JP7526659B2 - Fixture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fixture for fixing a radar device to an object on a vehicle.

Radar devices are used to detect obstacles around a vehicle. Radar devices transmit electromagnetic waves and detect the waves that are reflected back by obstacles. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose providing a radar device on the bumper of an automobile.

The waves transmitted from the radar device may be reflected by objects other than the intended obstacles and return to the radar device. To prevent such unexpected reflected waves from being detected by the radar device, a cover member is provided around the radar device. A radio wave absorbing material that absorbs electromagnetic waves is attached to the surface of the cover member using adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive.

Patent No. 6075417 JP 2018-112528 A

When attaching radio wave absorbing material to the surface of a cover member, the process of attaching it using adhesive or glue requires labor and costs.

The present invention aims to provide a fixture that can effectively solve these problems.

The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a radar device that detects the surrounding conditions of a vehicle using electromagnetic waves to an object on the vehicle, the fixing device comprising:
a bracket including a main body portion that holds the radar device and a flange portion having a fixing surface that faces the target;
and a radio wave absorbing member attached to the main body.

In the fixing device according to the present invention, the radio wave absorbing member may have an engaging portion, and the main body of the bracket may have an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion.

In the fastener according to the present invention, the engaged portion may include a first engaged portion and a second engaged portion, and the engaging portion may include a first claw that is hooked onto the first engaged portion, and a second claw that engages with the second engaged portion by moving the radio wave absorbing member while the first claw is hooked onto the first engaged portion.

In the fastener according to the present invention, the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion may include holes formed in the main body portion.

In the fastener according to the present invention, the main body portion may be located inside the flange portion.

In the fastener according to the present invention, the fixing surface of the flange portion may include a welding portion that can be welded to the object.

According to the present invention, radio wave absorbing material can be easily attached to the bracket.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a radar mechanism fixed to a vehicle. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a fixing device. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a fixing device. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a bracket. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a radio wave absorbing member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a radio wave absorbing member. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for attaching a radio wave absorbing member to a bracket. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for attaching a radio wave absorbing member to a bracket.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings accompanying this specification, the scale and aspect ratios have been appropriately altered and exaggerated from those of the actual product for ease of understanding.

(Radar mechanism)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a radar mechanism 10 provided in a vehicle such as an automobile. The radar mechanism 10 is fixed to an object of the vehicle. The object is, for example, a bumper. In the example of FIG. 1, the radar mechanism 10 is provided to face an inner surface 71 of a rear bumper 70. In this case, the radar mechanism 10 can detect another vehicle approaching the host vehicle from behind as an obstacle. Although not shown, the radar mechanism 10 may be provided to face an inner surface of a front bumper. In this case, the radar mechanism 10 can detect an object in front of the host vehicle.

The radar mechanism 10 includes a radar device 20 and a fixture 25 that holds the radar device 20. The radar device 20 is mounted on the vehicle by fixing the fixture 25 to an object such as a bumper.

The radar device 20 detects the surroundings of the vehicle using electromagnetic waves. The radar device 20 includes, for example, a radar device 21 and a support member 22 that supports the radar device 21. The support member 22 is attached to a fixture 25, so that the radar device 20 is held by the fixture 25. The radar device 21 includes, for example, a transmitter that transmits electromagnetic waves and a receiver that receives electromagnetic waves reflected by an obstacle. Both the transmitter and the receiver may include an antenna. The electromagnetic waves may have a wavelength of millimeter waves or quasi-millimeter waves, or may have other wavelengths. Millimeter waves have a wavelength of 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less (frequency of 30 GHz or more and 300 GHz or less). Quasi-millimeter waves have a wavelength of 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less (frequency of 3 GHz or more and 30 GHz or less).

The support member 22 includes an outer surface 221 that faces an object such as a rear bumper, and an inner surface 222 that is located on the opposite side of the outer surface 221. As shown in FIG. 1, the radar device 21 may be provided on the outer surface 221 of the support member 22. Although not shown, the radar device 21 may be provided on the inner surface 222 of the support member 22.

