JP2024033629A - Cover structure for peripheral information detection sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor that prevents or effectively suppresses adherence of raindrops to a detection unit of the peripheral information detection sensor while suppressing deterioration in aerodynamic performance.SOLUTION: An upper cover part 30 covering an upper side of peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24 is arranged so as to include the outer peripheral sides of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24 in vehicle plan view. An inclined part 32B provided continuously with the outer peripheral sides of the upper cover part 30 in the vehicle plan view, inclines to a side of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24 toward a vehicle downward side, and is arranged so as not to cover detection units 22A, 24A of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24. Additionally, a projection part 32C is formed on a part of a plane directed toward the outside of the vehicle, of the inclined part 32B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a known technology related to a structure in which a surrounding information detection sensor that detects surrounding information of a host vehicle is mounted on a vehicle roof (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2022-102245A

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, the detection part of the surrounding information detection sensor is basically exposed in order to detect surrounding information of the own vehicle well, so there is a concern that aerodynamic performance may deteriorate due to the installation of the surrounding information detection sensor. In addition, there is a concern that raindrops may adhere to the detection section of the surrounding information detection sensor during rainy weather.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor that can prevent or effectively suppress raindrops from adhering to the detection part of the peripheral information detection sensor while suppressing deterioration of aerodynamic performance. The purpose is to obtain.

A cover structure for a surrounding information detection sensor according to the present invention according to claim 1 covers an upper side of a surrounding information detection sensor that is mounted on a vehicle roof and includes a detection section that detects surrounding information of the own vehicle, and an upper cover part disposed so as to include the outer circumferential side of the surrounding information detection sensor in plan view; and an upper cover part disposed so as to be continuous with the outer circumferential side of the upper cover part in plan view of the vehicle and extending toward the lower side of the vehicle. The information detecting device includes an inclined portion that is inclined toward the information detection sensor side and is arranged so as not to cover the detection portion, and a protrusion that is formed on a part of the surface of the inclined portion that faces outside of the vehicle.

According to the above configuration, the detection section of the peripheral information detection sensor mounted on the vehicle roof detects surrounding information of the own vehicle, and the upper cover section that covers the upper side of the peripheral information detection sensor is It is arranged so as to include the outer circumferential side of the surrounding information detection sensor. Therefore, during rain, the upper cover portion prevents or suppresses raindrops from falling onto the surrounding information detection sensor. In addition, the inclined part provided so as to be continuous with the outer circumferential side of the upper cover part when viewed from the top of the vehicle is inclined toward the lower side of the vehicle toward the peripheral information detection sensor, so as not to cover the detection part of the peripheral information detection sensor. It is located. Therefore, air can be guided toward the surrounding information detection sensor without interfering with detection by the detection unit of the surrounding information detection sensor, and it is possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the surrounding information detection sensor due to the wind. At the same time, it is possible to adjust the flow of wind and suppress a decline in aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, since a protrusion is formed on a part of the surface of the slope facing outside the vehicle, when raindrops flow from above the protrusion on the slope, the position of the raindrops is controlled by the protrusion. Raindrops can be prevented from falling on the detection section of the surrounding information detection sensor.

As explained above, according to the cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor of the present invention, it is possible to prevent or effectively suppress raindrops from adhering to the detection part of the peripheral information detection sensor while suppressing deterioration of aerodynamic performance. It has the excellent effect of being able to

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view showing a part of the upper part of a vehicle to which a cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

A cover structure for a surrounding information detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 3. In addition, the arrow FR shown suitably in these figures has shown the vehicle front side, the arrow UP has shown the vehicle upper side, and the arrow OUT has shown the vehicle width direction outer side.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a part of a vehicle upper part 10 to which a cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor according to the present embodiment is applied. Note that the vehicle, a part of which is shown in FIG. 1, is a MaaS (Mobility as a Service) self-driving vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic driving kit 20 is mounted on the vehicle roof 12 in the upper part 10 of the vehicle. The automatic driving kit 20 is arranged at the upper front part of the vehicle roof 12. As a supplementary explanation, although illustration of the entire vehicle is omitted, the automatic driving kit 20 is arranged on the vehicle roof 12 at substantially the same position as the roof front sensor group disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2022-102245. ing.

