Sensor apparatus
A sensor apparatus includes a housing, a LIDAR sensor attached to the housing, a window attached to the housing, and a film covering the window and removable from the window. The window may be cylindrical. The film may be a first film, and the sensor apparatus may include a second film covering the first film and removable from the first film.
1. A sensor apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a LIDAR sensor attached to the housing;
a cylindrical window attached to the housing and defining an axis;
a first film covering the window, extending fully about the axis from a first seam back to the first seam, and removable from the window; and
a second film covering the first film, extending fully about the axis from a second seam back to the second seam, and removable from the first film; and
wherein the first seam and second seam are circumferentially spaced from each other around the axis.
2. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a first housing, further comprising a second housing, wherein the window is attached to the second housing.
3. The sensor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second housings are cylindrical.
4. The sensor apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the window is less than a diameter of the first housing.
5. The sensor apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the window is less than a diameter of the second housing.
6. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third film covering the second film and removable from the second film.
7. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first film is cling film.
8. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first film includes adhesive attaching the film to the window.
9. The sensor apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the adhesive is bonded more strongly to the first film than to the window.
10. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first film includes a hydrophobic surface treatment.
11. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle body, wherein the housing is mounted to the vehicle body.
12. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a housing mounted to the vehicle body;
a LIDAR sensor attached to the housing;
a cylindrical window attached to the housing and defining an axis;
a first film covering the window, extending fully about the axis from a first seam back to the first seam, and removable from the window; and
a second film covering the first film, extending fully about the axis from a second seam back to the second seam, and removable from the first film; and
wherein the first seam and second seam are circumferentially spaced from each other around the axis.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle body includes an A pillar, further comprising an arm extending from the A pillar to the housing.
14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the housing is a first housing, further comprising a second housing, wherein the window is attached to the second housing.
15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first film is cling film.
16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first film includes adhesive attaching the film to the window.