The fixture 25 includes a bracket 30 that is fixed to an object of the vehicle, and a radio wave absorbing member, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 30 includes a main body 40 and a flange 50. The main body 40 holds the radar device 20. The radio wave absorbing member, which will be described later, is attached to the main body 40. The flange 50 has a fixing surface 51 that faces the object. In the example of FIG. 1, the fixing surface 51 faces the inner surface 71 of the rear bumper 70.

The bracket 30 includes a resin material. In particular, it is preferable that the flange portion 50 is made of a resin material. The main body portion 40 and the flange portion 50 may be integrally made of the same resin material. For example, the bracket 30 may be produced by a sheet molding method such as press molding, vacuum molding, or pressure molding. Alternatively, the bracket 30 may be produced by a molding method other than the sheet molding method, such as an injection molding method or an embossing molding method.

Resin materials include, for example, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, i-polypropylene, petroleum resin, polystyrene, s-polystyrene, chroman-indene resin, terpene resin, styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, ABS resin, polymethyl acrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polyacrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, polycyanoacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, vinylidene fluoride-ethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-propylene copolymer, 1,4-trans polybutadiene, polyoxymethylene, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, phenol-formalin resin, cresol-formalin resin, resorcinol resin, melamine resin, xylene resin, toluene resin, glyptal resin, modified glyptal resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), unsaturated polyester resin, allyl ester resin, polycarbonate, polyamides such as 6-nylon, 6,6-nylon, or 6,10-nylon, polybenzimidazole, polyamideimide, silicon resin, silicone rubber, silicone resin, furan resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyphenylene oxide, polydimethylphenylene oxide, blends of polyphenylene oxide or polydimethylphenylene oxide with triallyl isocyanurate, (polyphenylene oxide or polydimethylphenylene oxide, triallyl isocyanurate, peroxide) blends, polyxylene, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulfone (PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PPI, Kapton), liquid crystal resin, and blends of multiple materials.

Because the bracket 30 includes a flange portion 50 made of a resin material, the bracket 30 can be easily fixed to an object by, for example, welding. Welding means that the flange portion 50 is melted by heating and pressurizing, and then cooled to join the flange portion 50 to the object. When welding is used, the fixing surface 51 of the bracket 30 includes a welding portion that melts when heated and pressurized.

The fixing surface 51 of the flange portion 50 may be fixed to the object by a method other than welding, for example, by adhesion. Examples of adhesion include fixing the fixing surface 51 to the object by adhesive, or fixing the fixing surface 51 to the object by double-sided tape, etc.

In this embodiment, the fixing device 25 includes the flange portion 50, so the area of the region of the fixing device 25 that faces the target object, such as the rear bumper 70, can be increased. This allows the fixing device 25 to be stably fixed to the target object by welding, adhesion, or the like.

(Fixture)
The fixing device 25 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the fixing device 25 as viewed from the fixing surface 51 side. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the fixing device 25 as viewed from the front surface 52 side. The front surface 52 is the surface of the flange portion 50 located on the opposite side to the fixing surface 51.

The fixture 25 includes the bracket 30 described above, and a radio wave absorbing member 60 attached to the main body 40 of the bracket 30. The radio wave absorbing member 60 includes an engaging portion 66. The main body 40 includes an engaged portion 46 that engages with the engaging portion 66. The engaged portion 46 and the engaging portion 66 are configured so that the radio wave absorbing member 60 is attached to the main body 40 by mechanical connection. For example, the engaging portion 66 includes a first engaging portion 67 and a second engaging portion 68. The engaged portion 46 includes a first engaged portion 47 and a second engaged portion 48. The first engaged portion 47 and the second engaged portion 48 include holes formed in the main body 40. The first engaging portion 67 includes, for example, a first claw that is hooked onto the first engaged portion 47. The second engaging portion 68 includes, for example, a second claw that is hooked onto the second engaged portion 48 . By using such engaged portions 46 and engaging portions 66, the radio wave absorbing member 60 can be easily attached to the main body portion 40. In addition, the radio wave absorbing member 60 can be easily removed from the main body portion 40.

The holes of the first engaged portion 47 and the second engaged portion 48 may penetrate the main body portion 40 as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the first claw of the first engaging portion 67 is inserted into the hole of the first engaged portion 47, and the second claw of the second engaging portion 68 is inserted into the hole of the second engaged portion 48. As shown in FIG. 3, the second engaging portion 68 may have multiple second claws, and the multiple second claws may be inserted into one hole of the second engaged portion 48. Although not shown, the holes of the first engaged portion 47 and the second engaged portion 48 do not have to penetrate the main body portion 40.

