Protective film for a lens of a sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020073019-A1
Application number	US-201816120872-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2018
Priority date	Sep 4, 2018
Publication date	Mar 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of assembly includes providing a sensor having an electronic sensing unit operable to emit or receive light rays and a clear substrate attached to the electronic sensing unit. The method also includes providing a tubular protective wrap having a central orifice. The protective wrap has a transparent film layer and an interstitial layer. The interstitial layer is disposed on an interior surface of the film layer proximate the orifice. The method additionally includes disposing the protective wrap about the electronic sensing unit. The method further includes shrinking the protective wrap via application of heat such that the interstitial layer contacts at least a portion of the sensor with the film layer superposed over at least a portion of the clear substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of assembly comprising:
providing a sensor having an electronic sensing unit operable to emit or receive light rays and a clear substrate attached to the electronic sensing unit; providing a tubular protective wrap having a central orifice, the protective wrap comprising a transparent film layer and an interstitial layer, the interstitial layer being disposed on an interior surface of the film layer proximate the orifice; disposing the protective wrap about the electronic sensing unit; and shrinking the protective wrap via application of heat such that the interstitial layer contacts at least a portion of the sensor with the film layer superposed over at least a portion of the clear substrate.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transparent film comprises a fluoropolymer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protective wrap further comprises a surface coating disposed on an exterior surface of the film layer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shrinking the protective wrap via application of heat comprises elevating a temperature of the protective wrap to at least a glass transition temperature of the transparent film layer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clear substrate exhibits a first index of refraction, the interstitial layer exhibits a second index of refraction, and the transparent film exhibits a third index of refraction, with the third index of refraction being less than the second index of refraction, and with the second index of refraction being less than the first index of refraction.

7 . A sensor assembly comprising:
an electronic sensing unit operable to emit or receive light rays; a clear substrate attached to the electronic sensing unit and having a first surface, wherein the first surface of the clear substrate is non-planar and operable for concentrating or dispersing light rays; a protective cover superposed over the clear substrate, the protective cover including a fluoropolymer layer having a first surface facing the first surface of the clear substrate and a second surface opposed to the first surface of the fluoropolymer layer, an interstitial layer disposed between the first surface of the fluoropolymer layer and the first surface of the clear substrate, and a surface coating applied to the second surface of the fluoropolymer layer.

8 . The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interstitial layer comprises a distinct material from the fluoropolymer layer.

9 . The sensor assembly of claim 8 , wherein the interstitial layer comprises adhesive.

10 . The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the protective cover comprises a tubular wrap disposed about at least a portion of the electronic sensing unit and the clear substrate.

11 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the tubular wrap is secured about the at least a portion of the electronic sensing unit and the clear substrate via heat shrinking.

12 . The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the clear substrate exhibits a first index of refraction, the interstitial layer exhibits a second index of refraction, the transparent film exhibits a third index of refraction, and the surface coating exhibits a fourth index of refraction, with the fourth index of refraction being less than the third index of refraction, the third index of refraction being less than the second index of refraction, and with the second index of refraction being less than the first index of refraction.

13 . The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sensor assembly is coupled to an automotive vehicle.

14 . The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fluoropolymer layer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene.

15 . A protective cover for a sensor, comprising:
a tubular fluoropolymer layer having a central orifice, a first surface proximate the central orifice, and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the tubular fluoropolymer layer exhibiting a second index of refraction; an interstitial layer disposed on the first surface, the interstitial layer exhibiting a first index of refraction; and a surface coating applied to the second surface of the fluoropolymer layer, the surface coating comprising a third index of refraction, with the third index of refraction being less than the second index of refraction, and with the second index of refraction being less than the first index of refraction.

16 . The protective cover of claim 15 , wherein the interstitial layer comprises adhesive.

17 . The protective cover of claim 15 , wherein the fluoropolymer layer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene.

18 . The protective cover of claim 15 , wherein the fluoropolymer layer is provided with perforations.

19 . The protective cover of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor having a clear substrate, the sensor being disposed in the central orifice with the interstitial layer contacting the clear substrate.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Hart Nathaniel W
• Wright Adam L
• Gross Adam F
• Smith Anthony L

Classifications

• B29C63/42

  using tubular layers or sheathings · CPC title

• B29L2011/0016

  Lenses · CPC title

• B29C63/0069

  of tubular articles · CPC title

• B29L2031/752

  Measuring equipment · CPC title

• B29K2995/0049

  Heat shrinkable · CPC title