Lidar system for vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a laser radar system used for a vehicle, comprising a housing provided with an opening; a lidar configured to slide in a front-back direction within the housing and selectively deploy to the outside through the opening; guide brackets disposed on both side surfaces of the lidar and configured to guide sliding movement of the lidar; and a locking unit configured to prevent the lidar from being pushed into the housing by an external force in a state in which the lidar is deployed. The lidar for the vehicle can prevent the lidar from being contaminated only when operation of the lidar is needed by deploying the lidar outside the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present utility model relates to a lidar system for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a lidar system for a vehicle mounted on a structure of the vehicle. Background Art

[0002] With the development of vehicle technology, the demand for functions such as automatic parking and autonomous driving is increasing day by day. To implement these functions, the demand for lidar (LiDAR) is also increasing. Generally, the lidar is mounted on a structure such as a bumper or a grille of a vehicle and detects an object or a structure by sensing the front and rear of the vehicle. However, since the lidar is mounted in a state of being exposed to the outside of the vehicle, foreign substances such as dust may adhere to the surface when the vehicle moves. Therefore, problems such as a reduction in the measurement accuracy of the sensor and the non-recognition of the surrounding environment itself occur. Therefore, it is necessary to improve these problems. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] The present utility model aims to provide a lidar system for a vehicle, which can prevent the lidar from being contaminated by deploying the lidar outside the vehicle only when the lidar needs to operate (such as in an autonomous driving mode).

[0004] The problems to be solved by the present utility model are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present utility model, there is provided a lidar system for a vehicle, including: a housing having an opening; a lidar configured to slide in the housing in the front-rear direction and selectively deployed to the outside through the opening; a guide bracket provided on two side surfaces of the lidar and configured to guide the sliding movement of the lidar; and a locking unit configured to prevent the lidar from being pushed into the housing by an external force in a state where the lidar is deployed.

[0006] Each of the guide brackets may include a track extending toward the opening in the front-rear direction, and a sliding groove is formed on a surface of the track facing the lidar, and the locking unit is connected to the sliding groove.

[0007] The locking unit may include: a support fixed to the rear surface of the lidar; a stopper having a locking pin inserted into the sliding groove, and the stopper is rotatably coupled to the support; and a leaf spring configured to rotate the stopper by applying an elastic force to the stopper via a free end in a state where a fixed end is fixed to the support.

[0008] The stopper may include: a first body coupled to a coupling hole formed in a support member through a rotation shaft provided on one surface of the first body; and a second body extending from the first body. The first body may have: a contact surface that contacts a free end of a leaf spring in an elastically deformed state; and a locking groove into which the free end of the leaf spring is inserted so that the elastic deformation of the leaf spring is released, and the second body has a locking pin on the other surface of the first body opposite to the one surface.

[0009] The sliding groove may be divided into: a linear forward movement section whose lower surface extends horizontally forward; a locking section that descends from the end of the forward movement section; and an unlocking section that extends forward while inclining upward from the locking section, and the sliding groove may be divided into: a linear backward movement section whose upper surface extends horizontally backward from the unlocking section; and a reset section that extends backward while inclining downward from the backward movement section and faces the forward movement section.

[0010] The stopper may be configured such that: in the forward movement section, the locking pin linearly moves forward by the elastic force applied to the first body from the leaf spring; in the locking section, the second body rotates downward and thus the locking pin is locked and fixed; and in the unlocking section, the second body rotates upward and thus the locking and fixing of the locking pin are released.

[0011] In the unlocking section, the free end of the leaf spring may be inserted into the locking groove, and the second body may maintain an upward rotation state.

[0012] The stopper may be configured such that: in the backward movement section, the locking pin linearly moves backward in the upward rotation state of the second body; and in the reset section, the second body rotates downward, and thus the locking pin is disposed between the reset section and the forward movement section.

[0013] In the reset section, the free end of the leaf spring may maintain an elastically deformed state by leaving the locking groove and contacting the contact surface.

[0014] The lidar may have track holes coupled to tracks on two side surfaces.

