Sensor unit, armor body for sensor module, electronic device, and moving object

• US 9,952,071 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Jin, Mikimoto, Taniguchi, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMEL E
• Application Number:
  US14/774,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 73431
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5783 Mountings or housings not specific to any of the devices covered by groups G01C19/5607 - G01C19/5719
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

A sensor unit includes a sensor module including a first plane and a second plane that crosses the first plane, and an armor body configured to house the sensor module. The armor body includes a first reference inner plane for positioning the first plane of the sensor module, a first reference outer plane parallel to the first reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the first reference inner plane, a second reference inner plane for positioning the second plane of the sensor module, and a second reference outer plane parallel to the second reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the second reference inner plane.

Claims

1. A sensor unit comprising:

a sensor module including a first plane and a second plane that crosses the first plane; and

an armor body configured to house the sensor module, wherein

the armor body includes;

a first reference inner plane for positioning the first plane of the sensor module;

a first reference outer plane parallel to the first reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the first reference inner plane;

a second reference inner plane for positioning the second plane of the sensor module;

a second reference outer plane parallel to the second reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the second reference inner plane;

a first wall section parallel to the second reference inner plane and the second reference outer plane and separated from the second reference inner plane by the first reference inner plane, the first wall section including an opening for receiving a connector; and

first and second inclined inner walls intersecting with the second reference inner plane, the sensor module being positioned adjacent to the first and second inclined inner walls, wherein a space between the first and second inclined inner walls decreases as the first and second inner walls extend toward the second reference inner plane such that when the sensor module is positioned adjacent to the first and second inclined inner walls, the first and second inclined inner walls align the sensor module with a center axis of the connector, wherein

the sensor module includes a first detection axis and a second detection axis that crosses the first detection axis,

the first reference inner plane is parallel to a plane defined by the first detection axis and the second detection axis, and

the second reference inner plane is parallel to the first detection axis.

2. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein

the armor body includes a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls erected on the bottom wall, and

the sensor module is housed in an internal space surrounded by the bottom wall and the plurality of sidewalls.

3. The sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein, in the armor body, the first reference inner plane is provided on a bottom surface on the internal space side.

4. The sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein, in the armor body, the second reference inner plane is provided on a side surface on the internal space side.

5. The sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein

the armor body includes a step on a bottom surface on the internal space side, and

the second reference inner plane is provided on a side surface of the step.

6. The sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein, in the armor body, a plane for positioning the sensor module is provided on at least one of both sides of the second reference inner plane.

7. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein a connector electrically connected to the sensor module is provided.

8. The sensor unit of claim 1, wherein

the sensor module includes the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and a third detection axis, the second detection axis crossing the first detection axis and the third detection axis crossing the second detection axis, and

the second reference inner plane is parallel to a plane defined by the first detection axis and the third detection axis.

9. The sensor unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a connector board fixed to a connector; and

a relay board fixed to the sensor module,

wherein the armor body is configured to house the sensor module, relay board, and connector board,

the armor body further includes a housing having a plurality of wall sections defining an inner cavity for housing the sensor module, the plurality of wall sections including the first wall section, a second wall section, a third wall section, and a fourth wall section, the first wall section including the opening for receiving the connector fixed to the connector board,

the first inclined inner wall extends from the second wall section to the third wall section and the second inclined inner wall extends from the fourth wall section to the third wall section, and

a step extends from the first inclined inner wall to the second inclined inner wall and is parallel to the second reference inner plane,

the sensor module abuts a surface of the step,

the connector board extends parallel to the second reference inner plane and the relay board is fixed to a wall of the sensor module extending orthogonal to the second reference inner plane, and

the step and the first and second inclined inner walls align the sensor module with a center axis of the connector.

10. An armor body for a sensor module that houses the sensor module, the armor body comprising:

a first reference inner plane for positioning a first plane of the sensor module housed in the armor body;

a first reference outer plane parallel to the first reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the first reference inner plane;

a second reference inner plane for positioning a second plane of the sensor module housed in the armor body;

a second reference outer plane parallel to the second reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the second reference inner plane;

a first wall section parallel to the second reference inner plane and the second reference outer plane and separated from the second reference inner plane by the first reference inner plane, the first wall section including an opening for receiving a connector, and

first and second inclined inner walls intersecting with the second reference inner plane, the sensor module being positioned adjacent to the first and second inclined inner walls, wherein a space between the first and second inclined inner walls decreases as the first and second inner walls extend toward the second reference inner plane such that when the sensor module is positioned adjacent to the first and second inclined inner walls, the first and second inclined inner walls align the sensor module with a center axis of the connector.

11. The armor body of claim 10, further comprising:

a connector board fixed to a connector; and

a relay board fixed to the sensor module, wherein the armor body is configured to house the sensor module, relay board, and connector board, the armor body further includes a housing having a plurality of wall sections defining an inner cavity for housing the sensor module, the plurality of wall sections including the first wall section, a second wall section, a third wall section, and a fourth wall section, the first wall section including the opening for receiving the connector fixed to the connector board, the first inclined inner wall extends from the second wall section to the third wall section and the second inclined inner wall extends from the fourth wall section to the third wall section, and a step extends from the first inclined inner wall to the second inclined inner wall and is parallel to the second reference inner plane, the sensor module abuts a surface of the step, the connector board extends parallel to the second reference inner plane and the relay board is fixed to a wall of the sensor module extending orthogonal to the second reference inner plane, and the step and the first and second inclined inner walls align the sensor module with a center axis of the connector.