Mounting structure of vehicle sensor

Abstract

The present application provides a mounting structure of a sensor for a vehicle, which can stably obtain detection accuracy. The mounting structure of the sensor for the vehicle includes a hood (21) as an exterior member (2) provided in front of a vehicle body, a front bumper (22), a front fender (23), a front side frame (11) as a frame member supporting the exterior member (2), an upper member (12), a bumper cross member (14), and a road surface state detection device (3) detecting a road surface state in front of the vehicle, wherein the road surface state detection device (3) is fixed to the frame member located in front of a front wheel (W).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a mounting structure of a sensor for a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which a mounting structure of a road surface state detection mechanism (projection device 12 and camera 18) that detects a road surface state is mounted to a bumper.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-205196 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, since the bumper itself is low in rigidity, detection accuracy is reduced due to resonance occurring during travel. In addition, when the road surface state detection mechanism is mounted to the bumper, the bumper can sag under its own weight due to annual deterioration of the fixing mechanism or the like, and there is a possibility of affecting detection accuracy.

[0008] The present application aims to solve the foregoing problems, and to provide a mounting structure of a sensor for a vehicle that can stably achieve detection accuracy.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] The present application is characterized by having: an exterior member provided in front of a vehicle body; a frame member that supports a drive source that drives the exterior member or the vehicle; and a road surface state detection mechanism that detects a road surface state in front of the vehicle, the road surface state detection mechanism being fixed to the frame member located in front of a front wheel.

[0011] EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to the present application, a mounting structure of a sensor for a vehicle that can stably achieve detection accuracy can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a side view showing a mounting structure of a sensor for a vehicle of the present embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view when the mounting structure of the sensor for the vehicle of the present embodiment is viewed from the front of the vehicle body.

[0015] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view when the mounting structure of the sensor for the vehicle of the present embodiment is viewed from the front of the vehicle body.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a plan view of the vehicle sensor installation structure as seen from behind the front wheels in this embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 VV-line sectional view.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0019] 1. Body components

[0020] 2 External components

[0021] 3. Road surface condition detection device (road surface condition detection mechanism)

[0022] 11. Front side frame (frame component)

[0023] 12. Upper components (frame parts)

[0024] 13 Bumper beam extension

[0025] 14. Bumper crossbeam (frame component)

[0026] 21 Engine Hood

[0027] 22 Front bumper (bumper)

[0028] 23 Front Fender

[0029] 31 brackets

[0030] EG engine (drive source)

[0031] ER engine compartment

[0032] V vehicle

[0033] W front wheel Detailed Implementation

[0034] Hereinafter, the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For ease of explanation, the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor is illustrated in a simplified manner and is not limited to this embodiment. It should be noted that the description uses the vehicle's direction of travel as "forward," the direction of reversal as "rear," the vertically upward side as "upper," the vertically downward side as "lower," and the vehicle width direction as "left" and "right." Furthermore, since the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor is symmetrical from left to right, the following description mainly focuses on one side (left side), appropriately omitting the description of the other side (right side).

[0035] Figure 1 This is a side view showing the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor according to this embodiment. It should be noted that...Figure 1 The outline of the vehicle V is indicated by a double-dot chain line.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1 , the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor is configured by fixing a road surface state detecting device (road surface state detecting mechanism) 3 as the vehicle sensor to a vehicle body member 1 that forms a vehicle body.

[0037] The vehicle V is configured to mainly include the vehicle body member 1, an exterior member 2 that forms an outer side portion (outer contour) of the vehicle V, and the road surface state detecting device 3 that detects a road surface state. If the vehicle V is a car including the vehicle body member 1, the exterior member 2, and the road surface state detecting device 3 as such, the form and the kind thereof are not particularly limited. That is, the vehicle V is a passenger car, a bus, a truck, a work vehicle, or the like.

