Patent Publication Number: US-2023136981-A1

Title: Radar assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a radar assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a radar assembly that is movable between a rest position and a deformed position. 
     Background Information 
     Radar units are installed in many vehicle structures. For example, vehicle radar units are typically attached to rigid brackets that are installed to rigid vehicle body structures. More specifically, a radar unit of a vehicle is often installed on a bracket attached to a front bumper. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provided a radar assembly comprising a front bumper assembly, a radar support structure and a radar unit. The front bumper assembly has a support bracket. The radar support structure has first bracket that is fixed to the support bracket. The radar support structure second bracket is movable relative to the first bracket and the support bracket between a rest position and a deformed position. The radar unit is supported to the second bracket to move with the second bracket relative to the first bracket and the support bracket. 
     Also other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed radar assembly will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses one embodiment of the radar assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a front portion of a vehicle equipped with a radar assembly in accordance with an illustrated embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the front portion of the vehicle of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the radar assembly of  FIGS.  1  and  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a rear perspective view of a radar support structure of the radar assembly; 
         FIG.  5    is a front exploded view of a first and second bracket of the radar support structure; 
         FIG.  6    is front perspective view of the radar support structure similar to  FIG.  5    with a radar unit removed; and 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the radar support structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a vehicle  10  is illustrated as being equipped with a radar assembly  12 . The radar assembly  12  comprises a front bumper assembly  14 , a radar support structure  16  and a radar unit  18 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the front bumper assembly  14  includes a support bracket  20 . The front bumper assembly  14  further includes a bumper fascia  22  that defines a front end  24  of the vehicle  10 . The front bumper assembly  14  further includes a grille  26  that is supported to the bumper fascia  22 . As seen in  FIG.  3   , the front bumper assembly  14  can optionally further include a deformable energy absorption member F (e.g., a foam). The deformable energy absorption member F acts as a foam bumper that is disposed forward of the radar assembly  12 . During an impact to the vehicle&#39;s  10  front end  24 , the energy absorption member F can be crushed such as the bumper facia  22  displaces rearward. 
     The bumper fascia  22  is attached to various portions of the vehicle&#39;s  10  body in a conventional manner. As seen in  FIG.  1   , the emblem E is shown as positioned on a center of the grille  26 . The emblem E is made of a non-interfering material that allows radar signals to readily penetrate and pass therethrough. The emblem E can optionally include or define a vehicle manufacturer&#39;s logo. The support bracket  20  can be considered an upper retainer that operates to maintain the components the front bumper assembly  14  attached to the vehicle&#39;s  10  body. That is, the support bracket  20  is operatively disposed and positioned to retain and support the bumper facia  22  and the grille  26  to the vehicle  10 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the radar support structure  16  extends at least partially forward of the support bracket  20 , as seen in  FIGS.  2  and  3   . That is, the radar support structure  16  protrudes closer to the front end  24  of the vehicle  10  than the support bracket  20 . The radar support structure  16  supports the radar unit  18  to the front bumper assembly  14 . 
     The radar unit  18  is part of a radar system (not shown) of the vehicle  10  that includes, for example, an electronic controller (with micro-processor and memory) and a display (not shown) within a passenger compartment of the vehicle  10 . The radar unit  18  detects the vehicle&#39;s  10  proximity to other vehicles and obstacles that are forward of the vehicle  10 . The electronic controller processes signals from the radar unit  18  and displays information on the display for the driver&#39;s use. The display of the radar system can be replaced with, or can include an audio device that provides audio signals to the vehicle operator in response to detection of vehicles and/or objects ahead of the vehicle  10 . Since radar systems are conventional vehicle components, further description is omitted for the sake of brevity. 
     The radar unit  18  is installed to the support bracket  20  such that the radar unit  18  is spaced apart rearwardly of the vehicle&#39;s  10  emblem E, as best seen in  FIG.  3   . The radar unit  18  of the illustrated embodiment is preferably aligned in the rearward direction from the vehicle&#39;s  10  emblem E. In the illustrated embodiment, the radar unit  18  is preferably positioned and aligned with the emblem E such that radar signals from the radar unit  18  pass through the emblem E to detect objects in front of the vehicle  10 . 
