阅读说明：本技术 用于在车辆上固定传感器、尤其是雷达传感器的紧固装置，以及由紧固装置和传感器构成的系统 (Fastening device for fastening a sensor, in particular a radar sensor, to a vehicle, and system comprising a fastening device and a sensor ) 是由 L·格利戈尔 A·拉普吉恩 L·斯诺登 于 2018-06-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于将传感器(1)固定在车辆上、尤其是机动车上的紧固装置(2),具有：带有开口(8)的框架(7),该开口用于接纳和固定传感器(1),其中,开口(8)至少两个相对置的壁(10、11)分别具有至少一个夹持区段(14)用于在开口(8)中夹紧传感器(1),其中,开口(8)的至少两个另外的相对置的壁(12、13)分别具有至少一个接纳区段(19、20)用于接纳传感器(1)的区段(6),其中,接纳区段中的至少一个接纳区段(19)具有弹簧区段(18),用于将传感器(1)向对置的壁(12)的方向预紧。(The invention relates to a fastening device (2) for fastening a sensor (1) on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: a frame (7) having an opening (8) for receiving and fixing the sensor (1), wherein at least two opposing walls (10, 11) of the opening (8) each have at least one clamping section (14) for clamping the sensor (1) in the opening (8), wherein at least two further opposing walls (12, 13) of the opening (8) each have at least one receiving section (19, 20) for receiving a section (6) of the sensor (1), wherein at least one of the receiving sections (19) has a spring section (18) for biasing the sensor (1) in the direction of the opposing wall (12).)

1. Fastening device (2) for fastening a sensor (1) on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having: a frame (7) having an opening (8) for receiving and fixing the sensor (1), wherein at least two opposing walls (10, 11) of the opening (8) each have at least one clamping section (14) for clamping the sensor (1) in the opening (8), wherein at least two further opposing walls (12, 13) of the opening (8) each have at least one receiving section (19, 20) for receiving a section (6) of the sensor (1), wherein at least one of the receiving sections (19) has a spring section (18) for biasing the sensor (1) in the direction of the opposing wall (12).

2. Fastening device according to claim 1, characterized in that two opposing walls (10, 11) each having at least one clamping section (14) are designed to be flexible, wherein each respective wall (10, 11) is suspended, preferably in a flexible manner, on the frame (7) at least in a wall section (24) having the respective at least one clamping section (14), wherein the wall section (24) is particularly preferably designed as a web (25) which is suspended on the frame (7) at both ends (26, 27) of the web in such a way that it can be moved in the direction of the opposing wall and counter to the direction of the opposing wall.

3. Fastening device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two opposite walls (10, 11) of at least one clamping section (14) each pretension the sensor (1) in the installed position in the fastening device (2).

4. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each respective receiving section is designed as a recess (19, 20), preferably as a recess with a floor section (23), for receiving a fastening and fastening element (6), in particular a pin-shaped projection, as a section of the sensor (1).

5. The fastening device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each respective clamping section (14) has a stop lug (15) for latching or clipping on the sensor (1).

6. The fastening device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the latching lug (15) preferably pretensions the sensor (1) in the installed position against a floor section (23) of the recess (19, 20).

7. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each respective clamping section (14) has a guiding and centering section (16) for guiding and/or centering the sensor (1).

8. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each respective clamping section (14) is designed with a wedge-shaped contour (17) for clamping and wedging the sensor (1) in the installation position, wherein the clamping section (14) and its wedge-shaped contour (17) are preferably designed such that the sensor (1) cannot be moved up and down in the installation position in the fastening device (2) and, in addition, cannot be moved in the direction of the wall (10, 11) with the clamping section (14) and counter to the direction of the wall (10, 11) with the clamping section (14).

9. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one wall (13) of the opening (8) of the fastening device (2) has a receiving portion (22), in particular a recess or groove, for receiving an encoding element (21) of the sensor (1).

10. Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device (2) is made of plastic.

11. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device (2) has a vehicle interface for fixing the fastening device on a vehicle, in particular by means of screwing, gluing and/or welding.

12. Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (8) of the frame (7) has a right wall (10), a left wall (11), a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13), wherein the two opposing walls of the opening (8) with at least one clamping section (14) each are a right wall (10) and a left wall (11), and the at least two further opposing walls of the opening (8) with at least one receiving section (19, 20) each to receive a section (6) of the sensor (1) are a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13), or wherein the two opposite walls of the opening (8) with at least one clamping section (14) each are a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13), and the at least two further opposite walls of the opening (8) with at least one receiving section (19, 20) each to receive a section (6) of the sensor (1) are a right wall (10) and a left wall (11).

13. System of a fastening device (2) according to one of the preceding claims and a vehicle sensor (1) with a sensor housing (3), wherein the sensor housing (3) preferably has at least one elongated projection (5) on two opposite sides for clamping by a respective clamping section (14) of the fastening device (2).

14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor housing (3) has at least one fixing and fastening element (6) on two opposite sides, wherein the fixing and fastening element (6) is in particular a pin-like projection for reception in a corresponding receiving section (19, 20) of the fastening device (2).

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the sensor housing (3) has at least one coding element (21) for reception in a corresponding reception (22) of the fastening device (2).

16. The system according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the vehicle sensor (1) is a radar sensor.

17. Vehicle with a system according to any of claims 13, 14, 15 or 16.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a sensor, in particular a radar sensor, to a vehicle, and to a system comprising a fastening device and a sensor for fastening to a vehicle.

Background

DE 102010047273 a1 discloses a fastening device for fastening a sensor of an adaptive cruise control system as a detection unit to a body-in-white structure of a vehicle. The fastening device has a receptacle designed as a recess for the arrangement of the detection unit and a fastening element for fastening to the body shell structure. The at least one second fastening element is designed to deform when a pedestrian collides with the detection device. The second fastening element is designed to be folded in a Z-shape.

The radar sensor is currently fixed behind the second surface by means of a fastening device in front of the vehicle. The second surface can be a part of a bumper, a part of a radiator grille or a part of a vehicle sign. The fastening device must ensure here the correct alignment of the radar sensor. In order to meet these requirements, the radar sensor must be fixed in a fastening device having elastic elements such as snaps and disk springs made of plastic or metal. Furthermore, the fastening device must also have an interface for fastening to the vehicle. The radar sensor itself is a simple sensor without a special fixed interface.

The radar sensor must be fixed in the fastening device because any deviation from its correct position or correct alignment causes errors and inconveniences. In this case, conventional solutions for fastening radar sensors require the use of additional screws for fastening the radar sensor in a corresponding fastening device. This, however, leads to a complex covering of the radar sensor and requires a complex production process.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening device for fastening a radar sensor to a vehicle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a fastening device having the features of claim 1 and a system of fastening device and sensor having the features of claim 13 and a vehicle having such a system having the features of claim 16.

Accordingly, a fastening device for fastening a sensor to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is provided, comprising:

a frame with an opening for receiving and fixing the sensor, wherein at least two opposing walls of the opening each have at least one clamping section for clamping the sensor in the opening, wherein at least two other opposing walls of the opening each have at least one receiving section for receiving a section of the sensor, wherein at least one of the receiving sections has a spring section for pretensioning the sensor in the direction of the opposing walls.

The basic idea of the invention is that the sensor can be reliably fixed in the fastening device and held in its position without additional elements, such as screws, being required to fix the sensor in the fastening position. Furthermore, the sensor can be mounted in the opening of the fastening device from both sides without requiring substantial changes in the design of the fastening device.

Furthermore, a system is proposed which is composed of a fastening device and a vehicle sensor with a sensor housing, wherein the sensor housing preferably has at least one elongated projection on each of two opposite sides for clamping by a respective clamping section of the fastening device.

Furthermore, a vehicle with such a system is proposed, which is composed of the fastening device and the vehicle sensor.

