Radar sensor assembly and method for installing radar sensor assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a radar sensor arrangement (1) in a motor vehicle (2), comprising a sensor holder (10), a radar sensor (6), and a sensor shield (12) having a sensor receiving opening (11), which surrounds the radar sensor (6) at least in some regions and is connected to the sensor holder (10), characterized in that the radar sensor (6) is accommodated in the sensor shield (12). The sensor shield (12) is mechanically coupled to the sensor holder (10) by means of a locking mechanism (3, 4, 5) and is fixed along a first spatial axis (X), and the sensor shield (12) is fixed in a first plane (EYZ) perpendicular to the first spatial axis (X) by means of the radar sensor (6), the radar sensor is embedded in the sensor receiving opening (11) and is fastened to the sensor holder (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a radar sensor assembly as described in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such radar sensor assembly and a method for mounting the radar sensor assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Today, radar sensors are frequently installed in motor vehicles to measure distances to vehicles ahead or approaching from behind. The radar sensors are mounted in sensor holders and are covered or surrounded by sensor shields. These shields protect the radar sensors from unwanted radar radiation reflected by other vehicle components. This prevents so-called "ghosting," which undesirably superimposes useful received radar reflections, leading to inaccurate measurements. Until now, these sensor shields have been constructed as rigid plastic components that clamp to the sensor holders.

[0003] To better absorb unwanted radar beam reflections, it is desirable to use sensor shields with improved absorption properties, made of softer plastics such as expanded polyethylene (EPP) or EPP foam. However, due to their soft shape, such sensor shields cannot be self-stabilized in a conventional manner and must be fixed to the sensor carrier in a complex way, such as by lateral recesses or with the aid of expansion rivets. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide an improved radar sensor assembly and a method for mounting the improved radar sensor assembly.

[0005] The portion of the task involving the radar sensor assembly is addressed by means of the features of claim 1.

[0006] A radar sensor assembly in a motor vehicle includes a sensor holder, a radar sensor, and a sensor shield with a sensor receiving opening. The sensor shield at least partially surrounds the radar sensor and is connected to the sensor holder. According to the invention, this radar sensor assembly is characterized in that the sensor shield is mechanically coupled to the sensor holder by a locking mechanism and fixed along a first spatial axis, and the sensor shield is fixed in a first plane perpendicular to the first spatial axis by a radar sensor embedded in the sensor receiving opening and fixed to the sensor holder.

[0007] The sensor shield is first fixed in a first spatial direction, such as the X direction of the sensor coordinate system, through mechanical coupling with the sensor holder. The radar sensor, embedded in the sensor receiving opening of the sensor shield and fixed to the sensor holder, then fixes the sensor shield in two other spatial directions, Y and Z, forming the first plane. Thus, the sensor shield can be tool-free mounted to the sensor shield without the need for external fixing devices.

[0008] Other preferred and advantageous design features of the radar sensor assembly according to the invention are the technical solutions of dependent claims 2 to 7.

[0009] Preferably, the sensor shield is closely abutted against the outer peripheral region of the radar sensor at least in the area of ​​the inner peripheral edge of the sensor receiving opening, and the sensor shield is thus fixed relative to the radar sensor on two spatial axes forming a first plane.

[0010] Advantageously, the locking mechanism includes a hook-shaped protrusion on the sensor shield and an L-shaped locking opening in the sensor holder, the hook-shaped protrusion engaging with the L-shaped locking opening in the sensor holder such that the hook-shaped protrusion is embedded in the first leg of the assigned locking opening and partially passes through the sensor holder there, and engages the sensor holder from behind by movement along the second leg of the L-shaped locking opening in the first plane and fixes the sensor holder along a first spatial axis perpendicular to the first plane.

[0011] Advantageously, the sensor retainer has a protrusion or surface ridge on the side of the L-shaped locking opening region that is engaged from the rear by a hook-shaped protrusion, the protrusion or surface ridge respectively securing the assigned hook-shaped protrusion without gap along the first spatial axis.

