Arrangement structure for peripheral information detection sensor and self-driving vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9857456-B2
Application number	US-201614992512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor includes the peripheral information detection sensor, a detection portion of which detects peripheral information of a vehicle, and an interior trim member. The peripheral information detection sensor is disposed at a vehicle cabin interior side of a windshield glass whose exterior surface is wiped by a wiper. The detection portion is disposed at a position opposing a wiping range of the wiper on the windshield glass. The interior trim member covers the peripheral information detection sensor from the vehicle cabin interior side thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising:
an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member being configured to: cover, from a vehicle cabin interior side, both a body panel structuring a vehicle body of the vehicle, and the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle, and
the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein
the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and
the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.

2. The arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral information detection sensor is assembled to the interior trim member and made integral with the interior trim member.

3. The arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein a detection surface of the detection portion abuts against a surface of the windshield glass at the vehicle cabin interior side.

4. The arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the interior trim member is formed by a material having electrical conductivity such that electromagnetic waves generated at the vehicle cabin interior side that are directed toward the peripheral information detection sensor are blocked.

5. The arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral information detection sensor is disposed closer to a leftmost side of the vehicle or a rightmost side of the vehicle than to the center of the vehicle.

6. A self-driving vehicle comprising:
an arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising:
an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member being configured to: cover, from a vehicle cabin interior side, both a body panel structuring a vehicle body of the vehicle, and the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,
the peripheral information detection sensor, and

a control unit that controls running of the vehicle in accordance with peripheral information detected by the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein
the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and
the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.

7. An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising:
an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member including a portion formed to cover a body panel structuring a vehicle body from the vehicle cabin interior side, and a portion formed to cover, from the vehicle cabin interior side, the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle; and
the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein
the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,
the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and
the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hara Yasuhiro
• Endo Takahito
• Yamamoto Seiji

Classifications

• G01S2013/93271

  in the front of the vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93276

  in the windshield area · CPC title

• G01S2015/937

  sensor installation details · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title