Bracket and information acquisition module

Abstract

The present invention provides a bracket that can be used to appropriately mount an information acquisition device onto vehicular window glass. The bracket according to an aspect of the present invention is a plastic bracket (1) for securing an information acquisition device onto vehicular window glass having a curved shape. The bracket (1) comprises a plurality of regions (10a, 10b) and a connecting region (11) provided between the plurality of regions (10a, 10b). The connecting region (11) is mesh-like and flexibly connects each of the plurality of regions (10a, 10b).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracket and an information acquisition module. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, development of driving assistance systems has progressed, in which an information acquisition device such as a camera is attached to the windshield of a vehicle to assist the driver in driving. The information acquisition device used in the driving assistance system is attached to the windshield via a resin bracket. For example, the resin bracket is attached to the windshield using an adhesive, and the information acquisition device is fixed to this attached bracket. Then, a cover that covers the information acquisition device is attached to the bracket, thereby attaching the information acquisition device such as a camera to the windshield.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques relating to brackets for attaching an information acquisition device such as a camera to the windshield of an automobile. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6067131 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6788613 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In recent years, as driving assistance systems have become more sophisticated, the number of information acquisition devices attached to vehicle window glass (windshield) has increased. As the number of information acquisition devices attached to vehicle window glass increases, the area of ​​the bracket for attaching the information acquisition devices also increases.

[0006] However, because vehicle window glass has a curved shape, increasing the area of ​​the bracket increases the restoring force (the force that tries to return to its original shape: see the lower diagram in Figure 3) that acts on the bracket when it is attached to the vehicle window glass. This causes problems such as the bracket peeling off after being attached to the vehicle window glass, the position of the fixing member for attaching the information acquisition device being shifted, and poor fitting.

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a bracket and an information acquisition module that can appropriately attach an information acquisition device to a vehicle window glass. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket made of resin for fixing an information acquisition device to a curved vehicle window glass, the bracket comprising a plurality of regions and a connecting region provided between the plurality of regions, the connecting region being mesh-like and flexibly connecting each of the plurality of regions.

[0009] An information acquisition module according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned bracket attached to a vehicle window glass, a plurality of information acquisition devices respectively attached to the plurality of areas of the bracket, and a cover covering the plurality of information acquisition devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention provides a bracket and an information acquisition module that can appropriately mount an information acquisition device on a vehicle window glass. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining a bracket according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an information acquisition module according to an embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bracket according to a conventional technique is attached to a vehicle window glass. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bracket according to an embodiment is attached to a vehicle window glass. [Figure 5] 1 is a plan view illustrating a case where the bracket according to the embodiment is attached to a vehicle window glass. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the bracket is attached to a vehicle window glass. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a case where the bracket according to the embodiment is attached to a window glass for a vehicle. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining a specific configuration example of the bracket according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example of the configuration of the connecting region. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example of the configuration of the connecting region. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a bracket according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, bracket 1 according to the present embodiment includes multiple regions 10a, 10b and a connecting region 11. Connecting region 11 is in a mesh shape with at least some of the members removed, and flexibly connects each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b. Holes 18a, 18b are provided in each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b.

[0013] In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, multiple regions 10a and 10b are aligned in the x-axis direction (left-right direction). Regions 10a and 10b are connected via a connecting region 11. Multiple elongated holes 15 are formed in the connecting region 11. That is, by removing at least a portion of the material constituting the connecting region 11 to form the elongated holes 15, the connecting region 11 can be made mesh-like. By making the connecting region 11 mesh-like in this way, the multiple regions 10a and 10b can be flexibly connected. Specifically, the connecting region 11 connects the multiple regions 10a and 10b so that they can be displaced in the x-axis direction (left-right direction), the z-axis direction (a direction different from the x-axis and y-axis directions), and the y-axis direction (up-down direction). Note that in each drawing, the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction are perpendicular to each other, but they may be oblique rather than perpendicular to each other.

