Patent Description:
<CIT> 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> of <CIT>). 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.

<CIT> discloses a right-side vehicular lamp which includes: a lamp housing; a lamp cover; an illumination unit disposed in a lamp chamber; a radar configured to acquire radar data representing the surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle; a concealment part that is disposed so as to face the radar so as to conceal the radar from the outside of the vehicle and that is configured to allow the radio waves emitted from the radar to pass through; a support member that is fixed to a vehicle body and that is configured to support and fix the radar; and a positioning part that is disposed between the concealment part and the support member and that is configured to determine a position of the radar with respect to the concealment part. The concealment part is formed integrally with the lamp cover. The positioning part is fixed to the concealment part and engages elastically with the support member.

However, in the vehicular lamp fitting disclosed in <CIT>, 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).

In accordance with the present invention, a vehicular lamp fitting as set forth in the appended claims is provided. In particular, 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, wherein,the first fixed part is provided above the radar unit, and the second fixed part is provided below the radar unit.

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.

A vehicular lamp fitting <NUM>, 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> is a front view of the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM>. <FIG> is a top view of the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM>.

The vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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> is an exploded perspective view of the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view as seen in a direction indicated by an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view of the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> (in which illustration of a radar cover <NUM> is omitted). <FIG> is an enlarged view of a part of the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> (a see-through view).

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, etc., the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> includes a lamp housing <NUM>, an outer lens <NUM>, lamp unit <NUM>, a radar cover <NUM>, a bracket <NUM>, and a radar unit <NUM>.

The lamp housing <NUM> is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic and polycarbonate, and includes an extension part <NUM> extending downward from the lower end of the outer lens <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The outer lens <NUM> is made of a material that is transparent to light (visible light) emitted by the lamp unit <NUM>, and, for example, made of a transparent resin (a synthetic resin) such as acrylic and polycarbonate. The outer lens <NUM> is attached to the lamp housing <NUM> in a state in which it covers the opening of the lamp housing <NUM>, and forms a space S1 (an example of the first space in the present disclosure) between the outer lens <NUM> and the lamp housing <NUM> (see <FIG>). The outer lens <NUM> is welded to the lamp housing <NUM> (the opening end) along its whole peripheral edge.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer lens <NUM> includes a front lens part <NUM> disposed on the front-end side of the vehicle, a side lens part <NUM> disposed on the lateral side of the vehicle, and a curved lens part <NUM> disposed between the front lens part <NUM> and the side lens part <NUM>. Note that the outer lens <NUM> may have an arbitrary shape as desired according to the design of the vehicle or the like.

The outer lens <NUM> includes a recessed part <NUM>. The recessed part <NUM> is disposed on the front side of the curved lens part <NUM>. The recessed part <NUM> is a recessed part into which the bracket <NUM> (and the radar cover <NUM> and the radar unit <NUM> attached to the bracket <NUM>) is inserted. The recessed part <NUM> is surrounded by a bottom surface 34a disposed on the rear side, side surfaces 34b and 34c disposed on both the left and right sides, respectively, of the bottom surface 34a, an upper surface 34d disposed above the bottom surface 34a, and a lower surface 34e disposed below the bottom surface 34a (see <FIG> and <FIG>, etc.). Since the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> is surrounded by the side surfaces 34b and 34c disposed on both the left and right sides, and the upper and lower surfaces 34d and 34e, it is possible to provide a good appearance having a sense of integrity as compared to the case where the lower surface 34e is not provided.

In the one side surface 34b of the recessed part <NUM>, a positioning rib 34b1 that abuts against one side of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) is provided (see <FIG>). Similarly, in the other side surface 34c of the recessed part <NUM>, a positioning rib 34c1 that abuts against the other side of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) is provided (see <FIG> and <FIG>). Further, although it is not shown, a positioning rib that abuts against the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) is provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM>.

Further, flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 are provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>, etc.). The flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 are disposed in such a manner that a space into which the flange parts 63a and 63b provided in the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) is inserted is formed between the flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 and the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The lamp unit <NUM> is disposed in the space S1 formed by the outer lens <NUM> and the lamp housing <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The lamp unit <NUM> is a lamp unit for a headlamp. The lamp unit <NUM> 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 <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>, and is emitted to the outside. In this way, the headlamp is implemented.

The bracket <NUM> is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic and polycarbonate, and includes a radar-unit holding part <NUM> that holds the radar unit <NUM>, and an extension part <NUM> extending downward from the radar-unit holding part <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>, etc.).

