MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SHORT RANGE SENSORS
First Claim
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; 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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:
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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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:
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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 carrier bracket 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. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A sensing system of a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:
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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 carrier bracket 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 carrier bracket 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 carrier bracket 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 carrier bracket 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.
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Specification