Vehicle structure

Abstract

Even when the sensor device is supported at a location away from the vehicle body structural members, the displacement of the sensor device located on the back side of the exterior panel is suppressed. [Solution] The vehicle structure comprises an exterior panel 10 that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle, and a sensor support member that is positioned on the inside of the exterior panel 10 and supports a sensor device S for detecting the external environment, with the sensor support member being fixed to a vehicle body structural member. The sensor support member has a projection 24 that protrudes toward the exterior panel 10 in the inward and outward direction of the vehicle and supports the sensor device S, and the exterior panel 10 has an adjacent portion 15 that is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the projection 24.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure including a structure for arranging a sensor device at the front or rear of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Sensor devices for detecting the external environment of a vehicle such as an automobile are provided at the front and rear of the vehicle. Examples of the sensor device include a millimeter-wave radar that uses electromagnetic waves in the millimeter-wave band as detection waves, an acoustic sensor (ultrasonic sensor / sonar) that uses sound waves as detection waves, a camera (imaging device), and the like. The sensor device is disposed on the back surface of an exterior panel such as a bumper or a grill that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle.

[0003] As an example of a conventional vehicle structure having a structure for attaching a sensor device to the back surface side of an exterior panel, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a first absorption mechanism that holds a sensor bracket so as to be retractable along the front-rear direction, and a second absorption mechanism that holds the sensor bracket so as to be swingable. The sensor bracket is fixed to the back side of an emblem, which is an exterior panel, while being suspended from an upper beam, which is a vehicle body structural member, via the first absorption mechanism and the second absorption mechanism.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In order to maintain the desired detection accuracy of a sensor device, it is necessary for the sensor device to be maintained in the intended position relative to the vehicle body structural member. In Patent Document 1, the sensor device is supported on the vehicle body structural member via a first absorption mechanism, a second absorption mechanism, and a sensor bracket. In this way, when the sensor device is supported on the vehicle body structural member via a sensor support member at a position away from the vehicle body structural member, the further the sensor device is from the vehicle body structural member, the longer the portion of the sensor support member between the sensor device and the vehicle body structural member becomes, and the more susceptible the sensor device is to displacement due to vibration, etc. Therefore, even if the sensor bracket is fixed to the exterior panel, the sensor device may shift from its intended position due to vibration during driving or minor collisions. Accordingly, the structure of Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in terms of suppressing the displacement of the sensor device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle structure that can suppress the displacement of a sensor device even when the sensor device is supported at a position away from the vehicle body structural member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle structure comprising an exterior panel constituting the design surface on the outside of the vehicle, and a sensor support member disposed on the inside of the exterior panel of the vehicle and supporting a sensor device for detecting the external environment, wherein the sensor support member is fixed to a vehicle body structural member. In this vehicle structure, the sensor support member has a projection that protrudes toward the exterior panel in the inward and outward direction of the vehicle and supports the sensor device, and the exterior panel has an adjacent portion disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the projection. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, even when the sensor device is supported at a position away from the vehicle body structural member, the displacement of the sensor device located on the back side of the exterior panel can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the front of a vehicle to which a vehicle structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the vehicle with the second exterior panel removed. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view of the sensor support member and the vehicle body structural member. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle, seen from the rear. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the vehicle structure as seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the area surrounding the sensor, including the frame. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the adjacent part attached to the outside of the frame. [Figure 8] This is a partial cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged view of region B in Figure 5. [Figure 10] This is a partial perspective view of the area around the sensor, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 11] This is a plan view of the first and second exterior panels as seen from the rear of the vehicle, with the sensor support members removed. [Figure 12] This is a front perspective view of a vehicle to which a modified example of the vehicle structure shown in the reference example is applied. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle with the exterior panels removed. [Figure 14] This is a plan view of the vehicle structure in a modified example, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the direction of arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, and the direction of arrow Rr indicates the rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. The direction of arrow L indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is viewed from rear to front. The direction of arrow U indicates the top of the vehicle in the vertical direction. In the following description, "front" and "rear" correspond to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, and "up" and "down" correspond to the top and bottom in the vertical direction of the vehicle, respectively. "Left" and "right" correspond to the left and right in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is viewed from the rear to the front.

[0011] The vehicle structure 100 according to this embodiment is applied to the front of a vehicle such as an automobile. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the front of the vehicle is provided with an exterior panel 10, a sensor support member 20, and a vehicle body structure member 30. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle as seen from the front of the vehicle. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle as seen from the front of the vehicle, with the second exterior panel 2 (described later) removed. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor support member 20 and the vehicle body structure member 30 as seen from the front of the vehicle. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle as seen from the rear of the vehicle, with the third exterior panel 3 (described later) removed.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior panel 10 is a bumper panel that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle, and extends in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction. The exterior panel 10 includes a first exterior panel 1, a second exterior panel 2, and a third exterior panel 3. The three exterior panels 1, 2, and 3 are connected (fixed) to each other at a plurality of connection points including connection points P1, P5, and P6 described later. The first exterior panel 1 is also called a side panel, and constitutes the design surfaces on both sides in the vehicle width direction among the design surfaces at the front of the vehicle. The second exterior panel 2 is also called an upper panel, and constitutes the design surface at the upper part of the center in the vehicle width direction among the design surfaces at the front of the vehicle. Below the second exterior panel 2, a bumper opening 14 (see FIG. 4) is largely opened. The third exterior panel 3 is a resin grille that closes the bumper opening 14, and has a plurality of ventilation holes penetrating the third exterior panel 3 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The third exterior panel 3 constitutes the design surface at the lower part of the center in the vehicle width direction among the design surfaces at the front of the vehicle.

[0013] The sensor support member 20 is a member for arranging a sensor device S (see FIGS. 6 and 7) that detects the external environment of the vehicle at a predetermined position on the inner side of the vehicle of the exterior panel 10. The predetermined position is a position intended with respect to the vehicle body structural member 30 (vehicle body). The sensor device S is, for example, a millimeter-wave radar that uses electromagnetic waves in the millimeter-wave band as detection waves. The sensor device S transmits (irradiates) and receives (detects) detection waves. The second exterior panel 2 is provided with a detection wave passing region 2a through which the detection waves can pass. The sensor device S may be a sound wave sensor (ultrasonic sensor / sonar) that uses sound waves as detection waves, or a camera (imaging device) that uses electromagnetic waves in the visible light band or infrared band as detection waves. In this case, the detection wave passing region 2a may have a through hole (opening). The detection waves may be sunlight, or may be transmitted from a detection wave transmission device provided separately from the sensor device S. In this case, the sensor device S does not have to transmit the detection waves.

