Radar for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a radar for vehicle that is specially easy to attach.SOLUTION: There is provided a radar for vehicle that has a casing defining a circumferential direction, a base having a plurality of lock parts, and a sensor arranged at the base, wherein the casing includes a front part having an opening formed, a rear part having a rear opening formed to communicate with the opening, and a main body part arranged between the front part and the rear part, and having a plurality of lock pieces not all at equal intervals with one another in the circumferential direction, and the base includes the plurality of lock parts locked to the plurality of lock pieces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides a vehicle radar, and in particular, provides a vehicle radar that is easy to install. [Background technology]

[0002] Automobiles are an essential means of transportation in daily life. Generally, to prevent a vehicle from colliding with other vehicles or obstacles when moving forward or backward, a rear radar is installed at the rear of the vehicle to detect the distance between the vehicle and other vehicles or obstacles, and non-contact detection means such as ultrasonic or optical detection are used to instantly notify the driver of the safe distance when moving forward or backward, thereby preventing damage to the vehicle and the resulting safety issues.

[0003] A conventional rear radar includes a sensor (transducer) that can realize the above-mentioned sensing means, a base for fixing the sensor, and a casing that houses the sensor and the base. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, these components are small and require manual installation, making it difficult to significantly improve installation efficiency and yield. For this reason, research into how to automate the installation process between the rear radar and each component has become an important topic.

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the applicant has taken into consideration the shortcomings of the prior art and provided a vehicle radar that is easy to install, thereby improving installation efficiency and yield while also reducing manpower costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a casing defining a circumferential direction; a base having a plurality of locking portions; a sensor disposed on the base; and The casing is a front portion forming a front opening; a rear portion forming a rear opening communicating with the front opening; a main body portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and having a plurality of fastening members spaced at different intervals in the circumferential direction; The plurality of locking parts lock the plurality of locking parts. Provides vehicle radar.

[0007] In one embodiment, the vehicle radar further includes a rubber cover; The rubber cover is disposed on the casing and has a plurality of rubber cover fastening parts; The casing further has a plurality of rubber cover locking portions, and the plurality of rubber cover locking pieces are locked to the plurality of rubber cover locking portions.

[0008] In one embodiment, the plurality of locking pieces are aligned with the plurality of rubber cover locking parts.

[0009] In one embodiment, the front portion has a stopper and the base abuts against the stopper.

[0010] In one embodiment, the front portion has a fastener portion, A fastener groove is formed in the base, and the fastener portion is received in the fastener groove.

[0011] In one embodiment, the body has an inner surface, and the plurality of fasteners are disposed on the inner surface.

[0012] In one embodiment, the front portion, the main body portion, and the rear portion are sequentially arranged along a lateral direction, and the outer diameter of the front portion gradually increases along the lateral direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the vehicle radar further includes an adhesive portion, The adhesive portion is disposed between the base and the sensor and between the base and the casing.

[0014] In one embodiment, the adhesive portion completely covers the rear end surface of the base adjacent the rear portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the adhesive part is silicone based. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As a result, in the vehicle radar according to the present invention, the intervals between the locking parts are different in the circumferential direction, so when the base and the sensor are inserted into the casing through the rear opening and connected to each other, they can be accurately matched to the installation position and direction in a single direction, eliminating the need for cooperative work with an installation tool; the structural locking allows for automatic alignment, and the components can be prevented from shifting their positions in the circumferential direction during the installation process. This automates the installation process, improves installation efficiency and yield, and reduces labor costs.

[0017] In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the following detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a vehicle radar according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the casing in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 3 is a right side view showing the base in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the sensor in FIG. 2. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the rubber cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The above and other technical contents, features, and advantages of the present invention can be described in detail by preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that directional terms used in the embodiments, such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear, refer only to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for explanatory purposes only and do not limit the present invention. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the same or similar symbols are used to refer to the same or similar components.

