Protective device for a sensor device in a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device (100) for a sensor device (10) in a motor vehicle, comprising a protection frame (110) which is designed to receive and secure the sensor device (10) in the protection frame, and a securing receptacle (120) which is arranged on the protection frame and is designed to receive and secure a peripheral device (130) for the sensor device (10) on the securing receptacle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective device for a sensor device in a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle having such a protective device. Background Technology

[0002] Sensors, such as lidar sensors and / or radar sensors, are expensive and can be easily damaged in accidents.

[0003] A sensor system and a method for mounting the sensor system are known from document DE 10 2022 200 280 A1. Document WO 2020 / 216 547 A1 discloses a rotatable cover for a vehicle sensor module. A lidar sensor for a vehicle is described in document DE 10 2020 206 814 A1. A windshield wiper assembly for a vehicle is disclosed in document DE 102021 206 727 A1. A rotatable cover for a vehicle sensor module is described in document DE 10 2019 112 908 B4. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved protection device for sensor equipment in motor vehicles.

[0005] This objective is achieved through the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous improvements are given in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the first aspect, a protective device for sensor equipment in a motor vehicle is provided.

[0007] The protective device includes: a protective frame designed to receive and secure the sensor device within the protective frame; and a fixing receiving portion disposed on the protective frame and designed to receive and secure cleaning equipment for the sensor device within the fixing receiving portion.

[0008] Protective devices, in particular, are used to protect sensor equipment of motor vehicles from external influences, such as impacts and / or collisions—e.g., the impact and / or jolt that occurs when a motor vehicle collides with another vehicle and / or object in an accident. Specifically, the purpose of the protective device is to absorb the impact without transmitting it to the sensor equipment.

[0009] For this purpose, the protective device includes a protective frame designed to receive and secure the sensor device within the protective frame.

[0010] The protective frame here forms a cavity in which the sensor device can be received and secured. For example, the protective frame surrounds the sensor device received therein on at least two sides, and especially at least four sides.

[0011] For this purpose, the protective frame can be made of a particularly hard and / or rigid material, especially one with torsional rigidity. In particular, the protective frame is harder and / or more rigid than the sensor device. For example, the protective frame is made of or includes metals, especially steel and / or stainless steel, plastics and / or composites (e.g., glass fiber plastics and / or carbon fibers), and especially combinations thereof.

[0012] The sensor device herein may include, in particular, one or more optical sensors, such as one or more camera devices, lidar devices, and / or radar devices. The sensor device is particularly used for detecting images of the external space of the motor vehicle and / or detecting distances in the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle.

[0013] Therefore, the sensor device can be arranged and fixed on the protective frame, particularly on one or more inner surfaces of the protective frame. Suitable fasteners, such as screws, rivets, and / or locking elements, can be used for this purpose.

[0014] In particular, the sensor device can be detachably secured to the protective frame, allowing it to be removed without damage in the event of frame damage, so that it can be used, for example, with a new protective frame or within a new protective frame. The protective device may include the sensor device, but is not required to do so. In particular, both the sensor device and the protective frame are replaceable, for example, in the event of damage as described above.

[0015] The protective frame or protective device is hereby connected and / or may be connected to the body element, either indirectly (e.g., through the compensation device described below) or directly, and is also indirectly (e.g., through the compensation device described below) or directly fixed and / or may be fixed to the body element. Here, the protective frame may be designed either integrated with or as a single piece of the body element, or it may be separate from or separate from the body element. Here, the body element particularly includes the chassis and / or frame of the motor vehicle. In particular, the body element is the load-bearing element of the motor vehicle.

[0016] Protective frames or protective devices are particularly located at the front end of a motor vehicle. For example, protective frames may be located on the front bumper, near the front bumper, and / or directly behind the front bumper, below or above the radiator air intake, and / or below or above the license plate or license plate holder.

[0017] In particular, the protective frame is positioned between 30 cm and 60 cm from the lane surface, especially between 40 cm and 50 cm. In particular, the center point of the protective frame is positioned between 40 cm and 50 cm from the lane surface along the height direction, and even more particularly at 45 cm.

