Assembly for fixing scattered light cover for a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure deals in detail with an assembly (100) for securing a scattered light cover (104) for a vehicle. The assembly (100) includes a support plate (102) configured to be removably attached to a windshield of the vehicle. The support plate (102) further includes a recessed portion (C) on a first side of the support plate (102), the recessed portion (C) having a predefined dimension selected based on a shape of the scattered light cover (104) to be attached to the support plate (102). The support plate (102) is configured to seamlessly and securely receive the scattered light cover (104) in the recessed portion (C) such that at least one side (104-2) of the scattered light cover (104) remains unenclosed by a body of the support plate (102).

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of systems for reducing stray light. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an improved, efficient, and easy to assemble stray light cover fixture assembly for vehicles.In modern vehicles, advanced camera systems play a central role in improving safety and enabling various driver assistance functions. These cameras are strategic positioned behind the windshield to detect the environment of the vehicle where there are other vehicles, pedestrians, and road conditions. However, the performance of these cameras may be affected by stray light, which may result in reflections at camera lenses and mounting parts, ultimately affecting image recognition and processing.In order to reduce the adverse effects of scattered light, scattered light screens or objective diaphragms have been used in conventional solutions. These screens are intended to prevent incident light, in particular sunlight, from being reflected onto the lenses or other components of the camera.A significant problem with existing stray light screens is that they often do not have an efficient and effective mechanism for fixation, which can lead to suboptimal performance and reliability. Stray light shields are usually fixed in the "Z" direction on the carrier plate or other carrier structures, i.e. mounted from bottom to top. In this fixing method, a complex interaction occurs between the windshield and the carrier plate. Specifically, the windshield must have a closed black print cutout and a corresponding cutout must be projected onto the carrier plate. This alignment makes it possible to hook the scattered light cover into the cutout of the carrier plate, so that all edges of the scattered light cover remain covered by the body of the carrier plate. While these existing solutions have been successfully used in many vehicular camera installations, they present a problem when new generation cameras are to be effectively and efficiently captured.Efforts have been made in the past to remedy this situation. For example, patent specification DE102022000021A1 discloses a carrier device for a camera having a carrier plate and a lens aperture. The carrier plate and the objective diaphragm are designed as a one-piece plastic injection molded part which is connected via a film hinge. The objective diaphragm is then fixed in a recess of the carrier plate by means of a clip connection such that all edges of the objective diaphragm remain covered by a body of the carrier plate. Nevertheless, the clip-based connecting method of the cited reference may prove to be insufficient to maintain a secure attachment between the objective aperture and the support plate. This defective connection can lead to vibrations within the objective diaphragm and, in severe cases, to detachment from the carrier plate. In addition, a lower material strip must be removed within the carrier plate in order to create the space required for receiving the mounting elements of the objective diaphragm. Further, the entire operation of fixing the lens aperture to the support plate may become cumbersome, which may result in the support device not achieving optimum optical quality through the windshield. Thus, the cited reference cannot provide a solution to the above problem.Therefore, there is a need to overcome the above disadvantages, deficiencies, and limitations associated with existing solutions for fixing stray light cover and backing plate by providing an improved stray light cover fixing assembly for vehicles that helps achieve better optical quality of the windshield while mitigating vibrations in the stray light cover. Further, there is a need for an improved stray light cover fixture assembly that can be easily and efficiently installed and removed behind the windshield of vehicles.A general object of the present disclosure is to overcome the problems associated with existing solutions for fixing lens diaphragms and support plates.An object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved diffusion light fixing assembly for vehicles that helps achieve better optical quality during travel.It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved scattered light fixing assembly which can be installed and removed easily and efficiently.An object of the present disclosure is to reduce vibrations in the lens shade or the diffusion covers mounted on the support plate behind the windshield of a vehicle.An object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved, efficient, and easy-to-assemble stray light cover fixing assembly for vehicles that helps achieve better optical quality of the windshield while mitigating vibrations in the stray light cover.Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of systems for reducing stray light. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an improved, efficient, and easy to assemble stray light cover fixture assembly for vehicles.In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a stray light cover fixing assembly for a vehicle. The assembly includes a support plate configured to be removably attached to a windshield of the vehicle. The carrier plate further includes a recessed portion on a first side of the carrier plate, the recessed portion having a predefined dimension selected based on a shape of the stray light cover to be attached to the carrier plate. The carrier plate is configured to seamlessly and securely receive the stray light cover in the recessed portion, such that at least one side of the stray light cover remains not enclosed by a body of the carrier plate.In one aspect, the recessed portion is located at a bottom surface of the support plate. Further, the light diffusion cover may be configured to be inserted into the recessed portion from the bottom surface of the support plate and smoothly fixed therein by sliding the light diffusion cover in a first direction along the support plate toward a headliner of the vehicle.In one aspect, the carrier plate may include one or more first engagement members and the stray light cover may include one or more second engagement members that