JP2006240615A - Sensor casing for vehicle and casing fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor casing for a vehicle and a casing fixing structure capable of protecting a sensor certainly and constructing a sensor device light and small at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: The body of the casing body 40 of the satellite sensor 16 is formed from a resin in block (lump) shape, and sensor protection parts 42 in trapezoidal block shape are formed on both the sides of the casing body 40. The area between the sensor protection parts 42 is formed as a sensor storing part 44 some smaller than the sensor protection parts 42, and a sensor body 46 and a base board 47 are installed inside the sensor storing parts 44. The casing body 40 is secured to the upper part 36A of a front side member 36 by bolts 48 as a fastening member in such an arrangement that the sensor protection parts 42 are located on both the sides across the vehicle width. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle sensor housing, and more particularly to a vehicle sensor housing constituting a vehicle sensor device such as a satellite sensor in an occupant protection device.

Conventionally, a vehicle sensor device such as a satellite sensor in an occupant protection device is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this vehicle sensor device, in order to protect a satellite sensor as a sensor body at the time of a vehicle collision, the satellite sensor is fixed to a front member of the vehicle by a bracket with a reinforcement member formed as a separate member interposed therebetween. Alternatively, the thickness of the bracket is increased and the satellite sensor is protected by the bracket. Further, there is a configuration in which a protective plate is disposed on the front side of the satellite sensor.
JP-A-11-129838

  However, in such prior art, in order to reliably protect the satellite sensor as the sensor body, it is necessary to use a reinforcing member or a protection plate configured as a separate member, or to increase the thickness of the bracket. . For this reason, the mass of the entire sensor device increases and the cost is high. Moreover, the whole sensor apparatus was bulky and the conveyance property as components was not good.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle sensor casing that can reliably protect a sensor body and can reduce the weight, cost, and size of a sensor device. .

  The present invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a sensor protection portion for protecting the sensor body is provided on both sides of the housing body, and the sensor protection portion is fixed to the vehicle body.

  Since the sensor main body can be protected by the sensor protection portions set on both sides of the housing main body, a reinforcing member and a bracket as in the conventional structure are not required. As a result, the sensor body can be reliably protected, and the sensor device can be reduced in weight and cost. Moreover, since the sensor protection part of the housing body is directly fixed to the vehicle body, the sensor device can be downsized compared to a configuration using a bracket as in the conventional structure.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the first aspect, the casing main body is fixed to the vehicle body by fastening means on the both sides in the vehicle width direction of the sensor protection portion. To do.

  Since the housing body is fixed to the vehicle body with the sensor protection portion on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the dimensions of the sensor device in the vehicle front-rear direction can be reduced. Moreover, since the load which acted on the housing body can be released to the vehicle body side via the fastening means, damage to the housing body can be reduced at the time of collision with other members.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the second aspect, the maximum height of the casing main body is equal to or less than the height of the fastening means in a state where the casing main body is fixed to the vehicle body. It is characterized by being.

  Since the maximum height of the casing main body is equal to or less than the height of the fastening means in a state fixed to the vehicle body, the fastening means itself can receive a load acting on the casing main body from the vertical direction. As a result, the casing body can be protected from the load acting on the casing body from above and below by the fastening means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the third aspect, the casing main body includes a connector protection portion that protects a connector on both sides of the casing main body.

  The connector can be protected by the connector protection part of the housing body.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the fourth aspect, the maximum height of the connector protection portion is substantially equal to the height of the fastening means when the casing main body is fixed to the vehicle body. It is characterized by being identical.

  When coming into contact with another member at the time of a vehicle collision, it becomes difficult for the other material member to be caught by the uneven portion between the fastening means and the connector protection portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the casing body from being damaged due to a large load acting on the fastening means or the connector protection part.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the first aspect, the casing main body is a guide portion that guides another member that comes into contact with the front of the vehicle to the vehicle rear side in a state of being fixed to the vehicle body. It is characterized by having.

  When the other member abuts from the front of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle collision, the other material member can be moved from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle without being caught by the casing main body by the guide portion set in the housing main body. As a result, when the other member comes into contact with the front of the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the casing body from being damaged due to a large load acting on the casing body.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle sensor casing according to the first to sixth aspects, the casing body is made of a synthetic resin.