[0014] The vehicle body structural member 30 is a highly rigid member made of steel plate or the like that constitutes the vehicle's frame, and is positioned on the inside of the vehicle relative to the exterior panel 10. The exterior panel 10 and the sensor support member 20 are fixed to and supported by the vehicle body structural member 30. As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the vehicle body structural member 30 includes a first cross member 31, a second cross member 32, a third cross member 33 and a fourth cross member 34, a pair of left and right column members 35L and 35R, and a pair of left and right side members 36L and 36R. The first, second, third and fourth cross members 31, 32, 33 and 34 each extend in the vehicle width direction and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The left and right column members 35L and 35R each extend in the vertical direction and are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. The widthwise ends of the first, second, third, and fourth cross members 31, 32, 33, and 34 are joined to the left and right column members 35L and 35R. The first cross member 31 is positioned between the upper ends of the left and right column members 35L and 35R. The first cross member 31 is also called a hood lock member if it is provided with a hood lock mechanism for locking the opening and closing of a hood panel (not shown). The second cross member 32 is positioned below the first cross member 31. The widthwise center of the first cross member 31 and the widthwise center of the second cross member 32 are connected to each other by a connecting bracket 37. The third cross member 33 is positioned below the second cross member 32 and is also called a bumper beam. The fourth cross member 34 is positioned between the lower ends of the left and right column members 35L and 35R and is also called a lower cross member. The left and right side members 36L and 36R extend in the front-rear direction and are spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction. The front ends of the left and right side members 36L and 36R are joined to the left and right column members 35L and 35R, respectively.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle structure 100 according to the present embodiment includes an exterior panel 10 (specifically, the first exterior panel 1) and a sensor support member 20. The first exterior panel 1 is a member that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front or rear of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, as described above, it constitutes the design surface at the front of the vehicle. Note that the front part of the vehicle includes not only the part facing the front of the vehicle but also the parts facing the front diagonal sides, such as the left and right side portions 11, 11 (described later) of the first exterior panel 1.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the first exterior panel 1, which is a side panel, has a pair of side portions 11, 11 arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction, a lower portion 12 that constitutes the lower end portion of the first exterior panel 1, and a mounting portion 13 provided between the pair of side portions 11, 11 to which the second exterior panel 2 is attached. The front surfaces of the pair of side portions 11, 11 and the front surface of the lower portion 12 are the design surfaces. The side portions 11, 11 extend obliquely rearward of the vehicle as they go outward in the vehicle width direction. The lower portion 12 is connected to the lower ends of the side portions 11, 11 and extends in the vehicle width direction between the left end of the left side portion 11 and the right end of the right side portion 11. The mounting portion 13 extends in the vehicle width direction and in the vehicle vertical direction between the pair of side portions 11, 11. The mounting portion 13 is arranged at a distance above the lower portion 12 in the vehicle, and a bumper opening 14 surrounded by the pair of side portions 11, 11, the lower portion 12, and the mounting portion 13 is formed at the center in the vehicle width direction of the first exterior panel 1.

[0017] The sensor support member 20 is arranged inside the vehicle of the first exterior panel 1, fixed to the vehicle body structure member 30, and supports a sensor device S that detects the vehicle external environment. Specifically, the sensor support member 20 has a base portion 21 fixed to the vehicle body structure member 30 and a sensor peripheral region 22 to which the sensor device S is attached (fixed). The sensor support member 20 is, for example, an injection molded product made of resin, and the base portion 21 and the sensor peripheral region 22 are integrally formed. At least a portion of the sensor support member 20 including a frame portion 24 (described later) is arranged adjacent to the first exterior panel 1 on the inside (rear side) of the vehicle of the first exterior panel 1.

[0018] As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, the sensor support member 20 is positioned to generally face the front of the vehicle and is roughly T-shaped in a plan view from one of the vehicle's front-rear directions. Figure 5 is a plan view of the vehicle structure 100 as seen from the rear of the vehicle. The base portion 21 is roughly rectangular in length in the vehicle width direction in the plan view, and the sensor surrounding area 22 protrudes downward from the lower end of the center of the base portion 21 in the width direction. The base portion 21 is positioned adjacent to the upper portion of the second exterior panel 2 on the vehicle side of the upper portion, and covers almost the entire upper portion of the second exterior panel 2 from the vehicle side (rear side). The lower end of the base portion 21 and the sensor surrounding area 22 are positioned on the vehicle side of the first exterior panel 1.

[0019] The first cross member 31 and the second cross member 32 are positioned adjacent to the sensor support member 20 (base portion 21) on the vehicle side (rear side) of the sensor support member 20 (base portion 21). The sensor support member 20 is fixed to the first cross member 31 and the second cross member 32 of the vehicle body structural member 30. Specifically, in a side view taken from one side in the width direction, the base portion 21 is roughly in an inverted L shape, extending upward from its lower end towards the vehicle before bending towards the rear of the vehicle. The base portion 21 is fixed to the first cross member 31 and the second cross member 32 at vehicle body fixing points P4 (P41, P42), which will be described later, and the sensor support member 20 is suspended downward from the first cross member 31.

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sensor peripheral region 22 as seen from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 6, the sensor support member 20 has a frame portion (projection) 24 that protrudes in the vehicle longitudinal direction, which is the vehicle inward-outward direction, toward the front of the vehicle, which is the first exterior panel 1 side (exterior panel 10 side), and supports the sensor device S. Here, "front of the vehicle" refers to the outside of the vehicle in the vehicle inward-outward direction. The vehicle inward-outward direction is the direction connecting the inside of the vehicle of the sensor support member 20 and the outside of the vehicle of the sensor support member 20, or in other words, the direction in which the frame portion 24 (sensor peripheral region 22) and the first exterior panel 1 face each other. In this embodiment, as described above, the vehicle inward-outward direction is the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the frame portion 24 corresponds to the "projection" according to the present invention.

[0021] In this embodiment, the frame portion 24 is formed in a frame shape that surrounds the sensor housing space V in which the sensor device S is arranged. Specifically, the sensor peripheral region 22 has vertical walls 22a that generally face forward (outside the vehicle) and extend in the vertical and vehicle width directions, and the frame portion 24 protrudes forward (outside the vehicle) from the vertical walls 22a. Outside the vehicle refers to the direction from the inside of the sensor support member 20 to the outside of the vehicle, and in this embodiment, it is the front of the vehicle. The frame portion 24 is generally annular or cylindrical in shape that at least partially surrounds the sensor housing space V and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the sensor device S. The frame portion 24 is open at both ends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the sensor housing space V is open to the front and rear of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the sensor device S is generally a rectangular parallelepiped, and the frame portion 24, in a plan view from one side in the vehicle's front-rear direction, is generally a C-shape or U-shape, partially annular or partially cylindrical, with one side of the rectangle missing from the bottom. The sensor device S is placed in the sensor housing space V facing the front (outside) of the vehicle and fixed to the frame portion 24 or the periphery of the frame portion 24. The frame portion 24 is positioned behind the detection wave passage region 2a of the vehicle so that the sensor device S faces the detection wave passage region 2a in the vehicle's front-rear direction.

[0022] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the first exterior panel 1 has an adjacent portion 15 provided in the portion corresponding to the frame portion 24 and positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame portion 24 and the adjacent portion 15 as seen from the front of the vehicle, and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5. Positioning adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 includes being positioned in contact with the outer circumferential surface and being positioned slightly away from the outer circumferential surface. The adjacent portion 15 is frame-shaped, having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the frame portion 24, and a frame insertion hole is formed inside the adjacent portion 15, penetrating the first exterior panel 1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle inward / outward direction). The frame portion 24 is inserted into the frame insertion hole from the rear of the vehicle, and the front end of the frame portion 24 is positioned at the same position as the front end of the adjacent portion 15 or beyond the front end of the adjacent portion 15 in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the adjacent portion 15 is a generally rectangular annular or cylindrical shape that is closed in the circumferential direction, and protrudes forward from the vertical wall of the first exterior panel 1 that faces the front of the vehicle (outside the vehicle) and extends in the vertical and vehicle width directions. Therefore, the adjacent portion 15 surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 over its entire length in the circumferential direction and covers the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 in the circumferential and vehicle front-rear directions. The adjacent portion 15 is adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 on the upper, left, and right sides, and adjacent to the left and right lower ends of the frame portion 24 on the lower side. The sensor housing space V is surrounded by the generally C-shaped or U-shaped inner circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 and a part of the inner circumferential surface of the adjacent portion 15.

