Mounting device for driver assistance systems

Abstract

Improve the installation of driver assistance systems for vehicles. [Solution] A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes: a camera having a housing and a lens extending from the housing; a mounting bracket having a mounting wall portion connectable to a vehicle window, the mounting wall portion having a first mounting surface configured to face toward the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window, at least one bracket wall portion extending from the second mounting surface and having an edge portion that engages with the housing; at least one resilient arm extending from the at least one bracket wall portion and engaging with the housing; and at least one resilient tab extending from the mounting wall portion and engaging with the housing, urging the housing to engage with the edge portion and maintaining the engagement of the housing with the edge portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is directed to a mounting device for a driver assistance system, and more particularly to a mounting device for a driver assistance system that is mounted on a vehicle window. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle driver assistance systems are known that use cameras to monitor the environment around the vehicle. For example, one particular type of driver assistance system monitors the area ahead of the vehicle and uses a forward-looking camera. Forward-looking driver assistance systems are commonly mounted on the vehicle's windshield. Such forward-looking driver assistance systems can assist the driver in operating the motor vehicle by providing operational information such as potential collisions, lane or road departures, pedestrian location, road sign information, etc. Driver assistance systems can also be mounted in other vehicle locations, such as the rear window or side windows. Data from the driver assistance systems is provided to other vehicle systems to provide the driver with warnings, tactile or haptic feedback, and / or automatic control of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve the installation of driver assistance systems for vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to one aspect, a driver assistance system for a vehicle can include a camera. The camera can have a housing and a lens extending from the housing. A mounting bracket can have a mounting wall portion connectable to a vehicle window and the camera. The mounting wall portion can have a first mounting surface configured to face the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window. The at least one bracket wall portion can extend from the second mounting surface and have an edge portion that engages with the housing. At least one resilient arm can extend from the at least one bracket wall portion and engage with the housing. At least one resilient tab can extend from the mounting wall portion and engage with the housing. The at least one resilient tab can urge the housing to engage with the edge portion and maintain the housing engaged with the edge portion.

[0005] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, a driver assistance system for a vehicle may include a camera. The camera may have a housing and a lens extending from the housing. The housing may have a plurality of notches therein. The mounting bracket may have a mounting wall portion connectable to a vehicle window and the camera. The mounting wall portion may have a first mounting surface configured to face the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window. A plurality of bracket walls may extend from the second mounting surface. Each bracket wall portion may have an edge portion that engages with the housing. The driver assistance system may have a plurality of protrusions. Each protrusion may extend from an associated edge portion of the associated bracket wall portion to an associated notch in the housing. The driver assistance system may have a plurality of resilient arms. Each resilient arm may extend from an associated bracket wall portion and engage with the housing. A plurality of resilient tabs may extend from the mounting wall portion and engage with the housing. The resilient tab can encourage the housing to engage the edge portion and can maintain the housing in engagement with the edge portion.

[0006] These and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains upon consideration of the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective side view of a driver assistance system constructed in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the camera of the driver assistance system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic perspective bottom view of the mounting bracket of the driver assistance system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic bottom view of the mounting bracket of the driver assistance system of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 2 is a diagram showing a camera fixed to the mounting bracket of the driver assistance system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram showing a camera fixed to the mounting bracket of the driver assistance system of FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A driver assistance system 10 configured in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The driver assistance system 10 may be a forward monitoring system and may be mounted on a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The driver assistance system 10 views the environment ahead of the vehicle and analyzes the monitored information for vehicle functions such as lane keeping, lane departure, pedestrian information, road sign information, etc. The analyzed information is then further processed and used by vehicle control systems and / or warning systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure is applicable to other driver assistance systems, such as rearward monitoring systems for monitoring the environment behind a vehicle or sideward monitoring systems for monitoring the environment to the sides of a vehicle.

[0009] The driver assistance system 10 includes a camera 12 or other sensor secured to a mounting bracket 14. As shown in FIG. 2 , the camera 12 includes a housing 16 having first and second opposing surfaces 18, 20. A camera lens 22 extends from the first surface 18. A cover 24 is coupled to the second surface 20, for example, by welding. At least one image sensor (not shown) for capturing and processing any images within the field of view of the camera 12 and data processing circuitry (not shown) may be disposed in the housing 16. The cover 24 includes a connector shroud 26 for covering a connector 28 that connects the sensor and / or data processing circuitry to other vehicle systems. The cover 24 may also include one or more cooling fins 30 that dissipate heat from the camera 12 for cooling the camera.

