Mounting bracket for attaching a sensor, in particular a radar sensor, to a vehicle and a system consisting of a mounting bracket and the sensor

Abstract

Mounting bracket (2) for a sensor (1) for attachment to a vehicle, comprising: a sensor interface (13) with a sensor receptacle (15) in the form of a recess (20), wherein the sensor receptacle (15) is shaped such that the sensor (1) is centered in the recess (20) of the sensor receptacle (15) when installed and is biased against the sensor receptacle (15), wherein the recess (20) has a right wall (16), a left wall (17), a front wall (21) and a rear wall (22), wherein at least one of the walls has at least one projection (18) formed on its inner side as a support for the sensor (1) when installed in the recess (20) for centering the sensor in the recess, wherein at least one of the walls (16, 17, 21, 22) has at least one snap-fit ​​or clip element (24) formed on its inner side for snapping or clipping onto the sensor (1) in installed stateand / or at least one hook or retaining section (23) is formed for hooking or holding the sensor (1) in the recess in the installed state, and the recess (20) has a bottom (25) wherein at least one spring section (26) is formed in the bottom (25) which biases the sensor (1) in the installed state and biases it against the at least one locking or clip element (24) and / or against the at least one hook or retaining section (23).

Description

The invention relates to a bracket for attaching a sensor, in particular a radar sensor, to a vehicle and a system consisting of a bracket and the sensor for attachment to a vehicle. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND From DE 10 2010 047 273 A1, a bracket for attaching a sensor of an adaptive cruise control system as a detection unit to the body shell of a vehicle is known. The bracket has a recessed receptacle for arranging the detection unit and fastening elements for attaching it to the body shell. At least one second fastening element is designed such that it deforms upon impact of a pedestrian against the detection device. The second fastening element is folded in a Z-shape. DE 10 2012 101 781 A1 relates to a mounting frame for installation behind a vehicle window and for receiving a sensor device, as well as a sensor assembly comprising a mounting frame and a sensor device. Furthermore, DE 10 2015 212 599 B3, DE 10 2015 200 369 A1, US 2014 / 0346303 A1 and EP 3 118 065 A1 also disclose generic mountings for attaching a sensor. Nowadays, radar sensors are mounted in front of the vehicle behind a secondary surface using a bracket. This secondary surface can be part of the bumper, the grille, or the vehicle emblem. The bracket must ensure correct alignment of the radar sensor. To meet these requirements, the radar sensor must be mounted in a bracket that incorporates elastic elements such as snaps and spring clips made of plastic or metal. The bracket must also have an interface for attaching it to the vehicle. The radar sensor itself is a simple sensor without any special mounting interfaces. The radar sensor must be mounted in a bracket, as any deviation from its correct position or alignment will lead to errors and inconveniences. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting for attaching a sensor to a vehicle, in particular a sensor without its own mounting interface on a vehicle, such as a radar sensor. According to the invention, this problem is solved by a holder having the features of claim 1, a system consisting of a sensor and the holder having the features of claim 9 and a vehicle with such a system having the features of claim 11. Accordingly, a bracket for a sensor for attachment to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is provided, comprising: a sensor interface with a sensor receptacle in the form of a recess, wherein the sensor receptacle is shaped in such a way that the sensor, when installed, is centered in the recess of the sensor receptacle and biased against the sensor receptacle. The underlying idea of ​​the invention is that a sensor can be mounted in a bracket which does not have or require its own interface for attachment to a vehicle and which can be easily mounted to the bracket without the need for additional separate fasteners such as screws. The bracket, and in particular its sensor receptacle, is designed in such a way that the sensor can be securely and correctly positioned and held in the sensor receptacle without these additional separate fasteners. The bracket has the advantage that it is shaped with the recess for centering and holding the sensor, so that an installer does not need any additional screws, springs or the like to attach the sensor to the bracket, but simply has to insert the sensor into the sensor holder. Furthermore, a system consisting of the bracket and a vehicle sensor is provided, whereby the vehicle sensor is in particular a sensor without its own interface for attachment to a vehicle. Furthermore, a vehicle equipped with such a system will be provided. Advantageous designs and further developments result from the further sub-claims as well as from the description with reference to the figures in the drawing. According to the invention, the recess has a right wall, a left wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, wherein at least one of the walls has at least one projection formed on its inner side to serve as a support for the sensor when installed in the recess, thus centering the sensor within the recess. In this way, the sensor can be automatically and correctly positioned by an installer using the at least one projection. Furthermore, the projection prevents unintentional movement of the sensor relative to the walls of the recess. Furthermore, at least one of the walls has a formed locking or clip element on its inner side, for snapping or clipping it onto the sensor when installed. The locking or clip element has the advantage that the sensor cannot be unintentionally removed from the recess. