Acoustic Sensor Cover with Spring-Elastic Adaptation Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current acoustic sensors, especially ultrasonic sensors, are visually distinguishable on vehicle components due to a decoupling ring, limiting their integration and appearance, particularly with light-colored vehicles, as the ring cannot be painted to match the component's color.
Innovation Solution
A cover system for acoustic sensors that includes a membrane area for sound signal transmission, a spring-elastic adaptation area for seamless integration with the vehicle component, and a bead to reduce damping, allowing for a thin, unobtrusive design that can be painted to match the vehicle's surface, ensuring the sensor is practically invisible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a decoupling ring is used between the acoustic sensor and the vehicle component, then the sensor can be acoustically decoupled, but the sensor becomes visually visible and cannot be painted to match the vehicle component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional decoupling ring from the system and replaces it with a membrane area that integrates the acoustic sensor directly into the vehicle component surface. The membrane area serves both as an acoustic transmission surface and as a paintable surface that matches the vehicle component, eliminating the visible gap and decoupling ring while maintaining acoustic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the previously separate components (acoustic sensor, decoupling ring, and vehicle component surface) into a single integrated cover structure. The membrane area combines acoustic transmission functionality with visual integration, allowing the sensor to be both acoustically functional and visually invisible on the vehicle surface.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover is made thin for better visual integration, then the appearance is improved, but the structural strength and mounting reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thickness characteristics to different areas of the cover. The membrane area is made thin for visual integration and acoustic transmission, while the adaptation area and mounting area maintain sufficient thickness for structural strength, sealing functionality, and mechanical attachment. This local differentiation allows the cover to be both visually integrated and structurally sound.
3Ease of manufacture
If the adaptation area is made spring-elastic for better sealing and gap closure, then the optical appearance and sealing are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the adaptation area to be spring-elastic, allowing it to deform and seal against the vehicle component surface. This elastic property enables the adaptation area to close gaps and achieve optical integration without requiring complex mechanical sealing structures, balancing manufacturing complexity with optical appearance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a visually seamless integration of acoustic sensors with the vehicle component, enhancing their appearance and functionality by minimizing mechanical and optical visibility while maintaining effective sound signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane area is set up to be excited by an electroacoustic converter to oscillate in order to emit or receive a sound signal
Implementation Method 2
a bead runs around the membrane area on the second side of the cover area. Damping of the membrane area during an oscillation is thus reduced
Implementation Method 3
the adaptation area is spring-elastic. If the cover is introduced into a passage opening of a vehicle component, it is possible for the adaptation area to be pressed against a surface of the vehicle component by its resilient properties
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover (1) for securing an acoustic sensor to a through-opening of a vehicle component (12), comprising a cover region (2), which has a flat surface on a first face (2a) and comprises a membrane region (3) and an adaptation region (4). The flat surface of the cover region (2) comprises a surface of the membrane region (3) and a surface of the adaptation region (4); the adaptation region (4) forms an outer periphery of the flat surface of the cover region (2); and the membrane region (3) forms a central region of the flat surface. The cover also comprises a mounting region (5), which is arranged on a second face (2b) of the cover region (2) within an inner periphery of the adaptation region (4) and outside the membrane region (3) and comprises a support surface (6) on a face facing away from the first face (2a) of the cover region (2) and a spring elastic clamping region (7) designed to fix the cover (1) to a vehicle component (12) via the support surface (6) and the clamping region (7).