Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Tyler D Hamilton

Venkatesh Krishnan

Michael Robertson, Jr

Raghuraman Surineedi

Segundo Baldovino

Rashaun Phinisee

Ashwin Arunmozhi

Kunal Chaudhari

Kunal Singh

Subba Reddy Boggu

Anthony Michael Regalbuto

Ashley Lucas

David Michael Herman

Colm Peter Boran

Alexander Petniunas

James Pizzimenti

Navvab Khajehosseini

Raghu Raman Surineedi

Fabio Ferreira

Shibu Koyadan Chathoth

Camila Silva

Moura Renato Da Rosa Borges

Henrico Quinelato

Paulo Henrique Ungaretti

A sensor apparatus includes a sensor including a sensor lens, an air nozzle fixed relative to the sensor lens and positioned to direct airflow out of the air nozzle across the sensor lens, and a fin positioned inside the air nozzle. The fin is rotatably coupled to the air nozzle and rotatable relative to the air nozzle around an axis of rotation. The fin is elongated radially from the axis of rotation. The fin is rotatable between a first position impeding airflow through the air nozzle and a second position permitting airflow through the air nozzle.

Sensor apparatus with cleaning

A sensor assembly includes a bracket fixed to a frame of a vehicle, two environmental sensors fixed to the bracket, and an insulating plate positioned between the environmental sensors and an inside of the vehicle. The sensor assembly may enhance the operation of the environmental sensors. Mounting both environmental sensors to the same bracket can permit more stringent position tolerances to be met by the environmental sensors compared to independently mounting the environmental sensors to the frame of the vehicle. Moreover, the bracket can provide a reference for locating the insulating plate. Additionally, the insulating plate can isolate the environmental sensors from heat generated by the vehicle, permitting the environmental sensors to more easily be kept within a temperature range for reliable operation. Finally, the same insulating plate can be used for both environmental sensors, in part due to the common position from the bracket.

Vehicle sensor assembly

An assembly for mounting a sensor to a vehicle includes a base, a sensor bracket, and a tolerance compensator between the base and the sensor bracket. The tolerance compensator is threadedly coupled to the base and releasably engaged with the sensor bracket in an assembled position. The assembly includes a washer including a hub fixed relative to the base and a plurality of tabs arranged circumferentially around the hub and extending radially relative to the hub. One of the tabs is moveable into engagement with the tolerance compensator in the assembled position.

Sensor assembly and method of installing to a vehicle

A cleaning assembly includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a first pump positioned to pump fluid out of the first reservoir, a second pump positioned to pump fluid out of the second reservoir, a connecting hose fluidly connecting the first reservoir and the second reservoir, and a third pump positioned to control fluid flow through the connecting hose. The third pump is operable to pump fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and the third pump is operable to pump fluid from the second reservoir to the first reservoir.

Cleaning assembly for vehicle sensors

An assembly includes a liftgate having a frame and a body panel supported by the frame, the body panel defining a plurality of openings, the openings providing access to the frame. The assembly includes a first cover covering the plurality of openings of the body panel. The assembly includes a second cover supported by the first cover and defining a chamber therebetween. The assembly includes a sensor assembly supported within the chamber between the first cover and the second cover.

Liftgate mounted sensor assembly

A sensor assembly includes a housing, a sensor unit attached to the housing, and a gutter fixed relative to the housing. The sensor unit includes a cylindrical shell defining a vertical axis. The cylindrical shell extends above a highest point of the housing. The cylindrical shell is rotatable around the axis relative to the housing. The cylindrical shell includes a lower edge and extending upward along the axis from the lower edge. The gutter is elongated along the lower edge and positioned directly below the lower edge relative to the axis. The gutter defines an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the gutter relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow outlet.

