Patent Publication Number: US-2023139390-A1

Title: Vehicular lamp fitting and radar structure

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a vehicular lamp fitting and a radar structure, and in particular to a vehicular lamp fitting and a radar structure capable of preventing (or suppressing) vibrations of a radar unit (and as a result, capable of preventing the detection area of the radar unit from being significantly changed). 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-38181 discloses a vehicular lamp fitting including a lamp housing, a radar unit (a radar apparatus) attached to a plate-like part extending downward from the lower part of the lamp housing, and a radar cover disposed in front of the radar unit (see, in particular, FIG. 2 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-38181). The radar unit is used for detecting an object by transmitting a high-frequency electromagnetic wave (e.g., millimeter wave) around a vehicle and receiving a reflected wave from the object existing within a transmission range of the electromagnetic wave. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the vehicular lamp fitting disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-38181, the radar unit is attached to the plate-like part which extends downward from the lower part of the lamp housing in a cantilevered manner. As a result, there is a problem that, due to vibrations of the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting is mounted (e.g., due to vibrations thereof during the traveling), the plate-like part extending in the cantilevered manner (and the radar unit attached to this plate-like part) widely vibrates while the base (the fixed part) of the plate-like part acts as the fulcrum, so that the detection area of the radar unit is significantly changed. 
     The present disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicular lamp fitting and a radar structure capable of preventing (or suppressing) vibrations of a radar unit (and as a result, capable of preventing the detection area of the radar unit from being significantly changed). 
     A vehicular lamp fitting according to an aspect includes: a lamp housing; an outer lens attached to the lamp housing, the outer lens comprising a recessed part and forming a first space between the outer lens and the lamp housing; a lamp unit disposed in the first space; a radar cover disposed in a state of covering the recessed part and forming a second space between the radar cover and the recessed part; a bracket disposed in the second space; a radar unit disposed in the second space in a state where the radar unit is detachably fixed to the bracket; and a first fixing part fixing one end of the bracket to the outer lens; and a second fixing part fixing the other end of the bracket to the lamp housing. 
     By the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent (or suppress) vibrations of the radar unit (and as a result, to prevent the detection area of the radar unit from being significantly changed). 
     This is because the bracket to which the radar unit is fixed does not extend in the cantilevered manner, but one end of the bracket is fixed to the outer lens and the other end thereof is fixed to the lamp housing. 
     Further, there is another advantage that the effect of the heat (the heat generated by the lamp unit) on the radar unit can be reduced. This is because the radar unit is disposed in the second space (formed by the outer lens and the radar cover) in which the temperature is lower than that in the first space (formed by the lamp housing and the outer lens) where the temperature is raised due to the heat generated by the lamp unit. 
     Further, there is an advantage that maintenance can be easily performed when the radar unit fails. This is because each of the radar unit and the radar cover is detachably fixed to the bracket, so that the radar unit can be replaced by removing the radar cover from the bracket without removing the vehicular lamp fitting itself from the vehicle. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the first fixing part may be provided on the outer lens, and may fix one end of the bracket to the outer lens in a state where one end of the bracket is sandwiched. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the radar cover may be detachably fixed to the bracket. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, in one of the recessed part and the bracket, at least one positioning rib, which abuts against (i.e., is in contact with) the other of the recessed part and the bracket, may be provided. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the positioning rib may be a positioning rib configured to maintain a gap between the radar cover and the recessed part uniform. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the other end of the bracket may extend through at least one bending part so as to stride over the recessed part. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the other end of the bracket may eventually extend toward the lamp housing, and the tip of the other end of the bracket may be fixed to the lamp housing by the second fixing part. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, a stepped part may be formed between the outer lens and a part of the radar cover located adjacent to the outer lens. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, an end of the radar cover adjacent to the outer lens may bend backward through a bending part and thereby be disposed behind the outer lens. 
     Further, in the above-described vehicular lamp fitting, the outer lens may be transparent to visible light, and the radar cover may be opaque to visible light. 
