Sensor protection structure

Abstract

To obtain a sensor protection structure that can suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the front surface of the sensor. [Solution] The sensor protection structure is provided at the front of the vehicle and includes a design member 10 that constitutes the outer surface of the vehicle. The sensor protection structure also includes a sensor front surface 44 facing the front of the vehicle, and a sensor having a groove 52 formed in the part of the vehicle rearward from the sensor front surface 44 for draining water droplets. The sensor protection structure also includes a sensor cover 14 that covers the sensor 12 from the front of the vehicle when it is attached to the design member 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor protection structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle sensor unit that suppresses the adhesion of foreign matter to the lens surface of an optical sensor. The vehicle sensor unit described in this document includes an infrared radar device that transmits infrared rays toward the outside of the vehicle (the front side of the vehicle) and receives the infrared rays reflected by hitting an object outside the vehicle, and a cover that is located in front of the infrared radar device in the infrared ray transmission direction, covers the infrared radar device, and allows the transmission of infrared rays. A sealing material having such a cover that covers the sensor such as an infrared radar device from the front side of the vehicle makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of foreign matter to the front surface of the sensor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, from the viewpoint of ensuring the detection accuracy of the sensor, it is important to suppress the adhesion of foreign matter (for example, water droplets) to the front surface of the sensor.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a sensor protection structure that can suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the front surface of the sensor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The sensor protection structure of the first embodiment comprises a design member provided at the front of the vehicle and constituting the outer surface of the vehicle; a sensor having a sensor front facing the front of the vehicle and having a groove formed in a portion of the vehicle rearward from the sensor front for draining water droplets; and a sensor cover that covers the sensor from the front of the vehicle when attached to the design member.

[0007] In the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment, when the sensor cover is attached to the design member, the sensor is covered by the sensor cover from the front side of the vehicle. This prevents water droplets from reaching the front surface of the sensor. Furthermore, if water droplets that have entered between the sensor cover and the design member adhere to the part of the sensor that is on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the front surface of the sensor, these droplets are discharged through grooves formed in the sensor. In this way, the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment can suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the front surface of the sensor.

[0008] The sensor protection structure of the second embodiment is the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment, wherein the sensor cover includes an upper covering portion that covers at least a part of the sensor from the upper side of the vehicle.

[0009] In the sensor protection structure of the second embodiment, at least a portion of the sensor is covered from the upper side of the vehicle by the upper covering portion of the sensor cover. Compared to a configuration using a sensor cover without an upper covering portion, this configuration can suppress water droplets that penetrate between the sensor cover and the design member from adhering to the upper side of the vehicle of the sensor.

[0010] The third embodiment of the sensor protection structure is the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment, wherein a labyrinth structure portion is provided between the design member and the sensor cover.

[0011] In the third embodiment of the sensor protection structure, a labyrinth structure is provided between the design member and the sensor cover, thereby preventing water droplets from entering the sensor from between the sensor cover and the design member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The sensor protection structure according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to suppress the adhesion of foreign matter to the front surface of the sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the decorative element located at the front of the vehicle, as seen from the front side of the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing a sensor located inside a design component, and the design component and sensor cover are shown in cross-sections cut along line 2-2 as shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the second embodiment is applied. [Figure 4] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the third embodiment is applied. [Figure 5] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the fourth embodiment is applied. [Figure 6] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the fifth embodiment is applied. [Figure 7] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the sixth embodiment is applied. [Figure 8] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the seventh embodiment is applied. [Figure 9] This figure corresponds to Figure 2, which shows a sensor, etc., to which the sensor protection structure according to the eighth embodiment is applied. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] (First Embodiment) Using FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure of the front part of a vehicle to which the sensor protection structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described. The arrow FR appropriately shown in each figure indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction (left - right direction), and the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction (left - right direction). Also, in the following description, when the front - rear, up - down, and left - right directions are indicated without special mention, they indicate the front - rear in the vehicle front - rear direction, the up - down in the vehicle up - down direction, and the left - right in the vehicle left - right direction, respectively.

[0015] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a design member 10 provided at the front part of the vehicle is shown. This design member 10 is a grill or a bumper that constitutes the outer surface of the front part of the vehicle. Inside this design member 10, a sensor 12 is provided, and this sensor 12 is covered from the front side by a sensor cover 14 attached to the design member 10.

