Lidar sensor unit

Abstract

TITLE: Lidar sensor unit Lidar sensor unit comprising a lidar sensor with a field of view, a wiping arm for cleaning the field of view by moving it, and a drive system for driving the wiping arm by a force transmission element (20), * the lidar sensor unit having a preloading unit (22) for adapting the preload of the force transmission element (20) by a shape variation. Figure 2

Description

Title of invention: Lidar sensor unit FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a lidar sensor unit comprising a lidar sensor with a field of view, a wiping arm for cleaning the field of view by moving it and a drive system for moving the wiping arm by a force transmission element. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Such a lidar sensor unit is already known.

[0003] Currently, there are a large number of different methods for cleaning sensor surfaces in the automotive field. However, the increase in the sensor surfaces to be cleaned in a vehicle as well as the increasingly strict cleaning quality requirements are continuously increasing the need for innovative and robust cleaning processes.

[0004] Furthermore, the continuous reduction of weight in the automotive field to reduce consumption, the growth of competition and the pressure on costs increase the demand for more advantageous and more efficient components for vehicles.

[0005] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and, to this end, relates to a lidar sensor unit comprising:

[0007] - a lidar sensor with a field of vision,

[0008] - a wiping arm for cleaning the field of vision by its movement,

[0009] - a drive system for driving the wiping arm by a member of power transmission,

[0010] * the lidar sensor unit having a pre-stressing unit for adapting the prestressing of the force transmission element by a variation in shape.

[0011] The lidar sensor unit according to the invention has the advantage over known solutions of having a prestress exerted on the force transmission element while significantly reducing the size of the lidar sensor unit.

[0012] The prestressing unit is configured to compensate for negative effects such as thermal expansion or length during service life with at the same time a reduction in the space requirement to ensure the required prestressing of the force transmission element.

[0013] In other words, the prestressing unit is a space-saving means for tensioning the force transmission element such as, for example, a belt drive. The prestressing unit can deform or produce a deformation to adapt the prestress of the force transmission element, in particular to increase it. The shape change of the prestressing unit is achieved, for example, by changing the shape of parts of the prestressing unit and / or by changing the spacing between the elements of the prestressing unit so that the change in shape results in a change in contour.

[0014] Preferably, the prestressing unit comprises a middle part and two ends connected by a spacer to the middle part, the end parts being organized relative to the middle part to develop the prestress.

[0015] This embodiment has the advantage that the middle part and the end parts are in a single piece, which constitutes a prestressing unit that is particularly economical and simple to produce. The end parts and the middle part can respectively develop an inversion point of the force transmission element so that the arrangement of the spacers relative to the middle part makes it possible to define the prestress.

[0016] According to a further development, the end portions respectively have a channel for guiding the force transmission element.

[0017] This embodiment has the advantage that the prestressing unit cannot slip and thus be continuously applied against the force transmission element to develop the prestress.

[0018] According to a further development, the middle part makes an angle relative to the end parts and thus the middle part and the end parts allow, by adapting the angle, to increase the prestress during the lifetime of the lidar sensor unit.

[0019] This embodiment has the advantage of ensuring the variation of the angle between the two end parts and the middle part to modify the shape of the prestressing unit to thus adapt the prestressing by the change of angle; for example, the angle can be increased or decreased to increase the prestressing.

[0020] According to another preferred characteristic, the prestressing unit has a first element and a second element, the first element and the second element being connected by a tensioning unit which thus makes it possible to adapt the prestressing by a variation in spacing between the first and the second element.

[0021] This embodiment has the advantage that the tensioning unit allows the distance between the first and second elements to be adjusted in a targeted manner and thus produces, by varying the shape of the tensioning unit, the adaptation of the prestress of the force transmission element. The prestressing unit comprises a first element and a second element which, by varying their distance, modifies the prestress of the force transmission element. force transmission. The distance between the first and second elements is thus specifically adjusted by the tension unit.

[0022] According to another feature, the tensioning unit has a pin installed by a screw connection on the first element to modify the gap by the screw connection.

[0023] This embodiment has the advantage that the screw connection is economical to produce and allows the distance between the first and second elements to be adjusted. The first element has, for example, a thread that cooperates with the spindle having at least or partially an external thread. Thus, the rotation of the spindle relative to the first element specifically adjusts the distance (gap) between the first element and the second element.

[0024] Preferably, the pin has a spring element attached to the second element to develop the preload.

