Apparatus with a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle

• US 10,620,308 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2019
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Breuer, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Armand, Marc Anthony
• Application Number:
  US16/359,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20190293783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids

Abstract

An apparatus includes a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle. The apparatus is mountable inside of a vehicle on a pane, in particular a windshield. The sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor, in the capture direction of the sensors, at the sensor assembly. The stray light baffle has a first side wall that is made of a plastics material, and a second side wall that is a frame with a fabric covering. The second side wall is arranged in front of the second sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle,

wherein the apparatus is mountable inside of a vehicle on a pane,

wherein the sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein the stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor in a capture direction of the sensors at the sensor assembly,

wherein the stray light baffle has a first side wall and a second side wall,

wherein the first side wall is made of a plastics material and the second side wall is a frame with a fabric covering,

wherein the second side wall is arranged in front of the second sensor, and

wherein only the fabric covering of the second side wall is arranged in front of and intersecting a sensing axis of the second sensor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor is a radar sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the radar sensor and the optical sensor are arranged next to one another in a horizontal direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fabric of the fabric covering is a velvet.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pane is a windshield of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor is a camera.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a radar sensor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fabric covering causes no more than a negligibly small attenuation of radar waves to be sensed by the radar sensor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured so that a sensing axis of the first sensor and the sensing axis of the second sensor are both oriented facing forward through the pane when the apparatus is mounted inside of the vehicle on the pane.

11. An apparatus comprising a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle,

wherein the apparatus is mountable inside of a vehicle on a pane,

wherein the sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein the stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor in a capture direction of the sensors at the sensor assembly,

wherein the stray light baffle has a first side wall and a second side wall,

wherein the first side wall is made of a plastics material and the second side wall is a frame with a fabric covering,

wherein the second side wall is arranged in front of the second sensor, and

wherein a sensing axis of the second sensor extends from the second sensor forwardly through only the fabric covering and not the frame of the second side wall, thence through a space between the first and second side walls, and thence through a front aperture of the stray light baffle bounded between the first and second side walls.

12. An apparatus comprising a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle,

wherein the apparatus is mountable inside of a vehicle on a pane,

wherein the sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein the stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor in a capture direction of the sensors at the sensor assembly,

wherein the stray light baffle has a first side wall and a second side wall,

wherein the first side wall is made of a plastics material and the second side wall is a frame with a fabric covering,

wherein the second side wall is arranged in front of the second sensor, and

wherein the frame forms only a periphery of the second side wall, the fabric covering spans the frame to cover a central area bounded by the frame around the periphery of the second side wall, and the central area of the second side wall consists of only the fabric covering.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second side wall is arranged intersecting a sensing axis of the second sensor.