[0016] Circular openings 16 are respectively formed on both the left and right sides of the design member 10. When looking at the design member 10 from the front side, sensors 12 are respectively provided at positions corresponding to these circular openings 16. As shown in FIG. 2, in a cross - sectional view of the part of the design member 10 corresponding to the opening 16 cut along the vertical direction and the front - rear direction, the upper part of the opening 16 of the design member 10 is an upper U - shaped cross - sectional part 18 formed in a U - shaped cross - section with the rear side open. This upper U - shaped cross - sectional part 18 includes an upper wall 20 and a lower wall 22 arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and a front wall 24 connecting the front end of the upper wall 20 and the front end of the lower wall 22 in the vertical direction. Also, in a cross - sectional view of the part of the design member 10 corresponding to the opening 16 cut along the vertical direction and the front - rear direction, the lower part of the opening 16 of the design member 10 is a lower U - shaped cross - sectional part 26 formed in a U - shaped cross - section with the front side open. This lower U - shaped cross - sectional part 26 includes an upper wall 28 and a lower wall 30 arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and a rear wall 32 connecting the rear end of the upper wall 28 and the rear end of the lower wall 30 in the vertical direction.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the sensor cover 14 is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the opening 16 formed in the design member 10 when viewed from the front, and includes a front covering portion 34 that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions with the front-to-back direction as the thickness direction. The sensor cover 14 also includes an upper covering portion 36 that extends from the upper part of the front covering portion 34 toward the rear, and a lower covering portion 38 that extends from the lower part of the front covering portion 34 toward the rear. When the sensor cover 14 is attached to the design member 10, the front covering portion 34 is positioned to close the opening 16 from the front. When the sensor cover 14 is attached to the design member 10, the upper covering portion 36 extends in the front-to-back direction with vertical clearance from the lower wall 22 of the upper U-shaped cross section 18 of the design member 10. Furthermore, when the sensor cover 14 is attached to the design member 10, the lower covering portion 38 is inserted into the lower U-shaped cross section 26 of the design member 10 from the front. The lower covering portion 38 extends in the front-to-back direction, having vertical clearance with the upper wall 28 and lower wall 30 of the lower U-shaped cross section 26, and front-to-back clearance with the rear wall 32 of the lower U-shaped cross section 26. As a result, the lower covering portion 38 and the lower U-shaped cross section 26 form a labyrinth structure portion 40. Between the lower covering portion 38 and the lower U-shaped cross section 26 that constitute the labyrinth structure portion 40, a U-shaped gap 42 is formed, with the front side open.

[0018] The sensor 12 is, for example, a millimeter-wave radar, a lidar, a camera, etc., and is formed in a rectangular block shape in this embodiment. The front surface of this sensor 12 is a sensor front surface 44 directed forward. In addition, on the upper portion 46, the left and right side portions 48, and the lower portion 50 of the sensor 12, groove 52 in the shape of an angular groove for discharging water droplets adhering to a portion on the rear side of the sensor front surface 44 in the sensor 12 is formed. The groove 52 in the upper portion 46 of the sensor 12 is open on the upper side and extends in the left-right direction. Also, the groove 52 in the left and right side portions of the sensor 12 is open on the left or right side and extends in the up-down direction. Further, the groove 52 in the lower portion 50 of the sensor 12 is open on the lower side and extends in the left-right direction. Also, the grooves 52 formed in each part of the sensor 12 are connected to each other. The sensor 12 is fixed to a sensor fixing portion (not shown) provided on the vehicle body side. Also, most of the sensor 12 is disposed between the lower wall 22 of the upper U-shaped cross-sectional portion 18 and the upper wall 28 of the lower U-shaped cross-sectional portion 26 of the design member 10. Also, the front portion of the sensor 12 is covered by a front covering portion 34, an upper covering portion 36, and a lower covering portion 38 of the sensor cover 14 attached to the design member 10. Note that the rear ends of the upper covering portion 36 and the lower covering portion 38 are located on the rear side with respect to the groove 52 formed in the sensor 12.

[0019] (Operation and Effect of this Embodiment) Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0020] In the present embodiment described above, when the sensor cover 14 is attached to the design member 10, the front portion of the sensor 12 is covered by the front covering portion 34, the upper covering portion 36, and the lower covering portion 38 of the sensor cover 14 attached to the design member 10. Thereby, water droplets heading toward the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12 can be blocked by the sensor cover 14.

