Vehicle Sensor Bracket Elastic Suspension Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor supports for vehicles, particularly those mounted behind bumpers, face challenges in maintaining sensor alignment and stability during impacts, such as parking or pedestrian collisions, due to inadequate rigidity and detachment risks from the bumper surface, especially when made from different materials.

Innovation Solution

A sensor support with an elastic suspension part between the connection and reception zones, designed to absorb impact forces and return to the initial position, ensuring minimal angular deviation and preventing irreversible detachment, using a material embossing or bending structure that compensates for displacements and rotations, and is more rigid than the bumper material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the sensor support is made rigid to maintain sensor alignment, then the alignment stability is improved, but the impact resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor alignmentVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor support is divided into a rigid support body for maintaining alignment and a separate elastic suspension part for absorbing impacts. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the sensor support have different material properties: the support body is made rigid for precision while the suspension part is made elastic for shock absorption. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between rigidity and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the sensor support is made elastic to absorb impacts, then the impact resistance is improved, but the alignment stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidsensor alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor support is divided into a rigid support body for maintaining alignment and a separate elastic suspension part for absorbing impacts. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the sensor support have different material properties: the support body is made rigid for precision while the suspension part is made elastic for shock absorption. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between rigidity and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the sensor support is made from a rigid material to maintain structural integrity, then the structural strength is improved, but the detachment resistance during impacts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoiddetachment resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The material parameter of the suspension part is changed from rigid to elastic, allowing it to deform during impacts and reduce detachment forces. This parameter change enables the support to maintain structural integrity while resisting detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic suspension part acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that absorbs impact energy before it can cause detachment. This beforehand cushioning protects the rigid support body from detachment forces.

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

4Reliability

If the sensor support is made from elastic material to absorb impacts, then the impact resistance is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor support is divided into a rigid support body for maintaining alignment and a separate elastic suspension part for absorbing impacts. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the sensor support have different material properties: the support body is made rigid for precision while the suspension part is made elastic for shock absorption. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between rigidity and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 maintains sensor alignment within authorized tolerances of less than 3° over time, ensuring the sensor's operational integrity and stability during impacts, even when subjected to various loading conditions, and is suitable for large, heavy sensors used in autonomous driving systems.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one suspension part resistant to shocks and reversible in position be arranged between the connection zone and the reception zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3808609B1Sensor mounting for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM SA
  • EP3808609B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3808609B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3808609B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a sensor bracket (10) for a vehicle, particularly intended to be mounted behind a vehicle bumper (12). The sensor bracket (10) comprises at least one receiving area (14) for receiving a sensor (16) and at least one mounting area (18) with which the sensor bracket (10) can be attached to an additional element, particularly a bumper (12). A connecting area (20) for attaching to the additional element is included in at least a portion of at least one mounting area (18). It is proposed that at least one suspension component (22) be disposed on at least one mounting area (18), between the connecting area (20) and the receiving area (14). The invention also relates to an arrangement of such a sensor bracket (10) on a bumper (12).