Vehicle Radar Mount Bracket with Deformable Shock Absorbing Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional radar mounting structures on vehicles face challenges in achieving both shock absorbability and detectability, as they either deform excessively under collision, damaging nearby components or fail to absorb impact adequately when made stiffer.

Innovation Solution

A mounting structure featuring a cross linking member with a fixing member, a supporting part for the radar device, and deformable parts that bend to absorb shock, allowing the radar to be positioned close to the bumper for enhanced detectability while absorbing impact loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bracket stiffness is increased to suppress deformation, then the radar device protection is improved, but the collision load absorption capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradar device protectionVSAvoidcollision load absorption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into a rigid portion (for mounting the radar device) and a flexible portion (for absorbing collision energy). This segmentation allows different parts of the same component to have different stiffness characteristics, enabling simultaneous protection of the radar device and absorption of collision loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the bracket are designed with different mechanical properties: the rigid portion near the radar mounting area maintains high stiffness for device protection, while the flexible portion extending toward the bumper allows deformation for energy absorption. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between protection and energy absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If the bracket is made more flexible to absorb collision, then the shock absorbability is improved, but the radar device stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorbabilityVSAvoidradar device stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure is segmented into distinct rigid and flexible portions, where the rigid portion ensures radar device stability while the flexible portion provides shock absorbability. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible portion acts as an intermediary element between the rigid bracket and the bumper, absorbing collision energy before it reaches the radar device. This intermediary structure protects the stable radar mounting while enabling energy dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the radar device is positioned closer to the bumper, then the detectability is improved, but the vulnerability to collision damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedetectabilityVSAvoidcollision damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible portion of the bracket serves as a mediator between the radar device and the bumper, allowing the radar to be positioned close to the bumper for improved detectability while the flexible portion absorbs collision energy to protect the radar from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible portion is designed in advance to deform and absorb collision energy before it can reach the radar device. This beforehand cushioning mechanism allows the radar to be positioned close to the bumper while being protected from collision damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This configuration enhances both the radar's detectability and protectability by allowing it to absorb shock effectively, reducing the risk of damage to nearby components during collisions.

Implementation Method 1

a deformable part that has a shape connecting the fixing part and the supporting part and that bends and deforms to absorb shock when an external force is input into the radar device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock absorption through deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3363714B1Structure for mounting radar
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORP
  • EP3363714B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3363714B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3363714B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

In a structure for mounting a radar, a cross linking member (3) vertically connects two width-across members (1,2) aligned in a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle. A fixing member (4) is fixed to the cross linking member (3). The fixing member (4) includes a fixing part (5) fixed to the cross linking member (3), a supporting part (6) that supports a radar device (10), a deformable part (7). The deformable part (7) has a shape connecting the fixing part (5) and the supporting part (6) and bends and deforms to absorb shock when an external force is input into the radar device (10).