DE102022208281A1 - Sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor holder (100) for an environmental sensor (200) of a vehicle (300), having at least the following components: - a receiving means (10) for holding such an environmental sensor (200); - a fastening means (20) for fastening the Recording means (10) on a vehicle (300); and - an energy storage unit (30) arranged between the receiving means (10) and that vehicle (300) to which the sensor holder (100) is attached in the assembled state by means of the fastening means (20), by means of which an elastic-reversible evasive movement of the receiving means (10) is made possible in a horizontal direction relative to this vehicle (300). The sensor holder (100) is primarily characterized in that, by means of the energy storage unit (30), an elastic-reversible rotational movement of the receiving means (10) relative to this vehicle (300) about a vertical axis when the sensor holder (100) is mounted ( Z) is possible.

Description

The invention relates to a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a vehicle according to claim 1, an environmental sensor with such a sensor holder according to claim 7, and a vehicle with such an environmental sensor according to claim 8.

Technical area

• - ein Aufnahmemittel zum Halten eines solchen Umgebungssensors;
• - ein Befestigungsmittel zum Befestigen des Aufnahmemittels an einem Fahrzeug; und
• - eine zwischen dem Aufnahmemittel und jenem Fahrzeug, an welchem der Sensorhalter im montierten Zustand mittels des Befestigungsmittels befestigt ist, angeordnete Energiespeichereinheit, mittels welcher eine elastisch-reversible Ausweichbewegung des Aufnahmemittels relativ zu diesem Fahrzeug in einer horizontalen Richtung ermöglicht ist.

The invention relates to a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a vehicle, having at least the following components:

• - a recording means for holding such an environmental sensor;
• - a fastening means for fastening the receiving means to a vehicle; and
• - an energy storage unit arranged between the receiving means and the vehicle to which the sensor holder is attached in the mounted state by means of the fastening means, by means of which an elastic-reversible evasive movement of the receiving means relative to this vehicle in a horizontal direction is made possible.

Sensor holders are known from industrial practice which protect the sensor by means of plastic deformation of the sensor holder. For example, upon contact with an obstacle, such a sensor holder bends plastically away from the obstacle in an evasive movement, so that the sensor remains undamaged. Such a sensor holder must be replaced after contact with an obstacle. In contrast, sensor holders that are reversibly deformable in a horizontal direction are known from the prior art.

The DE 10 2018 210 094 A1 discloses, for example, a holder on a structural part of a motor vehicle with a contact area which is excellently arranged in the vehicle's longitudinal direction relative to the structural part, and an elasticity means which enables the front-side contact area to be moved rearwards in the vehicle's longitudinal direction in a non-destructive, reversible manner at least up to a front surface of the structural part.

The DE 10 2019 131 663 A1 discloses a sensor fastening device for a motor vehicle with a sensor holder for holding an environment sensor and a guide device, the sensor holder being reversibly displaceable in at least one direction by the guide device against the pretensioning force of a pretensioning device.

The DE 10 2018 215 995 A1 discloses a sensor holder for a vehicle, which comprises a fastening element for fastening to the vehicle and a holding element for receiving a sensor, the holding element being movably arranged on the fastening element.

It was found that when the vehicle comes into contact with an obstacle or other road users, for example when parking, the sensor holder or even the environmental sensor is damaged. This is probably due to a lateral force acting on the sensor holder.

• Es soll ein Sensorhalter bereitgestellt werden, welcher auch bei seitlicher Krafteinwirkung einen für den Sensorhalter zerstörungsfreien Schutz des Umgebungssensors gewährleistet.

Compared to previously known sensor holders, the invention is based on the task of solving the following problem with the simplest and most cost-effective means possible:

• A sensor holder is to be provided which ensures non-destructive protection of the environmental sensor even in the event of lateral force.

