Bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a cross member (4) for arrangement on a vehicle front or a vehicle rear of the motor vehicle, a camera (6) arranged in front of the cross member (4) for capturing a vehicle environment and a detection device (8) arranged between the cross member (4) and the camera (6) for detecting an impact-related mispositioning of the camera (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle with such a bumper arrangement.

[0002] To protect vehicle occupants in the event of a collision, modern motor vehicles are equipped with bumper systems at the front and rear. These bumper systems typically incorporate cameras for parking assistance or, in (partially) automated vehicles, cameras to support other driving functions such as emergency braking.

[0003] With current technology, integrating these cameras into bumper assemblies requires a significant distance between the cameras and incompressible parts of the bumper assembly in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This is because the front section of the bumper assembly must be sufficiently deformable to withstand a leg impact, while simultaneously protecting the camera from being misaligned, for example, during parking bumps. Driving with a misaligned camera can lead to serious accidents, depending on the camera's function, and therefore must be reliably prevented.

[0004] With regard to protecting a camera from being moved, it is not possible to protect the camera with hard structures, because otherwise an impacting leg would be subjected to legally unacceptable deformations.

[0005] Therefore, according to the current state of the art, the only remaining solution is to increase the deformation path of a bumper assembly to such an extent that the camera is not destroyed when the front of the bumper assembly is deformed by a pendulum or leg impact, and returns to its original position or an acceptable intermediate position after the pendulum or leg impact test. As soon as permanent plastic deformations remain on the front of the bumper assembly, the camera, which is mounted on the deformed front of the bumper assembly, is unintentionally displaced. Furthermore, an additional deformation path lengthens the vehicle, which has various negative consequences. For example, a longer vehicle is heavier, parking becomes more difficult, and handling in logistics and factories is more challenging.

[0006] While other solutions exist to circumvent the aforementioned problems, such as positioning the camera above and below the bumper assembly, these measures also present challenges. Current driver assistance system developments often place a radar unit below the bumper assembly, typically mounted to the crossmember. This leaves no space for the camera in this area. While the camera can be integrated into the package above the bumper assembly, it then sits within the vehicle's body color and appears visually striking as a black island on, for example, a white vehicle, which is problematic from a design perspective. Furthermore, the integration of cleaning nozzles may necessitate a cover, adding extra effort (weight, cost, etc.) and creating a larger area of ​​disruption to a clean, unobtrusive design.

[0007] German patent DE 10 2018 207487 A1 discloses a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle with a camera and a magnet for detecting the camera's position. US patent 2023 / 0 060 152 A1 discloses a vehicle structure with an energy absorber for protecting functional components.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above of a bumper arrangement with a camera for capturing the vehicle's surroundings. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle that includes a camera for capturing the vehicle's surroundings, in which the risk of accidents caused by impact-induced positional changes of the camera is minimized in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner.

[0009] The aforementioned problem is solved by the claims. Accordingly, the problem is solved by a bumper arrangement having the features of independent claim 1 and by a motor vehicle having the features of dependent claim 10. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the bumper arrangement according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the motor vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention is always, or can always be, mutually interdependent.

[0010] According to the invention, a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided. The bumper arrangement according to the invention comprises a cross member for placement on the front or rear of the motor vehicle, a camera arranged in front of the cross member for capturing the vehicle's surroundings, and a detection device arranged between the cross member and the camera for detecting an impact-induced mispositioning of the camera.

[0011] According to the invention, the bumper arrangement, in particular by the inventive arrangement of a camera arranged in front of the cross member for capturing a vehicle environment and a detection device arranged between the cross member and the camera for detecting an impact-related mispositioning of the camera, is designed to minimize the risk of accidents caused by impact-related position changes of the camera in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner.

[0012] The bumper arrangement according to the invention can preferably be arranged in the front and / or rear area of ​​a motor vehicle. It is understood that the bumper arrangement according to the invention can be used not only in motor vehicles such as passenger cars or trucks, but also in commercial vehicles or the like. The camera can be provided for parking assistance or, in the course of (partially) automated driving functions, can perform further functions such as emergency braking or the like. In combination with other cameras, e.g., on the mirrors and at the rear of the vehicle, the camera can preferably form a real-top-view system that allows a user to view the vehicle from a bird's-eye perspective. Within the scope of the invention, an impact-induced mispositioning of the camera can be understood in particular as the unintentional displacement or realignment of a camera caused by a physical impact or shock.

[0013] The inventive idea of ​​a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle with a camera for capturing the vehicle's surroundings is based on not protecting the camera from parking bumps with bulky systems, but rather providing a detection device only for the rare case of camera misalignment. This device can warn the driver of the misaligned camera, so that in (semi-)autonomous driving systems the driver no longer relies on the misaligned camera or can disable the (semi-)autonomous driving system.

