Sensor joined to a glass pane with a silicon gel

• US 6,581,484 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
• Original Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
• Inventors: Schuler, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok, Helen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROGERS, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/485,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 738/665, 738/55, 340/577, 340/602, 250/227.24, 250/341.8, 250/571
• US Class Current: 73/866.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0205 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0893 Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path G01J5/049 takes precedence

Abstract

A gel is used as the joining agent to mount a rain sensor to a windscreen of an automobile. The gel used does not harden even in the long term, and air pockets which form inside the gel or on the boundary surfaces with the glass pane or the sensor migrate into the area around the sensor. The rain sensor is attached to a glass pane without special elastic intermediate elements, using the elasticity of the joining agent for tolerance compensation.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a rain sensor on a body comprising:

a silicone gel permeable to infrared light joining the rain sensor to the body;

the rain sensor rigidly embedded in a sensor housing;

an edge of the sensor housing resting on the body having local projections; and

a holder supporting the sensor housing on the body, the holder including;

a wall protruding from the body, the wall accommodating a portion of the sensor housing; and

a cover enclosing the sensor within the sensor housing, the cover having locking tabs connectable to respective recesses in the wall and having at least one of a radially-extending projection and a radially-extending recess such that, in a closed position, the at least one of the radially-extending projection and the radially-extending recess of the cover respectively engages one of a radially-extending recess and a radially-extending projection of the housing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projections form intermediate spaces through which excess silicone gel can escape.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

dimensions of the holder, the sensor and the silicone gel are chosen such that the sensor is pressed against the elastically acting silicone gel in its mounted condition.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the interlocked connection is provided with at least one predetermined breaking point that separates the connection under a defined opening force.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the housing contains electric connections that serve for one of receiving signals from the sensor and for supplying the sensor with power.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

one of the holder and the sensor housing containing lateral openings within the region of the silicone gel, with the lateral openings allowing excess silicone gel to escape through the openings.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the openings are formed by projections that extend essentially perpendicular to the surface of the body and are supported on the surface.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the wall is integrally molded with the body.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the radially-extending projection and the radially-extending recess of the cover is one element extending about the outer peripheral edge of the cover.

10. A device for mounting a rain sensor to a windshield of a vehicle, comprising:

a silicone gel joining a portion of a facing surface of the rain sensor to the windshield;

a sensor housing surrounding at least an outer peripheral edge of the rain sensor;

projections extending from a surface of the sensor housing facing the windshield, the projections in contact with the windshield; and

a holder engaged about an outer peripheral edge of the sensor housing, the holder including;

a sealing strip extending along an inside edge of the holder, the sealing strip in contact with the windshield and spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the sensor housing;

an adhesive surface extending away from the sealing strip, the adhesive surface opposed to and spaced from the windshield; and

an inner surface extending from the sealing strip and away from the windshield to contact the sensor housing.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the adhesive surface is inclined in a direction away from the sensor housing.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the holder further comprises a cover with locking tabs engageable with at least one recess spaced about a surface of the holder opposite the adhesive surface.

13. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

an electrical connector extending from the outer peripheral edge of the sensor housing.

14. The device according to claim 10 wherein the silicone gel is dyed to a color permeable to infrared light.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the silicone gel is dyed black.

16. A device for mounting a rain sensor to a windshield of a vehicle, comprising:

a silicone gel joining a portion of a facing surface of the rain sensor to the windshield;

a housing extending between the windshield and the rain sensor for a remainder of the facing surface of the rain sensor and extending from a surface of the windshield to enclose an outside peripheral edge of the sensor; and

projections extending from a surface of the housing facing the windshield, the projections in contact with the windshield.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the projections are spaced to allow excess silicone gel to escape.

18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a holder supporting the housing on the windshield, the holder including a wall protruding from the windshield and accommodating a portion of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the holder is integrally molded with the windshield.

19. A device for mounting a rain sensor that operates with radiation on a body with the rain sensor being joined to the body with silicone gel comprising:

silicone gel being colored with a dye that is permeable to infrared light;

the rain sensor being rigidly embedded in a sensor housing;

an edge of the sensor housing which rests on the body being provided with local projections; and

a holder mounted on the body, with the holder engaging on the sensor by one of directly and by an essentially rigid intermediate element and the holder indirectly pressing the sensor against the body via the silicone gel, wherein the holder is realized integrally with the body.

20. A device for mounting a rain sensor that operates with radiation on a body with the rain sensor being joined to the body with silicone gel comprising:

silicone gel being colored with a dye that is permeable to infrared light;

the rain sensor being rigidly embedded in a sensor housing;

an edge of the sensor housing which rests on the body being provided with local projections; and

a holder mounted on the body, with the holder engaging on the sensor by one of directly and by an essentially rigid intermediate element and the holder indirectly pressing the sensor against the body via the silicone gel, wherein electric supply lines leading to the holder extend within the body.