[0015] The lidar system for a vehicle provided by the present utility model can prevent the lidar from being contaminated by deploying the lidar outside the vehicle only when lidar operation is required (such as in an autonomous driving mode). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a view schematically showing a lidar system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0017] Figure 2is a view schematically showing components of a lidar system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a view schematically showing a first link unit and a gear unit connected to a door;

[0019] Figure 4 is a view schematically showing a lower cover of a housing including a guide groove and a sliding groove;

[0020] Figure 5A and Figure 5B is a view schematically showing states in which a door closes an opening and opens the opening respectively by operation of a first link unit;

[0021] Figure 6 is a view schematically showing a lidar, a locking unit, and a guide bracket;

[0022] Figure 7 is a view schematically showing a sliding groove provided on a track of a guide bracket;

[0023] Figure 8 is a view schematically showing a locking unit connected to a sliding groove;

[0024] Figure 9 is a view schematically showing a locking unit coupled to a lidar;

[0025] Figure 10 is a view schematically showing a stopper moving and rotating along a sliding groove;

[0026] Figure 11 is a view showing operations of a second lower gear in an operating section and an idling section of a first lower gear;

[0027] Figure 12 is a view showing operations of a second lower gear and a second upper gear according to rotations of a first lower gear and a first upper gear;

[0028] Figure 13 is an operation view showing a state in which a door opens an opening; and

[0029] Figure 14 is an operation view showing a state in which a lidar is deployed to the outside through an opening.

[0030] Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described or provided, the same or similar reference numerals can be understood to refer to the same or similar elements, features, and structures. The drawings may not be to scale, and for clarity, illustration, and convenience, the relative dimensions, scales, and descriptions of elements in the drawings may be enlarged. Detailed Implementation Modes

[0031] The following detailed implementation modes are provided to assist readers in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein. However, after understanding the disclosure of this application, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein will be apparent. For example, the operation sequences described herein are merely examples. Except for operations that must occur in a specific order, the described operation sequences are not limited to those set forth herein but can be changed, as will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0032] The features described herein can be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Instead, the examples described herein are provided only to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein that will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0033] Referring to the following detailed implementation modes and the accompanying drawings, the advantages and features of the present disclosure and the methods for achieving the advantages and features will become apparent. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the implementation modes disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms. The implementation modes of the present disclosure are provided so that the present disclosure is fully disclosed and those of ordinary skill in the art can fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure will be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. At the same time, the terms used in this specification are used to explain the implementation modes and not to limit the present disclosure.

[0034] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used herein to describe components. Each of these terms is not used to define the nature, order, or sequence of the corresponding component but is only used to distinguish the corresponding component from other components. For example, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

[0035] Throughout the specification, when a component is described as "connected to" or "coupled to" another component, it may be directly "connected to" or "coupled to" the other component, or there may be one or more other components in between. In contrast, when an element is described as "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element, there are no other elements in between.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments, when any one element is described as being formed on or under another element, such description includes cases where the two elements are formed in direct contact with each other and cases where the two elements are in indirect contact with each other through one or more other elements interposed between the two elements. In addition, when one element is described as being formed on or under another element, such description may include cases where one element is formed on the upper side or the lower side with respect to the other element.

[0037] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include the plural forms. It should also be understood that when used herein, the terms "comprises / comprising" and / or "includes / including" refer to the presence of the stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in all the drawings, the same or corresponding components will be denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0039] Figures 1 to 12 Schematically shown is a lidar system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention and components constituting the lidar system for a vehicle.

[0040] The lidar system 1 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can be mounted on the structure of a vehicle (not shown). For example, the lidar system 1 can be mounted on the back surface of a grille, a bumper cover, etc. of the vehicle.

[0041] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the lidar system 1 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing 100, a door 200, a lidar 300, a first link unit 400, a second link unit 500, and a gear unit 600.

[0042] As Figure 2 shown, the housing 100 may have a substantially box-shaped structure with an internal space. The door 200, the lidar 300, the first link unit 400, the second link unit 500, and the gear unit 600 may be accommodated in this internal space.

[0043] An opening 111 may be formed in the front cover 110 which is the front part of the housing 100, and first guide grooves 121 and 131 may be respectively formed in the upper cover 120 and the lower cover 130. In addition, a second guide groove 132 may be formed in the lower cover 130.

[0044] The housing 100 can be arranged such that, in a state where it is mounted on a grille or a bumper cover, the opening 111 is exposed through the grille or the bumper cover.