[0020] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a vehicle radar according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1. The vehicle radar 1 of this embodiment is applicable to general vehicles, large vehicles, and industrial vehicles, and includes a casing 100, a base 200, and a sensor 300. The casing 100 is a plastic part manufactured, for example, by injection molding. The base 200 is approximately disk-shaped and made of low-hardness plastic. The sensor 300 is, for example, a directional ultrasonic sensor, and is disposed on the base 200 and fixed to the casing 100 via the base 200. As a result, when the sensor 300 receives an ultrasonic signal reflected from an obstacle or another vehicle, it converts the ultrasonic signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to a control element for signal processing via a connection terminal within the casing 100, thereby accurately displaying the distance between the currently traveling vehicle and the obstacle or other vehicle to the user. In one embodiment, the vehicle radar 1 may further include a rubber cover 400. The rubber cover 400 is disposed on the casing 100 and is suitable for covering at least a portion of the sensor 300, thereby preventing degradation of the sensing performance of the sensor 300 due to contamination by external substances or collisions. These elements are attached along the lateral direction L to form the vehicle radar 1 of FIG. 1.

[0021] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is a right side view showing the casing in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a front view of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a rear view of Figure 3. Specifically, the casing 100 has a hollow structure and includes a front section 110, a main body section 120, and a rear section 130. A front opening 116 is formed in the front section 110. The main body section 120 is disposed between the front section 110 and the rear section 130. A rear opening 136 is formed in the rear section 130, and the front opening 116 communicates with the rear opening 136. The front section 110, the main body section 120, and the rear section 130 are sequentially arranged along the lateral direction L.

[0022] 3 and 4, the front portion 110 has a generally conical shape, and its outer diameter gradually increases along the lateral direction L. As a result, when the base 200 and the sensor 300 are attached to the casing 100 from the rear opening 136 in the direction opposite to the lateral direction L, the position of the sensor 300 in the lateral direction L can be limited by the dimensional relationship between the front portion 110 and the base 200 or the sensor 300. The front portion 110 may also include a stopper 112. Since the outer shape of the stopper 112 does not completely correspond to the base 200 or the sensor 300, the stopper generates interference with the base 200 or the sensor 300 during attachment, thereby improving the tightness of the connection between the casing 100 and the base 200 or the sensor 300 and making it difficult for relative movement to occur therebetween.

[0023] Meanwhile, the main body 120 has an outer surface 122 and an inner surface 124. The outer surface 122 has a plurality of rubber cover locking portions 122a, which are, for example, grooves extending a certain length along the lateral direction L, and are adapted to be locked with the rubber cover 400 when the rubber cover 400 is fitted to the casing 100, thereby improving the bonding strength between them. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface 124 has a plurality of locking pieces 124a, which are ribs protruding into the interior space of the casing 100, and are adapted to be locked with the base 200 when the base 200 and the sensor 300 are attached to the casing 100, thereby improving the bonding strength between them. In this embodiment, these locking pieces 124a are aligned with the plurality of rubber cover locking pieces 122a, i.e., the two locking pieces 124a are located at the same relative positions on the inner surface 124 and the outer surface 122 of the body 120. Furthermore, when manufacturing the casing 100 by injection molding, a portion of the outer surface 124 can be protruded inward using a mold press, so that the rubber cover locking pieces 122a located on the outer surface 122 and the locking pieces 124a located on the inner surface 124 can be completed in the same manufacturing process, thereby eliminating the processes and time required for separate manufacturing.

[0024] 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the casing 100 defines a circumferential direction, and the rubber cover locking portions 122a are, for example, three in number, and are arranged on the left, right, and upper sides of Fig. 4. Similarly, the locking pieces 124a are, for example, three in number, and are arranged on the left, right, and upper sides of Fig. 5. In other words, the intervals between the rubber cover locking portions 122a in the circumferential direction are different, and the intervals between the locking portions 124a in the circumferential direction are also different. With this arrangement, when the casing 100 and the base 200 or the sensor 300 are attached to each other, the rubber cover locking portion 122a and the locking piece 124a, which are arranged in a specific direction, provide a foolproof effect. The rubber cover 400 and the base 200 (or the sensor 300) can be sleeved or embedded in the casing 100 only in a specific direction, preventing the components from shifting their positions in the circumferential direction. This automates the installation process, improving installation efficiency and yield while also reducing labor costs.