According to claim 1, the above object is achieved in that an elastic-reversible rotational movement of the receiving means relative to a vehicle about a vertical axis in a mounted state of the sensor holder is also made possible by means of an energy storage unit.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• - ein Aufnahmemittel zum Halten eines solchen Umgebungssensors;
• - ein Befestigungsmittel zum Befestigen des Aufnahmemittels an einem Fahrzeug; und
• - eine zwischen dem Aufnahmemittel und jenem Fahrzeug, an welchem der Sensorhalter im montierten Zustand mittels des Befestigungsmittels befestigt ist, angeordnete Energiespeichereinheit, mittels welcher eine elastisch-reversible Ausweichbewegung des Aufnahmemittels relativ zu diesem Fahrzeug in einer horizontalen Richtung ermöglicht ist.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a sensor holder for an environmental sensor of a vehicle is proposed, which has at least the following components:

• - a recording means for holding such an environmental sensor;
• - a fastening means for fastening the receiving means to a vehicle; and
• - an energy storage unit arranged between the receiving means and the vehicle to which the sensor holder is attached in the mounted state by means of the fastening means, by means of which an elastic-reversible evasive movement of the receiving means relative to this vehicle in a horizontal direction is made possible.

The sensor holder is primarily characterized in that the energy storage unit also enables an elastic-reversible rotational movement of the receiving means relative to this vehicle about a vertical axis in a mounted state of the sensor holder.

In the present case, elastically reversible means that the sensor holder does not deform plastically or even break during an evasive movement, at least up to a design force limit.

In one embodiment, the receiving means automatically moves back to its starting position after an elastic evasive movement.

In one embodiment, if a design force limit value is exceeded, up to which only an elastic-reversible deformation of the sensor holder takes place, a plastic deformation of the sensor holder is also possible in order to protect the environmental sensor from damage.

Preferably, an elastic-reversible rotational movement of the receiving means is possible at least to the extent that a lateral corner of the sensor holder or of the sensor in the maximally elastic-reversible twisted state about the vertical axis no longer extends beyond the outermost edge of the vehicle component on which the sensor holder is mounted. protrudes. The receiving means is preferably rotatable through an angle of at least 5°, at least 15°, or at least 35° about the vertical axis from an initial length, particularly preferably in both directions.

In one embodiment, the energy storage unit comprises a first energy storage element, by means of which the horizontal evasive movement is possible, and
a second energy storage element, by means of which the rotational movement is possible.

The rotational movement and the evasive movement can be made possible either by a common or separate energy storage elements of the energy storage unit.

• - einer Festkörperfeder, bevorzugt umfassend ein gummi-elastisches Material und/oder ein gefaltetes Blechelement;
• - einer Schraubenfeder;
• - einer Schenkelfeder; und
• - einer Spiralfeder.

According to one embodiment, the first energy storage element and/or the second energy storage element are formed by at least one of the following elements:

• - a solid spring, preferably comprising a rubber-elastic material and/or a folded sheet metal element;
• - a coil spring;
• - a leg spring; and
• - a spiral spring.

• - einen Schwenkarm; und
• - ein starres Verbindungselement mit einer translatorischen Führung.

According to one embodiment, the fastening means comprises at least one of the following elements:

• - a swivel arm; and
• - a rigid connecting element with a translational guide.

In one exemplary embodiment, the pivot arm is mounted on the vehicle so that it can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis and is biased against the vehicle via an energy storage element, for example a torsion spring. The receiving means is attached to the end of the swivel arm opposite this vehicle. The evasive movement in this case is a pivoting movement against the preload.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving means is guided in a rigid connecting element by means of a translational guide and can be moved along the translational guide as an evasive movement in a horizontal direction. Preferably, the horizontal direction is arranged parallel to the X-axis of the vehicle, which is aligned along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the evasive movement of the receiving means is a pivoting movement and/or a translational movement.

According to one embodiment, a preload is provided by means of the energy storage unit, which prevents the evasive movement and/or the rotational movement of the receiving means up to a predetermined force limit value.

For example, the pretension prevents the sensor holder or the environmental sensor from moving unintentionally when the vehicle is driving normally. The predetermined force limit value is preferably greater than or equal to a force that is necessary to prevent movement of the environmental sensor in the event of acceleration forces, braking forces or vibration forces expected for the respective vehicle, and less than or equal to a force that would lead to damage to the environmental sensor .

• - ein Abstandssensor;
• - eine Kamera;
• - einen Lasersensor, bevorzugt einen LiDAR-Sensor (Light Detection and Ranging);
• - ein Radar;
• - ein Steuergerät; und
• - eine Antenne.

