Structure

Abstract

To provide a structure capable of supporting a radar device so as to be able to easily secure a detection range of the radar device in a right-left direction and a front-rear direction of a vehicle, even when an interval between a vehicle body frame and a bumper is narrow.SOLUTION: A structure 1 is arranged on both the left and right sides of a vehicle 100 and supports a radar device 30. The structure 1 comprises: a frame fixing part 11 fixed to a body frame 110 of the vehicle 100; a bumper fixing part 12 that fixes a bumper 120 covering at least a part of the outside of the vehicle body frame 110 to the vehicle body frame 110; and a radar device support part 20 that supports the radar device 30 so that the center of the field of view of the radar device 30 faces diagonally with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100 in a plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure for supporting a radar device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a structure is known that is disposed on a vehicle and supports a radar device that detects targets around the vehicle. This type of technology is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a structure that includes a radar main body that transmits and receives radio waves, and a fascia retainer that has a fixing part that is fixed to the vehicle main body and a recessed radar installation part into which the radar main body is fitted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6254183 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in order to ensure a viewing angle of the radar device that includes the sides of the vehicle as well as the front or rear of the vehicle, the radar device needs to be mounted on the vehicle so that the center of the viewing angle of the radar device faces diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. However, depending on the vehicle, the gap between the body frame and the bumper is narrow, so it may be difficult to mount the radar device at an angle with respect to the body frame. The structure of Patent Document 1 is a structure that allows the radar device to be mounted even when the gap between the body frame and the bumper is narrow, but the radar device is mounted along the side of the vehicle, and there is room for improvement in terms of expanding the viewing angle of the radar device to the front or rear of the vehicle.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a structure that can support a radar device so as to easily ensure the detection range of the radar device in the left-right and front-rear directions of the vehicle, even when the gap between the body frame and the bumper is narrow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a structure arranged on both the left and right sides of a vehicle and supporting a radar device, the structure including: a frame fixing part fixed to a body frame of the vehicle; an exterior body fixing part fixing an exterior body covering at least a part of the outside of the body frame to the body frame; and a radar device support part supporting the radar device such that the center of the field of view of the radar device is oriented obliquely with respect to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in a plan view.

[0007] The radar device support portion may support the radar device so that a viewing angle range of the radar device in a horizontal plane includes sides and a rear of the vehicle.

[0008] The radar device support portion may support the radar device such that a direction of a center of a field of view of the radar device is in a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view.

[0009] The radar device support section may support the radar device in which a receiving antenna is disposed above or below a transmitting antenna.

[0010] The radar device support portion may support the radar device such that the vehicle body frame is positioned outside a range of a viewing angle of the radar device in a horizontal plane.

[0011] The radar device may be fastened to the radar device support part at positions above and below a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna of the radar device.

[0012] The radar device support portion may have a connector arrangement portion capable of arranging a connector of the radar device that is electrically connected to an external terminal, and the connector arrangement portion may be provided on a lower portion of the radar device support portion or on a surface on which the radar device is supported. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, a structure can be provided that can support a radar device so as to easily ensure the detection range of the radar device in the left-right and front-rear directions of the vehicle, even when the gap between the body frame and the bumper is narrow. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view showing the right rear part of a vehicle to which a structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna of a radar device supported by a structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] First Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 100 to which a structural body 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached, as viewed obliquely from the rear. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the right rear side of the vehicle 100 to which the structural body 1 is attached.

[0016] First, the vehicle 100 to which the structure 1 is attached will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The vehicle 100 is a small four-wheeled automobile such as a light car or a compact car. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 100 includes a body frame 110 and a bumper 120.

[0017] The vehicle body frame 110 is the skeleton of the vehicle 100, and is made of metal members.

[0018] The bumper 120 is an exterior body that covers the outside of the body frame 110, and is made of a resin member. The bumper 120 is fixed to the front or rear of the body frame 110 via the structure 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a space S is formed between the body frame 110 and the bumper 120. The space S is located at the rear of the vehicle 100, and is a space surrounded by the outer surface of the body frame 110 and the inner surface of the bumper 120. Since the vehicle 100 is a small four-wheeled automobile, the distance L between the body frame 110 and the bumper 120 is relatively small.

