Sensor mount for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following components: - an environmental sensor to detect the vehicle's surroundings; - a sensor guide on which the environmental sensor is mounted, for guiding a retraction and return movement of the environmental sensor; and - a spring element for generating the return movement after the engagement movement. The sensor mount is characterized in particular by the fact that the sensor guide has a first support leg, a second support leg and a knee joint pivotally mounted on the second support leg, wherein the first support leg is attached or attachable to a structural component of the motor vehicle, and The environmental sensor is attached to the end of the second supporting leg opposite the knee joint. Here is a proposed sensor mount for a movable environmental sensor of a motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle, as well as a motor vehicle apron with such a sensor holder.

[0002] Modern vehicles are equipped with a multitude of environmental sensors, which are used, for example, in driver assistance systems. These sensors are also located at the front and rear of the vehicle and are susceptible to damage, even from minor impacts such as parking bumps. At the same time, these environmental sensors are subject to stringent quality requirements, some of which are legally mandated. Various criteria regarding damage, distortion, or misalignment of the sensors must be met.

[0003] Industrial practice has shown that environmental sensors are typically recessed, meaning they are positioned further inward from a bumper cover or other external surface. This prevents the sensor itself from coming into direct contact with another object when the vehicle touches it.

[0004] However, the indentation reduces the detection field, also known as the cone of vision, of the environmental sensor, and the outer surface of the vehicle is visually interrupted.

[0005] DE 10 2019 210 776 A1 discloses a sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one fairing part arranged on a body of the motor vehicle, in particular on the outside of a body of the motor vehicle, which has a fairing wall, with at least one sensor arranged on the fairing part, wherein the fairing wall has an opening to which the sensor is assigned.A protective element is provided that at least substantially closes the opening in the fairing wall and is displaceable relative to the fairing wall against the force of at least one spring element. CN 2 16 565 370 U discloses a high-resolution vehicle camera with an emergency protection mechanism, consisting of an interior camera and a camera housing, wherein the interior camera is mounted in the camera housing, the camera is tubular and open at both ends, the outer surface of the camera is provided with a limiting groove, the outer surface of the camera housing is provided with an elastic, movable groove, and the position of the limiting groove and the elastic, movable groove correspond to each other. The utility model is a high-resolution vehicle camera with an emergency protection mechanism that includes an emergency protection function.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention aims to overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages known from the prior art. The features of the invention are defined in the independent claims, for which advantageous embodiments are shown in the dependent claims. The features of the claims can be combined in any technically meaningful way, whereby the explanations in the following description and features from the figures, which comprise supplementary embodiments of the invention, can also be used.

[0007] The invention relates to a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following components: - an environmental sensor to detect the vehicle's surroundings; - a sensor guide on which the environmental sensor is mounted, for guiding a retraction and return movement of the environmental sensor; and - a spring element to generate the return movement after the engagement movement.

[0008] The sensor mount is characterized primarily by the fact that the sensor guide has a first support leg, a second support leg and a knee joint pivotally mounted on the second support leg, wherein the first support leg is attached or attachable to a structural component of the motor vehicle, and The environmental sensor is attached to the end of the second supporting leg opposite the knee joint.

[0009] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, ordinal numbers used in the preceding and following descriptions serve solely for unambiguous differentiation and do not indicate any order or ranking of the components referred to. An ordinal number greater than one does not necessarily imply the presence of another such component.

[0010] A sensor mount for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle is proposed here. The motor vehicle is, for example, a combustion engine-powered, a hybrid, or a purely electric vehicle. The environmental sensor is, for example, part of a vehicle assistance system (FAS or ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance System) and / or an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle control system. Preferably, the environmental sensor is located, or can be located, in the front of the vehicle, for example, in a bumper. Alternatively or additionally, the environmental sensor is located, or can be located, in the rear of the vehicle, for example, in a bumper.

[0011] For example, the environmental sensor is located in the area of ​​a vehicle's outer skin, such as a bumper cover.

[0012] The sensor mount includes at least one environmental sensor, a sensor guide, and a spring element.