Sensor assembly

A sensor assembly includes a sensor including a sensor window, a cover fixed relative to the sensor, a bracket supporting the sensor, a duct extending around the sensor from an inlet at the cover adjacent to the sensor to an outlet at the cover adjacent to the sensor on an opposite side of the sensor from the inlet, and a deflector fixed relative to the sensor and spaced downwardly from the sensor. The cover is positioned to expose at least a portion of the sensor window. The duct extends between the sensor and the bracket. The deflector is shaped to direct airflow toward the sensor.

Sensor assembly with cleaning

An assembly includes a housing. The assembly includes an optical sensor supported within the housing. The assembly includes an airbag supported within the housing and deployable from a stowed position internal of the housing to an inflated position external of the housing. The airbag in the inflated position adjacent the optical sensor.

Sensor assembly with airbag

A closure on a vehicle with a sensor mounted to the closure that pivots relative to the closure as the closure is opened and closed to maintain a desired orientation of the sensor when the closure is in different positions.

Vehicle closure having automatic position adjusting sensor

A sensor assembly includes a base and a sensor housing mounted to the base. The sensor housing is rotatable relative to the base about an axis. The sensor housing includes a top panel having an exterior surface. A plurality of fins are disposed on the exterior surface and are fixed relative to the sensor housing. The fins extend radially outward relative to the axis.

Rotating sensor assembly

A sensor assembly includes a sensor including a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis, a cover fixed relative to the sensor, and a duct mounted to the sensor and extending through the axis. The cover is positioned to expose a circumferential portion of the sensor window. The circumferential portion extends circumferentially relative to the axis from a first end adjacent to the cover to a second end adjacent to the cover. The circumferential portion includes a midpoint circumferentially between the first end and the second end. The duct includes an inlet and an outlet. The outlet extends circumferentially from the first end of the circumferential portion to the second end of the circumferential portion. The duct includes a deflector positioned to direct airflow from the inlet to the outlet at the first end and second end of the circumferential portion before the airflow reaches the midpoint of the circumferential portion.

A lighting system may include a lamp assembly including a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly includes a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections each include a material having variable light transmissivity in response to an applied voltage, and wherein the light transmissivity of the first section is adjustable independent of the light transmissivity of the second section.

Vehicle lighting system including lamp assembly with one or more sections having variable light transmissivity

A sensor apparatus includes a first sensing device, a sensor housing, a bracket, a second sensor, and a channel plate. The sensor housing includes a first sensor window and a top panel, and the first sensing device has a field of view through the first sensor window. The bracket is mounted on top of the top plate. The second sensor is held by the bracket and includes a second sensor window. The channel plate is fixed to the bracket. The bracket includes a first nozzle aimed at the first sensor window and a second nozzle aimed at the second sensor window. The bracket includes a channel fluidly connected to the first nozzle and the second nozzle. The channel plate covers the channel.

A sensor assembly includes a first sensing device and a second sensing device spaced from the first sensing device. The sensor assembly includes a bracket supporting the first sensing device and the second sensing device and a sensor cover including a first sensor window and a second sensor window. The first sensing device has a first field of view through the first sensor window and the second sensing device having a second field of view through the second sensor window. The sensor assembly includes an air nozzle housing supported by the bracket and defining a first air nozzle aimed toward the first sensor window and a second air nozzle aimed toward the second sensor window. The sensor assembly includes a washer nozzle spaced from the first air nozzle. The washer nozzle aimed toward the first sensor window in a direction opposite to a direction of the first air nozzle.

Sensor assembly for a vehicle

A sensor apparatus includes a housing attachable to a vehicle and including a panel, a sensor window, a liquid nozzle fixed relative to the housing, and a tunnel. The panel includes a port. The sensor window is positioned in the port. The liquid nozzle is aimed at the sensor window. The liquid nozzle is positioned in a first horizontal direction from the port along the panel. The tunnel extends along the panel and is positioned in a second horizontal direction from the port, the second horizontal direction being opposite the first horizontal direction. The tunnel terminates at an opening positioned to receive fluid outputted by the nozzle.

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Farmington, MI, United States of America

Tyler D Hamilton