     A radar structure according to another aspect includes: a radar cover forming a space between the radar cover and the bracket in a state where the radar cover is detachably fixed to the bracket; and a radar unit that is disposed in the space in a state where the radar unit detachably fixed to the bracket. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicular lamp fitting and a radar structure capable of preventing (or suppressing) vibrations of a radar unit (and as a result, capable of preventing the detection area of the radar unit from being significantly changed). 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of a vehicular lamp fitting  10 ; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of a vehicular lamp fitting  10 ; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10 ; 
         FIG.  4    is a view as seen in a direction indicated by an arrow  80  in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10  (in which illustration of a radar cover  50  is omitted); 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the vehicular lamp fitting  10 ; 
         FIG.  9    shows a modified example of the radar cover  50 ; 
         FIG.  10    shows another modified example of the radar cover  50 ; and 
         FIG.  11    shows an example (a modified example) in which one end of a bracket  60 A is fixed to a lamp housing  20  by a screw N 3  and the other end (the lower end) of the bracket  60 A is fixed to the lamp housing  20  by a screw N 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     A vehicular lamp fitting  10 , which is an embodiment according to the present disclosure, will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals (or symbols) are attached to corresponding components throughout the drawings, and redundant explanations thereof are omitted as appropriate. 
       FIG.  1    is a front view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10 .  FIG.  2    is a top view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10 . 
     The vehicular lamp fitting  10  according to this embodiment is a vehicular lamp fitting that functions as a headlamp, and is mounted on each of the left and right sides of the front end of a vehicle such as an automobile (not shown). Since the vehicular lamp fittings  10  mounted on both the left and right sides of the front end of the vehicle are symmetrical to each other, only the vehicular lamp fitting  10  mounted on the left side (the left side when facing the front side of the vehicle) of the front end of the vehicle will be described hereinafter as a representative example. 
       FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10 .  FIG.  4    is a perspective view as seen in a direction indicated by an arrow  80  in  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  7    is a side view of the vehicular lamp fitting  10  (in which illustration of a radar cover  50  is omitted).  FIG.  8    is an enlarged view of a part of the vehicular lamp fitting  10  (a see-through view). 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , etc., the vehicular lamp fitting  10  includes a lamp housing  20 , an outer lens  30 , lamp unit  40 , a radar cover  50 , a bracket  60 , and a radar unit  70 . 
     The lamp housing  20  is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic and polycarbonate, and includes an extension part  21  extending downward from the lower end of the outer lens  30  (see  FIGS.  3  and  5   ). 
     The outer lens  30  is made of a material that is transparent to light (visible light) emitted by the lamp unit  40 , and, for example, made of a transparent resin (a synthetic resin) such as acrylic and polycarbonate. The outer lens  30  is attached to the lamp housing  20  in a state in which it covers the opening of the lamp housing  20 , and forms a space S 1  (an example of the first space in the present disclosure) between the outer lens  30  and the lamp housing  20  (see  FIG.  2   ). The outer lens  30  is welded to the lamp housing  20  (the opening end) along its whole peripheral edge. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the outer lens  30  includes a front lens part  31  disposed on the front-end side of the vehicle, a side lens part  32  disposed on the lateral side of the vehicle, and a curved lens part  33  disposed between the front lens part  31  and the side lens part  32 . Note that the outer lens  30  may have an arbitrary shape as desired according to the design of the vehicle or the like. 
     The outer lens  30  includes a recessed part  34 . The recessed part  34  is disposed on the front side of the curved lens part  33 . The recessed part  34  is a recessed part into which the bracket  60  (and the radar cover  50  and the radar unit  70  attached to the bracket  60 ) is inserted. The recessed part  34  is surrounded by a bottom surface  34   a  disposed on the rear side, side surfaces  34   b  and  34   c  disposed on both the left and right sides, respectively, of the bottom surface  34   a , an upper surface  34   d  disposed above the bottom surface  34   a , and a lower surface  34   e  disposed below the bottom surface  34   a  (see  FIGS.  3  and  7   , etc.). Since the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  is surrounded by the side surfaces  34   b  and  34   c  disposed on both the left and right sides, and the upper and lower surfaces  34   d  and  34   e , it is possible to provide a good appearance having a sense of integrity as compared to the case where the lower surface  34   e  is not provided. 
     In the one side surface  34   b  of the recessed part  34 , a positioning rib  34   b   1  that abuts against one side of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) is provided (see  FIG.  7   ). Similarly, in the other side surface  34   c  of the recessed part  34 , a positioning rib  34   c   1  that abuts against the other side of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) is provided (see  FIGS.  3  and  7   ). Further, although it is not shown, a positioning rib that abuts against the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) is provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34 . 
