Airflow deflector for vehicle sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025128773-A1
Application number	US-202318491586-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2023
Priority date	Oct 20, 2023
Publication date	Apr 24, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor pod configured to be mounted to a vehicle. The sensor pod including: a housing; a sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor oriented such that when the sensor pod is mounted to the vehicle the sensor faces an area rearward of the sensor pod; and an airflow deflector mounted to the housing adjacent to an exterior surface of the sensor, the airflow deflector including a body spaced apart from the housing, the body defining a first airflow passageway through an interior of the body and a second airflow passageway between the body and the housing. The airflow deflector is configured to direct a first layer of airflow through the first airflow passageway such that the first layer of airflow flows generally parallel to the exterior surface of the sensor, and direct a second layer of airflow through the second airflow passageway towards the exterior surface of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor pod configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the sensor pod comprising:
a housing; a sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor oriented such that when the sensor pod is mounted to the vehicle the sensor faces an area rearward of the sensor pod; and an airflow deflector mounted to the housing adjacent to an exterior surface of the sensor, the airflow deflector including a body spaced apart from the housing, the body defining a first airflow passageway through an interior of the body and a second airflow passageway between the body and the housing; wherein the airflow deflector is configured to direct a first layer of airflow through the first airflow passageway such that the first layer of airflow flows generally parallel to the exterior surface of the sensor, and direct a second layer of airflow through the second airflow passageway towards the exterior surface of the sensor.

2 . The sensor pod of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a camera sensor, an infrared sensor, a sonar sensor, electromagnetic sensor, and microwave sensor.

3 . The sensor pod of claim 1 , wherein the sensor pod is mounted to an autonomous vehicle, the sensor pod positioned to allow the sensor to monitor passengers entering and exiting the vehicle through a side door of the vehicle that is rearward of the sensor pod.

4 . The sensor pod of claim 1 , wherein the airflow deflector further includes a lip extending from a rear end of the body.

5 . The sensor pod of claim 4 , wherein the lip is angled relative to the body.

6 . The sensor pod of claim 4 , wherein the lip extends from the rear end of the body at an angle of about 45° towards the housing.

7 . The sensor pod of claim 4 , wherein the lip and a surface of the housing adjacent to the exterior surface of the sensor extend at divergent angles.

8 . The sensor pod of claim 7 , wherein the body and the surface of the housing opposite to the body extend at divergent angles.

9 . The sensor pod of claim 4 , wherein the lip extends from an inner surface of the body such that airflow exiting the first airflow passageway flows across an outer surface of the lip.

10 . The sensor pod of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the sensor pod further including a second sensor that is different from the first sensor.

11 . A sensor pod configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the sensor pod comprising:
a housing; a sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor oriented such that when the housing is mounted to the vehicle the sensor faces an area rearward of the sensor pod; and an airflow deflector mounted to the housing adjacent to an exterior surface of the sensor, the airflow deflector including a body and a lip extending from the body at an angle, both the body and the lip are spaced apart from the housing, the body defining a first airflow passageway through the body, and the lip extending from a downstream end of the body such that airflow exiting the first airflow passageway flows over an outer surface of the lip.

12 . The sensor pod of claim 11 , wherein the airflow deflector further defines a second airflow passageway between the body and the housing; and
wherein the airflow deflector is configured to direct a first layer of airflow through the first airflow passageway such that the first layer of airflow flows generally parallel to the exterior surface of the sensor, and direct a second layer of airflow through the second airflow passageway towards the exterior surface of the sensor.

13 . The sensor pod of claim 11 , wherein the lip extends from a rear end of the body at an angle of about 45°.

14 . The sensor pod of claim 11 , wherein:
the lip and a first surface of the housing adjacent to the exterior surface of the sensor extend at divergent angles; and the body and a second surface of the housing opposite to the body extend at divergent angles.

15 . A vehicle including a sensor pod at an exterior of the vehicle, the sensor pod including:
a housing; a sensor mounted to the housing, the sensor oriented to face an area rearward of the sensor pod; and an airflow deflector mounted to the housing adjacent to an exterior surface of the sensor, the airflow deflector including a body and a lip extending from the body at an angle, both the body and the lip are spaced apart from the housing, the body defining a first airflow passageway through the body, and the lip extending from a downstream end of the body such that airflow exiting the first airflow passageway flows over an outer surface of the lip.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a camera sensor, an infrared sensor, a sonar sensor, electromagnetic sensor, and microwave sensor.

17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is forward of a side door of the vehicle to allow the sensor to monitor persons entering and exiting the vehicle through the side door.

18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the airflow deflector further defines a second airflow passageway between the body and the housing; and
wherein the airflow deflector is configured to direct a first layer of airflow through the first airflow passageway such that the first layer of airflow flows generally parallel to the exterior surface of the sensor, and direct a second layer of airflow through the second airflow passageway towards the exterior surface of the sensor.

19 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the lip extends from a rear end of the body at an angle of about 45°.

20 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the lip and a first surface of the housing adjacent to the exterior surface of the sensor extend at divergent angles; and the body and a second surface of the housing opposite to the body extend at divergent angles.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Raju Kothamasi Sumithra
• Liu Yuchuan
• Mourou Julien P
• Razi Pooyan

Classifications

• G01D11/00

  Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable (G01D13/00, G01D15/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R11/02 Primary

  for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof · CPC title

• B62D35/008 Primary

  Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/0006

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• B60S1/54

  using gas, e.g. hot air · CPC title