LiDAR sensor array for one vehicle

Abstract

A sensor assembly (100) for a vehicle comprises at least one sensor mount (102) coupled to a front section of the vehicle to accommodate one or more lidar sensors. The sensor assembly (100) includes an airflow optimization element (106, 302) positioned upstream of the at least one sensor mount (102) to direct incoming air to a cover (104) of the sensor mount (102) to enhance the effectiveness of cleaning any rainwater deposited on it. The airflow optimization element could be a corrugated or grooved structure. The airflow optimization element (106, 302) is configured such that the incoming air directed to the cover (104) creates a low-pressure zone upstream of the cover (104) to maintain the effectiveness of the blower in clearing the deposited rainwater from the cover (104).

Description

The present invention relates to sensor mounts installed in vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor array in a vehicle. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology has become a key component in a wide variety of applications, most notably in autonomous vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Lidar sensors, used to detect and map the environment, rely on laser light to generate high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) images of the surroundings. For optimal performance, it is essential that the Lidar sensors are kept free of environmental contaminants (or obstructions) that could reduce the quality of the detection or the collected data, or even impair the functionality of the system. One of the common challenges encountered when integrating lidar sensors into vehicles is the accumulation of dust, water droplets, and other contaminants on the sensor lens or cover. These particles can affect the cleanliness of the sensor's optical surface, leading to data errors or, in extreme cases, even complete system failure. This effect is particularly pronounced in outdoor environments, where environmental conditions such as rain, snow, and wind can result in frequent contact with contaminants. Rain is one of the most common contaminants that can affect the performance of lidar systems. Typically, rainwater accumulation on conventional lidar systems is removed using a blower. However, when the lidar is mounted in the front grille of the vehicle, it is usually positioned above the aerodynamic stagnation zone at the front of the vehicle. The airflow at the front grille interacts with the airflow from the blower, reducing the blower's effectiveness. Consequently, water droplets accumulate on the lidar system, partially obstructing its field of view. Conventional techniques to address the aforementioned problems typically involve the use of cleaning devices for lidar sensors, such as wipers, covers, or protective coatings. One such conventional method is described in patent document DE102020102545A1, which discloses a cover device for a vehicle's environmental sensor. The cover device includes an outer surface facing away from the environmental sensor. This outer surface has a wave-like microstructure with a multitude of grooves arranged adjacent to one another. The grooves are three-dimensional structural elements that provide a lotus effect, counteracting the adhesion of dirt, water, or snow. A cross-sectional area extending perpendicular to the outer surface and the longitudinal direction of the grooves has a wave-like edge line corresponding to a line on the outer surface.The widths of the grooves are selected based on the transparency of the cover device to the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the environmental sensor. However, as can be readily observed from the aforementioned patent document, these solutions are often inadequate for providing long-term protection against contact between lidar sensors and dust, dirt, and water droplets. Furthermore, these cleaning devices can disrupt the performance of the lidar system or require frequent maintenance. There remains a need for a robust and reliable solution that can securely mount a lidar sensor in a vehicle while simultaneously improving weather resistance and minimizing the accumulation of environmental contaminants. Such a solution would enhance the performance, durability, and reliability of the lidar sensor, especially under challenging environmental conditions. A general object of the present invention is to provide a sensor arrangement for mounting a lidar sensor in a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor arrangement designed to improve the performance and reliability of lidar sensors installed in vehicles, even under extreme environmental conditions. A further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor arrangement for improving the autonomous driving capabilities of a vehicle. A further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor arrangement for the safe mounting of lidar sensors in a vehicle, which can be easily installed in existing vehicles. Aspects of the present invention relate to a sensor arrangement for mounting light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors in a vehicle, designed to improve their performance and reliability even under extreme environmental conditions. The sensor arrangement also enhances the vehicle's autonomous driving capabilities by providing a secure mounting solution for the lidar sensor. In one aspect, the sensor arrangement includes at least one sensor mount coupled to a front section of the vehicle to attach one or more lidar sensors, and an airflow optimization element provided in front of the at least one sensor mount to direct incoming air to a cover of the sensor mount in order to improve the effectiveness of cleaning rainwater deposited on it. In one embodiment, the sensor arrangement can include a blower configured to blow air onto clean rainwater deposited on the cover of the sensor mount. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element can be a grooved or wave-like structure. It is configured such that the incoming air directed towards the cover creates a low-pressure zone in front of the sensor mount cover to maintain the effectiveness of the blower in blowing the accumulated rainwater away from the cover. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element can be provided on a front panel located on the front section of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element can include a multitude of ribs and a multitude of depressions, creating a surface comparable to a golf ball. The multitude of ribs and depressions can be formed in a staggered pattern to increase turbulence of the incoming air and prevent flow separation. The multitude of ribs and depressions can be etched onto a top surface of the airflow optimization element. In another embodiment, the airflow optimization element can include a plurality of V-grooves oriented longitudinally to guide the incoming air towards the sensor holder cover. Each plurality of V-grooves can be etched onto the top surface of the airflow optimization element to prevent flow separation of the incoming air and to guide the incoming air towards the sensor holder cover. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to direct the incoming air towards covering the sensor holder. Various tasks, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, together with the accompanying drawings, in which identical numbers represent identical components. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are integrated into and form part of this patent specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a sensor arrangement for mounting one or more lidar sensors in a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B illustrate an exemplary top view and an exemplary side cross-sectional view, respectively, of an airflow optimization element of the sensor arrangement in a first configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig.Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the sensor arrangement having an airflow optimization element in a second configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary top view of the airflow optimization element in the second configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are described in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the level of detail provided is not intended to limit the expected variations of embodiments; on the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the attached claims. A common challenge when integrating lidar sensors into vehicles is the accumulation of dust, water droplets, and other contaminants on the sensor lens, which can reduce optical clarity, leading to data errors or, in extreme cases, even system failure. This problem is particularly problematic in outdoor environments, where conditions such as rain, snow, and wind frequently expose the sensors to contamination. Rain, in particular, is a major contributor to performance degradation in lidar systems. While conventional systems use fans to remove rainwater, when lidar is mounted in a vehicle's front grille, positioned above the vehicle's aerodynamic stagnation zone, the fan's airflow interacts with the vehicle's airflow, reducing the fan's effectiveness. Consequently, water droplets can remain on the sensor, obstructing its view and disrupting the lidar system's performance. The embodiments described here relate to a sensor array for installing light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensors in a vehicle, specifically designed to improve their performance and reliability even in harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, the sensor array contributes to improved autonomous driving capabilities by providing a secure mounting solution for the Lidar sensor. