Sensor assembly

• US 10,302,744 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh, Phinisee, Rashaun, Pizzimenti, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US15/903,296
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/04 Carriers associated with vehicle roof B60R9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

A vehicle includes a roof and a housing having a bottom surface sealed to the roof. The vehicle includes a base in the housing and having a first surface sealed to the roof, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a duct extending from the first surface to the second surface. The vehicle includes a navigation sensor supported by the second surface. The vehicle includes a wire in electrical communication with the navigation sensor and extending through the duct.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a roof;

a housing having a bottom surface sealed to the roof;

a base in the housing and having a first surface sealed to the roof, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a duct extending from the first surface to the second surface, the base including a bottom portion elongated along a longitudinal axis and having the first surface, and a first wall and a second wall elongated along a lateral axis and extending transversely from the bottom portion and spaced from each other;

a navigation sensor supported by the second surface; and

a wire in electrical communication with the navigation sensor and extending through the duct.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the roof includes an exterior panel, and the housing and the base are sealed to the exterior panel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an opening and includes a lens releasably secured over the opening, the navigation sensor positioned to receive light through the lens.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a main body that defines an opening at a top of the housing, and a top panel sealed to the main body about a perimeter of the opening at the top of the housing.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the base is monolithic.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a sensor plate supporting the navigation sensor and fixed to the second surface of the base.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a main body that defines an opening at a rear of the housing, and a rear panel secured to the main body and sealed to the main body about a perimeter of the opening at the rear of the housing.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the roof defines a hole, and the wire extends through the hole.

9. An assembly, comprising:

a housing designed to seal to a vehicle roof;

a base in the housing and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the base defining a duct extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first surface designed to seal to the vehicle roof about a perimeter of the duct, the base including a bottom portion elongated along a longitudinal axis and having the first surface, and a first wall and a second wall elongated along a lateral axis and extending transversely from the bottom portion and spaced from each other; and

a navigation sensor supported by the second surface.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the base includes a support rib extending between the bottom portion and the first wall.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the base includes a first middle portion and a second middle portion spaced from each other and extending along the longitudinal axis between the first wall and the second wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first wall, the second wall, the first middle portion and the second middle portion define the duct.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the bottom portion defines a first width and the first wall defines a second width that is the same as the first width.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a main body that defines an opening at a top of the housing, and a top panel sealed to the main body about a perimeter of the opening at the top of the housing.

15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a second navigation sensor supported by the base, and wherein the top panel defines an opening, the second navigation sensor extending through the opening.

16. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing defines an opening and includes a lens releasably secured over the opening.

17. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a wire in electrical communication with the navigation sensor and extending through the duct.

18. An assembly, comprising:

a housing designed to seal to a vehicle roof;

a base in the housing and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the base defining a duct extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first surface designed to seal to the vehicle roof about a perimeter of the duct, the base including a bottom portion elongated along a longitudinal axis and having the first surface, and a first wall and a second wall elongated along a lateral axis and extending transversely from the bottom portion and spaced from each other, the base including a support rib extending between the bottom portion and the first wall, the base including a first middle portion and a second middle portion spaced from each other and extending along the longitudinal axis between the first wall and the second wall, the first middle portion including an outer surface and defining a cavity extending from the outer surface toward the duct; and

a navigation sensor supported by the second surface.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the cavity terminates prior to the duct.