Furthermore, according to claim 7, the task is solved by an environmental sensor with a sensor holder, whereby
such a sensor holder is a sensor holder according to the above description, and
the environmental sensor comprises at least one of the following components:

• - a distance sensor;
• - a camera;
• - a laser sensor, preferably a LiDAR sensor (Light Detection and Ranging);
• - a radar;
• - a control device; and
• - an antenna.

• - einen Antrieb zum Erzeugen eines Vortriebsmoments;
• - zumindest ein Vortriebsrad, mittels welchem das Vortriebsmoment des Antriebs in einen Vortrieb des Fahrzeugs umsetzbar ist;
• - einen Sensorhalter nach einer Ausführungsform gemäß der obigen Beschreibung, welcher mittels des Befestigungsmittels an einem Fahrzeugbauteil des Fahrzeugs befestigt ist; und
• - einen in dem Aufnahmemittel des Sensorhalters aufgenommenen Umgebungssensor.

Furthermore, according to claim 8, the task is solved by a vehicle which has at least the following components

• - a drive for generating a propulsive torque;
• - at least one propulsion wheel, by means of which the propulsion torque of the drive can be converted into propulsion of the vehicle;
• - a sensor holder according to an embodiment according to the above description, which is attached to a vehicle component of the vehicle by means of the fastening means; and
• - an environmental sensor accommodated in the receiving means of the sensor holder.

In one embodiment, the sensor holder is arranged on a front or rear side of the vehicle, preferably on a bumper cross member, and the avoidance direction is aligned along the X-axis of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the energy storage unit allows the evasive movement of the receiving means in the horizontal evasive direction to such an extent that an environmental sensor accommodated in the sensor holder and the sensor holder can be moved completely behind an outermost edge of the vehicle component to which the sensor holder is attached.

The X-axis is aligned along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

• 1: einen Sensorhalter mit einer Schenkelfeder als erstem Energiespeicherelement in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• 2: einen Sensorhalter mit einer Druckfeder als erstem Energiespeicherelement in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• 3: eine Festkörperfeder als erstes Energiespeicherelement für einen Sensorhalter in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, und
• 4: ein Fahrzeug mit Sensorhaltern in der Draufsicht.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 : a sensor holder with a leg spring as the first energy storage element in a perspective view,
• 2 : a sensor holder with a compression spring as the first energy storage element in a perspective view,
• 3 : a solid-state spring as the first energy storage element for a sensor holder in a perspective view, and
• 4 : a vehicle with sensor holders in top view.

1 shows a sensor holder 100 for holding an environmental sensor 200 on a vehicle component 41 of a vehicle 300. Here, the vehicle component 41 is, as preferred, a bumper cross member 42. The sensor holder 100 has a receiving means 10 and a fastening means 20. The sensor holder 100 is attached to the bumper cross member 42 by means of the fastening means 20. By means of the receiving means 10, the environmental sensor 200, preferably reversibly detachable, is attached to the sensor holder 100 or is held by it. For example, the environmental sensor 200 can be screwed, clamped or glued to the receiving means 10.

In a mounted state, the sensor holder 100 or the environmental sensor 200 preferably protrudes over an outer edge 43 of a vehicle component 41 of the vehicle 300, to which the sensor holder 100 is attached by means of the fastening means 20.

In the assembled state of the sensor holder 100, the receiving means 10 is movable with an elastically reversible evasive movement in a horizontal direction in order to avoid damage when an obstacle collides against the sensor holder 100 or the environmental sensor 200. The horizontal direction is aligned parallel to a horizontal plane spanned by an X-axis X and a Y-axis Y of the vehicle 300. The Z axis Z of the vehicle 300 runs in the vertical direction orthogonally to this horizontal plane. In the assembled state, the receiving means 10 can now be rotated elastically and reversibly about this vertical Z axis Z.