[0014] 1, the plurality of slots 15 formed in the connecting region 11 are slots whose longitudinal direction extends in the y-axis direction. Therefore, the connecting region 11 has a structure that allows it to easily expand and contract in the x-axis direction. Therefore, the connecting region 11 can connect the regions 10a and 10b so as to easily expand and contract in the x-axis direction.

[0015] The bracket 1 according to this embodiment is made of a resin material, such as polybutylene terephthalate or a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Glass fiber may also be mixed with these resins. For example, the bracket 1 can be integrally formed by injection molding. That is, the bracket 1 can be integrally formed by injecting molten resin material into a mold corresponding to the shapes of the multiple regions 10a, 10b and the connecting region 11, and then cooling the material.

[0016] The bracket 1 according to this embodiment is used to fix an information acquisition device to a curved vehicle window glass. The vehicle window glass may be a windshield attached to the front of the vehicle, a rear window attached to the rear of the vehicle, or a fixed side window attached to the side of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an information acquisition module 20 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 1 is attached to the interior side of a vehicle window glass 21. For example, the bracket 1 is attached to the vehicle window glass 21 using an adhesive. An information acquisition device 22 is attached to the bracket 1. For example, the information acquisition device 22 can be fixed to the bracket 1 by fitting, screwing, or the like, the information acquisition device 22 to a fixing member provided on the bracket 1. In addition, a cover 23 that covers the information acquisition device 22 is fixed to the bracket 1. For example, the cover 23 can be fixed to the bracket 1 by fitting, screwing, or the like, the cover 23 to a fixing member provided on the bracket 1.

[0017] 1, it is preferable to attach different information acquisition devices 22 to each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b, but the same information acquisition device 22 may also be attached to each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b. Each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b is provided with a fixing member for fixing the respective information acquisition device 22. By attaching different information acquisition devices 22 to each of the multiple regions 10a, 10b in this manner, the connecting region 11 can flexibly bend and expand, and therefore, even if the relative positions of the multiple regions 10a, 10b are shifted, a decrease in the attachment accuracy of the information acquisition devices 22 can be suppressed.

[0018] The information acquisition device 22 may be, for example, at least one of a camera, a millimeter wave radar, an infrared sensor, a communication device, a raindrop sensor, and a temperature and humidity sensor. Note that in this embodiment, the information acquisition device 22 is not limited to these, and may be any device that can be mounted on a vehicle window glass.

[0019] In this embodiment, holes 18a, 18b are formed in the multiple regions 10a, 10b, and by aligning, for example, a camera lens, a millimeter-wave radar transmitter / receiver, or an infrared sensor light receiver with the positions of the holes 18a, 18b, information outside the vehicle can be appropriately acquired. In this embodiment, a hole separate from the holes 18a, 18b for the information acquisition device 22 may be formed in one of the multiple regions 10a, 10b, and a mirror base for a rearview mirror may be directly attached to the vehicle window glass through the hole. Furthermore, the multiple regions may include a region in which the information acquisition device 22 cannot be attached.

[0020] As described above, in recent years, the number of information acquisition devices attached to vehicle window glass has increased along with the advancement of functionality of driving assistance systems. As the number of information acquisition devices attached to vehicle window glass increases, the area of ​​the bracket for attaching the information acquisition devices also increases.

[0021] Vehicle window glass has a curved shape. On the other hand, the surface of the bracket that adheres to the vehicle window glass is not curved but is almost flat. Therefore, if the area of ​​the bracket increases, the bracket is attached so that it conforms to the curved surface of the vehicle window glass, and the restoring force (the force that tries to return to its original shape) acting on the bracket increases.

[0022] Specifically, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3, the vehicle window glass 121 has a curved shape, and therefore when the bracket 101, whose surface to be bonded to the vehicle window glass is substantially flat, is attached so as to fit along the curved surface of the vehicle window glass 121, a restoring force (a force on the positive side in the z-axis direction) acts on the bracket 101 to return it to its original shape, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3. The magnitude of this restoring force increases as the area of ​​the bracket 101 increases. In this way, when the restoring force acting on the bracket 101 increases, there are problems such as the bracket 101 peeling off after being attached to the vehicle window glass 121, the position of a fixing member for attaching an information acquisition device being shifted, and poor fitting occurring.

