Sensor bracket and sensor mounting method

Abstract

This invention provides a sensor bracket that allows for adjustment of the sensor's detection range after the sensor has been installed. [Solution] The sensor bracket 100 is a resin member in which a sensor fixing part 10, a base part 30, and an integral hinge part 40 are integrally molded. When the sensor fixing part 10 rotates around the integral hinge part 40, the sensor 50 is housed inside the base part 30, and the engaging claw 15 provided at the tip of the sensor fixing part 10 engages with the engaging hole 25 provided in the base part 30, thereby assembling the sensor fixing part 10 to the base part 30. The sensor bracket 100 is provided with a rib plate 16 of adjustable thickness, which is positioned between the periphery 24A of the engaging hole 25 of the base part 30 and the engaging arm 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the structure of a sensor bracket and a method for mounting a sensor on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, sensors for detecting user behavior have been mounted on vehicles. For example, vehicles equipped with kick sensors that detect when a user protrudes their foot towards the lower rear side of the vehicle are used. In such a vehicle, when the user protrudes their foot under the back door, the kick sensor detects this and the back door automatically opens (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Such sensors need to detect the position of a user's hands and feet, etc., but the detection range of the sensor may change due to variations in the dimensions of each part of the vehicle. On the other hand, the detection range of the sensor cannot be confirmed until the sensor is mounted, but it has been difficult to adjust the detection range of the sensor after the sensor has been mounted.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a sensor bracket that enables adjustment of the detection range of the sensor after the sensor is mounted.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The sensor bracket of this disclosure is a resin member integrally molded comprising: a sensor fixing portion to which a sensor is fixed; a base portion capable of housing the sensor inside; and an integral hinge portion connecting the base portion and the sensor fixing portion, enabling rotation of the sensor fixing portion relative to the base portion. When the sensor fixing portion rotates around the integral hinge portion, the sensor is housed inside the base portion, and an engaging claw provided at the tip of the sensor fixing portion engages with an engaging hole provided in the base portion, thereby assembling the sensor fixing portion to the base portion. The sensor bracket is characterized by comprising a rib plate whose thickness is adjustable and disposed between the periphery of the engaging hole in the base portion and the engaging claw.

[0007] This configuration allows the mounting angle of the sensor fixing part relative to the base to be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the rib plate. This makes it possible to adjust the detection range of the sensor by adjusting the detection direction of the sensor fixed to the sensor fixing part, even after the sensor has been attached to the body.

[0008] In the sensor bracket of this disclosure, the sensor may be mounted on the sensor fixing portion such that the detection direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge portion extends.

[0009] This allows the detection range of the sensor to be adjusted by changing the detection angle of the sensor relative to the ground by adjusting the rib thickness.

[0010] In the sensor bracket of this disclosure, the sensor is a camera or radar, and may be mounted on the sensor fixing portion such that the optical axis direction of the lens or the direction of irradiation of radio waves is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge portion extends.

[0011] This allows the use of cameras or radar as sensors.

[0012] In the sensor bracket of this disclosure, the rib plate may be attached to the engaging claw.

[0013] This allows for easy adjustment of the sensor's detection direction.

[0014] The sensor mounting method of this disclosure is characterized by including a preparation step of preparing a sensor bracket made of a resin member integrally molded, comprising: a sensor fixing part to which a sensor is fixed; a base part capable of housing the sensor inside; and an integral hinge part connecting the base part and the sensor fixing part, enabling the sensor fixing part to rotate relative to the base part; a fixing step of fixing the sensor to the sensor fixing part such that the detection direction of the sensor is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge part extends; an assembly step of rotating the sensor fixing part around the integral hinge part, housing the sensor inside the base part, and engaging an engaging claw provided at the tip of the sensor fixing part with an engaging hole provided in the base part to assemble the sensor fixing part to the base part; a fastening step of fastening the upper end of the base part to the lower part of the body; and an adjustment step of adjusting the detection range of the sensor by adjusting the thickness of a rib plate positioned between the periphery of the engaging hole in the base part and the engaging claw.

