Structure for mounting near infrared sensor and sensor cover to vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12270912-B2
Application number	US-202017435140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

A first fastening portion is provided on a surface on the inner side of a sensor cover. A first support portion is provided around an opening of an exterior component. The first fastening portion is fastened to the first support portion, with the first fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the first support portion. The exterior component includes a tubular wall portion. The tubular wall portion includes an attaching hole. Part of the near-infrared sensor is arranged inside the tubular wall portion through an attaching hole of the tubular wall portion. The near-infrared sensor includes a second fastening portion. The exterior component includes a second support portion on or outside the tubular wall portion. The second fastening portion is fastened to the second support portion, with the second fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the second support portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A structure for mounting a near-infrared sensor and a sensor cover to a vehicle, the structure adapted to a vehicle, wherein
the vehicle includes
the near-infrared sensor, which is configured to transmit near-infrared rays to outside of the vehicle and receive the near-infrared rays that have struck and been reflected by an object outside the vehicle,
an exterior component that has an opening that is located forward of the near-infrared sensor in a transmission direction of near-infrared rays, and
the sensor cover, which includes a transmissive portion having transmissiveness to near-infrared rays and covers the near-infrared sensor from an outer side,
the near-infrared sensor is located at an installation position that is set on an inner side of the opening,
a first fastening portion is provided on a surface on an inner side of the sensor cover,
a first support portion is provided around the opening of the exterior component,
the first fastening portion is fastened to the first support portion, with the first fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the first support portion,
the exterior component includes a tubular wall portion that projects toward the inner side from a peripheral edge of the opening,
the tubular wall portion includes an attaching hole that is formed at an end portion on the inner side of the tubular wall portion,
at the installation position, part of the near-infrared sensor is arranged inside the tubular wall portion through the attaching hole of the tubular wall portion,
the near-infrared sensor includes a second fastening portion,
the exterior component includes a second support portion on or outside the tubular wall portion, and
the second fastening portion is fastened to the second support portion, with the second fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the second support portion.

2. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive portion is arranged on the outer side of the opening,
the near-infrared sensor includes a flange at an outer periphery of the near-infrared sensor,
the flange allows the near-infrared sensor to be inserted to the installation position from the inner side through the attaching hole, and
the flange restricts the near-infrared sensor from being inserted to the installation position from the outer side through the attaching hole.

3. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
the first support portion and the second support portion are provided on the inner side of the opening, and
the second support portion is displaced from the first support portion in a circumferential direction of the opening.

4. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
a bracket is attached to the near-infrared sensor, the bracket being located on the inner side of the opening and outside the tubular wall portion,
the second fastening portion is arranged in the bracket, and
the second support portion is located on the inner side of the opening and outside the tubular wall portion.

5. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
part of the near-infrared sensor that is on the outer side of the flange is arranged inside the tubular wall portion through the attaching hole,
the second fastening portion is provided in the flange, and
the second support portion is provided in part of the end portion of the tubular wall portion that surrounds the attaching hole.

6. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the first support portion includes a first fastening hole that is formed in part of the exterior component that is on the inner side of the first fastening portion, and
a first screw is threaded into the first fastening portion through the first fastening hole.

7. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein
the second fastening portion includes a second fastening hole that is formed in part of the bracket that is on the inner side of the second support portion, and
a second screw is threaded into the second support portion through the second fastening hole.

8. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein
the second fastening portion includes a second fastening hole that is formed in part of the flange that is on the inner side of the second support portion, and
a second screw is threaded into the second support portion through the second fastening hole.

9. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive portion is arranged on the outer side of the opening, and
an annular seal portion is arranged between the sensor cover and the exterior component at a position surrounding the opening.

10. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the seal portion is fixed to the sensor cover.

11. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the seal portion is arranged between the opening and a section of the first fastening portion that is fastened to the first support portion.

12. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the near-infrared sensor includes a flange at an outer periphery, and
at the installation position, part of the near-infrared sensor that is on the outer side of the flange is inserted into the attaching hole to be arranged inside the tubular wall portion.

13. The structure for mounting the near-infrared sensor and the sensor cover to the vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein
the seal portion is a first seal portion, and
an annular second seal portion is arranged between the end portion of the tubular wall portion and the flange of the near-infrared sensor.

Assignees

• Toyoda Gosei Kk

Inventors

• Hirose Akihiro
• Okumura Koji

Classifications

• G01S7/4811

  common to transmitter and receiver · CPC title

• B60R13/04

  External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12) · CPC title

• G01S17/931 Primary

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• B60R2019/525

  Radiator grilles · CPC title