JP6802995B2 - Vehicle sensor peripheral structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle sensor peripheral structure.

The vehicle is equipped with various sensor members such as a radar device. As an example of the sensor member, there is a millimeter-wave radar device for measuring the distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle and detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle. Such a millimeter-wave radar device is arranged, for example, between the left and right headlamps in the front part of the vehicle.

The millimeter wave transmitted from the millimeter wave radar is attenuated by passing through the water film. Millimeter wave attenuation can reduce radar detection accuracy. Therefore, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a millimeter-wave radar in which a radio wave transmitting member (radome) is provided in front of the vehicle is known.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-131413

The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses that the radome is provided with a barrier fin for preventing water droplets from wrapping around to the back surface side of the emblem. Furthermore, it is stated that even if water enters the back of the emblem, water droplets can be discharged to the outside.

However, in the structure as in the above example, if water droplets invade the back surface of the radio wave transmitting member, a part of the water droplets may not flow and stay in the radio wave transmitting member in the process of being discharged to the outside. There is sex. In addition, fine water droplets may remain in the traces of water droplets flowing. If water droplets remain in this way, the radio wave transmission performance is hindered, and the radar detection accuracy may decrease.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to prevent the performance of the sensor member from being deteriorated even if water droplets enter the back surface of the plate-shaped member arranged outside the sensor member. It is to provide a possible vehicle sensor peripheral structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to the present invention includes a plate-shaped member arranged on the downstream side of the electromagnetic wave irradiation direction with respect to the sensor member capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves toward the outside of the vehicle. and, the plate-like member, the transmission region which transmits the electromagnetic waves sent from the sensor member to a front facing the region of the sensor member is constructed. In the sensor surrounding structure for that vehicle, the back surface facing the sensor member in the plate-like member is composed of elongated member which is convex in the vehicle upward in a state where the lower side of the vehicle is open, and the sensor A protruding portion is provided so as to project toward the member, and the protruding portion extends from the back surface of the sensor member to the upper side of the vehicle and covers the upper end of the transmission region from the upper side of the vehicle to the outside in the vehicle width direction. The portion and the transmission region are arranged from the lower end of the curved portion to the outside of the vehicle width direction of the transmission region so as to sandwich the transmission region from both sides in the vehicle width direction, and from the transmission region toward the lower end from the upper end thereof. It has a straight portion that inclines downward from the vehicle so as to be separated .

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the performance of the sensor member from being deteriorated even if water droplets enter the back surface of the plate-shaped member arranged outside the sensor member.

In the schematic front view which shows the 1st Embodiment of the vehicle sensor peripheral structure which concerns on this invention, (a) shows the state which a radome is attached, and (b) shows the state which a radome is removed. .. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of AA arrow view of FIG. 1A. It is a rear view of the radome of FIG. 1 as seen from the rear of the vehicle. It is a side view schematically showing a state in which radio waves are transmitted through the radome of FIG. 1 (a). FIG. 1A is a case where water droplets are attached to a transmission region, and FIG. 1B is a case where water droplets are attached. It shows the case where it is not. A second embodiment of a vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to the present invention is shown, and is a rear view of the radome as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. 3 is a rear view schematically showing another modification of the drip-proof member of FIGS. 3 and 5.

The vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to the present invention has a plate-shaped member configured so that electromagnetic waves transmitted from the sensor member can be transmitted. Further, the surface of the plate-shaped member facing the sensor member is provided with a protruding portion protruding toward the sensor member. The length of the protrusion in the width direction is longer than the length of the sensor member in the width direction. Further, the uppermost portion (upper end) of the protruding portion is located above the uppermost portion (upper end) of the sensor member. By specifying the positional relationship between the protruding portion and the sensor member in this way, in the vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to the present invention, even if water droplets invade the back surface of the plate-shaped member, the water droplets are electromagnetic waves in the plate-shaped member. It is possible to prevent the sensor member from flowing to the irradiation surface and to prevent the performance of the sensor member from being deteriorated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
First, the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. 1A, the vehicle sensor peripheral structure of the present embodiment includes a radome (plate-shaped member) 10 attached to the upper grill 41 at the front of the vehicle. A millimeter-wave radar device (sensor member) 1 is arranged behind the vehicle of the radome 10.

