Method and device for fastening a sensor

• US 7,266,902 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2002
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Apel, Uwe, Kurfiss, Frank, Skuppin, Andre, Seger, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US10/504,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,739 Days
• Field of Search: 335/580.1, 336/00, 336/13, 336/45
• US Class Current: 33/613
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0066 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver

Abstract

A method and device for securing a sensor, a stereo camera in motor vehicles in particular, in which accurate alignment of the sensor holding element is achieved during assembly using an adjusting gauge having the dimensions of the sensor and optionally pins which are inserted into matching receiving parts of the sensor holding element.

Claims

1. A method for securing a sensor comprising:

guiding an adjusting gauge, having the dimensions of the sensor and being movable along a predefined axis, into a sensor receiving part of a holding element;

aligning the holding element relative to a base by positioning the adjusting gauge in the sensor receiving part of the holding element;

permanently bonding the holding element having the sensor receiving part to the base;

and

removing the adjusting gauge.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is for securing the sensor in a motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is adhered to the base.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting gauge includes a pressing plate which enters into an operative connection with the holding element during the bonding process and transfers forces to a contact surface between the holding element and the base.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pressing plate transfers the forces along a first axis, the method further comprising:

transferring a pressing force by the adjusting gauge along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are angled relative to each other.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pressing plate transfers the forces along a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to a portion of the contact surface between the holding element and the base.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

positioning a plurality of pins on the pressing plate such that the pressing forces are substantially evenly distributed about the contact surface between the holding element and the base.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

positioning a plurality of depressions on the holding element, the plurality of depressions being capable of receiving the plurality of pins; and

mating the pins to the depressions to at least partially position the holding element relative to the base.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing each of the pressing pins with a tip contour and each of the depressions with a depression contour, wherein the depression contour is the inverse of the tip contour.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tip contour comprises at least one of:

a conical tip contour, or a dome-shaped tip contour.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a plurality of movable brackets on the pressing plate;

enclosing the edge of the holding element by the brackets during the bonding of the holding element to the base, wherein the enclosing of the edge by the brackets ensures direct contact of the pressing pins to the receiving depressions during the bonding and prevents the holding element from tipping or bending during the bonding.

12. A device for securing a sensor comprising:

a pressing plate having pins adapted to enter into an operative connection with matching receiving parts of a holding element for the sensor for the purpose of centering and applying a pressing force.

13. A method for securing an image sensor system comprising:

permanently bonding a scattered light screen as a holding element having a receiving part for the image sensor system to a windshield of a vehicle, the bonding including;

in a first step, permanently bonding a connecting element to the windshield;

and

in a further step, connecting the scattered light screen to the connecting element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the connecting comprises connecting the scattered light screen to the connecting element via a snap-in connection.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the permanently bonding comprises gluing the connecting element to the windshield.

16. A device for securing a sensor comprising:

a receiving part for the sensor; and

pin receiving parts adapted to receive pins in a process of bonding the device to a base.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving parts are situated at least one of(a) in an area of the sensor receiving part and (b) on a side of a contact surface between the device and the base, the side facing away from the base.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the sensor is an image sensor system for motor vehicles.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the sensor is a stereo camera system.