[0019] Next, a structure 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The structure 1 supports a radar device 30 that detects targets using radio waves. As shown in Fig. 1, the structure 1 is disposed on both the left and right sides of the rear of a vehicle 100. In this embodiment, a case in which the structure 1 is disposed on the right side of the rear of the vehicle 100 will be described as an example.

[0020] 3 is a perspective view showing the radar device support part 20 and its vicinity of the structure 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the structure 1 is placed in a space S. The structure 1 includes a frame fixing part 11, a bumper fixing part 12 (exterior body fixing part), and the radar device support part 20.

[0021] The frame fixing portion 11 and the bumper fixing portion 12 are formed on a base 10 of the structure 1. The base 10 is a plate-like member disposed along a body frame 110 of the vehicle 100. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the base 10 is formed so as to extend upward from the lower side of the body frame 110 at the rear right end of the vehicle 100, and then extend in the left-right direction toward the rear center of the vehicle 100.

[0022] The frame fixing part 11 is a part that is fixed to the body frame 110. The frame fixing part 11 is formed on a surface of the base 10 that faces the body frame 110. The frame fixing part 11 is formed so as to be fixable along the body frame 110 at the rear of the vehicle 100. In this embodiment, the base 10 is fixed to the body frame 110 approximately parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle 100.

[0023] The bumper fixing portion 12 is a portion to which the bumper 120 is attached. The bumper fixing portion 12 is formed on a surface of the base 10 opposite to a surface on which the frame fixing portion 11 is formed. The bumper 120 is fixed to the vehicle body frame 110 by the bumper fixing portion 12.

[0024] The radar device support part 20 is a part that supports the radar device 30. As shown in Fig. 2, the radar device support part 20 is formed so as to extend from the base part 10 obliquely rearward of the vehicle 100. Specifically, the radar device support part 20 extends obliquely from the surface of the base part 10 on the bumper fixing part 12 side toward the rear of the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100 in a plan view.

[0025] The radar device support portion 20 has a support portion main body 21 , extension pieces 221 , 222 , and 223 , and a connector arrangement portion 25 .

[0026] The support body 21 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape that is long in the vertical direction, and a body 31 of the radar device 30, which will be described later, is attached to the support body 21.

[0027] The extension pieces 221-223 are formed above or below the support portion main body 21. Specifically, the extension piece 221 extends upward from the widthwise center of the upper end of the support portion main body 21. The extension piece 222 extends downward from one widthwise side of the lower side of the support portion main body 21, and the extension piece 223 extends downward from the other widthwise side of the lower side of the support portion main body 21. A fastening hole 23 extending in the thickness direction is formed in each of the extension pieces 221-223.

[0028] The connector arrangement portion 25 is a space formed below the support body 21. Specifically, the connector arrangement portion 25 is formed between the extension piece 222 and the extension piece 223 below the support body 21. The connector arrangement portion 25 may be a through hole that is formed on the surface of the support body 21 that contacts the radar device 30 and penetrates the support body 21 in the thickness direction.

[0029] Next, a description will be given of the radar device 30 supported by the radar device support portion 20. The radar device 30 transmits radio waves toward the rear and sides of the vehicle 100, and receives reflected waves reflected by targets such as following vehicles. Based on the received signals, information on the targets such as distance, angle, and speed is detected.

[0030] The radar device 30 includes a main body 31, a plurality of transmitting antennas 32 including transmitting antennas 32-1 and 32-2, a plurality of receiving antennas 33 including receiving antennas 33-1, 33-2, 33-3 and 33-4, extension pieces 341, 342 and 343, and a connector 37.

[0031] The main body 31 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction. A substrate (not shown), and a plurality of transmitting antennas 32 and a plurality of receiving antennas 33 formed on a surface of the substrate are built into the main body 31. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the transmitting antennas 32 and the receiving antennas 33 built into the main body 31 of the radar device 30.

[0032] The transmitting antenna 32 transmits radio waves toward a target. As shown in Fig. 4, the transmitting antennas 32-1 and 32-2 are each configured as an array antenna having four antenna elements (patch antennas). The four antenna elements of each of the transmitting antennas 32-1 and 32-2 are linearly arranged at intervals in the Y direction, which is the up-down direction, and are electrically connected to each other at intervals in the Y direction, which is the up-down direction.