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the walls has a formed hook or retaining section on its inner side for hooking or holding the sensor in place when installed in the recess. This also ensures that the sensor is securely held in the sensor housing. In one embodiment according to the invention, the at least one hook or retaining section is provided on the wall of the recess opposite the at least one locking or clip element. According to the invention, the recess has a base, in which at least one spring section is formed which biases the sensor in the installed state against the at least one locking or clip element and / or against the at least one hook or retaining section. In this way, the sensor is held in the recess, furthermore, unwanted up and down movement of the sensor in the recess is prevented, and tolerance differences are compensated for. According to one embodiment of the invention, the bracket has a vehicle interface. The vehicle interface has at least one connection section with a connecting component attached thereto for connection to a vehicle. The connecting component is, for example, a sleeve with or without an internal thread for passing through or screwing in a screw to fasten the bracket to the vehicle. The sleeve is, for example, a metal sleeve. This prevents direct contact between a screw and the bracket. In one embodiment according to the invention, the vehicle interface has several connection sections which are connected to the outside of at least one wall of the recess. In this way, the vehicle interface is connected to the sensor interface. In a further embodiment of the invention, at least two connection sections are connected to each other by a bridge section. The bridge section extends, for example, along the outside of at least one wall of the recess. This allows the bridge section to form a very stable connection between the connection sections and the wall of the recess of the sensor receptacle. In another embodiment of the invention, connecting sections and / or bridge sections have stiffening ribs. These further increase the stability of the bracket and the vehicle interface. In a further embodiment of the invention, the holder is made of plastic and the at least one connecting component is injection-molded into the associated connection section. The plastic holder can also be partially reinforced by metal sheet inserts or the like, which are injection-molded into the holder. The above embodiments and further developments can be combined with one another as appropriate. Further possible embodiments, further developments, and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described previously or subsequently with regard to the exemplary embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention. CONTENT OF THE DRAWING The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures of the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a radar sensor seen from the underside of the sensor; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the radar sensor according to Fig. 1 seen from the top; Fig. 3 the top of the radar sensor according to Fig. 1 seen in a top view; Fig. 4 the underside of the radar sensor according to Fig. 1 seen in a top view; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a mounting according to the invention seen from the top of the mounting for receiving a sensor according to Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a top view of a sensor interface of the mounting according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a top view of a vehicle interface of the mounting according to Fig. 5; Fig. 8 a sectional view of the mounting according to Figs. 5-7, wherein a radar sensor, as previously shown in the figures, is mounted.Figures 1-4 show the system being inserted into the bracket for mounting the radar sensor; Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the system consisting of the bracket and the radar sensor fully mounted therein according to Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows a sectional view of the system consisting of the bracket and the radar sensor fully mounted according to Figure 9. The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain the principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned will become apparent with reference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally equivalent and similarly acting elements, features and components - unless otherwise stated - are each provided with the same reference symbols. DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EXECUTION Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a radar sensor 1 from the underside of the sensor, and Fig. 2 shows a perspective view from the top of the sensor. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows the top of the radar sensor 1 as seen from above, and Fig. 4 shows the underside of the radar sensor 1 as seen from above, according to Figs. 1 and 2. The present invention is explained using the example of a radar sensor 1, which does not have its own or an additional mounting interface for attaching it to a vehicle. Instead, the radar sensor 1 is mounted in a bracket 2, which is then used to attach it to the vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to a radar sensor 1, but can be applied to any vehicle sensor that does not have its own or an additional interface for attaching it to a vehicle, but is attached to the vehicle via the bracket according to the invention. According to the invention, a bracket 2 is provided for attaching a sensor, shown by way of example in Figures 1-4, here a radar sensor 1. The