ROOF MOUNTING FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20180015886A1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Frank, Steven, Diep, Phu, Gallagher, Steven William
• Granted Patent: US 10,272,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 13/06 Sealing strips sealing arrangements for vehicle windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors, or similar devices B60J10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

A mount for a roof-mounted autonomous vehicle sensor assembly includes a cap, a seal, and a plurality of support members. The mount is compatible in shape with a moonroof opening in a vehicle roof panel. The cap is sized to overlap the moonroof opening. The cap has a plurality of attachment features to connect to the sensor assembly. The seal is to be disposed between the cap and the roof panel. The plurality of support members connects the cap to roof rails.

Claims

1. A mount for a roof-mounted autonomous vehicle sensor assembly, the mount compatible in shape with a moonroof opening in a vehicle roof panel, the mount comprising:

a cap sized to overlap the moonroof opening;

the cap having a plurality of attachment features to connect to the sensor assembly;

a seal for disposition between the cap and the roof panel; and

a plurality of support members for connecting the cap to roof rails.

2. The mount of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a cable passage aperture therethrough and further includes a removable sealing plug disposed in the aperture.

3. The mount of claim 1, wherein the cap is formed of a substantially rigid polymer.

4. The mount of claim 1, wherein the support members include a support bow extending across the cap.

5. The mount of claim 4, wherein the support bow is a discrete element relative to the cap.

6. The mount of claim 5, wherein the support bow is formed of metal.

7. The mount of claim 1, wherein the support members include a first bracket disposed between the cap and a one of the roof rails.

8. The mount of claim 1, wherein the support members include:

a first bracket disposed between the cap and a first roof rail of the roof rails; and

a second bracket disposed between the cap and a second roof rail of the roof rails.

9. The mount of claim 8, wherein the support members further include a support bow connecting the brackets.

10. The mount of claim 9, wherein the cap is formed of a substantially rigid polymer and the bow and the brackets are formed of metal.

11. The mount of claim 10, wherein the cap includes a cable passage aperture therethrough and further includes a removable sealing plug disposed in the aperture.

12. The mount of claim 10, further comprising a roof support ring disposed between the brackets and an inner surface of the roof panel.

13. A method of mounting a sensor assembly to a vehicle of a roof comprising the steps of:

providing a roof panel having a moonroof opening;

providing a cap having a plurality of attachment features for connecting the sensor assembly to the cap;

providing a seal for disposition between the cap and the roof panel;

providing a plurality of support members for connecting the cap to a vehicle structural element; and

placing the cap over the moonroof opening and sealingly fixing the cap to the roof panel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing a side support bracket; and

fixing the bracket to a roof rail and fixing the cap to the bracket.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing the sensor assembly;

providing the sensor assembly with a plurality of attachment features for alignment with the attachment features of the cap;

aligning the attachment features of the sensor assembly with the attachment features of the cap; and

fixing the sensor assembly to the cap.

16. A vehicle having a mount for a roof-mounted autonomous vehicle sensor assembly, the mount compatible in shape with a moonroof opening in a roof panel of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a cap sized to overlap the moonroof opening;

the cap having a plurality of attachment features to connect to the sensor assembly;

a seal for disposition between the cap and the roof panel; and

a plurality of support members for connecting the cap to roof rails.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the cap includes a cable passage aperture therethrough and further includes a removable sealing plug disposed in the aperture.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the support members include a support bow extending across the cap.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the support members include:

a first bracket disposed between the cap and a first roof rail of the roof rails; and

a second bracket disposed between the cap and a second roof rail of the roof rails.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising a roof support ring disposed between the brackets and an inner surface of the roof panel, and wherein:

the support members further include a support bow connecting the brackets;

the cap is formed of a substantially rigid polymer and the bow and the brackets are formed of metal; and

the cap includes a cable passage aperture therethrough.