Sensor Mount Structure for Vehicle Windshield
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of multiple cameras with different focal distances and view angles on a vehicle's windshield to assist in driving, particularly in automated driving, faces constraints due to limited space, especially when positioned further forward and upward than the interior mirror, which can obstruct the driver's field of view.
Innovation Solution
A sensor mount structure that includes a first and second sensor device attached to the windshield glass, with a view angle hood member overlapping the second sensor device, reducing the required installation space, and a support member that secures the interior mirror with improved rigidity, while integrating components to reduce the number of fasteners and create a space to mitigate load from mirror movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor devices are installed on the inner surface of the front windshield glass further toward the vehicle front and upper side than the interior mirror, then the detection of surroundings information is improved, but the installation space is reduced and the driver's field of view may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning sensor devices at different heights on the windshield glass. The first sensor device is placed at a first position and the second sensor device at a second position higher than the first, effectively using the vehicle's vertical space to accommodate multiple sensors without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby resolving the space constraint while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The view angle hood member is designed to overlap with the second sensor device in the vehicle front-rear direction, creating a nested spatial arrangement where the hood member's projection covers part of the second sensor device's position. This nesting approach allows compact positioning of components within the limited windshield area, reducing the overall installation space required
2Device complexity
If the interior mirror is supported by a flat plate shaped support member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the support rigidity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is constructed as a composite structure combining a flat plate portion and a casing portion that encloses the interior mirror. This composite design integrates two functional elements into a single support member, providing both the simplicity of a flat plate and the enhanced rigidity of an enclosed structure, thereby improving support strength without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The casing portion of the support member features a curved configuration that encloses the interior mirror. This curved structure inherently provides greater structural rigidity compared to a flat plate, as the curved geometry distributes stresses more effectively, thereby enhancing the support rigidity while maintaining a relatively simple overall design
3Ease of manufacture
If the support member is fastened to the base member separately from the device body, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be fastened to the base member together with the device body in a single assembly operation. This merging of fastening operations reduces the number of separate assembly steps and minimizes the total number of fasteners required, thereby decreasing device complexity while maintaining ease of assembly through the integrated fastening process
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 effectively reduces the installation space needed for the sensors, secures the interior mirror's support rigidity, minimizes the number of components, and enhances anti-fogging performance of the windshield by efficiently transmitting heat from a heat generating body, while improving detection performance of surroundings information.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generating body is provided at a lower face of the view angle hood member
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor mount structure, including: a first sensor device that includes a first sensor configured to detect surroundings information for a vehicle, and that is attached to an inner surface of a front windshield glass further toward a vehicle front and upper side than an interior mirror; a second sensor device that includes a second sensor configured to detect surroundings information for the vehicle, and that is attached to the inner surface of the front windshield glass further toward the vehicle front and upper side than the interior mirror and further toward the vehicle front side than the first sensor device; and a view angle hood member that is disposed at a vehicle front and lower side of the first sensor, the view angle hood member overlapping with the second sensor device in a vehicle front-rear direction in side view along a vehicle width direction.