Autonomous rear viewing sensor mount
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsScott L Frederick, Andrew L Sakowski, Bill Castleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Autonomous vehicles are made by fitting sensors to non-autonomous vehicle platforms. A mounting structure to mount rear-facing sensors to the vehicle is needed to provide sensor data about the rear environment of the vehicle. The mounting structure is secured to the vehicle by utilizing existing vehicle body structures. The vehicle body structures include rearward roof chassis parts that provide stability and security to the mounting structure.
Claims18
An autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for a vehicle comprising:
- a bracket configured to fit the vehicle at an existing rear body structure of the vehicle, the bracket including mounts for sensors including at least one of a lidar and radar;
- the bracket further including reinforcement plate connections with extendable arms, the reinforcement plate connections including an s-shaped bend;
- wherein the mounts place the sensors in a rear-facing direction of the vehicle, and
- wherein the s-shaped bend determines a pitch angle of the sensors when the sensors are mounted on the mounts.
The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to c wherein existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a roof how reinforcement.
The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to c wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a rear header reinforcement.
A method of mounting an autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for a vehicle comprising:
- providing a bracket configured to fit the vehicle at an existing rear body structure of the vehicle, the bracket including mounts for sensors including at least one of a lidar and radar;
- the bracket further including reinforcement plate connections with extendable arms, the reinforcement plate connections including an s-shaped bend;
- wherein the mounts place the sensors in a rear-facing direction of the vehicle, and
- wherein the s-shaped bend determines a pitch angle of the sensors when the sensors are mounted on the mounts;
- removing a portion of an outer body of the vehicle, and
- attaching the bracket to the existing rear body structure of the vehicle at the removed portion.
A vehicle having an autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount, the vehicle comprising:
- one or more sensors;
- a bracket configured to fit the vehicle at an existing rear body structure of the vehicle, the bracket including mounts for the one or more sensors including at least one of a lidar and radar;
- the bracket further including reinforcement plate connections with extendable arms, the reinforcement plate connections including an s-shaped bend,
- wherein the mounts place the one or more sensors in a rear-facing direction of the vehicle, and
- wherein the s-shaped bend determines a pitch angle of the one or more sensors when the one or more sensors are mounted on the mounts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.