radar sensor 1 itself does not have its own or an additional mounting interface for attaching the sensor to the bracket 2. Furthermore, only the bracket 2 is required to attach the radar sensor 1 to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, without the need for additional fastening elements such as screws to attach the radar sensor 1 to the bracket 2. This simplifies the manufacture of the bracket 2 and the attachment of the radar sensor 1 to the bracket 2, thus reducing costs. In contrast, conventional concepts for attaching the radar sensor require the use of additional screws to secure the radar sensor in a separate bracket.However, this results in a complicated mounting of the radar sensor and requires a complex manufacturing process. According to the invention, the bracket 2, which is shown and described in Figures 5-10 below, is designed as a plastic component with overmolded connecting elements, e.g., metal sleeves 3, to prevent direct contact between a metal screw and the plastic of the bracket 2. This reduces the assembly complexity of the components, since only one plastic component and the radar sensor 1 are required, without any additional fasteners that need to be attached to it. This significantly simplifies assembly, as fewer parts need to be assembled and the design of the bracket 2 is simplified. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the radar sensor 1 comprises a radar sensor housing 4, a radar sensor cover 5 and a radar sensor connector 6 as components or parts. The radar sensor connector 6 is part of the radar sensor housing 4, with the connection pins being overmolded in the area of ​​the radar sensor connector. To position and secure the radar sensor 1 in the mount 2, the following surfaces of the radar sensor 1 are used, as shown particularly in Fig. 3: The radar sensor connector 6 is located on the left side L of the radar sensor 1 and has a left mounting surface with, for example, a first and second left mounting section 7. The side opposite the radar sensor connector 6 forms the right side R of the radar sensor 1 and has a right mounting surface with, for example, a first and second right mounting section 8. Furthermore, the radar sensor 1 has a front F with a front mounting surface with, for example, a first and second front mounting section 9 and a rear B with a rear mounting surface with, for example, a first and second rear mounting section 10. These eight mounting sections 7, 8, 9, 10 block or prevent the radar sensor 1 from unintentionally moving back and forth and to the right and left within the mounting bracket 2 when installed. Instead of two mounting sections 7, 8, 9 or 10 as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the respective front, rear, right and / or left mounting surface can also have only one or more than two mounting sections. Furthermore, the radar sensor housing 4, as shown for example in Fig. 3, has a front and rear radar sensor housing mounting surface 11 on the front and rear sides F and B, respectively, to prevent unintentional up-and-down movement of the sensor 1 when installed. In addition, the radar sensor cover 5 has a radar sensor cover mounting surface 12, as shown for example in Fig. 4. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to 10 below show an embodiment of the holder 2 according to the invention. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the holder 2 from the top of the holder 2. Figure 6 shows a top view of a sensor interface 13 of the holder 2 according to Figure 5. Fig. 6 shows a top view of the upper side of the bracket 2. Fig. 7 shows a top view of a so-called vehicle interface 14 of the bracket 2 according to Fig. 5. Furthermore, Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of the bracket 2 according to Figs. 5-7, in which a radar sensor 1, as previously shown in Figs. 1-4, is inserted into the bracket 2. Figs. 9 and 10 show the radar sensor 1 in its fully assembled or final position in the bracket 2.Fig. 9 shows a sectional view of the system consisting of bracket 2 and radar sensor 1 fully mounted therein, and Fig. 10 shows a top view of the system consisting of bracket 2 and radar sensor according to Fig. 9. The bracket 2 for mounting the radar sensor 1 has two interfaces. The first interface is used to attach the radar sensor 1 to the bracket 2. This is the so-called sensor interface 13, which is circled with a dashed line in Fig. 5. The second interface is used to attach the system consisting of the bracket 2 and the radar sensor 1 to the vehicle. This is the so-called vehicle interface 14, which is circled with a jagged line in Fig. 5. The sensor interface 13 has a sensor receptacle 15 with sensor mounting sections 19 for attaching or positioning the radar sensor 1 in the holder 2. As shown, for example, in Figures 5, 6, and 10, the sensor mount 15 has a recess 20 for receiving the sensor. On the inside of the right and left walls 16, 17, as well as the front and rear walls 21, 22 of the recess 20, two projections 18 are provided or formed as sensor mounting sections 19. The projections 18 are designed such that they form a support and, in particular, a centering surface for the radar sensor 1 and, more precisely, its associated left, right, front, and rear mounting sections 7, 8, 9, 10 in the mounted state or in its final position in the holder 2. The left, right, front, and rear projections 18, together with their support for the radar sensor 1, form left, right, front, and rear sensor centering surfaces for centering the sensor. As shown, for example, in Figures 5, 6, and 10, the left wall 17 of the recess 20 of the sensor receptacle 15, unlike the right wall 16 and the front and rear walls 21, 22 of the recess 20, is interrupted to accommodate the radar sensor connector 6. Depending on the sensor to be accommodated in the recess of the sensor receptacle, any other wall or walls may also be interrupted, partially interrupted, or continuous. The invention is not limited to the specific embodiment of the sensor receptacle and its recess shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to 10. