MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE CRASH SENSOR

• US 20090001759A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kondo, Shunji
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/187.30
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type

Abstract

A sensor assembly of a vehicle includes a substantially horizontal protrusion secured to a body portion of the vehicle and extending therefrom in a direction of an impact input and a crash sensor mounted to the substantially horizontal protrusion, wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the body panel by the impact input.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly of a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:

a substantially horizontal protrusion secured to a body portion of the vehicle and extending therefrom in a direction of an impact input; and

a crash sensor mounted to the substantially horizontal protrusion;

wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the body panel by the impact input.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor is spaced apart from the substantially horizontal protrusion in a substantially vertical direction

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor is mounted to the substantially horizontal protrusion through a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket:

comprises a pressure receiving portion located at an end of the substantially horizontal protrusion opposite an inner surface of the body portion; and

extends in a direction intersecting with the substantially horizontal portion.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor is mounted to the substantially horizontal protrusion through a mounting bracket extending along the substantially horizontal protrusion.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor is spaced apart from an inner surface of the body portion in the impact input direction.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a front bumper cover, the front bumper cover being provided with a bumper reinforcement at a vehicle interior side of the front bumper cover, the crash sensor being arranged at a position not superposed with the bumper reinforcement in a direction intersecting with the impact input direction.

7. A sensor assembly for a vehicle body panel, the sensor assembly comprising:

a protrusion means for extending away from the vehicle body panel in a substantially horizontal direction; and

a sensor means for detecting an impact force applied to the vehicle body panel;

wherein the sensor means is mounted to the protrusion means.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the sensor means is spaced apart from the protrusion means in a substantially vertical direction.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the protrusion means comprises a pressure receiving means located at an end of the protrusion means opposite a surface of the vehicle body panel.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein the pressure receiving means extends in a direction intersecting with the protrusion means.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the sensor means is spaced apart from a back surface of the vehicle body panel in an impact input direction.

12. A method to mount an impact sensor to a vehicle body panel, the method comprising:

mounting the impact sensor to a substantially rigid protrusion of the vehicle body panel; and

extending the protrusion substantially horizontally from a surface of the vehicle body panel in a direction of an anticipated impact input.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising installing a mounting bracket between the impact sensor and the protrusion.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising offsetting the impact sensor from the protrusion in a substantially vertical direction.

15. The method of claim 12, farther comprising offsetting the impact sensor from a back surface of the vehicle body panel in the direction of the anticipated impact input.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle body panel is a front bumper.

17. A mounting structure for a vehicle impact sensor, the mounting structure comprising:

a body panel comprising a substantially rigid protrusion extending from a surface of the body panel in a direction of an anticipated impact input; and

a mounting bracket attached to the protrusion, the mounting bracket configured to retain the vehicle impact sensor;

wherein the mounting structure is such that when an impact force is applied to an outer portion of the body panel in the direction of the anticipated impact input, the impact force is transmitted through the protrusion and the mounting bracket to the impact sensor.

18. The mounting structure of claim 17, wherein the impact sensor is offset from an inner surface of the body panel in the direction of the anticipated impact input.

19. The mounting structure of claim 17, wherein the impact sensor is offset from the protrusion in a substantially vertical direction.

20. The mounting structure of claim 17, wherein the protrusion extends from an inner surface of the body panel in the direction of the anticipated impact input.