  Since the casing body is made of a synthetic resin, even when the casing body has a complicated shape, production is easy and the weight can be reduced.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the first aspect of the present invention can reliably protect the sensor main body, and can reduce the weight, cost and size of the sensor device.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the second aspect of the present invention can reduce the size of the sensor device in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, the casing body can be protected by the fastening means.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the third aspect of the present invention can receive the load acting on the casing body from above and below with the fastening means itself, and can protect the casing body.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the fourth aspect of the present invention can protect the connector by the casing body.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the fifth aspect of the present invention can prevent the casing body from being damaged when it interferes with other members at the time of a vehicle collision.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the sixth aspect of the present invention can prevent the casing body from being damaged when it interferes with other members at the time of a vehicle collision.

  The vehicle sensor casing according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is easy to produce and can be reduced in weight even when the shape of the casing body is complicated.

  An embodiment of a vehicle sensor casing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width inside direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 10 of the airbag device as an occupant protection device is a device that controls the operation of the airbag device 12, and mainly includes a control circuit 14 and a satellite sensor 16 as a vehicle sensor device. , 18, a floor sensor 20, and a drive circuit 22. The satellite sensors 16, 18 and the floor sensor 20 are so-called acceleration sensors for measuring an impact applied to the vehicle and transmitted through the vehicle body, and specifically, a deceleration applied to the vehicle in the front-rear direction. Is measured at any time, and the measured value is output as a signal.

  The control circuit 14 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 23, an input / output circuit (I / O circuit) 24, a read only memory (ROM) 26, a random access memory 28, and the like. Connected by bus. Among these, the CPU 23 performs various processes for controlling the operation of the airbag device 12 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 26. The RAM 28 is a memory for storing data obtained from signals from the satellite sensors 16 and 18 and the floor sensor 20 and results calculated by the CPU 23 based on the data. Further, the I / O circuit 24 is a circuit for inputting signals from the satellite sensors 16 and 18 and the floor sensor 20, outputting an operation signal to the drive circuit 22, and the like.

  The drive circuit 22 is a circuit that energizes and ignites the squibs 12C and 12D of the inflators 12A and 12B in the airbag device 12 in accordance with an operation signal from the control circuit 14.

  In addition to the squibs 12C and 12D, which are ignition devices, the airbag device 12 includes a gas generating agent (not shown) that is ignited by the squibs 12C and 12D, and an airbag bag body 12E that is inflated by the generated gas (see FIG. 6).

  Among these components, the control circuit 14, the floor sensor 20, and the drive circuit 22 are housed in an ECU (electronic control unit) 30 shown in FIGS. Mounted on top. The satellite sensor 16 is disposed at the front portion of the vehicle 32 diagonally forward left with respect to the floor sensor 20 in the ECU 30, and the satellite sensor 18 is the front portion of the vehicle 32 diagonally forward right with respect to the floor sensor 20. It is arranged.

  That is, since the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are desirably provided at the front portion of the vehicle 32 from the viewpoint of improving detection sensitivity, the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are fixed to the upper portions 36A (see FIG. 3) near the front ends of the left and right front side members 36. Yes. The front side member 36 is a rectangular tube-like member extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 32, and is easily subjected to axial compression deformation in order to absorb an impact at the time of collision.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the case body 40 of the satellite sensor 16 is molded from a block-shaped resin material, for example, a material obtained by adding glass fiber to PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) to obtain a predetermined strength. Has been. A trapezoidal block-shaped sensor protection unit 42 is formed on both sides of the housing body 40, and a sensor storage unit 44 that is slightly smaller than the sensor protection unit 42 is formed between the sensor protection units 42. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, a concave portion 44A is formed in the sensor storage portion 44 from the lower side, and a sensor substrate 47 to which a sensor main body 46 as a sensor is fixed is disposed in the concave portion 44A. The recess 44A is closed by a lid 44B.

