JP2008026231A - Supporting structure for sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a supporting structure for a sensor, capable of supporting a sensor with a simple structure while suppressing contingencies such as striking in appearance and a horrible look. <P>SOLUTION: A bezel portion 20 includes a cylindrical body portion 21 engaging an aperture 2 formed in a bumper 1, and a fascia portion 22 covering the rim of the aperture 2 in the front surface side of the bumper 1. A body hosing portion 10 includes a protrusion 13 that the detecting surface of the sensor is exposed from the aperture region of the top end that is made of a cylindrical member, and then the protrusion 13 is inserted from the back side of the bumper 1 to the body portion 21 of the bezel 20 engaging the aperture 2, and the protrusion 13 and the body portion 21 are engaged each other. A retainer clip 30 is constructed with a flat and substantially U-shaped plate member having a pair of insertion portions, and the bezel portion 20 and the body housing portion 10 are fixed with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor support structure, and more particularly to a structure for supporting a sensor in a vehicle bumper.

In recent years, a vehicle obstacle detection device that detects an obstacle ahead is known from the viewpoint of assisting the driving operation of a driver. In this type of device, for example, an ultrasonic sensor is supported by a bumper in front of the vehicle, a predetermined ultrasonic pulse signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor, and a reflected wave from an object is received, thereby existing in front. An obstacle is detected (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). When the sensor is supported on the vehicle, for example, an opening is formed in the bumper, and the sensor (specifically, a detection surface such as a microphone) is exposed from the opening.
JP 2005-308639 A

  By the way, as a support structure of the sensor, there is a type in which the sensor is attached to the opening from the front side. In this type, a sensor body including an ultrasonic microphone, a processing circuit, and the like is inserted from the opening into the bumper. Therefore, a certain size is required for the opening. In addition, when the facer part covering the opening part is provided, the facer part is greatly exposed as much as the opening part is large, and there is a problem that the appearance is conspicuous and the appearance is deteriorated.

  In addition, there is a type in which a sensor is attached to the opening from the back side of the bumper, but in this type, it is necessary to install a sensor mounting rib on the back of the bumper. There is a problem that the sensor cannot be fixed to a vehicle or a place where there is no vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor that can support a sensor with a simple structure while suppressing the appearance and appearance from deteriorating. It is to provide a support structure.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a support structure for a sensor in a vehicle bumper. The sensor support structure includes a bezel portion, a main body housing portion, and a retainer clip. Here, the bezel part is fitted into an opening formed in the bumper and has a cylindrical body part having a hollow region penetrating inside and outside, and one edge part of the body part is widened in a flange shape, and the bumper And a facer portion covering the periphery of the opening on the front side. The main body housing portion houses the sensor inside the cylindrical member, and includes a protruding portion that exposes the detection surface of the sensor from the opening area of the tip portion, and the protruding portion is a body portion of the bezel portion from the back side of the bumper. Are inserted into the hollow region and fitted together. The retainer clip is composed of a planar U-shaped plate member having a pair of insertion portions so that the body portion of the bezel portion and the protruding portion of the main body housing portion are sandwiched between the pair of insertion portions. Inserted to fix the bezel portion and the main body housing portion to each other.

  Here, in this invention, the main body housing part may further have a side wall part arrange | positioned around the protrusion part so that the trunk | drum part of the bezel part fitted to the protrusion part may be covered. In this case, in the state where the bezel portion and the main body housing portion are fitted to each other, a groove-shaped cutout formed corresponding to both the body portion of the bezel portion and the side wall portion of the main body housing portion. It is preferable that the insertion portion of the retainer clip is fitted into the notch portion in the body portion of the bezel portion and the notch portion in the side wall portion of the main body housing portion. Here, the side wall part of the main body housing may include a rail part that guides insertion of the retainer clip along the notch part.

  In the present invention, the body part in the bezel part may have a guide groove extending in the axial direction. In this case, the opening in the bumper is formed with a convex rib portion in which a part of the edge protrudes in the center direction, and the guide groove and the rib portion correspond to each other on the condition. It is preferable that the protruding portion can be inserted into the bezel portion.