Advantageous embodiments and further embodiments emerge from the further dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the two opposing walls each having at least one clamping section are designed to be flexible, wherein the respective wall is suspended, preferably in a flexible manner, at least in the wall section having the respective at least one clamping section from the frame, wherein the wall section is particularly preferably designed as a web which is suspended at both ends of the web from the frame in such a way that it can be moved in the direction of the opposing wall and counter to the direction of the opposing wall. This has the advantage that the sensor can be clamped between the two walls without the need for delicate and precision-manufactured snaps or similar elements for clamping. Furthermore, the clamping section makes it possible to fix the sensor from both sides in the opening of the frame without having to modify the flexible wall, at most only having to adjust the clamping section to the sensor housing of the sensor.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the two opposite walls, each with at least one clamping section, are designed in such a way that the sensor is prestressed into the installed position in the fastening device. This has the advantage that the sensor is held firmly in its installed position in the fastening device, so that the sensor cannot accidentally move in the direction of a wall during operation and cause undesirable noise.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, each respective receiving section is designed as a recess, preferably with a floor section, for receiving a fastening and fastening element, in particular a pin-shaped projection, as a sensor section. The sensor can additionally be held in its installed position downward by the floor section. When mounting the sensor from the other side of the frame opening, it is only necessary to modify the floor section of the fastening device if necessary in order to mount the sensor in the fastening device from the other side.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clamping section has a stop lug/stop tab (Rastnase) for latching or clipping on the sensor, in particular on the top side of the sensor housing. In this way, the sensor and its sensor housing can be held between the stop lug and the floor section of the recess of the fastening device, which in turn can additionally optionally pretension the sensor against the floor section of the corresponding recess of the fastening device.

In one embodiment of the invention, the latching lug preferably pretensions the sensor and its sensor housing against a floor section of the respective recess in the installed position in the fastening device. In this way, the sensor can additionally be prevented from moving up and down in the fastening device in its installation position, and thus from moving in and out of the opening of the frame, and from generating undesirable noise in certain cases.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, each respective clamping section has a guiding and/or centering section for guiding and/or centering the sensor, in particular when the sensor is inserted into the frame opening, until the sensor reaches its installation position. This simplifies the installation of the sensor in the fastening device and enables an intuitive installation by the assembler.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the respective clamping sections are designed with a wedge-shaped contour for clamping or wedging the sensor in the installation position, wherein the clamping sections and their wedge-shaped contour are designed, for example, such that the sensor cannot be moved up and down in the installation position in the fastening device, as a result of which the sensor cannot be moved in and out of the opening, and furthermore such that the sensor cannot be moved in and against the direction of the wall with the clamping sections. The production of such a wedge-shaped profile is very simple and cost-effective to produce.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one wall of the opening of the fastening device has a receiving portion, such as a recess or a groove, for receiving the coding element of the sensor. This has the advantage that: the sensor cannot be accidentally incorrectly fitted in the fastening device, and furthermore the coding element can also be used for coding.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the fastening device is at least partially or completely made of plastic.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the fastening device has a vehicle interface for fastening the fastening device together with the inserted sensor to the vehicle, for example by screwing, gluing and/or welding.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the opening of the frame has a right wall, a left wall, a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the two opposing walls with at least one clamping section each are the left wall and the right wall, and the at least two further opposing walls of the opening with at least one receiving section each for receiving a section of the sensor are the front wall and the rear wall, or wherein the two opposing walls with at least one clamping section each are the front wall and the rear wall, and the at least two further opposing walls of the opening with at least one receiving section each for receiving a section of the sensor are the left wall and the right wall. A rectangular opening with four walls can be designed, for example, as a square opening or as a rectangular opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor housing of the sensor to be fixed in the fastening device has at least one fixing and fastening element on the opposite other side, wherein the fixing and fastening element is, for example, a pin-shaped projection for receiving in a corresponding receiving section of the fastening device. In this way, only one respective section, for example the fastening and fastening element, is received in a respective receiving section of the fastening device and is prestressed against the opposite wall and its receiving section by the spring section formed in at least one receiving section, as a result of which the sensor is held securely in the fastening device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor housing has at least one coding element for reception in a corresponding receiver of the fastening device. This prevents incorrect assembly and also provides coding.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle sensor is, for example, a radar sensor or other sensor which is not fixed to the vehicle by means of an inherent or additional interface, but is fixed to the vehicle by means of the fastening device according to the invention.

The above-described embodiments and other embodiments can be combined with one another as desired, if applicable. Other possible embodiments, further structural forms and embodiments of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention not explicitly mentioned above or below with reference to the examples of the invention. In particular, the person skilled in the art may add individual aspects to the respective basic solution of the invention as modifications and additions.