     As stated, the radar support structure  16  is installed to a central portion of the support bracket  20 . However, it should be understood from the drawings and description herein that the radar support structure  16  can be installed at any convenient location along the support bracket  20  depending upon the overall design of the vehicle  10  and the location of the emblem E. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the radar support structure  16  includes a first bracket  28  and a second bracket  30  that are supported to the upper surface of the support bracket  20 . In particular, the first bracket  28  is directly installed to the support bracket  20 , and the second bracket  30  is supported to the first bracket  28 . Therefore, the second bracket  30  is supported to the support bracket  20  via the first bracket  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first bracket  28  is fixedly installed to the support bracket  20  and is not movable with respect to the support bracket  20 . 
     The second bracket  30  is movably installed to the first bracket  28  and is configured to move relative to the first bracket  28  and the support bracket  20 , as will be further described. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the second bracket  30  is configured as an energy absorption member that absorbs the energy from an external impact in the vehicle rearward direction that can cause the radar unit  18  to deform rearwardly. In this way, the energy absorption helps protect the radar unit  18  from damage received from an external vehicle impact. The second bracket  30  is also configured as a positioning member that repositions the radar unit  18  into the correct rest position after deformation. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  to  6   , the first and second brackets  28  and  30  together define a receiving area  32  for the radar unit  18 . The radar unit  18  is positioned in the receiving area  32  to be installed to the radar support structure  16 . In particular, the radar unit  18  is installed to the second bracket  30  to move with the second bracket  30  relative to the first bracket  28  and the support bracket  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second brackets  28  and  30  are hingedly or pivotally connected. As seen in  FIG.  4   , the radar assembly  12  further comprises a hinge pin  34  movably connecting the first and second brackets  28  and  30 . The hinge pin  34  defines a pivot axis A about which the second bracket  28  pivots relative to the first bracket  30 . The second bracket  30  pivots with respect to the first bracket  28  about the pivot axis A. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second brackets  28  and  30  are movably connected by a hinge  36  that receives the hinge pin  34 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the first and second brackets  28  and  30  together define the hinge  36 . Therefore, the hinge pin  34  extends through both the first and second brackets  28  and  30  to pivotally connect the first and second brackets  28  and  30 . The hinge  36  can be a corner hinge that is connected the edges of the first and second brackets  28  and  30 . Further, the hinge  36  can alternatively be a leaf hinge or side hinge, as needed and/or necessary. It will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the radar support structure  16  can include a variety of types of hinges as needed and/or desired. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the second bracket  30  is movable relative to the first bracket  28  and the support bracket  20  between a rest position and a deformed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the second bracket  30  extends upright with respect to the first bracket  28  in the rest position. That is, the second bracket  30  is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first bracket  28  in the rest position (as seen in  FIG.  3    in full lines). The second bracket  30  bends toward the first bracket  28  in the deformed position (as seen in  FIG.  3    in dashed lines). As stated, the radar unit  18  moves with the second bracket  30  between the rest position and the deformed position. That is, the radar unit  18  is configured to move rearward away from the vehicle front end  24  along with the second bracket  30  when the second bracket  30  moves into the deformed position. 
     As seen in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the radar assembly  12  further comprises at least one biasing member  38  operatively connected so the first and second brackets  28  and  30  to bias the radar unit  18  towards the rest position (upright). In particular, the radar assembly  12  preferably includes a pair of biasing members  38  that bias the second bracket  30  into the rest position. That is, the biasing members  38  bias the second bracket  30  toward the vehicle forward direction. Preferably, the biasing members  38  are torsion springs that are disposed on either side of the hinge pin  34 . However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the torsion springs can be positioned at alternative locations as needed and/or desired. 
