Assembly comprising a radar support, a radar radome and a protective cover of a motor vehicle

Abstract

An assembly comprising a radome (3), a radar support (2) and a front shield (1) comprising a first lateral portion (11) and a second lateral portion (12) between which an external ventilation grille (4) is mounted, the external ventilation grille comprising radome receiver positions (30) integral with the grille on the outside, and the radar support extending vertically from the first shield portion to the second shield portion and comprising an upper portion (22) integral with the second shield portion and a lower portion (21) fastened to the first shield portion, the area (20) comprising a recessed housing (23) receiving the radar, positioned in correspondence with the radome positions (30), and the internal face (100) of the shield comprising an upper central element (120) for the positioning of the radar support in the lateral and vertical directions of the shield, cooperating with the upper portion of the support (22), and at least two lower elements (111, 112) for the positioning and anti-rotation of the radar support at least in the lateral direction, cooperating with the lower portion of the support (21).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a radar support, a radar radome and a protective cover, mounted at the front of a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a front of a motor vehicle comprising such an assembly.

[0002] With driver assistance systems becoming more advanced and widespread, more and more vehicles are equipped with anti-collision radar systems, which are intended to regulate the speed of the vehicle according to a safety distance with the outside environment. This type of system includes the advanced emergency braking system (AEBS). This system enables the car to brake automatically if a potential obstacle, in particular a pedestrian crossing, or the car is too close to the car in front is detected. The advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) in particular measures the distance to the detected potential obstacle and can increase the braking intensity if said distance is less than a safety limit. This system receives data collected by a radar mounted at the front of the vehicle. More generally, this type of radar is typically called AEBS radar.

[0003] Since such a radar is mounted at the front of the vehicle, these safety systems must have excellent impact protection.

[0004] In the prior art, this type of radar is typically mounted using a support fastened to an element of the body structure at the front of the vehicle to ensure that the support is sufficiently rigid. The assembly further comprises a radar radome, a protective element for the radar sensor, which is arranged externally and made of a material transparent to the radar waves in the required frequency band.

[0005] According to a first example of the current prior art, the radar support can be fastened directly to a structural part of the front of the vehicle, such as a front crossbeam, a structural part of the body located in the engine compartment between two side beams. Such an arrangement is described, for example, in patent application FR3056176.

[0006] In another example of the prior art, the radar support can be fastened to a technical front face (TFF) or a sheet metal part of the vehicle.

[0007] One drawback of this example of the prior art is in particular the assembly problem, with too many geometric dimension errors due to the large number of links in the dimension chain. In this case, the radar radome is approximately 200 mm wide and approximately 100 mm long to absorb the beam width of the radar waves.

[0008] Another drawback of the different known embodiments is that the radar radome must be relatively large to cover the beam width of the radar waves, which is wide since the radar is positioned far from the radar radome. This arrangement is relatively expensive.

[0009] The present invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks at least partially. It relates in particular to a novel arrangement of a radar support at the front of a vehicle.

[0010] To this end, the present invention proposes an assembly at the front of a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising a radar radome, a radar support and a front bumper of the vehicle, said bumper comprising an inner face and an outer face and extending in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction corresponding respectively to a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction of the vehicle when said bumper is mounted on the front of the vehicle. Said bumper comprises a first transverse portion and a second transverse portion located above said first transverse portion, between which a outer ventilation grille is mounted, said outer ventilation grille comprising a mounting location for a radar radome, said radar radome being rigidly connected to said grille. Said radar support is a one-piece component arranged on the inner face of the bumper and said component extends vertically from said first bumper portion to said second bumper portion, said support comprising an upper portion rigidly connected to said second bumper portion and a lower portion fastened to said first bumper portion, said support further comprising a housing and fastening area for a radar located between said upper portion and said lower portion of the support.

[0011] According to the invention, said housing and fastening area for a radar comprises a recessed seat for said radar and said seat coincides with the mounting location for an externally arranged radar radome.

[0012] According to the invention, the inner face of the bumper comprises an upper central indexing element for the radar support in the transverse direction and the vertical direction of the bumper, cooperating with the upper portion of said support, and at least two lower indexing and anti-rotation elements for the radar support acting at least in said transverse direction and cooperating with the lower portion of the support.

