Installation structure of outside sensor

Abstract

The present invention provides a mounting structure for an external sensor that can suppress changes in the mounting angle of the external sensor even when components expand or contract due to temperature changes or minor collisions with the vehicle. A mounting structure (5) for an external sensor (4) is provided, the external sensor (4) being disposed within a surface member (3) mounted on the surface of a vehicle body (13) and facing a first direction for detecting obstacles. The mounting structure (5) includes: a retaining member (6) that retains the external sensor (4) and mounts it to the surface member (3); a first member (7) extending from the retaining member (6) to the opposite side of the side in the first direction where the external sensor (4) is mounted; and a second member (8) fixed to the vehicle body (13) and engaging with the first member (7). The first member (7) includes an opening (12) extending along the first direction, and the second member (8) includes an insert end (17) protruding into the opening (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the mounting structure of an external sensor installed on a vehicle for obstacle detection. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, efforts to provide access to sustainable transportation systems that take into account vulnerable groups among traffic participants have become increasingly active. To achieve this, research and development efforts are focused on further improving the safety and convenience of transportation through research and development related to autonomous driving and driver assistance technologies.

[0003] In autonomous driving and driver assistance technologies, external sensors installed on the vehicle are required to detect obstacles. These external sensors include millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, lidar, and cameras. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a structure for mounting a radar device in a resin grille section of a vehicle's bumper. The radar device, positioned at the center of the front of the vehicle, is used to detect obstacles in front of the vehicle and to enable functions such as Active Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Braking (CMBS).

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-94510

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-185214 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] However, in autonomous driving and driver assistance technologies, external sensors need to be mounted in the correct orientation (angle) to accurately determine the position of obstacles. While placing external sensors in resin grilles or similar structures improves design versatility, the orientation of the external sensors may be tilted relative to their intended orientation due to the expansion and contraction of the resin components based on temperature changes.

[0010] Furthermore, according to regulations in various countries, the radar's functionality must not be damaged in a minor vehicle collision, and the leg impairment value in pedestrian protection must be below a specified threshold. Not damaging the radar's functionality means that bumpers and other components equipped with the radar will not undergo plastic deformation exceeding permissible limits, and the radar's angle will not deviate. Additionally, pedestrian protection requires avoiding the use of high-rigidity components that could cause significant damage to bumpers and other parts that collide with a pedestrian's legs.

[0011] To address the aforementioned issues, the purpose of this application is to provide an external sensor mounting structure that, even when using components with low rigidity as the mounting location for the external sensor, can suppress changes in the mounting angle of the external sensor caused by component expansion and contraction due to temperature changes or minor vehicle collisions. Furthermore, this contributes to the development of sustainable transportation systems.

[0012] Methods for solving problems

[0013] To address the aforementioned issues, one aspect of the present invention is a mounting structure for an external sensor, wherein the external sensor is disposed within a surface component mounted on the surface of a vehicle body, the external sensor being oriented in a first direction for detecting obstacles, wherein the mounting structure for the external sensor includes: a retaining component that retains the external sensor and is mounted on the surface component; a first component that extends from the retaining component to the opposite side of the side in the first direction where the external sensor is mounted; and a second component that is fixed to the vehicle body and engages with the first component, the first component including an opening extending along the first direction, and the second component including an insert end protruding into the opening.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] Based on this structure, an external sensor mounting structure can be provided that can suppress the expansion and contraction of components caused by external sensor changes such as temperature changes, and the change in mounting angle caused by minor collisions with vehicles. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with external sensors that have been implemented.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a top view showing the external sensor mounting structure of the implementation method.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a side view showing the external sensor mounting structure of the implementation method.

[0019] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along line IV-IV.

[0020] Figure 5 This is an enlarged top view showing the external sensor mounting structure of the implementation method.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the displacement of the external sensor mounting structure in the embodiment ((A): normal, (B): expansion, (C): minor impact).

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0023] 1: Vehicle;

[0024] 3: Grille section (surface component);

[0025] 4: External sensors;

[0026] 5: External sensor installation structure;

[0027] 6: Retaining components;

[0028] 7: First component;

[0029] 8: Second component;

[0030] 11: Flat plate section;

[0031] 11a: Sliding surface;

[0032] 12: Opening;

[0033] 13: Upper beam (vehicle body);

[0034] 14: Fixing plate;

[0035] 15: Card-jointing part;

[0036] 16: Sliding piece;

[0037] 16a: Sliding surface;

[0038] 17: Intrusion end. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a perspective view of vehicle 1 according to the embodiment. In the following description, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-down directions are defined based on vehicle 1. Figure 1 As shown, vehicle 1 has a bumper outer panel 2 as a surface component mounted on the front of the vehicle body. The bumper outer panel 2 includes a resin grille 3. The grille 3 is located at the center in the left-right direction of the bumper outer panel 2. An external sensor 4 is mounted on the inner side of the center in the left-right direction of the grille 3.