  Therefore, the sensor main body 46 and the sensor substrate 47 disposed inside the sensor storage portion 44 of the housing main body 40 can be reliably protected by the sensor protection portion 42 of the housing main body 40.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the housing body 40 is fixed to the upper portion 36 </ b> A of the front side member 36 by bolts 48 as fastening means with the sensor protection portions 42 on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bolt 48 is fastened to a weld nut 50 disposed inside the front side member 36.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a trapezoidal block-shaped connector protection part 52 is formed on one end side of each sensor protection part 42 in the housing body 40 (on the rear end side when fixed to the vehicle body). The space between these connector protection portions 52 is a connector storage portion 54.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector housing portion 54 is formed with a connector portion 58 surrounding the terminal 56 extending from the sensor substrate 47 so as to protrude from the sensor housing portion 44 side. Further, the connector 58 can be connected to the connector 60 on the harness side as indicated by a two-dot chain line. In a state of being fixed to the vehicle body, the connector protection portion 52 has the maximum height H1 of the housing body 40, and the connector protection portion 52 is larger than the harness-side connector 60 in a side view.

  Further, the height H1 of the connector protection portion 52 is equal to or less than the height H2 of the bolt 48 in a state where the housing body 40 is fixed to the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the height H1 and the bolt 48 of the connector protection portion 52 are set. Is substantially the same as the height H2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the connector 60 on the harness 59 side is connected to the connector portion 58 of the housing body 40, the gap 61 between the connector 60 and the connector protection portion 52 is narrow.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the housing body 40 is fixed to the vehicle body, a guide portion that guides another member that comes in contact from the front of the vehicle to the rear side of the vehicle is disposed at the upper front end of the housing body 40 on the front side of the vehicle. An inclined surface 62 is formed. Therefore, when another member that moves relatively from the front side of the vehicle body to the rear side relative to the housing body 40 in the event of a vehicle collision interferes with the housing body 40, the upper front end of the housing body 40 Due to the inclined surface 62 formed in the above, it is difficult for the other material member to be caught on the housing body 40.

  In addition, the tip upper part 52A of the connector protection part 52 and the portion 64 that connects the tip upper parts 52A of the left and right connector protection parts 52 to each other are inclined as a guide part that guides other members that contact from the front of the vehicle to the vehicle rear side. When the other member that moves relative to the housing body 40 from the front side of the vehicle body to the rear side relative to the housing body 40 at the time of a vehicle collision interferes with the connector protection part 52 of the housing body 40 The other material member is difficult to be caught on the housing body 40.

  The satellite sensor 18 has the same structure as the satellite sensor 16, and the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are connected to the control circuit 14 via a connector 60 and a harness 59.

  Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor main body 46 and the sensor substrate 47 disposed inside the sensor storage portion 44 of the housing main body 40 by the sensor protection portions 42 set on both sides of the housing main body 40 in the satellite sensors 16 and 18. Therefore, the reinforcing member and bracket as in the conventional structure are not required. As a result, the satellite sensors 16 and 18 can be reduced in weight and cost.

  In this embodiment, since the sensor protection part 42 of the housing body 40 is directly fixed to the upper part 36A in the vicinity of the front end of the front side member 36, the satellite sensor 16 is compared with a configuration using a bracket like a conventional structure. , 18 can be downsized.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the sensor body 42 is fixed to the front side member 36 by the bolts 48 with the sensor protection portions 42 on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the mounting dimensions L in the vehicle front-rear direction of the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are as follows. (See FIG. 1) can be reduced. Moreover, since the load which acted on the housing body 40 can be released to the front side member 36 via the bolts 48, damage to the housing body 40 can also be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, since the maximum height H1 of the housing body 40 is equal to or less than the height H2 of the bolt 48 in a state of being fixed to the vehicle body, a load acting on the housing body 40 from above and below is applied. , Can be received by the bolt 48 itself. As a result, the casing 48 can be protected from the load acting from above and below by the bolts 48.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the connector portions 58 disposed inside the connector storage portion 54 of the housing body 40 by the connector protection portions 52 set on both sides of the housing body 40 in the satellite sensors 16 and 18; Since the connector 60 on the harness 59 side can be reliably protected from loads acting from the front, rear, left, and right directions, a reinforcing member and a bracket as in the conventional structure are not required. As a result, the satellite sensors 16 and 18 can be reduced in weight and cost.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the housing body 40 interferes with another member that moves relatively from the front side of the vehicle body to the rear side with respect to the housing body 40 in the event of a vehicle collision, Due to the inclined surface 62 formed in the upper part of the front end of the casing main body 40 that is the front side of the vehicle in a fixed state, the other material member is not easily caught on the casing main body 40. As a result, it is possible to prevent the other material member from being caught on the housing body 40 and a large load acting on the housing body 40 to damage the housing body 40.

