Lidar sensor unit

Abstract

Title: Lidar sensor unit Lidar sensor unit (10) comprising: - a housing (12) surrounding a lidar sensor (14), * the housing (12) having at least a first attachment point (16) and a second attachment point (18), ** the housing (12), the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) being in one piece, * the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) forming a form-fitting, force-fitting or material connection with a cleaning system, ** the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) positioning the cleaning system in a predefined orientation relative to the face (26) of the housing (12). Figure 2

Description

Title of invention: Lidar sensor unit FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a lidar sensor unit and a method of mounting such a unit as well as a vehicle equipped with this unit. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Currently, numerous methods are known for cleaning sensor surfaces in the automotive field. However, the increasing number of sensor surfaces to be cleaned and the quality requirements continuously increase the need for an innovative and robust method for cleaning lidar sensors.

[0003] In addition, the constant reduction of weight in the automotive sector to reduce consumption and the increase in competition pushing costs, means that the demand for more advantageous and more efficient vehicle components is increasing sharply.

[0004] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of known solutions and for this purpose relates to a lidar sensor unit comprising: a housing surrounding a lidar sensor, the housing having at least a first fixing point and a second fixing point, the housing, the first fixing point and the second fixing point being in one piece, the first fixing point and the second fixing point forming a connection by form, by force or by material with a cleaning system, the first fixing point and the second fixing point positioning the cleaning system in a predefined orientation relative to the face of the housing.

[0006] The lidar sensor unit according to the invention has, compared to the state of the art, the advantage of considerably reducing the weight of the lidar sensor unit. For this purpose, the cleaning system of the lidar sensor unit does not necessarily have its own rigidity because the necessary rigidity is ensured by the housing of the lidar sensor. In order to maintain the function of the cleaning system, the housing has corresponding attachment points for transmitting the reaction generated by the movement of the wiper arm directly to the housing.

[0007] In other words, this result is achieved according to the invention in that the lidar sensor unit has a housing. This housing surrounds a lidar sensor. The housing comprises at least a first fixing point and a second fixing point and the housing is made in one piece with the first fixing point and the second fixing point; the first fixing point and the second fixing point make a connection by form, force or material with a cleaning system; the first fixing point fixing and the second fixing point positions the cleaning system in a predefined orientation relative to the face of the housing.

[0008] In other words, the housing has two attachment points that position the cleaning system relative to the housing so that the wiper arm of the cleaning system cleans the field of view of the lidar sensor. The first attachment point and the second attachment point are, for example, made by injection or a similar process in one piece with the housing. Furthermore, the first attachment point and the second attachment point have sufficient rigidity to transmit possible forces from the wiper arm to the housing. Thus, for example, two bores or recesses of the cleaning system can be exposed at the two attachment points to fix the cleaning system to the housing.

[0009] According to another advantageous feature, the housing has a third fixing point for positioning, in a fixed manner, the drive unit of the cleaning system. This embodiment has the advantage of further reducing the manufacturing cost of the housing and simplifying the assembly process since a corresponding fixing of the drive unit is provided.

[0010] The housing preferably has a fourth attachment point and a fifth attachment point which position a cross member in a predefined position relative to the face, which has the advantage of installing a wiper arm moving cross member in a predefined position relative to the face, in an economical manner such as, for example, by plugging.

[0011] According to another preferred feature, the cleaning system of the lidar sensor unit has a drive, a drive system and a wiper arm; the drive drives the drive system to move the wiper arm and the cleaning system is provided at the first attachment point and the second attachment point which has the advantage that the lidar sensor or one side of the housing of the lidar sensor unit can clean with the wiper arm to improve the detection accuracy of the lidar sensor.

[0012] According to another preferred feature, the wiper arm has a first attachment point and a second attachment point at a predefined interval for the wiper arm to clean the field of view of the lidar sensor.

[0013] This feature has the advantage of being able to choose the predefined distance between the wiper arm and the fixing points so that a predefined force acts on the wiper arm.

[0014] According to another advantageous characteristic, the connection by shape, force or material is a clip-on connection or a screw connection which has the advantage that the cleaning system can be detached or fixed with usual tools and thus improve interchangeability.

[0015] The first attachment point and the second attachment point have a predefined diameter to hold the cleaning system in a predefined orientation when environmental influences act on the cleaning system.

[0016] This solution has the advantage that the forces produced by storm, rain or similar phenomena can be discharged through the wiper arm and the connection points to the housing so that the cleaning system does not require rigidity or only low rigidity, which, as a consequence, makes it possible to significantly reduce the total weight of the lidar sensor unit.

[0017] According to another preferred characteristic, the first connection point and the second connection point have a main direction of extension which is practically parallel to the field of vision of the lidar sensor, which has the advantage of being able to install the wiper arm with a correct orientation relative to the field of vision of the lidar sensor only by plugging the cleaning system onto the housing. This eliminates a possible step of aligning the wiper arm.