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9, the rear wall 22 has a hook or retaining section 23 on the inside for hooking and holding the radar sensor 2, and the opposite front wall 21 has two locking or clipping elements 24 for locking or clipping onto the radar sensor 1. Furthermore, on the inside of the front wall 21, the rear wall 22, the right wall 16 and the left wall 17, the two projections 18 are each designed as sensor mounting sections 19, as shown in the embodiment in Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The projections 18, as sensor mounting sections 19, are designed, as previously described, to provide a support and centering for the sensor and, more precisely, its associated mounting sections 7, 8, 9, 10, in the mounted state or its final position in the holder 2. The projections 18, together with their support for the sensor, form sensor centering surfaces. Furthermore, the sensor receptacle 15 of the holder 2, as sensor interface 13, as shown in Figures 5-10 and particularly in Figures 8 and 9, also has two locking or clipping elements 24 on its front wall 21. These elements are designed such that, when the radar sensor 1 is inserted into the sensor receptacle 15 of the holder 2, they are pushed away and then spring back, snapping or clipping onto the radar sensor when it is in its installed or final position in the holder 2. The locking or clipping element 24 can, for example, be designed as an elastic lug projecting inwards from the front wall 21, as shown in Figure 8. Additionally, the rear wall 22 of the sensor receptacle 15 has an inwardly projecting hook or retaining section 23 for hooking and holding the radar sensor 1, and in particular its radar sensor housing 4, in its installed state.The hook or holding section 23, for example, is designed to be rigid. However, it can also be designed to be elastic. To secure the radar sensor 1 in its installed state against the locking or clip elements 24 and the hook or retaining section 23, the base 25 of the sensor receptacle 15 is formed or shaped with at least one or more spring sections 26. These spring sections 26 are designed such that they pre-tension the radar sensor 1 in its installed state against the locking or clip elements 24 and the hook section 23, as shown particularly in Fig. 9. This prevents unintentional up-and-down movement of the radar sensor 1 in its mounted state within the holder 2. The vehicle interface 14 of the bracket 2 is designed to attach the bracket 2 to a vehicle, for example, to a bumper. The embodiment of the vehicle interface 14 of the bracket, shown particularly in Figures 5 and 7, has connection sections 27 in each of which a sleeve 3, as an example of a connecting component, is overmolded for passing through a screw to fasten the bracket 2 to a vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to a sleeve, in particular a metal sleeve with or without an internal thread, as a connecting component for fastening to a vehicle. Any other connecting component or combination of connecting components suitable for fastening the bracket 2 to a vehicle can be attached to the respective connection section 27. The connection sections 27 are connected to the outside of the sensor receptacle 15. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 7, two connection sections 27 are provided on the right and left sides R, L of the bracket 2 and are connected to each other via a bridge section 28. The bridge section 28 extends externally along the rear wall 22 of the sensor receptacle 15. Furthermore, a bridge section 28 is provided which connects the two connection sections 27 on the right side R of the bracket 2. The two connection sections 27 are arranged on the right side R at the upper, front, and rear ends of the bracket 2 and are connected to each other by the bridge section 28. The bridge section 28 extends externally along the right wall 16 of the sensor receptacle 15. The bridge sections 28 and the connecting sections 27 can optionally be designed with additional stiffening ribs 29, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Furthermore, the bridge sections 28 form a connection, in particular a stable connection, between the sensor interface 13 and the vehicle interface 14 with their connecting sections 27, into which, for example, a metal sleeve 3 is overmolded. The radar sensor 1 is mounted in the sensor receptacle 15 of the bracket 2 by inserting the radar sensor 1 into the sensor receptacle 15 of the bracket 2, with the radar sensor 1 being pushed with its radar sensor housing mounting surface 11 in the direction of the hook or retaining section 23, as indicated by the arrow P1 in Fig. 8, and under the hook or retaining section 23. The installer presses the front of the radar sensor 1 downwards towards the locking or clip element 24, as indicated by arrow P2 in Fig. 8. The radar sensor 1 initially pushes the respective locking or clip element 14 outwards until it reaches the base 25 of the sensor receptacle 15 and the locking or clip element 24 springs back, snapping or clipping onto the radar sensor housing mounting surface 11. The radar sensor housing mounting surface 11 on the other side is slid under the hook or retaining section 23 and can thus be held by it. The respective spring section 26 in the base 25 of the sensor receptacle 15 biases the radar sensor 1, with its front and rear mounting sections 9, 10, against the respective locking or clip element 24 and against the hook or retaining section 23.The radar sensor 1 is thus prevented