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary perspective view of a sensor assembly 100 for mounting one or more lidar sensors in a vehicle. The sensor assembly 100 includes at least one sensor mount 102, which is coupled to a front section of the vehicle to attach one or more lidar sensors. The sensor mount 102 can include a housing for accommodating the lidar sensor and a cover 104, which is arranged in front of the lidar sensor along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each lidar sensor can include at least one sensor lens configured to measure the distance to an object in front of the vehicle by emitting a short laser pulse and recording the time interval between the emitted light pulse and the detection of the light pulse reflected from the target object.The cover 104 of the sensor holder 102 can be positioned in front of the lidar sensor which is mounted in the housing to provide a clear line of sight so that the laser pulse can be transmitted and received through the sensor line of the lidar. The sensor lens can be configured to measure the scattering, absorption, and re-emission of light by particles or molecules in the environment in front of the vehicle. Additionally, the sensor line can be designed to generate three-dimensional surface profiles of the target objects. In one example implementation, the sensor lens can include a transmitter adapted to send the laser pulse that interacts with the hard surface of the target object and is reflected back to a receiver in the sensor lens. The sensor lens can also be configured to measure the velocity of the target object, either through the Doppler effect or by rapidly measuring the distance to the moving object. This allows, for example, the measurement of atmospheric wind speed or the speed of other vehicles. The sensor assembly 100 also includes an airflow optimization element 106, which is positioned in front of the sensor mount 102 to direct incoming air to the cover 104 of the sensor mount 102, thereby improving the effectiveness of cleaning any rainwater deposited on it. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element 106 is located on a front panel 108 situated on the front section of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the airflow optimization element can be part of the vehicle's exterior body. During rainy conditions, the sensor assembly optimizes the flow of incoming air to the lidar sensor by creating low-pressure zones, thus supporting lidar cleaning without any complex mechanism. The airflow optimization element 106 is arranged between the front panel 108 and the sensor holder 102. The airflow optimization element 106 prevents particles from being detached from the incoming air and directs the incoming air to the cover of the sensor holder 102, thus enabling effective cleaning of the cover 104 by removing dust particles and water droplets. In one exemplary embodiment, the airflow optimization element 106 can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to direct the incoming air to the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102. In one embodiment, the airflow optimization element is inclined with respect to the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102. The sensor assembly 100 can include a blower configured to blow air to remove dust particles and / or rainwater accumulated on the cover 104 of the sensor mount 102. The blower can be positioned so that the incoming air, directed to the cover 104 by the airflow optimizing element 106, assists the blower in cleaning the cover 104 affected by rain. The airflow optimizing element 106 prevents the formation of turbulent recirculation zones, ensuring that the blower functions effectively to remove dust and rainwater from the cover 104. In one exemplary embodiment, during vehicle movement, the airflow optimization element 106 creates a turbulent layer of incoming air near the cover 104. This causes small low-pressure zones to form at the recesses 204, which direct the incoming air toward the cover 104. Due to the formation of the turbulent layer, the incoming air adheres to the top of the airflow optimization element 106 and does not separate from it. This allows the incoming air to mix with the airflow generated by the blower. Consequently, the airflow optimization element 106 assists the blower in cleaning the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102 with improved efficiency, without requiring any moving mechanisms or additional components. Now, with reference to Fig. 2A, which shows an exemplary top view of a first configuration of the airflow optimization element 106, Fig. 2B illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a plane AA of the airflow optimization element 106 shown in Fig. 2A. The airflow optimization element 106 is a grooved structure and can include a plurality of ribs 202 and a plurality of depressions (or grooves) 204, creating a surface comparable to that of a golf ball. In an exemplary embodiment, the airflow optimization element 106 can be in the form of a plate attached to the front panel 108 or can form an integral component of the front panel 108. The ribs 202 and the depressions 204 can be etched onto a top surface of the airflow optimization element 106 in a direction perpendicular to the flow of incoming air.The ribs 202 and the recesses 204 can be arranged in an offset pattern to increase the turbulence of the incoming air and to prevent flow separation. A low-pressure zone is formed in a multitude of recesses 204 as the incoming air approaches the airflow optimization element 106. In the first configuration, the airflow optimization element 106 is configured so that the incoming air directed to the cover 104 creates a low-pressure zone in front of the cover 104 to maintain the effectiveness of the blower in blowing away the deposited dust particles and rainwater from the cover 104. Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the sensor arrangement 300, which includes an airflow optimization element 302, in a second configuration. The sensor arrangement 300 can have a similar configuration to the sensor arrangement 300, wherein the airflow optimization element 302 has a different structure compared to the airflow optimization element 106. As shown in Fig. 4, the airflow optimization element 302, in the second embodiment, is a wave structure and can include a plurality of V-grooves 402 aligned in a longitudinal direction L of the airflow optimization element 302 to direct the incoming air to the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the The airflow optimization element 302 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to direct the incoming air to the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102. The V-grooves 402 capture the incoming air during vehicle movement and act as guides, allowing the incoming air to flow to the cover 104 and combine with the airflow generated by the blower to improve the blower's effectiveness in removing dust particles and water droplets deposited on the cover 104. The blower can be positioned between the airflow optimizing element 302 and the sensor holder 102, so that the incoming air, which is directed through the airflow optimizing element 302 to the cover 104, assists the blower in cleaning the cover 104 by channeling the airflow generated by the blower. The airflow optimizing element 302 prevents the formation of turbulent recirculation zones, ensuring that the blower functions effectively in removing dust and rainwater from the cover 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the airflow optimization element 302 can be in the form of a plate attached to the front panel 108 or can form an integral component of the front panel 108. Each of the V-grooves 402 can be etched onto a top surface of the airflow optimization element 302 to prevent flow separation of the incoming air and to direct the incoming air to the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102. Thus, the airflow optimization element 106, 302 assists the blower in cleaning the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102 with improved reliability and effectiveness, without requiring any moving mechanisms or additional components. Additionally, the sensor assembly 100 utilizes the incoming air during vehicle movement to assist in the effective cleaning of the cover 104 of the sensor holder 102, thereby improving both the reliability and availability of the lidar sensor housed in the sensor holder 102. While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention can be developed without deviating from its basic scope. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person skilled in the art to manufacture and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to such a person. The present invention provides a sensor arrangement for installing a Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor in a vehicle. The present invention provides a sensor arrangement that improves the performance and reliability of lidar sensors even in extreme environmental conditions. The present invention provides a sensor arrangement that can improve the autonomous driving capabilities of a vehicle. The present invention provides a sensor arrangement that securely mounts the lidar sensor in a vehicle, while enabling easy installation in existing vehicles. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 102020102545A1