[0024] In order to maintain the desired detection accuracy of the sensor device S, it is necessary for the sensor device S to be maintained in the intended position relative to the vehicle body structural member 30, and for this purpose, it is necessary to suppress the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position due to vehicle vibration or minor collisions. Displacement of the sensor device S includes changes in the position and angle of the sensor device S. In this embodiment, the sensor device S is supported by the vehicle body structural member 30 (first cross member 31 and second cross member 32) at a position located below the vehicle body structural member 30 via a sensor support member 20. In such a case, the further the sensor device S is from the vehicle body structural member 30, the longer the portion of the sensor support member 20 between the sensor device S and the vehicle body structural member (31, 32) becomes, and the more susceptible the sensor device S is to displacement due to vibration, etc. Therefore, when the sensor device S is supported at a position far from the vehicle body structural member 30, higher support rigidity of the sensor device S is required to suppress displacement of the sensor device S.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the sensor support member 20 has a frame portion 24 that protrudes toward the first exterior panel 1, and the first exterior panel 1 has an adjacent portion 15 that is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24. When external forces such as vehicle vibrations or minor collisions act on the sensor support member 20 and the sensor device S, the displacement of the frame portion 24 in the direction in which the frame portion 24 and the adjacent portion 15 are adjacent to each other (vehicle width direction and vehicle vertical direction) is suppressed by the adjacent portion 15. As a result, even when the sensor device S is supported at a position away from the vehicle body structural member 30 via the sensor support member 20, sufficient support rigidity of the sensor device S can be obtained, and the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position can be suppressed, thereby suppressing a decrease in the detection accuracy of the sensor device S.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protruding portion is configured as a frame portion 24 with openings at the front and rear ends, and the sensor device S can be inserted into the frame portion 24. Therefore, even when the sensor device S is placed inside the frame portion 24, the sensor device S can be easily positioned further outward (forward) from the vehicle. In addition, this improves the accuracy of the sensor device S in detecting the external environment.

[0027] Next, the vehicle structure 100 will be described in detail with further reference to Figures 9 to 11. In this embodiment, the vehicle structure 100 further comprises a second exterior panel 2 that covers a portion of the first exterior panel 1 from the outside of the vehicle and constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle. As described above, in this embodiment, the second exterior panel 2 is an upper panel that constitutes the design surface of the upper part of the central part in the vehicle width direction of the design surface at the front of the vehicle, and has a detection wave passing region 2a through which detection waves detected (received) by the sensor device S can pass. The second exterior panel 2 is attached from the front of the vehicle to the mounting portion 13, which is a portion of the first exterior panel 1. The frame portion 24 and the sensor device S are arranged on the inside of the vehicle of the mounting portion 13. The first exterior panel 1 may have a plurality of connection points P7 (see Figures 8, 9, and 11) that are connected to the second exterior panel 2, respectively.

[0028] Specifically, the lower portion of the second exterior panel 2 is attached to the mounting portion 13. As shown in Figure 5, the lower end of the base portion 21 and the sensor surrounding area 22 of the sensor support member 20 are positioned on the vehicle side of the mounting portion 13. The upper portion of the second exterior panel 2 is positioned above the upper end of the first exterior panel 1 and covers the base portion 21 of the sensor support member 20 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0029] The detection wave passage region 2a is provided on the lower part of the second exterior panel 2 and faces the sensor device S located in the sensor housing space V in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle inward / outward direction). In the illustrated example, the detection wave passage region 2a is a thin, plate-like portion facing generally towards the front of the vehicle and is formed from a material that has properties that allow detection waves to pass through, such as synthetic resin. The detection wave transmitted from the sensor device S passes through (is transmitted through) the detection wave passage region 2a and is irradiated towards the front of the vehicle. If there is an obstacle in front of the vehicle, the detection wave that is reflected by the obstacle and passes through (is transmitted through) the detection wave passage region 2a is received and detected by the sensor device S.

[0030] With this configuration, as described above, the displacement of the sensor device S is suppressed by the adjacent part 15, so that changes in the relative positional relationship (relative distance and relative angle) between the detection wave passage area 2a of the second exterior panel 2 and the sensor device S are suppressed and the relative positional relationship is maintained. This makes it possible to further reliably suppress the decrease in the detection accuracy of the sensor device S. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a sensor device S such as a millimeter-wave radar that uses detection waves with high directivity, because maintaining the relative positional relationship with high precision is necessary to maintain the detection accuracy of the sensor device S.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, it is preferable that the detection wave passage region 2a has a convex shape towards the front of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, in a side view taken from one side in the vehicle width direction, the detection wave passage region 2a is formed in a generally triangular shape. Such a convex shape can increase the rigidity of the detection wave passage region 2a.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, at least one of the side end and the lower end of the exterior panel 10 is supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30. Specifically, at least one of the side end 1a and the lower end 1b of the first exterior panel 1 is supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30. The side end 1a is each end of the first exterior panel 1 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, when the side end 1a is supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30, displacement of the first exterior panel 1 in the vehicle width direction due to vibration or minor collision is suppressed. When the lower end 1b is supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30, vertical displacement of the first exterior panel 1 due to vibration or minor collision is suppressed. This makes it possible to further reliably suppress the displacement of the sensor device S in the vehicle width direction and / or vertical direction.

[0033] Here, "supported by the vehicle body structural member 30" includes cases where the vehicle body structural member 30 is directly supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30, and cases where it is indirectly supported (fixed) to the vehicle body structural member 30 via a connecting member. The connecting member includes, for example, lamps and clips.

[0034] In the illustrated example, the lower end portion 1b is directly supported (fixed) to the fourth cross member 34, which is a lower cross member. The side end portion 1a is supported (fixed) to the front side member 36L or 36R via a side inner panel 38a, a panel support bracket 38b, and an intermediate member 38c, which are part of the vehicle body structural member 30. The side inner panel 38a extends upward from the upper end of the front side member 36L or 36R, and the panel support bracket 38b extends from the side inner panel 38a to the intermediate member (holder) 38c fixed to the side end portion 1a.

[0035] In this embodiment, the adjacent portion 15 of the first exterior panel 1 is formed to surround the frame portion 24. With this configuration, the rigidity of the adjacent portion 15 is increased, and the area of ​​the portion of the adjacent portion 15 adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24 is increased. As a result, the displacement of the sensor device S can be suppressed even more reliably by the adjacent portion 15. In the illustrated example, as described above, the adjacent portion 15 surrounds the frame portion 24 all around.

[0036] Here, "the adjacent portion is formed to surround the frame portion" is not limited to the adjacent portion 15 surrounding the entire outer surface of the frame portion 24, as in the case of a frame-shaped adjacent portion 15, but also includes the adjacent portion 15 intermittently surrounding the frame portion 24, and the adjacent portion 15 surrounding the frame portion 24 in a generally C-shape or U-shape. That is, the adjacent portion 15 may be composed of a plurality of wall portions arranged at intervals around the frame portion 24. In this case, it is preferable that the wall portions be arranged on both sides of the frame portion 24 in at least one of the vehicle width direction and vehicle vertical direction. Furthermore, the adjacent portion 15 may be a generally C-shape or U-shape, partially annular or partially cylindrical shape, with a portion in the circumferential direction missing in a plan view from one of the vehicle front-rear directions.

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the frame portion 24 has a bulging portion 24a that bulges outward in the wall thickness direction of the frame portion 24 (opposite side from the sensor housing space V). The wall thickness direction is the thickness direction of the generally annular or cylindrical wall that constitutes the frame portion 24. As shown in Figure 7, the adjacent portion 15 has a contact wall 15a that abuts against the end face 24a1 of the bulging portion 24a in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle in-vehicle out-vehicle direction). That is, the contact wall 15a is positioned to overlap with the bulging portion 24a in the vehicle longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the contact between the end face of the frame portion 24 and the contact wall 15a suppresses the displacement of the frame portion 24 in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle in-vehicle out-vehicle direction). This makes it possible to suppress the displacement of the sensor device S in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle in-vehicle out-vehicle direction).