     Further, flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  are provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  (see  FIGS.  3  and  7   , etc.). The flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  are disposed in such a manner that a space into which the flange parts  63   a  and  63   b  provided in the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) is inserted is formed between the flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  and the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     The lamp unit  40  is disposed in the space S 1  formed by the outer lens  30  and the lamp housing  20  (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     The lamp unit  40  is a lamp unit for a headlamp. The lamp unit  40  may be any of a projector-type lamp unit, a reflector-type lamp unit, a direct-projection-type (direct-emission-type) lamp unit, and a lamp unit using a light guiding member (a light guiding rod or a light guiding plate), or may be any other lamp unit. When the headlamp light source for the headlamp (not shown) is turned on, light emitted from the light source for the headlamp passes through the front lens part  31  of the outer lens  30 , and is emitted to the outside. In this way, the headlamp is implemented. 
     The bracket  60  is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic and polycarbonate, and includes a radar-unit holding part  61  that holds the radar unit  70 , and an extension part  62  extending downward from the radar-unit holding part  61  (see  FIGS.  3  and  5   , etc.). 
     In the radar-unit holding part  61 , engagement parts  64  (disposed at three places in  FIG.  3   ), which engages with flange parts  72  (three places in  FIG.  3   ) provided in the radar unit  70  (the case  71 ), are provided. Each of the engagement parts  64  is, for example, a pair of claw parts (hook parts) that sandwiches a respective one of the flange parts  72  provided in the radar unit  70  (the case  71 ) from both the left and right sides, and the engagement parts  64  are disposed at places (three places in  FIG.  3   ) corresponding to those of the flange parts  72  (three places in  FIG.  3   ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the extension part  62  extends forward from the lower end of the radar-unit holding part  61  through a first bending part C 1 , extends downward through a second bending part C 2 , extends backward through a third bending part C 3 , and extends downward through a fourth bending part C 4 . 
     As described above, the extension part  62  is formed so as to extend across the recessed part  34  provided in the outer lens  30  (i.e., the lower surface  34   e  disposed below the bottom surface  34   a ). Note that the lower surface  34   e  may not be provided, and the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  provided in the outer lens  30  may have a flat shape extending in the vertically downward direction (the downward direction in  FIG.  5   ). In this case, the extension part  62  of the bracket  60  may not be provided, and the extension part  62  may have a flat shape extending in the vertically downward direction. 
     The bracket  60  is detachably fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) and the lamp housing  20  (the extension part  21 ). Specifically, as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  7   , the flange parts  63   a  and  63   b  provided at the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) are inserted into the spaces between the flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30  and the bottom surface  34   a , so that the upper end of the bracket  60  (an example of the one end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in a state in which the upper end of the bracket  60  is sandwiched (i.e., interposed) between the flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  and the bottom surface  34   a . The flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  are an example of the first fixing part in the present disclosure. 
     Meanwhile, the lower end of the bracket  60  (the extension part  62 ) is fixed to the extension part  21  of the lamp housing  20  by screws N 1  (see  FIGS.  1  and  5   ), so that the lower end of the bracket  60  (an example of the other end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the lamp housing  20  (the extension part  21 ). Since the extension part  62  of the bracket  60  extends backward from the third bending part C 3  toward the extension part  21  of the lamp housing  20 , when the lower end of the bracket  60  is fixed by the screws N 1 , the tightening force from the front to the rear is applied more easily. As a result, it is possible to firmly fix the bracket  60  to the lamp housing  20 . The screws N 1  are an example of the second fixing part in the present disclosure. 
     As described above, in the state in which the bracket  60  is detachably fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) and the lamp housing  20  (the extension part  21 ), the bracket  60  (the rear surface of the radar-unit holding part  61 ) and the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30  are opposed to each other (see  FIG.  5   ). Further, as both the left and right sides of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) abut against the positioning ribs  34   b   1  and  34   c   1 , respectively, provided in the side surfaces  34   b  and  34   c  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30  (see  FIG.  7   ), the bracket  60  is positioned relative to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the left/right direction. Further, as the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) abuts against the positioning rib (not shown) provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30 , the bracket  60  is positioned relative to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the up/down direction. Note that the positioning ribs  34   b   1  and  34   c   1 , and the like may be provided in the bracket  60 . 