[0025] It is worth noting that, although the present embodiment provides an example in which the latch 124a is configured to align with the rubber cover latch 122a, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the rubber cover latch 122a or the latch 124a may both be ribs or recesses through mold design, or the rubber cover latch 122a and the latch 124a may be manufactured separately through different processes. In this case, if the rubber cover latch 122a and the latch 124a are arranged at uneven intervals in the circumferential direction, they do not require alignment and a foolproof installation effect can be achieved. In an embodiment in which the vehicle radar 1 does not have the rubber cover 400, the main body 120 may have only the latch 124a without the rubber cover latch 122a, which still allows for accurate installation and fit of the base 200 and the sensor 300.

[0026] Meanwhile, the rear portion 130 includes an outer surface 132, and at least one buckle structure 132a is disposed on the outer surface 132. In this embodiment, the buckle structure 132a is, for example, a lug that protrudes from the outer surface 132 and has a groove formed therein, and two buckle structures 132a are disposed on the left and right sides of the outer surface 132 in FIG. 4. This allows the buckle structure to be buckled and coupled to a fixing bracket when the vehicle radar 1 is mounted on a vehicle, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle radar 1 mounted on the vehicle body. Additionally, in this embodiment, the casing 100 includes a plurality of terminal blocks 140, which are disposed inside the rear portion 130 and are suitable for fixing contact terminals electrically connected to the sensor 300.

[0027] Please refer to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a right-side view of the base in Figure 2, and Figure 7 is a front view of Figure 6. Specifically, the base 200 of this embodiment includes a base body 210 and an extension 220. The base body 210 and the extension 220 are sequentially arranged along the lateral direction L, and the extension 220 protrudes beyond the rear end surface of the base body 210. Furthermore, the base body 210 has a plurality of locking portions 212, which are grooves recessed inward along the radial direction and disposed on the tapered side of the base body 210. The number of locking portions 212 is, for example, three. As shown in Figure 7, the positions of the locking portions 212 correspond to the locking pieces 124a. That is, the intervals between the locking portions 212 vary in the circumferential direction, thereby achieving a foolproof effect with the casing 100 during installation. Additionally, the base body 210 includes a receiving portion 214 and at least one position limiting portion 216. The accommodation portion 214 is, for example, a groove recessed inward along the lateral direction L. The position limiting portions 216 may be stepped structures that are convex relative to the bottom surface of the accommodation portion 214, and there may be, for example, two of them, which are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the base body 210 in FIG. 7. To mate with the sensor 300, it is preferable that a through-hole 260 be formed in the base 200. The through-hole 260 penetrates the base body 210 and the extension portion 220 along the lateral direction L, allowing a portion of the sensor 300 to pass through and providing a limiting effect.

[0028] In one embodiment, the base body 210 is formed with a fastener groove 218. The fastener groove 218 is arranged, for example, along the circumferential direction on the side surface of the base body 210, and can provide a more stable connection force and prevent lateral and radial movement between the casing 100 and the base 200 when interference occurs between the casing 100 and the base 200. This will be further described below.