[0015] This allows the detection range of the sensor to be adjusted by adjusting the detection direction of the sensor fixed to the sensor mounting part, even after the sensor has been attached to the body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] This disclosure provides a sensor bracket that allows for adjustment of the sensor's detection range after the sensor has been mounted to the sensor body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is an elevation view of the sensor bracket of the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the sensor bracket of the embodiment, which is the AA section shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing a method for attaching a sensor to a body using a sensor bracket of an embodiment, and it shows the fixing step of fixing the sensor to the sensor bracket. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory drawing showing a method of attaching a sensor to a body using the sensor bracket of the embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing showing an assembling step of assembling a sensor fixing portion to a base portion and a fastening step of fastening an upper end of the base portion to a lower portion of the body. [Figure 5] It is a detailed view of part B shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory drawing showing a method of attaching a sensor to a body using the sensor bracket of the embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing showing an adjustment step. [Figure 7] It is a detailed view of part C shown in FIG. 6.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, the sensor bracket 100 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor bracket 100 includes a sensor fixing portion 10, a base portion 30, and an integral hinge portion 40. The sensor bracket 100 is a resin member in which the sensor fixing portion 10, the base portion 30, and the integral hinge portion 40 are integrally formed.

[0019] The sensor bracket 100 is a resin component that fixes the sensor 50 to the sensor fixing portion 10, rotates the sensor fixing portion 10 around the integral hinge portion 40 to assemble the sensor fixing portion 10 to the base portion 30, and fastens the upper portion of the base portion 30 to the vehicle body 45 to attach the sensor 50 to the body 45. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the sensor bracket 100 in an open state before the sensor fixing portion 10 is assembled to the base portion 30.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base portion 30 includes a cover portion 20 and an arm portion 26. The cover portion 20 includes a front plate 21, left and right side plates 23, an upper plate 22, and an upper flange 24. The front plate 21 and the left and right side plates 23 constitute a groove-shaped cross-sectional portion. The upper plate 22 covers the upper end portion of this groove-shaped cross-sectional portion. The upper flange 24 is a plate member that extends upward from the rear end of the upper plate 22. A square engagement hole 25 is provided in the upper flange 24.

[0021] The arm portion 26 includes a main body 27 and a mounting flange 28. The main body 27 is a plate member that extends obliquely upward rearward from the upper flange 24 of the cover portion 20. The mounting flange 28 is a plate member that extends upward from the upper end of the main body 27. Two bolt holes 29 are provided at the upper portion of the mounting flange 28.

[0022] The sensor fixing portion 10 is a portion connected to the lower side of the cover portion 20 via an integral hinge portion 40. The sensor fixing portion 10 includes a sensor holding plate 11, a connecting plate 13, and an engaging arm 14. The sensor holding plate 11 is a plate member to which the sensor 50 is fixed. Two mounting holes 12 into which the mounting legs 51, 52 (see FIG. 3) of the sensor 50 are fitted are provided in the sensor holding plate 11. The connecting plate 13 is a plate member that connects the upper end of the sensor holding plate 11 and the integral hinge portion 40. In the open state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting plate 13 extends forward from the integral hinge portion 40. The engaging arm 14 is a plate member that extends obliquely downward rearward from the lower end of the sensor holding plate 11. An engaging claw 15 is provided at the tip of the engaging arm 14.

[0023] The integral hinge portion 40 is a linear portion that extends in the left - right direction between the cover portion 20 of the base portion 30 and the sensor fixing portion 10. The integral hinge portion 40 has a thinner plate thickness than the cover portion 20 and the sensor fixing portion 10, and connects the base portion 30 and the sensor fixing portion 10 so that the sensor fixing portion 10 is rotatable with respect to the base portion 30. The integral hinge portion 40 may be, for example, the valley line of a V - shaped groove that extends left - right along the boundary line between the cover portion 20 and the sensor fixing portion 10.

[0024] The sensor fixing portion 10, the base portion 30, and the integral hinge portion 40 described above are formed by integral molding of resin.