The millimeter wave radar device 1 is a device capable of transmitting millimeter waves (radio waves) to the front of the vehicle. Here, the millimeter wave is a radio wave having a wavelength of 1 to 10 mm and a frequency of, for example, 30 to 300 GHz.

The millimeter-wave radar device 1 of the present embodiment is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped device, which is substantially square when viewed from the front of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1 (b), and is a vehicle when viewed in the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. It has a rectangular shape extending in the vertical direction. The millimeter wave radar device 1 can transmit millimeter waves from the front part of the vehicle, and can further receive millimeter waves at the front part of the vehicle. The millimeter wave radar device 1 is attached to a radar attachment portion 42 provided on the vehicle body side. The detailed description of the radar mounting portion 42 and the like will be omitted.

As described above, the radome 10 of the present embodiment is attached to the upper grill 41. The upper grill 41 is a grid-like member arranged between headlamps (not shown) outside in the vehicle width direction on the front surface of the vehicle, and extends in the vehicle width direction. In order to cool the radiator, the oil cooler (both not shown), and the like arranged in the engine room, outside air flows into the engine room through the upper grill 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper grill 41 of this example is inclined so as to extend forward of the vehicle toward the lower side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, an opening 41a that opens in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided in the middle portion of the upper grill 41 in the vehicle width direction. The opening 41a in this example has a substantially hexagonal shape that is sharpened above the vehicle when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and is line-symmetric with respect to the vehicle vertical direction line (not shown) passing through the sharpened portion.

Similar to the opening 41a, the radome 10 is a hexagonal flat plate-shaped member when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and is attached to the opening 41a. An emblem (not shown) or the like is attached to the front surface of the radome 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the radome 10 is inclined to the front of the vehicle toward the lower side of the vehicle, similarly to the upper grill 41.

The front part of the vehicle of the millimeter wave radar device 1 is a flat surface overlooking the front of the vehicle. The flat surface and the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10 face each other. Since the radome 10 is inclined as described above, the distance between the upper part of the vehicle on the rear surface 10a of the radome 10 and the flat surface of the front part of the vehicle of the millimeter wave radar device 1 is the lower part of the vehicle on the rear surface 10a of the radome 10. Is smaller than the distance from the flat surface of the front part of the vehicle of the millimeter-wave radar device 1.

The radome 10 is capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves and can transmit millimeter waves transmitted from the millimeter wave radar device 1. A transmission region 15 through which the transmitted millimeter wave is transmitted is set on the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10. In this example, the transmission region 15 is the region shown by the broken line in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is a substantially rectangular shape extending in the vehicle width direction. The transmission region 15 is arranged so as to substantially overlap the millimeter wave radar device 1 when viewed from the front of the vehicle. That is, the transmission region 15 is a region substantially equivalent to the region on which the millimeter wave radar device 1 is projected.

A plurality of engaging portions projecting to the rear of the vehicle are provided on the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the radome 10 is attached to the upper grill 41 in a state where these engaging portions are inserted into holes provided on the vehicle body side. As for the hole portion, only the hole portion 43 corresponding to the upper engaging portion 24 described later is shown, and the illustration and description of the other hole portions are omitted.

The plurality of engaging portions include at least a lower engaging portion 21, an upper right engaging portion 22, and an upper left engaging portion 23. Here, the horizontal direction and the vertical direction correspond to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in FIG. The lower engaging portion 21 is arranged immediately above the pointed portion at the lower end of the hexagonal shape of the radome 10. The upper surface of the vehicle of the lower engaging portion 21 is slightly inclined downward of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

The upper right engaging portion 22 is a corner portion 12 formed by one hexagonal upper side of the vehicle (upper right side 11a in FIG. 3) of the radome 10 and a right side 11b adjacent to this side and extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. It is located near. The upper surface of the vehicle of the upper right engaging portion 22 is inclined so as to follow the inclination of the upper right side 11a. That is, the upper surface of the vehicle of the upper right engaging portion 22 is inclined downward in the vehicle width direction toward the outside (right side in FIG. 3).