[0029] Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the sensor in FIG. 2. As shown in the drawing, the sensor 300 of this embodiment includes a sensing body 310, an insulating portion 320, and a terminal portion 330. The sensing body 310 is a hollow shell made of, for example, aluminum metal, and houses electronic components necessary for ultrasonic transmission and detection. The insulating portion 320 is made of, for example, electrically insulating rubber or plastic and is used to fit with the base 200. The terminal portion 330 is, for example, two metal contact pins. It is electrically connected to the electronic components inside the sensing body 310 and can be used as a connection bridge between the sensor 300 and other circuits or electronic components. However, in some other embodiments, the terminal portion 330 may be a twisted pair of wires, or may be straight, curved, or deflected at a specific point; the present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the sensing body 310 is formed with at least one position limiting feature 312. The position limiting features 312 are, for example, two recesses having a shape corresponding to the position limiting portions 216, and are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the sensing body 310 in FIG.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a right side view of the rubber cover in Figure 2, and Figure 10 is a rear view of Figure 9. As shown in the drawings, the rubber cover 400 has a rubber cover main body 410 and a narrowed portion 420. The rubber cover main body 410 and the narrowed portion 420 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction L, and the rubber cover 400 is fitted to the casing 100 via the rubber cover main body 410. Specifically, the rubber cover main body 410 has an inner surface 412, and a plurality of rubber cover locking pieces 412a are disposed on the inner surface 412. These rubber cover locking pieces 412a are, for example, three ribs protruding radially inward from the inner surface 412, and their positions and shapes correspond to the rubber cover locking pieces 122a. Meanwhile, the inner diameter of the narrowed portion 420 is smaller than that of the rubber cover main body 410. As a result, when the rubber cover 400 is sleeved into the casing 100, a tight fit is formed between the rubber cover body 410 and the casing 100, and the narrowed mouth portion 420 also tightly covers the side of the sensing body 310, and only a portion of the sensing body 310 protrudes from the rubber cover 400, thereby maintaining sensing performance while achieving the effect of preventing pollutants such as rainwater and dust from entering the interior of the vehicle radar.

[0031] Please refer to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 1, and Figure 12 is a rear view of Figure 1. Specifically, when a user assembles the components of the vehicle radar 1, the user first places the sensor 300 on the base 200. The positional relationship between the insulating portion 320 and the through-hole 260, and the positional relationship between the position limiting feature 312 and the position limiting portion 216, allow the sensor 300 to be tightly coupled and the terminal portion 330 to protrude relative to the extension portion 220. The base 200 and the sensor 300 are then inserted into the casing 100 through the rear opening 136 in the direction opposite to the lateral direction L. During the assembly of the casing 100 and the base 200, the locking pieces 124a are aligned and gradually locked with the locking portions 212, ensuring that no misalignment occurs between the casing 100 and the base 200 in the circumferential and radial directions. When the tip of the base 200 abuts against the stopper 112 of the casing 100, the locking piece 124a is completely locked into the locking portion 212, preventing relative movement between the casing 100 and the base 200 in the lateral direction L. As a result, the base 200 and the sensor 300 are inserted into the casing 100 from the rear thereof, and the positioning and limiting functions can be automatically realized through structural design. No installation tools are required for calculating the distance, which improves the efficiency and yield of automatic installation and improves the convenience of installing the vehicle radar 1.

[0032] At this time, if it is desired to further improve the joining strength between the casing 100 and the base 200, a slightly excessive pressure can be applied to the base 200 in the direction opposite to the lateral direction L relative to the casing 100, so that a part of the stopper 112 is pressed into the buckle groove 218 of the base 200 to form a buckle portion. In other words, by having the buckle portion accommodated in the buckle groove 218, the casing 100 can further exert a positional restriction function in the radial and lateral directions, preventing relative movement between them.

[0033] Finally, the rubber cover 400 is fitted onto the casing 100 and the sensor 300 in the lateral direction L so that only a portion of the sensing body 310 is exposed from the rubber cover 400. During the process of attaching the rubber cover 400 to the casing 100, the rubber cover locking piece 412a is aligned and gradually locked into the rubber cover locking part 122a, and when the front end of the front part 110 abuts the intersection of the rubber cover body 410 and the narrowed opening part 420, the rubber cover locking piece 412a can be fully locked into the rubber cover locking part 122a. Thereafter, the connection terminal 500 connected to the control element is placed on the terminal block 140, and the terminal part 330 and the connection terminal 500 are electrically connected, thereby enabling the vehicle radar 1 to achieve its sensing function.