[0038] The vehicle body member 1 supports the exterior member 2 and is configured to include a front side frame 11 (frame member), an upper member 12 (frame member), a bumper beam extension 13, a bumper beam 14 (frame member), and the like.

[0039] The exterior member 2 is configured to include a hood 21, a front bumper 22 (bumper), and a fender 23. The hood 21 is a panel member that covers an upper surface of a front side of a front window glass. The front bumper 22 is located at a front side of the vehicle V and is configured by a panel member made of, for example, synthetic resin. In addition, the front bumper 22 has a front surface portion 22a provided with an air intake port and the like, and a bottom surface portion 22b that extends toward a rear side from a lower end of the front surface portion 22a. The front fender 23 is a panel member that covers around a front wheel W.

[0040] The road surface state detecting device 3 is a shock absorber control sensor that detects a state (road surface state) of a road surface R in front of the vehicle V and controls a shock absorber D of the vehicle V, and is fixed to the upper member 12 located in front of the front wheel W. The road surface state detecting device 3 in the present embodiment is configured to detect the state of the road surface R in front of the front wheel W as indicated by a thick solid line arrow. In addition, the road surface state detecting device 3 can be appropriately selected from among sensors of a radar type, a camera type, a laser type, and the like. In addition, as the road surface state detecting device 3, not only a single sensor but also a plurality of sensors of various types such as a camera type and a laser type can be combined.

[0041] Figure 2 is a perspective view when the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor of the present embodiment is observed from a front side of a vehicle body.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2 , the front side frame 11 is a pair of skeletal frame members that extend toward a rear side of the vehicle body from positions of the bumper beam 14 that are close to left and right end portions with the bumper beam extension 13 interposed therebetween.

[0043] The upper member 12 is a pair of left and right skeletal frame members provided extending from the front side lower end portion to the rear side upper end portion of the body side portion of the engine room ER in which the engine EG (driving source) of the vehicle V (see FIG. 1) is mounted. Note that the engine EG is supported by the left and right front side frames 11 via a sub frame, although not shown. Figure 1

[0044] Note that the mounting room in which the driving source is mounted is not limited to the engine room ER, and can be a motor room in which a motor of an electric motor vehicle or the like is accommodated. In addition, the mounting room in which the driving source is mounted can be an accommodation room in which a power storage device that supplies electric power to a traveling motor is accommodated.

[0045] In addition, the front end portion of the upper member 12 is connected to a bumper beam extension member 13 that is mounted to the left and right end portions of a bumper beam 14. The bumper beam extension member 13 is a metal buffer member that absorbs a collision load by collapsing when the vehicle V collides. In addition, the bumper beam extension member 13 is composed of a tubular member that is provided to the left and right of the vehicle width direction end portions of the bumper beam 14. In addition, the bumper beam extension member 13 is disposed between the bumper beam 14 and the front side frame 11.

[0046] The bumper beam 14 is a skeletal member provided extending in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the bumper beam 14 is composed of a steel material that has a long rectangular cross section in a longitudinal cross-sectional view. In addition, a buffer member (not shown) is mounted to the front of the bumper beam 14, extending in the vehicle width direction. In addition, a front bumper 22 (see FIG. 1) is fixed to the front side of the bumper beam 14. Figure 1

[0047] The road surface state detection device 3 is mounted to the side surface 12s of the upper member 12 on the outside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the road surface state detection device 3 is located at the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the upper member 12.

[0048] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor of the embodiment when viewed from the front of the vehicle body.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3 , the road surface state detection device 3 is fixed to the side surface 12s of the upper member 12 via a bracket 31.

