Vehicle Sensor System with Actuated Bracket and Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of sensors on vehicles for self-driving technology complicates the adjustment of sensing reference positions, leading to increased workload and potential interference from light sources, necessitating a solution to reduce adjustment burdens and enhance diverse information acquisition while minimizing system enlargement.

Innovation Solution

A sensor system with a common supporting member for multiple sensors, incorporating actuators for precise adjustments and shielding members to mitigate light interference, along with a modular design sharing a controller to facilitate mounting and processing diverse sensor data efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors are mounted on the vehicle body to obtain diverse external information, then the diversity of information acquisition is improved, but the burden of adjustment operations is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediversity of information acquisitionVSAvoidburden of adjustment operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensors (first sensor and second sensor) onto a single common supporting member, allowing them to be adjusted collectively as one unit rather than individually. This merging approach maintains the ability to acquire diverse information from multiple sensors while reducing the adjustment burden by treating them as a single adjustable assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common supporting member serves multiple functions: it supports both the first and second sensors, provides a unified adjustment interface for both sensors, and enables collective positioning of multiple sensing devices. This universal component resolves the contradiction by providing a single adjustment mechanism that controls multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If shielding members are provided to reduce light interference from head lamps, then the measurement precision of sensors is improved, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage quality of sensorVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding member is integrated with the common supporting member, combining the support function and the light shielding function into a single structural element. This integration reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate support structures and separate shielding structures, while still providing effective light interference reduction for both sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding member acts as an intermediary structure between the head lamp light source and the sensors, blocking harmful light paths while allowing the sensors to maintain their sensing functions. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by providing a simple structural solution that improves measurement precision without requiring complex active shielding systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3514487B1Sensor system
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 KOITO MFG CO LTD
  • EP3514487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3514487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3514487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A LiDAR sensor (41) is configured to sense information of an outside of a vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor (42) is configured to sense information of the outside of the vehicle in a different manner from the LiDAR sensor (41). A first bracket (43) supports the LiDAR sensor (41) and the ultrasonic sensor (42). A first sensor actuator (44) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the LiDAR sensor (41) relative to the first bracket (43). A second sensor actuator (45) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the ultrasonic sensor (42) relative to first bracket (43). A first bracket actuator (46) is configured to adjust at least one of a position and a posture of the first bracket (43) relative to the vehicle.