[0006]

Claims

Sensor arrangement (100) for a vehicle, comprising: at least one sensor mount (102) coupled to a front section of the vehicle to mount one or more lidar sensors; and an airflow optimization element (106, 302) provided in front of the at least one sensor mount (102), wherein the airflow optimization element (106, 302) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to direct incoming air to a cover (104) of the sensor mount (102). Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, comprising a blower configured to blow air onto clean rainwater deposited on the cover (104) of the sensor holder (102). Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 2, wherein the airflow optimization element (106, 302) is configured such that the inflowing air directed to the cover (104) creates a low-pressure zone in front of the cover (104) of the sensor holder (102) to maintain the effectiveness of the blower in blowing away the deposited rainwater from the cover (104). Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 2, wherein the airflow optimization element (106, 302) is provided on a front panel (108) located on the front section of the vehicle. Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the airflow optimization element (106, 302) is a groove structure. Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the airflow optimization element (106, 302) is a wave structure. Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the airflow optimization element (106) comprises a plurality of ribs (202) and a plurality of recesses (204) formed in an offset pattern and etched onto a top surface of the airflow optimization element. Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the airflow optimization element (302) comprises a plurality of V-grooves (402) oriented in a longitudinal direction to direct the incoming air to the cover (104) of the sensor holder (102). Sensor arrangement (100) according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of V-grooves (402) is etched onto the top of the airflow optimization element (302) to direct the incoming air to the cover (104) of the sensor holder (102).

Images