Ultrasonic Sensor Retainer With Drain Path and Stiffness Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensor mounting structures fail to effectively drain water from the joint between the ultrasonic sensor and the vehicle body component, leading to accumulation of water, which causes errors in object detection due to increased reflected waves from vibration propagation.
Innovation Solution
A retainer member with a cylindrical body retaining portion, a microphone facing portion, plate-like fastening portions, a drain path, and a stamped wall portion is used to securely attach the ultrasonic sensor to the vehicle body component, where the drain path discharges water from the air gap between the microphone facing portion and the vehicle body component, and the stamped wall portion balances the stiffness imbalance caused by the drain path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a drain path is formed in the microphone facing portion or fastening portion, then water discharge function is improved, but structural stiffness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by forming the drain path and stamped wall portion at specific asymmetric positions on the retainer member. The drain path is formed on one side while the stamped wall portion is formed at a corresponding position, creating an asymmetric structure that balances stiffness while enabling water discharge. This resolves the contradiction by strategically placing features rather than uniformly distributing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating localized features (drain path and stamped wall portion) at specific regions of the retainer member rather than modifying the entire structure. The stamped wall portion is locally formed to compensate for stiffness reduction at the drain path location, allowing water discharge functionality to be added while maintaining structural integrity through localized reinforcement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the retainer member structure is simplified, then manufacturing ease is improved, but water drainage capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the retainer member by integrating both the water discharge function and the stiffness balancing function into a single component. The drain path and stamped wall portion are both formed in the retainer member during the same manufacturing process, combining water drainage and structural reinforcement functions without requiring additional separate parts, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while adding drainage capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer member is equipped with a microphone facing portion, a drain path, and a stamped wall portion. The microphone facing portion is formed in a cylindrical shape matching an ultrasonic microphone is disposed outside the ultrasonic microphone in a radial direction extending radially from a longitudinal center line. The microphone facing portion extends from a body retaining portion toward a base side in an axial direction. The drain path extends through the microphone facing portion in the radial direction and is capable of discharging water from an inner space in the microphone facing portion. The stamped wall portion is formed in the microphone facing portion and faces the drain path through the longitudinal center line.