Automotive Sonar Self-Positioning Housing for Mold-Free Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive sonar assembly processes are inefficient and labor-intensive, leading to low yield rates and high personnel costs due to the small size and manual assembly of components.

Innovation Solution

The automotive sonar design features a housing with engaging members and a base with corresponding engaging portions, allowing for self-positioning and foolproof assembly without the need for assembly molds, enhancing assembly efficiency and yield rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly is used for small components, then assembly precision can be maintained, but assembly efficiency and productivity are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging members and engaging portions are designed to automatically guide and position components during assembly. The asymmetric circumferential arrangement creates a self-positioning mechanism that ensures correct alignment without requiring manual intervention or complex assembly molds, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically improving efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging members on the housing and corresponding engaging portions on the base are arranged asymmetrically around the circumference at different distances from a reference point. This asymmetric configuration creates a unique fit that automatically orients components correctly during assembly, eliminating the need for complex positioning procedures and enabling both high precision and high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual assembly is used, then flexibility is maintained, but labor costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The self-positioning engagement system performs the positioning function automatically through the asymmetric arrangement of engaging members and portions. This eliminates the need for time-consuming manual alignment operations while maintaining the adaptability of the assembly process to different production volumes and configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If assembly molds are used to ensure positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement structure itself provides the positioning function through its asymmetric geometry. The engaging members and portions are designed with specific circumferential positions that create a self-guiding mechanism during assembly, eliminating the need for external assembly molds or fixtures while maintaining high positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The asymmetric arrangement of engaging members and portions around the circumference creates a unique geometric key that automatically ensures correct positioning during assembly. This built-in positioning mechanism replaces complex external molds with a simple, integrated structural feature, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4617720A1Automotive sonar
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 TUNG THIH ELECTRONICS
  • EP4617720A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4617720A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4617720A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automotive sonar (1) includes a housing (100), a base (200), and a sensor (300). The housing (100) defines a circumference, and includes a front portion (110), a rear portion (130) and a body (120). The front portion (110) is formed to have a front opening (116), the rear portion (130) is formed to have a rear opening (136), and the front opening (116) is in communication with the rear opening (136). The body (120) is disposed between the front portion (110) and the rear portion (130), and includes a plurality of engaging members (124a) having different distances from one another on the circumference. The base (200) includes a plurality of engaging portions (212) aligned with the engaging members (124a). The sensor (300) is disposed on the base (200).