[0038] In the illustrated example, the frame portion 24 has bulges 24a on the upper, left, and right sides. The upper bulge 24a bulges upward toward the vehicle, while the left and right bulges 24a bulge to the left and right, respectively. Each bulge 24a is formed by a portion of the wall constituting the frame portion 24 bulging outward in the wall thickness direction. Each bulge 24a extends from the rear end of the frame portion 24 toward the front of the vehicle and is open toward the rear of the vehicle. Each bulge 24a is closed by the front end wall toward the front of the vehicle, and the front end surface of each bulge 24a is the end surface 24a1.

[0039] As shown in Figure 6, the upper bulge 24a, like the upper recess 151 as described later, has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that widens as it extends downwards, and the side wall 24a2 of the upper bulge 24a is inclined so as it extends downwards that it approaches the first panel connection point P1 (P1a), which will be described later. This increases the rigidity of the bulge 24a. In addition, this inclination of the side wall 24a2 increases the connection area between the side wall 24a2 and the edge 24a3 that supports the rear end of the side wall 24a2, thereby increasing the torsional rigidity of the side wall 24a2 and the bulge 24a.

[0040] In the illustrated example, the upper bulge 24a is provided with a projection 24b that protrudes forward from the front end surface (24a1) of the vehicle, and a seating surface is formed at the tip (front end) of the projection 24b, against which the bolt (described later) of the sensor fixing point P3 (described later) abuts. This structure increases the rigidity of the seating surface. The edge 24a3 that supports the rear end of the upper bulge 24a has a convex shape (stepped shape) that protrudes forward from the vehicle. This increases the torsional rigidity of the edge 24a3 and the bulge 24a connected thereto, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the sensor device S.

[0041] As shown in Figure 7, the adjacent portion 15 has a contact wall 15a in the portion corresponding to each bulge 24a, and also has a recess 151 that receives the bulge 24a. The recess 151 is formed when a portion of the generally annular or cylindrical wall forming the adjacent portion 15 is recessed in the wall thickness direction toward the opposite side from the frame insertion hole. The recess 151 is open to the rear of the vehicle so that the bulge 24a can be inserted into the recess 151 from the rear of the vehicle. The recess 151 has a front wall, which is the contact wall 15a, on the front side of the vehicle.

[0042] The upper recess 151 has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, with its width increasing downwards when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The side wall 151a of the upper recess 151 is inclined so as it approaches the first panel connection point P1 as it goes downwards. As will be described later, the first panel connection point P1 is the point where the sensor peripheral region 22 overlaps and connects with both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2, and the area around the first panel connection point P1 has high rigidity. Therefore, the inclination of the side wall 151a increases the rigidity of the recess 151. In addition, the connection area between the side wall 151a and the edge 151b that supports the rear end of the side wall 151a increases, and the torsional rigidity of the side wall 151a and the recess 151 increases.

[0043] As shown in Figure 7, the adjacent portion 15 may further have a connecting portion 152 that connects the recess 151 and the peripheral edge of the first panel connection point P1. Providing the connecting portion 152 increases the rigidity of the adjacent portion 15. In the illustrated example, two connecting portions 152, 152 are provided. One connecting portion 152 is provided on the outside of the upper left corner of the adjacent portion 15 and connects the upper surface of the left recess 151 and the peripheral edge of the first panel connection point P1 (P1a). The other connecting portion 152 connects the right side of the upper surface of the right recess 151 and the peripheral edge of the first panel connection point P1 (P1c).

[0044] In this embodiment, as described above, the vehicle structure 100 further comprises a second exterior panel 2 which is positioned on the exterior of a portion of the first exterior panel 1 and constitutes the design surface on the exterior of the vehicle. At least a portion of the sensor support member 20 overlaps and connects with both the portion of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. In the illustrated example, the lower end of the base portion 21 and the sensor surrounding region 22 of the sensor support member 20 overlap with both the mounting portion 13 of the first exterior panel 1 and the lower portion of the second exterior panel 2 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the lower end of the base portion 21 and the sensor surrounding region 22 can overlap and connect with both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2.

[0045] The individual rigidity of each exterior panel 1 and 2 is often lower than the rigidity of the vehicle body structural member 30. Therefore, even if the sensor support member 20 is fixed to each of the exterior panels 1 and 2, the support rigidity of the sensor device S by each of the exterior panels 1 and 2 may not be sufficient. In particular, when the sensor device S is attached to the lower part of the sensor support member 20 which is suspended downward from the first cross member 31, it is difficult to suppress the swinging of the sensor device S in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by the individual rigidity of each exterior panel 1 and 2.

[0046] According to this embodiment, the sensor support member 20 is connected to both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 by overlapping them, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the first and second exterior panels 1 and 2, and further reliably suppressing the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the sensor device S relative to the detection wave passage region 2a of the second exterior panel 2 due to vehicle vibrations or minor collisions, and to maintain the relative positional relationship (relative distance and relative angle) between the sensor device S and the detection wave passage region 2a.

[0047] In this embodiment, it is preferable that at least the sensor peripheral region 22 of the sensor support member 20 overlaps and is connected to both a part of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. As described above, the sensor peripheral region 22 is an annular region that includes the frame portion 24 and is the peripheral part of the sensor housing space V. In the illustrated example, the sensor peripheral region 22 is an annular region that is roughly rectangular in shape when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. With this configuration, the support rigidity of the sensor peripheral region 22 by the first and second exterior panels 1 and 2 is increased. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position, and also to more reliably suppress the displacement of the sensor device S relative to the detection wave passage region 2a.

[0048] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 9, the sensor peripheral region 22 has a plurality of first panel connection points P1 and a plurality of sensor fixing points P3. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of region B in Figure 5. Each first panel connection point P1 is a connection point of the sensor peripheral region 22 with both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. That is, at the first panel connection point P1, the sensor peripheral region 22 overlaps with and is connected (fixed) to both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. Each sensor fixing point P3 is a fixing point of the sensor peripheral region 22 to which the sensor device S is fixed. That is, at the sensor fixing point P3, the sensor device S is fixed to the sensor peripheral region 22.

[0049] At each first panel connection point P1, the sensor peripheral region 22 is connected to the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 using connecting members such as bolts or clips. For example, a boss with a screw hole is provided on the rear surface of the second exterior panel 2 at a position corresponding to each first panel connection point P1, and a boss hole is formed on the first exterior panel 1 at a position corresponding to each first panel connection point P1, into which the boss is inserted from the front. Through holes are formed at each first panel connection point P1 of the sensor peripheral region 22 into which a bolt is inserted. The bolt inserted into the through hole from the rear is screwed into the screw hole of the boss, thereby connecting (fixing) the sensor peripheral region 22 to both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. Similar to the first panel connection points P1, at each sensor fixing point P3, the sensor device S is fixed to the sensor peripheral region 22 using connecting members such as bolts or clips.

[0050] As shown in Figure 9, the multiple first panel connection points P1 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sensor peripheral region 22 on or around the frame portion 24, and each of the multiple sensor fixing points P3 is located between the first panel connection points P1 in the circumferential direction. In the illustrated example, three first panel connection points P1 (P1a, P1b, P1c) are provided around the frame portion 24, and three sensor fixing points P3 (P3a, P3b, P3c) are provided in the circumferential direction between the first panel connection points P1a, P1b, between the first panel connection points P1b, P1c, and between the first panel connection points P1c, P1a, respectively. The three sensor fixing points P3a, P3b, P3c are also provided on the front end walls of the left, right, and upper bulges 24a. The peripheral portion of each first panel connection point P1 (P1a, P1b, P1c) has high rigidity. Therefore, by setting each sensor fixing point P3 between the first panel connection points P1, the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the sensor support member 20 can be increased, and the displacement of the sensor device S can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0051] When viewed from the inside of the vehicle (see Figure 9), the bulge 24a gradually narrows from the inside (rear) towards the front end surface (24a1) on the outside (front) of the vehicle. This makes it easier to fix the sensor device S to the sensor fixing point P3 from the inside of the vehicle using connecting members such as bolts or clips. More specifically, the outside of the bulge 24a is wider, making it easier to work on, and the inside of the bulge 24a is narrower, making it less likely for the insertion direction of the connecting member to be misaligned.