[0023] In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 4 , a connecting region 11 is provided between the multiple regions 10a, 10b of the bracket 1. The connecting region 11 is mesh-like and flexibly connects the multiple regions 10a, 10b. Therefore, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4 , when the bracket 1 is attached to a curved vehicle window glass 21, each of the regions 10a, 10b can conform to the curvature of the surface of the vehicle window glass 21. This reduces the restoring force acting on the bracket 1 when attached to the vehicle window glass 21. This configuration prevents the bracket 1 from peeling off after being attached to the vehicle window glass 21, the position of the fixing member for attaching the information acquisition device from shifting, and poor fitting. Therefore, a bracket and an information acquisition module that can properly attach an information acquisition device to a vehicle window glass can be provided.

[0024] In this embodiment, the multiple regions 10a, 10b may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) of the vehicle window glass 21. In this case, when the bracket 1 is attached to the vehicle window glass 21 having a curved shape, the connecting region 11 connects the multiple regions 10a, 10b so as to follow the curvature of the vehicle window glass surface in the left-right direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, the multiple regions may be arranged side by side in the vertical direction (y-axis direction) of the vehicle window glass 21 (see regions 10b and 10d in FIG. 10). In this case, when the bracket is attached to the curved vehicle window glass 21, the connecting region connects the multiple regions so as to follow the curvature of the surface of the vehicle window glass 21 in the vertical direction.

[0026] For example, the radius of curvature of the vehicle window glass 21 in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) is 2500 mm to 11000 mm, and the radius of curvature in the up-down direction (y-axis direction) is 2000 mm to 7000 mm. That is, the vehicle window glass 21 has a complex curved shape, being curved in both the left-right direction (x-axis direction) and the up-down direction (y-axis direction). The radius of curvature in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) and the radius of curvature in the up-down direction (y-axis direction) may be the same or different. The bracket 1 according to this embodiment can be suitably used for vehicle window glass having such radii of curvature. For example, the length of one region of the bracket 1 in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) is preferably 80 mm to 100 mm, and the length in the up-down direction (y-axis direction) is preferably 60 mm to 80 mm.

[0027] In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the connecting region 11 extends in the y-axis direction, but in this embodiment, the connecting region 11 may be configured to be oblique to the y-axis direction.

[0028] In this embodiment, the multiple regions 10a and 10b may be arranged diagonally (diagonally relative to the x-axis and y-axis). In this case, the direction in which the connecting region 11 extends may also be diagonally (diagonally relative to the x-axis and y-axis).

[0029] In this embodiment, the number of the plurality of regions and the number of the connecting regions can be determined arbitrarily. For example, in this embodiment, the number of the plurality of regions may be determined depending on the number of the information acquisition devices 22 attached to the bracket 1.

[0030] Next, a case where the bracket according to this embodiment is attached to a vehicle window glass will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a case where the bracket according to this embodiment is attached to a vehicle window glass. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5, showing a state where an adhesive has been applied to the bracket. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the bracket has been attached to a vehicle window glass. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the dashed line portion in FIG. 8. Note that FIGS. 5 to 9 show a configuration in which the bracket 1 includes three regions 10a to 10c and two connecting regions 11 and 12. Specifically, the connecting region 11 flexibly connects the region 10a to the region 10b, and the connecting region 12 flexibly connects the region 10b to the region 10c. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, holes 18a to 18c are provided in each of the regions 10a to 10c.

[0031] The vehicle window glass 21 may be a single piece of glass or may be laminated glass. When the vehicle window glass is a windshield, the vehicle window glass is preferably laminated glass. When the vehicle window glass is laminated glass, the vehicle window glass is formed by bonding an interior glass sheet located on the interior side of the vehicle and an exterior glass sheet located on the exterior side of the vehicle via an interlayer film when the vehicle is installed in a vehicle.

[0032] The vehicle window glass may be inorganic glass or organic glass. Examples of inorganic glass that can be used include, without particular limitation, soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, alkali-free glass, and quartz glass. Among these, soda-lime glass is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of production cost and formability. The method for forming the vehicle window glass is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of inorganic glass, a glass plate formed by a float method or the like is preferred.