(bracket)
The bracket 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 9. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the fixing surface 51 side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the fixing surface 51 side. Fig. 6 is a view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the direction of arrow A in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the direction of arrow B in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the direction of arrow C in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a view showing the bracket 30 as viewed from the direction of arrow D in Fig. 4.

The bracket 30 includes a main body portion 40, a flange portion 50, and an opening 31. The main body portion 40 is located on the inside of the flange portion 50. The inside is the side facing the center of the opening 31.

The main body 40 includes, for example, a retaining portion 41, a first side wall 43, a second side wall 44, and a third side wall 45. The first side wall 43 and the second side wall 44 may face each other across the opening 31. The third side wall 45 may extend between the first side wall 43 and the second side wall 44. The third side wall 45 includes the first engaged portion 47 and the second engaged portion 48 described above. The first engaged portion 47 is formed on the third side wall 45 at a position on the first side wall 43 side. The second engaged portion 48 is formed on the third side wall 45 at a position on the second side wall 44 side. "First side wall 43 side" means that the distance from the first engaged portion 47 to the first side wall 43 is smaller than the distance from the first engaged portion 47 to the second side wall 44. "On the second side wall 44 side" means that the distance from the first engaged portion 47 to the second side wall 44 is smaller than the distance from the first engaged portion 47 to the first side wall 43.

The holding portion 41 is configured to hold the radar device 20. For example, the holding portion 41 includes a protrusion 42 that protrudes inward from the first side wall 43 or the second side wall 44. The radar device 20 may be attached to the protrusion 42. For example, the protrusion 42 may include a recess that fits into the support member 22 of the radar device 20. The holding portion 41 may include a plurality of protrusions 42.

The flange portion 50 is a plate member including a fixing surface 51 to be fixed to an object. The flange portion 50 includes, for example, a first portion 53, a second portion 54, a third portion 55, and a fourth portion 56. The first portion 53, the second portion 54, and the third portion 55 may extend along the first side wall 43, the second side wall 44, and the third side wall 45 of the main body portion 40. The third portion 55 may be connected to the first portion 53. The fourth portion 56 may include a first end connected to the first portion 53 and a second end connected to the second portion 54.

The flange portion 50 has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the inner surface 71 of an object such as a rear bumper 70. For example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first portion 53 and the second portion 54 may have a curved shape. Although not shown, the third portion 55 and the fourth portion 56 may also have a curved shape.

The thickness of the flange portion 50 is, for example, 1 mm or more, may be 2 mm or more, or may be 3 mm or more. The thickness of the flange portion 50 is, for example, 10 mm or less, may be 8 mm or less, or may be 5 mm or less.

The flange portion 50 may have slits 57 formed therein, extending inward from the outer edge of the flange portion 50. Providing the slits 57 allows the flange portion 50 to easily deform to conform to the shape of the object. This improves the adhesion of the flange portion 50 to the object. The slits 57 extend in a direction intersecting the direction in which the outer edge of the flange portion 50 extends. The slits 57 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the outer edge of the flange portion 50 extends.

In FIG. 4, the symbol W1 represents the width of the flange portion 50, and the symbol W2 represents the length of the slit 57. The length W2 of the slit 57 may be set relative to the width W1 of the flange portion 50 so as to ensure the deformability of the flange portion 50.

(Radio wave absorbing material)
The radio wave absorbing member 60 will be described with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the radio wave absorbing member 60 as viewed from the first surface 61 side. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the radio wave absorbing member 60 as viewed from the second surface 62 side. The first surface 61 is the surface of the radio wave absorbing member 60 located on the same side as the fixing surface 51. The second surface 62 is the surface of the radio wave absorbing member 60 located on the opposite side to the first surface 61.

The radio wave absorbing member 60 includes a radio wave absorbing material 63. The radio wave absorbing material 63 may be located on the first surface 61. Although not shown, the radio wave absorbing material 63 may be located on the second surface 62.