[0052] It is preferable that the multiple first panel connection points P1 are arranged on both sides of the sensor housing space V in at least one of the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction. This configuration makes it possible to more reliably suppress the displacement of the sensor device S. In the illustrated example, two first panel connection points P1a and P1c are arranged on the upper side of the sensor housing space V, and one first panel connection point P1b is arranged on the lower side of the sensor housing space V. The two upper first panel connection points P1a and P1c are arranged on both sides of the sensor housing space V in the vehicle width direction, and the lower first panel connection point P1b is arranged in the middle of the sensor housing space V in the vehicle width direction.

[0053] The sensor peripheral region 22 may have a panel positioning section Q1 near at least some of the multiple first panel connection points P1 for positioning the sensor peripheral region 22 relative to the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2. In the illustrated example, the panel positioning section Q1 is provided near the lower first panel connection point P1b. The panel positioning section Q1 has a positioning hole that penetrates in the front-rear direction. A positioning projection is provided on the second exterior panel 2 at a position corresponding to the positioning section Q1, which protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle and is inserted into the positioning hole, and an insertion hole is formed on the first exterior panel 1 at a position corresponding to the positioning section Q1, into which the positioning projection is inserted from the front.

[0054] Similarly, the sensor peripheral region 22 may have sensor positioning sections Q2 near at least some of the multiple sensor fixing points P3 for positioning the sensor device S relative to the sensor peripheral region 22. In the illustrated example, sensor positioning sections Q2 are provided near the left and right sensor fixing points P3a and P3b. The sensor positioning section Q2 has, for example, a positioning projection that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle. A positioning hole is formed in the sensor device S at a position corresponding to the sensor positioning section Q2 into which the positioning projection is inserted.

[0055] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the sensor surrounding area 22 as seen from the rear. As shown in Figure 10, the sensor surrounding area 22 is provided with a rib 25 that reinforces the area around the first panel connection point P1b, and two protrusions 26, 26. The rib 25 is located on the rear side of the sensor surrounding area 22, on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the first panel connection point P1b. In the illustrated example, two ribs 25 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the first panel connection point P1b. The rib 25 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the vertical and longitudinal directions. The rib 25 protrudes from the rear surface of the lower part of the sensor surrounding area 22 toward the rear of the vehicle, and the lower end of the rib 25 is fixed to the bottom wall 22b that protrudes from the lower end of the sensor surrounding area 22 toward the rear of the vehicle. Such ribs 25 increase the rigidity of the area around the first panel connection point P1b.

[0056] The protrusions 26, 26 are parts that support electrical wiring such as harnesses connected to the sensor device S. The two protrusions 26, 26 are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and protrude downward from the lower end of the sensor peripheral area 22. The two protrusions 26, 26 are provided so as to straddle the first panel connection point P1b and the rib 25 in the vehicle width direction. This further increases the rigidity of the area around the first panel connection point P1b.

[0057] As shown in Figure 5, the sensor support member 20 further has a plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4 and a plurality of second panel connecting points P2. The sensor support member 20 is fixed to the vehicle body structural member 30 at the plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4. At each vehicle body fixing point P4, the sensor support member 20 is fixed to the vehicle body structural member 30 using connecting members such as bolts or clips. In the illustrated example, the base portion 21 has a plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4. The plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4 include a plurality (in this case, six) of first vehicle body fixing points P41 to the first cross member 31 and a plurality (in this case, two) of second vehicle body fixing points P42 to the second cross member 32. The plurality of first vehicle body fixing points P41 are provided at the upper end of the base portion 21 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle and are arranged with spacing between them in the vehicle width direction. Multiple second vehicle body fixing points P42 are arranged on both sides of the sensor surrounding area 22 in the vehicle width direction and are positioned at the vertical intermediate position of the base portion 21. Each second vehicle body fixing point P42 is located at the bottom of a recess that bulges toward the rear of the vehicle and is fixed to the second cross member 32 from the front of the vehicle. The recess is provided with ribs to increase the rigidity of the recess. In the illustrated example, the recess is generally truncated square pyramidal, and five ribs arranged radially around the second vehicle body fixing point P42 are provided on the rear surface of the recess (see Figure 9).

[0058] The sensor support member 20 is connected to either the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2 at a plurality of second panel connection points P2. That is, the plurality of second panel connection points P2 consist of second panel connection points P2a to which the sensor support member 20 is connected only to the first exterior panel 1, and second panel connection points P2b to which the sensor support member 20 is connected only to the second exterior panel 2. At each second panel connection point P2, the sensor support member 20 is connected to the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2 by using connecting members such as bolts or clips, or by engagement between the engagement hole of the sensor support member 20 and the engagement claw of the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2.

[0059] At least one of the multiple second panel connection points P2 is a vehicle body peripheral connection point P24 located around one of the multiple vehicle body fixing points P4. In the illustrated example, two second panel connection points P2 (P2a, P2b), which are vehicle body peripheral connection points P24, are located around each of the two second vehicle body fixing points P42. The second panel connection points P2 of the base portion 21 may also be vehicle body peripheral connection points P24. The peripheral portion of the sensor support member 20 around each vehicle body fixing point P4 has high rigidity. Therefore, by setting the second panel connection points P2 around the vehicle body fixing points P4, the displacement between the sensor support member 20 and the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2 is more reliably suppressed. This further increases the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the first and second exterior panels 1 and 2, and further reliably suppresses the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position and the displacement of the sensor device S relative to the detection wave passage region 2a.

[0060] As shown in Figure 9, the sensor support member 20 preferably has an alignment section 27 in which at least one first panel connection point P1, at least one sensor fixing point P3, and at least one vehicle body perimeter connection point P24 are aligned in one direction. In the figure, the alignment section 27 is shown by a dashed line. In other words, in a plan view from one direction in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, at least one first panel connection point P1, at least one sensor fixing point P3, and at least one vehicle body perimeter connection point P24 are arranged to be roughly aligned in a line along a virtual straight line L extending in one direction. The vehicle body perimeter connection points P24 that constitute the alignment section 27 are located around the sensor perimeter region 22. With this configuration, the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the first and second exterior panels 1 and 2 is further increased, and the displacement of the sensor device S can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0061] In the illustrated example, an alignment section 27 is formed in which two first panel connection points P1a, P1c, one sensor fixing point P3c, and two vehicle body perimeter connection points P24 (second panel connection point P2a) are aligned in the vehicle width direction. The two vehicle body perimeter connection points P24 are two second panel connection points P2a located below two second vehicle body fixing points P42, and are set on both sides of the sensor perimeter area 22 in the vehicle width direction. The virtual straight line L is a straight line passing through the two vehicle body perimeter connection points P24. The first panel connection points P1a, P1c and the sensor fixing point P3c are arranged between the two vehicle body perimeter connection points P24.

[0062] As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the vehicle structure 100 may further include a reinforcing member 4 that reinforces the sensor support member 20. Preferably, the reinforcing member 4 is a member having higher rigidity than the sensor support member 20. In Figures 5 and 9, the reinforcing member 4 is shown by a dashed line. The reinforcing member 4 is connected to the sensor support member 20 from the inside (rear side) of the vehicle. This configuration increases the rigidity of the sensor support member 20, thereby further increasing the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the sensor support member 20. The reinforcing member 4 is, for example, an air guide member such as a shroud that forms an intake path. Air that has passed through multiple vents in the third exterior panel 3, which is a grille, is guided to a radiator (not shown) via the reinforcing member 4, which is an air guide member.