In the radar-unit holding part <NUM>, engagement parts <NUM> (disposed at three places in <FIG>), which engages with flange parts <NUM> (three places in <FIG>) provided in the radar unit <NUM> (the case <NUM>), are provided. Each of the engagement parts <NUM> is, for example, a pair of claw parts (hook parts) that sandwiches a respective one of the flange parts <NUM> provided in the radar unit <NUM> (the case <NUM>) from both the left and right sides, and the engagement parts <NUM> are disposed at places (three places in <FIG>) corresponding to those of the flange parts <NUM> (three places in <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the extension part <NUM> extends forward from the lower end of the radar-unit holding part <NUM> through a first bending part C1, extends downward through a second bending part C2, extends backward through a third bending part C3, and extends downward through a fourth bending part C4.

As described above, the extension part <NUM> is formed so as to extend across the recessed part <NUM> provided in the outer lens <NUM> (i.e., the lower surface 34e disposed below the bottom surface 34a). Note that the lower surface 34e may not be provided, and the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> provided in the outer lens <NUM> may have a flat shape extending in the vertically downward direction (the downward direction in <FIG>). In this case, the extension part <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> may not be provided, and the extension part <NUM> may have a flat shape extending in the vertically downward direction.

The bracket <NUM> is detachably fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) and the lamp housing <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>). Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the flange parts 63a and 63b provided at the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) are inserted into the spaces between the flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> and the bottom surface 34a, so that the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (an example of the one end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in a state in which the upper end of the bracket <NUM> is sandwiched (i.e., interposed) between the flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 and the bottom surface 34a. The flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 are an example of the first fixing part in the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, the lower end of the bracket <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>) is fixed to the extension part <NUM> of the lamp housing <NUM> by screws N1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>), so that the lower end of the bracket <NUM> (an example of the other end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>). Since the extension part <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> extends backward from the third bending part C3 toward the extension part <NUM> of the lamp housing <NUM>, when the lower end of the bracket <NUM> is fixed by the screws N1, the tightening force from the front to the rear is applied more easily. As a result, it is possible to firmly fix the bracket <NUM> to the lamp housing <NUM>. The screws N1 are an example of the second fixing part in the present disclosure.

As described above, in the state in which the bracket <NUM> is detachably fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) and the lamp housing <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>), the bracket <NUM> (the rear surface of the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) and the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> are opposed to each other (see <FIG>). Further, as both the left and right sides of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) abut against the positioning ribs 34b1 and 34c1, respectively, provided in the side surfaces 34b and 34c of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> (see <FIG>), the bracket <NUM> is positioned relative to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the left/right direction. Further, as the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) abuts against the positioning rib (not shown) provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>, the bracket <NUM> is positioned relative to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the up/down direction. Note that the positioning ribs 34b1 and 34c1, and the like may be provided in the bracket <NUM>.

The radar cover <NUM> is made of a material opaque to visible light, such as a black synthetic resin. The radar cover <NUM> is provided to protect the radar unit <NUM> from stepping stones or the like and to improve the appearance. The radar cover <NUM> is disposed while cover the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>, and forms a space S2 (an example of the second space in the present disclosure) between the radar cover <NUM> and the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) (see <FIG>).

The radar cover <NUM> is detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM>. Specifically, a pair of left and right hook parts <NUM> (only one of the hook parts <NUM> is shown in <FIG>) provided at the upper end of the radar cover <NUM> are inserted into a pair of left and right through holes <NUM> (only one of the through holes <NUM> is shown in <FIG>) formed at the upper end of the bracket <NUM>, and are engaged with the peripheries of the through holes <NUM> (see <FIG>), so that the upper end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM>. Note that in order to prevent the hook parts <NUM>, which are inserted into the through holes <NUM> and protrude to the rear side, from interfering with (e.g., colliding against) the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM>, recessed parts 34a1 are provided in parts of the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> corresponding to the hook parts <NUM> protruding from the through holes <NUM> to the rear side (see <FIG>).

Meanwhile, the lower end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM> by screws N2 (see <FIG>), so that the lower end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM>.

Note that it is sufficient if the radar cover <NUM> is large enough to cover the area through which electromagnetic waves transmitted from the radar unit <NUM> (millimeter waves having the angle of divergence θV in the vertical direction (hereinafter also referred to as the vertical divergence angle θV) (see <FIG>) and the angle of divergence θH in the horizontal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the horizontal divergence angle θH) (see <FIG>)) 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 <NUM> (the radar apparatus) includes the case <NUM>, a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna (both of which are not shown) housed in the case <NUM>, and so on. The radar unit <NUM> 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 <NUM> and are transmitted to a range having a vertical divergence angle θV (see <FIG>) and a horizontal divergence angle θH (see <FIG>). Further, the radar unit <NUM> 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 <NUM>. 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 <NUM>, for example, millimeter waves in a frequency band of <NUM> to <NUM>, in particular, in a frequency band of <NUM>, are used. However, the frequency band is not limited to these frequency bands.