Further, the upper surface of the vehicle of the upper right engaging portion 22 is slightly inclined upward of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper left engaging portion 23 is formed symmetrically with the upper right engaging portion 22.

Further, the plurality of engaging portions include an upper engaging portion 24, a lower right engaging portion 25, and a lower left engaging portion 26. The upper engaging portion 24 is arranged directly below the pointed portion at the upper end of the hexagonal shape of the radome 10 and is inserted into the hole portion 43 on the vehicle body side (FIG. 2). The lower right engaging portion 25 is arranged below the vehicle of the upper right engaging portion 22, and the lower left engaging portion 26 is arranged below the vehicle of the upper left engaging portion 23. The upper engaging portion 24, the lower right engaging portion 25, and the lower left engaging portion 26 have a protruding shape protruding rearward of the vehicle, as compared with the lower engaging portion 21, the upper right engaging portion 22, and the upper left engaging portion 23. small.

A drip-proof member (protruding portion) 30 is attached above the vehicle in the transmission region 15 on the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10. The drip-proof member 30 is a member that projects rearward of the vehicle toward the millimeter-wave radar device 1. The length of the transmission region 15 in the longitudinal direction (length in the vehicle width direction) extends so as to include the length in the vehicle width direction of the millimeter wave radar device 1. The vehicle width direction length of the drip-proof member 30 is longer than the vehicle width direction length of the transmission region 15, and the vehicle width direction end 33b of the drip-proof member 30 is outside the vehicle width direction end 15b of the transmission region 15. Is located in.

The drip-proof member 30 is made of a water-repellent resin material, and is adhered to the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10 with an adhesive or the like. The drip-proof member 30 includes one curved portion 31 and two straight portions 33.

As shown in FIG. 3, the curved portion 31 is formed by bending a long member so as to be convex upward in the vehicle. The curved portion 31 has a U-shape that is slightly crushed in the vertical direction while being opened below the vehicle. Each of the vehicle width direction ends 31b of the curved portion 31 is arranged outside the vehicle width direction end 15b of the transmission region 15 and slightly above the vehicle vertical center portion of the transmission region 15. Although not shown, the vehicle width direction end 31b of the curved portion 31 is arranged outside the vehicle width direction end of the millimeter wave radar device 1.

The right end 31b in the vehicle width direction of FIG. 3 of the curved portion 31 extends to the inside of the upper right engaging portion 22 in the vehicle width direction (left side in FIG. 3). Similarly, the left side end 31b of the curved portion 31 in the vehicle width direction extends to the inside of the upper left engaging portion 23 in the vehicle width direction (right side in FIG. 3).

The straight portion 33 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from each of the vehicle width direction ends 31b of the curved portion 31. The straight portion 33 on the right side in FIG. 3 is arranged below the vehicle of the upper right engaging portion 22 at intervals, and is inclined downward toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. Further, the straight portion 33 on the right side extends substantially parallel to the upper right side 11a of the hexagonal shape, and the end 33b in the vehicle width direction of the straight portion 33 on the right side is arranged outside the engaging portion 22 in the vehicle width direction. There is.

Similarly, the straight portion 33 on the left side is arranged below the vehicle of the upper left engaging portion 23 at intervals, and is inclined downward toward the vehicle toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. The straight portion 33 on the left side extends substantially parallel to the upper left side of the hexagonal shape, and the end 33b in the vehicle width direction of the straight portion 33 on the left side is arranged outside the engaging portion 23 in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the uppermost portion (upper end) 31a of the curved portion 31 of the drip-proof member 30 is arranged substantially at the center of the curved portion 31 in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged above the transmission region 15. There is. As shown in FIG. 2, the uppermost portion 31a of the curved portion 31 is arranged above the uppermost portion (upper end) 1a of the millimeter wave radar device 1. The drip-proof member 30 attached to the radome 10 is in a state of surrounding the front end of the uppermost portion 1a of the millimeter-wave radar device 1 from above the vehicle. The upper end and the front end in the present embodiment are based on the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle front-rear direction.