     The radar cover  50  is made of a material opaque to visible light, such as a black synthetic resin. The radar cover  50  is provided to protect the radar unit  70  from stepping stones or the like and to improve the appearance. The radar cover  50  is disposed while cover the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30 , and forms a space S 2  (an example of the second space in the present disclosure) between the radar cover  50  and the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     The radar cover  50  is detachably fixed to the bracket  60 . Specifically, a pair of left and right hook parts  51  (only one of the hook parts  51  is shown in  FIG.  8   ) provided at the upper end of the radar cover  50  are inserted into a pair of left and right through holes  63  (only one of the through holes  63  is shown in  FIG.  7   ) formed at the upper end of the bracket  60 , and are engaged with the peripheries of the through holes  63  (see  FIG.  8   ), so that the upper end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60 . Note that in order to prevent the hook parts  51 , which are inserted into the through holes  63  and protrude to the rear side, from interfering with (e.g., colliding against) the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34 , recessed parts  34   a   1  are provided in parts of the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  corresponding to the hook parts  51  protruding from the through holes  63  to the rear side (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     Meanwhile, the lower end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60  by screws N 2  (see  FIG.  1   ), so that the lower end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60 . 
     Note that it is sufficient if the radar cover  50  is large enough to cover the area through which electromagnetic waves transmitted from the radar unit  70  (millimeter waves having the angle of divergence θ V  in the vertical direction (hereinafter also referred to as the vertical divergence angle θ V ) (see  FIG.  5   ) and the angle of divergence θ H  in the horizontal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the horizontal divergence angle θ H ) (see  FIG.  2   )) pass through, and may have an arbitrary shape as desired according to the design of the vehicle or the like as long as it satisfies the aforementioned condition. 
     The radar unit  70  (the radar apparatus) includes the case  71 , a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna (both of which are not shown) housed in the case  71 , and so on. The radar unit  70  is a millimeter-wave radar unit that transmits electromagnetic waves (millimeter waves) from the transmitting antenna. The electromagnetic waves (the millimeter waves) pass through the radar cover  50  and are transmitted to a range having a vertical divergence angle θ V  (see  FIG.  5   ) and a horizontal divergence angle θ H  (see  FIG.  2   ). Further, the radar unit  70  receives, by the receiving antenna, reflected waves which have been reflected by an object present in the aforementioned transmission range and have passed through the radar cover  50 . The received signal is processed by a control apparatus such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown), so that the object (e.g., a distance, an angle, and a velocity of the object) is detected. In the radar unit  70 , for example, millimeter waves in a frequency band of 76 to 81 GHz, in particular, in a frequency band of 79 GHz, are used. However, the frequency band is not limited to these frequency bands. 
     Note that the radar method of the radar unit  70  may be either of a pulse method or a CW (Continuous Wave) method, or may be any other method. Further, the antenna method of the radar unit  70  may be any of a mechanical scanning method, a beam switching method, a phased array method, and a digital forming method, or may be any other method. 
     The radar unit  70  is detachably fixed to the bracket  60 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the radar unit  70  is detachably fixed to the bracket  60  as the engagement parts  64  (three places in  FIG.  7   ) provided in the bracket  60  engage with the flange parts  72  (three places in  FIG.  7   ) provided in the case  71 . Note that the radar unit  70  may be detachably fixed to the bracket  60  by using, instead of using the engagement parts  64 , known fixing means such as screws. 
     Although it is not shown in the drawings, the vehicular lamp fitting  10  having the above-described configuration is mounted on a vehicle by fixing a flange part(s) provided in the lamp housing  20  to the vehicle (e.g., the frame of the vehicle body or the bumper) by screws. 
     Next, a procedure for detachably fixing the bracket  60 , to which the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  are detachably fixed as described above, to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) will be described. 
     Firstly, the flange parts  63   a  and  63   b  provided at the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) are inserted into the spaces between the flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30  and the bottom surface  34   a  thereof (see  FIG.  5   ). As a result, the upper end of the bracket  60  (an example of the one end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the state in which the upper end of the bracket  60  is sandwiched (i.e., interposed) between the flange parts  34   d   1  and  34   d   2  and the bottom surface  34   a.    
