Lidar sensor unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a lidar sensor unit, comprising a housing unit which is designed to surround a lidar sensor, the housing unit having at least one first connection point and one second connection point, the housing unit, the first connection point and the second connection point being formed in one piece, the first connection point and the second connection point are configured to form a form-fit, force-fit and / or material-fit connection with the cleaning system, and the first connection point and the second connection point are configured to position the cleaning system in a predetermined orientation relative to the surface of the housing unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lidar sensor unit, a method for assembling a lidar sensor unit, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Currently, there are a large number of different solutions for cleaning the sensor surfaces in the field of vehicles. Due to the increasing number of sensor surfaces to be cleaned and the increasing quality requirements, the demand for innovative and robust cleaning methods for lidar sensors continues to increase.

[0003] The continuous weight reduction for reducing consumption and the increasing competition in the field of vehicles have led to cost pressure, thus more strongly demanding cheaper and more efficient components for vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The lidar sensor unit according to the invention having the features of claim 1 has the advantage over known lidar sensor units that the weight of the lidar sensor unit can be significantly reduced. Here, the cleaning system of the lidar sensor unit does not require significant inherent stiffness because the necessary stiffness can be provided by the housing unit of the lidar sensor. In order to be able to further maintain the function of the cleaning system, the housing unit has corresponding connection points so that the forces that may occur due to the displacement of the wiper arm can be directly transmitted to the housing unit.

[0005] This is achieved according to the invention in that the lidar sensor unit has a housing unit. The housing unit is configured to surround the lidar sensor. The housing unit includes at least one first connection point and a second connection point, wherein the housing unit, the first connection point, and the second connection point are integrally formed, wherein the first connection point and the second connection point are configured for a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting connection with the cleaning system, and wherein the first connection point and the second connection point are configured to position the cleaning system in a predetermined orientation relative to the surface of the housing unit.

[0006] In other words, the housing unit has two connection points that position the cleaning system relative to the housing unit such that the wiper arm of the cleaning system cleans the field of view of the lidar sensor. Here, the first connection point and the second connection point can be integrally formed with the housing unit, for example, by injection molding. Further preferably, the first connection point and the second connection point have sufficient stiffness to be able to transmit possible forces from the wiper arm to the housing unit. Thus, two holes or recesses of the cleaning system can be plugged onto these two connection points to fasten the cleaning system to the housing unit.

[0007] The dependent claims show preferred improvements of the present invention.

[0008] Further preferably, the housing unit has a third connection point, wherein the third connection point is provided for positioning the drive unit of the cleaning system in a position-fixed manner.

[0009] The advantage of this embodiment is that, since a holding part is correspondingly provided for the drive unit, the manufacturing cost of the housing unit can be further reduced and the assembly process can also be simplified.

[0010] Preferably, the housing unit has a fourth connection point and a fifth connection point, wherein the fourth connection point and the fifth connection point are provided for positioning the cross beam in a pre-determined position relative to the surface.

[0011] The advantage of this embodiment is that the cross beam for displacing the wiper arm can be arranged in a pre-determined position relative to the surface at low cost, for example by insertion.

[0012] Further preferably, the cleaning system of the lidar sensor unit has a driver, a drive system and a wiper arm, wherein the driver drives the drive system to displace the wiper arm, and wherein the cleaning system is arranged at the first connection point and the second connection point.

[0013] The advantage of this embodiment is that the lidar sensor or the housing side of the lidar sensor unit can be cleaned by means of the wiper arm, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the lidar sensor.

[0014] Further preferably, the wiper arm is arranged at a pre-determined distance relative to the first connection point and the second connection point, so that the wiper arm cleans the field of view of the lidar sensor.

[0015] The advantage of this embodiment is that the pre-determined distance between the wiper arm and the connection point can be selected such that a pre-determined force acts on the wiper arm.

[0016] Further preferably, the form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material-fitting connection is constructed by means of a snap-lock and / or a threaded connection.

[0017] The advantage of this embodiment is that the cleaning system can be loosened or fixed with typical tools worldwide, and thus the replaceability can be further improved.

[0018] Preferably, the first connection point and the second connection point have a pre-determined diameter, which is provided for keeping the cleaning system in a pre-determined orientation when environmental influences act on the cleaning system.

[0019] The advantage of this embodiment is that the forces occurring in the case of strong winds, rain, etc. can be conducted to the housing unit via the wiper arm and the connection points, so that the cleaning system does not have to have a high stiffness or only needs to have a low stiffness, enabling a significant reduction in the total weight of the lidar sensor unit.

[0020] Further preferably, the first connection point and the second connection point have a main extension direction, wherein the main extension direction is arranged substantially parallel to the field of view of the lidar sensor.

[0021] The advantage of this embodiment is that by simply plugging the cleaning system onto the housing unit, the wiper arm is set in the correct orientation relative to the field of view of the lidar sensor. Thus, the possible steps of aligning the wiper arm are omitted.