[0012] Alternatively, the locking mechanism may be specified to include a hook-shaped protrusion on the sensor holder and an L-shaped locking opening in the sensor shield, the hook-shaped protrusion engaging with the L-shaped locking opening in the sensor shield such that the hook-shaped protrusion is embedded in a first side leg of the assigned locking opening and partially passes through the sensor shield therein, and engages the sensor shield from behind by moving the sensor shield along a first plane and fixes the sensor shield along a first spatial axis perpendicular to the first plane.

[0013] Advantageously, the sensor shield has a protrusion or surface ridge on the side of the L-shaped locking opening region that is engaged from the rear by a hook-shaped protrusion, the protrusion or surface ridge respectively fixing the assigned hook-shaped protrusion without gap along the first spatial axis.

[0014] A particularly advantageous embodiment is one that can be combined with other embodiments, wherein the sensor shield is made of a soft plastic material, preferably expanded polypropylene (EPP), or has such a material. The preferred plastic material is foamed EPP, thus the sensor shield forms a foam absorber.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one radar sensor assembly according to the present invention.

[0016] The method for installing the radar sensor assembly according to the present invention is characterized by the following steps:

[0017] - Insert the hook-shaped protrusion along the first spatial axis (X) into one of the first side legs of each of the assigned L-shaped locking openings;

[0018] - Move the sensor shield along the second spatial axis (Z) defined by the corresponding second leg of the L-shaped locking opening;

[0019] - Insert the radar sensor along the first spatial axis (X) into the sensor receiving opening of the sensor shield, and

[0020] - Secure the radar sensor to the sensor holder. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The preferred embodiments, which have additional design details and other advantages, are described and illustrated in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are as follows:

[0022] Figure 1 A front view of a radar sensor assembly according to the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Rear view of a radar sensor assembly with partially mounted sensor shielding.

[0024] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 Vertical cross-sectional view of the radar sensor assembly along line III-III;

[0025] Figure 4 Show Figure 2 The rear view of the sensor with its fully installed shielding; and

[0026] Figure 5 Show Figure 4 Vertical cross-sectional view of the radar sensor assembly along line VV. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1The diagram shows a front view of a radar sensor assembly 1 according to the invention in a motor vehicle 2. The radar sensor assembly includes a sensor holder 10 and a sensor shield 12 having a sensor receiving opening 11. The sensor shield has shielding walls 12', 12", 12''', and 12'''' on its front side, projecting forward and laterally around the sensor mounting opening 11, made of a material that absorbs radar rays. The sensor shield 12 can be fixed to the sensor holder 10 by means of locking mechanisms 3, 4, and 5.

[0028] The sensor holder 10 has a holder plate 14, which is provided with a support for the radar sensor 6 ( Figure 5 Mounting opening 15 ( Figure 2 The sensor holder 10 is mounted on a structure (not shown) of the vehicle 2, for example, in its front region.

[0029] Locking mechanisms 3, 4, and 5 include locking openings 30, 40, and 50 constructed in the retaining plate 14, and hook-shaped protrusions 34, 44, and 54 provided on the rear side 13 of the sensor shield 12 away from the shielding walls 12', 12", 12''', and 12'''', protruding rearward from the rear side 13. The retaining plate 14 is provided with an L-shaped (along the X direction) upper left locking opening 30, an L-shaped (along the X direction) upper right locking opening 40, and a vertically elongated lower middle locking opening 50.

[0030] The two L-shaped locking openings 30 and 40 each have a horizontal side leg 31 and 41 and a vertical side leg 32 and 42, respectively, and the vertical side legs extend downward from the inner region of the horizontal side legs 31 and 41.

[0031] The hook-shaped protrusions 34, 44, and 54 each have a handle segment 35, 45, and 55, and a latch segment 36, 46, and 56 extending outward from the handle segment 35, 45, and 55, respectively. The external dimensions of the handle segment 35, 45, and 55 and the latch segment 36, 46, and 56 are determined such that the hook-shaped protrusions 34, 44, and 54 can pass through the locking openings 30, 40, and 50 assigned to them, respectively.