[0013] In particular, according to the invention, the radar radome is rigidly connected to the outer face of the grille in an opening in said ventilation grille, said opening forming a mounting location for the radar radome in the ventilation grille, said opening being aligned with said seat for the radar. For example, the radar radome is snap-fitted into said opening, said opening having the size of the radar radome.

[0014] More particularly, according to the invention, said first transverse portion and said second transverse portion of the bumper belong to the outer skin of the bumper.

[0015] In particular, according to the invention, the radar support is located at or near the center of the bumper in the transverse direction of the bumper.

[0016] Preferably, according to the application, said external ventilation grating located between said first and second portions of the shield is a lower ventilation grating.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the application, said upper central indexing element comprises adjustable height ribs on its outer surface. The height of the ribs can be adjusted to adjust the position of the radar support. Preferably, said upper central indexing element is an elongated element substantially perpendicular to the internal face of the shield. In particular, said element is a shaft.

[0018] Advantageously, according to the application, said support comprises in its upper portion two lateral pre-holding means resting respectively on two lateral flanges on the internal face of the shield to hold the support in place before fastening.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the application, the radar support is a single piece having two lateral bands comprising stiffening ribs, said bands extending from said first transverse portion to said second transverse portion of the shield and each lower end of said bands forming a foot of the support, these feet cooperating with said at least two lower indexing and anti-rotation elements of the shield, each of said feet having a fastening orifice for fastening said support to said first transverse portion of the shield.

[0020] Preferably, each of said lower indexing and anti-rotation elements of the shield comprises a lateral anti-rotation stop in contact with the respective inner side of one of said fastening feet of the support. In other words, said lateral stop is located between the feet of the support, preferably two, and is in contact with the inner side of the foot directly adjacent to it. Preferably, the shield has two of said lower anti-rotation indexing elements.

[0021] Furthermore, each upper end of said bands has a respective pre-holding and fastening hole cooperating with a lateral fastening stud of said second transverse portion of the shield, said stud further comprising adjustable height ribs on its outer surface to enable adjustment of the position of the support. The height adjustment of these ribs can cooperate with the height adjustment of the ribs of said upper central indexing element of the shield to adjust the position of the radar support.

[0022] Advantageously, according to the application, said shield comprises a third transverse portion arranged above and alongside said second transverse portion, this third transverse portion comprising a panel overlapping said upper portion of the radar support, said panel having an orifice positioned around said central indexing element on the shield.

[0023] Preferably, according to this embodiment, said panel comprises two lateral fastening holes which overlap the pre-holding and fastening holes respectively located at the respective upper ends of the strips of the radar support, wherein fastening means are also inserted in said lateral fastening holes of the panel to fasten said second transverse portion of the radome in said lateral fastening posts, so that the upper portion of the radar support is clamped between said second portion of the radome and said third portion of the radome. The fastening of the panel rigidly connects the upper portion of the radar support to the radome.

[0024] Preferably, according to the application, said means for fastening the radar support to the radome are screws. Preferably, these fastening means comprise a total of four screws.

[0025] According to the application, said radar support comprises a crossbar delimiting an upper portion of a seat for the radar, said bar having fastening holes for fastening the radar, for example by screwing.

[0026] One advantage of the application is that, thanks to the precise and easy adjustment of the positioning of the support, in particular of the mounting position of the radar, it is possible to use a radar radome which is smaller than the radar radomes usually used in the prior art, which is very close to the seat of the radar, and therefore also to the radar.

[0027] Advantageously, said radar radome is plate-shaped, with a maximum dimension of one side of the plate of about 100 mm, in particular between 90 mm and 130 mm, or even between 98 mm and 128 mm.

[0028] Advantageously, according to the application, the radar support is made of reinforced plastic material, preferably glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene, more preferably reinforced with between 25% and 35% by weight of glass fiber. This material increases the rigidity of the assembly and improves its vibration performance.

[0029] The application also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly as described above.

[0030] Further details and advantages of the application are set out in the following description of particular embodiments of the application given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings.

[0031] [ Figure 1 ] is a three-quarter side perspective view of an assembly according to the application installed in the front of a motor vehicle, as seen from the inside of the front of the motor vehicle, the assembly comprising a front radome, a radar support and a radar radome.