  In the present invention, the body portion of the bezel portion includes an opening that engages with a claw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion of the main body housing portion in a state where the bezel portion and the main body housing portion are fitted to each other. You may have.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that a retainer clip has an arm part extended while curving in the direction of the protrusion part in a main body housing part, and contact | abutting a bumper.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the retainer clip may have a wire harness clip that holds a wire harness connected to the connector portion of the main body housing portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to support the sensor without forming a large opening of the bumper. Therefore, it is possible to suppress poor appearance and improve design. In addition, the sensor can be supported with a simple structure.

  Further, according to the present invention, the retainer clip can absorb the rattling caused by the dimensional tolerance between the bezel portion and the main body housing portion. Therefore, a sufficient support structure can be realized. Furthermore, the rail portion guides the insertion of the retainer clip, so that the attachment can be easily performed.

  Moreover, according to this invention, the situation where a bezel part and by extension, a main body housing part will rotate in the opening part of a bumper can be suppressed. In addition, since the insertion position of the bezel portion is uniquely defined, for example, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the main body housing portion is erroneously inserted at an incorrect angle.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the claw portion of the protruding portion of the main body housing engages with the opening portion of the body portion of the bezel portion, both of them are temporarily fixed, so that the retainer clip is inserted thereafter. There is no risk of impairing the workability even when performing.

  Further, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic detection sensor can be supported more firmly by the arm portion of the retainer clip, and a sufficient support structure can be realized without impairing the design.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, the retainer clip has a clip function for holding the wire harness, thereby providing a useful support structure having a support function for the ultrasonic detection sensor and a function for holding the wire harness. .

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a sensor support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This sensor support structure is suitable as a sensor support structure used in a vehicle obstacle detection device that detects an object existing in a predetermined detection region (for example, a vehicle front region). For example, an ultrasonic sensor can be used as such a sensor. The ultrasonic sensor is installed, for example, in a bumper at the front end of the vehicle, transmits a predetermined ultrasonic pulse signal, and receives a reflected wave from an object, whereby a signal corresponding to the received reflected wave is transmitted to a host device ( To the vehicle obstacle detection device). In the vehicle obstacle detection device, it is possible to process a signal from the ultrasonic sensor and recognize the distance to the obstacle, for example.

  The ultrasonic sensor mainly includes an ultrasonic microphone that transmits and receives an ultrasonic pulse signal, a processing circuit, and a connector unit that outputs a signal from the processing circuit to a host device via a wire harness. Elements are provided in the body housing part 10. The main body housing portion 10 is fitted to the bezel portion 20 that is inserted from the front side into the opening 2 of the bumper 1 and is fitted to the bezel portion 20 by being inserted from the back side of the bumper 1. Supported. Further, a retainer clip 30 is inserted into the body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20 that are fitted to each other, thereby being fixed to each other.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the main body housing portion 10. The main body housing portion 10 includes a housing portion 11 that accommodates a processing circuit and the like, and a connector cover 12 that connects the wire harness to the connector portion is provided on a lateral surface of the housing portion 11.

  On the front surface 11a of the housing part 11, a protruding part 13 made of a cylindrical member is provided. An ultrasonic microphone M is housed in the protruding portion 13, and the protruding portion 13 looks like a transmission / reception surface (detection surface) of the ultrasonic microphone M exposed from the opening region on the distal end side. ing. The main body housing part 10 can project signals from the front side of the vehicle and receive reflected waves by projecting the projecting parts 13 from the back side to the front side of the bumper 1.

  A claw portion 17 is formed on the upper portion of the protruding portion 13, and when the protruding portion 13 is inserted into the bezel portion 20, the claw portion 17 engages with the opening on the bezel portion 20 side. Both can be temporarily fixed.

  Further, on the front surface 11 a of the housing part 11, a side wall part 14 is formed around the protruding part 13, and when the protruding part 13 is inserted into the bezel part 20, the side wall part 14 becomes the bezel part 20. It looks like it covers the outer periphery. The side wall portion 14 is formed with a notch portion 15 into which the retainer clip 30 is slid and inserted, and a rail portion 16 that guides the insertion of the retainer clip 30 is formed along the notch portion 15. In the present embodiment, since the substantially U-shaped retainer clip 30 is slid and inserted from the upper side to the lower side, the notch portion 15 and the rail portion 16 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the side wall portion 14, respectively. .