[0045] The door 200 and the lidar 300 can be disposed inside the housing 100 and configured to move in combination with each other to be alternately disposed at the opening 111.

[0046] That is, when the vehicle is not in the autonomous driving mode, the lidar 300 is stored inside the housing 100, and the opening 111 is closed by setting the door 200 at the opening 111, thereby preventing the lidar 300 from being contaminated or damaged by external foreign objects. Then, when the vehicle switches to the autonomous driving mode, the door 200 opens the opening 111, and the lidar 300 stored inside the housing 100 is disposed at the opening 111 to be deployed to the outside through the opening 111.

[0047] The door 200 is disposed in the housing 100 and configured to slide along the first guide grooves 121 and 131 to selectively open or close the opening 111.

[0048] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the door 200 can have guide pins 210 respectively connected to the first guide grooves 121 and 131 located on the upper surface and the lower surface.

[0049] The guide pins 210 can be arranged to protrude from the upper surface and the lower surface of the door 200 respectively, and the door 200 can slide along the trajectories provided by the first guide grooves 121 and 131 through the guide pins 210.

[0050] The first guide grooves 121 and 131 can include: a first moving section L1 linearly arranged in the left - right direction behind the opening 111; and a second moving section L2 curvingly extending from the first moving section L1 toward the opening 111 in the front - rear direction.

[0051] Thus, as Figure 5A and Figure 5B shown, in a state where the door 200 is disposed at the opening 111 to close the opening 111, the door 200 can open the opening 111 by moving backward toward the inside of the housing 100 along the second moving section L2 and moving right (or left) along the first moving section L1, and the door 200 can be hidden on the back surface of the front cover 110. In addition, the door 200 can close the opening 111 by moving left (or right) along the first moving section L1 and moving forward toward the outside of the housing 100 along the second moving section L2.

[0052] The door 200 can have a stop protrusion 220 on each of its two side surfaces.

[0053] The stopper protrusion 220 can be used to prevent the door 200 from moving further forward by being set to contact the back of the front cover 110 when the door 200 is set at the opening 111 to close the opening 111.

[0054] The lidar 300 is configured to slide in the front - rear direction within the housing 100 and be selectively deployed to the outside through the opening 111.

[0055] As Figures 6 to 10 shown, the guide brackets 140 can be provided within the housing 100 to enable the lidar 300 to slide back and forth. A pair of guide brackets 140 can be provided, which are respectively provided on the left - hand surface and the right - hand surface of the lidar 300 and are configured to guide the sliding movement of the lidar 300.

[0056] In addition, the locking unit 800 can be attached to the lidar 300, and the locking unit 800 can be configured to engage with the guide brackets 140 to guide the sliding movement of the lidar 300.

[0057] First, each guide bracket 140 can have a track 141 extending toward the opening 111 in the front - rear direction. In addition, the lidar 300 can have track holes 310 located on two side surfaces and coupled to the track 141.

[0058] Each of the track holes 310 has a structure that is open in the front - rear direction, such that the lidar 300 can reciprocate in the front - rear direction along the trajectory provided by the track 141 in a state where the track 141 is coupled to the track holes 310.

[0059] The sliding groove 142 to which the locking unit 800 is connected can be formed on the surface of the track 141 facing the lidar 300.

[0060] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the sliding groove 142 can be formed in such a structure that the gap between the upper surface and the lower surface is not constant and is variable along the longitudinal direction of the track 141.

[0061] Specifically, the sliding groove 142 can be divided into: a straight forward - moving section M1, whose lower surface extends horizontally forward; a locking section M2, which descends from the end of the forward - moving section M1 to form a stepped structure; and an unlocking section M3, which extends forward while inclining upward from the locking section M2. In addition, the sliding groove 142 can be divided into: a straight backward - moving section M4, whose upper surface extends horizontally backward from the unlocking section M3; and a reset section M5, which extends backward while inclining downward from the backward - moving section M4 and faces the forward - moving section M1.

[0062] The locking unit 800 is attached to the rear surface of the lidar 300 so as to prevent the lidar 300 from being pushed into the housing 100 by an external force in a state where the lidar 300 is deployed.

[0063] The locking unit 800 may include a support member 810, a stopper 820, and a leaf spring 830.

