US 12,270,912 B2
Structure for mounting near infrared sensor and sensor cover to vehicle
Akihiro Hirose, Kiyosu (JP); and Koji Okumura, Kiyosu (JP)
Assigned to TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., Aichi-pref. (JP)
Appl. No. 17/435,140
Filed by TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., Kiyosu (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/011080
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 31, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/195949, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-060969 (JP), filed on Mar. 27, 2019; and application No. 2019-060970 (JP), filed on Mar. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0137229 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 13/04 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 17/931 (2020.01) [B60R 13/04 (2013.01); G01S 7/4811 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure for mounting a near-infrared sensor and a sensor cover to a vehicle, the structure adapted to a vehicle, wherein
the vehicle includes
the near-infrared sensor, which is configured to transmit near-infrared rays to outside of the vehicle and receive the near-infrared rays that have struck and been reflected by an object outside the vehicle,
an exterior component that has an opening that is located forward of the near-infrared sensor in a transmission direction of near-infrared rays, and
the sensor cover, which includes a transmissive portion having transmissiveness to near-infrared rays and covers the near-infrared sensor from an outer side,
the near-infrared sensor is located at an installation position that is set on an inner side of the opening,
a first fastening portion is provided on a surface on an inner side of the sensor cover,
a first support portion is provided around the opening of the exterior component,
the first fastening portion is fastened to the first support portion, with the first fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the first support portion,
the exterior component includes a tubular wall portion that projects toward the inner side from a peripheral edge of the opening,
the tubular wall portion includes an attaching hole that is formed at an end portion on the inner side of the tubular wall portion,
at the installation position, part of the near-infrared sensor is arranged inside the tubular wall portion through the attaching hole of the tubular wall portion,
the near-infrared sensor includes a second fastening portion,
the exterior component includes a second support portion on or outside the tubular wall portion, and
the second fastening portion is fastened to the second support portion, with the second fastening portion being allowed to be unfastened from the second support portion.