Holding frame for sensor devices in vehicles

• US 9,487,156 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Augustin, Thomas, Frenzel, Henryk, Sauerer, Vinzenz Jeremias
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US14/381,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 224/482, 224/42.4, 224/547, 224/545, 224/902
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• 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 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part

Abstract

A holding frame is to be arranged behind a vehicle window, and is to receive and hold a sensor device. The holding frame has guideways to receive and guide holding elements of the sensor device, and devices to produce a force on the sensor device substantially in a direction along the guideways. The combination of the holding frame and the sensor device forms a sensor arrangement.

Claims

1. A holding frame to be arranged inside a vehicle behind a vehicle window, wherein the holding frame is configured and adapted to receive at least one sensor device in the holding frame, and the holding frame comprises:

guideways provided on a first side of the holding frame, wherein the guideways have a substantially S-shaped profile and are configured and arranged to receive holding elements of the sensor device such that the holding elements are guided along the guideways so as to move the sensor device toward the vehicle window when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame, and

force devices provided on a second side of the holding frame opposite the first side, wherein the force devices are configured and arranged to produce a mechanical force acting on the sensor device substantially in a guiding direction of the guideways so as to cause the holding elements to move along the guideways when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame.

2. The holding frame according to claim 1, wherein the force devices comprise rigid guide ramps.

3. The holding frame according to claim 1, wherein the force devices comprise flexible guide ramps.

4. The holding frame according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fixing device configured and arranged to mechanically fix the sensor device in the holding frame.

5. The holding frame according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fixing device comprises at least one flat spring with a snap-lock mechanism configured and arranged to mechanically fix the sensor device in the holding frame.

6. The holding frame according to claim 1, wherein the guideways include guideway portions that are aligned substantially parallel to the vehicle window in an area of a final position of the holding elements.

7. A sensor arrangement to be arranged inside a vehicle behind a vehicle window, wherein:

the sensor arrangement comprises a holding frame and a sensor device,

the sensor device is configured to be arranged in the holding frame, and includes holding elements proximate a first end of the sensor device,

the holding frame includes guideways proximate a first side of the holding frame,

the guideways are configured and arranged to receive and guide the holding elements to be guided along the guideways such that the sensor device is moved toward the vehicle window when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame, and

proximate a second end of the sensor device opposite the first end thereof, the sensor device further includes first force devices configured and arranged to produce a mechanical force acting substantially in a guiding direction of the guideways so as to cause the holding elements to move along the guideways when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame.

8. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the holding frame, proximate a second side thereof opposite the first side, further includes second force devices that are configured and arranged to participate with the first force devices in producing the mechanical force acting substantially in the guiding direction of the guideways so as to cause the holding elements to move along the guideways when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame.

9. The sensor arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second force devices comprise rigid guide ramps.

10. The sensor arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second force devices comprise flexible guide ramps.

11. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the holding frame further includes at least one fixing device configured and arranged to mechanically fix the sensor device in the holding frame.

12. The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the at least one fixing device comprises at least one flat spring with a snap-lock mechanism configured and arranged to mechanically fix the sensor device in the holding frame.

13. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the guideways include guideway portions that are aligned substantially parallel to the vehicle window in an area of a final position of the holding elements.

14. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the guideways have a substantially S-shaped profile.

15. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the sensor device comprises a vehicle camera with a direction of view oriented through the holding frame.

16. The sensor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein each one of the holding elements respectively comprises a cylindrical bolt with deformation ribs.

17. A sensor arrangement to be arranged inside a vehicle behind a vehicle window, and that comprises a holding frame and a sensor device,

wherein the sensor device is configured to be arranged in the holding frame and includes holding elements proximate a first end of the sensor device,

wherein the holding frame comprises guideways on a first side of the holding frame, and the guideways are configured to receive the holding elements of the sensor device such that, when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame, the holding elements are guided along the guideways so that the sensor device is moved toward the vehicle window,

wherein the holding frame further comprises first devices on a second side of the holding frame opposite the first side thereof, and the sensor device further comprises second devices proximate a second end of the sensor device opposite the first end thereof, and

wherein the first and second devices are configured and adapted to produce a mechanical force acting on the sensor device substantially in a guiding direction of the guideways when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame, so that the mechanical force causes the holding elements to be moved along the guideways when the sensor device is placed in the holding frame.