[0064] The support member 810 has a structure that is roughly bent into an "L" shape and may be fixed to the rear surface of the lidar 300 and disposed parallel to the side surface of the lidar 300. That is, the support member 810 may be fixed to the lidar 300 in a structure that extends rearward along the side surface of the lidar 300.

[0065] The stopper 820 may be rotatably coupled to the support member 810. In addition, in a state where the fixed end of the leaf spring 830 is fixed to the support member 810, the leaf spring 830 may rotate the stopper 820 by applying an elastic force to the stopper 820 via the free end.

[0066] In an example, the stopper 820 may include a first body 820A and a second body 820B extending from the first body 820A.

[0067] The first body 820A has a rotation shaft 821 on one surface and may be coupled to a coupling hole 811 formed in the support member 810 through the rotation shaft 821.

[0068] In addition, the first body 820A may have: a contact surface 824 that contacts the free end of the leaf spring 830 in an elastically deformed state; and a locking groove 823 into which the free end of the leaf spring 830 is inserted so that the elastic deformation of the leaf spring 830 is released. That is, in a state where the free end of the leaf spring 830 contacts the contact surface 824 of the first body 820A, the second body 820B receives a force that causes it to rotate toward the lower surface of the lidar 300 from the elastic force applied by the leaf spring 830, and in a state where the free end of the second body 820B is inserted into the locking groove 823, the elastic deformation of the leaf spring 830 is released so that the second body 820B does not receive the elastic force. In this case, the rotation of the first body 820A is restricted by being caught by the leaf spring 830.

[0069] The second body 820B may have a locking pin 822 that is inserted into the sliding groove 142 on the other surface opposite to the above-mentioned one surface.

[0070] As the stopper 820 slides along the track 141 together with the lidar 300, the locking pin 822 moves within the sliding groove 142.

[0071] Reference Figure 10, as the lidar 300 moves forward, in the forward movement section M1, in a state where a resilient force is applied from the leaf spring 830 to the first main body 820A, the locking pin 822 moves linearly forward from its normal position.

[0072] In addition, in the locking section M2, the second main body 820B rotates downward, and thus the locking pin 822 is locked and fixed to the stepped structure. When the locking pin 822 is locked and fixed in this way, the lidar 300 is prevented from being pushed backward by an external force.

[0073] Next, as the lidar 300 moves forward partially, in the unlocking section M3, the second main body 820B rotates upward, and thus the locking and fixing of the locking pin 822 are released. In this case, in the unlocking section M3, the free end of the leaf spring 830 is inserted into the locking groove 823, and the second main body 820B remains in the upward rotation state.

[0074] Then, when the lidar 300 moves backward, in the backward movement section M4, the locking pin 822 moves linearly backward in the upward rotation state of the second main body 820B.

[0075] Then, in the reset section M5, the second main body 820B rotates downward, and thus the locking pin 822 is set between the reset section and the forward movement section M1. The locking pin 822 returns to its normal position, and the stopper 820 switches to its initial state.

[0076] In this case, in the reset section M5, as the first main body 820A rotates together with the second main body 820B, the free end of the leaf spring 830 leaves the locking groove 823 and contacts the contact surface 824, so that the free end remains in an elastically deformed state.

[0077] In this way, during the process of deploying the lidar 300 forward, the locking pin 822 moves along the lower surface of the sliding groove 142 and is locked to the stepped structure of the sliding groove 142. Therefore, the stopper 820 can prevent the lidar 300 from being pushed backward by an external force. In addition, during the process of storing the lidar 300 to the rear, as the locking pin 822 moves along the upper surface of the sliding groove 142, the stopper 820 can switch to its initial state.

[0078] The sliding movement of the door 200 and the lidar 300 can be achieved by the first link unit 400, the second link unit 500, and the gear unit 600.

[0079] The first link unit 400 can be connected to the door 200 and is configured to slide the door 200.

[0080] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the first link unit 400 may include a guide link 410, a connecting link 420, a first door driving link 430, and a second door driving link 440.

[0081] A pair of guide links 410 may be provided, and one end of each guide link of the pair may be rotatably connected to one side and the other side of the bottom surface of the door 200 relative to the guide pins 210, respectively, and the other end of the pair of guide links may be provided with sliding pins 411 and connected to a second guide groove 132 provided in the lower cover 130 of the housing 100. Each sliding pin 411 may be configured to protrude downward from the lower surface of the guide link at the other end of the guide link 410.