     Each of the torsion springs has a first end  38 A that is operatively connected to the first bracket  28 , and a second end  38 B that is operatively connected to the second bracket  30 . Therefore, the second bracket  30  is spring biased into the rest position by the at least one biasing member  38 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the radar assembly  12  can include a single biasing member  38  or additional biasing members  38  to bias the first and second brackets  28  and  30  apart as needed and/or necessary. 
     The first bracket  28  is made from rigid materials such as sheet metal. Preferably, the first bracket  28  is a single, monolithic unitary element formed without seams or breaks. As seen in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the first bracket  28  preferably includes indentations and flanges, as needed. The first bracket  28  can additionally include stiffening ribs  43 , as seen in  FIG.  4   . For example, the first bracket  28  includes a mounting flange  40  protruding from a rearward end R of the first bracket  28 . The mounting flange  40  includes a pair of through holes  42  for receiving a pair of mounting fasteners  44  therethrough. 
     The mounting fasteners  44  fix the first bracket  28  to the support bracket  20 . The mounting fasteners  44  can be bolts or screws. It will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the first bracket  28  can alternatively fixed to the support bracket  20  by a clip or other types of fastening means. Therefore, the radar support structure  16  is installed to the support bracket  20  by the mounting flange  40 . As best seen in  FIG.  3   , the first bracket  28  is cantilevered in a forward direction with respect to the support bracket  20  when installed to the support bracket  20 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the first bracket  28  has a curved portion  46  that partially defines the receiving area  32  for the radar unit  18 . The curved portion  46  extends from a forward end F of the first bracket  28 . The radar unit  18  can sit on the curved portion  46  of the first bracket  28  or can be attached to the second bracket  30  at a location elevated of the curved portion  46 . Preferably, the curved portion  46  has a width that can support a width of the radar unit  18 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the dimensions of the curved portion  46  can vary depending on the size and dimension of the radar unit  18  as needed and/or necessary. 
     As seen in  FIGS.  3  to  7   , the first bracket  28  includes a stopper  48  disposed forward of the second bracket  30 . In particular, the first bracket  28  includes a pair of stoppers  48  that extend upwardly from the curved portion  46  such that the stoppers  48  are positioned forward of the second bracket  30 . As seen in  FIG.  3   , the stoppers  48  contact the second bracket  30  when the second bracket  30  is in the rest position. That is, the stoppers  48  prevent the torsion springs  38  from overcorrecting the second bracket  30  by allowing the second bracket  30  to contact the stoppers  48 . As seen in  FIG.  3   , the stoppers  48  are spaced from the second bracket  30  when the second bracket  30  is in the deformed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the stoppers  48  are a pair of stopping plates that extend upwardly from the curved portion  46 . However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the stoppers  48  can alternatively be rubber feet or stops on the curved portion  46 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the second bracket  30  is also made from rigid material such as sheet metal. Preferably, the second bracket  30  is a single, monolithic unitary element formed without seams or breaks. The second bracket  30  can also include indentations and flanges, as needed. As stated, the second bracket  30  is pivotable relative to the first bracket  28  along the pivot axis when moving between the rest position and the deformed position. The second bracket  30  is pivotable rearwardly towards the first bracket  28  when moving from the rest position to the deformed position. As shown in  FIG.  3   , the second bracket  30  extends at an acute angle with respect to the first bracket  28  in the deformed position. The second bracket  30  extends at a 90 degree angle with respect to the first bracket  28  in the rest position. As stated, the second bracket  30  abuts the stoppers  48  of the first bracket  28  when in the rest position. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  5   , the second bracket  30  includes a plurality of receiving openings  50 . The receiving openings  50  receive corresponding fasteners  52  for fastening the radar unit  18  to the second bracket  30 . As seen in  FIG.  4   , the radar unit  18  is mounted to the second bracket  30 . As shown, the second bracket  30  includes three receiving openings  50  that define mounting portions for the radar unit  18 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the vehicle field from this disclosure that the second bracket  30  can additional different numbers of receiving openings  50  for mounting the radar unit  18  thereon, as needed and/or desired. 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components and/or groups, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components and/or groups. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the radar assembly. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the radar assembly. 
     The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. 
     The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.