Sensor assembly for motor vehicle and mirror assembly having such sensor assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor assembly for a motor vehicle, which sensor assembly can be fastened to a windshield (6) of the motor vehicle and comprises a holder (8), a camera (10) and a rainwater-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor (12) having a main body (14) and a lateral projection (16). The lateral projection (16) has an opening (18) for measuring air humidity. The longitudinal extension direction of the lateral projection (16) extends diagonally with respect to the longitudinal center plane (M) of the sensor assembly. The invention also relates to a mirror assembly comprising such a sensor assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a mirror arrangement having such a sensor arrangement. Background Art

[0002] Mirror arrangements with sensor arrangements are known in various embodiments in the prior art.

[0003] EP 2 195214 B1 describes a mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, which comprises a sensor assembly and a support. The sensor assembly is attached to the windshield of the motor vehicle on the passenger compartment side, is arranged on the support and comprises a rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor and a camera-based driver assistance system. The rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor has an opening for introducing and exhausting air to measure air humidity.

[0004] In order to ensure accurate measurement of air humidity in the interior of a motor vehicle, it is necessary that the opening is at least partially located in the air flow area of ​​the vehicle ventilation system. At the same time, camera-based driver assistance systems must not be covered by rain-light-sun-moisture sensors for data acquisition.

[0005] In order to meet these requirements, EP 2 195214 B1 proposes to arrange a rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor in a lateral direction on the side of a camera-based driver assistance system.

[0006] However, such an arrangement of rain-light-sun-water vapor sensors and camera-based driver assistance systems is sometimes not achievable or at least only achievable with great effort due to certain installation space conditions. Summary of the invention

[0007] Starting from the mirror assembly described in EP 2 195 214 B1, the object of the present invention is to provide a sensor assembly for a motor vehicle and a mirror assembly having such a sensor assembly, which can realize the functions of a rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor and a camera while requiring little installation space.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a sensor arrangement having the features of claim 1 and by a mirror arrangement having the features of claim 10 .

[0009] According to the invention, a sensor assembly for a motor vehicle is provided, which can be fixed on a windshield of the motor vehicle. The sensor assembly comprises a holder, a camera and a rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor having a main body and a lateral projection. The lateral projection has an opening for measuring air humidity. The longitudinal extension of the lateral projection, i.e. the extension of the lateral projection away from the main body, extends obliquely, i.e. obliquely or transversely, relative to the longitudinal center plane of the sensor assembly.

[0010] In a functionally mounted state of the sensor arrangement on the windshield, the longitudinal center plane of the sensor arrangement corresponds, for example, to the longitudinal center plane of the windshield.

[0011] The core idea of ​​the invention is therefore to arrange the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor in such a way that the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral projection deviates from the extension direction of the longitudinal center plane, in particular encloses a defined angle with the longitudinal center plane. As a result, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor can be arranged offset in the longitudinal direction of the sensor assembly and at least partially in the transverse direction at a position corresponding to the position of the camera, while the opening provided on the lateral projection is arranged in the transverse direction laterally of the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor due to the oblique extension of the lateral projection and is therefore at least partially located in the air flow area of ​​the ventilation system of the motor vehicle.

[0012] When the sensor arrangement is in a functionally mounted state on the windshield, the longitudinal direction of the sensor arrangement corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the windshield.

[0013] Depending on the installation position of the windshield on the motor vehicle, the longitudinal direction of the windshield, in a functionally installed state of the windshield in the motor vehicle, extends in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and / or in the vertical direction of the motor vehicle.

[0014] The openings are, for example, air circulation openings for the introduction and removal of air for the operation of the rain-light-sun-moisture sensor.

[0015] The optical sensor is, for example, a camera.

[0016] Optical sensors can be an integral part of camera-based driver assistance systems.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the present invention, the opening is arranged partially or completely in a lateral direction to the side of the camera.

[0018] In the functionally installed state of the sensor arrangement in the motor vehicle, the transverse direction corresponds to the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.

[0019] The main body of the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor has, for example, a rectangular cylindrical shape.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the present invention, the straight line along the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral protrusion forms an angle of 20 degrees to 160 degrees with the longitudinal center plane.

[0021] For example, the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral projection and the longitudinal center plane enclose an angle of 20 to 50 degrees, in particular 30 to 45 degrees.