[0013] The environmental sensor is designed to detect the vehicle's surroundings. For example, the environmental sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDAR sensor (Light Detection and Ranging), and / or a camera.

[0014] The ambient sensor is mounted on the sensor guide. The sensor guide is designed to guide the sensor's retraction and return movements. The sensor is held in a normal position by the sensor guide to detect its surroundings. From this normal position, the sensor can be moved inwards, towards the center of the vehicle. This retraction movement occurs, for example, when the vehicle encounters an object, such as during a parking bump. The sensor can then be moved into a protective position by means of this retraction movement.

[0015] If a clamping force generated by contact with the object decreases, the environmental sensor can be moved from the protective position back to the normal position by means of the reset movement.

[0016] The spring element generates the return movement. In other words, the spring element provides a return force that allows the environmental sensor to be moved from the protected position back to the normal position, for example, after a return force caused by contact with an object has been released.

[0017] For example, such a spring element is a coil spring, a hydraulic spring, a pneumatic spring, or something similar.

[0018] The sensor guide has a first support leg, a second support leg, and a knee joint. The two support legs are pivotally connected to each other by means of the knee joint.

[0019] The first support leg is designed to be attached to a structural component of the vehicle or is attached to such a structural component in its installed state. Preferably, the first support leg is pivotably mounted to the structural component, for example by means of a first pivot joint. The structural component is preferably part of the vehicle body.

[0020] The environmental sensor is attached to the second support leg, preferably pivotally attached, for example by means of a second pivot joint. The environmental sensor is located at an end of the second support leg opposite the knee joint, i.e., at an end of the sensor guide opposite the first pivot joint to the structural component.

[0021] The sensor mount proposed here allows for the secure and precise installation of an environmental sensor in a motor vehicle, while simultaneously providing a wide field of view. Furthermore, the environmental sensor can be positioned in an optically and aerodynamically advantageous manner.

[0022] According to another aspect, a sensor mount for an environmental sensor of a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising at least the following components: - an environmental sensor to detect the vehicle's surroundings; - a sensor guide on which the environmental sensor is mounted, for guiding a retraction and return movement of the environmental sensor; and - a spring element to generate the return movement after the engagement movement.

[0023] The sensor holder is characterized primarily by the fact that the sensor holder also has an end detent which counteracts the inward movement of the environmental sensor with a predetermined end holding force.

[0024] A sensor mount for a motor vehicle's ambient sensor is proposed here. For example, the ambient sensor is part of a vehicle assistance system (FAS or ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance System) and / or an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle control system. Preferably, the ambient sensor is located, or can be located, in the front of the vehicle, for example, in a bumper. Alternatively or additionally, the ambient sensor is located, or can be located, in the rear of the vehicle, for example, in a bumper.

[0025] For example, the environmental sensor is located in the area of ​​a vehicle's outer skin, such as a bumper cover.

[0026] The sensor mount includes at least one environmental sensor, a sensor guide, and a spring element.

[0027] The environmental sensor is designed to detect the vehicle's surroundings. For example, the environmental sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDAR sensor (Light Detection and Ranging), and / or a camera.

[0028] The ambient sensor is mounted on the sensor guide. The sensor guide is designed to guide the sensor's retraction and return movements. The sensor is held in a normal position by the sensor guide to detect its surroundings. From this normal position, the sensor can be moved inwards, towards the center of the vehicle. This retraction movement occurs, for example, when the vehicle encounters an object, such as during a parking bump. The sensor can then be moved into a protective position by means of this retraction movement.

[0029] If a clamping force generated by contact with the object decreases, the environmental sensor can be moved from the protective position back to the normal position by means of the reset movement.

[0030] The spring element generates the return movement. In other words, the spring element provides a return force that allows the environmental sensor to be moved from the protected position back to the normal position, for example, after a return force caused by contact with an object has been released.

[0031] For example, such a spring element is a coil spring, a hydraulic spring, a pneumatic spring, or something similar.