Drawings

The invention is further explained with reference to examples given in the schematic drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a sensor in a perspective view, which can be fixed in a fastening device according to the invention and can then be mounted on a vehicle by means of the fastening device;

fig. 2 shows a fastening device in a perspective view for fixing a sensor according to fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view a-a of the fastening device and the sensor according to fig. 1 and 2, wherein the sensor is inserted into an opening of the fastening device;

fig. 4 shows another cross-sectional view a-a of the fastening device and the sensor according to fig. 1 and 2, wherein the holder is further inserted into the opening of the fastening device;

fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view a-a of the fastening device and the sensor according to fig. 1 and 2 in an assembled position; and

fig. 6 shows a further sectional view B-B of the fastening device and the sensor according to fig. 1 and 2 in an assembled position.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They are presented to illustrate embodiments visually and to facilitate explanation of the principles and aspects of the invention in connection with the description. Other embodiments and many of the advantages described are obtained with reference to the accompanying drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other.

Elements, features and components that are the same, functionally the same and functionally the same are identified by the same reference numerals, respectively, unless otherwise indicated in the drawings.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a radar sensor as an example of a sensor 1, which can be fixed in a fastening device 2 according to the invention and can subsequently be mounted on a vehicle by means of the fastening device 2. Fig. 2 again shows a perspective view of a fastening device 2 for fastening the sensor 1 according to fig. 1. Fig. 3, 4 and 5 also show a sectional view a-a of the sensor 1 shown in fig. 1 in a different assembly stage in the fastening device 2 shown in fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows a further sectional view B-B of the fastening device 2 and the sensor 1 assembled therein, wherein the fastening device 2 and the sensor 1 form a system that can be fastened to the associated vehicle.

Currently, radar sensors, such as short Range radar sensors, also abbreviated as srr (short Range radar) sensors, are fixed in two ways.

In one embodiment, such radar sensors are fastened to a plastic fastening device, to which two metal sleeves are fastened by encapsulation. The plastic fastening device with the metal sleeve is fitted to the bumper together with the radar sensor fixed to the plastic fastening device.

Alternatively, the radar sensor is also fixed to a smaller fastening device, on which a metal sleeve is likewise mounted by encapsulation. Subsequently, the smaller fastening device with the metal sleeve is clipped onto the sheet-metal part together with the radar sensor mounted therein. The interface for the fastening device and the radar sensor fixed thereto is rigid. The fastening device with the radar sensor fixed thereto is then fixed to the vehicle by different methods, such as welding, gluing or using different clips.

The fastening device on which the radar sensor is fixed must ensure accurate alignment of the radar sensor on the vehicle and also allow for easy assembly and disassembly of the radar sensor on the fastening device. Furthermore, the fastening means must prevent accidental movement of the radar sensor at the interface, which otherwise could cause audible noise during operation.

The use of a metal sleeve as an additional component leads to increased costs and complexity of the injection mould and the fastening means. In addition, its development is also more difficult, requiring more time. Furthermore, the production and manufacture requires the additional step of screwing two screws that are to be screwed into the metal sleeve in order to fix the radar sensor on the fastening device.

In both previously described fixing solutions, the interface between the radar sensor and the fastening device is different, which results in different design configurations for the respective interfaces. The two different interfaces of the radar sensor and the corresponding fastening device for fixing the radar sensor also increase the development costs.

The present invention thus provides a new, simple and error-free sensor attachment and sensor removal solution.

The solution uses the same interface for fastening the sensor 1 in both directions using an at least partially flexible fastening device 2 with symmetrical fastening sections.

The combined use of the guides and the use of the body of the fastening device 2 as a flexible fastening device with flexible fastening sections reduces the cost and fastening time without additional parts and without requiring sensitive snap-fits to be formed precisely.

As shown in fig. 1, the illustrated embodiment of the sensor 1 has a sensor housing 3 with a sensor connection 4. The invention is not limited to this particular design of the sensor and to the sensor connection.

The sensor housing 3 of the sensor 1 has two projections 5 on opposite sides, here for example on the right side R and the left side L. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1, each respective projection extends along a section on the right side R and on the left side L of the sensor housing 3 and thus forms an elongated projection 5 or flank on the sensor housing 3.

