US 11,743,564 B2
Sensor platform for autonomous vehicles
Daniel Adam Kanitz, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Wesly Mason Rice, Glenshaw, PA (US); Chad Jonathan Staller, Verona, PA (US); Robert Kip Terhune, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Andrew Joseph Chellman, Glenshaw, PA (US)
Assigned to UATC, LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by UATC, LLC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/138,014.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/104,125, filed on Oct. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0132004 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 23/54 (2023.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 23/54 (2023.01) [B60R 11/04 (2013.01); B60W 60/001 (2020.02); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01); B60R 2011/004 (2013.01); B60W 2420/42 (2013.01); B60W 2420/52 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor platform for mounting a light detection and ranging (Lidar) unit and a camera to an autonomous vehicle, the sensor platform comprising:
a Lidar mount couplable to the autonomous vehicle, the Lidar mount comprising a first surface and a second surface that is different from the first surface, the Lidar mount defining a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture respectively extending through the first surface of the Lidar mount and the second surface of the Lidar mount;
a camera mount; and
a cover for the Lidar mount and the camera mount, the cover including a backboard and a hoop extending from the backboard to define a first opening for the Lidar unit, the cover further defining a second opening for the camera,
wherein the Lidar unit is couplable to the first surface of the Lidar mount with a first fastener configured to extend through the first aperture of the Lidar mount, and
wherein the camera mount is couplable to the second surface of the Lidar mount with a second fastener configured to extend through the second aperture of the Lidar mount.