[0063] It is preferable that the reinforcing member 4 is arranged along the alignment section 27 and connected to the alignment section 27. With this configuration, the rigidity of the sensor peripheral area 22 is further increased by the reinforcing member 4, and the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the sensor support member 20 is further increased. As a result, the displacement of the sensor device S can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0064] In this embodiment, as described above, the sensor support member 20 comprises a base portion 21 and a sensor peripheral region 22. The sensor peripheral region 22 is positioned offset from the base portion 21 in the vehicle forward (outside the vehicle) and in the vehicle vertical direction. As shown in Figure 3, etc., in this embodiment, the sensor peripheral region 22 protrudes from the lower end of the base portion 21, and is therefore positioned offset downward from the base portion 21. Furthermore, the sensor peripheral region 22 bulges forward (outside the vehicle) from the base portion 21 such that the vertical wall 22a is offset forward from the base portion 21, and is therefore positioned offset forward from the base portion 21.

[0065] With this configuration, the sensor peripheral region 22 is positioned further outward from the vehicle, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the sensor device S. Furthermore, because the sensor peripheral region 22 is positioned below the base portion 21, when an external force such as vibration or a minor collision acts on the sensor peripheral region 22, the sensor support member 20 deforms so that the sensor peripheral region 22 is displaced inward (towards the rear of the vehicle), thereby absorbing the impact.

[0066] In the illustrated example, the base portion 21 is fixed to both the first cross member 31 and the second cross member 32, but is not limited to this, and the base portion 21 may be fixed to only one of the first cross member 31 and the second cross member 32. For example, the base portion 21 may not have a second vehicle body fixing point P42, and may be fixed to the first cross member 31 or the second cross member 32 at the first vehicle body fixing point P41. Also, in a modified example of this embodiment, the sensor peripheral region 22 may be positioned offset upward relative to the base portion 21. That is, the sensor peripheral region 22 may protrude upward from the upper end of the base portion 21. In this case, the base portion 21 may be fixed to the third cross member 33.

[0067] Next, the details of the first exterior panel 1, the second exterior panel 2, and the third exterior panel 3 will be described. Figure 11 is a plan view of the first exterior panel 1, the second exterior panel 2, and the third exterior panel 3 as seen from the rear of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 11, the second exterior panel 2 has an opening 2b that penetrates the second exterior panel 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction on at least one side in the vehicle width direction of the detection wave passage region 2a. In the illustrated example, the opening 2b is provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the detection wave passage region 2a. The first exterior panel 1 also has an opening 1c in the region corresponding to the opening 2b. Inside the opening 2b of the second exterior panel 2, one or more ribs 2c are provided that divide the opening 2b into multiple parts. In the illustrated example, within each opening 2b, three ribs 2c extending in the vehicle width direction are arranged vertically with spacing between them. The shape of the ribs 2c may be other shapes, such as a cross shape. Above the detection wave transmission area 2a of the second exterior panel 2, a camera insertion hole 2e is provided, into which a camera for imaging obstacles and other objects in front of the vehicle is inserted from the rear of the vehicle.

[0068] With this configuration, air intake from the opening 2b is possible, while the reduction in rigidity of the second exterior panel 2 caused by forming the opening 2b can be suppressed by the ribs 2c. To improve rigidity, it is preferable to provide multiple ribs 2c. Furthermore, the space on the vehicle side of the first exterior panel 1 where the sensor device S is located communicates with the vehicle outside through the openings 1c and 2b. This improves the heat dissipation performance around the sensor device S.

[0069] The opening edge of the opening 2b of the second exterior panel 2 is provided with an edge portion 2d that protrudes inward (rearward) from the vehicle. The edge portion 2d is positioned adjacent to the opening edge of the opening 1c of the first exterior panel 1, and the displacement of the edge portion 2d is restricted by the opening edge of the opening 1c. This suppresses the displacement of the detection wave passage region 2a relative to the sensor device S, thereby further ensuring the detection accuracy of the sensor device S.

[0070] As shown in Figure 11, the first exterior panel 1 has a plurality of first grille connection points P5 which are connected (fixed) to the third exterior panel 3. The second exterior panel 2 has a plurality of second grille connection points P6 which are connected (fixed) to the third exterior panel 3. In the illustrated example, the plurality of first grille connection points P5 and the plurality of second grille connection points P6 are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction so as to be arranged along the upper end of the third exterior panel 3. At each grille connection point P5, P6, the third exterior panel 3 is connected to the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2 by engagement between the engagement hole of the third exterior panel 3 and the engagement claw of the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2.

[0071] The first grille connection point P5 is located on the peripheral part of the lower first panel connection point P1b of the first exterior panel 1, or on the edge of the mounting portion 13 where an insertion hole for the bolt of the first panel connection point P1b is formed. This further increases the support rigidity of the sensor device S. Similarly, some of the second grille connection points P6 are located on the peripheral part of the lower first panel connection point P1b of the second exterior panel 2, or on the edge where a seating surface is formed that the bolt of the first panel connection point P1b contacts. This further increases the support rigidity of the sensor device S.

[0072] As shown in Figure 1, the third exterior panel 3 has a license plate connecting portion 3a to which a license plate (not shown) is attached from the outside of the vehicle. The license plate connecting portion 3a is located below the detection wave transmission region 2a and adjacent to the second exterior panel 2. The license plate connecting portion 3a has higher rigidity compared to other parts of the third exterior panel 3. Some of the first grille connecting points P5 and some of the second grille connecting points P6 are located around the license plate connecting portion 3a. This further increases the support rigidity of the sensor device S.

[0073] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and further modifications and changes are possible based on the technical idea of ​​the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the vehicle structure 100 is applied to the front of the vehicle, but it is not limited to this and may be applied to the rear of the vehicle. When the vehicle structure is applied to the rear of the vehicle, the sensor support member is placed on the inside (front side of the vehicle) of the vehicle, such as the rear bumper or rear grille, which is the first exterior panel located at the rear of the vehicle. In this case, the "inside-outside direction of the vehicle" according to the present invention is the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the "outside of the vehicle" according to the present invention is the rear of the vehicle, and the "inside of the vehicle" according to the present invention is the front of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the first exterior panel 1 is a side panel and the second exterior panel 2 is an upper panel, but the exterior panels that constitute the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 are not limited to these and may be other exterior panels such as emblems, grilles or decorative members.

[0074] In this embodiment, the vehicle structure 100 has a second exterior panel 2, but is not limited to this, and may not have a second exterior panel 2. In this case, the first exterior panel 1 may be a panel that serves as both an upper panel and a side panel, and may have a detection wave passing region in the portion facing the sensor device S in the inward and outward direction of the vehicle, which covers the sensor device S from the outside of the vehicle.

[0075] In this embodiment, the protruding portion is configured as a frame-shaped frame portion 24 that surrounds (houses) the sensor device S, but the form of the protruding portion is not limited to this and may be in other forms. For example, the protruding portion may be configured to support the sensor device S on the outside of the frame portion 24, such that the sensor device S is mounted on the front of the frame portion 24 from the front of the vehicle, so that the sensor device S is located on the front side of the protruding portion. In this case, the protruding portion may be in a shape other than a frame, and instead of a sensor housing space V, the protruding portion may be provided with holes for passing electrical wiring such as harnesses or holes for attaching the sensor device S to the protruding portion.

