Vehicle Outside Sensor Unit Offset Cover Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle outside sensor units face challenges in adjusting the direction of their detection surfaces without compromising the external appearance, as cover members attached to these sensors tend to displace and degrade the appearance when the sensor direction is adjusted.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle outside sensor unit design featuring a rotatably adjustable support bracket system with a cover member attached to an offset attachment seat on the main bracket, allowing for directional adjustment of the outside sensor without displacing the cover member, thus maintaining the external appearance. The cover member is made of lightweight plastic and attached using a plastic latch part, facilitating assembly and reducing product costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the direction of the outside sensor is adjusted by rotating the support bracket, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the cover member is displaced and the external appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented into two distinct parts: the base wall attached to the vehicle body and the offset attachment seat for the cover member. This segmentation allows the support bracket to rotate for sensor adjustment while the cover member remains fixed on the offset attachment seat, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and external appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset attachment seat acts as an intermediary element between the rotating support bracket and the cover member. By positioning this attachment seat at an offset location, it serves as a mediator that decouples the rotation movement of the sensor from the cover member, allowing adjustment while maintaining appearance.
2Shape
If a metal cover member is used to maintain appearance, then the external appearance is improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the cover member is changed from metal to plastic. This parameter change reduces the weight of the cover member while the offset attachment seat design ensures that appearance is maintained through proper positioning rather than material strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a plastic cover member instead of a durable metal one, accepting that the cover member may need replacement but gaining significant weight reduction. The offset attachment design ensures appearance is maintained through positioning rather than material durability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a complex attachment mechanism is used to fix the cover member, then the position stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex attachment mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple latch part that engages with a latch hole. This extraction of complexity from the attachment system while maintaining position stability through the offset attachment seat design resolves the contradiction between stability and simplicity.
4Strength
If the latch part is made of metal for strength, then the attachment strength is improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the latch part is changed from metal to plastic. This parameter change reduces weight and cost while the offset attachment seat design provides the necessary structural support to maintain attachment strength without requiring metal materials.
Data Source
AI summary
An outside sensor unit includes an outside sensor, a main bracket, a support bracket, and a cover member. The main bracket is attached to a vehicle body. The support bracket supports the outside sensor and is attached to the main bracket rotatably adjustably. The cover member covers an outer circumference in an outside detection direction of the outside sensor. The main bracket has a base wall that is attached to the support bracket rotatably adjustably and an attachment seat that is arranged at a position which is offset in the outside detection direction of the outside sensor with respect to the base wall. The cover member is attached to the attachment seat.