[0033] The receiving antenna 33 receives radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 32 and reflected by a target. Each of the receiving antennas 33-1 to 33-4 is configured by an array antenna having eight antenna elements (patch antennas). As shown in Fig. 4, the eight antenna elements of each of the receiving antennas 33-1 to 33-4 are linearly arranged at intervals in the Y direction, which is the up-down direction, and are electrically connected to each other at intervals in the Y direction, which is the up-down direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 are arranged in the main body 31 so as to be aligned in the vertical direction. Specifically, the receiving antennas 17-1 to 17-4 are arranged at intervals in the horizontal X direction on the upper side of the main body 31, and the transmitting antennas 32-1 and 32-2 are arranged at intervals in the horizontal X direction on the lower side of the main body 31. As a result, the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 are arranged in the vertical direction in the main body 31, so that the horizontal width of the main body 31 of the radar device 30 can be narrowed. In addition, since the multiple receiving antennas 33 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, the resolution of the radar device 30 in the horizontal plane where high resolution is required over a wide range can be improved. The transmitting antenna 32 may be arranged above the receiving antenna 33.

[0035] 3, a transmitting / receiving surface 35 for transmitting and receiving radio waves is formed on one side surface of the main body 31 of the radar device 30 by the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33. The radar device 30 is supported by the radar device supporting part 20 such that the transmitting / receiving surface 35 faces the bumper 120.

[0036] The extension pieces 341 to 343 extend upward or downward from the main body portion 31. Specifically, the extension piece 341 extends upward from the center in the width direction of the upper end of the main body portion 31. The extension piece 342 extends downward from one side in the width direction of the lower side of the main body portion 31, and the extension piece 343 extends downward from the other side in the width direction of the lower side of the main body portion 31.

[0037] Each of the extension pieces 341 to 343 has a through hole 36 formed therethrough in the thickness direction. When the radar device 30 is supported by the radar device support part 20, the fastening holes 23 of the radar device support part 20 are formed to overlap the through holes 36. Specifically, the fastening holes 23 of the extension piece 221 and the through holes 36 of the extension piece 341 overlap, the fastening holes 23 of the extension piece 222 and the through holes 36 of the extension piece 342 overlap, and the fastening holes 23 of the extension piece 223 and the through holes 36 of the extension piece 343 overlap. In this state, the bolts 24, which are fastening members, are fastened to the through holes 36 and the fastening holes 23, whereby the radar device 30 is attached to the radar device support part 20.

[0038] The connector 37 is a connection part that is electrically connected to an external terminal. The main body 31 can be connected to a power line (not shown) that supplies power from a power source such as a battery and a communication line (not shown) of an ECU or the like via the connector 37. As shown in FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the connector 37 is formed on the lower part of the main body 31, but it may be formed on the surface opposite to the transmitting / receiving surface 35 of the main body 31. When the radar device 30 is supported by the structure 1, the connector 37 is placed in the connector placement portion 25 of the radar device support part 20.

[0039] Next, the detection range of a target by the radar device 30 supported by the structure 1 will be described.

[0040] The radar device 30 supported by the structure 1 has a center of the field of view of the radar device 30 facing obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100 in a plan view. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the radar device 30 is supported by the structure 1 so that an angle C between a center line B passing through the center O of the vehicle 100 and parallel to the front-rear direction and a field of view center direction A of the radar device 30 is about 45 degrees. The angle C is preferably in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and more preferably in the range of 40 degrees to 50 degrees. By supporting the radar device 30 so that the angle C is in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, it becomes easier to ensure a wider detection range of the radar device 30 in the left-right and front-rear directions of the vehicle 100. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the radar device 30 is supported by the radar device support portion 20 so that a viewing angle D in a horizontal plane includes a center line B on the side and rear of the vehicle 100, more specifically, at the rear of the vehicle 100, and includes a center line B' on the side of the vehicle 100 that passes through the center O of the vehicle 100 and is perpendicular to the center line B in a planar view.

[0041] In contrast, when the radar device 30 is attached to the vehicle body frame 110 substantially parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle 100, the center of the field of view of the radar device 30 faces directly behind the vehicle 100. Therefore, the sides of the vehicle 100 are outside the range of the field of view angle D of the radar device 30 in the horizontal plane.