[0025] Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 7, a method for attaching the sensor 50 to the vehicle body 45 using the sensor bracket 100 will be described. First, prepare the sensor bracket 100 and the sensor 50 (preparation step).

[0026] First, as shown by arrow 91 in Figure 3, the mounting legs 51 and 52 of the sensor 50 are inserted into the mounting holes 12 of the sensor holding plate 11 to fix the sensor 50 to the sensor holding plate 11 (fixing step). At this time, the sensor 50 is fixed to the sensor holding plate 11 so that the detection direction 55 is upward. The upward direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction in which the integral hinge portion 40 extends. Here, if the sensor 50 is a camera, the detection direction 55 is the optical axis direction of the lens. Also, if the sensor 50 is a radar, the detection direction 55 is the direction of radio wave irradiation.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the sensor fixing part 10 is rotated around the integral hinge part 40. Then, the engaging arm 14 provided on the sensor fixing part 10 is inserted into the engaging hole 25 provided on the base part 30. When the tapered tip of the engaging claw 15 passes through the engaging hole 25, the engaging arm 14 bends upward, but when the engaging claw 15 passes through the engaging hole 25, the engaging arm 14 returns downward. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, the engaging claw 15 of the engaging arm 14 engages with the periphery 24A of the engaging hole 25. This assembles the sensor fixing part 10 to the base part 30 (assembly process).

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, when the sensor fixing part 10 is assembled to the base part 30, the sensor 50 is housed inside the cover part 20, which is composed of the top plate 22, the front plate 21, and the left and right side plates 23 of the base part 30. As a result, the top, front, and left and right sides of the sensor 50 are covered by the top plate 22, the front plate 21, and the left and right side plates 23. In addition, the rear of the sensor 50 is covered by the sensor holding plate 11, and the bottom of the sensor 50 is covered by the connecting plate 13. This prevents foreign objects such as pebbles from hitting the sensor 50.

[0029] After assembling the sensor fixing part 10 to the base part 30, the bolt holes 29 of the mounting flange 28 of the arm part 26 are aligned with bolt holes (not shown) provided in the body 45, and the mounting flange 28 is fastened to the lower part of the body 45 with bolts 48 (fastening step). This attaches the sensor 50 to the body 45.

[0030] When the sensor 50 is attached to the body 45, the detection direction 55 of the sensor 50 relative to the ground 60 is defined, as shown in Figure 4. At the same time, the detection range 61 of the sensor 50 on the ground 60 is defined. If the detection range 61 of the sensor 50 deviates from the design detection range, an adjustment process as described below is performed.

[0031] As shown by arrow 93 in Figure 6, the sensor fixing part 10 is rotated around the integral hinge part 40, and the engaging arm 14 is moved forward as shown by arrow 94 in Figure 6. Then, as shown in Figure 7, a rib plate 16 with a thickness d is attached between the engaging claw 15 and the periphery 24A of the engaging hole 25. This changes the mounting angle of the sensor fixing part 10 with respect to the base part 30 and the mounting angle of the sensor fixing part 10 with respect to the ground 60. Since the detection direction 55 of the sensor 50 is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge part 40 extends, when the sensor fixing part 10 is rotated around the integral hinge part 40, the detection direction 55 moves to the corrected detection direction 56 as shown by arrow 95 in Figure 6. As a result, the position of the detection range 61 on the ground 60 moves to the corrected detection range 62. Then, when the rib plate 16 is fixed, the corrected detection direction 56 and the corrected detection range 62 are defined. Here, the travel distance of the detection range 61 can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness d of the rib plate 16.

[0032] Thus, when the sensor 50 is attached to the body 45 using the sensor bracket 100 of the embodiment, the position of the detection range 61 can be adjusted after the sensor 50 has been attached to the body 45.

[0033] Furthermore, since the detection direction 55 of the sensor 50 can be adjusted after it has been attached to the body 45, a camera or radar can be used as the sensor 50.