[0032] Here, the sensor mount now features an end detent. This detent is designed to counteract the inward movement with a predetermined holding force, thus keeping the ambient sensor in its normal position. In other words, the sensor mount secures the ambient sensor in its normal position. The holding force provided by the end detent, which must be overcome to move the ambient sensor from its normal position, is greater than the restoring force of the spring element when the ambient sensor is in its normal position.

[0033] The end locking mechanism includes, for example, a frame, snap arms, or magnets.

[0034] The sensor mount proposed here provides a particularly robust and reliable mounting solution. Wind and vibrations act as forces on the environmental sensor. If the sensor is mounted in a movable manner, for example, by means of a spring element, unintentional movements of the sensor can occur. These movements are eliminated or at least significantly reduced by the sensor mount proposed here.

[0035] It is further proposed that the end holding force be greater than a detent force, which counteracts the return movement when the end detent engages.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the end holding force is greater than the detent force. The detent force is the force required to move the environmental sensor into its end detent position by means of the return movement.

[0037] For example, the end detent has a detent lug with a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The detent lug is either attached to the ambient sensor or to a structural component of the vehicle. A complementary counterpart with a counter-surface complementary to the first and second contact surfaces is attached to the other side of the structural component and the ambient sensor, respectively. During the engagement movement and in the normal position, the first contact surface is in contact with the counter-surface and generates the end holding force. During the return movement, the second contact surface is in contact with the counter-surface and generates the locking force.

[0038] For example, the first and second contact surfaces have different angles to the opposing surface, so that the end holding force is greater than the locking force.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment of the sensor holder, it is further proposed that the sensor holder be a sensor holder according to an embodiment as described above.

[0040] According to another aspect, a motor vehicle apron is proposed, comprising at least the following components: - a sensor holder according to an embodiment as described above; - a bumper; - a bumper cover; and - a structural component.

[0041] Here is a proposed vehicle apron for a motor vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle apron is a front apron. Alternatively, the vehicle apron is a rear apron.

[0042] The vehicle apron includes at least the sensor mount, a bumper, a bumper cover and a structural component.

[0043] The bumper is designed to absorb impacts with low energy, such as minor parking bumps. To achieve this, the bumper is deformable under the impact energy. This protects the vehicle, other road users, and / or objects in collisions with low energy. For example, the bumper incorporates foam padding for this purpose.

[0044] The bumper cover forms part of the vehicle's outer skin. Therefore, the bumper cover is visible from the outside. For example, the bumper cover is made of plastic.

[0045] The structural component is, for example, a cross member and / or a longitudinal member. This structural component is designed to transfer the impact energy of a collision to other structural components and / or to absorb it through deformation. The structural components are preferably made of steel and / or aluminum. For example, a bumper support, to which the front apron is attached, is such a structural component.

[0046] Preferably, the crash management system is designed as a cascade. For example, easily deformable components, such as the bumper, are arranged in the first stage of the cascade. These components of the first cascade stage are made of foam, for example. These components deform even under minor impacts, such as parking bumps. Preferably, the sensor mount is designed and arranged so that, under such minor impacts, the ambient sensor can be moved beyond the indentation zone by means of a retraction movement, thus preventing damage to the sensor.

[0047] In the case of stronger impacts, such as rear-end collisions, further stages of the impact protection system come into play, for example, structural components. This allows even greater forces to be absorbed without injuring the occupants. However, this usually also results in the vehicle's structural components being distorted, thus increasing repair costs.

[0048] In an advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle apron, it is further proposed that the sensor holder is arranged and designed in such a way that the environmental sensor can be moved into a structural area of ​​the motor vehicle by means of the inward movement.

[0049] According to this embodiment, the environmental sensor can be moved into a structural area of ​​the vehicle by means of a retraction movement. This structural area is a part of the vehicle protected by structural components that only deform under significant force, for example, in rear-end collisions and not in minor parking bumps. For example, the structural area remains undeformed during the first stage of the crash management system.

[0050] In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle apron, it is proposed that the environmental sensor be arranged flush, projecting outwards, or recessed a maximum of five millimeters, two millimeters, or one millimeter to an outer surface of the bumper cover.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the environmental sensor is arranged such that it has a large field of view. Furthermore, the arrangement proposed here allows for a particularly closed and flat outer surface of the bumper cover.