may be configured to engage or snap into the one or more first engagement members when the stray light cover is inserted into the recessed portion in the first direction from the bottom of the carrier plate.Additionally, the one or more first engagement members may each include an anti-slip device that restrains slipping and flexing of a snap device associated with the respective second engagement members.The one or more second engagement members may protrude along the first direction from opposite ends of a first side of the light shield, the first side being opposite an unencased bottom of the light shield.In one aspect, the light shield may include one or more first push tabs protruding from two opposing sides that are adjacent an unencased bottom of the light shield. Further, the carrier plate may include one or more first pressure tab housings configured to receive and engage the one or more first pressure tabs when the stray light cover is inserted into the recessed portion from the bottom of the carrier plate. By engaging the first pressure tabs with the corresponding first pressure tab housing, the vibration of the stray light cover in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction can be reduced.In one aspect, the stray light cover may include one or more second push tabs protruding from the first side of the stray light cover along the first direction. Further, the carrier plate may include one or more second pressure tab housings configured to receive and engage the one or more second pressure tabs when the stray light cover is inserted into the recessed portion from the bottom of the carrier plate. By engaging the second pressure tabs with the corresponding second pressure tab housing, the vibration of the stray light cover in the first direction can be reduced.In one aspect, the light shield may include one or more support tabs protruding from two opposing ends of an unencased bottom of the light shield along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Further, the carrier plate may include one or more tab housings configured to receive and engage the one or more tab housings when the stray light cover is inserted into the recessed portion from the bottom of the carrier plate. By engaging the bearing tabs in the corresponding bearing tab housing, the unencased underside of the stray light cover can be supported on the carrier plate.Further, the stray light cover may include a guide member extending along the first direction to allow the stray light cover to be guided or inserted into the recessed portion of the support plate.In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a vehicle including a windshield and the stray light cover fixing assembly. The light shield fixture assembly is configured behind the windshield in an interior of the vehicle such that the light shield prevents the ingress of unwanted light into one or more cameras and sensors associated with a driving assistance system of the vehicle.Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals designate like components.The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example bottom and top view, respectively, of the proposed stray light fixing assembly in an disassembled state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1C illustrates an example bottom view of the proposed scattered light fixing assembly in assembled state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates an example view of the proposed stray light fixing assembly configured behind the windshield of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3A illustrates an example view of the first engagement member (snap tab) and the second engagement member (snap tab housing) on the left side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B illustrates an example view of the first engagement member (snap tab) and the second engagement member (snap tab housing) on the right side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A illustrates an example view of the first pressure tab and the first pressure tab housing on the left side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B illustrates an example view of the first pressure tab and the first pressure tab housing on the right side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5A illustrates an example view of the support tab and support tab housing on the left side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B illustrates an example view of the support tab and support tab housing on the right side of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates an example view of the second pressure tab and the second pressure tab housing of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary view of the guide member of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.The following is a detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are so detailed as to clearly convey the disclosure. The amount of details provided, however, is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of the embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.The embodiments discussed herein relate to an improved stray light cover fixture assembly for a driver assistance camera mounted in a vehicle.Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, the proposed assembly 100 for fixing a stray light cover 104 (hereinafter referred to as assembly 100) for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly 100 may include a support plate 102 configured to be removably attached to a windshield 200 of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. The support plate 102 may include a recessed portion (C) at a first side (bottom side) of the support plate 102, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The recessed portion (C) may have a predefined dimension selected based on a shape of the stray light cover 104 to be fixed to the support plate 102. The support plate 102 may be configured to seamlessly and securely receive the light shield 104 in the recessed portion (C), as shown in FIG. 1C, such that at least one side (bottom surface 104- 2) of the light shield 104 remains not enclosed by a body of the support plate 102. Thus, assembly 100 obviates the need for a locking mechanism on the bottom surface 104- 2 of the light shield 104. In one embodiment, the light diffusion cover 104 may be configured to be inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the support plate 102 and seamlessly fixed therein by sliding the light diffusion cover 104 in a first direction (X direction) along the support plate 102 toward a headliner of the vehicle. Here, X direction means longitudinal direction.In an embodiment, the light shield 104 may have a substantially trapezoidal shape with an upper base, a lower base, and two lateral legs extending between the upper base and the lower base. The upper base of the trapezoidal diffusion cover 104 may correspond to an upper side (first side) 104- 1 of the diffusion