[0014] Another advantage of this arrangement is that a high-quality design is achieved through a low and discreet camera position. The camera can be easily concealed by dark trim pieces in the lower part of the vehicle, and additional bezels are not strictly necessary for integration. Furthermore, parking bumps can be detected even when the vehicle is switched off, without requiring any additional power, as soon as the vehicle is switched on.

[0015] To generate effective impact protection, it is advantageously provided that a foam body is included to absorb impact forces, the foam body preferably being arranged between the camera and the crossbeam, and in particular being formed in one piece. The foam body can preferably be made of a polymer foam of expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene or polyurethane, or of fiber-reinforced plastics, in particular carbon fiber-reinforced or glass fiber-reinforced plastics.

[0016] With a view to a structurally simple design for the sensitive and reliable detection of impact-induced mispositioning of a camera, it is advantageously provided according to the invention that the detection device is arranged at least partially between the camera and the foam body, wherein the detection device is at least partially attached to the foam body, in particular at least partially bonded to the foam body. It is understood that the detection device in question can also be arranged on a different support material (alternative support material or intermediate support material).

[0017] In the context of particularly sensitive and reliable detection of impact-induced mispositioning of a camera, the invention advantageously provides that the foam body has a recess, wherein the detection device is arranged above the recess, preferably stretched over the recess, and in particular bonded to the foam body at an edge region of the recess. It is understood that a corresponding arrangement can also be implemented with a different carrier material. The detection device can, in particular, be attached to the foam body or the substitute carrier material via the carrier material. The recess in the foam body or the substitute carrier material can preferably be arranged in the area of ​​the camera, so that the camera can move virtually unhindered in the direction of the crossbeam in the event of a parking bump.

[0018] With a view to a structurally simple and, in particular, automatable design for the sensitive and reliable detection of impact-induced mispositioning of a camera, the invention provides that the detection device has a network of conductive traces applied to a substrate material. If, due to its position in front of a recess in the foam body or the substitute substrate material, the camera is moved unhindered towards the crossmember during a parking bump, the camera collides with the network of conductive traces and can destroy at least parts of the network. This can then be detected via an increased measurable electrical resistance. This can be determined, for example, ad hoc by a control unit when the vehicle is started and transmitted to the vehicle electronics, which can then send a warning message.

[0019] To detect even very minor parking bumps and thus marginal positional changes of a camera caused by an impact, it is advantageous to position the camera less than 5 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, and particularly less than 1 cm, in front of the detection device. This allows for the reliable detection of impact-induced misalignment even with a deformation path of just a few centimeters. Depending on the design of the camera mounting and the detection device, a minimum distance of at least 0.5 cm may be advisable to prevent false detections caused by the inevitable vibrations that occur while the vehicle is in motion.

[0020] Similarly, to achieve high detection sensitivity, the conductor tracks of the detection device can be made of a material with an elongation at break of < 10%, preferably a material with an elongation at break of < 3%, wherein the conductor tracks of the detection device are made in particular of one of the following materials: cast iron, tungsten, tungsten carbide, beryllium, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, or chromium. Thus, with appropriate positioning of the camera in front of the detection device, even a minor parking bump (a force acting essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) and consequently even a small displacement of the camera's position relative to the detection device can lead to the destruction of a portion of the conductor tracks, which can then be detected by means of an increased measurable electrical resistance.The elongation at break can be determined in particular according to DIN EN 10002-1 or DIN EN ISO 6892-1 (according to the standards in force at the time of filing). According to the invention, the elongation at break of a conductor track or material can be understood in particular as the plastic deformability of a material until fracture. Preferably, the elongation at break is as low as possible, which corresponds to low fracture toughness and low ductility with low geometric stiffness.

[0021] With a view to a structurally simple design for the sensitive and reliable detection of an impact-induced mispositioning of a camera, it can advantageously be provided according to the invention that the detection device has a membrane in which the network of conductor tracks is incorporated.

[0022] To enable the determination of impact-induced camera mispositioning in a manner that is as temperature-independent as possible, the conductive traces of the detection device can be made of a material with a linear coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 20 µm / (mK), preferably less than 15 µm / (mK), and particularly less than 10 µm / (mK). Such a low coefficient of thermal expansion for a metallic material means that the material changes its size only slightly when the temperature is varied, so that the electrical resistance also changes only minimally with temperature, and thus no temperature-related measurement inaccuracies occur.

[0023] Similarly, to achieve high detection sensitivity, a plurality of detection devices may be provided, preferably arranged in series, and in particular comprising conductive traces, the conductive traces of different detection devices being offset from one another. In this way, a large difference in electrical resistance can be detected with fewer conductive traces.

[0024] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a bumper arrangement as described above, preferably two bumper arrangements as described above. The motor vehicle according to the invention thus offers the same advantages as those already described in detail with regard to the bumper arrangement according to the invention.

[0025] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026] They show schematically: Fig. 1 a bumper arrangement according to the invention for a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment in a spatial view, Fig. 2 a detection device according to the invention in a front view according to a first embodiment (left) and a second embodiment (right).

