Integrated spoiler CHMSL optical sensor system

• US 10,308,295 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh, Lobo, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US15/680,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20190054855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 2961801, 2961802
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• 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: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/66 for cleaning vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence

Abstract

A spoiler includes a lower shell, a bracket, a plurality of optical sensors, a CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp) and an upper shell. The lower shell extends substantially a width of a vehicle roof. The bracket is fixed to the lower shell. The optical sensors are fixed to the bracket. The CHMSL is fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket. The upper shell is disposed over and fixed to the lower shell. The upper shell has a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL.

Claims

1. A spoiler, comprising:

a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;

a bracket fixed to the lower shell;

a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket, wherein the bracket has a plurality of sensor apertures in alignment with the plurality of the sensors;

a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket;

an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL; and

a plurality of window panes disposed across the sensor apertures of one of the bracket and the upper shell.

2. The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the window panes are fixed to the bracket.

3. The spoiler of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of washer nozzles fixed to the one of the bracket and the upper shell to which the window panes are fixed and directed at the window panes.

4. The spoiler of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of fluid lines, each fluid line connected to one of the washer nozzles on a first end and having a connector on a second end.

5. The spoiler of claim 3, wherein the washer nozzles each include a fluid nozzle and a pneumatic nozzle.

6. The spoiler of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of fluid lines and a plurality of pneumatic lines, each fluid line connected to one of the fluid nozzles on a first end and each pneumatic line connected to one of the pneumatic nozzles on a first end, and each fluid line and each pneumatic line having a connector on a second end.

7. The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the bracket and the lower shell and the upper shell are all formed of plastic.

8. The spoiler of claim 7, wherein the bracket and the lower shell are welded to each other.

9. The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of mounting tabs and the lower shell has an equal plurality of mounting surfaces and the mounting surfaces of the lower shell are in alignment with the mounting tabs of the bracket and the bracket and lower shell are welded to each other where the tabs overlap the mounting surfaces.

10. The spoiler of claim 9, the lower shell further including a plurality of support arms on which the mounting surfaces are located.

11. The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the CHMSL is fixed to the lower shell on CHMSL support tabs and is aligned with the CHMSL aperture in the upper shell.

12. The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

13. The spoiler of claim 1, the bracket further including a receiving aperture aligned with and receiving the sensor.

14. The spoiler of claim 1, the bracket further including a sensor mounting feature.

15. The spoiler of claim 14, the sensor mounting feature including a plurality of dimples.

16. A spoiler comprising:

a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;

a bracket fixed to the lower shell and having a plurality of sensor apertures;

a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket and in alignment with the plurality of the sensor apertures;

a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket;

an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;

a plurality of window panes disposed across the sensor apertures of one of the bracket and the upper shell; and

a plurality of washer nozzles fixed to the one of the bracket and the upper shell to which the window panes are fixed and directed at the window panes.

17. The spoiler of claim 16, wherein the CHMSL is fixed to the lower shell on CHMSL support tabs and is aligned with the CHMSL aperture in the upper shell.

18. The spoiler of claim 16, wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

19. A spoiler, comprising:

a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;

a bracket fixed to the lower shell;

a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;

a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and

an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;

wherein the bracket includes a plurality of mounting tabs and the lower shell has an equal plurality of mounting surfaces and the mounting surfaces of the lower shell are in alignment with the mounting tabs of the bracket and the bracket and lower shell are welded to each other where the tabs overlap the mounting surfaces.

20. A spoiler, comprising:

a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;

a bracket fixed to the lower shell;

a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;

a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and

an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;

wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

21. A spoiler, comprising:

a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;

a bracket fixed to the lower shell, the bracket further including a sensor mounting feature, the sensor mounting feature including a plurality of dimples;

a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;

a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and

an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL.