Arrangement of a sensor comprising a sensor-active surface on an outer add-on part of a vehicle

Abstract

An arrangement for a sensor having a sensor-active surface on or behind an outer add-on part of a vehicle includes a sensor guide. The sensor guide is connected to the sensor and a first structural element of the vehicle such that the sensor moves in a vehicle longitudinal direction away from a sensor use position in response to an application of force against the sensor-active surface or the add-on part of the vehicle. The arrangement includes a spacer that limits the movement of the sensor to a maximum distance defined between the sensor use position and a second structural element of the vehicle, which is offset with respect to the first structural element in a direction along an interior of the vehicle. The arrangement includes a restoring element that moves the sensor back to the sensor use position.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a sensor comprising a sensor-active surface on or behind an outer add-on part of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor guide connected to the sensor and a first structural element of the vehicle, wherein the sensor guide is configured to pivot about the first structural element such that the sensor moves in a vehicle longitudinal direction away from a sensor use position in response to an application of force against the sensor-active surface or the outer add-on part of the vehicle; a spacer configured to limit a movement of the sensor in the vehicle longitudinal direction to a maximum distance defined between the sensor use position and a second structural element of the vehicle, wherein the second structural element is offset with respect to the first structural element in a direction along an interior of the vehicle; and a restoring element configured to move the sensor back to the sensor use position after the sensor has moved away from the sensor use position in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a traction band connected to the sensor and the second structural element of the vehicle such that a length of the traction band defines the maximum distance between the sensor use position and the second structural element.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a traction rod connected to the sensor, the traction rod configured to vary the distance defined between the sensor and the second structural element, and wherein the traction rod includes a latch coupled to the second structural element or the sensor, the latch being configured to set the sensor at the sensor use position.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the traction rod includes a first end connected to the sensor and a second end connected to the second structural element by the latch, such that the latch engages the second structural element to set the sensor at the sensor use position.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises an adjusting element configured to adjust the maximum distance defined between the sensor use position and the second structural element.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor guide is a joint kinematic comprising linkage parts connected to the sensor and the first structural element of the vehicle, wherein the linkage parts are pivotable about the first structural element to displace the sensor from the sensor use position and move the sensor back to the sensor use position, and wherein the restoring element is connected to the first structural element and to the linkage parts or the sensor, the restoring element being configured to apply a restoring force against the linkage parts as the sensor is displaced from the sensor use position such that the linkage parts move the sensor back to the sensor use position.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first structural element comprises a bumper cross member.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second structural element comprises a mounting bracket.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second structural element comprises a lock support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(4) The exemplary embodiments of the arrangement 1 according to the invention are described according to FIGS. 1 and 2 by way of example on a front-side bumper as outer add-on part 10 of a vehicle. This outer add-on part 10 has a vehicle outer skin 10.1, which can also be realized as a radiator grille or as a bumper cover.

(5) According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sensor 2 of the arrangement 1, said sensor being designed as a laser scanner, for example, is mounted in a sensor opening 3 of the vehicle outer skin 10.1 by means of a sensor guide 6 designed as a joint kinematics. The sensor opening 3 is closed by an active sensor surface 2.1 of the sensor 2, said surface being flush with the vehicle outer skin 10.1 surrounding the sensor opening 3.

(6) Alternatively to the surface flushing of the active sensor surface 2.1 of the sensor 2 with the sensor opening 3, the sensor 2 can also be located behind a vehicle outer skin 10.1 (with or without distance therefrom and with or without a sensor opening 3) or can be brought forward or shifted back in relation to a larger sensor opening in the vehicle outer skin.

(7) The sensor opening 3 comprises a peripheral wall 3.1 forming the sensor opening 3. The inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 3.1 is adapted to the outer contour of a housing 2.2 of the sensor 2 such that the sensor 2 is displaceable from the use position in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

(8) The displaceability of the sensor 2 and thus also the mounting of the sensor 2 in the position of use thereof is realized by means of a sensor guide 6 designed as a joint kinematics. This kinematic system 6 comprises rod elements 6.1 with at least two struts which connect the sensor 2 at the end opposite the sensor surface 2.1 with a first structural element 7 configured as a bumper crossmember and arranged in the vehicle vertical direction (z-direction) below the sensor 2, so that with a displacement of the sensor 2 from the use position corresponding to the representation according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the linkage parts 6.1 are pivoted relative to the first structural element 7 designed as a mounting support or lock support.

(9) Furthermore, this arrangement 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a restoring element 4 configured as a spring element, which is connected on the one hand to the first structural element 7 and on the other hand either to a strut of the linkage parts 6.1 or to a housing 2.2 of the sensor 2. Thus, a restoring force is generated by the spring element, when the linkage parts 6.1 are pivoted according to the displacement of the sensor 2 from its position of use in the direction of the vehicle interior (x-direction).

(10) Between the first structural element 7 designed as a bumper cross member and the vehicle outer skin 10.1, a pedestrian protection deformation element 8 is arranged.

(11) The position of use of the sensor 2 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is given by the distance a from the rear 2.20 thereof to a second structural element 9 and is determined by a spacer 5. According to FIG. 1, the spacer 5 is designed as a traction band 5.1, and according to FIG. 2, the spacer 5 is designed as a traction rod 5.2 having a latching means 5.20. The second structural element 9 is offset from the first structural element 7 in the direction of the vehicle interior, so that it is not deformed in the event of a weak collision in the low-speed range.

(12) According to FIG. 1, the traction band 5.1 connects the rear 2.20 of the sensor 2 to the second structural element 9 of the vehicle. In the position of use of the sensor 2 according to FIG. 1, the traction band 5.1 is stretched and has a length L which determines the distance a of the rear 2.20 of the sensor 2 to the second structural element 9 of the vehicle. By means of an adjusting element 5.3 integrated into the traction band 5.1, the length L of the traction band 5.1 can be set prior to a vehicle delivery at the factory of the vehicle manufacturer or during a vehicle maintenance.