Note that the radar method of the radar unit <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM> is detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the radar unit <NUM> is detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM> as the engagement parts <NUM> (three places in <FIG>) provided in the bracket <NUM> engage with the flange parts <NUM> (three places in <FIG>) provided in the case <NUM>. Note that the radar unit <NUM> may be detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM> by using, instead of using the engagement parts <NUM>, known fixing means such as screws.

Although it is not shown in the drawings, the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> having the above-described configuration is mounted on a vehicle by fixing a flange part(s) provided in the lamp housing <NUM> to the vehicle (e.g., the frame of the vehicle body or the bumper) by screws.

Next, a procedure for detachably fixing the bracket <NUM>, to which the radar unit <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> are detachably fixed as described above, to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) will be described.

Firstly, the flange parts 63a and 63b provided at the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) are inserted into the spaces between the flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> and the bottom surface 34a thereof (see <FIG>). As a result, the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (an example of the one end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the state in which the upper end of the bracket <NUM> is sandwiched (i.e., interposed) between the flange parts 34d1 and 34d2 and the bottom surface 34a.

Next, the lower end of the bracket <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>) is fixed to the extension part <NUM> of the lamp housing <NUM> by using screws N1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>). As a result, the lower end of the bracket <NUM> (an example of the other end of the bracket in the present disclosure) is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>).

When doing so, both the left and right sides of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) abuts against the positioning ribs 34b1 and 34c1 provided in the side surfaces 34b and 34c of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the bracket <NUM> is positioned relative to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the left/right direction. Further, the upper end of the bracket <NUM> (the radar-unit holding part <NUM>) abuts against the positioning ribs (not shown) provided in the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>. As a result, the bracket <NUM> is positioned relative to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the up/down direction.

As described above, the bracket <NUM> is positioned relative to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) in the up/down and left/right directions, so that the gap between the radar cover <NUM> and the recessed part <NUM> (see symbols G1 to G3 in <FIG>) is kept uniform. In this way, the appearance is improved.

Since the upper end of the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) and the lower end of the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> (the extension part <NUM>) as described above, the bracket <NUM> is prevented from widely vibrating even when the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM> will be described.

Firstly, the screws N2 (see <FIG> and <FIG>) are removed (i.e., unscrewed) and the radar cover <NUM> is removed from the bracket <NUM>. As a result, the radar unit <NUM> is exposed. Next, the radar unit <NUM> is removed from the bracket <NUM> and replaced by another radar unit <NUM>. When doing so, since the radar unit <NUM> is detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM> by the engagement parts <NUM>, the radar unit <NUM> can be easily replaced by another radar unit <NUM>.

Next, a procedure for attaching the radar cover <NUM> to the bracket <NUM> after the radar unit <NUM> is replaced will be described.

After the radar unit <NUM> is replaced by another radar unit <NUM> as described above, firstly, the pair of left and right hook parts <NUM> (only one of the hook parts <NUM> is shown in <FIG>) provided at the upper end of the radar cover <NUM> are inserted into the pair of left and right through holes <NUM> (only one of the through holes <NUM> is shown in <FIG>) formed at the upper end of the bracket <NUM>, and are engaged with the peripheries of these through holes <NUM>. As a result, the upper end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM>. At this time, since the recessed parts 34a1 are provided in the parts of the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> corresponding to the hook parts <NUM>, which protrude from the through holes <NUM> to the rear side, the hook parts <NUM>, which are inserted into the through holes <NUM> and protrude to the rear side, do not interfere with (e.g., collide against) the bottom surface 34a of the recessed part <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Next, the lower end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM> by screws N2 (see <FIG> and <FIG>). As a result, the lower end of the radar cover <NUM> is fixed to the bracket <NUM>.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent (or suppress) vibrations of the radar unit <NUM> (and as a result, to prevent the detection area of the radar unit <NUM> from being significantly changed).

This is because the bracket <NUM> to which the radar unit <NUM> is fixed does not extend in the cantilevered manner, but one end of the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the outer lens <NUM> and the other end thereof is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM>.

Further, according to this embodiment, there is another advantage that the effect of the heat (the heat generated by the lamp unit <NUM>) on the radar unit <NUM> can be reduced. This is because the radar unit <NUM> is disposed in the second space S2 (formed by the outer lens <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM>) in which the temperature is lower than that in the first space S1 (formed by the lamp housing <NUM> and the outer lens <NUM>) where the temperature is raised due to the heat generated by the lamp unit <NUM>.