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the bezel portion 20. The bezel part 20 that supports the main body housing part 10 on the bumper 1 is inserted into the opening 2 of the bumper 1 from the front side and fitted to the opening 2, and the edge of the fuselage 21. And a ring-shaped facer portion 22 formed in the shape.

  The body portion 21 is a cylindrical member, and the outer peripheral shape thereof has a shape that substantially corresponds to the opening 2 of the bumper 1. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 2 of the bumper 1 is formed with a rib 2a in which a part of the periphery of the opening protrudes toward the center. In this embodiment, two ribs are formed. 2a is formed. Therefore, corresponding to these rib portions 2a, the body portion 21 does not have a complete cylindrical shape continuous in the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 3, and the guide extends in the axial direction. Grooves 23 are formed corresponding to the number and positions of the rib portions 2a. Therefore, the bezel portion 20 has the rib portion 2a and the body portion only when the guide groove 23 formed in the body portion 21 and the rib portion 2a formed in the opening 2 of the bumper 1 correspond to each other in position. 21 is inserted into the opening 2 without interference.

  The outer peripheral surface of the body portion 21 is engaged with the edge portion of the opening portion 2 when the bezel portion 20 is inserted into the opening portion 2 of the bumper 1 at a plurality of locations (in the present embodiment, the upper and lower two locations). A claw portion 24 is formed. A notch is provided around the claw portion 24, and the bezel portion 20 can be attached to and detached from the opening 2 by displacing the claw portion 24 in the radial direction (inner side).

  The body portion 21 includes a hollow region whose inside penetrates in the axial direction. Since the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 21 corresponds to the outer peripheral shape of the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10, the protruding portions 13 of the main body housing portion 10 are inserted into this hollow region to be fitted to each other. To do.

  The body portion 21 is formed with an opening 25 that engages with the claw portion 17 formed on the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10. When the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10 is inserted into the body portion 21, the claw portion 17 of the protruding portion 13 engages with the opening 25 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the bezel part 20 and the main body housing part 10 are fixed (temporarily fixed).

  Further, when the main body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20 are fitted to the body portion 21, the retainer clip 30 is located at a position corresponding to the notch portion 15 formed in the side wall portion 14 of the main body housing portion 10. A cutout portion 26 to be slid and inserted is formed.

  The facer part 22 is a flange-shaped member that is widened by a predetermined width outward at one end of the body part 21. When the other end portion of the body portion 21 is inserted into the opening portion 2 from the front side of the bumper 1, the facer portion 22 covers the periphery of the opening portion 2 by contacting the bumper 1. Thereby, while being able to suppress the situation where the opening part 2 is exposed and appearance deteriorates, the situation where the bezel part 20 falls off from the opening part 2 can be suppressed.

  6 and 7 are explanatory views of the retainer clip 30. FIG. For convenience of explanation, the bumper 1 is omitted from the illustration shown in FIG. The retainer clip 30 is mainly composed of a substantially U-shaped plate-like member having a pair of insertion portions 31 and is laid out so as to be parallel to the bumper 1. The retainer clip 30 is slid and inserted along the rail portion 16 formed on the side wall portion 14 of the main body housing portion 10 so that the main body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20 are sandwiched between the pair of insertion portions 31. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the pair of insertion portions 31 are fitted into the cutout portion 15 of the main body housing portion 10 and the cutout portion 26 of the bezel portion 20, respectively.

  8 and 9 are explanatory views showing a fixing structure of the retainer clip 30. FIG. The pair of insertion portions 31 of the retainer clip 30 is provided with an arm portion 32 on a surface facing the bumper 1. The arm portion 32 is a plate-like member formed integrally with the pair of insertion portions 31 and extends toward the bumper 1 while curving in the direction of the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10. . When the retainer clip 30 is slid and inserted into the main body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20, the distal end portion 32 a of the arm portion 32 comes into contact with the bumper 1. In this case, an urging force is applied from the retainer clip 30 side to the bumper 1 by the elastic force of the member of the arm portion 32. As a result, the retainer clip 30 is restrained from loosening at the notches 15 and 26 and the like due to the reaction force toward the retainer clip 30, and the fitting state of the main body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20 is strengthened. can do.

