Sensor assembly with integral defroster/defogger
A sensor assembly configured for use in a motor vehicle is presented. The sensor assembly includes a sensor device such as a camera, LIDAR, RADAR, or ultrasonic transceiver, and a housing that is at least partially formed of an electrically conductive polymeric material. The housing has a pair of electrically conductive terminals connected to the electrically conductive polymeric material. The pair of electrically conductive terminals are configured to be interconnected with an electrical power supply. When the terminals are connected to the power supply, the housing heats to remove snow, ice, frost and/or condensation from the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is suitable for use with a back-up camera, blind spot warning system, lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control system and/or autonomous driving control system.
1. A sensor housing assembly configured for placement on a motor vehicle outside of a passenger compartment and heated to remove snow, ice, frost, or condensation, the sensor housing assembly comprising:
a sensor device; and
a sensor housing formed of an electrically conductive polymeric material and defining an opening through which the sensor device can observe the surrounding environment,
wherein the electrically conductive polymeric material comprises polypropylene or polyamide and conductive particles having a size between 1 and 100 nanometers,
wherein the electrically conductive polymeric material has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) electrical resistance property,
wherein the sensor housing has a pair of electrically conductive terminals connected to the electrically conductive polymeric material and configured for interconnection with an electrical power supply.
2. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein outer walls of the sensor housing are formed of the electrically conductive polymeric material.
3. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon black particles.
4. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a transparent window covering the opening and wherein the sensor device is an optical sensor device.
5. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 4 , wherein only the transparent window comprises the electrically conductive polymeric material.
6. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are metallic nanowires.
7. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the optical sensor device is a visible light camera.
8. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing comprises a nonconductive opaque plastic material covering the opening and wherein the sensor device is a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) transceiver.
9. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a temperature sensing element.
10. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is disposed on the motor vehicle outside of the passenger compartment.
11. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor assembly is a component of an automated vehicle control system.
12. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are graphene particles.
13. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are fullerene particles.
14. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon nanotubes.
15. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are metallic particles.
16. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are metallic fibers.
17. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are metal plated fiber particles.
18. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles metal-plated nanofibers.
19. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon nanotubes.
20. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are graphene nanoparticles.
21. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are graphene oxide nanoparticles.
22. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the optical sensor device is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transceiver.
23. The sensor housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing comprises a nonconductive opaque plastic material covering the opening and wherein the sensor device is an ultrasonic transceiver.