The receiving means 10 is fastened to the bumper cross member 42 by means of the fastening means 20 in such a way that the environmental sensor 200 held in the receiving means 10 is passively movable in the evasive movement and the rotational movement relative to the vehicle 300, or the bumper cross member 42. The evasive movement or the rotational movement occurs when the environmental sensor 200 or a movable part of the sensor holder 100 collides with an obstacle. As shown, the sensor holder 100 and the environmental sensor 200 protrude beyond an outer edge 43 of the bumper cross member 42 in a horizontal direction away from the vehicle 300. The sensor holder 100 and/or the environmental sensor 200 preferably projects beyond the bumper cross member 42 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e. along the X-axis X as shown.

With the evasive movement, the recording means 10 with the environmental sensor 200 can be moved along a horizontal direction, as shown along the X axis X. Preferably, the receiving means 10 is at least reversible and elastic due to the evasive movement, that is to say non-destructive and without plastic deformation of the Sensor holder 100, movable so that the sensor holder 100 and the environmental sensor 200 no longer protrude beyond the edge 43 of the bumper cross member 42 in the horizontal direction in the position deflected by the evasive movement.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the receiving means 10 is held on a pivot arm 21 for this purpose. The swivel arm 21 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal swivel axis, which runs parallel to the Y axis Y in the exemplary embodiment shown. A first energy storage element 31 is provided in order to exert a preload on the receiving means 10 by means of the pivot arm 21. As shown, the first energy storage element 31 is a leg spring. The pretension holds the receiving means 10 in the normal position shown, in which the surroundings of the vehicle 300 can be detected by means of the environmental sensor 200. If the sensor holder 100 or the environmental sensor 200 comes into contact with an obstacle, which would otherwise lead to damage to the environmental sensor 200 or the sensor holder 100, the receiving means 10 with the environmental sensor 200 is accordingly moved against the bias in the evasive movement in order to prevent the damage impede.

With a rotary movement, the recording means 10 with the environmental sensor 200 can be rotated about a vertical axis, the Z axis Z as shown. For example, lateral bumps, which are based, for example, solely on contact of a corner of the sensor holder 100 or the environmental sensor 200 with an obstacle, can be dampened in such a way that damage to the sensor holder 100 and the environmental sensor 200 is prevented. For this purpose, a second energy storage element 32 is provided, which provides a rotational preload between the vehicle 300 or the vehicle component 41, here the bumper cross member 42, and the receiving means 10. Accordingly, upon contact with an obstacle, the receiving means 10 must be pressed against this bias of the second energy storage element 32 in order to carry out the rotational movement to protect the sensor holder 100 or the environmental sensor 200.

Preferably, the receiving means 10 can be rotated elastically and reversibly in both directions R at least to the extent that an outer corner of the environmental sensor 200 and/or the receiving means 10 no longer protrudes in the horizontal direction over the outer edge 43 of the vehicle component 41. As shown, for example, a corner delimiting the receiving means 10 along the Y axis Y can be moved completely behind the edge 43 of the bumper cross member 42 by the rotational movement. The second energy storage element 32 is designed, for example, as a solid spring, spiral spring or similar.

In an alternative embodiment, the energy storage unit 30, which here consists of the first energy storage element 31 and the second energy storage element 32, consists exclusively of an energy storage element 31, 32. Such an energy storage element 31, 32 is, for example, a solid spring, which simultaneously provides a rotational preload about the vertical axis Z and a preload along a horizontal axis X, Y and can be elastically reversibly deformed in the rotational movement and the evasive movement.

2 shows a sensor holder 100 with a rigid connecting element 22, which includes a guide 23 for the evasive movement of the recording means 10. This means that the evasive movement does not take place as in the exemplary embodiment 1 in a pivoting movement, but translationally. For example, a helical compression spring, which is hidden in the illustration, is provided for the pretensioning by means of the first energy storage element 31. The second energy storage element 32 is also hidden in the illustration and, for example, as shown 1 carried out as described.

In 3 shows a solid-state spring, which can also be used as a first energy storage element 31 to enable a translational evasive movement or a pivoting movement as an evasive movement in a horizontal direction, i.e. along the Y-axis Y or X-axis X, and to provide a bias against this evasive movement.