[0018] According to another development, the invention relates to a method of mounting a lidar sensor unit as presented above and comprising the following steps consisting of:

[0019] - providing a housing and with a first fixing point and a second fixing point fixing,

[0020] - install the cleaning system on the first fixing point and the second point fixing to create a connection by shape, force or material.

[0021] Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a lidar sensor unit as presented above. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] A lidar sensor unit according to the invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of the attached drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig. 1] Perspective view of an embodiment of a lidar sensor unit according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.2] another perspective view of the lidar sensor unit,

[0025] [Fig.3] a vehicle according to one embodiment,

[0026] [Fig.4] a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention.

[0027] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] It is emphasized that the same components, elements or units bear the same references in the various figures.

[0029] [Fig.l] shows one embodiment of a lidar sensor unit 10. The lidar sensor unit 10 has a housing 12 surrounding or encapsulating the lidar sensor 14. The housing 12 has a first attachment point 16 and a second attachment point 18. The first fixing point 16, the second fixing point 18 and the housing 12 are made in one piece. In addition, the first fixing point 16 and the second fixing point 18 form a connection 20 by shape, force or material with a cleaning system 22. The first fixing point 16 and the second fixing point 18 make it possible to position the cleaning system 22 according to a predefined orientation 24 relative to the face 26 of the housing 12.

[0030] The housing 12 has a third attachment point 28 for positioning a drive unit 30 of the cleaning system 22 in a fixed manner.

[0031] The housing 12 has a fourth attachment point 32 and a fifth attachment point 34 for holding a cross member 36 in a predefined position relative to the face 26.

[0032] The housing 12 has a face 26 with in particular the field of vision 44 of the lidar sensor 14.

[0033] [Fig. 2] shows an embodiment of the lidar sensor unit 10 with a housing 12 having in one piece a first attachment point 16 and a second attachment point 18. The cleaning system 22 is engaged on the first attachment point 16 and the second attachment point 18 to thereby achieve a connection 20 by form, force or material. The cleaning system 22 is installed in a predefined orientation 24 relative to the face 26 of the housing 12. The cleaning system 22 has a drive 38, a drive system 40 and a wiper arm 42. The drive 38 drives the drive system 41, for example, a belt drive or the like to move the wiper arm 42 over the face 26.

[0034] [Fig. 3] shows a very schematic vehicle 100 corresponding to an embodiment with a lidar sensor unit 10 as described above.

[0035] [Fig.4] shows a highly simplified flowchart of the steps of one embodiment of the method 100. The method 100 of mounting a lidar sensor unit 10 as described above comprises the following steps:

[0036] - provide SI a housing 12 with a first fixing point 16 and a second fixing point fixing 18,

[0037] - a step of mounting or installing S2 a cleaning system 22 at the first fixing point 16 and to the second fixing point 18 to create a connection 20 by shape, by force or by material.

[0038] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0039] 10 Lidar sensor unit

[0040] 12 Housing

[0041] 14 Lidar sensor

[0042] 16 First fixing point

[0043] 18 Second fixing point

[0044]

[0045]

[0046]

[0047]

[0048]

[0049]

[0050]

[0051]

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] 20 Connection 22 Cleaning system 24 Orientation 26 Surface / top of housing 12 / face 28 Third fixing point 30 Drive unit 32 Fourth fixing point 34 Fifth fixing point 36 Cross member 38 Drive 40 Drive system 42 Wiper arm 44 Field of vision

Claims

Claims

1. Lidar sensor unit (10) comprising: - a housing (12) surrounding a lidar sensor (14), * the housing (12) having at least a first attachment point (16) and a second attachment point (18), ** the housing (12), the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) being in one piece, * the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) forming a form-fitting, force-fitting or material connection (20) with a cleaning system (22), ** the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) positioning the cleaning system (22) in a predefined orientation (24) relative to the face (26) of the housing (12).

2. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) has a third attachment point (28), - the third attachment point (28) positions the cleaning system drive unit (22) in a fixed manner.

3. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the housing (12) has a fourth attachment point (32) and a fifth attachment point (34), - the fourth attachment point (32) and the fifth attachment point (34) positioning a cross member (36) in a predefined position relative to the face (26).

4. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cleaning system (22), wherein - the cleaning system (22) of the lidar sensor unit (30) has a drive (38), a drive system (40) and a wiper arm (42), - the drive (38) driving the drive system (40) to move the wiper arm (42), - the cleaning system (22) being provided on the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18).

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

6. Lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the form, force and / or material connection (20) is in the form of a snap-on connection or a screw connection.

7. A lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment point (16) and the second attachment point (18) have a predefined diameter for holding the cleaning system (22) in a predefined orientation (24) when environmental influences act on the cleaning system (22).

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

9. Method (100) for mounting a lidar sensor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims comprising the following steps: - providing (SI) a housing (12) with a first fixing point (16) and a second fixing point (18), - mounting (S2) a cleaning system (22) at the first fixing point (16) and at the second fixing point (18) to achieve a form connection, a force connection or a material connection (20).

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

Images