[0032] [ Figure 2 ] is a three-quarter side perspective view of said assembly in Figure 1 , as seen from the outside of the vehicle and without the radar radome.

[0033] [ Figure 3 ] is a front volume view of an assembly according to the application installed in the front of a vehicle, seen from the inside of the front of the motor vehicle and without the radar radome, the assembly comprising a front shield, a radar support and a radar radome.

[0034] [ Figure 4 ] is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view in the plane XZ of the front of a motor vehicle comprising an assembly according to the application, seen from the outside of the vehicle and comprising the radar radome. Figure 3

[0035] [ Figure 5 ] shows a three-axis reference frame XYZ shown with respect to the vehicle, which is used to discuss the figures.

[0036] In this description, the terms front, rear, top and bottom refer respectively to the front / rear, upper / lower directions of the vehicle when the assembly is installed on the vehicle.

[0037] The orientations expressed in the description of the figures are given with reference to the conventional reference frame XYZ of the vehicle as shown in Figure 5 , in which X denotes a front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y denotes a transverse direction of the vehicle oriented towards the right, and Z denotes a vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle, with the vehicle resting on the ground.

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic three-quarter side perspective view of the front of a motor vehicle comprising an assembly according to the application, the assembly comprising a front shield 1 seen from its internal face 100, a radar support 2 comprising a recessed seat 23 for a radar, and a radar radome 3, the radar itself not being shown.

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic three-quarter side perspective view of the front of a motor vehicle with the assembly shown in Figure 1 , the assembly comprising a radar support 2 and a front shield 1 seen from its external face 101, containing at the lower air grille 4 a mounting location for a radar radome 3.

[0040] Figure 3 is a front volume view of an assembly according to the application located in the front of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising a front shield 1 seen from its internal face 100, a radar support 2 comprising a recessed seat 23 for a radar, the assembly further comprising a panel 130 for a frame containing an upper air grille, the frame forming part of the shield 1. Neither the radar nor the radar radome is shown in this figure. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the assembly seen from the outside.

[0041] Reference is made to Figure 1 and​Figure 2 The front shield 1 comprises a first lateral portion 11 forming a lower portion of the shield and a second lateral portion 12 positioned higher than said first portion, which forms an intermediate portion of the shield. The lower ventilation grille 4 is positioned between these two portions and is snap-fitted in place, for example. More precisely, the lower portion 11 and the intermediate portion 12 of the shield belong to a shield skin 10 which forms a lower portion of the shield 1. These portions form a lower portion 11 and an upper portion 12 of said shield skin 10, respectively. The shield skin comprises at least one opening for receiving the lower ventilation grille 4.

[0042] The radar support 2 is a one-piece component comprising a lower portion 21 rigidly connected to the lower portion 11 of the shield and an upper portion 22 rigidly connected to the intermediate portion 12 of the shield. Said radar support comprises a central portion 20 between said lower portion 21 and said upper portion 22 thereof.

[0043] The upper portion 22 of the support matches the shape of the top of the grille 4, which comprises a substantially horizontal inner wall 42, since the square 220 is composed of two portions substantially perpendicular to each other, one substantially vertical and the other substantially horizontal, so that said horizontal portion passes just above said horizontal wall 42 of the lower ventilation grille 4.

[0044] The central support portion 20 comprises a seat 23 recessed to receive the radar, which recess coincides with the mounting location 30 for the radar radome 3, which is arranged on the outside 40 of the lower ventilation grille 4. Figure 2 Said seat comprises a wall 230 which delimits the periphery of the recess of said seat 23 and which, in the front portion of the support, extends towards the opening which defines the mounting location 30 for the radar radome in the ventilation grille, without protruding into said opening 30. Said seat 23 also comprises a crossbar 24 for fastening the radar, which bar delimits the upper portion of the recess, the radar being fastened by two screws respectively fastened in fastening orifices 241, 242 of said crossbar 24.

