Vehicle radar installation structure and fascia retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804261-B2
Application number	US-201415036674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

An automotive radar installation structure that allows a radar main body to be assembled to a vehicle in a simple arrangement and with stable performance, and a fascia retainer to attach a bumper fascia as an exterior part of a bumper to the vehicle. The structure includes a flat solid shape radar main body 122 and a transmission and/or reception surface to transmit/receive radio waves, and a fascia retainer 120 to attach a bumper fascia 108 of a rear bumper 104 of the vehicle to the vehicle main body. The fascia retainer 120 has a fixation portion 150 , and a radar installation portion 128 in the vicinity of the fixation portion 150 having a recessed shape to receive the radar main body 122 so that the transmission and/or reception surface 130 faces outward of the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automotive radar installation structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a radar main body formed in a flat solid shape and having a transmission surface or a reception surface provided at one surface of the body to transmit or receive radio waves; and
a fascia retainer used to attach a bumper fascia to a vehicle main body of the vehicle, the bumper fascia being an exterior part of a bumper at a rear surface or a front surface of the vehicle main body,
the fascia retainer including a fixation portion fixed to the vehicle main body, and a radar installation portion having a recessed shape into which the radar main body is fitted so that the transmission surface or the reception surface faces outward of the vehicle, the radar installation portion includes at least one support that supports the radar main body in an immovable manner by contacting an edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface or a side of the radar main body.

2. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the bumper fascia includes a front part that extends in a vehicle width-wise direction along the front surface or the rear surface of the vehicle main body, and a side part that extends from each end of the front part along a side of the vehicle main body, and
the fascia retainer has an elongated shape that extends in a front-back direction of the vehicle along an upper edge of the side part of the bumper fascia.

3. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the radar installation portion is provided in a vicinity of the fixation portion.

4. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the support includes a stopper that holds down the edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface or the side of the radar main body.

5. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the support includes a bridge portion that extends over the radar main body and holds down the edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface.

6. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the radar installation portion includes:
an insertion opening from which the radar main body is inserted in a direction parallel to the transmission surface or the reception surface; and
a slope provided in a prescribed location of a bottom in contact with a back surface of the radar main body on an opposite side to the transmission surface or the reception surface to guide the radar main body further into the insertion opening in an insertion direction.

7. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a case that stores the radar main body, wherein the radar main body is fitted into the radar installation portion through the case.

8. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 7 , further comprising the case forms the at least one support.

9. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 8 , further comprising the support includes a stopper that holds down the edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface or the side of the radar main body.

10. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 8 , further comprising the support includes a bridge portion that extends over the radar main body and holds down the edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface.

11. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 7 , further comprising the case includes:
an insertion opening from which the radar main body is inserted in a direction parallel to the transmission surface or the reception surface; and
a slope provided in a location of a bottom in contact with a back surface of the radar main body on an opposite side to the transmission surface or the reception surface to guide the radar main body further into the insertion opening in an insertion direction.

12. A fascia retainer used to attach a bumper fascia to a main body of a vehicle, the bumper fascia being an exterior part of a bumper at a rear surface or a front surface of the vehicle, the fascia retainer comprising:
a fixation portion fixed to the vehicle main body; and
a radar installation portion having a recessed shape into which a radar main body is fitted so that a transmission surface or a reception surface of the radar main body in a flat solid shape faces outward of the vehicle, the radar installation portion includes at least one support that supports the radar main body in an immovable manner by contacting an edge of the transmission surface or the reception surface or a side of the radar main body.

13. The fascia retainer according to claim 12 , further comprising the fascia retainer has an elongated shape that extends in a front-back direction of the vehicle along an upper edge of a side part of the bumper fascia that extends along a side of the vehicle main body.

14. The fascia retainer according to claim 12 , further comprising the radar installation portion is provided in a vicinity of the fixation portion.

15. The automotive radar installation structure according to claim 1 , further comprising the radar main body is mounted under the bumper fascia exterior part when the radar main body is fitted into the fixation portion.

16. The fascia retainer according to claim 12 , further comprising the radar main body is mounted under the bumper fascia exterior part when the radar main body is fitted into the fixation portion.

Assignees

• Autoliv Dev

Inventors

• Dechoux Bernald

Classifications

• G01S2013/93275

  in the bumper area · CPC title

• G01S2013/93272

  in the back of the vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93274

  on the side of the vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93271

  in the front of the vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2019/1886

  Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor · CPC title