As a result, even if water droplets flow in from above the vehicle on the rear surface (rear surface) 10a of the radome 10, the water droplets are received by the drip-proof member 30 above the vehicle from the millimeter-wave radar device 1, so that the millimeter-wave radar device 1 Water droplets are suppressed from flowing in the transmission region 15 (irradiation surface) of the transmitted radio wave. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the sensor detection accuracy of the millimeter wave radar device 1. Here, the water droplets include rainwater flowing from above the vehicle of the radome 10, water droplets generated due to a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the radome 10, and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle width direction end 33b of each straight portion 33 of the drip-proof member 30 is arranged below the vehicle top portion 31a of the curved portion 31. That is, the straight portion 33 is arranged in a C shape with the center of the radome 10 in the vehicle width direction as the uppermost portion 31a. With this configuration, the water droplets received by the drip-proof member 30 can easily flow to the outside in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3), so that it is possible to prevent the water droplets from adhering to the permeation region 15.

Further, the vehicle width direction end 33b of each straight line portion 33 of the drip-proof member 30 is arranged below the vehicle from the uppermost portion 1a of the millimeter wave radar device 1, and is arranged below the vehicle above the upper end of the transmission region 15. .. With this configuration, the water droplets received by the drip-proof member 30 flow to the left and right below the uppermost portion 1a of the millimeter-wave radar device 1 and are discharged, so that the water droplets adhere to the transmission region 15. Can be suppressed.

Further, the drip-proof member 30 of the present embodiment has water repellency. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the water droplets from penetrating into the drip-proof member 30, flowing out from the vehicle lower surface 30a of the drip-proof member 30, and adhering to the permeation region 15.

Here, the progress (propagation) of the millimeter wave will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the millimeter wave (X in FIG. 4) transmitted from the millimeter wave radar device 1 passes through the radome 10 and irradiates the object 45 in front of the vehicle. The millimeter wave X irradiated on the object 45 is reflected by the object 45, and the reflected wave (Y in FIG. 4) is directed to the millimeter wave radar device 1. Also at this time, the radome 10 is transmitted.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when the water droplet W adheres to the transmission region 15, the radio wave (reflected wave Y) reflected from the object 45 in front of the vehicle and received by the millimeter wave radar device 1. However, when passing (permeating) the water droplet W, the permeation direction may be disturbed. Further, the reflected wave Y is attenuated. Disturbance in the propagation direction of radio waves and attenuation of millimeter waves when transmitted in this way may hinder accurate measurement. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the drip-proof member 30 is attached as described above, it is possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the permeation region 15.

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even if water droplets invade the back surface (vehicle rear surface 10a) of the radome 10 outside the millimeter wave radar device 1, the performance of the millimeter wave radar device 1 is not deteriorated. It becomes possible to do so.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is a modification of the drip-proof member 30 of the radome 10 of the first embodiment (FIG. 3), and the same or similar parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. Duplicate description is omitted.

In the radome 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle width direction end 33b of the straight portion 33 of the drip-proof member 30 is arranged below the vehicle bottom 1b of the millimeter wave radar device 1, and the transmission region. It is located below the vehicle below the lower end of 15. With this configuration, water droplets can be discharged below the vehicle on both the left and right sides below the lowermost (lower end) 1b of the millimeter wave radar device 1, and therefore, as compared with the drip-proof member 30 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the adhesion of water droplets to the permeation region 15 is enhanced. The lower end in the present embodiment is based on the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[Other Embodiments]
The description of the above embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the invention described in the claims. Further, each part configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drip-proof member 30 can have various shapes. FIG. 6A has a shape similar to that of the second embodiment, but for example, the lower end of the vehicle width direction end 33b of the drip-proof member 30 may be extended to the edge of the radome 10. As a result, the inflow of water droplets into the vehicle rear surface 10a of the radome 10 is further suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, one end 33b of the drip-proof member 30 in the vehicle width direction may extend below the vehicle from the other. Even in these cases, as described in the first embodiment, the upper end of the drip-proof member 30 may be arranged above the vehicle above the uppermost portion 1a of the millimeter-wave radar device 1.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d), a portion (folded portion 35) to be folded back above the vehicle may be provided on the outside of the drip-proof member 30 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, when water droplets are sprayed from diagonally above in FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d) toward the side portion of the drip-proof member 30 at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed, the folded portion 35 flows. The water droplets can be bounced to the left and right (outside in the vehicle width direction) and discharged, and as a result, the water droplets can be suppressed from entering the permeation region 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6E, the drip-proof member 30 may be formed so as to extend substantially downward in the vehicle width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (f), it may be composed of a plurality of straight portions.