[0025] This embodiment has the advantage that the spring element sets a certain preload to thereby enable the preload of the force transmission element to be adjusted.

[0026] According to another preferred characteristic, the first element and the second element each have two return points with a contour to minimize friction with the force transmission element.

[0027] This embodiment has the advantage that the contours reduce the friction between the force transmission element and the return points of the first and second elements, which reduces the load applied to the force transmission element.

[0028] According to another preferred characteristic, the first element and the second element respectively have two guides for limiting the direction of movement of the force transmission element relative to the prestressing unit on an axis.

[0029] This embodiment has the advantage that vibrations or similar stresses applied to the lidar element do not allow the force transmission element to slip relative to the prestressing unit.

[0030] The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a lidar sensor unit defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with the aid of an embodiment of a lidar sensor unit shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig. 1] embodiment of a lidar sensor unit,

[0033] [Fig.2] perspective view of a force transmission element,

[0034] [Fig.3] top view of the force transmission element,

[0035] [Fig.4] detail view of the prestressing unit,

[0036] [Fig.5] perspective view of the force transmission unit,

[0037] [Fig.6a] Perspective view of a force transmission unit with a channel for guiding the force transmission element,

[0038] [Fig.6b] interview of a force transmission element,

[0039] [Fig.7a] top view of a force transmission element with a prestressing unit,

[0040] [Fig.7b] another top view of a force transmission element with a prestressing unit,

[0041] [Fig.8a] view of another embodiment of a prestressing unit,

[0042] [Fig.8b] another perspective view of a prestressing unit,

[0043] [Fig.9] Very schematic view of a vehicle equipped with a lidar sensor unit.

[0044] DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0045] [Fig.l] shows an embodiment of a lidar sensor unit 10 according to the invention. This lidar sensor unit 10 comprises a lidar sensor 12 with a field of view 14, a wiping arm 16 and a drive system 18. The wiping arm 16 cleans the field of view 14 of the lidar sensor 12 by its movement. The drive system 18 ensures the movement. The lidar sensor unit 10 has a preloading unit 22 biasing the force transmission element 20 to move the wiping arm 16 with a preload. Preferably, the preloading unit adapts the preload of the force transmission element (20) by a deformation.

[0046] [Fig.2] shows an embodiment of a prestressing unit 22 of the unit of lidar sensor 10. The lidar sensor unit 10 has a force transmission element 20 and a preloading unit 22. The preloading unit 22 has a first element 34 and a second element 36 as well as a preloading unit 38. The preloading unit 38 allows the first element 34 to be moved relative to the second element 36 and thus the shape of the preloading unit 22 to be changed. The tensioning unit 38 has a pin 40 connected to the first element 34 by a screw connection. The pin 40 allows the gap (distance) between the first element 34 and the second element 36 to be adapted. The second element 36 has a spring element 42 for developing the preload applied to the force transmission element 20. Rotation of the pin 40 changes the shape of the preloading unit 22.

[0047] [Fig. 3] shows an embodiment of a pre-tensioning unit 22 of the lidar sensor unit 10 with a force transmission element 20. The pre-tensioning unit 22 has a first element 34 and a second element (36). The first element (34) is spaced from the second element 36 by the pin 40 of the tensioning unit 38 to thereby develop the pre-tension of the force transmission element 20.

[0048] [Fig.4] shows an embodiment of a prestressing unit 22 of the unit lidar sensor 10 and a force transmission element 20. The prestressing unit has a first element 34 which has a thread 41 receiving the spindle 40 for developing the tension unit 38. Thus the rotation of the spindle (40) makes it possible to adjust the distance between the first element 34 and the second element 36.

[0049] [Fig.5] shows another embodiment of the prestressing unit 22 of the lidar sensor unit 10. The first element 34 and the second element 36 of the prestressing unit 22 have a guide 48 for the force transmission element 20 to thereby limit the sliding of the force transmission element 20 relative to the prestressing installation 22 on an axis.

[0050] [Fig.6a] shows another embodiment of the prestressing unit 22 of the lidar sensor unit 10. This sensor unit 10 has a force transmission element 20 and the prestressing unit 22; this has a middle part 24. The middle part 24 is connected by spacers 28 to two end parts 26. The end parts 26 each have a channel 30 for guiding the force transmission element 20. The middle part 24 makes an angle 32 relative to each end part 26. The middle part 24 and the end parts 26 are designed to increase the prestress by adapting the angle 24 throughout the lifetime of the lidar sensor unit 10. In other words, by changing the angle 32 the shape of the prestressing unit 22 is changed. [Fig.6a] shows the prestressing unit 22 with a first angle 33.