[0082] One end and the other end of the connecting link 420 may be rotatably connected to the other end of a pair of guide links 410, respectively. In this case, the connecting link 420 may be connected to the other surface of the guide link 410 opposite to the surface on which the sliding pin 411 is provided at the other end of the guide link 410. That is, the connecting link 420 may be connected to the upper surface of the guide link 410 at the other end of the guide link 410.

[0083] The first door driving link 430 may be connected to the gear unit 600 and rotated by the power of the actuator 700 transmitted via the gear unit 600. In an example, one end of the first door driving link 430 may be connected to the second lower gear 640A of the gear unit 600 and rotated together with the second lower gear 640A using the second lower gear 640A as a rotation axis.

[0084] One end of the second door driving link 440 is rotatably connected to the other end of the first door driving link 430, and the other end of the second door driving link 440 is rotatably connected to the connecting link 420.

[0085] The second door driving link 440 converts the rotational movement of the first door driving link 430 into a linear movement in the left - right direction relative to the opening 111 by cooperating with the connecting link 420, and causes the guide link 410 and the connecting link 420 to linearly reciprocate along the second guide groove 132, thereby realizing the sliding movement of the door 200 in the left - right direction. In this case, the door 200 slides while maintaining the state where its front surface faces forward.

[0086] The second link unit 500 may be connected to the lidar 300 and configured to slide the lidar 300.

[0087] As Figure 3 shown, the second link unit 500 may include a first lidar driving link 510 and a second lidar driving link 520.

[0088] The first lidar drive link 510 can be connected to the gear unit 600 and rotated by the power of the actuator 700 transmitted via the gear unit 600. In an example, one end of the first lidar drive link 510 can be connected to the second upper gear 640B of the gear unit 600 and rotate with the second upper gear 640B using the second upper gear 640B as a rotation axis.

[0089] One end of the second lidar drive link 520 is rotatably connected to the other end of the first lidar drive link 510, and the other end of the second lidar drive link 520 is rotatably connected to the lidar 300.

[0090] The second lidar drive link 520 realizes the sliding movement of the lidar 300 in the front - rear direction by converting the rotational movement of the first lidar drive link 510 into a linear movement in the front - rear direction with respect to the opening 111.

[0091] The gear unit 600 can be configured to transmit the power of the actuator 700 to the first link unit 400 and the second link unit 500.

[0092] The gear unit 600 can include a first gear unit 601 and a second gear unit 602.

[0093] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the first gear unit 601 can be rotated by being connected to the actuator 700, and the second gear unit 602 can transmit the power of the actuator 700 to the first link unit 400 and the second link unit 500 by being connected to the first gear unit 601.

[0094] The first gear unit 601 can include a first shaft 610 connected to the actuator 700, a first lower gear 620A provided at the lower part of the first shaft 610, and a first upper gear 620B provided at the upper part of the first shaft 610. The first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B are assembled and fixed to the first shaft 610 and configured to rotate integrally with the first shaft 610.

[0095] The second gear unit 602 can include a second shaft 630 provided parallel to the first shaft 610, a second lower gear 640A provided at the lower part of the second shaft 630, and a second upper gear 640B provided at the upper part of the second shaft 630. The second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B are each rotatably connected to the second shaft 630 and configured to rotate independently.

[0096] The first lower gear 620A and the second lower gear 640A can be engaged with each other, and the first upper gear 620B and the second upper gear 640B can be engaged with each other.

[0097] The second lower gear 640A can be connected to the first link unit 400, and the second upper gear 640B can be connected to the second link unit 500. Specifically, the second lower gear 640A can be connected to the first door drive link 430 of the first link unit 400, and the second upper gear 640B can be connected to the first lidar drive link 510 of the second link unit 500. In this case, the first door drive link 430 can be assembled into the second lower gear 640A to form a binding, and the first lidar drive link 510 can be assembled into the second upper gear 640B to form a binding.

[0098] One end of the first shaft 610 is connected to the actuator 700 and rotates, and the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B rotate integrally with the first shaft 610. In addition, the second lower gear 640A engages with the first lower gear 620A and rotates around the second shaft 630, and the second upper gear 640B engages with the first upper gear 620B and rotates around the second shaft 630.