[0032] The upper latch segments 36 and 46 of the upper hook-shaped protrusions 34 and 44, assigned to the corresponding L-shaped locking openings 30 and 40, extend horizontally and thus parallel to their corresponding horizontal legs 31 and 41, and are arranged such that the upper latch segments 36 and 46 can pass through the horizontal legs 31 and 41 of the respective assigned locking openings 30 and 40 in the direction of arrow A. The lower hook-shaped protrusion 54 is arranged such that its lower latch segment 56 can pass through and engage with the vertically elongated lower intermediate locking opening 50 before the upper latch segments 36 and 46 are displaced in the direction of arrow A.

[0033] Figure 2 This illustrates a state in which latch segments 36, 46, and 56 are at arrow A ( Figure 3 The sensor shield 12 passes through the respective locking openings 30, 40, and 50 in the direction of the sensor, but the sensor shield 12 has not yet been fixed to the retaining plate 13.

[0034] Figure 3 The following state is shown in a vertical cross-sectional view, in which the sensor shield 12 has moved downward relative to the retaining plate 14 in the direction of arrow B. The sensor retaining member 10 has a surface protrusion 47 on the rear side 14' of the retaining plate 14, which is engaged from behind by a hook-shaped protrusion 44, in the region of the right-side L-shaped locking opening 40. This surface protrusion secures the latch segment 46 of the assigned hook-shaped protrusion 44 without gap along the first spatial axis X. A corresponding surface protrusion 37 is provided in the same manner on the rear side 14' of the retaining plate 14, which is engaged from behind by the latch segment 36 of the hook-shaped protrusion 34, in the region of the left-side L-shaped locking opening 30.

[0035] Sensor shield 12 has Figure 4 The position shown in the figure is in which the latch segments 36, 46, 56 of the corresponding hook-shaped protrusions 34, 44, 54 engage the retaining plate 14 from the rear and fix the sensor shield relative to the retaining plate 14 and thus relative to the sensor retainer 10 in the direction of a horizontal first spatial axis X, which defines the longitudinal axis of radiation of the radar sensor 6.

[0036] Figure 5 Shown in vertical cross-section Figure 4 The radar sensor 6 is inserted from the rear along the X-axis into the sensor holder assembled with the sensor shield 12. The radar sensor 6 passes through the mounting opening 15 and the sensor receiving opening 11 and is fixed to the retaining plate 14. The inner periphery of the sensor receiving opening 11 of the sensor shield 12 is tightly pressed against the outer periphery 60 of the radar sensor 6, thereby fixing the sensor shield 12 to the first plane E perpendicular to the first spatial axis X. YZ middle.

[0037] This invention is not limited to the above embodiments, which are only used to generally explain the core idea of ​​the invention. Within the scope of protection, the device according to the invention can also be implemented in ways different from those described above. In particular, the device may have features that constitute a combination of the corresponding individual features of the claims.

[0038] The reference numerals in the claims, description, and drawings are for better understanding of the invention only and should not limit the scope of protection.

[0039] List of reference numerals

[0040] 1 Radar sensor assembly

[0041] 2 motor vehicles

[0042] 3 Locking Mechanism

[0043] 4 Locking Mechanism

[0044] 5 Locking Mechanism

[0045] 6 radar sensors

[0046] 10 Sensor Retaining Components

[0047] 11 sensor housing opening

[0048] 11' sensor accommodates the inner peripheral edge of the opening

[0049] 12 sensor shielding

[0050] 12' shielding wall

[0051] 12" shielding wall

[0052] 12''' shielding wall

[0053] 12" shielding wall

[0054] 13. Rear side of sensor shielding

[0055] 14 retaining plate

[0056] 14' Retaining plate rear side

[0057] 15 Installation openings

[0058] 30 Upper left locking opening

[0059] 31 horizontal side leg

[0060] 32 vertical side legs

[0061] 34 Hook-shaped protrusions

[0062] 35 handle segments

[0063] 36 Upper latch section

[0064] 37 Surface ridges

[0065] 40 Upper right locking opening

[0066] 41 horizontal side leg

[0067] 42 vertical side legs

[0068] 44 Hook-shaped protrusions

[0069] 45 handle segments

[0070] 46 Upper latch section

[0071] 47 Surface ridges

[0072] 50 Lower middle locking opening

[0073] 54 Hook-shaped protrusions

[0074] 55 handle segment

[0075] 56 Lower latch section

[0076] 60 Radar sensor peripheral area

[0077] E YZ First plane

[0078] X-axis (horizontal)

