Mounting system for vehicle short range sensors

• US 10,534,081 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wodrich, Helmut A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide
• Application Number:
  US15/584,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9318 Controlling the steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9327 Sensor installation details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/00 Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems

Abstract

A sensing system of a vehicle includes a control and a mounting carrier that supports a plurality of sensor units. The mounting carrier is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so that the plurality of sensor units have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle. The mounting carrier includes structure to support the sensor units at an exterior structure of the vehicle so as to provide a desired field of sensing. The mounting carrier includes an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle. The sensor units are electrically connected to a circuit element that is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the mounting carrier. The control, responsive to outputs of the circuit element, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of the sensor units.

Claims

1. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:

a mounting carrier that supports a plurality of sensor units;

wherein said mounting carrier is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so that said plurality of sensor units have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises structure to support said plurality of sensor units at an exterior portion of the vehicle so as to provide a desired field of sensing of said sensors when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said sensor units are electrically connected to a common circuit element that is electrically connected to said electrical connector of said mounting carrier;

a control, wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, outputs of said sensor units are received at said circuit element and communicated to said control, and wherein said control, responsive to said outputs of said sensor units, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of said sensor units; and

wherein said sensor units comprise sensor arrays connected to a control unit of the vehicle capable of process detection of individual sensors of the sensor arrays, combining detections within the antenna patterns of vertical interlaced sensor fields of sensing to provide an improved positional object height measurement and 3D imaging.

2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said mounting carrier provides for the positioning of an array of radar sensor units in accurate locations relative to one another.

3. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said mounting carrier is attached to the exterior portion of the vehicle.

4. The sensing system of claim 3, wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprises a bumper of the vehicle.

5. The sensing system of claim 3, wherein said mounting carrier is attached to the exterior portion of the vehicle using ultrasonic welding, an adhesive or thermal bonding.

6. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said mounting carrier includes integrated electrical connectors that electrically connect said sensor units to said common circuit element.

7. The sensing system of claim 6, wherein said integrated electrical connectors are insert molded in said mounting carrier.

8. The sensing system of claim 6, wherein said common element is insert molded in said mounting carrier.

9. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said sensor units comprise an array of sensors positioned, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, to provide a horizontal field of sensing greater than the horizontal field of sensing of the individual sensor units.

10. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said sensor units comprise an array of sensors positioned, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, to provide a vertical field of sensing greater than the vertical field of sensing of the individual sensor units.

11. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, said sensor units are supported at said mounting carrier at different heights, and wherein said sensing system obtains height data.

12. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said sensor units comprise sensor arrays connected to a control unit of the vehicle capable of process detection of individual sensors of the sensor arrays, combining detections within the antenna patterns of horizontal interlaced sensor fields of sensing to provide an improved positional accuracy.

13. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said sensor units are part of a sensing system capable of providing short range driver assist system functions without sensing components visible on the external surfaces of the vehicle.

14. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said sensor units are part of a sensing system having multiple RF based sensors to provide 360 degree coverage around the vehicle and connected using a high bandwidth communication protocol or proprietary network communication protocol.

15. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein said sensing system supports either sequential transmission or simultaneous transmission of all sensor units or groups of sensor units providing coverage within the field of sensing.

16. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein said sensing system provides short range detection for at least one of automated parking, blind spot detection, cross traffic alert, lane change and merge aid, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, turn assist, and intersection collision mitigation.

17. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:

a mounting carrier that supports a plurality of sensor units;

wherein said mounting carrier is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so that said plurality of sensor units have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises structure to support said plurality of sensor units at an exterior portion of the vehicle so as to provide a desired field of sensing of said sensors when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said sensor units are electrically connected to a common circuit element that is electrically connected to said electrical connector of said mounting carrier;

wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, said sensor units are supported at said mounting carrier at different heights, and wherein said sensing system obtains height data;

wherein said mounting carrier includes integrated electrical connectors that electrically connect said sensor units to said common circuit element;

wherein said circuit element comprises a sensor fusion control unit that receives outputs of said sensor units and is operable to communicate an output to a control of the vehicle; and

wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, outputs of said sensor units are received at said circuit element and communicated to said control, and wherein said control, responsive to said outputs of said sensor units, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of said sensor units.

18. The sensing system of claim 17, wherein said sensor units comprise a plurality of sensor antennas.

19. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:

a mounting carrier that supports a plurality of sensor units;

wherein said mounting carrier is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so that said plurality of sensor units have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises structure to support said plurality of sensor units at an exterior portion of the vehicle so as to provide a desired field of sensing of said sensors when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said mounting carrier comprises an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said mounting carrier is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein said sensor units are electrically connected to a common circuit element that is electrically connected to said electrical connector of said mounting carrier;

wherein said sensor units comprise an array of sensors positioned, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, to provide a horizontal field of sensing greater than the horizontal field of sensing of the individual sensor units;

wherein said sensor units comprise an array of sensors positioned, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, to provide a vertical field of sensing greater than the vertical field of sensing of the individual sensor units;

wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, said sensor units are supported at said mounting carrier at different heights, and wherein said sensing system obtains height data;

wherein said mounting carrier includes integrated electrical connectors that electrically connect said sensor units to said common circuit element;

wherein said circuit element comprises a sensor fusion control unit that receives outputs of said sensor units and is operable to communicate an output to a control of the vehicle; and

a control, wherein, with said mounting carrier mounted at the vehicle, outputs of said sensor units are received at said circuit element and communicated to said control and wherein said control, responsive to said outputs of said sensor units, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of said sensor units.