US 12,115,948 B2
Sensor assembly with cleaning
Tyler D. Hamilton, Farmington, MI (US); Kunal Chaudhari, Westland, MI (US); Venkatesh Krishnan, Canton, MI (US); Anthony Michael Regalbuto, Highland, MI (US); and Subba Reddy Boggu, Andhra Pradesh (IN)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/505,676.
Prior Publication US 2023/0120545 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B60S 1/54 (2006.01); B60S 1/56 (2006.01)
CPC B60S 1/54 (2013.01) [B60S 1/56 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor assembly comprising:
a sensor including a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis;
a cover fixed relative to the sensor, the cover being positioned to expose a circumferential portion of the sensor window, the circumferential portion extending circumferentially relative to the axis from a first end adjacent to the cover to a second end adjacent to the cover, the circumferential portion including a midpoint circumferentially between the first end and the second end;
a duct mounted to the sensor and extending through the axis, the duct including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet extending circumferentially from the first end of the circumferential portion to the second end of the circumferential portion, the duct including 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 bracket; and
a plurality of fasteners fixing the sensor and the duct to the bracket;
wherein the fasteners extend through the duct;
the deflector is positioned to direct the airflow around the fasteners; and
the fasteners include a first fastener, a second fastener, and a third fastener, the deflector includes a first flat side extending from the third fastener to the first fastener and positioned to direct airflow to the outlet at the first end of the circumferential portion before the airflow reaches the midpoint of the circumferential portion, and the deflector includes a second flat side extending from the third fastener to the second fastener and positioned to direct airflow to the outlet at the second end of the circumferential portion before the airflow reaches the midpoint of the circumferential portion.