IP Library Granted Patent US 12704600
Granted Patent B2
US 12704600 · App. 18/151,501 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Sensor assembly

Inventors: Michael Robertson, Jr. (Garden City, MI); Shiyamkumaran Neelakandan (Porur, IL); Venkatesh Krishnan (Canton, MI); Rashaun Phinisee (Ypsilanti, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G01S7/4813G01S7/027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704600
App. No.
18/151,501
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a housing defining a chamber and a sensor positioned in the chamber. The housing includes a wall. The wall includes a recessed portion. The recessed portion includes a port. The sensor has a field of view extending through the port. The recessed portion includes an opening to the chamber, and the opening is spaced from the port in a first direction. The wall includes a vent to the chamber, and the vent is spaced from the recessed portion in the first direction.

Claims (31)

1 . A sensor assembly comprising:

a housing including a wall, the wall including a recessed portion, the recessed portion including a port, the housing defining a chamber;

a sensor positioned in the chamber and having a field of view extending through the port; and

a nozzle aimed at the sensor;

wherein the recessed portion includes an opening to the chamber, the opening spaced from the port in a first direction; and

wherein the wall includes a vent to the chamber, the vent spaced from the recessed portion in the first direction.

2 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion includes an outer edge circumscribing the recessed portion, and the port is spaced from the outer edge.

3 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is positioned to discharge through the port.

4 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is positioned in the chamber.

5 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a blower positioned to supply pressurized air to the nozzle.

6 . The sensor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the blower is positioned to draw in air from the chamber.

7 . The sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the blower includes a blower inlet, and the blower inlet is positioned in the chamber.

8 . The sensor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a duct positioned to receive pressurized air from the blower and extending through the chamber to the nozzle.

9 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a horizontal direction.

10 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped to be attachable to a body panel of a vehicle.

11 . The sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first direction is a vehicle-forward direction relative to the vehicle when the housing is attached to the body panel of the vehicle.

12 . The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the vent faces in the vehicle-forward direction when the housing is attached to the body panel of the vehicle.

13 . The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the opening faces away from the vehicle-forward direction when the housing is attached to the body panel of the vehicle.

14 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor defines an axis at a center of the field of view of the sensor, and the sensor is positioned to define a gap along the axis between the sensor and the port.

15 . The sensor assembly of claim 14 , wherein the gap extends along the port opposite the first direction from the opening.

16 . The sensor assembly of claim 14 , wherein the gap is open to the chamber.

17 . The sensor assembly of claim 14 , wherein the nozzle is positioned in the gap.

18 . A sensor assembly comprising:

a housing including a wall, the wall including a recessed portion, the recessed portion including a port, the housing defining a chamber; and

a sensor positioned in the chamber and having a field of view extending through the port;

wherein the recessed portion includes an opening to the chamber, the opening spaced from the port in a first direction;

wherein the wall includes a vent to the chamber, the vent spaced from the recessed portion in the first direction;

wherein the recessed portion includes an outer edge circumscribing the recessed portion; and

wherein the port is spaced from the outer edge.

19 . The sensor assembly of claim 18 , wherein the opening is spaced from the outer edge.

20 . The sensor assembly of claim 18 , wherein the recessed portion extends into the chamber from the outer edge to the port.