# US 10,766,430 B2 · Autonomous rear viewing sensor mount > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,430 B2 - Document ID: US10766430B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/040,909 - Filed: 2018-07-20 - Published: 2020-01-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-20 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Scott L Frederick; Andrew L Sakowski; Bill Castleman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766430B2 ## CPC - B60R 11/00: Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - G01S 7/02: of systems according to group G01S13/00 - G01S 7/4813: {Housing arrangements} - B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle} - G01S 7/027: {Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness} - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - G01S 2013/93273: {on the top of the vehicles} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a mounting plate modularly attaching the mounts to different parts of the bracket. ### Claim 3 The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to c wherein existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a roof how reinforcement. ### Claim 4 The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to c wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a rear header reinforcement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to claim 1, wherein the bracket provides access from inside a cabin of the vehicle to the sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount according to claim 1, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is near a highest point of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the bracket includes a mounting plate modularly attaching the mounts to different parts of the bracket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a roof bow reinforcement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a rear header reinforcement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the bracket provides access from inside a cabin of the vehicle to the sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the bracket includes reinforcement plate connections with extendable arms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of mounting the autonomous rear-viewing sensor mount for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is near a highest point of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the bracket includes a mounting plate modularly attaching the mounts to different parts of the bracket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a roof bow reinforcement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the existing rear body structure of the vehicle is a rear header reinforcement. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the bracket provides access from inside a cabin of the vehicle to the one or more sensors.