cover 104 attached to the support plate 102 in the X direction. The lower base of the trapezoidal diffusion cover 104 may correspond to the unencapsulated bottom (second side) 104- 2 of the support plate 102 remaining not enclosed by a body of the support plate 102. Furthermore, the two legs of the trapezoidal diffusion light cover 104 may correspond to the two opposite lateral sides 104- 3, 104- 4 of the diffusion light cover 104 attached to the carrier plate 102 in the Z direction (also referred to as second direction), wherein the Z direction runs perpendicular to the first direction or X direction.While various embodiments and drawings have been discussed for the light shield 104 and the recessed portion (C) of the support plate 102 having a substantially trapezoidal profile, the light shield 104 may have any other profile depending on the requirements of cameras and sensors behind the windshield 200 of the vehicle, and all such embodiments are clearly within the scope of the present disclosure.In one embodiment, the carrier plate 102 may include one or more first engagement elements 302 (also referred to herein as snap tab housings) and the light shield 104 may include one or more second engagement elements 304 (also referred to herein as snap tabs) that may be configured to engage or snap into the first engagement elements (snap tab housings) 302 of the carrier plate 102 when the light shield 104 is inserted into the X-direction recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102.In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a set of two snap tabs (left snap tab 304- 1 and right snap tab 304- 2) may protrude from opposing ends (left and right ends) of the first (upper) side 104- 1 of the light shield 104. Further, a set of two snap tab housings (left snap tab housing 302- 1 and right snap tab housing 302- 2) may protrude downward from opposite ends (left and right ends) of the first (lower) side of the carrier plate 102. In one embodiment, the first engagement members (snap tab housings) 302 may each include an anti-slip device 306 that may restrict the slipping and flexing of a snap device 308 associated with the corresponding second engagement members (snap tabs) 304.In an embodiment, the light shield 104 may include one or more first push tabs 402 protruding from two opposing longitudinal sides 104- 4, 104- 4 of the light shield 104 in the Z-direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include one or more first push tab housings 404 that may be configured to receive and engage the first push tabs 402 when the stray light cover 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by engaging the first pressure tabs 402 with the corresponding first pressure tab housing 404, vibration of the stray light cover 104 in the Z direction may be mitigated.In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the light shield 104 may include a left push tab 402- 1 protruding from the left side 104- 4 of the light shield 104 and a right push tab 402- 2 protruding from the right side 104- 4 of the light shield 104 in the Z direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include a left pressure tab housing 404- 1 and a right pressure tab housing 404- 2, which may be configured to receive and engage the left pressure tab 402- 1 and right pressure tab 402- 2, respectively, when the light diffusion cover 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102.In an embodiment, the light shield 104 may include one or more second push tabs 602 protruding from the first (upper) side 104- 1 of the light shield 104 in the X direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include one or more second push tab housings 604, which may be configured to receive and engage the second push tabs 602 when the stray light cover 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by engaging the second pressure tabs 602 with the corresponding second pressure tab housing 604, vibration of the stray light cover 104 in the X direction may be mitigated.In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the light shield 104 may include a push tab 602 protruding from the top surface 104- 1 of the light shield 104 in the X direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include a push tab housing 604 that may be configured to receive and engage the second push tab 602 when the stray light cover 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102.In an embodiment, the light shield 104 may include one or more first support tabs 502 protruding from two opposing ends of the unencased bottom surface 104- 2 and / or lower ends of the two longitudinal sides 104- 3, 104- 4 of the light shield 104 in the Z-direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include one or more tab housings 504, which may be configured to receive and engage the tabs when the stray light cover 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by engaging the support tabs 502 with the corresponding support tab housing 504, the lower, non-enclosed side 104- 2 of the stray light cover 104 may be supported.In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the light diffusion cover 104 may include a left support tab 502- 1 protruding from the lower left side of the light diffusion cover 104 and a right support tab 502- 2 protruding from the lower right side of the light diffusion cover 104 in the Z direction. Further, the carrier plate 102 may include a left support tab housing 504- 1 and a right support tab housing 504- 2, which may be configured to receive and engage the left support tab 502- 1 and right support tab 502- 2, respectively, when the light shield 104 is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate 102.In an embodiment, the light diffusion cover 104 may include a guide member 702 as shown in FIG. 7 extending along the X direction to allow the light diffusion cover 104 to be guided or inserted into the recessed portion (C) of the support plate 102.In one embodiment, the carrier plate 102 may be configured to receive one or more cameras and sensors associated with an autonomous driving assistance system (ADAS) and / or a driving assistance system of the vehicle such that the stray light cover 104 may prevent unwanted light from entering the cameras and sensors, thereby allowing the cameras and sensors to operate effectively and further providing better optical quality.In one embodiment, the support plate 102 may include one or more locking devices (not shown) to secure the support plate 102 behind the windshield 200 and further to allow the light diffusion cover 104 to be inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the support plate 102 and to be seamlessly secured by sliding the light diffusion cover 104 in the X direction along the support plate 102 toward a headliner of the vehicle.