from moving up and down unintentionally. Furthermore, the projections 18 on the inside of the walls of the recess 20 center the radar sensor 1, so that it cannot move unintentionally forwards and backwards or unintentionally to the right or left side R, L of the bracket 2. In Fig. 10 the radar sensor 1 is shown in its tethered position or end position in the sensor receptacle 15 of the bracket 2. As previously explained, the spring sections 26 formed in the base 25 of the sensor receptacle 15 generate a pressure force F on the radar sensor 1 and, for example, in the direction of travel of the vehicle when it moves forward. This force is compensated by a counter-pressure force CF of the locking or clip elements 24 and the hook or retaining section 23. The front and rear radar sensor housing mounting surfaces 11 of the radar sensor housing 4 are pressed against the hook or retaining section 23 and against the two locking or clip elements 24 of the sensor receptacle 15 of the bracket 2. In this way, the radar sensor 1 is held firmly in one direction, i.e., in this case, the direction of travel of the vehicle when it moves forward, by the bracket 2 and cannot move unintentionally up and down or in and against the direction of travel. The projections 18 on the inside of the walls 16, 17, 21, 22 of the sensor receptacle 15 form support and centering surfaces for the radar sensor, which position and center the radar sensor in the sensor receptacle 15 when installed. These support and centering surfaces contact the radar sensor mounting sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and thus block and prevent the radar sensor 1 from moving unintentionally to the left, right, forward or backward in the sensor receptacle 15 of the bracket 2. The advantage of the bracket 2 is that the radar sensor 1 is held and fixed in all directions by the bracket 2, so that it is reliably held in the bracket 2 and cannot move unintentionally in the bracket 2 when installed and later attached to a vehicle. Another advantage is that no additional elements are required, such as screws, to attach the radar sensor 1 to the bracket 2. Furthermore, the installation of the radar sensor 1 in the holder 2, as well as the removal of the radar sensor 1, is very easy for a technician. Although the present invention has been fully described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but can be modified in a variety of ways. The various embodiments can be combined with one another, in particular individual features thereof.

Claims

Mounting bracket (2) for a sensor (1) for attachment to a vehicle, comprising: a sensor interface (13) with a sensor receptacle (15) in the form of a recess (20), wherein the sensor receptacle (15) is shaped such that the sensor (1) is centered in the recess (20) of the sensor receptacle (15) when installed and is biased against the sensor receptacle (15), wherein the recess (20) has a right wall (16), a left wall (17), a front wall (21) and a rear wall (22), wherein at least one of the walls has at least one projection (18) formed on its inner side as a support for the sensor (1) when installed in the recess (20) for centering the sensor in the recess, wherein at least one of the walls (16, 17, 21, 22) has at least one snap-fit ​​or clip element (24) formed on its inner side for snapping or clipping onto the sensor (1) in installed stateand / or at least one hook or retaining section (23) is formed for hooking or holding the sensor (1) in the recess in the installed state, and the recess (20) has a bottom (25) wherein at least one spring section (26) is formed in the bottom (25) which biases the sensor (1) in the installed state and biases it against the at least one locking or clip element (24) and / or against the at least one hook or retaining section (23). Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hook or retaining section (23) is provided on the wall of the recess (20) opposite the at least one locking or clip element (24). Mounting bracket according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the mounting bracket (2) has a vehicle interface (14), wherein the vehicle interface (14) has at least one connection section (27) with a connecting component attached thereto for connection to a vehicle, wherein the connecting component is in particular a sleeve (3) for passing through or screwing through a screw for fastening the mounting bracket (2) to the vehicle. Mounting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the vehicle interface (14) has several connection sections (27) which are connected to the outside of at least one wall (16, 17, 21, 22) of the recess (20). Mounting device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least two connecting sections (27) are connected to each other by a bridge section (28) and the bridge section (28) preferably extends along the outside of at least one wall (16, 17, 21, 22) of the recess. Mounting bracket according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the respective connecting section (27) and / or the bridge section (28) has stiffening ribs (29). Mounting bracket according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mounting bracket (2) is made of plastic. Mounting bracket according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that at least one connecting component (3) is injected into the associated connecting section (27) of the mounting bracket (2). System comprising the holder (2) according to one of the preceding claims and a vehicle sensor (1), wherein the vehicle sensor (1) is a sensor without its own interface for attachment to a vehicle. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the vehicle sensor is a radar sensor. Vehicle with a system according to one of claims 9 or 10.

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