Structure for mounting ultrasonic sensor on mounting member

• US 7,357,431 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kawashima, Yasuhiro, Sato, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/404,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 293/117
• US Class Current: 293/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type

Abstract

An ultrasonic sensor for emitting ultrasonic waves and for receiving the waves reflected from objects is mounted on a mounting member such as a bumper of an automotive vehicle. A through-hole for inserting a front portion of the ultrasonic sensor is formed in the bumper. The ultrasonic sensor is connected to an inner surface of the bumper using a fixing member so that a vibrating front surface of the ultrasonic sensor is exposed to the front side of the bumper. A front periphery of the through-hole which is rough due to machining burrs or the like is covered with a masking member formed separately from the mounting member. Thus, the ultrasonic sensor is easily mounted on a bumper without damaging its ornamental design.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting an ultrasonic sensor on a mounting member having an outer surface and an inner surface, comprising:

a through-hole formed in the mounting member, the through-hole having an inner wall, a front periphery on the outer surface and a rear periphery on the inner surface;

a fixing member for fixing the ultrasonic sensor on the inner surface of the mounting member, so that a vibrating front surface of the ultrasonic sensor exposes to a front side of the outer surface of the mounting member; and

a masking member for covering at least the front periphery of the through-hole, while leaving the vibrating front surface of the ultrasonic sensor exposed to the front side of the outer surface of the mounting member, wherein;

the masking member further covers at least part of the inner wall of the through-hole, and wherein;

the masking member includes an outer portion covering the front periphery of the through-hole and a cylindrical portion covering the inner wall of the through-hole.

2. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the through-hole is formed after the mounting member is painted.

3. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

a surface of the cylindrical portion contacting the inner wall is a rough surface.

4. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the inner wall of the through-hole has a rough surface, and a projection engaging with the rough surface of the inner wall is made on the cylindrical portion of the masking member.

5. The mounting structure as in claim 3, wherein:

the surface of the cylindrical portion contacting the inner wall is processed to be rough.

6. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the masking member further includes an inner portion, resiliently connected to the cylindrical portion, for covering the rear periphery of the through-hole, and the masking member is connected to the mounting member by holding the mounting member between the outer portion and the inner portion.

7. The mounting structure as in claim 6, wherein:

the fixing member is connected to the inner surface of the mounting member to make a small space for accommodating the inner portion of the masking member therein.

8. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the ultrasonic sensor includes a cylindrical front portion covered with a cylindrical resilient member;

the cylindrical front portion covered with the cylindrical resilient member is inserted into the through-hole of the mounting member from a rear side of the mounting member; and

a front portion of the cylindrical resilient member positioned in the inner wall of the through-hole covered with the cylindrical portion of the masking member is a tapered portion having the smallest diameter at its front most position.

9. The mounting structure as in claim 8, wherein:

an inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of the masking member is smaller than the largest diameter of the tapered portion of the cylindrical resilient member.

10. The mounting structure as in claim 8, wherein:

the masking member includes a projection contacting the cylindrical resilient member for fixing the masking member to the cylindrical resilient member.

11. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the masking member is connected to the mounting member with an adhesive member.

12. The mounting structure as in claim 11, wherein:

the adhesive member is an adhesive tape.

13. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the masking member includes a corner portion extending inwardly from the outer portion for covering a boundary between the through-hole and the ultrasonic sensor at the outer surface of the mounting member.

14. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the vibrating front surface of the ultrasonic sensor is positioned to be flush with a front surface of the masking member covering the front periphery of the through-hole.

15. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

a front surface of the masking member covering the front periphery of the through-hole is colored with the same color as the vibrating front surface of the ultrasonic sensor.

16. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the masking member is colored with the same color as the mounting member.

17. The mounting structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the mounting member is a bumper of an automotive vehicle.