     Next, the lower end of the bracket  60  (the extension part  62 ) is fixed to the extension part  21  of the lamp housing  20  by using screws N 1  (see  FIGS.  1  and  5   ). As a result, the lower end of the bracket  60  (an example of the other end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the lamp housing  20  (the extension part  21 ). 
     When doing so, both the left and right sides of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) abuts against the positioning ribs  34   b   1  and  34   c   1  provided in the side surfaces  34   b  and  34   c  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30  (see  FIG.  7   ). As a result, the bracket  60  is positioned relative to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the left/right direction. Further, the upper end of the bracket  60  (the radar-unit holding part  61 ) abuts against the positioning ribs (not shown) provided in the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  of the outer lens  30 . As a result, the bracket  60  is positioned relative to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the up/down direction. 
     As described above, the bracket  60  is positioned relative to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) in the up/down and left/right directions, so that the gap between the radar cover  50  and the recessed part  34  (see symbols G 1  to G 3  in  FIG.  1   ) is kept uniform. In this way, the appearance is improved. 
     Since the upper end of the bracket  60  is fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) and the lower end of the bracket  60  is fixed to the lamp housing  20  (the extension part  21 ) as described above, the bracket  60  is prevented from widely vibrating even when the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting  10  is mounted vibrates during the traveling. As a result, it is possible to prevent the FOV (Field of View, i.e., the detection width) of the radar unit  70  from widely shaking, and thereby to prevent an error, such as losing sight of the target, from occurring. 
     Next, a procedure for replacing the radar unit  70  will be described. 
     Firstly, the screws N 2  (see  FIGS.  1  and  7   ) are removed (i.e., unscrewed) and the radar cover  50  is removed from the bracket  60 . As a result, the radar unit  70  is exposed. Next, the radar unit  70  is removed from the bracket  60  and replaced by another radar unit  70 . When doing so, since the radar unit  70  is detachably fixed to the bracket  60  by the engagement parts  64 , the radar unit  70  can be easily replaced by another radar unit  70 . 
     Next, a procedure for attaching the radar cover  50  to the bracket  60  after the radar unit  70  is replaced will be described. 
     After the radar unit  70  is replaced by another radar unit  70  as described above, firstly, the pair of left and right hook parts  51  (only one of the hook parts  51  is shown in  FIG.  8   ) provided at the upper end of the radar cover  50  are inserted into the pair of left and right through holes  63  (only one of the through holes  63  is shown in  FIG.  8   ) formed at the upper end of the bracket  60 , and are engaged with the peripheries of these through holes  63 . As a result, the upper end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60 . At this time, since the recessed parts  34   a   1  are provided in the parts of the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  corresponding to the hook parts  51 , which protrude from the through holes  63  to the rear side, the hook parts  51 , which are inserted into the through holes  63  and protrude to the rear side, do not interfere with (e.g., collide against) the bottom surface  34   a  of the recessed part  34  (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     Next, the lower end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60  by screws N 2  (see  FIGS.  1  and  7   ). As a result, the lower end of the radar cover  50  is fixed to the bracket  60 . 
     As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent (or suppress) vibrations of the radar unit  70  (and as a result, to prevent the detection area of the radar unit  70  from being significantly changed). 
     This is because the bracket  60  to which the radar unit  70  is fixed does not extend in the cantilevered manner, but one end of the bracket  60  is fixed to the outer lens  30  and the other end thereof is fixed to the lamp housing  20 . 
     Further, according to this embodiment, there is another advantage that the effect of the heat (the heat generated by the lamp unit  40 ) on the radar unit  70  can be reduced. This is because the radar unit  70  is disposed in the second space S 2  (formed by the outer lens  30  and the radar cover  50 ) in which the temperature is lower than that in the first space S 1  (formed by the lamp housing  20  and the outer lens  30 ) where the temperature is raised due to the heat generated by the lamp unit  40 . 
     Further, according to this embodiment, there is an advantage that maintenance can be easily performed when the radar unit fails. This is because each of the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  is detachably fixed to the bracket  60 , so that the radar unit  70  can be replaced by removing the radar cover  50  from the bracket  60  without removing the vehicular lamp fitting  10  itself from the vehicle (not shown). 
