# US 10,308,295 B2 · Integrated spoiler CHMSL optical sensor system

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- Number: US 10,308,295 B2
- Document ID: US10308295B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/680,608
- Filed: 2017-08-18
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-18
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan; Harry Lobo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308295B2

## CPC

- B62D 35/007: {Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)}
- B60Q 1/0005: {Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow (windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04)}
- B60Q 1/0023: {the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera}
- B60Q 1/2661: {mounted on parts having other functions (on wheels B60Q1/326)}
- B60Q 1/302: {mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window}
- B60Q 1/44: for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal}
- B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
- B60S 1/56: specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)}
- B60S 1/66: for cleaning vehicle exterior
- B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A spoiler includes a lower shell, a bracket, a plurality of optical sensors, a CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp) and an upper shell. The lower shell extends substantially a width of a vehicle roof. The bracket is fixed to the lower shell. The optical sensors are fixed to the bracket. The CHMSL is fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket. The upper shell is disposed over and fixed to the lower shell. The upper shell has a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spoiler, comprising:
a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;
a bracket fixed to the lower shell;
a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket, wherein the bracket has a plurality of sensor apertures in alignment with the plurality of the sensors;
a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket;
an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL; and
a plurality of window panes disposed across the sensor apertures of one of the bracket and the upper shell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the window panes are fixed to the bracket.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of washer nozzles fixed to the one of the bracket and the upper shell to which the window panes are fixed and directed at the window panes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The spoiler of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of fluid lines, each fluid line connected to one of the washer nozzles on a first end and having a connector on a second end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The spoiler of claim 3, wherein the washer nozzles each include a fluid nozzle and a pneumatic nozzle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The spoiler of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of fluid lines and a plurality of pneumatic lines, each fluid line connected to one of the fluid nozzles on a first end and each pneumatic line connected to one of the pneumatic nozzles on a first end, and each fluid line and each pneumatic line having a connector on a second end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the bracket and the lower shell and the upper shell are all formed of plastic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The spoiler of claim 7, wherein the bracket and the lower shell are welded to each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of mounting tabs and the lower shell has an equal plurality of mounting surfaces and the mounting surfaces of the lower shell are in alignment with the mounting tabs of the bracket and the bracket and lower shell are welded to each other where the tabs overlap the mounting surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The spoiler of claim 9, the lower shell further including a plurality of support arms on which the mounting surfaces are located.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the CHMSL is fixed to the lower shell on CHMSL support tabs and is aligned with the CHMSL aperture in the upper shell.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, the bracket further including a receiving aperture aligned with and receiving the sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The spoiler of claim 1, the bracket further including a sensor mounting feature.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The spoiler of claim 14, the sensor mounting feature including a plurality of dimples.

### Claim 16

A spoiler comprising:
a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;
a bracket fixed to the lower shell and having a plurality of sensor apertures;
a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket and in alignment with the plurality of the sensor apertures;
a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket;
an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;
a plurality of window panes disposed across the sensor apertures of one of the bracket and the upper shell; and
a plurality of washer nozzles fixed to the one of the bracket and the upper shell to which the window panes are fixed and directed at the window panes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The spoiler of claim 16, wherein the CHMSL is fixed to the lower shell on CHMSL support tabs and is aligned with the CHMSL aperture in the upper shell.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The spoiler of claim 16, wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

### Claim 19

A spoiler, comprising:
a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;
a bracket fixed to the lower shell;
a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;
a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and
an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;
wherein the bracket includes a plurality of mounting tabs and the lower shell has an equal plurality of mounting surfaces and the mounting surfaces of the lower shell are in alignment with the mounting tabs of the bracket and the bracket and lower shell are welded to each other where the tabs overlap the mounting surfaces.

### Claim 20

A spoiler, comprising:
a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;
a bracket fixed to the lower shell;
a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;
a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and
an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL;
wherein the upper shell is removably fixed to the lower shell.

### Claim 21

A spoiler, comprising:
a lower shell extending substantially a width of a vehicle roof;
a bracket fixed to the lower shell, the bracket further including a sensor mounting feature, the sensor mounting feature including a plurality of dimples;
a plurality of optical sensors fixed to the bracket;
a CHMSL fixed to one of the lower shell and the bracket; and
an upper shell disposed over and fixed to the lower shell, and having a plurality of sensor apertures aligned with the sensors and a CHMSL aperture aligned with the CHMSL.