[0099] The outer peripheral surfaces of the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B can be respectively divided into an operation section R1 where the first teeth 621 are formed and an idle section R2 where the rims 622 are formed. Specifically, the first teeth 621 can be formed in a section of a part of the outer peripheral surface of each of the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B, and the rims 622 can be formed in the remaining part. In addition, a part of the section where the first teeth 621 are formed can correspond to the operation section R1, and the remaining section where the rims 622 are formed can correspond to the idle section R2.

[0100] The rim 622 can be formed in a structure that radially protrudes from the upper part of the first teeth 621. That is, the rim 622 can be positioned at a higher level than the first teeth 621. In addition, the rim 622 can be protruding and can have a curved surface that is arc-shaped.

[0101] Each of the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B can include second teeth 641 formed on its outer peripheral surface and engaged with the first teeth 621, and can include a contact member 642 that contacts the rim 622. Specifically, the second teeth 641 can be formed along the outer peripheral surface of each of the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B, and the contact member 642 can be formed in a structure that radially protrudes from the upper part of the second teeth 641.

[0102] In an example, at least one contact member 642 may be disposed in a section that is a part of the outer peripheral surface of each of the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B. This example shows two contact members 642 arranged at a predetermined interval, but is not limited thereto. Further, the contact member 642 may have an arcuate recessed and curved outer surface corresponding to the shape of the outer surface of the rim 622.

[0103] As the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B rotate, in the operation section R1, the first teeth 621 engage with the second teeth 641 of the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B, causing the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B to rotate. That is, when the first teeth 621 engage with the second teeth 641 in the operation section R1, the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B rotate together with the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B.

[0104] In addition, the rim 622 of each of the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B contacts the contact member 642 and slides in the idle section R2, so that the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B do not rotate. That is, in the idle section R2, when the second teeth 641 do not engage with the first teeth 621 and the contact member 642 and the rim 622 slide against each other in a state of being in contact with each other, the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B do not rotate, and the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B idle.

[0105] Meanwhile, the operation section R1 in the first lower gear 620A and the operation section R1 in the first upper gear 620B may be arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction. Specifically, when viewed approximately from above the first shaft 610, the operation section R1 provided with the first teeth 621 of the first lower gear 620A and the operation section R1 provided with the first teeth 621 of the first upper gear 620B may be arranged not to overlap with each other but to be offset. For example, the operation sections may be arranged such that, based on the clockwise direction, the operation section R1 of the first upper gear 620B starts after the operation section R1 of the first lower gear 620A ends.

[0106] Therefore, as Figure 12 shown, when the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B rotate counterclockwise about the first shaft 610, the second lower gear 640A and the second upper gear 640B rotate sequentially through the operation section R1 of the first lower gear 620A and the operation section R1 of the first upper gear 620B.

[0107] That is, the second lower gear 640A that meets the operation section R1 of the first lower gear 620A rotates together with the first lower gear 620A, and the second upper gear 640B that meets the idle section R2 of the first upper gear 620B stops in a non-rotating state, and only the first upper gear 620B idles.

[0108] In addition, the second lower gear 640A that meets the idle section R2 of the first lower gear 620A stops in a non-rotating state, only the first lower gear 620A idles, and the second upper gear 640B that meets the operation section R1 of the first upper gear 620B rotates together with the first upper gear 620B.

[0109] Conversely, when the first lower gear 620A and the first upper gear 620B rotate clockwise, the second upper gear 640B rotates first, and when the second upper gear 640B stops rotating, the second lower gear 640A rotates.

[0110] Reference will be made to Figure 13 and Figure 14 to describe the operation of a lidar system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] Figure 13 is an operation view showing the state of the door opening, and Figure 14 is an operation view showing the state of the lidar deployed to the outside through the opening.

[0112] As Figure 13 shown, when the actuator 700 operates and the first gear unit 601 rotates, the second lower gear 640A engaged with the operation section R1 of the first lower gear 620A rotates and moves the first link unit 400 to slide the door 200 connected to the first link unit 400, thereby opening the opening 111.

[0113] When the first upper gear 620B idles, the second upper gear 640B engaged with the idle section R2 of the first upper gear 620B stops without rotating, and the lidar 300 connected to the second link unit 500 maintains the state stored in the housing 100.

