US 11,938,871 B1
Pedestrian protection system for sensor pod camera impact
Austin In-Jei Yi, San Francisco, CA (US); Mark Alan Bates, Kenilworth (GB); and Daniel Glenn Johnson, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed by Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/514,969.
Int. Cl. B60R 11/04 (2006.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01); G03B 17/56 (2021.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [G03B 17/561 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); B60R 2011/004 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0049 (2013.01); B60R 2011/008 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor pod comprising:
a frame configured to be coupled to a vehicle;
a camera coupled to the frame; and
an impact structure coupled to the frame, the impact structure comprising:
an outer surface configured to interface with an object during an impact, at least a portion of the outer surface disposed outboard of the camera; and
a baffle disposed between the outer surface and frame, the baffle comprising a sidewall defining a camera opening, and a deformation opening formed through the sidewall, the sidewall being configured to deform at the deformation opening to absorb energy in response to the object interfacing with the outer surface during the impact and the sidewall extending to a position outboard of a lens of the camera,
wherein at least a portion of the camera is aligned with the camera opening.