[0040] External sensor 4 detects obstacles around vehicle 1 by emitting radio waves and measuring their reflected waves, and determines the distance and direction of the obstacle, i.e., the position of the obstacle relative to external sensor 4. The radio waves emitted by external sensor 4 can include millimeter waves and microwaves. External sensor 4 can also be ultrasonic radar, lidar, or a camera instead of radar.

[0041] Figures 2-4These are top views, side views, and partial sectional side views of the external sensor mounting structure 5 according to the implementation method. For example... Figures 2-4 As shown, the external sensor mounting structure 5 includes: mounted on the grille section 3 (refer to...) Figure 1 It includes a retaining member 6 that holds the external sensor 4 at the front; a first member 7 that extends rearward from the retaining member 6; and a second member 8 that is fixed to the vehicle body and engages with the first member 7.

[0042] The retaining component 6 is attached to the grille section 3 (see reference). Figure 1 The rear surface of the retaining member 6. The retaining member 6 includes: a plate-shaped base 9 facing forward and backward; and a flange portion 10 protruding forward from the edge of the base 9 and extending along the edge. The base 9 and the flange portion 10 cooperate to accommodate the external sensor 4. The base 9 is generally quadrilateral when viewed from the front. The flange portion 10 is generally cylindrical. The retaining member 6 is formed, for example, from resin.

[0043] The first component 7 includes a pair of flat plate portions 11, which are arranged separately from each other on the left and right sides and extend rearward from the rear surface of the retaining component 6. Each flat plate portion 11 has a main surface facing the vertical direction and an opening portion 12 in the shape of an elongated hole that opens vertically and extends in the front-rear direction. The first component 7 is formed, for example, by processing a metal plate.

[0044] The second component 8 includes: a fixing plate 14, which is fixed to the upper beam 13, which is part of the vehicle body; and a pair of engaging portions 15, which extend forward from the lower end of the fixing plate 14, separated from each other on the left and right. The upper beam 13 is part of the steel frame in the vehicle body and has a larger resin grille portion 3 (see reference). Figure 1 High rigidity. The fixing piece 14 is a flat plate with a main surface facing the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the upper beam 13 by fastening or welding at its upper end. Each engaging part 15 includes: a sliding piece 16, which extends forward from the lower end of the fixing piece 14; and an inserting end 17, which protrudes downward from the front end of the sliding piece 16 and inserts into the opening 12 of the first part 7. The lower surface of the sliding piece 16 and the upper surface of the flat plate part 11 of the first part 7 form sliding surfaces 16a, 11a that can slide against each other. Figure 5 This is an enlarged top view of the area near the protruding end 17. (See image below.) Figures 2-5 As shown, the front and rear surfaces of the protruding end 17 are separated from the front and rear ends of the opening 12, and the left and right sides of the protruding end 17 slide in contact with the left and right side edges of the opening 12 with a small gap. Therefore, each plate portion 11 can be moved back and forth by guiding the opening 12 through the protruding end 17, and during the back and forth movement, the sliding surface 11a of the plate portion 11 slides relative to the sliding surface 16a of the sliding piece 16. The second component 8 is formed, for example, by processing a metal plate.

[0045] Figure 6 (A) shows the typical external sensor mounting configuration 5. Figure 6 (B) shows the state where the external sensor 4 is shifted further forward than usual due to the thermal expansion of the grille section 3. Figure 6 (C) shows the state where the external sensor 4 shifts rearward due to the cooling and shrinkage of the grille section 3 or a minor collision between the vehicle 1 and an obstacle in front. (Refer to...) Figures 1-6 The effects of the external sensor mounting structure 5 will be explained.

[0046] In the event of expansion or contraction of the outer bumper panel 2 or grille 3 due to temperature changes, or in the event of a minor collision between the vehicle 1 and an obstacle in front, the retaining member 6 and the first member 7 shift rearward relative to the vehicle body. The rearward displacement of the retaining member 6 and the first member 7 during a minor collision between the vehicle 1 and the obstacle in front is greater than the forward and backward displacement of the retaining member 6 and the first member 7 caused by the expansion or contraction of the outer bumper panel 2 or grille 3. Therefore, under normal circumstances, it is preferable that the distance from the protruding end 17 to the front end of the opening 12 is longer than the distance from the protruding end 17 to the rear end of the opening 12.