[0045] To ensure that the seat 23 for the radar and especially its recessed portion is centered and correctly positioned opposite the relatively small radar antenna dome 3, the protective cover 1 comprises a central indexing shaft 120 in its intermediate portion 12, which cooperates with an indexing hole 223 in the support 2, in the upper portion of the support, to enable indexing in the transverse direction Y and in the vertical direction Z, in order to adjust the centering of the seat 23 in the transverse direction Y and the position of the seat 23 for the radar in the vertical direction Z. The indexing shaft 120 comprises on its outer surface a rib 1200, the height of which can be adjusted to adapt to the model, in particular the dimensions, of the protective cover and of the support, in order to correctly center the seat for the radar opposite the radar antenna dome.

[0046] The lower portion 11 of the protective cover comprises two lateral indexing elements 111, 112 in the transverse direction Y, to control the centering of the radar support 2, in particular by preventing lateral rotation (+Y, -Y) of the two fastening feet 211, 212 in the lower portion 11 of the support, which are rigidly connected to the lower portion 21 of the protective cover. The lateral elements 111, 112 form stops respectively positioned on the inner side of the fastening feet of the support.

[0047] Furthermore, the upper portion 22 of the support comprises two lateral pre-holding arms 223, 224, which respectively cooperate with two lateral flanges 123, 124 of the internal face 100 of the protective cover, on which the lateral holding arms of the support rest when the support is positioned before fastening.

[0048] Once the radar support has been correctly positioned using the various indexing elements 120, 111, 112, so that the seat 23 for the radar faces the mounting position 30 of the radar antenna dome, the support is fastened to the intermediate portion 12 and to the lower portion 11 of the protective cover.

[0049] The two upper lateral fastening holes 221, 222 of the radar support and the lateral fastening feet 211, 212 are respectively located at the ends of two lateral bands 201, 202 reinforced by a set of ribs. These two lateral bands extend over the entire height (Z direction) of the support and laterally delimit the support.

[0050] The inner surface 100 of the middle portion 12 of the protective cover includes two lateral fastening posts 121, 122. The upper portion 22 of the support member 2 is fastened to these two lateral fastening posts, for example, by screw engagement. The fastening posts 121, 122 pass through two upper lateral fastening holes 221, 222 in the upper portion 22 of the support member, respectively. These lateral fastening posts 121, 122 of the protective cover 1 are advantageously arranged on both sides of the central calibration shaft 120 and are substantially at the same level as the central calibration post 120 in the vertical direction Z. The lateral fastening posts may also include ribs on their outer surfaces for fitting to the calibration shaft 120.

[0051] Since the radar support is a single component, its central portion 20 lacks a fastening device for direct attachment to the protective cover 1 or the ventilation grille 4. Therefore, the support, and especially the central portion where the radar is located, benefits from the rigidity of that area and provides better vibration performance.

[0052] refer to Figure 3 The protective cover further includes an upper transverse portion 13, which forms an upper component for receiving an upper ventilation grille. This upper portion of the protective cover is defined by a frame having at least one opening designed to receive the upper ventilation grille. Figure 3 (Not shown in the image). The frame includes a panel 130 located at its lower portion, which forms a joint with the upper portion 12 of the outer skin 10 of the protective cover (in other words, at the middle portion 12 of the protective cover). The panel 130 is centered in the transverse direction Y and overlaps with the upper portion 22 of the radar support at the middle portion 12 of the protective cover. The panel includes a centering aperture 1300 that engages with the YZ calibration axis 120, such that the panel 130 is correctly centered, and thus the upper part of the protective cover that overlaps with the top of the radar support is also correctly centered. The panel 130 has lateral fastening holes 131, 132 aligned with the upper fastening holes 221, 222 of the radar support. The upper portion 22 of the radar support 2 is thus sandwiched between the outer skin 10 of the protective cover and the upper transverse portion 13 of the protective cover.

[0053] This can improve the rigidity of the radar support fasteners, especially at the joints of the shield components, which are located in the generally forward region of the shield in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, and are therefore more prone to deformation in the event of an impact.

[0054] According to a preferred example, the support is made of 30% by weight of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) to contribute to high overall rigidity and good vibration performance.

[0055] The radar radome has a relatively small area, so that the radar can be fastened in a seat located in the center of the radar radome and very close to the radar radome, as can be seen in the cross-sectional view Figure 4 ). The frequency beam width of the radar is therefore relatively small and is well protected behind the radar radome. For example, the side length of the radar radome is about 100 mm. For example, the radar radome is rectangular, measuring about 125 mm (height in the Z direction) x 100 mm (width in the Y direction).