[0010] The housing 16 includes at least one upper tab or first tab 32. It is contemplated that the housing 16 may include any desired number of upper tabs 32, preferably two upper tabs on opposite sides of the lens 22. The housing 16 also includes at least one lower tab or second tab 34. It is contemplated that the housing 16 may include any desired number of upper tabs 34, preferably two lower tabs on opposite sides of the housing. The lower tab 34 may be separated from the upper tab 32 by one or more notches 36, preferably two notches, in the housing 36. If the camera 12 is coupled to a window by the mounting bracket 14, the lower tab 34 is spaced further from the window than the upper tab 32.

[0011] The mounting bracket 14 can be coupled to the window in any desired manner, for example, with an adhesive. As shown in FIG. 1 , the mounting bracket 14 has a mounting wall 38 that can be coupled to the window. The mounting wall 38 has a first mounting surface 40 configured to face the window and a second mounting surface 42 configured to face away from the window. The camera view window 44 in the mounting bracket 14 is defined by first and second spaced-apart sidewalls 46, 48 and a bottom wall 50 extending between and connecting the first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls 46, 48 extend from the first mounting surface 40 away from the window when the mounting bracket 14 is coupled to the window. As shown in FIG. 1 , when the camera 12 is attached to the mounting bracket 14, the lens 22 has an unobstructed field of view through the camera view window 44.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the mounting bracket 14 also includes at least one bracket wall 52 that extends from the second mounting surface 42 away from the window when the mounting bracket is coupled to the window. The mounting bracket 14 is shown as having two bracket walls 52 that extend generally parallel to each other on opposite sides of the camera 12 when the camera is coupled to the mounting bracket. Each bracket wall 52 includes an edge 54, such as a rearward-facing edge, that engages with the upper tab 32 when the camera 12 is secured to the mounting bracket 14. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge 54 can extend at an angle α, e.g., an acute angle, relative to the second mounting surface 42. Thus, the camera 12 extends at a desired angle relative to the mounting bracket 14 and / or the window when engaging the edge. At least one of the edge portions 54, and preferably each edge portion, includes a protrusion 56. Each protrusion 56 is received in an associated notch 36 in the housing 16. Although the mounting bracket 14 is described as having at least one protrusion 56 for being received in an associated notch 36 in the housing 16, it is contemplated that the mounting bracket can have any desired number of protrusions extending into the notches in the housing.

[0013] A resilient arm 58 having a detent 60 extends from the associated bracket wall 52. The mounting bracket 38 is shown as having a resilient arm 58 having a detent 60 extending from each bracket wall 52. However, it is contemplated that the mounting bracket 14 may include any desired number of resilient arms 58 having any desired number of detents 60. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the resilient arms 58 may be spaced apart from the edge 54. The detents 60 have a stop surface 62 extending laterally, e.g., at a 90° angle, relative to the portion of the resilient arm 58 from which the detents extend. The stop surface 62 engages the lower tab 34 when the camera 12 is secured to the mounting bracket 14.

[0014] 3, each resilient arm 58 can have a contact extension 64 extending from the detent portion 60. The contact extension 64 can have a substantially flat surface. A user can easily move the resilient arm 58 by engaging the contact extension to decouple the camera 12 from the mounting bracket 14.

[0015] 4, each resilient arm 58 can extend at least partially outward, i.e., away from each other and from the opposite bracket wall 52. This outward extension can cause a portion of each resilient arm 58 to be spaced further from the opposite bracket wall 52 than its associated bracket wall, thereby causing the bracket walls 52 to be spaced closer to each other than the portions of the resilient arms 58.

[0016] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the U-shaped receiving wall 66 extends from the second mounting surface 42 away from the window when the mounting bracket 14 is coupled to the window. The mounting bracket 14 is shown as having two U-shaped receiving walls 66 on opposite sides of the second mounting surface 42. Each U-shaped receiving wall 66 may be integrally formed with the associated bracket wall 52. The U-shaped receiving wall 66 defines a receiving opening 68 for receiving the upper tab 32. As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the receiving opening 68 may extend through the mounting wall 38.