[0022] The longitudinal extension direction of the lateral protrusion may point forward in the longitudinal direction.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the present invention, the opening is formed on a first end of the lateral projection opposite the main body or on a first side wall of the lateral projection.

[0024] The first side wall may be a lower side wall and / or a front side wall of the lateral protrusion in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] For example, the first side wall is the side wall of the lateral projection facing the camera.

[0026] If the lateral projection extends forward in the longitudinal direction away from the body, i.e. the angle between the straight line in the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral projection and the longitudinal center plane is less than 90 degrees, in particular less than 45 degrees, the lateral projection can be configured at the first end of the lateral projection, thereby ensuring that the opening is arranged in the air flow area of ​​the ventilation system.

[0027] If the lateral projections extend orthogonally to the longitudinal center plane or the angle between a straight line along the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral projections and the longitudinal center plane is greater than 45 degrees, in particular greater than or equal to 90 degrees, the lateral projections are, for example, configured on the side wall of the lateral projections facing the camera. This ensures that the opening is located in the air flow area of ​​the ventilation system.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor comprises a plug receptacle.

[0029] The plug receptacle can be arranged on a side surface of the main body opposite the lateral projection, in particular on a circumferential surface of the main body.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, the holder can be connected to the windshield via a sealing lip such that a partial region of the holder defines a gas-tight cavity with the windshield and the sealing lip, in which the optical sensor is arranged.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, the opening is arranged partially, in particular completely, in a lateral direction laterally to the gas-tight cavity and / or to the sealing lip.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the present invention, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor is arranged behind the camera along the longitudinal direction of the sensor assembly.

[0033] Depending on the installation position of the windshield in the vehicle, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor may be arranged behind the camera in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and / or above the camera in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the invention, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor, in particular its body, at least partially, in particular completely, has the same position in a lateral direction as the optical sensor, the airtight cavity, the sealing lip and / or local areas of the above-mentioned components.

[0035] Viewed from the front in the longitudinal direction, the rain-light-sun-water-vapor sensor can therefore be at least partially covered by the camera.

[0036] In addition, the present invention relates to a vehicle interior mirror assembly, in particular a rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, the vehicle interior mirror assembly comprising a mirror, a mirror foot and the sensor assembly described above. The mirror is fixed to a mirror base plate via the mirror foot. The mirror foot can be fixed to a windshield of the motor vehicle via the mirror base plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 A front view showing an interior mirror assembly according to the present invention; and

[0039] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Side view of the interior mirror assembly with windshield. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 2 shows an interior mirror assembly 2 for a motor vehicle according to the present invention. The interior mirror assembly 2 can be fixed on a windshield 6 of the motor vehicle.

[0041] The interior mirror assembly 2 comprises a mirror 28, a mirror foot 30 and a sensor assembly 4. The sensor assembly 4 has a holder 8, a camera 10 for a camera-based driver assistance system and a rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor 12. The mirror 28 is fixed to a mirror base plate 32 via the mirror foot 30 and to the windshield 6 via the mirror base plate 32. The holder 8 comprises a recess in which the mirror base plate is located.

[0042] Especially from Figure 1 It can be seen that the holder 8 accommodates a camera 10 and a rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor 12. For this purpose, the holder 8 comprises recesses in which the optical sensor 10 or the rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor 12 can be arranged in a defined orientation. The camera 10 is arranged in the front region of the sensor assembly 4 in the longitudinal direction I of the sensor assembly 4. The rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor 12 is located behind the camera 10 in the longitudinal direction I.

[0043] The longitudinal direction I of the sensor arrangement 4 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the interior mirror arrangement 2 is in a functionally installed state on the windshield 6 .

[0044] In the region surrounding the camera 10, the holder 8 is connected to the windshield 6 via a sealing lip 26. The holder 8 thus defines, together with the sealing lip 26 and the windshield 6, a gas-tight space in which the camera 10 is arranged.

[0045] The rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor 12 includes a main body 14, a lateral protrusion 16 and a plug receiving portion 24. The main body 14 has a flat cylinder shape. The lateral protrusion 16 and the plug receiving portion 24 are arranged on opposite sides of the circumference of the main body 14.

