Vehicle Component for Integrating an Environment Detection Sensor Into a Vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle component integrates an environment detection sensor into a vehicle. The vehicle component is in the form of a plastic component and has a main body with a recess for receiving the environment detection sensor. Towards a visible side of the vehicle component, the recess is delimited by a cover portion which has a signal passage surface or a signal passage opening.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A vehicle component for integrating an environment detection sensor into a vehicle, comprising: a plastic component having a main body with a recess for receiving the environment detection sensor, wherein the recess is delimited toward a visible side of the vehicle component by a covering portion which has a signal passing-through area or a signal passing-through opening.

16. The vehicle component as claimed in patent claim 15, wherein the recess completely receives the environment detection sensor.

17. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the covering portion is in one piece with the main body.

18. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the covering portion is a colored plastics material.

19. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the covering portion has a reduced wall thickness in a region of the signal passing-through area.

20. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main body comprises a fiber reinforcement.

21. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 20, wherein the main body comprises a skeleton construction.

22. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the vehicle component is a body component or a structural component of a motor vehicle.

23. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the vehicle component is a node in a vehicle body.

24. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: an opening in the main body through which the environment detection sensor is insertable into the recess.

25. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein a fastening element for fastening the environment detection sensor is integrated in the main body.

26. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the environment detection sensor is arranged in the recess, so that the signal passing-through area or the signal passing-through opening lies within a coverage area of the environment detection sensor.

27. The vehicle component as claimed in patent claim 26, wherein the environment detection sensor is a lidar sensor.

28. The vehicle component as claimed in patent claim 26, wherein the signal passing-through area represents a first transmission area for signals emerging from the environment detection sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a basic diagram of a vehicle component, given by way of example, in a perspective view.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle component 1, given by way of example, for integrating an environment detection sensor 30.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The vehicle component 1 comprises a main body 10. The main body 10 is formed in a skeleton type of construction. It has multiple bar-like structures 12 of plastic reinforced with continuous fibers, which are arranged appropriately for the load paths and are connected to one another by multiple plastic webs 14 to form a truss-like main body.

[0029] The component 1 shown represents by way of example a node for the attachment of an A pillar 2 and a roof frame 3. Still further components (not shown) may be connected to the vehicle component 1. For example, a roof may also be mounted on the upper side of the vehicle component 1.

[0030] The vehicle component 1 also has a covering portion 20. The covering portion 20 is formed from a plastic, such as for example (colored) polycarbonate. The covering portion 20 is preferably formed in one piece with the main body 10 and for example is molded on it. The covering portion 20 forms at least part of a visible side of the vehicle component 1, which is visible in the finished vehicle.

[0031] Formed in the main body 10 is a recess 16, which is formed in such a way that an environment detection sensor 30 can be received in it. An approximately cylindrical recess 16 is shown by way of example, but it may in principle also have any other form. The recess 16 is delimited on one side by the main body 10. Toward the visible side of the vehicle component 1, the recess 16 is also delimited by the covering portion 20.

[0032] Arranged in the recess 16 is an environment detection sensor 30, for example a lidar sensor. For mounting the sensor in the vehicle component 1, the recess 16 has an opening 18. In the drawing, this is shown on the underside of the vehicle component 1, but it may also be positioned at a different point. Through the opening 18, the environment detection sensor 30 is inserted into the recess 16 and positioned. The opening 18 may be covered later, for example by an interior paneling part.

[0033] The environment detection sensor 30 is preferably received completely in the main body 10 and at no point projects beyond the outer contour defined by the bar-like structure 12. The sensor may be fixed on the vehicle component 1 by a fastening element that is not shown and is for example also formed on the main body 10.

[0034] The environment detection sensor 30 has a coverage 32, in which it can emit and receive signals, represented by the dashed arrows in FIG. 1. In order to make detection of the environment possible with the environment detection sensor 30 integrated in the vehicle component 1, the covering portion 20 is formed at least in a partial portion as a signal passing-through area 22, i.e. is sufficiently transmissive to the signals of the environment detection sensor 30. The function of the signal passing-through area 22 may be realized for example by suitable choice of material for the covering portion 20 and adapted geometrical dimensions, such as for example the wall thickness in the region of the signal passing-through area 22. Alternatively, instead of the signal passing-through area 22, a signal passing-through opening could also be provided, i.e. the covering portion could have an opening on this area.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0035] 1 Vehicle component [0036] 2 A pillar [0037] 3 Roof frame [0038] 10 Main body [0039] 12 Bar-like structure [0040] 14 Plastic webs [0041] 16 Recess [0042] 18 Opening [0043] 20 Covering portion [0044] 22 Signal passing-through area [0045] 30 Environment detection sensor [0046] 32 Coverage