Damage control system and method for a vehicle-based sensor

• US 8,140,217 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIITEK, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NIITEK, Inc.
• Inventors: Clodfelter, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/184,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 738/56, 324/326, 280/727
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/00 Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements lifting mechanisms for the cutter-bar of a mower A01D34/24; adjusting devices for the cutter-bar of a mower A01D34/28; constructional features of lifting devices per se B66F

Abstract

A damage control system for a vehicle-mounted sensor comprises at least one sensor frame. At least one sliding mechanism is coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to provide a path for the sensor frame to move forwards or backwards, or both. At least one height-adjustment mechanism is coupled to the sliding mechanism and configured to raise, lower, or both, the sensor frame.

Claims

1. A damage control system for a vehicle-mounted sensor comprising:

at least one sensor frame configured to hold a vehicle-mounted sensor;

at least one sliding mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to provide a path for the at least one sensor frame to move in at least one of a set of directions, the set of directions comprising;

a forward direction and a backward direction; and

at least one height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the sliding mechanism and configured to cause both the at least one sensor frame and the sliding mechanism to be in at least one of a set of states, the set of states comprising;

a raised state and a lowered state.

2. The system of claim 1, further including at least one pivot mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured such that the at least one sensor frame pivots in at least one of a set of pivot directions, the set of pivot directions comprising:

an upward direction, a downward direction, and a sideways direction.

3. The system of claim 1, further including at least one pivot coupled to the at least one sliding mechanism and configured such that the at least one sensor frame pivots in at least one of a set of pivot directions, the set of pivot directions comprising:

an upward direction, a downward direction, and a sideways direction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sliding mechanism includes at least one rail configured to provide at least one track for the at least one sensor frame to move in the at least one of the set of directions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one height-adjustment mechanism comprises at least one of:

an acme screw,

a spring,

an actuator,

a rack and pinion arrangement,

a motor-gear arrangement, and

a pulley arrangement.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one pivot mechanism includes at least one pivot point around which the at least one sensor frame pivots to one of a set of sides of the vehicle, the set of sides comprising:

a left side and a right side.

7. The system of claim 1, further including at least one height controller in communication with the at least one height-adjustment mechanism, the height controller being configured to control the at least one height-adjustment mechanism to cause the at least one sensor frame to be in the at least one of the set of states.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one height controller is configured to receive a signal from the vehicle-mounted sensor to control the at least one height-adjustment mechanism.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a magnet coupled to the at least one sliding mechanism and a metal plate coupled to the at least one sensor frame, wherein the at least one sensor frame is configured to be deployed upon engagement of the magnet and the metal plate.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor frame is configured to slide along the at least one sliding mechanism upon disengagement of the magnet and the metal plate.

11. The system of claim 1, further including at least one spring and roller mechanism coupled between the at least one sensor frame and the at least one sliding mechanism, wherein the vehicle-mounted sensor is deployed when the at least one spring and roller mechanism is locked into a slot, the slot being on one of a set of:

the at least one sliding mechanism and the at least one sensor frame.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor frame is configured to slide along the at least one sliding mechanism when the at least one spring and roller mechanism moves out of the slot.

13. The system of claim 1, further including at least one counterbalancing mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to counter balance a load of the vehicle-mounted sensor such that the at least one sensor frame slides along the path provided by the at least one sliding mechanism.

14. A method of moving a vehicle-mounted sensor, the method comprising:

receiving a force acting on a vehicle-mounted sensor; and

sliding at least one sensor frame coupled to the vehicle-mounted sensor backwards along at least one rail upon the receipt of the force acting on the vehicle-mounted sensor.

15. The method of claims 14, further including lifting the at least one sensor frame upwards upon the receipt of the force acting on the vehicle-mounted sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, further including pivoting the at least one sensor frame around a pivoting mechanism upon the receipt of the force acting on the vehicle-mounted sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor frame is movable in at least one of a set of directions along the rail, the set of directions comprising:

a forward direction and a backward direction.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the lifting includes operating one of a set, the set comprising:

an acme screw,

a spring,

an actuator,

a rack and pinion arrangement,

a motor-gear arrangement, and

a pulley arrangement.

19. The method of claim 14, further including causing the at least one sensor frame to be in at least one of a set of states based on at least one signal received from the vehicle-mounted sensor, the set of states comprising:

a raised state and a lowered state.

20. A vehicle configured to carry a sensor suite, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

an engine operably coupled to the chassis;

at least one sensor frame configured to hold a vehicle-mounted sensor;

at least one sliding mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to provide a path for the at least one sensor frame to move in at least one of a set of directions, the set of directions comprising;

a forward direction and a backward direction; and

at least one height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the sliding mechanism and configured to cause both the at least one sensor frame and the sliding mechanism to be in at least one of a set of states, the set of states comprising;

a raised state and a lowered state.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, further including at least one pivot mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured such that the at least one sensor frame pivots in at least one of a set of pivot directions, the set of pivot directions comprising:

an upward direction, a downward direction, and a sideways direction.

22. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least one height-adjustment mechanism comprises at least one of:

an acme screw,

a spring,

an actuator,

a rack and pinion arrangement,

a motor-gear arrangement, and

a pulley arrangement.

23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the at least one pivot mechanism includes at least one pivot point around which the at least one sensor frame pivots to one of a set of sides of the vehicle, the set of sides comprising:

a left side and a right side.

24. The vehicle of claim 20, further including at least one height controller in communication with the at least one height-adjustment mechanism, the height controller being configured to control the at least one height-adjustment mechanism to cause the at least one sensor frame to be in the at least one of the set of states.

25. The vehicle of claim 20, further including at least one shear point, the shear point being located on the vehicle such that at least one portion of the vehicle shears away on impact.

26. The vehicle of claim 20, further including at least one shock absorber, the shock absorber being configured to reduce vibrations felt by the vehicle during operation of the vehicle.

27. The vehicle of claim 20, further including at least one counterbalancing mechanism coupled to the at least one sensor frame and configured to counter balance a load of the vehicle-mounted sensor such that the at least one sensor frame slides along the path provided by the at least one sliding mechanism.