  In the present embodiment, four arm portions 32 are provided on the retainer clip 30, and each arm portion 32 has a layout that is located around the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10. Further, by bending the individual arm portions 32 toward the protruding portion 13 side, as shown in FIG. 10, the force acts flexibly from the tip end portion 32 a of the arm portion 32 to the bumper 1. Unnecessary stress is generated in 22, deformation due to this can be suppressed, and the occurrence of distortion or the like generated in the bumper 1 itself can be suppressed.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the retainer clip 30 from the back side. As shown in the figure, a wire harness clip portion for holding a wire harness connected to the connector portion is provided on the back side of the retainer clip 30 on the upper side.

  In such a sensor support structure, when attaching the ultrasonic detection sensor to the bumper 1, first, the body portion 21 of the bezel portion 20 is inserted into the opening portion 2 from the front side of the bumper 1. In this case, the guide groove 23 of the body part 21 and the rib part 2a of the opening part 2 are aligned with each other in position.

  Next, the main body housing portion 10 is connected to the body portion 21 of the bezel portion 20 fitted in the opening portion 2 of the bumper 1 from the back side of the bumper 1. Specifically, the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10 is inserted into the hollow region of the body portion 21. When the protruding portion 13 is inserted into the body portion 21 to a predetermined position, the claw portion 17 of the protruding portion 13 engages with the opening 25 of the body portion 21, whereby the bezel portion 20, the main body housing portion 10, and the like. Is temporarily fixed.

  When such temporary fixing is performed, the rails of the main body housing portion 10 are arranged such that the pair of insertion portions 31 of the retainer clip 30 sandwich the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10 and the body portion 21 of the bezel portion 20. This is slid along the portion 16 from the top to the bottom. As a result, the pair of insertion portions 31 are respectively fitted into the cutout portion 15 of the main body housing portion 10 and the cutout portion 26 of the bezel portion 20.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the bezel portion 20 is fitted from the front side to the opening 2 of the bumper 1 and then laid out on the back side of the bumper 1 with respect to the bezel portion 20. Since the main body housing portion 10 is fixed, the main body housing portion 10 can be supported by the bumper 1 without increasing the opening as in the conventional method. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the facer 22 may be formed to a size that covers the opening 2, and the size can be relatively reduced. Therefore, since the appearance of the appearance can be suppressed, the design can be improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, after the bezel portion 20 and the main body housing portion 10 are fitted, the dimensional tolerance between the bezel portion 20 and the main body housing portion 10 is obtained by sandwiching the bezel portion 20 with the retainer clip 30. It can absorb the shakiness that accompanies it. Therefore, rattling between the ultrasonic microphone M exposed on the surface of the bumper 1 and the facer part 22 of the bezel part 20 can be suppressed, and a sufficient support structure can be realized without impairing the design. .

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the bezel portion 20 is attached to the bumper 1, the guide groove 23 of the body portion 21 is made to correspond to the rib portion 2 a of the opening portion 2 to position the bumper 20. 1 can be inserted into the opening 2. According to this configuration, the guide groove 23 of the body portion 21 and the rib portion 2a of the opening portion 2 are engaged with each other, whereby the bezel portion 20 (and thus the main body housing portion 10) rotates in the opening portion 2. Such a situation can be suppressed. Moreover, since the vertical position in the rotation direction of the bezel portion 20 is also uniquely defined, for example, a situation in which the main body housing portion 10 is erroneously inserted at an incorrect angle can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the protruding portion 13 of the main body housing portion 10 is inserted into the hollow area of the body portion 21 of the bezel portion 20, the protruding portion 13 with respect to the opening portion 25 of the body portion 21. The claw portion 17 is engaged. Thereby, since the bezel part 20 and the main body housing part 10 can be temporarily fixed, when inserting the retainer clip 30 after that, there is no possibility of impairing the workability | operativity.