[0079] Z-axis (vertical)

[0080] Y-axis of third space (horizontal)

Claims

1. A radar sensor assembly (1) in a motor vehicle (2), the radar sensor assembly comprising a sensor holder (10), a radar sensor (6), and a sensor shield (12) having a sensor receiving opening (11), wherein, The sensor shield (12) at least partially surrounds the radar sensor (6) and is connected to the sensor holder (10). The sensor shield (12) is mechanically coupled to the sensor holder (10) via locking mechanisms (3, 4, 5) and fixed along a first spatial axis (X). Furthermore, the sensor shield (12) is fixed to a first plane (E) perpendicular to the first spatial axis (X) via the radar sensor (6). YZ In the sensor housing (11), the radar sensor is embedded in the sensor housing opening (11) and fixed to the sensor holder (10).

2. The radar sensor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor shield (12) is closely abutted against the outer peripheral region (60) of the radar sensor (6) at least in the area of ​​the inner peripheral edge (11') of the sensor receiving opening (11), and the sensor shield (12) thus forms a first plane (E) YZ The space axis (Y, Z) is fixed relative to the radar sensor (6).

3. The radar sensor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (3, 4, 5) includes hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44, 54) on the sensor shield (12) and L-shaped locking openings (30, 40) in the sensor holder (10). The hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44) cooperate with the L-shaped locking openings (30, 40) in the sensor holder (10) such that the hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44) are embedded in the first leg (31, 41) of the assigned locking opening (30, 40) and partially pass through the sensor holder (10) thereand through the second leg (32, 42) along the L-shaped locking opening (30, 40) on the first plane (E). YZ The sensor holder (10) is engaged from behind and moves along a path perpendicular to the first plane (E). YZ The first spatial axis (X) is used to fix the sensor holder.

4. The radar sensor assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sensor holder (10) has a protrusion or surface ridge (47) on the side (14') that engages from the rear by hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44) in the region of the L-shaped locking opening (30, 40), the protrusion or surface ridge being respectively along the first spatial axis (E). YZ The assigned hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44) are secured without gaps.

5. The radar sensor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The locking mechanism includes a hook-shaped protrusion on the sensor holder and an L-shaped locking opening in the sensor shield. The hook-shaped protrusion engages with the L-shaped locking opening in the sensor shield such that it is embedded in a first leg of the assigned locking opening and partially passes through the sensor shield there. The hook-shaped protrusion engages the sensor shield from the rear by moving the sensor shield along a first plane and fixes the sensor shield along a first spatial axis perpendicular to the first plane.

6. The radar sensor assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sensor shield has a protrusion or surface ridge on the side of the L-shaped locking opening area, which is engaged from the rear by a hook-shaped protrusion. The protrusion or surface ridge fixes the assigned hook-shaped protrusion without gap along the first spatial axis.

7. The radar sensor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The sensor shield (12) is made of soft plastic material, preferably expanded polypropylene, or has such material.

8. A motor vehicle having at least one radar sensor assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A method for installing a radar sensor assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by the following steps: - Insert the hook-shaped protrusions (34, 44) along the first spatial axis (X) into one of the first side legs (31, 41) of each of the assigned L-shaped locking openings (30, 40); - Move the sensor shield (12) along the second spatial axis (Z) defined by the corresponding second side legs (32, 42) of the L-shaped locking opening (30, 40); - Insert the radar sensor (6) along the first spatial axis (X) into the sensor receiving opening (11) of the sensor shield (12); and - Fix the radar sensor (6) to the sensor holder (10).

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