[0042] Here, if metal members such as the body frame 110, bolts 24, or decorative members (not shown) of the vehicle 100 are within the viewing angle D of the radar device 30, the radio waves transmitted and received from the radar device 30 will be interfered with by the metal members, resulting in a deterioration of the radar characteristics. For this reason, it is preferable that the radar device support part 20 is configured to be capable of supporting the body frame 110 so that it is positioned outside the viewing angle D of the radar device 30 in the horizontal plane. The viewing angle D is an angle range in which the radar device 30 detects the presence or absence of a target based on the reflected waves received.

[0043] 2 , the radar device 30 is supported by the radar device support part 20 so that the vehicle body frame 110 is located outside the range of the viewing angle D in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, the fastening holes 23 of the radar device support part 20 are formed in positions above and below the transmitting / receiving surface 35 of the radar device 30, and the bolts 24 are not located on either the left or right side of the transmitting / receiving surface 35. In other words, the radar device 30 is supported by the radar device support part 20 in a position where the radio waves of the radar device 30 are not interfered with by the vehicle body frame 110 and the bolts 24.

[0044] As described above, the structure 1 of this embodiment is a structure 1 arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 100 and supporting the radar device 30, and includes a frame fixing portion 11 fixed to the body frame 110 of the vehicle 100, a bumper fixing portion 12 that fixes the bumper 120, which covers at least a portion of the outer side of the body frame 110, to the body frame 110, and a radar device support portion 20 that supports the radar device 30 so that the center of the field of view of the radar device 30 is oriented obliquely with respect to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle 100 in a planar view.

[0045] As a result, the vehicle body frame 110, the bumper 120, and the radar device 30 are connected via one structure 1, so that the radar device 30 can be attached to the vehicle 100 without using a bracket or the like. This allows the structure 1 to be made smaller in size to which the radar device 30 is attached. In addition, the radar device 30 is supported by the structure 1 so that the center of the field of view of the radar device 30 faces obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100, making it easy to ensure the detection range of the radar device 30 to the side and in front or rear of the vehicle 100. Therefore, even if the interval L between the vehicle body frame 110 and the bumper 120 is narrow, the radar device 30 can be supported so that the detection range of the radar device 30 in the front-rear and left-right directions of the vehicle 100 can be easily ensured.

[0046] The radar device support portion 20 of the present embodiment supports the radar device 30 so that the range of a viewing angle D of the radar device 30 in a horizontal plane includes the sides and rear of the vehicle 100.

[0047] This makes it possible to more reliably ensure the detection range of the radar device 30 on the sides and rear of the vehicle 100.

[0048] The radar device support portion 20 of the present embodiment supports the radar device 30 so that the direction of the center of the field of view of the radar device 30 is in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view.

[0049] This makes it easier to ensure a wider detection range to the sides and in front or behind the vehicle 100.

[0050] The radar device support portion 20 of this embodiment supports a radar device 30 in which a receiving antenna 33 is disposed above or below a transmitting antenna 32.

[0051] As a result, the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 are aligned in the vertical direction, so that the width of the radar device 30 can be reduced, and the width of the radar device support part 20 that supports the radar device 30 can be further reduced. This makes it easier to arrange the radar device 30 at an angle on the vehicle 100 in which the distance L between the body frame 110 and the bumper 120 is narrow. The same applies to the case where the transmitting antenna 32 is arranged above the receiving antenna 33.

[0052] The radar device support portion 20 of this embodiment supports the radar device 30 so that the vehicle body frame 110 is positioned outside the range of the viewing angle D of the radar device 30 in the horizontal plane.

[0053] As a result, the radar device 30 is disposed so that the vehicle body frame 110 does not fall within the viewing angle D, so that it is possible to prevent the radar characteristics from deteriorating due to radio wave interference caused by the vehicle body frame 110.

[0054] In this embodiment, the radar device 30 is fastened to the radar device support part 20 at a position above and below the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 of the radar device 30. In other words, the radar device 30 is fastened to the radar device support part 20 at a position above and below the transmitting / receiving surface 35 of the radar device 30.