Also on opposite sides of the sensor housing 3, for example on the front side F and on the rear side B, two front and rear fastening means 6 are provided on the sensor housing 3, for example in the form of pin-like projections.

The fastening device 2 according to the invention, as shown for example in fig. 2 to 6, has a surrounding frame 7, which forms an opening 8 into which the sensor 1 according to fig. 1 can be inserted and fixed. Here, the frame 7 can be provided with additional stiffening ribs 9, for example as shown in fig. 2, in order to at least partially increase the stability of the frame 7.

As shown in fig. 2, the opening 8 of the frame 7 is defined by a right wall 10, a left wall 11, a front wall 12, and a rear wall 13.

On the wall of the opening 8 of the fastening device 1 opposite the two elongated projections 5 of the sensor housing 3, for example on the right wall 10 and the left wall 11 of the opening 8 in fig. 2, two clamping sections 14 are provided as fixing sections, which clamp or clamp the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 with the elongated projections 5 between the two clamping sections. The clamping section 14 can be designed to be flexible, or in other words, the respective wall of the opening 8 with the clamping section 14 can be designed to be flexible or elastic at least in the region of the clamping section 14, in order to clamp the sensor housing 3. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the right wall 10 and the left wall 11 are flexibly suspended from the frame 7 at least in the wall sections 24 with the respective clamping sections 14. Each respective wall section 24 is designed as a web 25, which is suspended with its two ends, i.e. its first end 26 and its second end 27, from the frame 7, as indicated by the double arrow, in order to be able to move in the direction of the opposite wall and opposite to the direction of the opposite wall and to be able to clamp the sensor 1 in the installed state and to clamp it between the two wall sections 24.

Furthermore, it is possible, for example, to optionally additionally design the clamping section 14 as a wedge for wedging and clamping the sensor housing 3 between the clamping sections 14.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 6, the respective holding section 14 can optionally additionally be designed with an additional stop lug 15 which projects into the opening 8 and which latches or clips onto the sensor housing 3 when the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 have been inserted into the opening 8 of the frame 7 and is thus in its insertion or end position. As fig. 5 and 6 show, the sensor 1 is in its installed or final position in the fastening device 2.

Furthermore, as shown in the embodiments of fig. 2-6, each respective clamping section 14 may optionally be additionally configured with a guiding and/or centering section 16. The guide and/or centering section 16 of the clamping section 14 is designed such that it guides and preferably additionally centers the sensor 1 and its sensor housing during the insertion of the sensor housing 3 into the frame 7 and its opening 8 until it is clamped by the clamping section 14 and optionally latched by the stop lug 15 present. The guiding and/or centering section 16 of the clamping section 14 is designed to be flexible and/or elastic. The guide and/or centering section 16 of the clamping section 14 additionally simplifies the assembly of the sensor 1 and assists the correct positioning of the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2.

When the sensor 1 is inserted into the opening 8 of the frame 7, the two elongate projections 5 press the guide and/or centering sections 16 of the clamping section 14 outwards or away from one another. The elongated projection 5 is then pressed between the two clamping sections 14, clamped on both sides by these and thereby clamped and fastened in the opening 8 of the frame 7. Here, the two clamping sections 14 have, along at least a part of the clamping sections 14, as shown in the embodiment of fig. 6, for example the previously described wedge shape or wedge contour 17 for clamping and clamping the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 in the opening of the frame 7.

The additional guide and/or centering section 16 of the fastening device 2 not only serves to guide and/or center the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2 until it reaches the correct locking or snap-in position, but also serves to quickly and easily mount and dismount the elements of the sensor.

Two spring sections 18 are provided on the rear wall 13 of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2, for example, and are designed such that they press the sensor 1 against the opposite wall of the opening 8 in the installed state, in this case the front wall 12 shown in fig. 2. The rear wall 13 has, precisely, two recesses 19, in each of which a spring section 18 is arranged. In this case, the respective spring section 18 can be designed, for example, as in the previous clamping section 14, such that at least one wall section of the rear wall 13 having the spring section 18 and forming the recess 19 is flexibly suspended on the frame 7. In this case, each respective wall section of the rear wall 13 is designed, for example, as a web which is suspended at its two ends, i.e. at its first end and its second end, on the frame 7 and also forms a recess 19. The web can be moved in the direction of the opposite wall, in this case the front wall 12, and in the opposite direction to the opposite wall, in order to press or pretension the sensor 1 against the front wall 12 in the installed state.