[0076] When the sensor device S is fixed to the front side of the protrusion, the rigidity of the protrusion may be increased by eliminating the opening on the front of the protrusion, or by providing a partition that divides the sensor housing space V into multiple spaces while leaving the opening. The opening on the front of the protrusion may be reduced to a size that allows the harness of the sensor device S to be pulled out. Reducing the opening increases the rigidity of the front side of the protrusion. The front wall of the protrusion may be formed from a material that allows detection waves to pass through. In this case, even when the main body of the sensor device S is housed in the sensor housing space V inside the protrusion, the rigidity of the protrusion can be increased by closing the sensor housing space V from the front of the vehicle with the front wall and eliminating the opening on the front.

[0077] (Reference example) Next, a reference example of the vehicle structure 100 described above will be explained. The reference example vehicle structure differs from the vehicle structure 100 described above, which includes the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2, in that the frame portion (protruding portion) 24 of the sensor support member 20 and the adjacent portion 15 of the first exterior panel 1 can be omitted.

[0078] In other words, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the vehicle structure 100 of the reference example comprises a first exterior panel 1 that forms the exterior design surface of the vehicle at the front or rear of the vehicle and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle, a second exterior panel 2 that covers a part of the first exterior panel 1 from the outside of the vehicle and forms the exterior design surface of the vehicle, and a sensor support member 20 that is positioned on the inside of the vehicle of the first exterior panel 1, fixed to the vehicle body structural member 30, and supports a sensor device S that detects the external environment. In the vehicle structure 100 of the reference example, at least a part of the sensor support member 20 overlaps and is connected to both the part of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2.

[0079] As mentioned above, the rigidity of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 individually is often lower than the rigidity of the vehicle body structural member 30. Therefore, even if the sensor support member 20 is fixed to each of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2, the support rigidity of the sensor device S by each of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 may not be sufficient. According to the vehicle structure of the reference example, the sensor support member 20 is connected to both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2 in an overlapping manner, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the sensor device S by the first and second exterior panels 1 and 2, and suppressing the displacement of the sensor device S from the intended position.

[0080] The configurations of the first exterior panel 1, the second exterior panel 2, and the sensor support member 20 of the vehicle structure 100 described above can also be applied to the first exterior panel 1, the second exterior panel 2, and the sensor support member 20 of the vehicle structure according to the reference example. That is, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, etc., in the reference example, the second exterior panel 2 may have a detection wave passing region 2a through which detection waves detected (received) by the sensor device S can pass. In the reference example, as shown in Figure 4, at least one of the side end 1a and the lower end 1b of the first exterior panel 1 may be supported by the vehicle body structure member 30. In the reference example, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, the sensor support member 20 has an annular sensor peripheral region 22 which is the peripheral part of the sensor housing space V and is a sensor peripheral region 22 to which the sensor device S is attached, and the sensor peripheral region 22 may overlap and be connected to both the part of the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2.

[0081] In the reference example, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, the sensor peripheral region 22 has a plurality of first panel connection points P1 connected to both the first exterior panel 1 and the second exterior panel 2, and a plurality of sensor fixing points P3 to which the sensor device S is fixed, the plurality of first panel connection points P1 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sensor peripheral region 22, and each of the plurality of sensor fixing points P3 may be located between the first panel connection points P1 in the circumferential direction.

[0082] In the reference example, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, the sensor support member 20 has a plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4 fixed to the vehicle body structural member 30 and a plurality of second panel connecting points P2 connected to either the first exterior panel 1 or the second exterior panel 2, and at least one of the plurality of second panel connecting points P2 may be a vehicle body peripheral connecting point P24 located around one of the plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4. In the reference example, as shown in Figures 5 and 9, at least one vehicle body peripheral connecting point P24 is located around the sensor peripheral region 22, and the sensor support member 20 may have an alignment section 27 in which at least one first panel connecting point P1, at least one sensor fixing point P3, and at least one vehicle body peripheral connecting point P24 are aligned in one direction.

[0083] In the reference example, as shown in Figures 5 and 9, a reinforcing member 4 is connected to the sensor support member 20, and the reinforcing member 4 may be arranged along the alignment portion 27. In the reference example, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the sensor support member 20 has a frame portion (projection portion) 24 that protrudes toward the first exterior panel 1 in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle and surrounds the sensor housing space V in which the sensor device S is arranged, and the first exterior panel 1 may have an adjacent portion 15 that is arranged adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24. In the reference example, the adjacent portion 15 may be formed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 24.

[0084] In the reference example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the frame portion 24 has a bulging portion 24a that bulges in the wall thickness direction of the frame portion 24 toward the opposite side from the sensor housing space V, and the adjacent portion 15 may have a contact wall 15a that abuts against the end face of the bulging portion 24a in the vehicle inward and outward direction. In the reference example, as shown in Figure 3, the sensor support member 20 comprises a base portion 21 fixed to the vehicle body structural member 30, and a sensor peripheral region 22 to which the sensor device S is attached, which is an annular sensor peripheral region 22 that includes the frame portion 24 and is the peripheral part of the sensor housing space V, and the sensor peripheral region 22 may be positioned offset from the base portion 21 toward the vehicle in the outward and vertical directions.

[0085] Figures 12 to 14 show a modified vehicle structure 200, which is a modified example of the vehicle structure described in the reference example. The vehicle structure 200 differs from the vehicle structure 100 described above mainly in that the first exterior panel 201 is a grille panel having multiple ventilation holes, and the second exterior panel 202 is a decorative panel attached to a part of the first exterior panel 201 from the outside of the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle structure described in the reference example can be applied not only to the exterior panel 10 described above, but also to exterior panels with other configurations. In the following description, the configurations of the vehicle structure 200 that differ from those of the vehicle structure 100 will be described, and the same reference numerals as those used in the vehicle structure 100 will be used, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0086] As shown in Figure 12, the first exterior panel 201 extends in the vertical and horizontal directions of the vehicle and constitutes the central part of the design surface in the horizontal direction of the front of the vehicle. The first exterior panel 201 does not have adjacent parts 15. Third exterior panels 203, which are side panels, are arranged on both sides and below the first exterior panel 201 in the horizontal direction of the vehicle. The side ends and lower ends of the first exterior panel 201 are supported by the vehicle body structural members 30. The second exterior panel 202 has a detection wave passing region 2a in the approximately central part in the horizontal and vertical directions of the vehicle and covers the upper part of the central part in the horizontal direction of the first exterior panel 201 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0087] Figure 13 shows the sensor support member 220 of the vehicle structure 200. The entire sensor support member 220 is positioned adjacent to the first exterior panel 201 on the vehicle-side (rear side) of the first exterior panel 201. A sensor opening 20a is formed in the sensor peripheral region 22, penetrating the sensor support member 220 in the vehicle-rear direction. The sensor device S, attached (fixed) to the sensor peripheral region 22, faces the detection wave passage region 2a in the vehicle-rear direction via the sensor opening 20a. The portion of the first exterior panel 201 corresponding to the detection wave passage region 2a is provided with a detection wave passage region (not shown) that allows detection waves to pass between the detection wave passage region 2a and the sensor device S. The detection wave passage region is, for example, a through-hole penetrating the first exterior panel 201. The sensor device S is fixed to the sensor peripheral region 22 at a plurality of sensor fixing points P3 provided around the sensor opening 20a. A portion of the sensor support member 220, including the sensor peripheral region 22, overlaps and connects with both a portion of the first exterior panel 201 and the second exterior panel 202.