[0018] In particular, the protective frame is arranged on the vehicle to protect the sensor device from the impact of the pendulum test (especially the pendulum test according to ECE R42 and / or according to 49 CFR 581) and to prevent or at least reduce the damage to the sensor device caused by such test.

[0019] The protective device also includes a fixing receiving part arranged on the protective frame and designed to receive and fix peripheral equipment for the sensor device to the fixing receiving part.

[0020] Peripheral equipment is, in this context, a device that supports and / or facilitates the functioning of a sensor device, causes the functioning of a sensor device, and / or allows the realization of the functioning of a sensor device. In particular, peripheral equipment is a cleaning device for a sensor device, which will be further described below.

[0021] To accommodate peripheral equipment on a protective device or frame, one or more fixing receiving parts are provided on the protective frame. The fixing device may be, for example, a hole with or without threads, which may be designed as a through hole or a blind hole, into which a fastener, such as a screw or rivet, can be received. Alternatively or additionally, the fixing device may be a locking receiving part that can engage with a corresponding locking element and, in particular, can lock with the corresponding locking element.

[0022] The fixed receiving part can be arranged along at least one edge of the protective frame, especially along the front edge of the protective frame in the direction of vehicle travel.

[0023] In particular, the peripheral device can be detachably secured to the protective frame via a fixed receiving part, allowing for undamaged removal of the peripheral device from the protective frame in the event of damage, so that it can be used, for example, with a new protective frame, or within a new protective frame. The protective device may include the peripheral device, but it is not mandatory. In particular, both the peripheral device and the protective frame are replaceable, for example, in the event of damage as described above.

[0024] The protective device according to the invention can protect the sensor equipment of a motor vehicle from external influences, especially from impacts and / or collisions—for example, impacts and / or collisions that occur when a motor vehicle collides with another vehicle and / or object in the event of an accident.

[0025] According to the present invention, the protective frame is designed to be substantially cuboid in shape and open on one side.

[0026] The term "cubic" here means that the protective frame has a total of six sides arranged in a substantially rectangular manner, and at least one of these sides is designed to be partially or completely open.

[0027] For example, the fixed receiving part can be arranged on the front upper edge, left front edge, right front edge and / or front lower edge of the cuboid protective frame on the open side.

[0028] Through this open side, sensor devices can be, for example, installed in and / or removed from the protective frame. In particular, the open side is located at the front in the direction of travel when installed.

[0029] This results in a particularly compact structure for the protection device.

[0030] According to the present invention, the protective frame has a protrusion on the open side.

[0031] The protective frame has at least one protrusion that extends beyond the remainder of the frame on the open side, particularly by at least 1 cm, 2 cm, 5 cm, or 10 cm. The protrusion may extend along the width of the protective frame, particularly across its entire width. Similarly, the protrusion may be located on the upper and / or lower edges of the protective frame.

[0032] In particular, two protrusions can also be implemented on the protective frame, which extend along the width of the protective frame, especially along the entire width, and extend parallel to each other on the open side.

[0033] Similarly, the first protrusion may extend, in particular, along or on the upper edge of the open side, and the second protrusion may extend, in particular, along or on the lower edge of the open side.

[0034] Here, the two protrusions may be prominent to the same or different degrees. According to the invention, the first protrusion and optionally the second protrusion constitute the foremost point or foremost edge of the protective frame and protective device, optionally excluding peripheral devices.

[0035] This provides excellent protection for the sensor device.

[0036] According to the present invention, a fixing receiving portion for the peripheral device is arranged on the protrusion.

[0037] In particular, one or more fixed receiving portions are arranged on the upper protrusion, which extends along the upper edge of the open side. Alternatively, one or more fixed receiving portions are arranged on the lower protrusion, which extends along the lower edge of the open side.

[0038] This allows for the advantageous arrangement of peripheral devices relative to the sensor equipment.

[0039] According to the present invention, the protrusion extends beyond the sensor device in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

[0040] One or more protrusions may extend beyond and / or protrude from the sensor device, particularly extending beyond and / or protruding from the foremost point or foremost edge of the sensor device in the direction of travel by at least 1 cm, 2 cm, 5 cm or 10 cm.

[0041] This also provides particularly effective protection for sensor devices.

