Sensor retainer assembly for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855907-B2
Application number	US-201615278360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A sensor retaining assembly is provided to prevent changes in orientations of the sensors. The sensor retainer assembly comprises: a bumper reinforcement extending laterally in the vehicle; a frame member of a chassis; a rigid member integrated with the frame member; and a connection member on which sensors are installed while being adjacent to each other. One end of the connection member is fixed to the bumper reinforcement, and the other end of the connection member is fixed to the frame member or the rigid member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor retainer assembly for a vehicle having a plurality of sensors for detecting environmental conditions, comprising:
a bumper reinforcement that extends laterally in the vehicle to absorb collision impact applied to the vehicle from front side or rear side of the vehicle;
a frame member of a chassis;
a rigid member integrated with the frame member; and
a connection member in which one of the end portions is fixed to the bumper reinforcement and the other end portion is fixed to at least one of the frame member and the rigid member,
wherein the sensors are installed onto the connection member while being adjacent to each other, and
wherein the connection member includes: a first installation member that is connected to the bumper reinforcement; and a second installation member in which one of the end portions is connected to the first installation member and the other end portion is connected to at least one of the frame member and the rigid member.

2. The sensor retainer assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the connection member includes a bracket attached to an outer surface of the connection member, and
wherein at least one of the sensors is installed onto the bracket.

3. The sensor retainer assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the connection member includes a first mounting surface on which one of the sensors is installed and a second mounting surface on which another sensor is installed, and
wherein at least any one of an orientational correlation between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface in any of a pitching direction, a yawing direction and a rolling direction, and levels of the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface in a height direction is differentiated from each other.

4. The sensor retainer assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3 ,
wherein the connection member is formed into V-shape, and
wherein one of the sensors is installed onto the first mounting surface between one of side edges of the connection member and a reference line, and another sensor is installed onto the second mounting surface between the reference line and other side edge of the connection member.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kumai Yuichi
• Sato Jun
• Kuriyama Tomoyuki

Classifications

• B60R11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R21/0134

  responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R19/483 Primary

  with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type · CPC title

• B60R2011/005

  Connection with the vehicle part · CPC title