Arrangement structure for peripheral information detection sensor and self-driving vehicle

• US 9,857,456 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Yasuhiro, Endo, Takahito, Yamamoto, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/992,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20160306030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 701301, 701 41, 701 45, 701 65, 701 23, 701 70, 701 78, 701 96, 701110, 701117, 340436, 340903, 340467, 340435, 34042632, 342 66, 342 74, 342 82, 342 89, 342176, 342202, 34235722, 34235721, 342454, 342455, 342456, 342463, 1802073, 180244, 180325, 180282, 280 2811, 280777, 455 88, 455 73, 455 91, 455 901- 903, 455132, 455 89, 455572, 4554041, 4554042, 4554561-4566, 707621, 707653
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• 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 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/937 sensor installation details constructional features of transducers G01S7/521 and B06B; casing of transducers, e.g. housing, cover or filler details, G10K9/22; mounting of transducers, i.e. fixture, fitting or holder details, G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor includes the peripheral information detection sensor, a detection portion of which detects peripheral information of a vehicle, and an interior trim member. The peripheral information detection sensor is disposed at a vehicle cabin interior side of a windshield glass whose exterior surface is wiped by a wiper. The detection portion is disposed at a position opposing a wiping range of the wiper on the windshield glass. The interior trim member covers the peripheral information detection sensor from the vehicle cabin interior side thereof.

Claims

1. An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising:

an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member being configured to;

cover, from a vehicle cabin interior side, both a body panel structuring a vehicle body of the vehicle, and the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle, and

the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein

the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and

the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.

2. The arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral information detection sensor is assembled to the interior trim member and made integral with the interior trim member.

3. The arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein a detection surface of the detection portion abuts against a surface of the windshield glass at the vehicle cabin interior side.

4. The arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the interior trim member is formed by a material having electrical conductivity such that electromagnetic waves generated at the vehicle cabin interior side that are directed toward the peripheral information detection sensor are blocked.

5. The arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral information detection sensor is disposed closer to a leftmost side of the vehicle or a rightmost side of the vehicle than to the center of the vehicle.

6. A self-driving vehicle comprising:

an arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising;

an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member being configured to;

cover, from a vehicle cabin interior side, both a body panel structuring a vehicle body of the vehicle, and the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,

the peripheral information detection sensor, and

a control unit that controls running of the vehicle in accordance with peripheral information detected by the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein

the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and

the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.

7. An arrangement structure for a peripheral information detection sensor, the arrangement structure comprising:

an interior trim member of a vehicle, the interior trim member including a portion formed to cover a body panel structuring a vehicle body from the vehicle cabin interior side, and a portion formed to cover, from the vehicle cabin interior side, the peripheral information detection sensor disposed at a position such that a detection portion of the peripheral information detection sensor can detect peripheral information of the vehicle through a windshield glass of the vehicle within a wiping range of a wiper disposed on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle; and

the peripheral information detection sensor, wherein

the peripheral information detection sensor is configured to detect the peripheral information of the vehicle through the windshield glass of the vehicle within the wiping range of the wiper disposed on the vehicle cabin exterior side of the windshield glass of the vehicle,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is different from the windshield glass,

the body panel structuring the vehicle body is a pillar of two pillars in which the windshield glass is disposed between, and

the interior trim member is a front or rear pillar garnish.