  Further, by using the retainer clip 30, it is possible to secure a sufficient strength for fixing between the bezel portion 20 and the main body housing portion 10, and on the other hand, when the retainer clip 30 is slid and inserted, a large force is required. Since it is not necessary, it has the advantage of excellent workability.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the holding function of the main body housing portion 10 and the bezel portion 20 with respect to the bumper 1 is provided by applying an urging force to the bumper 1 by the arm portion 32 of the retainer clip 30. As a result, the ultrasonic detection sensor can be supported more firmly, and a sufficient support structure can be realized without impairing the design.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the retainer clip 30 has a clip function for holding the wire harness. Thereby, the useful support structure provided with the support function of the ultrasonic detection sensor and the holding function of the wire harness can be provided.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the support structure of the sensor concerning embodiment of this invention The schematic perspective view which shows the main body housing part 10 The schematic perspective view which shows the bezel part 20 The perspective view which shows the detail of the opening part 2 of the bumper 1 Schematic sectional view showing sensor support structure Explanatory drawing of retainer clip 30 Explanatory drawing of retainer clip 30 Explanatory drawing which shows the fixing structure of the retainer clip 30 Explanatory drawing which shows the fixing structure of the retainer clip 30 Front view showing sensor support structure The schematic perspective view which shows the retainer clip 30 from the back side Front view showing sensor support structure

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bumper 2 Opening part 2a Rib part 10 Main body housing part 11 Case part 11a Front surface 12 Connector cover 13 Projection part 14 Side wall part 15 Notch part 16 Rail part 17 Claw part 20 Bezel part 21 Body part 22 Fascia part 23 Guide groove 24 Claw part 25 Opening part 26 Notch part 30 Retainer clip 31 Insertion part 32 Arm part 32a Tip part

Claims (7)

In the support structure of the sensor in the vehicle bumper,
A cylindrical body part that fits into an opening formed in the bumper and has a hollow region that penetrates inside and outside, and one edge part of the body part is widened in a flange shape so that the opening on the front side of the bumper A bezel portion comprising a facer portion covering the periphery of the portion;
The sensor is housed in a cylindrical member, and includes a protruding portion that exposes the detection surface of the sensor from the opening area of the tip portion, and the protruding portion is formed on the body portion of the bezel portion from the back side of the bumper. A body housing part that is inserted into the hollow region and fits together,
It is composed of a planar substantially U-shaped plate-like member having a pair of insertion parts, and is inserted so that the body part of the bezel part and the protruding part of the main body housing part are sandwiched by the pair of insertion parts. And a retainer clip that fixes the bezel portion and the main body housing portion to each other. The main body housing part further includes a side wall part arranged around the protrusion part so as to cover the body part of the bezel part fitted to the protrusion part.
The bezel portion and the main body housing portion are groove-shaped cuts formed corresponding to both the body portion of the bezel portion and the side wall portion of the main body housing portion in a state of being fitted to each other. Each has a notch,
The insertion portion of the retainer clip is fitted into a notch portion in a body portion of the bezel portion and a notch portion in a side wall portion of the main body housing portion, respectively. Sensor support structure.   3. The sensor support structure according to claim 2, wherein the side wall portion of the main body housing includes a rail portion that guides insertion of the retainer clip along the notch portion. The body part in the bezel part has a guide groove extending in the axial direction,
The opening in the bumper is formed with a convex rib portion in which a part of the edge protrudes toward the center,
4. The projecting portion can be inserted into the bezel portion on condition that the guide groove and the rib portion correspond to each other in position. 5. The sensor support structure described.   The body portion of the bezel portion has an opening that engages with a claw portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion of the main body housing portion in a state where the bezel portion and the main body housing portion are fitted to each other. The sensor support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:   The said retainer clip has an arm part extended while curving in the direction of the protrusion part in the said main body housing part, and contact | abutted to the said bumper, It is described in any one of Claim 1 to 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Sensor support structure.   The sensor support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the retainer clip includes a wire harness clip that holds a wire harness connected to the connector portion of the main body housing portion.

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