[0042] According to one improvement, the protective device further includes a compensation device designed to be arranged and fixed on the body components of the motor vehicle, wherein the compensation device is designed to provide tolerance compensation for the protective frame relative to the body components.

[0043] The compensation device can be designed as a fixing device to secure the protective device or frame to the vehicle body components. For this purpose, a compensation element can be provided that adapts to the protective frame along its width, height, and / or depth, thereby allowing the compensation element to occupy a predefined position relative to the vehicle or body components.

[0044] For this purpose, one or more elongated holes can be implemented, and / or the compensation device can be varied along the depth or thickness, so that one or more fasteners together with the compensation device can be positioned relative to the motor vehicle in a predetermined position.

[0045] This improved design achieves a particularly good fit and adjustment of the protective device relative to the vehicle body components.

[0046] According to one improvement, the protective device also includes a decorative device designed to work in conjunction with a corresponding receiving portion on the vehicle's decorative elements and form a substantially flat decorative surface.

[0047] The protective device includes a decorative element that can be arranged and fixed to the protective device, particularly to the protective frame. This decorative element works in conjunction with the vehicle's trim elements to form a flat trim surface. Specifically, the decorative element forms part of the trim surface and is received within a corresponding trim notch of the trim element.

[0048] For example, the trim is designed as part of the front bumper, and the trim works in conjunction with a notch formed on the front bumper and is partially or completely received in the notch, so as to form a substantially flat and continuous front bumper surface when viewed from the outside of the vehicle.

[0049] This improved design enabled the sensor equipment to be arranged in a particularly effective manner, including protection against contamination and aerodynamic design.

[0050] According to one improvement, the decorative device includes an observation element / perspective element / visual element for a sensor device to observe the external space outside the protective device through the observation element.

[0051] The observation element can be designed to be at least partially transparent and arranged in the decorative device.

[0052] In particular, the observation element may be transmissive to waves or wavelengths of radar and / or lidar devices, but not transmissive to visible light. Alternatively, the observation element may be transmissive to waves or wavelengths in the visible and / or infrared range, such as waves or wavelengths of camera devices. Alternatively, the observation element may also be transmissive to both the visible and / or infrared ranges and waves or wavelengths of radar and / or lidar devices.

[0053] For example, the observation element can be made of transparent and / or stained materials, such as glass, plexiglass, and / or plastic.

[0054] This improved approach allows for particularly good utilization of the sensor.

[0055] According to one improved design, the peripheral device is designed as a clean observation element.

[0056] Peripheral equipment is designed here, in particular, as cleaning equipment. Cleaning equipment may include, for example, one or more outlets for water, liquid cleaning agents, and / or air, especially nozzles.

[0057] These outlets can direct jets of water, cleaning agents, and / or air at sensor devices, especially at observation elements, to remove dirt deposited on them.

[0058] This improved approach enables particularly effective cleaning of sensor devices, thereby achieving especially interference-free operation.

[0059] According to another aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle according to the invention includes a protective device according to one of the above embodiments, wherein the protective device is arranged, particularly in the direction of travel, at the front of the motor vehicle.

[0060] The present invention also includes combinations of features of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present invention also includes implementations having combinations of features of a plurality of non-mutually described embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0061] Embodiments of the present invention are described below. The accompanying drawings illustrate:

[0062] Figure 1 A perspective view of one embodiment of a protective device for sensor equipment in a motor vehicle is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, each component described constitutes a separate, independently viewable feature of the present invention, and these features also independently improve the present invention. Therefore, this disclosure should also include combinations of features other than those of the embodiments shown. Furthermore, the embodiments can also be supplemented by other features of the present invention already described.

[0064] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote elements that have the same function.

[0065] Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of a protection device 100 for a sensor device 10 in a motor vehicle (not shown) is shown.

[0066] The protective device 100 is included here by a motor vehicle (not shown further) and is arranged at the front of the motor vehicle in the direction of travel F.

[0067] The protective device 100 is used to protect the sensor device 10 of a motor vehicle and includes: a protective frame 110, which is designed to receive and fix the sensor device 10 in the protective frame; and a fixing receiving part 120, which is arranged on the protective frame and is designed to receive and fix peripheral devices 130 for the sensor device 10 in the fixing receiving part.