[0017] The mounting bracket 14 may further include at least one resilient tab 70 extending from the second mounting surface 42. The at least one resilient tab 70 engages with the upper tab 32 when the camera 12 is secured to the mounting bracket 14. It is contemplated that the housing 16 may include any desired number of resilient tabs 70, preferably two resilient tabs on the second mounting surface 42. Each resilient tab 70 may extend from the mounting wall 38, for example, from an edge 72 that helps define an associated receiving opening 68. Each resilient tab 70 extends away from the window when the mounting bracket 14 is coupled to the window. The resilient tab 70 is spaced from the bracket wall 52 and adjacent to the receiving opening 68. The resilient tab 70 may extend into the receiving opening.

[0018] The mounting bracket 14 may also include a reinforcing rib 74. The reinforcing rib 74 may extend between the bracket wall 52 and the second mounting surface 42. The reinforcing rib 74 helps prevent the bracket wall 52 from bending.

[0019] 5 and 6 illustrate an exemplary sequence for securing the camera 12 to the mounting bracket 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper tab 32 is inserted into the receiving opening 68 along with the lower tab 34, spaced from the detent 60. A lower surface 76 of the U-shaped receiving wall 66 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), i.e., the surface of the U-shaped receiving wall that faces away from the window when the mounting bracket 14 is coupled to the window, can engage with the housing 16. An outer side wall 78 of the U-shaped receiving wall 66 can engage with the upper tab 32 to at least partially prevent lateral movement of the camera 12 when the upper tab is received in the receiving opening 68. Thus, the lower surface 76 and the outer side wall 78 of the U-shaped receiving wall 66 can assist in aligning the camera 12 with respect to the mounting bracket 14 when the upper tab 32 is inserted into the receiving opening 68.

[0020] After the upper tab 32 is inserted into the receiving opening 68, the camera 12 can be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket 14 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. The camera 12 is pivoted until the first surface 18 of the housing 16 engages the edge 54 of the bracket wall 52 at the upper tab 32. The angle α at which the edge 54 extends relative to the second mounting surface 42 prevents the camera lens 22 from pivoting into engagement with the window and / or getting too close to the window. Thus, once the upper tab 32 engages the edge 54, the camera 12 is at a desired angle relative to the window and / or mounting bracket 14 to monitor the environment ahead of the vehicle.

[0021] The upper tab 32 bends the resilient tab 70 away from the bracket wall 52 as the camera 12 pivots. The resilient tab 70 can remain bent even after the housing 16 engages the edge 54. The resilient tab 70 applies a force to the second surface 20 of the housing 16 at the upper tab 32 that urges the upper tab 32 to engage the edge 54. The resilient tab 70 therefore helps the camera 12 remain attached to the mounting bracket 14 in a desired orientation relative to the mounting bracket.

[0022] The protrusion 56 is received in the notch 36 as the camera 12 pivots. The protrusion 56 can engage with at least one of the upper and lower tabs 32, 34 and can prevent the camera 12 from moving toward or away from the second mounting surface 42 and / or the window when the camera is secured to the window by the mounting bracket 14. For example, the protrusion 56 can engage with the upper tab 32 and can prevent the camera 12 from moving away from the second mounting surface 42 and / or the window when the camera is secured to the window. Thus, the protrusion 56 helps the camera 12 remain attached to the mounting bracket 14 in a desired orientation relative to the mounting bracket and / or the window.

[0023] The lower tab 34 moves toward the detents 60 as the camera 12 pivots relative to the mounting bracket 14. When the lower tab 34 engages the detents 60 upon pivoting, the resilient arms 58 move outward (i.e., away from each other). The lower tab 34 is pivoted relative to the mounting bracket 14 until it slides past the detents 60. After sliding past the detents 60, the lower tab 34 snaps into the resilient arms 58 to couple the housing 16 to the mounting bracket 14. The second surface 20 of the housing 16 at the lower tab 34 can engage a stop surface 62 when the camera 12 is attached to the mounting bracket 14. The stop surface 62 assists in attaching the camera 12 to the mounting bracket 14.

[0024] Due to the outward extension of the resilient arm 58, the resilient arm and detent 60 do not engage the first surface 18 of the housing 16 at the lower tab 34 when the camera 12 is secured to the mounting bracket 14. The bracket wall 52 also does not engage the first surface 18 of the housing 16 at the lower tab 34. The first surface 18 of the housing 16 engages the edge 54 of the bracket wall 52 only when the camera 12 is secured to the mounting bracket 14. However, it is contemplated that the first surface 18 of the housing 16 could also engage one or more of the resilient arm 58, detent 60, and bracket wall 52 at the lower tab 34.