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the snap tabs allow easier and faster fixing and removal of the stray light cover from the carrier plate, while attaching the stray light cover to the underside of the carrier plate obviates the need for a locking mechanism on the underside of the stray light cover. In addition, the pressure tabs in both the X direction and the Z direction can reduce vibrations of the stray light cover in the X and Z directions. In addition, the support tabs can support the non-enclosed underside of the scattered light cover in the carrier plate.Thus, the present disclosure overcomes the disadvantages, deficiencies, and limitations associated with the existing solutions for fixing stray light cover and backing plate by providing an improved, efficient and easy to assemble stray light cover fixing assembly for vehicles that helps achieve better optical quality of the windshield while mitigating vibrations in the stray light cover.While various embodiments of the invention are described above, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples. These are included herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention in combination with information and knowledge available to those skilled in the art.The present invention overcomes the problems associated with existing solutions for fixing lens diaphragms and support plates.The present invention provides an improved vehicle light fixture assembly that helps achieve better optical quality of the windshield.The present invention provides an improved scattered light fixing assembly that can be easily and efficiently installed and removed.The present invention reduces vibrations in the lens aperture or the light covers attached to the support plate behind the windshield of a vehicle.The present invention provides an improved, efficient and easy to assemble stray light cover fixing assembly for vehicles that helps achieve better optical quality of the windshield while mitigating vibrations in the stray light cover.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 102020000021A1

[0005]

Claims

A light shield fixture assembly (100) for a vehicle, the assembly (100) comprising: a support plate (102) configured to be removably attached to a windshield of the vehicle, the support plate (102) comprising a recessed portion (C) on a first side of the support plate (102), the recessed portion (C) having a predefined dimension selected based on a shape of the light shield (104) to be attached to the support plate (102), the support plate (102) configured to seamlessly and securely receive the light shield (104) in the recessed portion (C) such that at least one side of the light shield (104) remains not enclosed by a body of the support plate (102).The assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion (C) is located at a bottom of the support plate (102), wherein the stray light cover (104) is configured to be inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the support plate (102) and to be seamlessly fastened by sliding the stray light cover (104) in a first direction (X) along the support plate (102) toward a headliner of the vehicle.The assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein the carrier plate (102) comprises one or more first engagement members (302) and the light shield (104) comprises one or more second engagement members (304) configured to engage or snap into the one or more first engagement members (302) when the light shield (104) is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate (102) in the first direction (X).The assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein the one or more first engagement members (302) each comprise an anti-slip device (306) that restrains slippage and flexing of a snap device (308) associated with the respective second engagement members (304).The assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein the one or more second engagement members (304) project along the first direction (X) from opposing ends of a first side of the stray light cover (104), the first side opposing an unencapsulated bottom (104-2) of the stray light cover (104).The assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein the light shield cover (104) comprises one or more first push tabs (402) protruding from two opposing sides (104-3, 104-4) that abut an unencased underside of the light shield cover (104), wherein the support plate (102) comprises one or more first push tab housings (404) configured to receive and engage the one or more first push tabs (402) when the light shield cover (104) is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the underside of the support plate (102), wherein engaging the first push tabs (402) with the corresponding first push tab housing (404) reduces vibration of the light shield cover (104) in a second direction (Z) perpendicular to the first direction.The assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein the stray light cover (104) comprises one or more second push tabs (602) protruding from the first side of the stray light cover (104) along the first direction (X), and wherein the carrier plate (102) comprises one or more second push tab housings (604) configured to receive and engage the one or more second push tabs (602) when the stray light cover (104) is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the bottom of the carrier plate (102), wherein engaging the second push tabs (602) with the corresponding second push tab housing (604) reduces vibration of the stray light cover (104) in the first direction.The assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein the light shield cover (104) comprises one or more support tabs (502) protruding from two opposite ends of an unencapsulated underside of the light shield cover (104) along a second direction (Z) perpendicular to the first direction (X), and wherein the support plate (102) comprises one or more support tab housings (504) configured to receive and engage the one or more support tabs (502) when the light shield cover (104) is inserted into the recessed portion (C) from the underside of the support plate (102), wherein engaging the support tabs (502) with the corresponding support tab housing supports the unencapsulated underside (104-2) of the light shield cover (104) on the support plate (102).The assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein the stray light cover (104) comprises a guide member (702) extending along the first direction to allow the stray light cover (104) to be guided or inserted into the recessed portion (C) of the support plate (102).A vehicle, comprising: a windshield (200); and the stray light cover fixation assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the assembly (100) is configured to fix the stray light cover (104) behind the windshield (200) in an interior of the vehicle such that the stray light cover (104) prevents unwanted light from entering one or more cameras and sensors associated with a driving assistance system of the vehicle.

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