4 shows a vehicle 300 with sensor holders 100 and environmental sensors 200. The environmental sensors 200 or sensor holder 100 are, for example, according to the exemplary embodiments 1 until 3 executed and arranged on a vehicle component 41 of the vehicle 300, for example a bumper cross member 42. As shown, the environmental sensors 200 and sensor holder 100 are arranged on a front side 44 and a rear side 45 of the vehicle 300. For example, the environmental sensors 200 are used to determine the distance to other objects or to transmit an image to a screen inside the vehicle. The environmental sensors 200 are arranged, for example, at the corners of the front side 44 and/or rear side 45. Alternatively or additionally, sensor holders 100 and environmental sensors 200 are arranged, for example, centrally on the front side 44 and/or the rear side 45.

The vehicle 300 has at least one propulsion wheel 40 for driving the vehicle 300.

Reference symbol list

100

Sensor holder

200

Ambient sensor

300

vehicle

10

Recording means

20

Fasteners

30

Energy storage unit

X

X axis

Y

Y axis

Z

Z axis

31

first energy storage element

32

second energy storage element

21

Swing arm

22

rigid connecting element

23

guide

40

driving wheel

41

Vehicle component

44

Front

45

Rear side

42

Bumper cross member

43

Edge

R

Directions of rotation

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102018210094 A1 [0004]
• DE 102019131663 A1 [0005]
• DE 102018215995 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Sensor holder (100) for an environmental sensor (200) of a vehicle (300), comprising at least the following components: - a receiving means (10) for holding such an environmental sensor (200); - a fastening means (20) for fastening the receiving means (10) to a vehicle (300); and - an energy storage unit (30) arranged between the receiving means (10) and that vehicle (300) to which the sensor holder (100) is attached in the assembled state by means of the fastening means (20), by means of which an elastic-reversible evasive movement of the receiving means (10) is made possible relative to this vehicle (300) in a horizontal direction, characterized in that by means of the energy storage unit (30) an elastic-reversible rotational movement of the receiving means (10) relative to this vehicle (300) by a mounted in one State of the sensor holder (100) vertical axis (Z) is possible. Sensor holder (100). Claim 1 , wherein the energy storage unit (30) comprises a first energy storage element (31), by means of which the horizontal evasive movement is made possible, and a second energy storage element (32), by means of which the rotational movement is made possible. Sensor holder (100). Claim 1 or Claim 2 , wherein the first energy storage element (31) and / or the second energy storage element (32) are formed by at least one of the following elements: - a solid spring, preferably comprising a rubber-elastic material and / or a folded sheet metal element; - a coil spring; - a leg spring; and - a spiral spring. Sensor holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (20) comprises at least one of the following elements: - a swivel arm (21); and - A rigid connecting element (22) with a translational guide (23). Sensor holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evasive movement of the receiving means (10) is a pivoting movement and/or a translational movement. Sensor holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a preload is provided by means of the energy storage unit (30), which prevents the evasive movement and/or the rotational movement of the receiving means (10) up to a predetermined force limit value. Environmental sensor (200) with sensor holder (100), such a sensor holder (100) being a sensor holder (100) according to one of Claim 1 until Claim 6 is, and the environmental sensor (200) comprises at least one of the following components: - a distance sensor; - a camera; - a laser sensor, preferably a LiDAR sensor (Light Detection and Ranging); - a radar; - a control device; and - an antenna. Vehicle (300), comprising - a drive for generating a propulsive torque; - at least one propulsion wheel (40), by means of which the propulsion torque of the drive can be converted into propulsion of the vehicle (300); - a sensor holder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which is attached to a vehicle component (41) of the vehicle (300) by means of the fastening means (20); and - an environmental sensor (200) accommodated in the receiving means (10) of the sensor holder (100). Vehicle (300) after Claim 8 , wherein the sensor holder (100) is arranged on a front side (44) or rear side (45) of the vehicle (300), preferably on a bumper cross member (42), and the avoidance direction is along the X-axis (X) of the vehicle ( 300) is aligned. Vehicle (300) after Claim 8 or Claim 9 , wherein by means of the energy storage unit (30) the evasive movement of the receiving means (10) in the horizontal evasive direction is made possible to such an extent that an environmental sensor (200) accommodated in the sensor holder (100) and the sensor holder (100) are completely behind an outermost edge (43). of the vehicle component (41) to which the sensor holder (100) is attached can be moved.

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