[0055] As a result, the fastening position of the radar device 30 is located above and below the transmitting / receiving surface 35 of the radar device 30, so that fastening members such as the bolts 24 used to fasten the radar device 30 are not disposed within the range of the viewing angle D in the horizontal plane. This makes it possible to avoid interference of the bolts 24 with the radio waves transmitted and received from the radar device 30. Furthermore, the bolts 24 are not disposed on both the left and right sides of the transmitting / receiving surface 35. If the bolts 24 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the transmitting / receiving surface 35, even if the bolts 24 are outside the range of the viewing angle D of the radar 30, there is a risk that the bolts 24 may become a noise source when detecting the horizontal angle of the target by receiving reflected waves from the bolts 24. That is, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to configure the positions at which the radar device 30 is fastened to the radar device support part 20 to be above and below the transmitting / receiving surface 35 of the radar device 30, since this reduces the risk of a decrease in the detection accuracy of the angle at which the target exists. In addition, since the upper and lower sides of the radar device 30 are the fastening positions, even if the fastening positions are moved away from the center of the radar device 30, the radar device support part 20 and the extension pieces 341-343 extend in the vertical direction but do not expand in the horizontal direction. That is, the bolt 24 can be attached at a distance farther from the center of the field of view without increasing the width of the radar device 30. Therefore, the effect of suppressing vibrations transmitted from the vehicle 100 to the radar device 30 can be improved without increasing the width of the radar device 30.

[0056] The radar device support part 20 in this embodiment has a connector arrangement part 25 in which the connector 37 of the radar device 30, which is electrically connected to an external terminal, can be arranged, and the connector arrangement part 25 is provided on the lower part of the radar device support part 20 or on the surface on which the radar device 30 is supported.

[0057] As a result, the connector arrangement portion 25 is provided on the lower portion of the radar device support portion 20 or on the vehicle body frame 110 side, so that the radar device 30 can be easily installed even if the space in the width direction of the radar device 30 or on the bumper side is narrow. In addition, water can be prevented from entering the connector 37 from the outside, improving the waterproofing of the radar device 30. When the number of transmitting antennas and the number of receiving antennas are different from each other, the structure and circuit for providing the connector 37 built into the radar device 30 can be efficiently provided near the connector arrangement portion 25 by providing one of the transmitting antennas and the receiving antennas, which is fewer in number, below the other of the transmitting antennas and the receiving antennas as in this embodiment, which is more preferable in terms of space saving. In this embodiment, the structure and circuit for providing the connector 37 can be provided on the back surface between the transmitting antennas 32-1 and 32-2.

[0058] <Second embodiment>

[0059] Next, a structure 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to the description of the first embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified, and differences will be mainly described.

[0060] 5 is a perspective view showing the radar device support part 20A and its vicinity of the structure 1A according to the second embodiment. The structure 1A includes a frame fixing part 11, a bumper fixing part 12, and a radar device support part 20A, and supports a radar device 30A. The structure 1A according to the second embodiment differs from the structure 1 mainly in the structure of the radar device support part 20A. Also, the radar device 30A supported by the structure 1A mainly differs from the radar device 30 in that it does not have the extension pieces 341-343.

[0061] The radar device support 20A has a support body 21, a connector arrangement portion 25A, a holding frame 26, and claw portions 27 and .

[0062] The holding frame 26 is formed on the upper edge of the support body 21 and is a frame that rises from the surface of the support body 21 on which the radar device 30 is supported toward the bumper 120. The holding frame 26 is formed to fit the shape of the main body 31 of the radar device 30A.

[0063] The claw portions 27 , 28 are elastic and protrude from both the left and right sides of the lower portion of the support portion main body 21 toward the bumper 120 side, and jut out toward the center of the main body portion 31 .

[0064] The radar device 30A is supported by the radar device support part 20A by bringing its upper part into contact with the holding frame 26 and by clamping its lower edge part between the claw parts 27 and 28.

[0065] The connector arrangement portion 25A is formed below the support body 21, and is a space in which the connector 37 of the radar device 30A is arranged. Specifically, the connector arrangement portion 25A is formed between the claw portion 27 and the claw portion 28 at the lower part of the support body 21. The connector arrangement portion 25A is formed on the surface of the support body 21 that comes into contact with the radar device 30, and may be a through hole that penetrates the support body 21 in the thickness direction.

