Snap-in retainer for a sensor system
View Patent ↗A system for retaining a sensor assembly includes a mounting plate having a mounting area for the sensor assembly, a sensor assembly having a sensor assembly plate with a perimeter, and a retainer ring having at least one spring member. The at least one spring member of the retainer ring is configured to bias the sensor assembly substantially toward at least one datum, such that a portion of the perimeter of the sensor assembly plate is directly adjacent to the at least one datum.
1. A system for retaining a sensor assembly, the system comprising:
a mounting plate having a mounting area for the sensor assembly, the mounting plate having at least one datum, the at least one datum being located outside the mounting area;
the sensor assembly having a sensor assembly plate with a perimeter and a sensor housing, the sensor assembly plate having a front side and a back side, the back side of the sensor assembly plate being adjacent to the mounting area of the mounting plate, the sensor housing being located on the front side of the sensor assembly plate;
a retainer ring having at least one spring member, the retainer ring coupled to the mounting plate, the retainer ring being configured to retain the sensor assembly to the mounting plate;
wherein the at least one spring member of the retainer ring is configured to bias the sensor assembly substantially toward the at least one datum in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the mounting area, such that a portion of the perimeter of the sensor assembly plate is directly adjacent to the at least one datum.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one datum further comprises a side datum and a bottom datum.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one spring member further comprises a top spring member and a side spring member;
wherein the top spring member is configured to bias the sensor assembly substantially towards the bottom datum and the side spring member is configured to bias the sensor assembly substantially towards the side datum.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is made of a thermally conductive material.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is an infrared thermal imaging sensor assembly.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring member is integrally formed with the retainer ring.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer ring is made of plastic.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer ring is made of a metallic material.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is mounted behind a front grill of an automobile.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is mounted adjacent to a fog light of an automobile.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer ring further comprises at least one retaining clip and the mounting plate further comprises at least one retaining slot, the at least one retainer clip configured to engage the at least one retaining slot for coupling the retainer ring to the mounting plate.