Radar mounting device

{
  "publication_number": "US9914419B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Radar mounting device",
  "abstract": "An exemplary radar mounting device for attaching a component to a vehicle body may include a resilient grommet secured within an opening formed in the component. The device may also have a stud for attachment to the vehicle body. The stud may have a ball portion received within the resilient grommet for attaching the component to the stud. In addition, the device may have a nut fastened to the stud to secure the component to the stud.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A process for operating a radar mounting device to install a radar module on a vehicle bumper, comprising: attaching studs of a radar mounting device to a vehicle bumper; hanging the radar module on the studs; and fastening grommets having flexible tabs to the studs by snap-fitting the flexible tabs around a ball portion of each stud and fastening a nut to a respective one of the studs.",
    "2. The process of claim 1, wherein attaching the studs to the vehicle bumper comprises fixedly attaching a pair of horizontal alignment studs to the vehicle bumper at a predetermined height for horizontally aligning the radar module.",
    "3. The process of claim 2, wherein attaching the studs to the vehicle bumper comprises rotatably attaching a vertical alignment stud to the vehicle bumper for vertically aligning the radar module.",
    "4. The process of claim 1, wherein fastening the grommets to the studs further comprises applying a predetermined torque to the nut.",
    "5. The process of claim 1, wherein aligning the radar mounting device in the vertical direction comprises rotating a vertical alignment stud supporting the radar module.",
    "6. The process of claim 5, wherein the vertical alignment stud is spaced apart from a pair of horizontal alignment studs.",
    "7. The process of claim 1, further comprising holding the nut on the respective one of the studs by applying an adhesive patch between the nut and the respective one of the studs.",
    "8. A method of installing a radar module on a bumper, comprising: attaching at least one stud to a vehicle bumper, the stud having a ball portion; hanging a radar module on the stud by receiving the stud in a grommet of the radar module, the grommet having a plurality of flexible tabs; and fastening a nut to the stud forcing the ball portion of the stud to be snap-fit within the flexible tabs of the grommet.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein fastening the nut to the stud forces the ball portion of the stud to be seated within the grommet in a locked position.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, further comprising unfastening the nut allowing the ball portion of the stud to be removed from the grommet in an unlocked position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Vehicles may have Forward Looking Radars (FLRs) to scan traffic and obstacles for distances of up to 100 meters or more forward of the vehicle. FLRs and related radar based systems may be components of vehicle systems configured to provide Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation by Braking (CMbB) and other vehicle functions. These functions can be accomplished by accurate target tracking and vehicle path prediction based on data received by the FLRs. Furthermore, the accuracy by which FLRs collect such data requires that the FLRs' field of view is aligned with a vehicle thrust axis and positioned parallel to the ground. To that end, FLRs may be attached to vehicles by somewhat large brackets with multiple attachment points. In addition, adjustment of the FLRs on the vehicle can be somewhat burdensome by requiring, for example, installation offsite at a supplier facility rather than in an assembly line at an assembly plant. Furthermore, some FLRs may need adjustment in the assembly plant due to variations in vehicle height and stance, thereby increasing manufacturing cycle time for those vehicles.\n\nA need exists for an attachment device and process for installing an FLR or other component to a vehicle within narrow tolerances, while decreasing costs and minimizing overall vehicle weight.\n\nOne embodiment of a radar mounting device for attaching a component to a vehicle body may include a resilient grommet secured within an opening formed in the component. The device may also have a stud for attachment to the vehicle body.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 21/00",
    "B60R 19/483",
    "B60R 2021/0027",
    "B60R 9/06",
    "G01S 13/931",
    "G01S 2007/027",
    "G01S 2013/93275",
    "G01S 2013/9389",
    "G01S 7/027",
    "H01Q 1/3233",
    "Y10T 29/49778",
    "Y10T 29/49826",
    "Y10T 29/49963"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60R 21/00",
    "G01S 13/931",
    "B60R 9/06",
    "H01Q 1/32"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ford Global Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Brian Fath",
    "David James Lawor",
    "Scott Howard Gaboury",
    "Muhammad Azhar Aleem"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-04-24",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-13",
  "priority_date": "2013-04-08",
  "application_number": "US-201514695820-A",
  "family_id": "51567723",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}