ARRANGEMENT STRUCTURE FOR VICINITY INFORMATION DETECTION SENSOR

• US 20160297437A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: SUGIE, Kazuki, SAKABE, Motoya, HARA, Yasuhiro, SAKAKIBARA, Kosuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,144,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/00 Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of vibration dampers adjusting damping effect B60G17/06; vibration dampers per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/17 forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• 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

A sensor arrangement structure includes a vehicle framework member having a hollow cross-section, a vicinity information detection sensor and a cover. The vicinity information detection sensor is attached to the vehicle framework member. At least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member. A detection portion that detects vicinity information of a vehicle is oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member. The cover is disposed to oppose the detection portion and allows transmission of a detection carrier that is detected by the detection portion.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement structure comprising:

a vehicle framework member having a hollow cross-section;

a vicinity information detection sensor attached to the vehicle framework member, at least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor being disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member, and a detection portion of the vicinity information detection sensor that detects vicinity information of a vehicle being oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member; and

a cover that is disposed to oppose the detection portion and that allows transmission of a detection carrier that is detected by the detection portion.

2. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle framework member includes an insertion hole into which the vicinity information detection sensor extends, and

the vicinity information detection sensor is mounted to a mounting bracket that is joined to a hole edge of the insertion hole and that covers a portion of the insertion hole.

3. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein

an entirety of the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member,

an opening is provided in the vehicle framework member at a location opposing the detection portion, and

the opening is covered by the cover.

4. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 3, further comprising an installation bracket that spans across an interior of the vehicle framework member, wherein the vicinity information detection sensor is mounted to the vehicle framework member via the installation bracket.

5. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, further comprising a shock-absorbing member provided between the vicinity information detection sensor and the vehicle framework member.

6. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed at a joining portion between a roof side rail and a center pillar of the vehicle.

7. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle framework member is formed of a material having electrical conductivity.

8. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of radio waves.

9. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of ultrasonic waves.

10. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of visible light.

11. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of laser light.

12. A self-driving vehicle comprising:

the sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1; and

a processor, coupled to the vicinity information detection sensor, and that controls traveling of the vehicle based on the vicinity information of the vehicle detected by the vicinity information detection sensor.