DE102023124561A1 - Bracket for attaching a detection device to a vehicle window, system comprising such a bracket and a detection device, and method for attaching a detection device to a vehicle window - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for fastening a detection device to a vehicle window, in particular to the windscreen, comprises according to the present invention an attachment part (1) for attachment to the window and a part (3) for mounting the detection device, these two parts (1, 3) being connected to one another by at least two connections, of which at least one is placed on the left side in the direction of view of the detection device and at least one is placed on the right side in the direction of view of the detection device.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a mount for attaching a detection device to a vehicle window, in particular to the windshield of a vehicle. The detection device can be any sensor or detection device, e.g., an environmental detection device such as a radar or an optical sensor device, in particular a camera.

State of the art

Known mounts for attaching a camera to a vehicle's windshield are designed on one side for attachment to the vehicle's windshield, generally by adhesion, and on the other side for mounting the camera. Known mounts are customized in shape and equipped with clamping elements to be compatible with a specific type of device to be attached to a vehicle's windshield.

However, in some applications, such as the validation of autonomous driving systems, it is necessary to use many different sensors and detection devices, often of different types and manufacturers, which require different brackets for attachment to the windshield or other windows of a vehicle. Therefore, either the brackets must be replaced, which usually requires them to be detached from the windshield, which shortens their lifespan and potentially damages or destroys the brackets and/or the windshield, or different brackets for all device types must be attached to the windshield at the same time, which does not allow for optimal positioning of all devices used and can impair visibility from the vehicle. Another potential problem related to sensor replacement is that it can be very difficult or even impossible to return the bracket with the sensor to the exact same position, which may be necessary in some cases.

The US 2017/274835 A1 describes a holder (3) for mounting a sensor device, such as a camera (2). US 2022/0179294 A1 describes another example of a bracket (22) for mounting a camera (20, 24).

Brief description of the invention

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated by a support for fixing a detection device to a window of a vehicle, in particular to the windshield, comprising an attachment part, which can also be called a "bracket" or sometimes a "closure", for attachment to the window and a part for mounting the detection device, which can be called a "cage", these two parts being connected to each other by at least two connections, at least one of which is placed on the left side in the direction of view of the detection device (i.e. in the direction of the optical axis when the detection device is a camera) and at least one of which is placed on the right side in the direction of view of the detection device.

The mount according to the invention makes it possible to use a single mounting part for all types of sensor and detection devices on the windshield or other window of a vehicle. This mounting part can then be very easily connected to various parts for mounting sensor or detection devices of different types. It is no longer necessary to remove the mount from the windshield or window or to provide multiple different mounts on the windshield.

Preferably, the connections can be supplemented with adjustment elements that can be used to further modify the viewing direction of each detection device: By adding an adjustment element to the left connection, the viewing direction of the detection device is directed more to the left; by adding an adjustment element to the right connection, the viewing direction is directed more to the right; by removing an adjustment element from the left connection, the viewing direction is directed more to the right; and by removing an adjustment element from the right connection, the viewing direction is directed more to the left. The degree of change in the viewing direction can be varied by using adjustment elements of different thicknesses.

Advantageously, the holder according to the invention comprises at least three connections in two different horizontal planes. This means that in addition to the at least two connections (at least one on the left side and at least one on the right side), at least one further connection is provided either above or below the at least two connections. In this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the viewing direction of the detection device (ie the optical axis in the case of a camera) also upwards and downwards by inserting and/or removing adjustment elements (possibly of different thickness) in connection(s) in one or the other horizontal plane.

Preferably, the mount comprises four connections, two of which are located approximately in the horizontal plane of the optical axis of the detection device and two of which are located in a lower horizontal plane than the viewing direction of the detection device. This is particularly advantageous for cameras, since the optical axis of the camera is closer to the (sloping) windshield than with some connections arranged above the optical axis.

These connections can be screw connections, and the adjustment elements can be flat or wedge-shaped washers of varying thicknesses. This design allows for a particularly wide range of possible adjustments.

The detection device may be an environmental detection device, in particular a radar. The detection device may be an optical sensor device, in particular a camera.

The present invention relates to a system consisting of the holder described above and a detection device, e.g. an environment detection device such as a radar or an optical sensor device such as a camera.

The present invention also relates to a method for attaching a detection device to a window of a vehicle, in particular to the windshield, wherein the attachment part of the holder is attached to the window and a detection device is attached to the part for mounting the detection device of the holder.

Brief description of the drawings

• 1 zeigt eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Halterung zum Montieren an der Windschutzscheibe eines Fahrzeugs in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von oben (wie durch die Windschutzscheibe eines Fahrzeugs im montierten Zustand) mit dem an dem Anbringungsteil angebrachten Teil zum Montieren der Erkennungsvorrichtung;
• 2 zeigt die Halterung aus 1 in derselben Ansicht, wobei der Anbringungsteil und der Montageteil der Erkennungsvorrichtung voneinander getrennt sind;
• 3: zeigt dieselbe Halterung, demontiert wie in 2, in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von unten.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to specific embodiments shown in the drawings. The following applies:

• 1 shows an embodiment of a holder according to the invention for mounting on the windshield of a vehicle in a perspective view from above (as through the windshield of a vehicle in the mounted state) with the part for mounting the detection device attached to the attachment part;
• 2 shows the bracket 1 in the same view, wherein the attachment part and the mounting part of the detection device are separated from each other;
• 3 : shows the same bracket, disassembled as in 2 , in a perspective view from below.

Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

A bracket for attaching a detection device, in particular a camera (not shown), to the windshield of a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures consists of two separate parts, an attachment part (1) or "bracket" and a part (3) for mounting the detection device (or "cage"). The attachment part (1) is intended to attach the bracket to the windshield of a vehicle, e.g., with an adhesive tape (2). The mounting part (3) is intended to mount a camera (not shown) or other detection device to the bracket.

When assembled and attached to the vehicle window, the mount attaches the camera (or other detection device) to the vehicle window.

The attachment part (1) is connected to the mounting part (3) by four screw connections, each consisting of a bore (6a, 7a) in the attachment part (1), a through-hole (6b, 7b) in the mounting part (3), and a screw (not shown) passing through the respective through-hole (6b, 7b) and screwed into the respective bore (6a, 7a). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other connecting elements (e.g., various pins and quick-release systems or the like) may be used instead of screws.

Two of the connections are arranged approximately in the horizontal plane of the camera's optical axis (holes 6a and through-holes 6b), and two are arranged in a horizontal plane below the camera's optical axis (holes 7a and through-holes 7b). This arrangement allows the camera's optical axis to be as close as possible to the glass of the tilted windshield.

In each connection, it is possible to insert some adjustment elements (5) between the respective hole and the respective through-hole to change the direction of the optical axis of the camera. These adjustment elements (5) can be, for example, flat washers (as in 3 ) or wedge-shaped washers (for a greater inclination of the attachment part (1) and the mounting part (3) relative to each other) of different thicknesses. The screw then passes through the respective through-hole (6b, 7b), then through the adjustment elements (5), if present, and is then screwed into the respective hole (6a, 7a).

The adjustment of the direction of the camera's optical axis is then realized as follows: By adding adjustment elements (5) to the left connections, the camera's optical axis is directed more to the left, by adding adjustment elements (5) to the right connections, the optical axis is directed more to the right; by removing (at least some) adjustment elements (5) from the left connections, the optical axis is directed more to the right, by removing (at least some) adjustment elements (5) from the right connections, the optical axis is directed more to the left; by adding adjustment elements (5) to the connections in the upper horizontal plane (i.e., approximately the horizontal plane of the camera's optical axis), the direction of the camera's optical axis is tilted upwards, by adding adjustment elements (5) to the connections in the lower horizontal plane, the direction of the optical axis is tilted downwards; by removing (at least some) adjustment elements (5) from the connections in the upper horizontal plane, the direction of the optical axis is tilted downwards; and by removing (at least some) adjusting elements (5) from the connections in the lower horizontal plane, the direction of the optical axis is tilted upwards.

The degree of change in direction of the optical axis can be changed by using adjustment elements (5) of different thicknesses - the greater the thickness of the added or removed adjustment elements (5), the greater the change in direction of the optical axis.

For a greater inclination of the attachment part (1) and the mounting part (3) to each other, wedge-shaped washers can preferably be used.

If the camera currently mounted on the vehicle window using this bracket is to be replaced with another camera or detection device, there is no need to remove the entire bracket from the windshield. Simply loosen the four connections and remove the cage (the mounting part (3)) containing the mounted camera and replace it with another camera or detection device mounted in the corresponding compatible mounting part (3) (cage). This allows individual cameras and detection devices to be replaced very quickly and easily, while still using the same bracket - its attachment part (1) - which is still attached to the vehicle window. There is no risk of damaging or even destroying the bracket and/or window due to the bracket becoming detached from the window. Furthermore, if a camera or other detection device is used a second time after a different device has been used in the meantime, it is guaranteed that it will be placed in exactly the same position as the first time.

When mounting the new camera or other detection device, its viewing direction can be adjusted using the adjustment elements described above.

list of reference symbols

1

Attachment part

2

Adhesive tape 3 assembly part

5

Adjustment element

6a

drilling

6b

passage opening

7a

drilling

7b

passage opening

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This 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

• US 2017/274835 A1 [0004]
• US 2022/0179294 A1 [0004]

Claims (9)

Bracket for attaching a detection device to a vehicle window, in particular to the windscreen, characterized in that it comprises: an attachment part (1) for attachment to the window and a part (3) for mounting the detection device, these two parts (1, 3) being connected to one another by at least two connections, at least one of which is placed on the left side in the direction of view of the detection device and at least one of which is placed on the right side in the direction of view of the detection device. Bracket according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least two connections are designed to be supplemented with adjustment elements (5) for changing the viewing direction of the detection device. Bracket according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that it comprises at least three connections in two different horizontal planes. Bracket according to Claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises four connections, two of which are located approximately in the horizontal plane of the line of sight of the detection device and two of which are located in a lower horizontal plane than the line of sight of the detection device. Holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections are screw connections, the adjusting elements (5) being flat or wedge-shaped washers of different thicknesses. Holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device is an environment detection device, in particular a radar, or an optical sensor device, in particular a camera. System consisting of a holder according to one of the preceding claims and a detection device. System according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the detection device is an environment detection device, in particular a radar, or an optical sensor device, in particular a camera. Method for attaching a detection device to a vehicle window, in particular to the windscreen, wherein the attachment part (1) for attachment to the window of a holder according to one of the preceding Claims 1 until 5 is attached to the window and a detection device is attached to the detection device mounting part (3) of the bracket.

Images