[0052] The invention described above is explained in detail below against the relevant technical background with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments. The invention is in no way limited by the purely schematic drawings, although it should be noted that the drawings are not dimensionally accurate and are not suitable for defining size relationships. It is illustrated in Fig. 1: A front apron of a motor vehicle with a movable environmental sensor in a schematic cross-sectional view; Fig. 2: the retraction movement of the environmental sensor by means of a sensor holder in a schematic cross-sectional view; and Fig. 3: A motor vehicle in a schematic top view.

[0053] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a front apron 21 of a motor vehicle 3 with a movable environmental sensor 2 in a schematic cross-sectional view.

[0054] The front apron 21 includes a sensor bracket 1, a bumper 13, a bumper cover 14 and structural components 10 of the vehicle body.

[0055] The sensor holder 1 comprises an environmental sensor 2, a sensor guide 5 and a spring element 6. The environmental sensor 2 is mounted on the sensor guide 5.

[0056] The sensor guide 5 consists of a first support leg 7, a second support leg 8, and a pivot joint 9, which pivots the first support leg 7 onto the second support leg 8. The first support leg 7 is attached to a structural component 10 of the vehicle 3 by means of a first pivot joint 22. The environmental sensor 2 is attached to an end of the second support leg 8 opposite the pivot joint 9 by means of a second pivot joint 23.

[0057] The bumper 13 is designed to absorb forces with low impact energy. The bumper cover 14 forms part of the vehicle's outer skin and is made, for example, of plastic. The structural components 10 comprise, as shown, two cross members 25, which are arranged along a vertical direction 27 above and below the sensor mount 1 and can withstand greater forces than the bumper 13 without deforming.

[0058] The environmental sensor 2 is shown in a normal position 15 (compare Fig. 2) The ambient sensor 2 is arranged flush with an outer surface of the bumper cover 14. From its normal position 15, the ambient sensor 2 can be moved in a retracting motion along the longitudinal direction 26 of the vehicle by means of the sensor guide 5 into a structural area of ​​the vehicle 3. This occurs, for example, when a collision with another object occurs and a retracting force 28 is exerted on the ambient sensor 2.

[0059] When the engagement force 28 ceases, the environmental sensor 2 can be moved back to the normal position 15 by means of the spring element 6.

[0060] The sensor holder 1 further features an end detent 11, which counteracts the engagement movement of the ambient sensor 2 with a predetermined end holding force. In other words, the ambient sensor 2 is only moved when the engagement force 28 exceeds the end holding force and pushes the ambient sensor 2 out of the end detent 11. The end detent 11 comprises a locking lug 24 with a first contact surface 17 and a second contact surface 18, as well as a complementary counter element 19 with a counter surface 20. As shown, the locking lug 24 is connected to the ambient sensor 2 and moves with it during the engagement and return movements. The counter element 19 is connected to a structural component 10 of the vehicle body. The first contact surface 17 has a shallower angle than the second contact surface 18.The end holding force is correspondingly greater than a detent force, which counteracts the return movement when the end detent 11 engages.

[0061] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the retraction movement of the environmental sensor 2 by means of a sensor holder 1 in a schematic cross-sectional view.

[0062] The sensor holder 1 essentially corresponds to the one in Fig. The sensor holder 1 shown in Figure 1 is therefore described in the preceding section. Here, the environmental sensor 2 is shown once in the normal position 15 and once in the protective position 16.

[0063] As already explained, the environmental sensor 2 is moved inwards, i.e., towards the center of the vehicle, by means of a retraction force 28, for example, based on a collision of the vehicle 3 with another object along the longitudinal direction 26 of the vehicle. As shown, the environmental sensor 2 is therefore moved to the right during the retraction movement.

[0064] As shown, the sensor guide 5 bends upwards, and the first support leg 7 and the second support leg 8 are pushed upwards at the knee joint 9. This tensions the spring element 6, which is shown to be a coil spring. By means of the corresponding restoring force of the spring element 6, the ambient sensor 2 can be pushed back into its normal position 15 along the longitudinal direction 26 of the vehicle when the engagement force 28 is released. As shown, the spring element 6 is connected to the knee joint 9 and thus pulls the highest point of the sensor guide 5 downwards again.

