Sensor mounting structure

• US 10,557,729 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Higashimachi, Naoya, Ito, Hiroaki, Mizutani, Koh
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, William B
• Application Number:
  US16/199,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20190170544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

There is provided a sensor mounting structure, the structure including (i) a sensor device that detects at least information in front of a vehicle, (ii) a support member that houses part of the sensor device and is attached to a base member provided on an inner surface of a front windshield glass, and (iii) a display device that displays at least an image of what is in back of the vehicle, the display device being attached such that its angle is adjustable, to a lower end portion of an arm member having upper end portion that is attached to the support member. A space is formed between an outer surface of the part of the sensor device housed in the support member and an inner surface of the support member.

Claims

1. A sensor mounting structure comprising:

a sensor device that detects at least information in front of a vehicle;

a support member that houses part of the sensor device and is attached to a base member provided on an inner surface of a front windshield glass; and

a display device that displays at least an image of what is in back of the vehicle, the display device being attached such that its angle is adjustable, to a lower end portion of an arm member having upper end portion that is attached to the support member,

wherein a space is formed between an outer surface of the part of the sensor device housed in the support member and an inner surface of the support member.

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

the support member is formed in a shape of a casing having a bottom wall,

the upper end portion of the arm member is attached to the bottom wall, and

the space is formed at least between a bottom surface of the sensor device and an inner surface of the bottom wall.

3. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein

a bracket having longitudinal direction, that coincides with the vehicle front and rear direction, is provided on the bottom wall, and

the upper end portion of the arm member is attached to the bracket.

4. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the support member is fastened, together with the sensor device, to the base member.

5. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein the support member and the sensor device are fastened to the base member at four points spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front and rear direction and the vehicle width direction.

6. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the display device is an electronic inner mirror.

7. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured to include a camera, or a sensor that uses an infrared laser beam.

8. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member that covers the support member,

wherein the shortest distance between an upper edge portion at a longitudinal direction end portion of the display device and the cover member is longer than the shortest distance between the upper edge portion at a longitudinal direction central portion of the display device and the cover member.

9. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 8, wherein the cover member has a stepped portion in a portion thereof that opposes the upper edge portion at the longitudinal direction end portion of the display device.

10. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 8, wherein the cover member covers the support member in avoidance of the arm member.