Variable wettability sensor device cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023366996-A1
Application number	US-202217741740-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2022
Priority date	May 11, 2022
Publication date	Nov 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a sensor device includes a cover mounted on the sensor device, the cover including a cover portion made from a transparent material that is transparent to sensor signals, the cover portion including an external surface having a wettability that varies according to a wettability gradient in a selected direction along the surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for protecting a sensor device, the apparatus comprising:
a cover mounted on the sensor device, the cover including a cover portion made from a transparent material that is transparent to sensor signals, the cover portion including an external surface having a wettability that varies according to a wettability gradient in a selected direction along the surface.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the selected direction extends from a selected point on the surface to an edge of the surface, the wettability decreasing along the selected direction from a maximum value at the selected point to a minimum value at the edge.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface is circular, the selected point is a center point of the surface, and the selected direction is a radial direction.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the wettability is defined by a contact angle, and the gradient is a contact angle gradient selected from at least one of a static contact angle gradient, an advancing contact angle gradient and a receding contact angle gradient.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the contact angle gradient is a static contact angle gradient of least three degrees/millimeter.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the surface has a maximum static contact angle at the selected point on the surface, the static contact angle decreasing from the maximum contact angle along the direction toward the edge of the portion according to the contact angle gradient.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the static contact angle gradient is at least three degrees/millimeter, and the maximum static contact angle is at least about 100 degrees.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent material includes a base material and a concentration of a constituent material, the constituent material configured to alter the wettability of the base material, a concentration of the constituent material varying along the selected direction to impart the wettability gradient to the surface.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is selected from at least one of an optical camera, a radar device and a lidar device.

10 . A sensor device configured to be mounted at a vehicle, the sensor device including:
a sensor to monitor an environment external to the vehicle; and a cover mounted on the sensor device, the cover including a cover portion made from a transparent material that is transparent to sensor signals, the cover portion including an external surface having a wettability that varies according to a wettability gradient in a selected direction along the surface.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the selected direction extends from a selected point on the surface to an edge of the surface, the wettability decreasing along the selected direction from a maximum value at the selected point to a minimum value at the edge.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the surface is circular, the selected point is a center point of the surface, and the selected direction is a radial direction.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the wettability is defined by a contact angle, and the gradient is a contact angle gradient selected from at least one of a static contact angle gradient, an advancing contact angle gradient and a receding contact angle gradient.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the surface has a maximum static contact angle at the selected point on the surface, the static contact angle decreasing from the maximum contact angle along the direction toward the edge of the portion according to the contact angle gradient.

15 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the transparent material includes a base material and a concentration of a constituent material, the constituent material configured to alter the wettability of the base material, a concentration of the constituent material varying along the selected direction to impart the wettability gradient to the surface.

16 . A method of manufacturing an apparatus for protecting a sensor device, the method comprising:
providing a transparent material that is transparent to sensor signals; and constructing a cover to be mounted on the sensor device, wherein constructing the cover includes imparting a wettability gradient to a portion of the cover including an external surface, the wettability gradient causing a wettability of the surface to vary in a selected direction extending along the surface.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the selected direction extends from a selected point on the surface to an edge of the surface, the wettability decreasing along the selected direction from a maximum value at the selected point to a minimum value at the edge.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein constructing the cover includes forming a body with the transparent material, the portion of the cover being a component separate from the body, imparting the wettability gradient to the component, and attaching the component to the body.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein imparting the wettability gradient includes varying a concentration of a constituent of the transparent material.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein constructing the cover includes forming the portion of the cover with the transparent material and curing the transparent material after forming according to a curing temperature, wherein curing the material includes applying a curing temperature that varies along the selected direction.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Li Zhe
• Yang Bo
• Liu Yuchuan
• Mourou Julien P
• Garg Rachit

Classifications

• G01S7/497 Primary

  Means for monitoring or calibrating · CPC title

• G01S7/027

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

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2007/4977

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title