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 <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> is detachably fixed to the bracket <NUM>, so that the radar unit <NUM> can be replaced by removing the radar cover <NUM> from the bracket <NUM> without removing the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> itself from the vehicle (not shown).

Further, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the distance between the radar unit <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> from changing (and as a result, to prevent noises from occurring in electromagnetic waves (radar signals) that pass through the radar cover <NUM> 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 <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> are fixed to one and the same bracket <NUM>. That is, since the radar unit <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> are fixed to the same bracket <NUM>, the radar unit <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> vibrate similarly by vibration (For example, vibration during driving) of a vehicle (not shown) on which the vehicular lamp <NUM> is mounted, and as a result, the distance between the radar unit <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> does not change.

Next, a modified example will be described.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a modified example of the radar cover <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a stepped part <NUM> may be formed between the outer lens <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> by positioning the end of the radar cover <NUM> adjacent to the outer lens <NUM> (the upper end in <FIG>) behind the outer lens <NUM>. This stepped part <NUM> can be formed, for example, by bending the end (the upper end in <FIG>) of the radar cover <NUM> backward along a bending part <NUM> (indicated by a dashed line in <FIG>). The angle θ<NUM> (see <FIG>) of this bending part <NUM> may be an arbitrary angle.

A gap G3 (see <FIG>) is formed between the outer lens <NUM> and the radar cover <NUM> in the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the vehicle on which the vehicular lamp fitting <NUM> is mounted is traveling in the rain, rainwater may enter the gap G3. To cope with this, a stepped part <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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 G3. Further, by forming an inclined surface in the stepped part <NUM>, 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 G3 even further.

Although an example in which one end (the upper end) of the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the outer lens <NUM> (the recessed part <NUM>) and the other end (the lower end) of the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in <FIG>, both of one end and the other end (the lower end) of a bracket 60A may be fixed to the lamp housing <NUM>. In this way, the bracket 60A can be fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> more firmly. <FIG> shows an example (a modified example) in which one end of the bracket 60A is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> by a screw N3 and the other end (the lower end) of the bracket 60A is fixed to the lamp housing <NUM> by a screw N1.

The bracket 60A is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate, and includes a radar-unit holding part <NUM> that holds the radar unit <NUM>, an extension part <NUM> extending downward from the lower end of the radar-unit holding part <NUM>, and an extension part <NUM> extending backward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part <NUM> (see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the extension part <NUM> extends backward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part <NUM> through a fifth bending part C5 and an inclined part <NUM>, and further extends backward through sixth to ninth bending parts C6 to C9 so as to extend across the junction between the lamp housing <NUM> and the outer lens <NUM>. As described above, the extension part <NUM> extends rearward from the upper end of the radar-unit holding part <NUM> so as to extend across the junction of the lamp housing <NUM> and the outer lens <NUM>.

Further, in the modified example shown in <FIG>, the inclined part <NUM> of the bracket 60A and the radar cover <NUM> are arranged so that they are flush (or roughly flush) with each other across a small gap G4 (i.e., with a small gap G4 interposed therebetween). In this way, the appearance is improved.

Further, in the modified example shown in <FIG>, since the upper surface 34d of the recessed part <NUM> is omitted, the radar-unit holding part <NUM> of the bracket 60A can have a simple shape extending in the up/down direction in <FIG>.

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.

Claim 1:
A vehicular lamp fitting comprising:
a lamp housing (<NUM>);
an outer lens (<NUM>) attached to the lamp housing (<NUM>), the outer lens (<NUM>) comprising a recessed part (<NUM>) and forming a first space (S1) between the outer lens (<NUM>) and the lamp housing (<NUM>);
a lamp unit (<NUM>) disposed in the first space (S1);
a radar cover (<NUM>) disposed in a state of covering the recessed part (<NUM>) and forming a second space (S2) between the radar cover (<NUM>) and the recessed part (<NUM>);
a bracket (<NUM>) disposed in the second space (S2);
a radar unit (<NUM>) disposed in the second space (S2) in a state where the radar unit (<NUM>) is detachably fixed to the bracket (<NUM>); and characterized by comprising
a first fixing part (34d1, 34d2) fixing one end of the bracket (<NUM>) to the outer lens (<NUM>); and
a second fixing part (N1) fixing the other end of the bracket (<NUM>) to the lamp housing (<NUM>), wherein,
the first fixed part (34d1, 34d2) is provided above the radar unit (<NUM>), and the second fixed part (N1) is provided below the radar unit (<NUM>).