[0033] When the vehicle window glass is inorganic glass, the vehicle window glass may be either untempered glass or tempered glass. Untempered glass is produced by forming molten glass into a plate shape and slowly cooling it. Tempered glass is produced by forming a compressive stress layer on the surface of untempered glass, and may be either air-cooled tempered glass or chemically tempered glass. When the vehicle window glass is laminated glass, the interior glass sheet and the exterior glass sheet may be untempered glass. When the vehicle window glass is a single piece of glass, it may be tempered glass.

[0034] When the tempered glass is physically tempered glass (for example, air-cooled tempered glass), the glass surface may be tempered by generating a compressive stress layer on the glass surface due to a temperature difference between the glass surface and the interior of the glass through an operation other than slow cooling, such as rapidly cooling a glass sheet uniformly heated during bending from a temperature near its softening point. When the tempered glass is chemically tempered glass, the glass surface may be tempered by generating compressive stress on the glass surface by an ion exchange method or the like after bending. Furthermore, glass that absorbs ultraviolet or infrared rays may be used as the vehicle window glass. The vehicle window glass is preferably transparent, but may also be a glass sheet that is colored to the extent that transparency is not impaired.

[0035] The vehicle window glass may have a curved shape such that the vehicle exterior side is convex when installed in a vehicle. When the vehicle window glass is a laminated glass, both the vehicle interior glass sheet and the vehicle exterior glass sheet may have a curved shape such that the vehicle exterior side is convex. As described above, the vehicle window glass has a radius of curvature in the left-right direction (x-axis direction) of 2500 mm to 11000 mm and a radius of curvature in the up-down direction (y-axis direction) of 2000 mm to 7000 mm. Gravity forming, press forming, roller forming, or the like is used to bend the vehicle window glass.

[0036] When the vehicle window glass is laminated glass, the thickness of the interior glass sheet and the thickness of the exterior glass sheet may be the same or different. The thickness of the interior glass sheet is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 2.3 mm or less. A thickness of 0.3 mm or more for the interior glass sheet allows for good handling, while a thickness of 2.3 mm or less prevents the weight from becoming too large. The thickness of the exterior glass sheet is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less. A thickness of 1.0 mm or more for the exterior glass sheet provides sufficient strength, such as resistance to flying stones, while a thickness of 3.0 mm or less prevents the weight of the laminated glass from becoming too large, which is preferable in terms of vehicle fuel efficiency. It is preferable that the thicknesses of the exterior glass sheet and the interior glass sheet are each 1.8 mm or less, since this allows for both lightweight laminated glass and sound insulation. Note that when the thickness of the interior glass sheet is 1.0 mm or less, the interior glass sheet may be chemically strengthened glass. When the glass plate for the interior side of a vehicle is chemically strengthened glass, it is preferable that the compressive stress value of the glass surface is 300 MPa or more and the depth of the compressive stress layer is 2 μm or more.

[0037] When the vehicle window glass is a laminated glass, the interlayer film is, for example, a known thermoplastic resin film made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The interlayer film may be transparent or colored. The interlayer film may also be composed of two or more layers of film.

[0038] When the vehicle window glass is organic glass, examples of the material for the organic glass include transparent resins such as polycarbonate and acrylic resins (for example, polymethyl methacrylate).

[0039] The vehicle window glass has a shielding layer on its periphery. When the vehicle window glass is laminated glass, the shielding layer may be provided on at least one of the periphery of the interior surface of the vehicle interior glass sheet and the periphery of the interior surface of the vehicle exterior glass sheet. The shielding layer is formed, for example, by applying and firing a ceramic color paste containing a fusible glass frit containing a black pigment. The shielding layer can prevent deterioration of adhesives and the like applied to the vehicle window glass due to ultraviolet rays, so the bracket 1 according to this embodiment is attached onto the shielding layer. Note that various appropriate films may be formed on the main surfaces of the vehicle window glass from the viewpoints of improving weather resistance and functionality such as hydrophilicity and water repellency.