[0047] When the outer panel 2 or grille 3 of the bumper expands and contracts due to temperature changes, the area around the external sensor mounting structure 5 may not expand or contract uniformly. For example, if the left portion of the external sensor mounting structure 5 expands more than the right portion, the left portion will bulge forward more than the right portion. This deformation causes the external sensor 4, held on the retaining member 6 of the grille 3, to tilt to the right. Similarly, when the external sensor mounting structure 5 expands vertically at different rates, the outer panel 2 or grille 3 of the bumper will deform to cause the external sensor 4 to tilt vertically. Even in the event of a minor collision between the vehicle 1 and an obstacle in front, the outer panel 2 or grille 3 of the bumper will deform to cause the external sensor 4 to tilt vertically and horizontally depending on the location of the collision.

[0048] The retaining member 6 fixed to the grille section 3 and the first member 7 fixed to the retaining member 6 are displaced according to the deformation of the bumper outer panel 2 or the grille section 3. On the other hand, the second member 8 is fixed to the upper beam 13, which is part of the vehicle body, so even if the bumper outer panel 2 or the grille section 3 is displaced due to temperature changes or minor impacts, the second member 8 will not be directly affected. Therefore, the second member 8, which engages with the first member 7, can limit the displacement of the retaining member 6 and the first member 7 in a specific direction.

[0049] The protruding end 17 of the engaging portion 15 of the second component 8 protrudes into the opening 12 extending longitudinally in the flat portion 11 of the first component 7, and the left and right sides of the protruding end 17 slide in contact with the left and right sides of the opening 12. Therefore, the protruding end 17 guides the forward and backward displacement of the retaining component 6 and the first component 7, and suppresses the left and right tilting of the retaining component 6 and the first component 7. In addition, since a pair of flat portions 11 and engaging portions 15 are provided respectively, left and right tilting is prevented when the retaining component 6 and the first component 7 are moved forward and backward.

[0050] Furthermore, when the retaining component 6 and the first component 7 are moved back and forth, the upper surface of the flat plate portion 11 of the first component 7, i.e., the sliding surface 11a, slides on the lower surface of the sliding piece 16 of the second component 8, i.e., the sliding surface 16a. Therefore, the vertical tilting displacement of the flat plate portion 11 is restricted by the sliding piece 16, preventing the retaining component 6 and the first component 7 from tilting vertically.

[0051] By oriented the main surface of the flat plate 11 toward the vertical direction, the shape of the second component 8 can be simplified, and the processing of the second component 8 becomes easier.

[0052] By using resin, which has lower rigidity than steel, as the grille section 3, the injury to the pedestrian who comes into contact with the grille section 3 is reduced in the event of a minor collision between the vehicle 1 and the pedestrian. Using a resin-made grille section 3 also improves the vehicle's aesthetic appeal.

[0053] The above description of the specific embodiments concludes here. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments or modifications, and can be widely modified. It is possible that the sliding piece 16 can not only move in opposition to the portion of the flat plate 11 that is rearward of the opening 12, but also slide in opposition to the front portion and / or the portion that is lateral to the opening 12. Furthermore, the sliding piece 16 can not only be opposed to the flat plate 11 from above, but also from below, or a pair of sliding pieces 16 can be provided on each engaging portion 15 in a manner where they are opposed to the flat plate 11 from both above and below. The main surface of the flat plate 11 only needs to face a direction perpendicular to the front-back direction (first direction) (second direction). For example, the main surface of the flat plate 11 can face a left-right direction, with the protruding end 17 of the second component 8 protruding into the opening 12 from the left-right direction, and the sliding surface 11a of the flat plate 11 and the sliding surface 16a of the sliding piece 16 sliding in opposition to each other from left to right. In this case, the opening 12 and the protruding end 17 prevent the external sensor 4 from tilting vertically, and the sliding surface 11a of the flat plate 11 and the sliding surface 16a of the sliding piece 16 prevent the external sensor 4 from tilting horizontally. The external sensor 4 can be installed at the rear of the vehicle 1 and facing rearward, or at the side of the vehicle 1 and facing left and right, or at the corner of the vehicle 1 and tilted relative to the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0054] The above-described embodiments can also be described as follows. One embodiment is an external sensor mounting structure 5 for mounting an external sensor 4, which is disposed within a surface component such as a bumper outer panel 2 mounted on the surface of the vehicle body, such as the upper beam 13, and faces a first direction for detecting obstacles. The external sensor mounting structure 5 includes: a retaining member 6 that holds the external sensor 4 and is mounted on the surface component; a first member 7 that extends from the retaining member 6 to the opposite side of the side in the first direction where the external sensor 4 is mounted; and a second member 8 that is fixed to the vehicle body and engages with the first member 7. The first member 7 includes an opening 12 extending along the first direction, and the second member 8 includes a protruding end 17 that protrudes into the opening 12.

