Sensor apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190300-A1
Application number	US-201614986841-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle roof mount includes at least one datum feature. The datum feature is provided according to at least one datum. The at least one datum is determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame. The sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.

First claim

1 . An assembly, comprising:
a vehicle roof mount including at least one datum feature provided according to at least one datum, the at least one datum determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame; wherein the sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the sensor frame, the sensor frame including at least one feature-locating element thereon;
wherein the feature-locating element is arranged to position the sensor frame on the roof mount and to constrain one or more degrees of freedom.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising at least one sensor supported by the sensor frame.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor frame includes a sensor mount having a datum feature, and the sensor includes a feature-locating element,
wherein the datum feature is provided according to at least one datum, the at least one datum determined according to a specified orientation of the sensor; wherein the feature-locating element is arranged to position the sensor on the sensor mount and to constrain one or more degrees of freedom.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor frame is arranged top-load into the roof mount.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor frame is arranged to bottom-load into the roof mount.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the datum feature is located to orient the sensor with respect the vehicle body when the datum feature receives the feature-locating element.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the root mount further includes a cavity, and the mounting frame is fittable within the cavity.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , the sensor frame further comprising at least one module location.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the module location is arranged to receive at least one of a thermal management interface and a wiring harness.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of radar, lidar, and a vision system.

12 . A vehicle roof, comprising:
a roof mount including at least one datum feature; a sensor frame including at least one sensor mount; at least one feature-locating element disposed on the sensor frame fittable into the datum feature; and at least one sensor supported by the sensor mount; wherein the datum feature is provided according to at least one datum, the at least one datum determined according to a specified orientation of the at least one sensor in the sensor frame.

13 . The roof of claim 12 , wherein the sensor frame is arranged to top-load into the roof mount.

14 . The roof of claim 12 , wherein the sensor frame is arranged to bottom-load into the roof mount.

15 . The roof of claim 12 , wherein the sensor frame further includes at least one module location arranged to receive at least one of a thermal management interface and a wiring harness.

16 . The roof of claim 12 , wherein the roof mount further includes a cavity, and the sensor mount is fittable within the cavity.

17 . The roof of claim 12 , wherein the datum feature is arranged to align the sensor with the vehicle body when the datum feature receives the feature-locating element.

18 . An assembly, comprising:
a sensor mount including a datum feature; and a sensor including a feature-locating element fittable to the datum feature in the sensor mount; wherein the datum feature provided according to at least one datum, the at least one datum determined according to a specified orientation of the sensor; wherein the feature-locating element is arranged to position the sensor on the sensor mount and to constrain one or more degrees of freedom.

19 . The assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a module location arranged to receive one of a thermal management interface and a wiring harness.

20 . The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the sensor mount further includes a feature-locating element fittable to a datum feature in a vehicle body.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maranville Clay Wesley
• Rhode Douglas Scott
• Wykoff Rick H
• Visintainer Randal Henry

Classifications

• G01S2013/9323

  Alternative operation using light waves · CPC title

• G01S2013/93273

  on the top of the vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2011/0028

  Ceiling, e.g. roof rails · CPC title

• B62D25/06 Primary

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title

• B60R9/04

  Carriers associated with vehicle roof (B60R9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title