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a bumper arrangement 2 according to the invention for a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment in a spatial view.

[0028] As per Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the bumper arrangement 2 according to the invention comprises a cross member 4 attached to two longitudinal members 4' for arrangement on a vehicle front FF or a vehicle rear of the motor vehicle, a camera 6 arranged in front of the cross member 4 for capturing a vehicle environment and a detection device 8 arranged between the cross member 4 and the camera 6 for detecting an impact-related mispositioning of the camera 6.

[0029] Furthermore, the bumper arrangement 2 according to the invention has a foam body 12 for absorbing impact forces, wherein the foam body 12 is arranged between the camera 6 and the cross member 4 and is formed in one piece in the present case.

[0030] The detection device 8 is at least partially arranged between the camera 6 and the foam body 12 and is attached to the foam body 12, in this case bonded to the foam body 12 via an adhesive surface 26.

[0031] The foam body 12 has a recess 14 over which the detection device 8 is arranged. The detection device 8 is stretched over the recess 14 and bonded to the foam body 12 at an edge region of the recess 14.

[0032] The detection device 8 has a network of conductor tracks 16 (see in particular Fig. 2), which are applied to a carrier material 18.

[0033] The camera 6 is positioned at a distance of less than 5 cm, preferably at a distance of less than 2 cm, and in particular at a distance of less than 1 cm in front of the detection device 8, so that the camera 6 is displaced in its position when a force is applied in the direction of force KR, e.g. by a parking bump, and as a result of the positional displacement, conductor tracks 16 are cut, which in turn can be detected by a control unit 20 via an increased electrical resistance, whereupon a warning message 24 can be issued.

[0034] Fig. Figure 2 shows a detection device 8 according to the invention in a front view according to a first embodiment (left) and a second embodiment (right).

[0035] As per Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the detection device 8 according to the invention comprises a network of conductor tracks 16 which are applied to a carrier material 18.

[0036] The conductor tracks 16 of the detection device 8 are made of a material with an elongation at break of < 10%, preferably of a material with an elongation at break of < 3%, and of a material with a linear coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 20 µm / (mK), preferably of less than 15 µm / (mK), in particular of less than 10 µm / (mK).

[0037] As per Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, a plurality of detection devices 8 can be provided, arranged one behind the other and having conductive traces 16, wherein the conductive traces 16 of different detection devices 8 are arranged offset from one another. In the first embodiment, the conductive traces 16 of different detection devices 8 are arranged perpendicular to one another, whereas in the second embodiment, the conductive traces 16 of different detection devices 8 are arranged parallel to one another.

[0038] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Bumper assembly (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cross member (4) for arrangement on a vehicle front or vehicle rear of the motor vehicle, - a camera (6) arranged in front of the cross member (4) for capturing the vehicle's surroundings, - a detection device (8) arranged between the crossbeam (4) and the camera (6) for detecting an impact-induced mispositioning of the camera (6), wherein the detection device (8) has a network of conductor tracks (16) applied to a carrier material (18). [2] Bumper arrangement (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that a foam body (12) is provided to absorb impact forces, wherein the foam body (12) is preferably arranged between the camera (6) and the cross member (4), wherein the foam body (12) is in particular formed in one piece. [3] Bumper arrangement (2) according to claim 2, characterized bythat the detection device (8) is arranged at least partially between the camera (6) and the foam body (12), wherein the detection device (8) is attached at least partially to the foam body (12), in particular is at least partially bonded to the foam body (12). [4] Bumper arrangement (2) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by that the foam body (12) has a recess (14), wherein the detection device (8) is arranged above the recess (14), preferably stretched over the recess (14), and in particular is bonded to the foam body (12) at an edge area of ​​the recess (14). [5] Bumper arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the camera (6) is placed at a distance of less than 5 cm, preferably at a distance of less than 2 cm, in particular at a distance of less than 1 cm in front of the detection device (8). [6] Bumper arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the conductor tracks (16) of the detection device (8) are made of a material with an elongation at break of < 10%, preferably of a material with an elongation at break of < 3%, wherein the conductor tracks (16) of the detection device (8) are in particular made of one of the following materials: cast iron, tungsten, tungsten carbide, beryllium or chromium. [7] Bumper arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the detection device (8) has a membrane in which the network of conductor tracks (16) is incorporated. [8] Bumper arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the conductor tracks (16) of the detection device (8) are made of a material with a linear coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 20 µm / (mK), preferably less than 15 µm / (mK), in particular less than 10 µm / (mK). [9] Bumper arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a plurality of detection devices (8) are provided, wherein the detection devices (8) are preferably arranged one behind the other, wherein the detection devices (8) in particular have conductor tracks (16), wherein the conductor tracks (16) of different detection devices (8) are arranged offset from each other. [10] Motor vehicle comprising one, preferably two bumper arrangements (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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