[0068] The protective frame 110 is designed to be substantially cuboid in shape. For this purpose, the protective frame has substantially six sides, wherein every two sides extend parallel to each other, with two sides extending along the height H and depth T, two sides extending along the depth T and width B, and two sides extending along the width B and height H.

[0069] Here, the two sides along the width B and height H, that is, the two sides perpendicular to the direction of travel, namely the front side 111 and the rear side 112, are designed to be open. The upper side 113 and the lower side 114 also have notches, wherein the heat generated by the sensor device 10 can be discharged through the upper notch 113-1 and water can be discharged through the lower notch 114-1.

[0070] The protective frame 110 here has an upper protrusion 111-1 and a lower protrusion 111-2 on the open front side 111, which extend along the upper edge and the lower edge of the cuboid protective frame 110, respectively.

[0071] The fixed receiving part 120 is arranged on the upper protrusion 111-1, thereby fixing the peripheral device 130 to the upper protrusion 111-1.

[0072] The upper protrusion 111-1 and the lower protrusion 111-2 extend beyond the sensor device 10 in the direction of travel F of the motor vehicle. The upper protrusion 111-1 and the lower protrusion 111-2 have the same extension dimension along the depth T or along the direction of travel F.

[0073] The upper protrusion 111-1 and the lower protrusion 111-2 here constitute the foremost point or the foremost edge of the protective device in the direction of travel, excluding peripheral equipment.

[0074] The protective device 100 also includes a compensation device 140, which is designed to be arranged and fixed on the body components of the motor vehicle, wherein the compensation device 140 is designed to provide tolerance compensation for the protective frame 110 relative to the body components.

[0075] The compensation device 140 is exemplarily shown here as a mounting plate and has a plurality of elongated holes, not shown in detail, through which the protective frame 110 and, consequently, the protective device 100 are secured to the vehicle and can be adjusted or calibrated to a predetermined position.

[0076] The protective device 100 also has a decorative device 150, which is designed to work in conjunction with a corresponding receiving portion on a decorative element of the motor vehicle and to form a substantially flat decorative surface.

[0077] Decorative fixture 150 is arranged and fixed to the protective frame 110, and here closes the open front side 111, especially the open front side relative to rainwater and / or dirt.

[0078] The decorative device 150 also has an observation element 151, through which the sensor device 10 observes the external space outside the protective device 100.

[0079] Peripheral device 130 is designed here to clean observation element 151, for example by providing air, water and / or cleaning agent to observation element 151 to remove dirt from the observation element.

[0080] In summary, the examples demonstrate how a mechanical protection system can be provided for vehicle sensors.

Claims

1. A protection device (100) for a sensor device (10) in a motor vehicle, the protection device comprising: - A protective frame (110) designed to receive and secure the sensor device (10) within the protective frame; - Fixed receiving part (120), which is arranged on the protective frame and is designed to receive and fix the peripheral device (130) for the sensor device (10) to the fixed receiving part; The protective frame (110) is designed to be essentially rectangular and open on one side (111); The protective frame (110) has protrusions (111-1, 111-2) on the open side (111); The fixed receiving part (120) is arranged on the protrusion (111-1); The protrusions (111-1, 111-2) extend beyond the remaining portion of the sensor device (10) and the protective frame (110) in the direction of travel (F) of the motor vehicle, such that the protrusions constitute the foremost edge of the protective device in the direction of travel (F).

2. The protective device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The protective device includes a compensation device (140) designed to be arranged and fixed on a body element of the motor vehicle, wherein the compensation device (140) is designed to provide tolerance compensation for the protective frame (110) relative to the body element.

3. The protective device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The protective device includes a decorative device (150) designed to work in conjunction with a corresponding receiving portion on a trim element of the motor vehicle and to form a substantially flat trim surface.

4. The protection device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The decorative device (150) includes an observation element (151) through which the sensor device (10) observes the external space outside the protective device (100).

5. The protection device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The peripheral device (130) is designed to clean the observation element (151).

6. A motor vehicle comprising a protective device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the protective device (100) being arranged at the front of the motor vehicle in the direction of travel (F).

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