[0022] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for assembling a lidar sensor unit as described above and below, the method having the steps:

[0023] - providing a housing unit having a first connection point and a second connection point,

[0024] - assembling the cleaning system at the first connection point and the second connection point for constructing a form-fit, force-fit and / or material-fit connection.

[0025] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle having a lidar sensor unit as described above and below. Description of the Drawings

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 and Figure 2 a lidar sensor unit according to an embodiment is shown,

[0028] Figure 3 a vehicle according to an embodiment is shown,

[0029] Figure 4 a flow chart for explaining the steps of a method according to an embodiment is shown. Detailed Embodiments

[0030] Preferably in all the figures, all identical components, elements and / or units can be provided with the same reference numerals.

[0031] Figure 1Shows a lidar sensor unit 10 according to an embodiment. The lidar sensor unit 10 here includes a housing unit 12 that surrounds or encapsulates the lidar sensor 14. The housing unit 12 includes a first connection point 16 and a second connection point 18. Here, the first connection point 16, the second connection point 18, and the housing unit 12 are integrally constructed. In addition, the first connection point 16 and the second connection point 18 are provided for a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting connection 20 with the cleaning system 22. In addition, the first connection point 16 and the second connection point 18 are provided for positioning the cleaning system 22 in a predetermined orientation 24 relative to the surface 26 of the housing unit 12.

[0032] Further preferably, the housing unit 12 has a third connection point 28, wherein the third connection point 28 is provided for positioning the drive unit 30 of the cleaning system 22 in a position-fixed manner.

[0033] Further preferably, the housing unit 12 has a fourth connection point 32 and a fifth connection point 34 that position the crossbeam 36 in a predetermined position relative to the surface 26.

[0034] Further preferably, the housing unit 12 has a surface 26. The field of view 44 of the lidar sensor 14 is particularly arranged at the surface 26.

[0035] Figure 2 Shows a lidar sensor unit 10 according to an embodiment. The lidar sensor unit 10 includes a housing unit 12 at which a first connection point 16 and a second connection point 18 are integrally arranged. The cleaning system 22 is plugged onto the first connection point 16 and the second connection point 18 in order to thereby form a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting connection 20. Thus, the cleaning system 22 is arranged in a predetermined orientation 24 relative to the surface 26 of the housing unit 12. The cleaning system 22 here preferably includes a drive 38, a drive system 40, and a wiper arm 42. Here, the drive 38 can drive the drive system 40, such as for example a belt drive, etc., in order to displace the wiper arm 42 on the surface 26.

[0036] Figure 3 Shows a vehicle 200 according to an embodiment. The vehicle 200 here has the lidar sensor unit 10 as described above and below.

[0037] Figure 4 Shows a flowchart for explaining the steps of a method 100 according to an embodiment. The method 100 for assembling the lidar sensor unit 10 as described above and below here has the steps:

[0038] - Provide a housing unit 12 of S1 having a first connection point 16 and a second connection point 18,

[0039] - Assemble S2 the cleaning system 22 at the first connection point 16 and the second connection point 18 for constructing a form-fit, force-fit and / or material-fit connection 20.

Claims

1. A laser radar sensor unit (10), comprising: a housing unit (12) which is designed to enclose the lidar sensor (14), wherein the housing unit (12) has at least one first connection point (16) and a second connection point (18), wherein the housing unit (12), the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) are designed as one piece, - wherein the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) are provided for constructing a form-locking, force-locking and / or material-locking connection (20) with a cleaning system (22), wherein the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) are provided for positioning the cleaning system (22) in a predetermined orientation (24) relative to a surface (26) of the housing unit (12).

2. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein: The housing unit (12) has a third connection point (28), wherein the third connection point (28) is provided for stationarily positioning a drive unit (30) of the cleaning system (22).

3. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing unit (12) has a fourth connection point (32) and a fifth connection point (34), wherein the fourth connection point (32) and the fifth connection point (34) are designed to position the crossbeam (36) in a predetermined position relative to the surface (26).

4. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The cleaning system (22) of the lidar sensor unit (10) comprises a drive (38), a drive system (40) and a wiper arm (42), wherein the drive (38) drives the drive system (40) in order to displace the wiper arm (42), wherein the cleaning system (22) is arranged at the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18).

5. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 4, wherein: The wiper arm (42) is arranged at a predetermined distance from the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18), so that the wiper arm (42) cleans the field of view (44) of the lidar sensor (14).

6. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The form-fitting, force-fitting and / or integrally bonded connection (20) is formed by means of a snap-fit ​​and / or a screw connection.

7. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) have a predetermined diameter which is provided to hold the cleaning system (22) in a predetermined orientation (24) when environmental influences act on the cleaning system (22).

8. The lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) have a main extension direction, wherein the main extension direction is arranged substantially parallel to a field of view (44) of the lidar sensor (14).

9. A method (100) for assembling a lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - providing (S1) a housing unit (12) having a first connection point (16) and a second connection point (18), - installing (S2) a cleaning system (22) at the first connection point (16) and the second connection point (18) in order to form a positive-locking, non-positive-locking and / or material-locking connection (20).

10. A vehicle (200) comprising a lidar sensor unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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