[0050] The bracket 31 is metal, such as iron or aluminum alloy, and extends from the side surface 12s of the upper member 12 toward the outside in the left-right direction (width direction). In addition, the bracket 31 has an opening in the lower portion, and is fixed in a state in which a portion of the road surface state detection device 3 is inserted into the opening. Note that the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is an example, and is not limited to the embodiment.​​

[0051] Further, an opening portion 22c is formed in the bottom surface portion 22b of the front bumper 22 below the road surface state detecting device 3. Thereby, it is possible to take in the running wind (air) from the outside to the inside of the opening portion 22c at the time of running, and it is possible to blow away the foreign matter such as dust adhering to the road surface state detecting device 3. As a result, it is possible to stably obtain the detection accuracy of the road surface state detecting device 3.

[0052] Further, by forming the opening portion 22c in the bottom surface portion 22b of the front bumper 22 and below the road surface state detecting device 3, it is possible to make the laser from the road surface state detecting device 3 directly irradiate the road surface R through the opening portion 22c, and it is possible to highly accurately detect the road surface state.

[0053] Note that the position of the road surface state detecting device 3 is not limited to the side surface 12s of the upper member 12, and can be the front surface, the lower surface, or the like of the upper member 12.

[0054] Figure 4 is a plan view when the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor of the embodiment is observed from the rear of the front wheel.

[0055] However, as shown in Figure 4 , both end portions 14a, 14a in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) of the bumper beam 14 can not extend to the front of the front wheel W (a position surrounded by a symbol P). In the case of such a configuration, it is difficult to set the road surface state detecting device 3 in front of the front wheel W.

[0056] Thus, in the embodiment, the road surface state detecting device 3 is provided to the upper member 12 which is a frame member of the vehicle V (refer to Figure 3 ). Thereby, it is possible to set the road surface state detecting device 3 in front of the front wheel W, it is possible to detect the road surface state in front of the front wheel W, and it is possible to obtain high-accuracy road surface information.

[0057] Figure 5 is a V-V line sectional view of Figure 1 .

[0058] As shown in Figure 5 , the upper member 12 is formed in a rectangular shape by the upper surface portion 12a, the lower surface portion 12b, the left side surface portion 12c, and the right side surface portion 12d, and constitutes a closed section. By providing such an upper member 12 having a closed section, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the upper member 12.

[0059] The bracket 31 fixed to the upper member 12 is made of metal such as iron, and constitutes a door shape by the upper surface portion 31a, the left side surface portion 31b, and the right side surface portion 31c when viewed in section. The right side surface portion 31c is in surface contact with the left side surface portion 12c of the upper member 12. Further, the bracket 31 is fastened to the upper member 12 by a bolt B (refer toFigure 3 ) is fixed to the upper member 12. Note that the fixing mechanism of the upper member 12 and the bracket 31 can also be fixed by welding.

[0060] The road surface state detecting device 3 has a housing 3a of a square box shape, and the left and right side surfaces 3b, 3c of the housing 3a are fixed in a state of being sandwiched by the bracket 31. Note that the fixing mechanism of the road surface state detecting device 3 and the bracket 31 is performed, for example, using bolts.

[0061] In addition, since the bracket 31 is fixed in a state of being sandwiched by the left side surface portion 31b and the right side surface portion 31c of the road surface state detecting device 3, the road surface state detecting device 3 can be protected against an impact from the left side.

[0062] As described above, the mounting structure of the vehicle sensor of the present embodiment has the exterior member 2 (the engine hood 21, the front bumper 22, the front fender 23) provided in front of the vehicle body, the frame member (the front side frame 11, the upper member 12, the bumper cross member 14) that supports the exterior member 2, and the road surface state detecting device 3 that detects a road surface state in front of the vehicle. The road surface state detecting device 3 is fixed to the frame member (the front side frame 11, the upper member 12, the bumper cross member 14) that is located in front of the front wheel W (see FIG. 1). Thus, by mounting the road surface state detecting device 3 to the frame member, resonance at the road surface state detecting device 3 can be prevented, and detection accuracy can be stably obtained. As a result, high-precision road surface information can be obtained. Figures 1 to 3 ) of the present embodiment. Thus, an error between the road surface state detecting device 3 and the front wheel W is further reduced, and high-precision road surface information can be obtained.

