Configurable rear sensor bar for vehicles
A sensor bar that can be attached to a vehicle chassis is provided. The sensor bar includes a first main member, and two end caps attached to either end of the first main member. The two end caps are movable in a transverse direction with respect to the first main member. The two end caps can be moved as needed to vary the overall length of the sensor bar. This enables the sensor bar to be attached to various types of vehicle chassis that may have different widths. A plurality of sensors are disposed within this sensor bar and may be used to enable a variety of features of the vehicle like remote monitoring, autonomous driving, parking assistance, etc. Some of the sensors may move in sync with the end caps such that the sensor bar can be calibrated for any configuration and depending on the type of vehicle chassis.
1 . A sensor bar comprising:
a first member having a first side and an opposing second side;
a first end cap slidably coupled to the first side;
a second end cap slidably coupled to the second side;
a plurality of sensors disposed underneath at least one of the first end cap and the second end cap; and
one or more connection points usable to attach the sensor bar to a vehicle chassis, wherein the first member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first pair of channels disposed on the first surface, and a second pair of channels disposed on the first surface;
a third pair of channels disposed on the second surface;
a fourth pair of channels disposed on the second surface;
a first pair of rails disposed on a first interior surface of the first end cap;
a second pair of rails disposed on a second interior surface of the first end cap; and
wherein the first pair of rails is configured to engage with the first pair of channels and the second pair of rails is configured to engage with the third pair of channels to allow the first end cap to slide in a transverse direction with respect of the first member.
2 . The sensor bar of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more of:
proximity sensors;
ultrasonic sensors;
image sensors;
LIDAR sensors; or
radar sensors.
3 . The sensor bar of claim 1 , further comprising a camera housing attached to the first member and a camera disposed within the camera housing.
4 . The sensor bar of claim 1 , wherein a first channel of the first pair of channels is parallel to a second channel of the first pair of channels.
5 . The sensor bar of claim 1 , wherein a first channel of the first pair of channels is disposed in-line with a second channel of the second pair of channels.
6 . The sensor bar of claim 1 , wherein the first member defines a chamber, and the sensor bar further comprising:
a sensor holding mechanism disposed at least partially within the chamber; and
a subset of the plurality of sensors attached to the sensor holding mechanism, wherein at least a portion of the sensor holding mechanism is configured to translate in a transverse direction along with the first end cap or the second end cap.
7 . A sensor bar comprising:
a first rigid member;
a first end cap movably connected to a first end of the first rigid member;
a second end cap movably connected to a second end of the first rigid member;
one or more sensors coupled to the first end cap and the second end cap;
at least one sensor attached to an external surface of the first rigid member; and
one or more connection points disposed on the first rigid member and usable to connect the sensor bar to a vehicle chassis,
wherein the first rigid member comprises a first pair of channels disposed on a first surface and a second pair of channels disposed on the first surface,
wherein a first channel of the first pair of channels is disposed parallel to a second channel of the first pair of channels,
wherein a third channel of the second pair of channels is disposed parallel to a fourth channel of the second pair of channels,
wherein the first rigid member comprises a third pair of channels disposed on a second surface,
wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface,
wherein the first end cap includes a first pair of rails and a second pair of rails,
wherein the first pair of rails is configured to physically engage with the first pair of channels, and
wherein the second pair of rails is configured to physically engage with the third pair of channels.
8 . The sensor bar of claim 7 , wherein the first channel is disposed in-line with the third channel and the second channel is disposed in-line with the fourth channel.
9 . The sensor bar of claim 7 , wherein the first channel is disposed in a transverse direction with respect to the first rigid member and the second end cap is movable in the transverse direction with respect to the first rigid member.
10 . The sensor bar of claim 7 , wherein the first rigid member defines an internal chamber, the sensor bar further comprising:
a sensor holding mechanism at least partially disposed within the internal chamber,
wherein a subset of the one or more sensors is attached to the sensor holding mechanism, and wherein at least a portion of the sensor holding mechanism is configured to translate synchronously with the first end cap or the second end cap.
11 . The sensor bar of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of:
proximity sensors;
ultrasonic sensors;
image sensors;
LIDAR sensors; or
radar sensors.
12 . A sensor bar comprising:
a first member defining an internal chamber;
a first end cap slidably coupled to a first end of the first member;
a second end cap slidably coupled to a second end of the first member;
a sensor holding mechanism at least partially disposed in the internal chamber; and
one or more sensors attached to the sensor holding mechanism, wherein at least a portion of the sensor holding mechanism is movable in a transverse direction with respect to the first member,
wherein the first member includes two pairs of channels disposed on a first surface and two pairs of channels disposed on a second surface opposing the first surface,
wherein the first end cap comprises two pairs of rails and the second end cap comprises two pairs of rails,
wherein a first pair of channels is disposed on the first surface and a second pair of channels is disposed on the second surface, the first pair of channels and the second pair of channels configured to respectively engage with the two pairs of rails of the first end cap, and
wherein a third pair of channels is disposed on the first surface and a fourth pair of channels is disposed on the second surface, the third pair of channels and the fourth pair of channels configured to respectively engage with the two pairs of rails of the second end cap.
13 . The sensor bar of claim 12 , wherein:
the first end cap comprises a first window configured to expose at least one sensor of the one or more sensors to an external environment.