Arrangement structure for vicinity information detection sensor

• US 10,144,424 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Yasuhiro, Sugie, Kazuki, Sakakibara, Kosuke, Sakabe, Motoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Application Number:
  US15/041,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20160297437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/00 Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of vibration dampers adjusting damping effect B60G17/06; vibration dampers per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/17 forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

A sensor arrangement structure includes a vehicle framework member having a hollow cross-section, a vicinity information detection sensor and a cover. The vicinity information detection sensor is attached to the vehicle framework member. At least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member. A detection portion that detects vicinity information of a vehicle is oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member. The cover is disposed to oppose the detection portion and allows transmission of a detection carrier that is detected by the detection portion.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement structure comprising:

a vehicle framework member having a closed cross-section structure throughout substantially a whole length of the vehicle framework member, the closed cross-section structure defining a hollow chamber that is bounded on all sides by walls of the vehicle framework member except for a hole in the vehicle framework member;

a vicinity information detection sensor attached to the vehicle framework member, the vicinity information detection sensor forming a portion of a boundary of the closed cross-section structure of the vehicle framework member by blocking the hole, at least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor being disposed inside the closed cross-section structure of the vehicle framework member, and a detection portion of the vicinity information detection sensor that detects vicinity information of a vehicle being oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member; and

a cover that is disposed to cover and oppose the detection portion and that allows transmission of a detection medium that is detected by the detection portion, wherein

the vehicle framework member is part of the vehicle'"'"'s frame, and

the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed at a joining portion between a roof side rail and a center pillar of the vehicle.

2. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein

the hole in the vehicle framework member is an insertion hole into which the vicinity information detection sensor extends,

the vicinity information detection sensor is mounted to a mounting bracket that is joined to a hole edge of the insertion hole, and

the vicinity information detection sensor and the mounting bracket cover the insertion hole.

3. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, further comprising a shock-absorbing member provided between the vicinity information detection sensor and a wall of the vehicle framework member.

4. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle framework member is formed of a material having electrical conductivity.

5. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of radio waves.

6. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of ultrasonic waves.

7. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of visible light.

8. The sensor arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transmissive of laser light.