[0025] From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of those skilled in the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims. The present invention may also include the following aspects: 1. A camera having a housing and a lens extending from the housing; a mounting bracket having a mounting wall portion coupleable to a vehicle window, the mounting wall portion having a first mounting surface configured to face toward the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window, at least one bracket wall portion extending from the second mounting surface and having an edge portion that engages with the housing; at least one resilient arm extending from the at least one bracket wall and engaging the housing; at least one resilient tab extending from the mounting wall and engaging the housing to urge the housing into engagement with the edge portion and maintain engagement of the housing with the edge portion; A driver assistance system for a vehicle, comprising: 2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein at least one bracket wall has a protrusion that extends into a notch in the housing. 3. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient arm includes a detent having a stop surface that engages with the camera housing. 4. A driver assistance system as described in 3 above, characterized in that the stop surface of the detent portion is substantially flat and extends at an angle of 90° to a portion of the resilient arm. 5. A driver assistance system as described in claim 3, wherein the mounting bracket includes two bracket wall portions, each bracket wall portion having an associated resilient arm with a detent portion, the resilient arms extending away from each other, and portions of the resilient arms being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance the bracket wall portions are spaced apart. 6. A driver assistance system as described in claim 5, wherein when the camera is secured to the mounting bracket, a first surface of the housing engages only with the edge portion, and when the camera is secured to the mounting bracket, the detent portion engages with a second surface of the housing, the second surface of the housing being opposite the first surface. 7. A driver assistance system as described in claim 1, wherein the edge portion extends at an acute angle to the second mounting surface to prevent the lens from engaging with the vehicle window. 8. The driver assistance system described in 1 above, further comprising at least one U-shaped receiving wall extending from the second mounting surface and defining a receiving opening into which a portion of the housing is received, and wherein at least one elastic tab extends into the receiving opening and engages with the portion of the housing received in the receiving opening. 9. A driver assistance system as described in 8 above, characterized in that one surface of at least one U-shaped receiving wall portion configured to face away from the vehicle window is engageable with the housing. 10. A driver assistance system as described in claim 8, wherein at least one side wall portion of the U-shape is engageable with the housing to at least partially prevent movement of the camera relative to the mounting bracket when the housing is received in the receiving opening. 11. The driver assistance system described in 1. above, further comprising a camera view window in the mounting bracket defined by first and second spaced-apart side wall portions and a bottom wall portion extending between the first and second side wall portions and interconnecting the first and second side wall portions, wherein when the mounting bracket is coupled to the vehicle window, the first and second side wall portions extend from the first mounting surface away from the vehicle window, and when the camera is attached to the mounting bracket, the lens has an unobstructed field of view through the camera view window. 12. A camera having a housing and a lens extending from the housing, the housing having a plurality of notches therein; a mounting bracket having a mounting wall portion coupleable to a vehicle window, the mounting wall portion having a first mounting surface configured to face toward the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window, a plurality of bracket wall portions extending from the second mounting surface, each bracket wall portion having an edge portion that engages with the housing; a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion extending from an associated edge of an associated bracket wall to an associated notch in the housing; a plurality of resilient arms, each extending from an associated bracket wall and engaging the housing; a plurality of resilient tabs extending from the mounting wall and engaging the housing to urge the housing into engagement with the edge; A driver assistance system for a vehicle, comprising: 13. A driver assistance system as set forth in claim 12, wherein each resilient arm includes a detent portion having a stop surface that engages the housing. 14. A driver assistance system as described in claim 13, characterized in that the resilient arms extend away from each other and portions of the resilient arms are spaced apart by a distance greater than the distance that the bracket wall portions are spaced apart. 15. A driver assistance system as described in claim 14, wherein when the camera is secured to the mounting bracket, a first surface of the housing substantially engages only the edge portion, and when the camera is secured to the mounting bracket, the detent portion engages a second surface of the housing, the second surface being opposite the first surface. 16. A driver assistance system as described in claim 12, wherein each edge portion extends at an acute angle relative to the second mounting surface to prevent the lens from engaging with the vehicle window. 17. The driver assistance system described in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of U-shaped receiving wall portions extending from the second mounting surface and defining receiving openings into which portions of the housing are received, wherein each resilient tab extends into an associated receiving opening and engages with a portion of the housing received in the associated receiving opening. 18. The driver assistance system described in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of first tabs separated from at least one second tab by a notch, the first tabs are configured to be spaced closer to the vehicle window than the at least one second tab, each first tab is engaged by both an associated resilient tab and an associated edge portion of the bracket wall, and at least one second tab is engaged by a resilient arm. 19. The driver assistance system described in paragraph 18 above, further comprising a plurality of receiving wall portions extending from the second mounting surface and defining receiving openings in which the first tabs are received, each resilient tab extending into an associated receiving opening and engaging with an associated first tab received in the associated receiving opening. 20. The driver assistance system described in claim 18, characterized in that the housing has a first surface from which the lens extends and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface of the housing is engaged only by the edge portion of the bracket wall portion, the resilient tab engages with the second surface of the housing at the first tab and urges the first surface of the housing to engage with the edge portion of the bracket wall portion, and the resilient arm has a detent portion that engages with the second surface of the housing at at least one second tab.