[0021] Furthermore, if water droplets that have entered from between the sensor cover 14 and the design member 10 (for example, between the lower wall 22 of the upper U-shaped cross section 18 and the upper covering portion 36 of the sensor cover 14) adhere to the rear-facing part of the sensor 12 relative to the sensor front surface 44 (for example, the upper part 46), the water droplets are discharged downward through the groove 52 formed in the sensor 12. In this way, the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12 can be suppressed.

[0022] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front portion of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 is covered from above by the upper covering portion 36 of the sensor cover 14. In this configuration, compared to a configuration using a sensor cover 14 that does not have the upper covering portion 36, it is possible to suppress water droplets that penetrate between the sensor cover 14 and the design member 10 from adhering to the upper part 46 of the sensor 12.

[0023] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a labyrinth structure portion 40 is formed by the lower covering portion 38 of the sensor cover 14 and the lower U-shaped cross-section portion 26 of the design member 10. This prevents water droplets from entering the sensor 12 side from between the lower covering portion 38 of the sensor cover 14 and the lower U-shaped cross-section portion 26 of the design member 10.

[0024] In this embodiment, an example in which a labyrinth structure portion 40 is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Whether or not to provide a labyrinth structure portion 40 can be determined as appropriate by considering whether or not to use other sealing members, etc.

[0025] (Protection structures for other types of sensors) Next, the sensor protection structures of the second to eighth embodiments will be described using Figures 3 to 9. Note that, in the members and parts constituting the sensor protection structures of the second to eighth embodiments, members and parts corresponding to those constituting the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment described above will be given the same reference numerals as those corresponding to those constituting the sensor protection structure of the first embodiment, and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, in the sensor protection structure of the second embodiment, a plurality of grooves 52 are formed in the sensor 12, spaced apart in the front-rear direction. In this configuration, water droplets adhering to the rear-facing part of the sensor 12 relative to the sensor front surface 44 can be discharged downward through the grooves 52. This suppresses the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, in the sensor protection structure of the third embodiment, flange portions 54 protruding upward, to both sides in the left-right direction, and downward are formed on the front portion of the sensor 12. In this configuration, water droplets adhering to the rear-facing portion of the sensor 12 relative to the sensor front surface 44 can be blocked by the flange portions 54. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, in the sensor protection structure of the fourth embodiment, a recess 56 is formed on the rear portion of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to allow water droplets adhering to the rear to be directed backward. With this configuration, water droplets adhering to the rear portion of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 can be directed backward through the recess 56. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0029] As shown in Figure 6, in the sensor protection structure of the fifth embodiment, a curved portion 58 is formed on the rear portion of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to deflect water droplets adhering to the rear. The upper surface of the curved portion 58 curves gently downward as it extends towards the rear. With this configuration, water droplets adhering to the rear portion of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 can be deflected to the rear through the curved portion 58. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, in the sensor protection structure of the sixth embodiment, a groove 52 is formed on the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to divert water droplets adhering to the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to the side (right or left side). The depth of this groove 52 gradually increases from the front and rear ends of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 toward the center in the front-rear direction. With this configuration, water droplets adhering to the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 can be diverted to the side through the groove 52. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, in the sensor protection structure of the seventh embodiment, a V-shaped groove 52 is formed on the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to deflect water droplets adhering to the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 to the side (right or left side). This groove 52 is formed in the central part of the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 in the front-to-back direction. With this configuration, water droplets adhering to the upper part 46 of the sensor 12 can be deflected to the side through the groove 52. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, in the sensor protection structure of the eighth embodiment, flange portions 54 protruding upward, to both sides in the left-right direction, and downward are formed in the middle of the sensor 12 in the front-rear direction. In this configuration, water droplets adhering to the rearward side of the sensor 12 relative to the flange portion 54 can be blocked by the flange portion 54. This makes it possible to suppress the adhesion of water droplets to the sensor front surface 44 of the sensor 12.

[0033] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above, and can be implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 10 Design components 12 sensors 14 Sensor cover 36 Upper covering portion 40 Labyrinth structure 44 Sensor front 52 Groove

Claims

1. A design member provided at the front of the vehicle and constituting the outer surface of the vehicle, A sensor having a sensor front facing the front of the vehicle, and having a groove formed on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the sensor front for draining water droplets, A sensor cover that covers the sensor from the front side of the vehicle when attached to the aforementioned design member, A protective structure for sensors equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The sensor protection structure according to claim 1, wherein the sensor cover comprises an upper covering portion that covers at least a part of the sensor from the upper side of the vehicle.

3. The sensor protection structure according to claim 1, wherein a labyrinth structure portion is provided between the design member and the sensor cover.

Images