arm is coupled to the platform and the base plate where the first through hole and the second through hole are respectively located,
wherein the platform is coupled to the top enclosure via at least one bottom enclosure having at least some region located below the platform,
wherein the at least one bottom enclosure comprises a first bottom enclosure having at least some side region located on a same side as a first side of the top enclosure,
wherein the at least one bottom enclosure comprises a second bottom enclosure having at least some side region located on a same side as a second side of the top enclosure, and
wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm includes a hollow region that extends from the first end to the second end of the at least one arm.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base plate extends in a first orientation that is different from a second orientation in which the platform extends.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first bottom enclosure and the second bottom enclosure having bottom surfaces with openings to allow the at least one arm to pass through.

5. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one arm includes a first arm and a second arm,
wherein first ends of the first arm and the second arm are coupled to different regions of the platform, and
wherein second ends of the first arm and the second arm are coupled to different regions of the base plate.

6. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the distal end of the top enclosure has a semi-circular shape that extends from a first side surface of the top enclosure to a second side surface of the top enclosure, and
wherein the first side surface is opposite to the second side surface.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein one side of the top enclosure includes a cutout or a hole that extends laterally.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first through hole in the platform is located at a proximal end of the platform that is closer to the base plate than a distal end of the platform.

9. The device of claim 8 ,
wherein the proximal end of the platform comprises a bracket that extends upward from the top surface of the platform, and
wherein a mirror is pivotably coupled to the bracket.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm extends upward at an angle with respect to a surface of the base plate.

11. A system, comprising:
a vehicle, and
a sensor assembly, comprising:
a base plate coupled to a periphery of a front region of the vehicle,
at least one arm having a first end coupled to the base plate and a second end coupled to a platform,
wherein the platform is coupled to a top enclosure located on top of the platform,
wherein the top enclosure includes an opening located at a distal end of the top enclosure away from the base plate,
wherein the platform includes a first through hole that extends from a top surface of the platform to a bottom surface of the platform,
wherein the base plate includes a second through hole, and
wherein the at least one arm is coupled to the platform and the base plate where the first through hole and the second through hole are respectively located,
wherein the platform is coupled to the top enclosure via at least one bottom enclosure having at least some region located below the platform,
wherein the at least one bottom enclosure comprises a first bottom enclosure having at least some side region located on a same side as a first side of the top enclosure,
wherein the at least one bottom enclosure comprises a second bottom enclosure having at least some side region located on a same side as a second side of the top enclosure, and
wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein a sensor is coupled to the platform at a distal end of the platform away from the base plate.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the sensor is exposed through the opening located at the distal end of the top enclosure.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor includes a wire that goes through the first through hole in the platform, the at least one arm, and the second through hole of the base plate.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor includes a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first bottom enclosure and the second bottom enclosure having bottom surfaces with openings to allow the at least one arm to pass through.

17. The system of claim 11 ,
wherein the distal end of the top enclosure has a semi-circular shape that extends from a first side surface of the top enclosure to a second side surface of the top enclosure, and
wherein the first side surface is opposite to the second side surface.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein one side of the top enclosure includes a cutout or a hole that extends laterally.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first through hole in the platform is located at a proximal end of the platform that is closer to the base plate than a distal end of the platform.

20. The system of claim 19 ,
wherein the proximal end of the platform comprises a bracket that extends upward from the top surface of the platform, and
wherein a mirror is pivotably coupled to the bracket.

Assignees

• Tusimple Inc

Inventors

• Ning Juexiao
• Skinner Todd
• Renn Jeffrey

Classifications

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60R2011/008

  Adjustable or movable supports · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R2001/1223

  with sensors or transducers · CPC title

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title