[0066] The radar device support part 20A of this embodiment has at its upper part a holding frame 26 formed to match the shape of the radar device 30A, and at its lower part elastic claw parts 27, 28 that protrude toward the center of the radar device 30A.

[0067] This allows the radar device 30A to be supported by a configuration that matches the shape of the radar device 30A, thereby making it possible to further reduce the size of the radar device support part 20A. Also, since the radar device 30A can be supported without using fastening members such as bolts, the effect on the radar characteristics can be reduced.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the structure 1 is disposed on both the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle 100, but the structure 1 may also be disposed on both the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle 100 or on the front or rear of the side of the vehicle 100.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the radar device support parts 20, 20A are configured to support the vehicle body frame 110 so that it is positioned outside the range of the field of view angle D of the radar device 30, 30A in the horizontal plane, but the radar device support parts 20, 20A may be configured to support the vehicle body frame 110 so that it is positioned outside the range of the field of view angle D in the vertical plane.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the radar device 30, 30A supported by the structure 1 includes two transmitting antennas 32 and four receiving antennas 33, but there is no particular limitation on the number of transmitting antennas 32 and receiving antennas 33. For example, the number of transmitting antennas 32 may be one or three or more, and the number of receiving antennas 33 may be three or less or five or more.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the radar devices 30, 30A supported by the structure 1 are configured such that the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 are aligned in the vertical direction, but the arrangement of the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 is not particularly limited. For example, the radar devices 30, 30A supported by the structure 1 may be configured such that the transmitting antenna 32 and the receiving antenna 33 are aligned in the horizontal direction.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the radar devices 30, 30A supported by the structure 1 include four antenna elements for each transmitting antenna 32 and eight antenna elements for each receiving antenna 33, but the number of antenna elements is not particularly limited. For example, one transmitting antenna 32 may include three or less or five or more antenna elements, and one receiving antenna 33 may include seven or less or nine or more antenna elements.

[0074] In the above embodiment, in the radar devices 30, 30A supported by the structure 1, the antenna elements of the transmitting antennas 32 and the antenna elements of the receiving antennas 33 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, but the arrangement of the antenna elements of the transmitting antennas 32 and the receiving antennas 33 is not particularly limited. For example, the antenna elements of the transmitting antennas 32 and the antenna elements of the receiving antennas 33 may be arranged in the horizontal direction.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the connector 37 and the connector arrangement portion 25 of the radar device 30, 30A are provided on the lower part of the radar device support portion 20 or on the surface on which the radar device 30 is supported, but the positions of the connector 37 and the connector arrangement portion 25 are not particularly limited. For example, the connector 37 and the connector arrangement portion 25 may be located on the upper part or side of the radar device support portion 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 structure 11 Frame fixing part 12 Bumper fixing part (exterior body fixing part) 20 Radar device support 30 Radar Equipment 100 vehicles 110 Body frame 120 Bumper (exterior body)

Claims

1. A structure disposed on both the left and right sides of a vehicle and supporting a radar device, A base portion which is a plate-shaped member arranged along a body frame of the vehicle; a frame fixing portion formed on the base and fixed to the vehicle body frame; an exterior body fixing portion formed on the base portion and configured to fix an exterior body covering at least a portion of an outer side of the vehicle body frame to the vehicle body frame; a radar device support portion extending from the base portion and supporting the radar device so that the center of the field of view of the radar device faces obliquely with respect to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in a plan view perpendicular to the horizontal plane and the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

2. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the radar device support portion supports the radar device so that the range of a viewing angle of the radar device in a horizontal plane includes the sides and the rear of the vehicle.

3. 3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the radar device support portion supports the radar device such that an orientation of a center of a field of view of the radar device is in a range of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less with respect to a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when viewed in a plan view in the vertical direction.

4. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the radar device support portion supports the radar device having a receiving antenna disposed above or below a transmitting antenna.

5. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the radar device support portion supports the radar device such that the vehicle body frame is positioned outside a range of a viewing angle of the radar device in a horizontal plane.

6. 6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the radar device is fastened to the radar device support part at positions above and below a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna of the radar device.

7. the radar device support portion has a connector arrangement portion on which a connector of the radar device can be arranged, the connector being electrically connected to an external terminal; The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connector arrangement portion is provided on a lower portion of the radar device support portion or on a surface on which the radar device is supported.

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