The front wall 12 likewise has two recesses 20. In this case, the previously described fastening and fastening means 6 of the sensor housing 3, for example in the form of pin-like projections, are received in the recesses 20 and 19 of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13. The spring section 18 in the corresponding recess 19 of the rear wall 13 of the fastening device 2 presses the sensor housing 3 with the fastening and fastening section 6 of the sensor housing 3 in the direction of the front wall 12 and against the front wall 12, for example a rigid or slightly flexible front wall 12. In this way, as described above, the sensor is pretensioned in the installed state by the fastening device, preventing an unintentional movement in the direction of the front wall and counter to the front wall. Furthermore, the front recess 20 and/or the rear recess 19 each optionally additionally have a floor section 23. The sensor housing 3 and its fastening and fastening means 6 received in the recesses 19, 20 can be pretensioned by the clamping section 14 and, in particular, if applicable, additionally by the presence of a stop lug against a base section 23 in the recess, in such a way that a pretensioning force is provided which prevents an unintentional upward and downward movement of the sensor 1 in the installed state in the opening 8 of the fastening device 2.

To fix the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 on the fastening device 2, as shown in fig. 3, the sensor housing 3 is first brought into contact with one wall of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2, for example with the rear wall 13 in the embodiment shown in fig. 3. Precisely, the sensor housing 3 is in contact with the rear wall 13 of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2 until the two fastening elements 6 of the sensor housing 3 are received in the recess 19 in the rear wall 13, for example in the form of pin-like projections, and are in contact with the spring section 18 in the recess 19. Furthermore, the sensor 1 is guided and/or centered by a possibly present guiding and centering section 16 of the clamping device 14 when inserted into the opening 8 of the fastening device 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1, the sensor housing 3 optionally has additional coding elements on its rear side B, for example coding projections 21 shown in fig. 1, which are designed such that the sensor housing 3 cannot be inserted incorrectly into the fastening device 2. The coding projections 21 in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 are placed into a receiving portion 22, for example a groove or recess, on the rear wall 13 of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2. As a result, the sensor housing 3 cannot be incorrectly inserted into the fastening device 2, since if the assembler inserts the sensor housing 3 incorrectly, he will immediately find this, since in this case the coding projection 21 cannot be received in the assigned receptacle 22, for example a groove or recess, and thus further insertion of the sensor housing 3 into the opening 8 of the fastening device 2 is prevented.

In contrast, if the mounting person inserts the sensor 1 correctly with the rear wall 13 of the sensor housing 3 into the opening 8 of the fastening device 2 and, in the process, inserts the possibly present additional coding projections 21 into the receptacles 22 in the corresponding wall of the fastening device 2, then, as shown in fig. 4, the mounting person also presses the front side F of the sensor 1 into the opening 8 of the fastening device 2. In this case, the sensor 1 is accommodated with its two rear fastening and fastening elements 6, for example in the form of pin-shaped projections, in a recess 19 of the rear wall 13, wherein these fastening and fastening elements are in contact with the spring section 16 in this recess 19. Thereby, the sensor 1 is pressed against the front wall 13, and the fastening and fastening element 6 of the sensor housing 2 at the front is pressed into the corresponding recess 20 in the front wall 12.

The possibly present guide or centering section 16 of the clamping section 14 facilitates the alignment of the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 in the fastening device 2, while the guide or centering section enables the sensor 1 to be slid easily and uniformly until it snaps or locks into the desired or final position in the opening 8 of the fastening device 2.

The sectional views a-a in fig. 5 and B-B in fig. 6 illustrate the final or assembled position of the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 in the fastening device 2.