  In the present embodiment, the housing body 40 of the satellite sensor 16 is formed of a block-shaped resin material, for example, a material obtained by adding glass fiber to PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). Even when the shape of the main body 40 is complicated, the production is easy and the weight can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, since the gap 61 between the connector 60 and the connector protection part 52 is set small, when a load is applied to the connector protection part 52 from the vehicle width direction, the connector 60 and the connector protection part 52 are applied. Can easily contact each other and can receive a load on both the connector 60 and the connector protection part 52, so that the connector 60 and the connector protection part 52 are not easily damaged.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the satellite sensors 16 and 18 and the connector 60 can be prevented from being damaged at the time of a vehicle collision by the shape of the housing body 40 and the bolts 48. As a result, since the signals from the satellite sensors 16 and 18 can be reliably transmitted to the control circuit 14 at the time of the vehicle collision, it is possible to reliably determine whether the collision occurring in the vehicle 32 is a frontal collision or an offset collision. The occupant can be restrained appropriately by the bag device 12.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 62 as the guide portion is formed on the front end upper portion of the housing main body 40 that is fixed to the vehicle body, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. The guide portion may be a streamlined curved surface 80.

  In the present embodiment, the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are fixed to the upper portion 36A (see FIG. 3) near the front end of the front side member 36. However, the positions at which the satellite sensors 16 and 18 are fixed to the vehicle body are the same as those in the present embodiment. It is not limited to the position, and may be another part such as a radiator saposide or a radiator lower cross. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which fixed the housing body 40 to the vehicle body side by adhesion | attachment etc. other than a fastening means.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle sensor housing of the present invention is applied to the satellite sensors 16 and 18 as sensors. However, the vehicle sensor housing of the present invention may be a yaw rate sensor other than a satellite sensor, a cruise sensor, or the like. The present invention can also be applied to other vehicle sensors.

It is sectional drawing along the 1-1 line | wire of FIG. It is a top view which shows the sensor housing | casing for vehicles which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the sensor housing | casing for vehicles which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of an airbag apparatus having a satellite sensor to which a vehicle sensor casing according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle equipped with a satellite sensor to which a vehicle sensor casing according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a schematic side view showing a front portion of a vehicle equipped with a satellite sensor to which a vehicle sensor casing according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 1 in the sensor housing | casing for vehicles which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

16 Satellite sensor (vehicle sensor)
18 Satellite sensor (vehicle sensor)
32 Vehicle 36 Front side member 40 Housing body 42 Sensor protection part 44 Sensor storage part 46 Sensor body 47 Sensor substrate 48 Bolt (fastening means)
52 Connector protection part 52A Top end of the connector protection part (guide part)
54 Connector storage part 58 Connector part 59 Harness 62 Inclined surface (guide part)
64 Parts that connect the upper ends of the left and right connector protection parts (guide part)
80 Curved surface (guide part)

Claims (7)

A sensor housing for a vehicle having a sensor protection portion for protecting the sensor body on both sides of the housing body, and being fixed to the vehicle body at the sensor protection portion. 2. The vehicle sensor casing according to claim 1, wherein the casing body is fixed to the vehicle body by fastening means with the sensor protection portion on both sides in the vehicle width direction. 3. The vehicle sensor casing according to claim 2, wherein the casing body is fixed to a vehicle body, and a maximum height of the casing body is equal to or less than a height of the fastening means. 4. The vehicle sensor casing according to claim 3, wherein the casing body has a connector protection section that protects a connector on both sides of the casing body. 5. The vehicle sensor casing according to claim 4, wherein the casing main body is fixed to the vehicle body, and the maximum height of the connector protection portion is substantially the same as the height of the fastening means. 2. The vehicle sensor housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing body has a guide portion that guides another member that comes into contact with the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side in a state of being fixed to the vehicle body. 8. The vehicle sensor casing according to claim 1, wherein the casing body is made of synthetic resin.

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