[0034] In the past, limitations in the installation process made it difficult to form a tight fit between the casing 100 and the sensor 300, which allowed rain, snow, or dust from the environment to easily penetrate into the interior of the vehicle radar 1 through the gap between the casing 100 and the sensor 300, causing damage to the components. Therefore, in this embodiment, the components of the vehicle radar 1 are structurally tightly fitted together, so that even if a front cover for blocking foreign objects is not required, it is still possible to prevent damage to the vehicle radar due to the intrusion of external substances, thereby maintaining performance in use while miniaturizing the entire vehicle radar 1.

[0035] 12, the vehicle radar 1 in this embodiment also has an adhesive portion 600. The adhesive portion 600 is, for example, a silicone-based sealing adhesive, and is disposed between the extension portion 220 of the base 200 and the insulating portion 320 of the sensor 300, and between the base main body 210 of the base 200 and the main body 120 of the casing 100. This arrangement not only provides a tighter bond between the casing 100, the base 200, and the sensor 300, but also allows the adhesive portion 600 to maintain sufficient elasticity even after solidifying from a fluid state, thereby preventing cracks in the vehicle radar 1 due to vibration or collision.

[0036] In one embodiment, to achieve better waterproof and airtight properties, the adhesive portion 600 can be configured to completely cover the rear end surface of the base 200 adjacent to the rear portion 130. In this case, the adhesive portion 600 has a lower viscosity than when it is disposed only at the joint between the casing 100 and the base 200 and the joint between the base 200 and the sensor 300. That is, it is appropriate to select an adhesive with a viscosity of about 2 Pa·s to 5 Pa·s. This allows the adhesive to flow evenly and cover the rear end surface of the base 200, achieving a more complete sealing effect.

[0037] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the above examples are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. It should be noted that any modifications or replacements of the above embodiments that have the same effect should be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention. The technical features of the above embodiments may be suitably combined, replaced, omitted, or modified as long as they do not violate the spirit or intent of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is regulated by the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1: Vehicle radar 100: Casing 110: Front 112: Stopper 116: Front opening 120: Main body 122:Outer surface 122a: Rubber cover locking part 124:Inner surface 124a: Detention case 130: Rear 132:Outer surface 132a: Buckle structure 136: Rear opening 140:Terminal block 200: Bass 210: Base body 212: Locking part 214: Storage unit 216: Position restriction section 218: Zipper groove 220: Stretched part 260:Through hole 300: Sensor 310: Sensor body 312: Position restriction feature 320: Insulation section 330:Terminal section 400: Rubber cover 410: Rubber cover body 412:Inner surface 412a: Rubber cover fastening part 420: Retraction part 500: Connection terminal 600: Adhesive part L: Horizontal XX: Cross section

Claims

1. a casing defining a circumferential direction; a base having a plurality of locking portions; a sensor disposed on the base; and The casing is a front portion forming a front opening; a rear portion forming a rear opening communicating with the front opening; a main body portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and having a plurality of fastening parts with different intervals between the fastening parts in the circumferential direction, The plurality of locking parts lock the plurality of locking parts. Vehicle radar.

2. Also includes a rubber cover, The rubber cover is disposed on the casing and has a plurality of rubber cover fastening parts; 2. The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a plurality of rubber cover fastening portions, and the plurality of rubber cover fastening members are fastened to the plurality of rubber cover fastening portions.

3. 3. The vehicle radar according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of fastening parts are aligned with the plurality of rubber cover fastening parts.

4. 2. The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein the front portion has a stopper, and the base abuts against the stopper.

5. the front portion has a fastener portion; The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein a fastener groove is formed in the base, and the fastener portion is accommodated in the fastener groove.

6. 2. The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein the main body has an inner surface, and the plurality of fasteners are disposed on the inner surface.

7. 2. The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein the front portion, the main body portion, and the rear portion are sequentially arranged in a lateral direction, and an outer diameter of the front portion gradually increases in the lateral direction.

8. further comprising an adhesive portion, 2. The vehicle radar according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive portion is disposed between the base and the sensor, and between the base and the casing.

9. 9. The vehicle radar according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive portion completely covers a rear end surface of the base adjacent to the rear portion.

10. 9. The radar for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive portion is a silicone-based adhesive.

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