In this state, the spring section 18 in the recess 19 on the rear wall 13 of the fastening device 2 presses the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 and the two fixing and fastening elements 6 in the front, for example in the form of pin-like projections, forward and against the front wall 13 of the fastening device 2. The pretension force thus provided prevents an unintentional back-and-forth movement of the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2 or the previously described movement of the sensor in the direction of the front wall 13 of the opening 8 and counter to the direction of the front wall 13.

As shown in the sectional view B-B in fig. 6, the two elongate projections 5 or flanks on the right R and left L of the sensor housing 3 interact with clamping sections 14 on the right 10 and left 11 walls of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2. Thereby, the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 are clamped and wedged in the fastening device 2 by the clamping section 14, whereby the sensor 1 is clamped both downwards and also from the side, i.e. from its right side R and left side L, by the clamping device 14. The pretension force generated by the clamping section 14 acting on the sensor prevents an unintentional lateral movement of the sensor, i.e. an unintentional movement of the sensor to the right and to the left, and an unintentional up-and-down movement of the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2 in the direction of the right wall 10 and the left wall 11 of the opening 8 of the fastening device 2.

In particular, the additional stop lug 15 of the clamping section 14 and possibly the wedge shape of the respective clamping section 14 have the effect of pressing and optionally additionally prestressing the sensor housing 3 with its respective fixing and fastening section 6 against the base section 23 of the corresponding recess 19 or 20. In this way, the sensor housing 3 can be prevented from the unexpected up-and-down movement described earlier.

In this way, the fastening device 2 secures the sensor 1 in all directions and there is no room in the fastening device 2 for accidental movement of the sensor. Furthermore, the pretensioning prevents the sensor 1 from generating an undesired audible noise during operation in all spatial directions. Furthermore, elements such as the spring section 16 and the clamping section 14 compensate for tolerance differences due to, for example, different materials.

The fastening device with the radar sensor fixed thereon preferably has a vehicle interface for fixing the fastening device to the vehicle, for example by welding, gluing, screwing or the like.

The main advantage of the invention is that the sensor 1 can be prestressed in the installed state in a plurality of directions, preferably in all directions, by means of the fastening device 2. This allows the sensor 1 to be securely and reliably arranged in the fastening device 2 without the need to arrange sensitive, elastic and extremely precisely manufactured fastening device elements as snap-fits.

Nor are other components such as metal springs or screws that must be preassembled or manufactured. In addition, no additional metal components, such as a sleeve, which must be injection molded, are required, thereby reducing costs and saving manufacturing and development time.

Another advantage of the invention is that the assembly and disassembly of the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2 is very simple and intuitive for the assembler.

Furthermore, the sensor 1 can be assembled in both the downward and upward directions, without even minor modifications to the shape of the fastening device 2 having to be made in different situations or at different mounting points.

The interface between the fastening device 2 and the sensor 1 fixed thereon and the vehicle is flexible in terms of dimensions, whereby the dimensions and weight of the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3 can be flexibly selected when designing and manufacturing the sensor 1 and its sensor housing 3.

The interface between the fastening device 2 and the vehicle can be used for different fixing areas. For example, the interface can be used to fix the sensor 1 in the fastening device 2, wherein the fastening device 2 itself can be fixed to the vehicle, for example to a vehicle bumper or another similar vehicle component, for example with screws, by gluing and/or by welding.

The invention is explained by way of example with a radar sensor which has no inherent or additional interface for fastening to a vehicle. Instead, the radar sensor is fixed in the fastening device, which is then fixed to the vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to radar sensors, but can be applied to any vehicle sensor which does not have an inherent or additional interface required for fastening to a vehicle, but is fastened to the vehicle by means of the fastening device according to the invention.

Although the present invention has been fully described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be modified in various ways. In this case, the different embodiments can be combined with one another, in particular the individual features can be combined with one another.

List of reference numerals

1 sensor

2 fastening device

3 sensor housing

4 sensor joint

5 elongated projection

6 fixing and fastening means

7 frame

8 opening

9 reinforcing rib

10 right wall

11 left wall

12 front wall

13 rear wall

14 clamping section

15 stop lug

16 guiding and/or centering section

17 wedge profile

18 spring section

19 recess (with spring section)

20 recess

21 coded projection

22 receiving part

23 floor segment (concave)

24-wall section

25 web plate

26 first end of web

27 second end of web