[0040] 5 and 7, when attaching the bracket 1 according to this embodiment to a vehicle window glass 21, adhesive 51 is applied to the bracket 1 and then attached to the vehicle window glass 21. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, by temporarily fixing the bracket 1 to the vehicle window glass 21 using double-sided tapes 17a to 17d, it is possible to prevent the bracket 1 from peeling off or shifting from the vehicle window glass 21 while the adhesive 51 is drying.

[0041] 5, the multiple regions 10a to 10c connected by the connecting regions 11, 12 are preferably each fixed to the vehicle window glass 21 with an adhesive 51. When the multiple regions 10a to 10c are each fixed to the vehicle window glass 21 with the adhesive 51, the multiple regions 10a to 10c do not change relative to one another. In other words, after the bracket 1 is attached to the vehicle window glass 21 and the adhesive 51 dries, the attachment positions of the regions 10a to 10c do not change either in the in-plane direction of the vehicle window glass 21 or in the direction away from the surface of the vehicle window glass 21. In this embodiment, because the connecting region 11 is flexibly bendable and expandable, when the bracket 1 is attached to the vehicle window glass 21, it can follow the curved surface of the vehicle window glass 21 and can fine-tune the position even if the relative positions of the multiple regions 10a to 10c are misaligned, but after the adhesive 51 applied to the regions 10a to 10c dries and the bracket 1 is fixed to the vehicle window glass 21, the regions 10a to 10c do not move from their attached positions. Furthermore, even if the adhesive strength of any of the adhesives 51 applied to the regions 10a to 10c decreases due to deterioration or the like, because the regions 10a to 10c are connected by the connecting regions 11, 12, it is possible to prevent the region with the decreased adhesive strength from moving in either a direction within the plane of the vehicle window glass 21 or in a direction away from the plane of the vehicle window glass 21.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, when applying adhesive 51 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 5) to bracket 1 and attaching it to vehicle window glass 21, the adhesive may be applied not only to regions 10a-10c of bracket 1 but also to at least parts of connecting regions 11 and 12. That is, an adhesive layer may be formed not only to regions 10a-10c of bracket 1 but also to at least parts of connecting regions 11 and 12. Furthermore, the adhesive layer in regions 10a-10c of bracket 1 and the adhesive layer in at least parts of connecting regions 11 and 12 may be formed continuously. When applying adhesive 51 to bracket 1 and attaching it to vehicle window glass 21, forming an adhesive layer in at least parts of connecting regions 11 and 12 increases the bonding area between bracket 1 and vehicle window glass 21, which is preferable because it improves the bonding strength of bracket 1.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, when applying adhesive 51 to bracket 1, adhesive 51 is applied to bracket 1 placed on adhesive application jig 55. At this time, the viscosity of adhesive 51 prevents adhesive 51 applied onto elongated hole 15 in connecting region 11 from dropping below elongated hole 15. Therefore, adhesive 51 can also be applied to connecting region 11 in which elongated hole 15 is formed.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the bracket 1 is attached to the vehicle window glass 21, the adhesive 51 also fills the elongated holes 15 in the connecting regions 11 and 12 (the adhesive that has filled the elongated holes 15 is indicated by reference numeral 53), making it possible to visually confirm that the adhesive has been applied reliably. Furthermore, in the process of applying the adhesive 51 to the bracket 1, the adhesive 51 can be applied continuously to the regions 10a to 10c and the connecting regions 11 and 12 (see FIG. 5), which is preferable. Note that, when an adhesive layer is also formed in the connecting regions 11 and 12 of the bracket 1, the adhesive may fill the elongated holes 15 in the connecting regions 11 and 12 partway, or the elongated holes 15 may be completely filled with the adhesive (see FIG. 7). Furthermore, the adhesive 51 may be applied to all of the elongated holes 15 in the connecting regions 11 and 12 to form an adhesive layer, or the adhesive layer may be formed only in some parts.

