Ultrasonic Sensor Mounting Bracket to Prevent Water Drop False Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door opening and closing systems using kick sensors are prone to false detection due to water droplets adhering to the sensor surface, and the attachment process is complex and unsuitable for user installation.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasound sensor is attached to the vehicle's side portion via a bracket that inclines the sensor at a predetermined angle, allowing water droplets to flow off and simplifying the attachment process, with a design that includes a bottom plate and longitudinal plate to prevent water entry and facilitate easy discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the kick sensor is attached inside the attaching portion of the sill cover facing the ground, then rainwater and dust are prevented from directly hitting the sensor, but water drops from rainwater splashing and tire spray enter the attaching portion and adhere to the sensor surface causing false detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from direct rainwater and dustVSAvoidfalse detection due to water drops on sensor surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor surface is changed from a horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation at a predetermined angle. This parameter change allows water drops to flow downward due to gravity rather than adhering to the surface, eliminating false detection while maintaining protection from direct rainwater and dust

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the sensor surface horizontal to protect it from water, the invention inverts the approach by inclining the sensor surface. This inversion allows water drops to naturally flow off the surface due to gravity, converting the harmful effect of water into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the kick sensor is attached to the attaching portion of the sill cover integrated with the side sill, then the sensor is protected from direct rainwater, but the attachment process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from direct rainwaterVSAvoidmany hours required for attachment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into separate components: a bracket that attaches to the side sill and a sensor that attaches to the bracket. This segmentation allows the bracket to be pre-installed on the side sill, providing protection from rainwater, while the sensor can be easily attached to the bracket without complex integration processes, significantly reducing installation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket serves as an intermediary component between the side sill and the sensor. It provides a simplified attachment interface that requires fewer hours to install while maintaining the protective function against direct rainwater, thus mediating between the protection requirement and the time constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the sensor surface is horizontal, then the sensor is easy to attach, but water drops adhere to the sensor surface causing false detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidfalse detection due to water drops

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor surface orientation parameter is changed from horizontal to inclined at a predetermined angle. This change maintains ease of attachment through the bracket interface while eliminating water drop adhesion, as the inclined surface allows gravity to naturally drain water away from the sensor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 prevents water from adhering to the sensor surface, enhancing detection accuracy and allowing for easy post-purchase vehicle installation of the ultrasound sensor.

Implementation Method 1

a bracket via which the ultrasound sensor is attached to face a ground under a floor of the vehicle and to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane such that a water drop adhering to the ultrasound sensor flows downward

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10690758B2Structure for mounting ultrasonic sensor

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 HONDA ACCESS CORP

AI summary

A structure for attaching an ultrasound sensor to a side portion of a vehicle includes a bracket via which the ultrasound sensor is attached to face the ground under the floor of the vehicle and to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane such that water drops adhering to the ultrasound sensor flow downward.