Sensor Mount Structure With Common Electronic Board

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-mounted camera systems require multiple cameras with different focal distances and view angles for advanced driving assistance, leading to increased component count and manufacturing costs due to individual electronic boards for each camera.

Innovation Solution

A sensor mount structure that combines two or more sensors with a common electronic board attached to a vehicle's windshield glass and interior mirror, reducing the number of components and supporting the interior mirror with a single support member, while maintaining detection performance by optimizing sensor placement and using a view angle hood member to prevent light reflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual electronic boards are provided for each camera sensor, then each sensor can be independently controlled and processed, but the number of components increases and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor control reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of electronic boards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple camera sensors (first sensor and second sensor with different focal distances and view angles) are electrically connected to a single common electronic board, merging multiple independent control units into one integrated control unit. This reduces the number of components while maintaining the ability to independently control and process signals from each sensor through separate processing circuits on the shared board.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common electronic board is designed to serve multiple functions: it processes signals from both the first sensor and the second sensor simultaneously, providing universal control capability for different sensor types with different focal distances and view angles, eliminating the need for dedicated electronic boards for each sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the support member is fastened separately to the base member for each sensor device, then each sensor can be independently positioned, but the number of fasteners and assembly steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor positioning precisionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed to fasten multiple sensor devices (device bodies) simultaneously to the base member in a single operation, merging multiple separate fastening operations into one. This reduces the number of fasteners and assembly steps while maintaining precise positioning through integrated positioning features on the support member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If sensors are placed close to the windshield glass surface, then the detection performance is improved, but light reflection from the glass interferes with sensor detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurroundings detection precisionVSAvoidlight reflection interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The view angle hood member is positioned to block reflected light from the windshield glass that would otherwise interfere with sensor detection. By strategically placing this structural component, the harmful reflection is blocked while maintaining the sensors' close proximity to the glass surface for optimal detection performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The view angle hood member acts as an intermediary element between the windshield glass and the sensors, blocking the path of reflected light while allowing the sensors to maintain their optimal position close to the glass surface for high-resolution detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces the number of components, minimizes detection performance loss, and enhances anti-fogging performance of the windshield by efficiently transferring heat from the view angle hood member, while simplifying wiring and protecting the electronic board.

Implementation Method 1

enhances anti-fogging performance of the windshield by efficiently transferring heat from the view angle hood member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10837807B2Sensor mount structure

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A sensor mount structure including a base member, a sensor device, and a support member. The base member is attached to a vehicle upper side of an inner surface of a front windshield glass. The sensor device includes a device body to which a first sensor and a second sensor that detect surroundings information for a vehicle are attached, and a common electronic board to which both the first sensor and the second sensor are electrically connected. The support member together with the device body is fastened to the base member and supports an interior mirror.