IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,730,449
Granted Patent B2
US 10,730,449 · App. 15/981,352 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Device for protecting an optical sensor, driving assistance system and corresponding assembly method

Inventors: Marcel Trebouet (Le Mesnil Saint Denis, FR); Frédéric Bretagnol (Issoire, FR); Giuseppe Grasso (Issoire, FR)
Assignee: Valeo Systémes d'Essuyage
B60R11/04B60R1/08B60S1/56G02B27/0006G02B27/01G02B27/0149G03B17/08B08B7/00G02B2027/0138
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,730,449
App. No.
15/981,352
Filed
May 16, 2018
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2872
USPC
359/508
Abstract

A device for protecting an optical sensor of a driver-assistance system for a motor vehicle, a corresponding driver-assistance system and a corresponding assembling process are disclosed. The optical sensor includes an optic and two assembled separate subassemblies. A first subassembly is mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation and includes a housing that is configured to at least partially receive the optical sensor and an optical element that is configured to be placed upstream of the optic of the optical sensor. A second subassembly includes an actuator that is configured to drive the first subassembly to rotate.

Claims (25)

1. A device for protecting an optical sensor of a driver-assistance system for a motor vehicle, the optical sensor comprising an optic, the protecting device comprising:

two assembled separate subassemblies, a first subassembly and a second subassembly, wherein:

the first subassembly is mounted to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation and comprises a housing that is configured to at least partially receive the optical sensor and an optical element that is configured to be placed upstream of the optic of the optical sensor;

the second subassembly comprises an actuator that is configured to drive the first subassembly to rotate, the actuator being a motor comprising a stator and a rotor.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one first assembling means borne by the first subassembly.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the housing of the first subassembly has, on its periphery, a peripheral skirt as the at least one first assembling means.

4. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising at least one second assembling means borne by the second subassembly.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the rotor comprises said at least one second assembling means.

6. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one means for locking the first subassembly assembled with the second subassembly.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical element and the housing form a single part.

8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a holder of the optical sensor.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motor is hollow.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the motor is a brushless motor comprising electromagnetic coils that are securely fastened to the stator and a magnet that is securely fastened to the rotor.

11. A driver-assistance system for a motor vehicle, said driver-assistance system comprising: the device for protecting the optical sensor according to claim 1 ; and the optical sensor comprising the optic.

12. A process for assembling the device for protecting according to claim 1 , comprising:

producing the first subassembly comprising:

the housing that is configured to at least partially receive the optical sensor, and

the optical element that is configured to be placed upstream of the optic of the optical sensor;

producing the second subassembly comprising the actuator that is configured to drive the first subassembly to rotate; and

assembling the first and the second subassemblies together.

13. The process according to claim 12 , further comprising the following substeps:

mounting the optical sensor on a holder; and

arranging the holder of the optical sensor in the interior of a hollow element of the actuator of the second subassembly.

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the first subassembly and the second subassembly are assembled with each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the optical sensor.

15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one orifice and at least one semipermeable membrane that is permeable to air and impermeable to water as anti-condensation means.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2018
From: TREBOUET, MARCEL; BRETAGNOL, FRÉDÉRIC; GRASSO, GIUSEPPE
To: VALEO SYSTÈMES D'ESSUYAGE
Reel/Frame 045845/0566 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 17 54334 · May 17, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180334109A1 · Nov 22, 2018