Sensor support assembly for vehicles

• US 6,398,252 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Kazuo, Kamiya, Toshikazu, Suzuki, Masakatsu, Ogawa, Takaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/166,376
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/727, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/5, 280/514, 180/282, 379/448, 359/823, 273/371
• US Class Current: 280/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

An assembly for mounting a sensor, which measures a running state of a vehicle, on the vehicle at a predetermined positional relationship to the vehicle. The assembly includes a control unit for controlling the vehicle based on a signal transmitted from the sensor and a circuit board. The assembly further includes a case to be fixed to the vehicle for housing the circuit board and a holding member for holding the sensor at an inclination relative to the circuit board. The holding member maintains the positional relationship between the sensor and the vehicle when the case is fixed to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An assembly for measuring yaw rate of a vehicle when mounted on the vehicle in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a sensor for measuring yaw rate of the vehicle;

a lead wire for transmitting a signal from the sensor, wherein the lead wire has a sealed connection with the sensor and a connector which is attached to a distal end of the lead wire;

a control unit for controlling the vehicle based on the signal transmitted from the sensor, wherein the control unit includes a circuit board, and wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board with the connector;

a case for accommodating the circuit board, the case including a base for fixing the case to the vehicle;

a bracket supported by and located within the case, the bracket having a surface provided at a predetermined inclination relative to the circuit board, the sensor being mounted on the inclined bracket surface and maintaining its position relative to the vehicle when the case is fixed to the vehicle; and

a lock mechanism controlled by the circuit board for locking the tilting motion of an axle of the vehicle.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes first an second mounting pieces, which extend parallel to the circuit board, and a plate extending between the first and second mounting pieces, and wherein the sensor is located on the plate.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the plate is inclined at predetermined angle relative to the first and second mounting pieces.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the assembly further comprises a first spacer that is arranged between the first mounting piece of the bracket and the circuit board.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the assembly further comprises a second spacer that is arranged between the second mounting piece and the circuit board.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first spacer has a different length than the second spacer.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the assembly further comprises a first screw for mounting the sensor on the bracket.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the assembly further comprises a second screw for mounting the bracket on the circuit board.

9. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first and second mounting pieces are planar and lie in two different parallel planes.

10. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first and second mounting pieces lie in the same plane.

11. An assembly for measuring yaw rate of a vehicle when mounted on the vehicle in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a sensor for measuring a running state of the vehicle, the sensor having an operational axis, wherein the sensor includes a yaw rate sensor that measures the yaw rate based on a deflection from the operational axis;

a lead wire for transmitting a signal from the sensor, wherein the lead wire has a sealed connection with the sensor and a connector which is attached to a distal end of the lead wire;

a control unit for controlling the vehicle based on the signal transmitted from the sensor, wherein the control unit includes a circuit board, and wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board with the connector;

a case for accommodating the circuit board, the case including a base for fixing the case to the vehicle;

a bracket supported by and located within the case, the bracket having a surface provided at a predetermined inclination relative to the circuit board, the sensor being mounted on the inclined bracket surface and the axis of the sensor being maintained in a vertical position when the case is fixed to the vehicle; and

a lock mechanism controlled by the circuit board for locking the tilting motion of an axle of the vehicle.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the bracket includes first and second mounting pieces, which extend parallel to the circuit board, and a plate extending between the first and second mounting pieces, and wherein the sensor is located on the plate.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the plate is inclined at predetermined angle relative to the first and second mounting pieces.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the assembly further comprises a first spacer that is arranged between the first mounting piece of the bracket and the circuit board.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the assembly further comprises a second spacer that is arranged between the second mounting piece and the circuit board.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first spacer has a different length than the second spacer.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein the assembly further comprises a first screw for mounting the sensor on the bracket.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein the assembly further comprises a second screw for mounting the bracket on the circuit board.

19. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first and second mounting pieces are planar and lie in two different parallel planes.

20. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first and second mounting pieces lie in the same plane.

21. An assembly for measuring yaw rate of a vehicle when mounted on the vehicle in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a sensor for measuring yaw rate of the vehicle, the sensor having an operational axis, wherein the sensor includes an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the vehicle in the moving direction based on a deflection from the operational axis;

a lead wire for transmitting a signal from the sensor, wherein the lead wire has a sealed connection with the sensor and a connector which is attached to a distal end of the lead wire;

a control unit for controlling the vehicle based on the signal transmitted from the sensor, wherein the control unit includes a circuit board, and wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board with the connector;

a case for accommodating the circuit board, the case including a base for fixing the case to the vehicle;

a bracket supported by and located within the case, the bracket having a surface provided at a predetermined inclination relative to the circuit board, the sensor being mounted on the inclined bracket surface and the axis of the sensor being maintained in a horizontal position when the case is fixed to the vehicle; and

a lock mechanism controlled by the circuit board for locking the tilting motion of an axle of the vehicle.

22. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the bracket includes first and second mounting pieces, which extend parallel to the circuit board, and a plate extending between the first and second mounting pieces and being inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the first and second mounting pieces, wherein the sensor is located on the plate.

23. An assembly according to claim 22, wherein the first and second mounting pieces are planar and lie in two different parallel planes.

24. An assembly according to claim 22, wherein the first and second mounting pieces lie in the same plane.

25. An assembly for measuring yaw rate of a vehicle when mounted on the vehicle in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a sensor for measuring yaw rate of the vehicle;

a control unit for controlling the vehicle based on a signal transmitted from the sensor, wherein the control unit includes a circuit board;

a case for accommodating the circuit board, the case including a base for fixing the case to the vehicle;

a bracket supported by and located within the case, the bracket having a surface provided at a predetermined inclination relative to the circuit board, the sensor being mounted on the inclined bracket surface and maintaining its position relative to the vehicle when the case is fixed to the vehicle; and

a spacer detachably provided between the bracket and the case to thereby position the bracket at the predetermined inclination.

26. An assembly according to claim 25, wherein the bracket includes first and second mounting pieces, which extend parallel to the circuit board, and a plate extending between the first and second mounting pieces, wherein the sensor is located on the plate, and wherein the spacer includes a first spacer that is arranged between the first mounting piece of the bracket and the circuit board.

27. An assembly according to claim 25, wherein the bracket includes first and second mounting pieces, which extend parallel to the circuit board, and a plate extending between the first and second mounting pieces, wherein the sensor is located on the plate, and wherein the spacer includes a second spacer that is arranged between the second mounting piece and the circuit board.