Arrangement structure for vicinity information detection sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144424-B2
Application number	US-201615041482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A sensor arrangement structure includes a vehicle framework member having a hollow cross-section, a vicinity information detection sensor and a cover. The vicinity information detection sensor is attached to the vehicle framework member. At least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member. A detection portion that detects vicinity information of a vehicle is oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member. The cover is disposed to oppose the detection portion and allows transmission of a detection carrier that is detected by the detection portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor arrangement structure comprising:
a vehicle framework member having a closed cross-section structure throughout substantially a whole length of the vehicle framework member, the closed cross-section structure defining a hollow chamber that is bounded on all sides by walls of the vehicle framework member except for a hole in the vehicle framework member;
a vicinity information detection sensor attached to the vehicle framework member, the vicinity information detection sensor forming a portion of a boundary of the closed cross-section structure of the vehicle framework member by blocking the hole, at least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor being disposed inside the closed cross-section structure of the vehicle framework member, and a detection portion of the vicinity information detection sensor that detects vicinity information of a vehicle being oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member; and
a cover that is disposed to cover and oppose the detection portion and that allows transmission of a detection medium that is detected by the detection portion, wherein
the vehicle framework member is part of the vehicle's frame, and
the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed at a joining portion between a roof side rail and a center pillar of the vehicle.

2. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the hole in the vehicle framework member is an insertion hole into which the vicinity information detection sensor extends,
the vicinity information detection sensor is mounted to a mounting bracket that is joined to a hole edge of the insertion hole, and
the vicinity information detection sensor and the mounting bracket cover the insertion hole.

3. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a shock-absorbing member provided between the vicinity information detection sensor and a wall of the vehicle framework member.

4. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle framework member is formed of a material having electrical conductivity.

5. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is transmissive of radio waves.

6. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is transmissive of ultrasonic waves.

7. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is transmissive of visible light.

8. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is transmissive of laser light.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hara Yasuhiro
• Sugie Kazuki
• Sakakibara Kosuke
• Sakabe Motoya

Classifications

• G01S2013/93274

  on the side of the vehicles · CPC title

• B62D21/17

  forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal · CPC title

• G01S2013/9323

  Alternative operation using light waves · CPC title

• G01S7/02

  of systems according to group G01S13/00 · CPC title

• B60R2011/0022

  Pillars · CPC title