[0055] According to this structure, the protruding end 17 protruding into the opening 12 guides the forward and backward displacement of the first component 7, thereby suppressing the tilting of the retaining component 6 holding the external sensor 4 relative to the first direction.

[0056] In the above structure, preferably, the opening 12 opens in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the side of the protruding end 17 facing a third direction slides in contact with the edge of the opening 12, the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and the first component 7 and the second component 8 include sliding surfaces 11a and 16a that are opposite to each other in the second direction and can slide.

[0057] According to this structure, the external sensor 4 is prevented from tilting from the first direction to the third direction by the opening 12 and the protruding end 17, and the external sensor 4 is prevented from tilting from the first direction to the second direction by the two sliding surfaces 11a and 16a that can slide against each other.

[0058] In the above structure, preferably, the first component 7 includes a pair of flat plates 11, which are arranged separately from each other in the third direction and respectively include the opening 12 and the sliding surface 11a of the first component 7. The second component 8 includes a fixing piece 14 fixed to the vehicle body and a pair of engaging parts 15, which extend from the fixing piece 14 in a manner arranged separately from each other in the third direction and respectively include the protruding end 17 and the sliding surface 16a of the second component 8. Each engaging part 15 includes a sliding piece 16, which includes the sliding surface 16a of the second component 8, and the protruding end 17 protrudes from the sliding piece 16.

[0059] According to this structure, a pair of flat plate portion 11 and engaging portion 15 are provided respectively, thus preventing the external sensor 4 from tilting.

[0060] In the above structure, preferably, the second direction is the vertical direction, the second component 8 is mounted on the upper side of the vehicle body, and the protruding end 17 is disposed on the lower side of the second component 8.

[0061] According to this structure, the shape of the second component 8 can be simplified, and the processing of the second component 8 becomes easier.

[0062] In the above structure, preferably, the first direction is the front-to-back direction, the external sensor 4 includes radar, the surface component is the bumper outer panel 2 including a resin grille 3, and the retaining component 6 is installed on the inner side of the grille 3.

[0063] According to this structure, safety is improved by making the grille part 3, which may come into contact with pedestrians in the event of a minor collision, a resin material.

Claims

1. A mounting structure for an external sensor, wherein the external sensor is mounted within a surface component mounted on the surface of a vehicle body, and the external sensor is oriented in a first direction for detecting obstacles, wherein... The mounting structure of the external sensor includes: A retaining component that holds the external sensor and is mounted on the surface component. A first component extends from the retaining component to the opposite side of the side in the first direction where the external sensor is mounted; and The second component is fixed to the vehicle body and engages with the first component. The first component includes an opening extending along the first direction. The second component includes a protruding end that extends into the opening.

2. The mounting structure for the external sensor according to claim 1, wherein, The opening is located in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The side of the protruding end facing a third direction slides into contact with the edge of the opening, the third direction being perpendicular to both the first and second directions. The first component and the second component include sliding surfaces that are opposite to each other in the second direction and are capable of sliding.

3. The mounting structure for the external sensor according to claim 2, wherein, The first component includes a pair of flat plate portions, which are disposed separately from each other in the third direction, and each includes the opening and the sliding surface of the first component. The second component includes: a retaining plate fixed to the vehicle body; and a pair of engaging portions extending from the retaining plate in a manner configured to be separated from each other in the third direction, each including the protruding end and the sliding surface of the second component. Each of the engagement portions includes a sliding piece, which includes the sliding surface of the second component, and the protruding end protrudes from the sliding piece.

4. The mounting structure for the external sensor according to claim 2, wherein, The second direction is the up and down direction. The second component is mounted on the upper side of the vehicle body, and the protruding end is located on the lower side of the second component.

5. The mounting structure for the external sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The first direction is the forward and backward direction. The external sensors include radar. The surface component is a bumper outer panel that includes a resin grille section. The retaining component is installed on the inside of the grille section.

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