[0088] Figure 14 is a plan view of the vehicle structure 200 as seen from the rear of the vehicle. The sensor peripheral region 22 is provided with two first panel connection points P1 arranged in the circumferential direction and three sensor fixing points P3 arranged in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, two first panel connection points P1 are provided above the sensor peripheral region 22. The sensor support member 220 is provided with a plurality of vehicle body fixing points P4 and a plurality of second panel connection points P2. In this modified example, all second panel connection points P2 are second panel connection points P2a to which the sensor support member 220 is connected only to the first exterior panel 201. Second panel connection points P2 as vehicle body peripheral connection points P24 are arranged on both sides of the sensor peripheral region 22 in the vehicle width direction.

[0089] In other words, the following technical matters are described in this specification as reference examples. [Note 1] A vehicle structure comprising: a first exterior panel that forms the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front or rear of the vehicle and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle; a second exterior panel that covers a part of the first exterior panel from the outside of the vehicle and forms the design surface on the outside of the vehicle; and a sensor support member that is positioned on the inside of the first exterior panel of the vehicle, fixed to a vehicle body structural member, and supports a sensor device for detecting the external environment, A vehicle structure in which at least a portion of the sensor support member overlaps and connects with both the portion of the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel. [Note 2] The vehicle structure as described in Appendix 1, wherein the second exterior panel has a detection wave passing region through which detection waves detected by the sensor device can pass. [Note 3] The vehicle structure according to Appendix 2, wherein at least one of the side end and the lower end of the first exterior panel is supported by the vehicle body structural member. [Note 4] The sensor support member has an annular sensor peripheral region which is the peripheral part of the sensor housing space, and the sensor peripheral region to which the sensor device is attached. The vehicle structure according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the area surrounding the sensor overlaps and connects with both the part of the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel. [Note 5] The sensor peripheral region includes a plurality of first panel connection points connected to both the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel, and a plurality of sensor fixing points to which the sensor device is fixed. The vehicle structure according to Appendix 4, wherein the plurality of first panel connection points are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sensor peripheral region, and each of the plurality of sensor fixing points is located between the first panel connection points in the circumferential direction. [Note 6] The sensor support member has a plurality of vehicle body fixing points fixed to the vehicle body structural member, and a plurality of second panel connecting points connected to either the first exterior panel or the second exterior panel, The vehicle structure according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of second panel connection points is a vehicle body peripheral connection point located around any of the plurality of vehicle body fixing points. [Note 7] At least one of the vehicle body peripheral connection points is located around the sensor peripheral region, The vehicle structure according to Appendix 6, wherein the sensor support member has an alignment portion in which at least one of the first panel connection points, at least one of the sensor fixing points, and at least one of the vehicle body peripheral connection points are aligned in one direction. [Note 8] The vehicle structure according to Appendix 6, wherein a reinforcing member is connected to the sensor support member, and the reinforcing member is arranged along the alignment portion. [Note 9] The sensor support member has a projection that protrudes toward the first exterior panel in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle and supports the sensor device. The vehicle structure according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the first exterior panel has an adjacent portion that is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the protruding portion. [Note 10] The vehicle structure as described in Appendix 9, wherein the adjacent portion is formed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the protruding portion. [Note 11] The aforementioned protrusion has a bulge that extends outward in the wall thickness direction of the protrusion, The vehicle structure according to Appendix 10, wherein the adjacent portion has a contact wall that abuts against the end face of the bulging portion in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle. [Note 12] The sensor support member comprises a base portion fixed to the vehicle body structural member and a sensor peripheral region to which the sensor device is attached. The vehicle structure according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the sensor peripheral region is positioned offset from the base portion in the outward and vertical directions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0090] 10 Exterior Panels 1. First exterior panel 1a Side edge 1b Bottom end 1c opening 11 Side 12 Lower section 13 Mounting part 14. Bumper opening 15 Adjacent section 15a Abutment wall 151 recess 151a side wall 151b Edge 152 Connection part 2. Second exterior panel 2a Detection wave passing area 2b opening 2c rib 2d edge 2e Camera slot 3. Third exterior panel 3a Number plate connection section 20 Sensor support member 21 Base section 22 Sensor peripheral area 22a vertical wall 22b Bottom wall 24 Frame (protrusion) 24a Bulge 24a1 End face 24a2 side wall 24a3 Edge 24b Projection 25 Ribs 26 Protrusion 27 Alignment section 30. Body structural components 31. First Crossmember 32. Second Crossmember 33 Third Crossmember 34. Fourth Crossmember 35L, 35R Column Member 36L, 36R Side Member 37 Connecting Bracket 38a Side Inner Panel 38b Panel support bracket 38c Intermediate member 4. Reinforcement members 100 Vehicle Structure 200 Vehicle Structure 201 First Exterior Panel 202 Second exterior panel 203 Third exterior panel L virtual line P1, P1a, P1b, P1c: First panel connection points P2, P2a, P2b Second panel connection point P3, P3a, P3b, P3c: Sensor fixed points P4 Body fixing point P41 First vehicle body fixing point P42 Second vehicle body fixing point P24 Body surrounding connection point P5 First Grill Connection Point P6 Second Grill Connection Point Q1 Panel positioning section Q2 Sensor positioning unit S Sensor Device V ENS accommodation space

Claims

1. Exterior panels that constitute the design surface of the vehicle's exterior, The exterior panel is positioned on the inside of the vehicle and includes a sensor support member that supports a sensor device for detecting the external environment, In a vehicle structure in which the sensor support member is fixed to a vehicle body structural member, The sensor support member has a projection that protrudes toward the exterior panel side in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle and supports the sensor device. The vehicle structure is characterized in that the exterior panel has an adjacent portion that is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the protruding portion.

2. The exterior panel includes a first exterior panel having the adjacent portion, and a second exterior panel that covers a portion of the first exterior panel from the outside of the vehicle and constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle. The aforementioned protrusion is positioned on the vehicle side of the first exterior panel, The vehicle structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the second exterior panel has a detection wave passing region through which detection waves detected by the sensor device can pass.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the side end and the lower end of the exterior panel is supported by the vehicle body structural member.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjacent portion is formed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the protruding portion.

5. The aforementioned protrusion has a bulge that extends outward in the wall thickness direction of the protrusion, The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjacent portion has a contact wall that abuts against the end face of the bulging portion in the inward and outward direction of the vehicle.

6. The exterior panel includes a first exterior panel having the adjacent portion, and a second exterior panel that covers a portion of the first exterior panel from the outside of the vehicle and constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the sensor support member overlaps and connects with both the portion of the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel.

7. The sensor support member has an annular sensor peripheral region including the protruding portion, which is the sensor peripheral region to which the sensor device is attached. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor peripheral region overlaps with and is connected to both the part of the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel.

8. The sensor peripheral region includes a plurality of first panel connection points connected to both the first exterior panel and the second exterior panel, and a plurality of sensor fixing points to which the sensor device is fixed. The plurality of first panel connection points are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sensor peripheral region on or around the protrusion, The vehicle structure according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the plurality of sensor fixing points is located between the first panel connecting points in the circumferential direction.

9. The sensor support member has a plurality of vehicle body fixing points fixed to the vehicle body structural member, and a plurality of second panel connecting points connected to either the first exterior panel or the second exterior panel, The vehicle structure according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of second panel connection points is a vehicle body peripheral connection point located around any of the plurality of vehicle body fixing points.

10. At least one of the vehicle body peripheral connection points is located around the sensor peripheral region, The vehicle structure according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor support member has an alignment portion in which at least one first panel connection point, at least one sensor fixing point, and at least one vehicle body peripheral connection point are aligned in one direction.

11. A reinforcing member is connected to the aforementioned sensor support member, The vehicle structure according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforcing member is arranged along the alignment portion.

12. The sensor support member is A base portion fixed to the aforementioned vehicle body structural member, A sensor peripheral region to which the sensor device is attached comprises an annular sensor peripheral region including the protruding portion, The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor peripheral region is positioned offset from the base portion to the vehicle in the outward and vertical directions.

Images