[0034] Furthermore, since the sensor bracket 100 can be constructed by integrally molding resin, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0035] In the above description, the sensor fixing part 10 is assembled to the base part 30 and then the mounting flange 28 is fastened to the body 45, but the description is not limited to this. The mounting flange 28 may be fastened to the body 45 first, and then the sensor fixing part 10 may be assembled to the base part 30.

[0036] Furthermore, although the above description assumes that the engaging arm 14 is engaged with the engaging hole 25 and then the engaging arm 14 is further pushed in to set the rib plate 16, the description is not limited to this. For example, the sensor fixing part 10 may be assembled to the base part 30 with the rib plate 16 set on the engaging claw 15 of the engaging arm 14. Alternatively, an additional rib plate may be inserted between the periphery 24A of the engaging hole 25 to adjust the detection direction 55.

[0037] Alternatively, the rib plate 16 may be made of a tapered plate so that the distance between the engaging claw 15 and the periphery 24A of the engaging hole 25 can be adjusted depending on the clamping position.

[0038] In the above description, the cover portion 20 of the base portion 30 was described as being configured to house the sensor 50 inside, which is composed of a front plate 21, left and right side plates 23, and a top plate 22. However, the shape is not limited to this, as long as the sensor 50 can be housed inside. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10 Sensor fixing part, 11 Sensor holding plate, 12 Mounting hole, 13 Connecting plate, 14 Engaging arm, 15 Engaging claw, 16 Rib plate, 20 Cover part, 21 Front plate, 22 Top plate, 23 Side plate, 24 Top flange, 24A Periphery, 25 Engaging hole, 26 Arm part, 27 Main body, 28 Mounting flange, 29 Bolt hole, 30 Base part, 40 Integral hinge part, 45 Body, 48 Bolt, 50 Sensor, 51, 52 Mounting legs, 55 Detection direction, 56 Corrected detection direction, 60 Ground, 61 Detection range, 62 Corrected detection range, 100 Bracket for sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor fixing part to which the sensor is fixed, A base portion capable of housing the aforementioned sensor inside, A resin member integrally molded with an integral hinge portion that connects the base portion and the sensor fixing portion, and that allows the sensor fixing portion to rotate relative to the base portion, A sensor bracket in which, when the sensor fixing portion rotates around the integral hinge portion, the sensor is housed inside the base portion, and an engaging claw provided at the tip of the sensor fixing portion engages with an engaging hole provided in the base portion, thereby assembling the sensor fixing portion to the base portion, The base portion is provided with a rib plate whose thickness is adjustable, which is positioned between the periphery of the engagement hole and the engagement claw. A sensor bracket featuring the following characteristics.

2. A sensor bracket according to claim 1, The sensor is mounted on the sensor fixing portion such that its detection direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge portion extends. A sensor bracket featuring the following characteristics.

3. A sensor bracket according to claim 1, The sensor is a camera or radar, and is mounted on the sensor fixing part such that the optical axis direction of the lens or the direction of radio wave irradiation is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge part extends. A sensor bracket featuring the following characteristics.

4. A sensor bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The rib plate is attached to the engaging claw. A sensor bracket featuring the following characteristics.

5. A method for mounting a sensor, A preparation step of preparing a sensor bracket made of a resin member, which is integrally molded and comprises a sensor fixing part to which the sensor is fixed, a base part capable of housing the sensor inside, and an integral hinge part that connects the base part and the sensor fixing part and allows the sensor fixing part to rotate relative to the base part. A fixing step of fixing the sensor to the sensor fixing part such that the detection direction of the sensor is perpendicular to the direction in which the integral hinge part extends, The assembly process involves rotating the sensor fixing portion around the integral hinge portion, housing the sensor inside the base portion, and engaging the engaging claw provided at the tip of the sensor fixing portion with the engaging hole provided in the base portion, thereby assembling the sensor fixing portion to the base portion. A fastening step of fastening the upper part of the base to the lower part of the body, An adjustment step to adjust the detection range of the sensor by adjusting the thickness of the rib plate positioned between the periphery of the engagement hole of the base portion and the engagement claw, A sensor mounting method characterized by including the following.

Images