The radio wave absorbing material 63 includes an object having electrical conductivity.
For example, the radio wave absorbing material 63 may include a metal layer. For example, the radio wave absorbing member 60 may include a base material made of a resin material, and the radio wave absorbing material 63, which is located on the surface of the base material and is made of a metal layer. The metal layer may be formed by attaching a metal tape to the base material. The metal layer may be formed on the base material by a vapor deposition method, a plating method, or the like. The resin material exemplified for the bracket 30 may be used as the resin material for the base material.
The radio wave absorbing material 63 may include conductive particles dispersed in a base material. For example, the radio wave absorbing member 60 may include a base material made of resin, rubber, or the like, and carbon black particles dispersed in the base material.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the radio wave absorbing member 60 may have a triangular shape. In this case, a first engagement portion 67 may be provided at the apex of the triangle. A second engagement portion 68 may be provided along the side opposite the apex where the first engagement portion 67 is located. As shown in Fig. 11, the first engagement portion 67 and the second engagement portion 68 may be provided on the second surface 62.

(Method of manufacturing the fixture)
An example of a manufacturing method of the fixture 25 will be described with reference to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. First, as shown in Fig. 12, the first engaging portion 67 of the radio wave absorbing member 60 is hooked to the first engaged portion 47 of the main body 40. For example, the first claw of the first engaging portion 67 is hooked to the hole of the first engaged portion 47. Next, in a state in which the first engaging portion 67 is hooked to the first engaged portion 47, the radio wave absorbing member 60 is moved. For example, the radio wave absorbing member 60 is rotated toward the main body 40 with the first engaging portion 67 as an axis. Next, the second engaging portion 68 of the radio wave absorbing member 60 is engaged with the second engaged portion 48 of the main body 40. For example, the second claw of the second engaging portion 68 is inserted into the hole of the second engaged portion 48. As a result, the radio wave absorbing member is attached to the third side wall 45 of the main body 40 as shown in Fig. 13. In this manner, the fixture 25 including the bracket 30 and the radio wave absorbing member 60 is manufactured.

Although not shown, the radar device 20 is attached to the main body 40 of the fixture 25. For example, the radar device 20 is fitted into the holding portion 41 of the main body 40. This results in a radar mechanism 10 including the radar device 20, the bracket 30, and the radio wave absorbing member 60.

For example, the flange portion 50 of the radar mechanism 10 is fixed to the target object by welding or adhesive. This allows the radar mechanism 10 to be mounted on the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the radio wave absorbing member 60 is attached to the bracket 30 based on the mechanical connection between the engaged portion 46 and the engaging portion 66. This reduces the labor and costs compared to attaching the radio wave absorbing member 60 to the bracket 30 via adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the bracket 30 includes the flange portion 50 made of a resin material, the bracket 30 can be easily fixed to the object by welding, adhesion, etc. In this respect, too, the labor hours and costs can be reduced compared to the conventional technology. Furthermore, by increasing the area of the flange portion 50, the bracket 30 can be stably fixed to the object. Furthermore, by deforming the flange portion 50 to conform to the shape of the object, the adhesion of the flange portion 50 to the object can be improved.

10 Radar mechanism 20 Radar device 25 Fixture 30 Bracket 40 Main body portion 46 Engaged portion 47 First engaged portion 48 Second engaged portion 50 Flange portion 51 Fixing surface 60 Radio wave absorbing member 63 Radio wave absorbing material 66 Engagement Part 67 First engaging part 68 Second engaging part

Claims (5)

A fixing device for fixing a radar device that detects the surrounding conditions of a vehicle using electromagnetic waves to an object on the vehicle, comprising:
a bracket including a main body portion that holds the radar device and a flange portion having a fixing surface that faces the target;
a radio wave absorbing member attached to the main body ,
The radio wave absorbing member includes an engagement portion,
The main body portion of the bracket includes an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion,
The engaging portion includes a claw that is hooked onto the engaged portion . The engaged portion includes a first engaged portion and a second engaged portion,
The engaging portion has a first claw that is hooked onto the first engaged portion, and the radio wave absorbing member is moved in a state where the first claw is hooked onto the first engaged portion. The fastener according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second claw which engages with the second engaged portion. The fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion include holes formed in the main body portion. The fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is located more inward than the flange portion. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing surface of the flange portion includes a welding portion that can be welded to the object.