[0051] [Fig.6b] shows a lidar sensor unit 10 according to another embodiment with a shape similar to that of [Fig.6a]. The prestressing unit has a second angle 35 between the middle portion 24 and the end portions 26 to adapt the prestress of the force transmission element 20.

[0052] [Fig.7a] shows an embodiment of the lidar sensor unit 10 comprising a force transmission element 20 and a prestressing unit 22. The prestressing unit 22 has a middle portion 24 and two end portions 26. The end portions 26 are connected by spacers to the middle portion 24.

[0053] [Fig.7b] shows an embodiment of the lidar sensor unit 10 which has a force transmission element 20 and a pre-stressing unit 22. The sensor unit 10 of [Fig.7b] is of a construction similar to that of the pre-stressing unit 22 of [Fig.7a]. The pre-stressing unit 22 here has a different angle 32 than the pre-stressing unit 22 of [Fig.7a].

[0054] [Fig.8a] shows a lidar sensor unit 10 according to one embodiment; it has a force transmission element 20 and a pre-stressing unit 22; this consists of a middle part 24 to which two end parts 26 are fixed by spacers 28. The pre-stressing unit 22 can be engaged from one side on the force transmission element 20 to be thus very simple.

[0055] [Fig.8b] shows a lidar sensor unit 10 according to one embodiment that has a force transmission element 20 and a prestressing unit 22. The end portions 26 of the prestressing unit 22 at least partially surround the force transmission element 22 so that the increased friction between the end portions 26 and the middle portion 24 reduces the sliding of the force transmission element 20.

[0056] [Fig.9] shows a vehicle 100 equipped with a lidar sensor unit 10 described above.

[0057] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0058] 10 Lidar sensor unit

[0059] 12 Lidar sensor

[0060] 14 Field of view of the lidar sensor

[0061] 16 Wiper arm

[0062] 18 Drive system

[0063] 20 Force transmission element

[0064] 22 Prestressing unit

[0065] 24 Middle part

[0066] 26 End part

[0067] 28 Spacer

[0068] 32 Angle between the middle part and each end part

[0069] 33 First angle

[0070] 34 First element of the prestressing unit

[0071] 35 Second angle

[0072] 36 Second element of the prestressing unit

[0073] 38 Voltage Unit

[0074] 40 Pin

[0075] 41 Thread

[0076] 42 Spring element

[0077] 44 Reference point

[0078] 46 Contour

[0079] 48 Guide for the force transmission element

[0080] 100 Vehicle

Claims

Claims

1. Lidar sensor unit (10) comprising: - a lidar sensor (12) with a field of view (14) - a wiping arm (16) for cleaning the field of view (14) by its movement, - a drive system (18) for driving the wiping arm (14) by a force transmission element (20), * the lidar sensor unit (10) having a preloading unit (22) for adapting the preload of the force transmission element (20) by a shape variation.

2. A lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the prestressing unit (22) has a middle portion (24) and two end portions (26) respectively connected by a spacer (28) to the middle portion (24), - the end portions (26) being installed relative to the middle portion (24) to develop the prestress.

3. The lidar sensor unit (10) of claim 2, wherein the end portions (26) each have a channel (30) for guiding the force transmission element (20).

4. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the middle portion (24) makes an angle (32) relative to the end portions (26), and - the middle portion (24) and the end portions (26) increase the prestress by adapting the angle (32) during the lifetime of the lidar sensor unit (10).

5. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the prestressing unit (22) has a first element (34) and a second element (36), - the first element (34) and the second element (36) being connected by a tensioning unit (38) which adapts the prestress by a variation of gap between the first element (34) and the second element (36).

6. A lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein the tension unit (38) comprises a pin (40) which is connected to the first element (34) by a screw connection, - the tension unit (38) carrying out the variation of deviation by the screw connection

7. screw. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 6, comprising: a spring element (42) on the pin (40), this spring element (42) being fixed to the second element (36) to provide the preload.

8. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein - the first element (34) and the second element (36) each have two return points (44) - the return points (44) have a contour (46) to minimize friction of the force transmission element (1).

9. A lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first member (34) and the second member (36) each have two guides (48) for limiting the direction of movement of the force transmission member (20) toward the prestressing unit (22) on one axis.

10. A vehicle (110) comprising a lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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