Claims

1. A camera having a housing having at least one upper tab, at least one lower tab, and at least one notch formed between the upper tab and the lower tab, and a lens extending from the housing; a mounting bracket having a mounting wall portion coupleable to a vehicle window, the mounting wall portion having a first mounting surface configured to face toward the vehicle window and a second mounting surface configured to face away from the vehicle window, the mounting bracket having at least one bracket wall portion extending from the second mounting surface, the bracket wall portion having an edge portion that engages with the upper tab, a protrusion portion that engages with the notch, and at least one resilient arm that engages with the lower tab; at least one resilient tab extending from the mounting wall and engaging the upper tab to urge the upper tab into engagement with the edge portion and maintain engagement of the upper tab with the edge portion; A driver assistance system for a vehicle, comprising:

2. A driver assistance system as described in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the elastic arms includes a return stop portion having a stop surface that engages with the lower tab.

3. A driver assistance system as described in Claim 2, characterized in that the stopper surface of the anti-return portion is substantially flat and extends at an angle of 90° relative to a portion of the elastic arm.

4. A driver assistance system as described in Claim 2, characterized in that the mounting bracket includes two bracket wall portions, each bracket wall portion having an associated resilient arm with a detent portion, the resilient arms extending away from each other, and portions of the resilient arms being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance the bracket wall portions are spaced apart.

5. A driver assistance system as described in claim 4, characterized in that when the camera is fixed to the mounting bracket, a first surface of the housing engages only with the edge portion, and when the camera is fixed to the mounting bracket, the anti-return portion engages with a second surface of the housing, the second surface of the housing being opposite to the first surface.

6. A driver assistance system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the edge portion extends at an acute angle relative to the second mounting surface to prevent the lens from engaging with the vehicle window.

7. A driver assistance system as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one U-shaped receiving wall extending from the second mounting surface and defining a receiving opening in which the upper tab is received, wherein the at least one elastic tab extends into the receiving opening and engages with the upper tab received in the receiving opening.

8. A driver assistance system as described in Claim 7, characterized in that one surface of the at least one U-shaped receiving wall portion, configured to face away from the vehicle window, is engageable with the upper tab.

9. A driver assistance system as described in Claim 7, characterized in that at least one U-shaped side wall portion is engageable with the upper tab to at least partially prevent movement of the camera relative to the mounting bracket when the upper tab is received in the receiving opening.

10. 2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a camera view window in the mounting bracket defined by first and second spaced-apart side wall portions and a bottom wall portion extending between and interconnecting the first and second side wall portions, wherein the first and second side wall portions extend from the first mounting surface away from the vehicle window when the mounting bracket is coupled to the vehicle window, and wherein the lens has an unobstructed field of view through the camera view window when the camera is attached to the mounting bracket.

11. A driver assistance system as described in claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the upper tabs are configured to be spaced closer to the vehicle window than the at least one lower tab, each upper tab is engaged by both the associated elastic tab and the associated edge portion of the bracket wall portion, and at least one lower tab is engaged by the elastic arm.

12. A driver assistance system as described in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of receiving wall portions extending from the second mounting surface and defining receiving openings into which the upper tabs are received, wherein the elastic tabs extend into the associated receiving openings and engage with the associated upper tabs received in the associated receiving openings.

13. A driver assistance system as described in claim 11, characterized in that the housing has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the lens extends from the first surface, the first surface of the housing is engaged only by the edge portion of the bracket wall portion, the elastic tab engages the second surface of the housing at the upper tab and urges the first surface of the housing to engage with the edge portion of the bracket wall portion, and the elastic arm has a detent portion that engages with the second surface of the housing at the at least one lower tab.

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