The automatic driving kit 20 includes a plurality of peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24. Note that the peripheral information detection sensor 22 in the figure is a Lidar (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), and the peripheral information detection sensor 24 in the figure is a camera, but for convenience of explanation, the configurations indicated by reference numerals 22 and 24 are used. The name of the element is periphery information detection sensor. Note that since the Lidar and the camera are both well-known electronic devices, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The detection units 22A and 24A of the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 are both arranged so as to face the outside of the vehicle, so that they can detect surrounding information about the own vehicle. The detection unit 22A of the peripheral information detection sensor 22 including Lidar includes a light projecting unit that emits light in a pulsed manner and irradiating the laser beam, and a light receiving unit (an “optical surface”) that receives scattered light reflected from an object irradiated with the laser beam. (an element that can also be understood as Further, the detection section 24A of the peripheral information detection sensor 24 consisting of a camera is a light receiving section.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. A cross-sectional view is shown. Note that in FIGS. 2 and 3, the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24 including the detection units 22A and 24A are schematically shown in a simplified manner. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the automatic driving kit 20 includes a frame body 26 inside. As shown in FIG. 3, a peripheral information detection sensor 24 made of a camera is attached to a frame body 26 via a bracket 28. Further, although detailed illustration is omitted, the surrounding information detection sensor 22 made of Lidar shown in FIG. 2 is also indirectly attached to the frame body 26 in substantially the same manner.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the automatic driving kit 20 includes an upper cover section 30 on its upper part. The upper cover section 30 is provided above the frame body 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), covers the upper side of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24, and covers the upper side of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24 in a plan view of the vehicle. It is arranged so as to include the outer periphery of the

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper cover part 30 includes a top wall part 30A that forms a range other than the outer peripheral part and extends in the horizontal direction. The upper cover portion 30 also includes a slope portion 30B that slopes gently toward the vehicle lower side from the outer peripheral end of the top wall portion 30A toward the outer peripheral side thereof, and a hanging wall portion 30C that hangs down from the outer peripheral end of the slope portion 30B. , an inner bent portion 30D extending horizontally from the lower end of the hanging wall portion 30C toward the inner side of the automatic driving kit 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic driving kit 20 includes a lower cover part 32 on the lower side of the vehicle than the upper cover part 30. As shown in FIG. The lower cover part 32 is arranged at a position that connects the outer peripheral part of the upper cover part 30 and the upper surface side of the vehicle roof 12, and connects the detection parts 22A and 24A of the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24 to the outside of the vehicle. It is formed in such a shape that the middle part in the vertical direction is intermittently cut out so that it can be viewed from the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an upper end mounting portion 32A is provided at the upper end of the lower cover portion 32 and is arranged along the horizontal direction. It is joined to the lower surface side of the inner bent portion 30D. The lower cover part 32 is bent from the outer end (the left end in FIG. 2, the right end in FIG. 3) of the upper end attachment part 32A and is inclined toward the lower side of the vehicle toward the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24. A section 32B is provided. The inclined portion 32B is provided so as to be continuous with the outer peripheral side of the upper cover portion 30 in a plan view of the vehicle, and is arranged so as not to cover the detection portions 22A and 24A of the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a protrusion 32C is formed on a part of the surface of the inclined portion 32B facing toward the outside of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 32C includes, for example, a region corresponding to the position of the peripheral information detection sensor 24 disposed on the front side of the vehicle in the front part of the inclined part 32B in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Formed in a range. The overall shape of the protrusion 32C is, for example, approximately in the shape of a square so as not to impair aerodynamic performance.

Next, the functions and effects of this embodiment will be explained.