Further, in the above embodiment, the drip-proof member 30 attached to the radome 10 is in a state of surrounding the front end of the uppermost portion 1a of the millimeter-wave radar device 1 from above the vehicle, but is not limited to this. If the drip-proof member 30 is arranged above the vehicle in the transmission region 15 of the radome 10, the millimeter-wave radar device 1 is arranged behind the vehicle from the position shown in FIG. 2, and the drip-proof member 30 is arranged. It may not be surrounded by 30 from above the vehicle.

Further, in the above embodiment, the millimeter wave radar device 1 is attached to the front part of the vehicle, and the pedestal to which the emblem is attached is used as the radome 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to place a radar device or radome behind the vehicle. Further, it may be arranged on the side of the vehicle body.

In the above embodiment, the drip-proof member 30 is attached to the radome 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. The drip-proof member 30 of the above embodiment can be attached as long as it is a plate-shaped member capable of transmitting radio waves. For example, it is possible to attach the drip-proof member 30 to the back side of a part of the outer panel of the vehicle body by using a material having radio wave transmission characteristics.

Further, in the above embodiment, the drip-proof member 30 is separate from the radome 10, but may be integrally provided with the radome 10. Further, the drip-proof member 30 may be made of metal and welded to the radome 10.

In the above embodiment, the millimeter wave radar device 1 is used as the sensor member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an infrared laser device may be used. In this case, the radome 10 (plate-shaped member) may be capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves.

1 mm wave radar device (sensor member)
1a Top (top)
1b bottom (bottom)
10 Radome (plate-shaped member)
10a Vehicle rear surface 11a Upper right side 11b Right side 12 Square part 15 Permeation area 15b Vehicle width direction end 21 Lower engaging part 22 Upper right engaging part 23 Upper left engaging part 24 Upper engaging part 25 Lower right engaging part 26 Lower left Engagement part 30 Drip-proof member (protruding part)
30a Drip-proof member vehicle lower surface 31 Curved portion 31a Top (upper end)
31b Vehicle width direction end 33 Straight part 33b Vehicle width direction end 41 Upper grill 41a Opening 42 Radar mounting part 43 Hole part 45 Object

Claims (3)

To transmittable sensor member electromagnetic waves toward the vehicle outer side is provided with a plate-shaped member disposed on the downstream side of the irradiation direction of the electromagnetic wave, the plate-like member, the front facing of said sensor member In the vehicle sensor peripheral structure, which is a region to transmit the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the sensor member .
The back surface opposed to the sensor member in the plate-shaped member, the protruding to the lower side of the vehicle is composed of elongated member which is convex in the vehicle upward in a state which is open, and protrudes and towards the sensor member There is a part,
The protrusion is
A curved portion extending from the back surface of the sensor member to the upper side of the vehicle and covering the upper end portion of the transmission region from the upper side of the vehicle to the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
The transmission region is arranged from the lower end of the curved portion to the outside in the vehicle width direction of the transmission region in the vehicle width direction so as to sandwich the transmission region from both sides in the vehicle width direction, and is separated from the transmission region from the upper end to the lower end. A straight part that slopes downward of the vehicle and
A peripheral structure for a vehicle sensor, which is characterized by having . The lower end of the protrusion, the vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged on the vehicle below the lower end of the sensor member. The vehicle sensor peripheral structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the protruding portion is formed of a water-repellent material.

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