[0056] The invention achieves its object by proposing an arrangement of a protective cover with a radar support that allows the radar to be centered and fastened close to the radar radome. The assembly according to the invention forms a size chain with few links and ensures good rigidity of the zone.

[0057] Furthermore, the radar support is not fastened to a structural element of the vehicle body. The rigidity of the support and its fastening to the protective cover provide optimal protection against vibrations, while its plasticity ensures optimal damping.

Claims

1. An assembly located at the front of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising a radar radome (3), a radar support (2) and a front bumper (1) of the vehicle, the front bumper comprising an inner face (100) and an outer face (101) and extending in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction corresponding respectively to a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction of the vehicle when stationary with the wheels, characterized in that, The front shield comprises a first transverse portion (11) and a second transverse portion (12) located above the first transverse portion, between which a outer ventilation grille (4) is mounted, comprising a mounting position (30) for the radar antenna cover, which is rigidly connected to the grille, and the radar support (2) is a one-piece component arranged on the inner face (100) of the front shield and extends vertically from the first transverse portion (11) to the second transverse portion (12), the support comprising an upper portion (22) rigidly connected to the second transverse portion (12) and a lower portion (21) fastened to the first transverse portion (11), the support further comprising a housing and fastening area for a radar (20) positioned between the upper and lower portions of the support and comprising a recessed seat (23) for the radar coinciding with the mounting position (30) for the externally arranged radar antenna cover, and the inner face (100) of the front shield comprises an upper central indexing element (120) for the radar support in the transverse and vertical directions of the front shield, cooperating with the upper portion (22) of the support, and at least two lower indexing and anti-rotation elements (111, 112) for the radar support, acting at least in the transverse direction and cooperating with the lower portion (21) of the support.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, The upper central indexing element (120) comprises adjustable height ribs (1200) on the outer surface of the element.

3. The assembly of one of claims 1 to 2, wherein The radar support (2) is a single component having two side bands (201, 202) comprising reinforcing ribs, extending from the first transverse portion (11) to the second transverse portion (12) of the front shield, and each lower end of the side bands forms a foot (211, 212) of the support, cooperating with the at least two lower indexing and anti-rotation elements (111, 112) of the front shield, each of the feet having a fastening aperture (2110, 2120) for fastening the support to the first transverse portion (11) of the front shield.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein, Each of the lower indexing and anti-rotation elements (111, 112) of the front shield comprises a lateral anti-rotation stop in contact with the respective inner side of one of the feet (211, 212) of the support, respectively.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein, Each upper end of the side bands has a respective pre-holding and fastening hole (221, 222) cooperating with a lateral fastening stud (121, 122) of the second transverse portion (12) of the front shield, respectively, the lateral fastening stud (121, 122) further comprising adjustable height ribs on the outer surface of the stud to enable adjustment of the position of the support.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein, The front shield comprises a third transverse portion (13) arranged above and alongside the second transverse portion (12), comprising a panel (130) overlapping the upper portion (22) of the radar support, said panel having an aperture (1300) positioned around the upper central reference element (120) on the front shield.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein, The panel (130) comprises two lateral fastening holes (131, 132) overlapping the pre-holding and fastening holes (221, 222) respectively located at the respective upper ends of the lateral bands of the radar support, wherein fastening means are also inserted into the lateral fastening holes of the panel to fasten the second transverse portion of the front shield in the lateral fastening studs, so that the upper portion of the radar support is clamped between the second transverse portion of the front shield and the third transverse portion of the front shield.

8. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The radar support comprises a crossbar (24) delimiting the upper portion of the recessed seat (23) for the radar, said crossbar having fastening holes (241, 242) for fastening the radar.

9. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The support (2) comprises, in the upper portion of the support, two lateral pre-holding means (223, 224) resting respectively on two lateral flanges (123, 124) on the internal face of the front shield, in order to hold the support in place before fastening.

10. A front of a motor vehicle comprising an assembly as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 9, comprising a radar antenna cover (3), a radar support (2) and a front shield (1).

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