In this embodiment, the detection units 22A and 24A of the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 mounted on the vehicle roof 12 shown in FIG. 1 detect surrounding information about the own vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper cover part 30 that covers the upper side of the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24 is arranged so as to cover the outer periphery of the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24 when viewed from the top of the vehicle. There is. Therefore, when it rains, the upper cover section 30 prevents or suppresses raindrops from falling onto the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inclined portion 32B provided so as to be continuous with the outer circumferential side of the upper cover portion 30 in a plan view of the vehicle is inclined toward the lower side of the vehicle toward the peripheral information detection sensors 22 and 24, and It is arranged so as not to cover the detection parts 22A and 24A of the detection sensors 22 and 24. Therefore, the wind can be guided toward the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 without interfering with the detection by the detection units 22A and 24A of the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24, and the wind can direct the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 to the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24. It becomes possible to prevent the adhesion of water droplets, and also, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to adjust the flow of wind (see arrows A and B), and it becomes possible to suppress deterioration of aerodynamic performance. Further, although the peripheral information detection sensor 22 made of Lidar generates heat during operation, cooling performance of the peripheral information detection sensor 22 can be improved by guiding air to the peripheral information detection sensor 22 side. Note that arrow C in FIG. 2 indicates the flow of wind from the front side of the host vehicle as the host vehicle travels.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a protrusion 32C is formed on a part of the surface of the inclined portion 32B that faces outside of the vehicle. Therefore, when raindrops flow from above the projection 32C on the slope 32B, the projection 32C controls the falling position of the raindrop to prevent the raindrop from falling onto the detection section 24A of the surrounding information detection sensor 24. be able to. As a result, it is possible to suppress raindrops from affecting the image captured by the peripheral information detection sensor 24 made up of a camera.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 32C is formed in a substantially U-shape. Therefore, raindrops flowing from the upper side of the protrusion 32C on the inclined portion 32B can flow toward both ends of the substantially square shape (in the directions of arrows D1 and D2), and the surrounding information detection sensor 24 consisting of a camera can be It is possible to prevent or effectively suppress raindrops from falling onto the detection section 24A, and also to suppress deterioration of aerodynamic performance.

As described above, the cover structure for the peripheral information detection sensor of the present embodiment prevents raindrops from adhering to the detection parts 22A, 24A of the peripheral information detection sensors 22, 24 while suppressing deterioration of aerodynamic performance. can be effectively suppressed.

To provide a supplementary explanation, the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 are placed at positions where they can monitor the surroundings most effectively due to their roles, so the placement positions are determined by taking into consideration aerodynamic performance, cooling performance, the influence of raindrops, etc. However, in this embodiment, even if the surrounding information detection sensors 22 and 24 are placed in the position where surrounding monitoring can be performed most effectively, it is possible to suppress the decline in aerodynamic performance, improve cooling performance, and reduce raindrops. The impact can be suppressed.

In the embodiment described above, the overall shape of the protrusion 32C is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, but the protrusion formed on a part of the surface of the inclined part (32B) facing the outside of the vehicle is, for example, Something that can prevent or effectively suppress raindrops from falling on the surrounding information detection sensor (22, 24) on the lower side of the protrusion, such as one formed in the cross-sectional shape of a wing, while also suppressing the deterioration of air conditioning performance. It may be of a shape other than the shape of a large and approximately rectangular shape.

Although one example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented with various modifications other than the above without departing from the spirit thereof. .

12 Vehicle roof 22 Surrounding information detection sensor 22A Detection section 24 Surrounding information detection sensor 24A Detection section 30 Upper cover section 32B Inclined section 32C Projection section

Claims (1)

An upper side that covers the upper side of a peripheral information detection sensor that is mounted on the vehicle roof and includes a detection unit that detects peripheral information of the own vehicle, and is arranged so as to include up to the outer circumferential side of the peripheral information detection sensor when viewed from the top of the vehicle. a cover part;
an inclined part that is provided so as to be continuous with the outer peripheral side of the upper cover part in a plan view of the vehicle, is inclined toward the lower side of the vehicle toward the peripheral information detection sensor, and is arranged so as not to cover the detection part;
a protrusion formed on a part of the surface of the inclined portion facing outside the vehicle;
A cover structure for a peripheral information detection sensor having.