[0065] In Fig. 3 is a motor vehicle 3 with a front apron 21 as a motor vehicle apron 12 according to Fig. 1 shown in a schematic top view.

[0066] The motor vehicle 3 optionally includes (here two) electric drive motors 29, one on a front axle and one on a rear axle of the motor vehicle 3. The rear electric drive motor 29 is connected to two drive wheels 30 on the left and right via a transmission gearbox 32 and a differential 33, transmitting torque.

[0067] Optionally, a second electric drive motor 29 is arranged in the front area of ​​the vehicle 3, which is connected to further drive wheels 30 on the left and right, transmitting torque. Thus, (optionally) all four wheels of the vehicle 3 are configured as drive wheels 30. Alternatively, a purely rear-wheel drive or a purely front-wheel drive is provided with one or more drive motors 29.

[0068] The electric drive motors 29 can be supplied with electrical power by means of a high-voltage battery 31. Thus, a drive torque can be converted into a propulsion of the motor vehicle 3 by means of the electric drive motors 29 via the drive wheels 30.

[0069] Here is a proposed sensor mount for a movable environmental sensor of a motor vehicle. Reference symbol list 1 Sensor holder 2 environmental sensors 3 motor vehicles 4 Vehicle environment 5 Sensor guide 6 spring element 7 first supporting leg 8 second supporting leg 9 Knee joint 10 structural component 11 End detent 12. Motor vehicle apron 13 bumpers 14 Bumper cover 15 Normal position 16 Protective position 17 first contact surface 18 second contact surface 19 Counter-element 20 Counter surface 21 Front apron 22 Swivel joint 23 Swivel joint 24 Rastnase 25 crossbeams 26 Vehicle longitudinal direction 27 Vertical direction 28 Indentation force 29 Drive machine 30 drive wheel 31 High-voltage battery 32 transmission gears 33 Differential

Claims

[1] Sensor holder (1) for an environmental sensor (2) of a motor vehicle (3), comprising at least the following components: - an environmental sensor (2) to detect the vehicle environment (4); - a sensor guide (5) on which the ambient sensor (2) is mounted, for guiding a retraction and return movement of the ambient sensor (2); and - a spring element (6) for generating the return movement after the engagement movement, characterized by , that the sensor guide (5) has a first support leg (7), a second support leg (8) and a knee joint (9) pivotably mounted on the second support leg (8), wherein the first support leg (7) is attached or attachable to a structural component (10) of the motor vehicle (3), and the environmental sensor (2) is attached to an end of the second support leg (8) opposite the knee joint (9). [2] Sensor holder (1) for an environmental sensor (2) of a motor vehicle (3), comprising at least the following components: - an environmental sensor (2) to detect the vehicle environment (4); - a sensor guide (5) on which the ambient sensor (2) is mounted, for guiding a retraction and return movement of the ambient sensor (2); and - a spring element (6) for generating the return movement after the engagement movement, characterized by , that the sensor holder (1) further comprises an end detent (11) which counteracts the engagement movement of the environmental sensor (2) with a predetermined end holding force, wherein the end holding force is greater than a detent force which counteracts the return movement when the end detent (11) engages. [3] Sensor holder (1) according to claim 2, wherein the sensor holder (1) is a sensor holder (1) according to claim 1. [4] Motor vehicle apron (12), comprising at least the following components: - a sensor holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims; - a bumper (13); - a bumper cover (14); and - a structural component (10). [5] Motor vehicle apron (12) according to claim 4, wherein the sensor holder (1) is arranged and designed such that the environmental sensor (2) can be moved into a structural area of ​​the motor vehicle (3) by means of the inward movement. [6] Motor vehicle apron (12) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the ambient sensor (2) is arranged flush, projecting outwards or recessed a maximum of five millimeters, two millimeters or one millimeter to an outer surface of the bumper cover (14).

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