[0045] 8, by temporarily fixing the bracket 1 to the vehicle window glass 21 using double-sided tapes 17a to 17d, the bottom surface of the bracket 1 (region 10b) can be properly fixed to the surface of the curved vehicle window glass 21. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the thickness of double-sided tape 17c on the positive side in the x-axis direction is t1 and the thickness on the negative side in the x-axis direction is t2, so that the difference in distance between the surface of the vehicle window glass 21 and the bottom surface of region 10b can be eliminated by double-sided tape 17c.

[0046] In the above description, the bracket 1 is temporarily fixed using the double-sided tapes 17a to 17d when attaching the bracket 1 to the vehicle window glass 21 using the adhesive 51. However, in this embodiment, it is not essential to temporarily fix the bracket 1 using the double-sided tapes 17a to 17d, and the bracket 1 may be directly attached to the vehicle window glass 21 using the adhesive 51 without using the double-sided tapes 17a to 17d.

[0047] Next, a specific configuration example of the bracket according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the plan view shown in Fig. 10. The bracket 2 shown in Fig. 10 includes regions 10a to 10d. Regions 10a to 10c are aligned in the x-axis direction, which corresponds to the left-right direction of the vehicle window glass. Regions 10b and 10d are aligned in the y-axis direction, which corresponds to the up-down direction of the vehicle window glass.

[0048] A connecting region 11 is provided between region 10a and region 10b. The connecting region 11 flexibly connects region 10a and region 10b. A connecting region 12 is provided between region 10b and region 10c. The connecting region 12 flexibly connects region 10b and region 10c. A connecting region 13 is provided between region 10b and region 10d. The connecting region 13 flexibly connects region 10b and region 10d.

[0049] Holes 31a to 31d are provided in the regions 10a to 10d, respectively. Holes 31a to 31d are portions where the resin material that constitutes bracket 2 has been removed, and by aligning the position of, for example, a camera lens, a transmitting / receiving unit of a millimeter-wave radar, or a light receiving unit of an infrared sensor with the positions of holes 31a to 31d, information about the outside of the vehicle can be appropriately acquired.

[0050] Furthermore, fixing members 32a to 32d are provided in the regions 10a to 10d, respectively. When attaching each information acquisition device to each region 10a to 10d, each information acquisition device is fixed using each fixing member 32a to 32d. Note that, although an example in which the fixing members 32a to 32d have a protruding shape is shown in Fig. 10, the shape of the fixing members 32a to 32d is not limited to this.

[0051] Furthermore, fixing members 35a to 35f are provided on the bracket 2. For example, the fixing members 35a to 35f are formed in six locations on the bracket 2, and a cover that covers the entire bracket 2 can be fixed using the fixing members 35a to 35f. In other words, the fixing members 35a to 35f can be used to fix the covers that cover the information acquisition devices provided in each of the regions 10a to 10d. Note that a cover that covers each information acquisition device may be provided for each of the regions 10a to 10d.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 and the like, a plurality of elongated holes 15 are formed in the connecting region 11, making the connecting region 11 mesh-like. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, a plurality of polygonal holes 41 may be formed in the connecting region 11 to make the connecting region 11 mesh-like. Although the holes 41 in FIG. 11 are rhombic, the holes may also be hexagonal or octagonal. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, a plurality of circular holes 42 may be formed in the connecting region 11 to make the connecting region 11 mesh-like. Note that the holes 42 may also be elliptical. In this embodiment, the holes in the connecting region may have any other shape as long as they can be made mesh-like.

[0053] In bracket 1, it is preferable that slot 15 in connecting region 11 is a through-hole. Furthermore, it is preferable that the thickness of the portion of connecting region 11 that is not slot 15, i.e., the portion made of resin material, is the same as the thickness of at least one of the regions of multiple regions 10a, 10b that are adjacent to connecting region 11. If the thickness of the portion of connecting region 11 that is not slot 15, i.e., the portion made of resin material, is the same as the thickness of at least one of the regions of multiple regions 10a, 10b that are adjacent to connecting region 11, this improves the strength of bracket 1 in connecting region 11, and is therefore preferable.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures, it is preferable that the connecting region 11 has multiple rows of oblong holes 15 formed therein. Forming multiple rows of oblong holes 15 is preferable because it improves the strength of the bracket 1 in the connecting region 11 while also improving the flexibility and stretchability of the connecting region 11. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it is preferable that multiple rows of holes 41, 42 are formed therein. Note that, as shown in FIG. 10, the number of oblong holes in the connecting regions 11, 12 may vary depending on the row. As shown in FIG. 10, in the connecting regions 11, 12, the number of oblong holes may be greater on the outer periphery of the bracket 2, and the number of oblong holes may gradually decrease toward the center of the connecting regions 11, 12.

