Sensor Enclosure Drainage Ring Plate Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicle sensors, when externally mounted, are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and risk damage from road debris, and the encasement of these sensors can lead to rainwater accumulation causing potential water damage.

Innovation Solution

A sensor enclosure with a cover and structure that includes a drainage ring plate with holes to drain rainwater away from the enclosure, anchored to the vehicle with posts, and a powertrain to rotate the cover and spin off rainwater, made from materials like acrylic glass or metal alloys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are mounted exteriorly to the autonomous vehicle, then the sensors can directly detect environmental information, but the sensors are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and road debris which may prematurely shorten their lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor lifetimeVSAvoidenvironmental exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensors are nested inside a protective enclosure that houses them within an internal cavity. The enclosure includes a cover with transparent cover material that allows sensor operation while protecting from environmental elements. This nesting structure shields sensors from harsh conditions while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover of the enclosure uses transparent cover material that acts as a protective shell. This thin film structure allows light and sensor signals to pass through while providing physical protection against environmental factors and debris impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sensors are encased in a sensor enclosure, then the sensors are protected against environmental elements and road debris, but rainwater can accumulate on the outer surface and seep into the enclosure causing water damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from debrisVSAvoidrainwater accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover of the enclosure is designed with a curved outer surface rather than a flat surface. This curvature causes rainwater to naturally shed off the surface more easily, reducing water accumulation. The rounded shape promotes water flow away from the enclosure base, preventing seepage into the internal cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover material is made transparent or translucent, allowing visual detection of rainwater accumulation on the outer surface. This transparency enables monitoring of water presence without compromising the protective function, and the visual property helps identify when drainage is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If the cover is made transparent to allow sensor operation, then the sensors can function while encased, but the cover material must be selectively chosen from various options which increases manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor functionalityVSAvoidcover material selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cover structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides physical protection for sensors, allows light transmission for sensor operation, enables visual detection of rainwater accumulation, and contributes to aerodynamic properties when curved. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover can be constructed from composite materials or coated materials that combine transparency with enhanced durability properties. By integrating multiple properties into a single cover structure, the design simplifies manufacturing compared to using separate protective and transparent components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively protects sensors from environmental conditions and debris while preventing rainwater accumulation and damage, ensuring the sensors' longevity and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The rainwater can accumulate and flow down from the outer surface to a base or bottom of the sensor enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a powertrain configured to rotate the ring and the cover coupled to the ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11733072B2Sensor enclosure drainage

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 PONY AI INC

AI summary

A sensor enclosure comprises a cover and a structure. The structure can be encased by the cover. The structure comprises a frame, a ring, and one or more anchoring posts. The frame can be configured to mount one or more sensors. The ring, disposed peripherally to the frame, can be operatively coupled to the cover. The ring can include a drainage ring plate that drains rainwater accumulated on the cover away from the sensor enclosure. The one or more anchoring posts, disposed underneath the frame and the ring, can be used to anchor the sensor enclosure to a vehicle.