[0063] In addition, the road surface state detecting device 3 of the present embodiment is fixed at a position overlapping in front of the front wheel W (see Figure 4 ) of the present embodiment. Thus, an error between the road surface state detecting device 3 and the front wheel W is further reduced, and high-precision road surface information can be obtained.

[0064] In addition, in the present embodiment, the frame member is constituted by the upper member 12 extending in the front direction from above the front wheel W, and the road surface state detecting device 3 is fixed to the side of the upper member 12 (see Figure 2 、 Figure 3 ) of the present embodiment. Thus, the mounting rigidity of the road surface state detecting device 3 can be improved, and vibration and resonance caused by insufficient rigidity can be reduced.

[0065] In addition, in the present embodiment, the upper member 12 is formed in a closed cross section (see Figure 5 ) of the present embodiment. Thus, the mounting rigidity of the road surface state detecting device 3 can be further improved, and as a result, vibration and resonance caused by insufficient rigidity can be reduced.

[0066] In addition, in the present embodiment, the exterior member 2 is constituted by the front bumper 22, and the front bumper 22 has an opening portion 22c below the road surface state detecting device 3 (seeFigure 3 ). Thus, the running wind can be taken in from the opening portion 22c, and dust and the like adhering to the road surface state detection device 3 can be blown away. As a result, high-precision road surface information can be stably acquired.

[0067] In addition, in the present embodiment, the exterior member 2 is constituted by the front bumper 22, and the road surface state detection device 3 is fixed to the rear side with respect to the bumper cross member 14 that supports the front bumper 22 in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 1). Thus, in a low-impact collision in which the bumper and the outer panel are deformed, the road surface state detection device 3 does not undergo positional displacement and the like, and the adjustment work of the road surface state detection device 3 can be reduced. Figure 1

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, the road surface state detection device 3 has a bracket 31 for fixing to the frame member (the upper member 12). The bracket 31 extends to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the road surface state detection device 3. Thus, the mounting rigidity of the road surface state detection device 3 can be improved, and vibrations and resonance caused by insufficient rigidity can be reduced.

[0069] Note that the present application is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. For example, the case in which the road surface state detection device 3 is mounted to the side surface 12s (left side surface) of the front end of the upper member 12 has been described, but the road surface state detection device 3 can also be mounted to the front side frame 11, which is a frame member, located forward with respect to the front wheel W.​

Claims

1. A mounting structure for a vehicle sensor, characterized in that, Having: an exterior member provided in front of a vehicle body; a frame member that supports a drive source that drives the exterior member or the vehicle; and a road surface state detecting mechanism that detects a road surface state in front of the vehicle, the road surface state detecting mechanism is fixed to the frame member that is located forward of a front wheel, the exterior member is composed of a bumper having a front face portion and a bottom face portion that extends toward the rear from a lower end of the front face portion, the bumper has an opening portion below the road surface state detecting mechanism, the opening portion is formed in the bottom face portion.

2. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the road surface state detecting mechanism is fixed at a position overlapping the front of the front wheel.

3. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is composed of an upper member that extends forward from above the front wheel, the road surface state detecting mechanism is fixed to the side of the upper member.

4. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the frame member is composed of an upper member that extends forward from above the front wheel, the road surface state detecting mechanism is fixed to the side of the upper member.

5. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the upper member is composed of a closed cross section.

6. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the upper member is composed of a closed cross section.

7. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the exterior member is composed of a bumper, the road surface state detecting mechanism is fixed rearward of a bumper cross member that supports the bumper and extends in the vehicle width direction.

8. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the road surface state detecting mechanism has a bracket for fixing to the frame member, the bracket extends outward in the vehicle width direction compared to the road surface state detecting mechanism.

9. The sensor mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the road surface state detecting mechanism has a bracket for fixing to the frame member, the bracket extends outward in the vehicle width direction compared to the road surface state detecting mechanism.

Images