Method and device for fastening and aligning a sensor

• US 7,438,774 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kurfiss, Frank, Apel, Uwe, Skuppin, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCH, GEORGE R
• Application Number:
  US10/524,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 156/94, 156/98, 156/64, 348/148, 396/419, 396/427, 396/428
• US Class Current: 156/64
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners

Abstract

A method and a device are provided for fastening and aligning a sensor, e.g., in motor vehicles, the sensor being connected to a support via a holding element. By reworking the sensor seating surface, a precise alignment of the sensor axis with the nominal direction may be achieved.

Claims

1. A method for fastening and aligning at least one sensor including a sensor axis, comprising:

connecting a holding element including a sensor seating surface for the sensor to a support;

connecting the sensor to the support via the holding element;

ascertaining a deviation, present without reworking, of the sensor axis from a nominal direction;

reworking the sensor seating surface, based on the ascertained deviation, to align the sensor axis of an installed sensor in the nominal direction; and

connecting the sensor to the holding element at the reworked sensor seating surface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support is arranged in a motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising arranging the support and the holding element into a carrier, the sensor seating surface reworked in the reworking step by a reworking device connected to the carrier to align the sensor axis in the nominal direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of (a) an ultrasound sensor, (b) a light-sensitive sensor, (c) a video sensor, (d) an electromagnetic radiation sensor, and (e) a radar sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor axis is one of (a) in a direction of the holding element and the support and (b) in a direction opposite to the direction of the holding element and the support.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is connected to the support in the holding element connecting step by an adhesion process, the sensor seating surface reworked in the reworking step during hardening of the adhesive.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reworking includes a material-removing process.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the material-removing process includes at least one of milling, drilling and laser processing.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

applying at least one centering pin receptacle in a correct position at the sensor seating surface; and

aligning the sensor with respect to rotation of the sensor about the sensor element by at least one centering pin arranged on the sensor.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one centering pin receptacle is applied in the applying step during the reworking step.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) the holding element includes an accommodation for at least a part of the sensor and (b) the holding element includes a sensor antechamber protected from intrusion of at least one of (a) chips and (b) dirt.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) the holding element includes an accommodation for at least a part of the sensor and (b) the holding element includes a sensor antechamber protected from intrusion of at least one of (a) chips and (b) dirt by a cover element.