[0046] The rain-light-sun-water vapor sensor 12 is arranged behind the camera 10 and the sealing lip 26 in the longitudinal direction I, so that the body 14 and the plug receptacle 24 are shielded by the camera 10 and the sealing lip 26 when viewed from the front in the longitudinal direction I. The body 14 and the plug receptacle 24 therefore have the same position as a partial area of ​​the camera 10 and / or a partial area of ​​the sealing lip 26 in the transverse direction y.

[0047] The lateral projection 16 comprises an opening 18 for air humidity measurement at a first end 20 facing away from the body 14. In order to ensure that sufficient air from the air flow of the vehicle ventilation system can enter the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor 12 through the opening 18 and flow out of the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor 12 for air humidity measurement, the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor 12 is rotated by an angle α about a rotation axis extending orthogonally to the windshield 6 starting from an arrangement in which the longitudinal extension direction L of the lateral projection 16 corresponds to the extension direction of the longitudinal center plane M of the interior mirror assembly 2. Therefore, a straight line along the longitudinal extension direction L of the lateral projection 16 extends obliquely, i.e. obliquely or transversely, relative to the longitudinal center plane M of the interior mirror assembly 2.

[0048] The angle α is 42 degrees in the present case. As a result, the opening 18 is arranged in a transverse direction laterally to the camera 10 and the sealing lip 26. The air flow of the vehicle ventilation system can therefore flow unhindered to the opening 18.

[0049] When the angle is greater than 45°, in order to allow as much air flow as possible to enter the opening 18 , the opening 18 may be disposed on the first side wall 22 facing forward along the longitudinal direction I, ie, toward the camera 10 . Reference numerals list

[0050] 2Interior mirror assembly

[0051] 4Sensor components

[0052] 6 Windshield

[0053] 8 Retainer

[0054] 10 cameras

[0055] 12Rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor

[0056] 14 Main Body

[0057] 16 Lateral protrusion

[0058] 18 Opening

[0059] 20 first end

[0060] 22 first side wall

[0061] 24 plug receiving part

[0062] 26 Sealing lip

[0063] 28 mirrors

[0064] 30 temples

[0065] 32 mirror bottom plate

[0066] I Longitudinal direction

[0067] L is a straight line along the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral protrusion

[0068] M longitudinal center plane

[0069] y horizontal direction

[0070] α angle

Claims

1. A sensor assembly for a motor vehicle, the sensor assembly being fixable on a windshield (6) of the motor vehicle and comprising a holder (8), a camera (10) and a rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor (12), the rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor having a main body (14) and a lateral projection (16), the lateral projection (16) having an opening (18) for measuring air humidity, characterized in that: A straight line (L) along the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral protrusion (16) extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal center plane (M) of the sensor assembly (4).

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The opening (18) is arranged partially or completely along the transverse direction (y) laterally of the camera (10).

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The straight line (L) along the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral protrusion (16) forms an angle (α) of 20 to 160 degrees with the longitudinal center plane (M).

4. The sensor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The opening (18) is formed on a first end (20) of the lateral projection (16) opposite the main body (14) or on a first side wall (22) of the lateral projection (16).

5. The sensor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor (12) comprises a plug receptacle (24) which is arranged on a side of the body (14) opposite to the lateral projection (16).

6. The sensor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The holder (8) can be connected to the windshield (6) via a sealing lip (26), so that a gas-tight cavity is formed between the holder (8) and the windshield (6), and the optical sensor (10) is arranged in the cavity.

7. The sensor assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that The opening (18) is arranged in the transverse direction (y) laterally of the gas-tight cavity and / or of the sealing lip (26).

8. The sensor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The rain-light-sunlight-water vapor sensor (12) is arranged behind the camera (10) along the longitudinal direction (I).

9. The sensor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The rain-light-sun-water-vapor sensor (12) is at least partially located in the transverse direction (y) at the same position as at least one partial region of the camera (10), of the gas-tight cavity and / or of the sealing lip (26).

10. An interior mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, the interior mirror assembly comprising a mirror (28), a mirror foot (30) and a mirror base plate (32), characterized in that: A sensor assembly (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is provided, wherein the mirror (28) is fixed to a mirror base plate (32) via a mirror foot (30), and the holder (8) comprises a recess in which the mirror base plate (32) is arranged.

Images