[0114] As Figure 14 shown, in the state where the door 200 opens the opening 111, when the first lower gear 620A idles, the second lower gear 640A engaged with the idle section R2 of the first lower gear 620A stops without rotating, and when the second upper gear 640B engaged with the first upper gear 620B in the operation section R1 rotates and moves the second link unit 500, the lidar 300 connected to the second link unit 500 slides and is deployed to the outside through the opening 111.

[0115] Then, when the autonomous driving mode ends, the actuator 700 operates, and when the first gear unit 601 rotates in the opposite direction, the second upper gear 640B rotates first and stores the lidar 300 inside the housing 100 in combination with the second link unit 500, and the second lower gear 640A rotates in combination with the first link unit 400 and slides the door 200 to close the opening 111.

[0116] As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by configuring the lidar 300 to be selectively deployed outside the vehicle or stored inside the vehicle according to the driving mode of the vehicle, the performance of the lidar 300 can be prevented from deteriorating due to contamination by external foreign substances.

[0117] In addition, in a state where the lidar 300 is stored, the lidar 300 can be protected from the external environment by blocking the opening 111 through which the lidar 300 is deployed to the outside by the door 200, and design differences on the outside of the vehicle due to the opening 111 being opened can be prevented.

[0118] In addition, in the deployed state, by configuring the lidar 300 to be locked and fixed by the locking unit 800, the lidar 300 can be prevented from being pushed into the vehicle by the action of an external force.

[0119] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lidar system for a vehicle can be provided, which can prevent the lidar from being contaminated by deploying the lidar outside the vehicle only when lidar operation is required (such as in an autonomous driving mode).

[0120] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0093715, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on July 19, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0121] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Claims

1. A laser radar system for a vehicle, characterized in that: The laser radar system comprises: a housing having an opening; a laser radar configured to slide in the front-rear direction within the housing and to be selectively deployed to the outside through the opening; A guide bracket disposed on two side surfaces of the laser radar and configured to guide the sliding movement of the laser radar; and A locking unit is configured to prevent the laser radar from being pushed into the shell by external force when the laser radar is deployed.

2. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the guide brackets includes a rail extending toward the opening in a front-rear direction, and a sliding groove is formed on a surface of the rail facing the laser radar, and the locking unit is connected to the sliding groove.

3. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking unit comprises: A support member, fixed to the rear surface of the laser radar; a stopper having a locking pin inserted into the sliding groove and rotatably coupled to the support member; and The leaf spring is configured to rotate the stopper by applying elastic force to the stopper through a free end in a state where a fixed end is fixed to the support member.

4. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: The stopper includes: a first body coupled to a coupling hole formed in the support member through a rotation shaft provided on one surface of the first body; and a second body extending from the first body. The first body has: a contact surface that contacts the free end of the leaf spring in an elastically deformed state; and a locking groove into which the free end of the leaf spring is inserted so that the elastic deformation of the leaf spring is released, and The second body has the locking pin on another surface of the first body opposite to the one surface.

5. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sliding groove is divided into: a linear forward moving section, the lower surface of which extends horizontally forward; and a locking section which is lowered downward from the end of the forward moving section; and an unlocking section extending forward while being inclined upward from the locking section, and The slide groove is divided into a linear rearward moving section whose upper surface horizontally extends rearward from the unlocking section, and a return section extending rearward while tilting downward from the rearward moving section and facing the forward moving section.

6. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that: The stopper is configured so that: in the forward moving section, the locking pin is linearly moved forward by the elastic force applied from the leaf spring to the first body; in the locking section, the second body is rotated downward and thus the locking pin is locked and fixed; And in the unlocking section, the second body is rotated upward and thus the locking and fixing of the locking pin are released.

7. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that: In the unlocking section, the free end of the leaf spring is inserted into the locking groove, and the second body maintains an upwardly rotated state.

8. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The stopper is configured so that: in the backward moving section, the locking pin moves linearly backward in the upwardly rotated state of the second body; and in the reset section, the second body is rotated downward, and thus the locking pin is arranged between the reset section and the forward moving section.

9. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the return section, the free end of the leaf spring maintains an elastically deformed state by leaving the locking groove and contacting the contact surface.

10. The laser radar system for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The laser radar has track holes on both side surfaces to be coupled to the track.

Images