[0055] 1, etc., it is preferable that the connecting regions 11, 12, and 13 shown in Fig. 10 are formed continuously from the top to bottom side and / or from the right to left side of the bracket 2. Forming the connecting region continuously from the top to bottom side and / or from the right to left side of the bracket 2 is preferable because it improves the flexibility and stretchability of connecting regions 11, 12, and 13.

[0056] In connection regions 11, 12, and 13 shown in Figure 10, the ratio of the total area of ​​the elongated holes 15 to the area of ​​each connection region is preferably 20% or more and 50% or less. If the ratio of the total area of ​​the elongated holes 15 to the area of ​​the connection regions is 20% or more, the connection regions can bend and stretch flexibly, which is preferable. If the ratio of the total area of ​​the elongated holes 15 to the area of ​​the connection regions is 50% or less, the strength of the bracket 1 in connection regions 11, 12, and 13 is improved, which is preferable.

[0057] The bracket according to this embodiment can also be used to fix a component other than an information acquisition device to a vehicle window glass. For example, the bracket according to this embodiment can be used when fixing a resin component (e.g., a clip) to a vehicle window glass. That is, the bracket according to this embodiment can also be used as the seating surface of the resin component (clip, etc.). In this way, by using the bracket according to this embodiment as the seating surface of the resin component, it is possible to improve the adhesiveness when fixing the resin component to the vehicle window glass.

[0058] The present invention has been described above in accordance with the above-mentioned embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiment, and naturally includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that a person skilled in the art can make within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims of this application.

[0059] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-126544, filed on August 2, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1, 2 bracket 10a~10d area 11, 12, 13 Connected area 15 slotted hole 17a~17d Double-sided tape 18a~18c hole 20 Information Acquisition Module 21 Vehicle window glass 22 Information acquisition device 23 Cover 31a~31d Hole 32a to 32d Fixing members 35a~35f Fixing members Holes 41 and 42 51 Adhesive 55 Adhesive application jig

Claims

1. A resin bracket for fixing an information acquisition device to a curved vehicle window glass, The bracket is Multiple areas and a connecting region provided between the plurality of regions, the connecting region is mesh-shaped and flexibly connects each of the plurality of regions; the bracket is attached to the vehicle window glass via an adhesive layer, The adhesive layer is provided in the plurality of regions and also in at least a portion of the connecting region. bracket.

2. The plurality of regions are arranged to be aligned in the left-right direction of the vehicle window glass, the connecting region connects the plurality of regions so as to follow a curved surface in the left-right direction of the surface of the vehicle window glass when the bracket is attached to the vehicle window glass. The bracket of claim 1 .

3. The plurality of regions are arranged to be aligned in the vertical direction of the vehicle window glass, the connecting region connects the plurality of regions so as to follow a curved surface in the up-down direction of the surface of the vehicle window glass when the bracket is attached to the vehicle window glass. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a different information acquisition device can be attached to each of the plurality of regions, a fixing member for fixing each of the information acquisition devices is provided in each of the plurality of regions; The bracket according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting region has a shape in which a plurality of elongated holes are formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of regions are arranged.

6. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting region has a shape in which a plurality of circular holes are formed.

7. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting region has a shape in which a plurality of polygonal holes are formed.

8. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2 attached to the vehicle window glass; a plurality of information acquisition devices attached to the plurality of regions of the bracket, respectively; a cover for covering the plurality of information acquisition devices; Information acquisition module.

9. The information acquisition module according to claim 8 , wherein the information acquisition device is at least one of a camera, a millimeter wave radar, an infrared sensor, a communication device, a raindrop sensor, and a temperature and humidity sensor.

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