     Further, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the distance between the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  from changing (and as a result, to prevent noises from occurring in electromagnetic waves (radar signals) that pass through the radar cover  50  and are transmitted to an area around the vehicle). In this way, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of the detection of an object present around the vehicle from deteriorating. 
     This is because the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  are fixed to one and the same bracket  60 . That is, since the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  are fixed to the same bracket  60 , the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  vibrate similarly by vibration (For example, vibration during driving) of a vehicle (not shown) on which the vehicular lamp  10  is mounted, and as a result, the distance between the radar unit  70  and the radar cover  50  does not change. 
     Next, a modified example will be described. 
       FIGS.  9  and  10    show a modified example of the radar cover  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , a stepped part  90  may be formed between the outer lens  30  and the radar cover  50  by positioning the end of the radar cover  50  adjacent to the outer lens  30  (the upper end in  FIG.  9   ) behind the outer lens  30 . This stepped part  90  can be formed, for example, by bending the end (the upper end in  FIG.  10   ) of the radar cover  50  backward along a bending part  52  (indicated by a dashed line in  FIG.  10   ). The angle θ 52  (see  FIG.  9   ) of this bending part  52  may be an arbitrary angle. 
     A gap G 3  (see  FIG.  5   ) is formed between the outer lens  30  and the radar cover  50  in the vehicular lamp fitting  10  according to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting  10  is mounted is traveling in the rain, rainwater may enter the gap G 3 . To cope with this, a stepped part  90  is provided as in the case of this modified example, so that the direction of the wind that the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting  10  is mounted receives during the traveling can be changed, and hence the direction of the rainwater can be changed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the rainwater from entering the gap G 3 . Further, by forming an inclined surface in the stepped part  90 , the direction of the wind can be controlled. Therefore, it is possible to change the direction of rainwater in a proactive manner, and thereby to facilitate the effect of preventing rainwater from entering the gap G 3  even further. 
     Although an example in which one end (the upper end) of the bracket  60  is fixed to the outer lens  30  (the recessed part  34 ) and the other end (the lower end) of the bracket  60  is fixed to the lamp housing  20  has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in  FIG.  11   , both of one end and the other end (the lower end) of a bracket  60 A may be fixed to the lamp housing  20 . In this way, the bracket  60 A can be fixed to the lamp housing  20  more firmly.  FIG.  11    shows an example (a modified example) in which one end of the bracket  60 A is fixed to the lamp housing  20  by a screw N 3  and the other end (the lower end) of the bracket  60 A is fixed to the lamp housing  20  by a screw N 1 . 
     The bracket  60 A is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate, and includes a radar-unit holding part  61  that holds the radar unit  70 , an extension part  62  extending downward from the lower end of the radar-unit holding part  61 , and an extension part  63  extending backward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part  61  (see  FIG.  11   ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the extension part  63  extends backward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part  61  through a fifth bending part C 5  and an inclined part  64 , and further extends backward through sixth to ninth bending parts C 6  to C 9  so as to extend across the junction between the lamp housing  20  and the outer lens  30 . As described above, the extension part  63  extends rearward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part  61  so as to extend across the junction of the lamp housing  20  and the outer lens  30 . 
     Further, in the modified example shown in  FIG.  11   , the inclined part  64  of the bracket  60 A and the radar cover  50  are arranged so that they are flush (or roughly flush) with each other across a small gap G 4  (i.e., with a small gap G 4  interposed therebetween). In this way, the appearance is improved. 
     Further, in the modified example shown in  FIG.  11   , since the upper surface  34   d  of the recessed part  34  is omitted, the radar-unit holding part  61  of the bracket  60 A can have a simple shape extending in the up/down direction in  FIG.  11   . 
     Further, although an example in which a vehicular lamp fitting according to the present disclosure is applied to a headlamp has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the present disclosure may be applied to a vehicular lamp fitting other than the headlamp. For example, the present disclosure may be applied to a vehicular lamp fitting such as a rear combination lamp, and may also be applied to other vehicular lamp fittings. 
     All the numeral values mentioned in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and numeral values different from them can be uses as appropriate. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely examples in all the aspects thereof. The present disclosure should not be limited by the descriptions of the above-described embodiments. The present disclosure may be carried out in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features of the disclosure. From the disclosure thus described, it will be obvious that the embodiments of the disclosure may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended for inclusion within the scope of the following claims.