(13) The spacer 5 according to FIG. 2 is implemented instead of the traction band 5.1, according to FIG. 1, having a traction rod 5.2 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein said traction rod is fastened with the front end thereof to the rear 2.20 of the sensor 2 and is designed at the opposite end having a latching means 5.20. This traction rod 5.2 passes through an opening 9.1 arranged, for example, in a support wall of a second structural element 9 of the vehicle, wherein the nose-like latching means 5.20 engages behind the border of the opening 9.1 and thus determines the distance a between the rear 2.20 of the sensor 2 and the second structural element 9. According to FIG. 2, the nose-like latching means 5.20 does not abut directly on the second structural element, but rather on an adjusting element 5.3, which can be additionally provided and serves to define the distance a defining the position of use of the sensor 2 between the rear 2.20 of the sensor 2 and the second structural element 9 of the vehicle before a vehicle delivery at the factory of the vehicle manufacturer or during a vehicle maintenance.

(14) In a weak collision of the vehicle with another vehicle, person, or object in the direction of the vehicle interior, i.e. in the vehicle longitudinal direction against the x-direction, a force F1 acts directly on the active sensor surface 2.1 of the sensor 2 or a force F2 on the vehicle outer skin 10.1 in the area of the sensor opening 3. A weak collision is a collision in the low-speed range, for example, at a vehicle speed of less than 5 km/h.

(15) By the forces F1 or F2, the sensor 2 is displaced from its operating position towards the direction of the vehicle interior, either directly or by means of the pedestrian protection deformation element 8 and by means of the first structural element 7 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein in the case of the generated collision force F2, the first structural element 7 becomes permanently deformed. However, the second structural element 9, to which the traction band 5.1 is fastened or which is designed having the opening 9.1 for guiding the traction rod 5.2, has the property that it remains undeformed in such weak collisions in the low-speed range.

(16) This movement of the sensor 2 from the position of use thereof in the direction of the vehicle interior is made possible by means of the sensor guide 6 designed as a joint kinematics. Due to the elastic property of the vehicle outer skin 10.1, said skin returns back to the original shape thereof after the end of the load by the force F1 or F2.

(17) According to FIG. 1, the sensor 2 is moved back in the in the direction of use by the restoring element 4 acting on the sensor 2 or the sensor guide 6, until the traction band 5.1 is stretched and thus the sensor 2 is spaced with a distance a, which is characteristic for the position of use thereof, from the undeformed second structural element 9 of the vehicle. Thus, the sensor 2 has reached its position of use and is ready for operation again after the collision.

(18) The length L of the traction band 5.1 predetermines the possible return trajectory of the sensor 2 and is thus independent of the position of the optionally slightly deformed first structural element 7 designed as a bumper cross member.

(19) According to FIG. 2, with the movement of the sensor 2 in the direction of the vehicle interior, the traction rod 5.2 is pushed through the opening 9.1 in the direction of the vehicle interior. Due to the elastic property of the vehicle outer skin 10.1, said skin returns back to the original shape thereof after the end of the load by the force F1 or F2. By the restoring element 4 acting on the sensor 2 or on the joint kinematics 6, the sensor 2 is moved back in the direction of the position of use until the nose-like latching means 5.20 engages behind the edge of the opening 9.1 and the adjusting element 5.3, and thus the sensor 2 is spaced with a distance a, which is characteristic for the position of use thereof, from the undeformed second structural element 9 of the vehicle. Thus, the sensor 2 has reached its position of use and is ready for operation again after the collision. The limitation of the return trajectory takes place in a form-fitting manner between the nose-like latching means 5.20 of the traction rod 5.2 and the undeformed second structural element 9 of the vehicle and is thus independent of the position of the first structural element 7 which is optionally slightly deformed and is designed as a bumper cross member.

(20) For allowing the pivoting movement of the sensor 2 from its collision position back to the use position by means of the articulated kinematics sensor guide 6, even when the first structural element 7 is deformed in the direction of the vehicle interior, the joint kinematics is designed such that a pivoting of the sensor 2 relative to the first structural element 7 is possible in both the front and in the rear direction of the vehicle. In addition, sufficient clearance is provided between the peripheral wall 3.1 of the sensor opening 3 and the outer contour of the sensor housing 2.2, so that during a pivotal movement of the sensor 2 relative to the first structural element 7, a compensating movement in the vehicle vertical direction (z-direction) can take place.

(21) The sensor guide 6 designed as a joint kinematics according to FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be carried out such that the connection of the linkage parts 6.1 to the sensor 2 is designed to be rigid and only the connection to the structural element 7 is designed like a joint. In this case, the two existing axes of rotation of the linkage parts 6.1 are to be combined on the structural element 7 of the vehicle to form an axis of rotation, such that the total composite of sensor 2 and linkage parts 6.1 pivots only about this one axis of rotation. Thus, the sensor 2 does not perform a translational movement but rather a rotational movement upon a displacement from the position of use thereof, contrary to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 1 arrangement 2 sensor 2.1 sensor-active surface of the sensor 2 2.2 housing of the sensor 2 2.20 rear of the sensor 2 3 sensor opening 3.1 peripheral wall of the sensor opening 3 4 restoring element 5 spacer 5.1 traction band 5.2 traction rod 5.20 latching means 5.3 adjusting element 6 sensor guide 6.1 linkage parts 7 first structural element 8 pedestrian protection deformation element 9 second structural element 10 outer add-on part of a vehicle 10.1 vehicle outer skin