JP2002036978A - Waterproof structure of automobile surrounding monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent, in an automobile surrounding monitoring device a penetration of water, which comes through between a transparent protective shielding from the inside of a box-shaped window for light penetration and the inner surface of the box-shaped body. SOLUTION: The automobile surrounding monitoring device ahs a packing 140 having O-rings 142, 144, which is pressured between the inner surface 100 a of a front case 100 and the protective 130 to secure the sealing property thereof, wherein a lip part 143, 145 is formed on the inner circumference of the O-rings 142, 144, respectively. Thus a water pressure applied on the O-rings 142, 144 from the inner circumference side is eased, and the water penetration into the front case 100 from the part which is sealed by the O-rings 142, 144, that is, the space between the inner surface 100a of the front case 100 and the protective 130, can be curved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery monitoring device for detecting information about an object existing around a vehicle by obtaining wave information such as light and radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the present invention is applied to, for example, a device which detects an obstacle such as a preceding vehicle and issues an alarm, and collects information for recognizing an obstacle such as a preceding vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle periphery monitoring device that irradiates a light beam such as a laser beam over a predetermined angular range around a vehicle and detects reflected light thereof is known.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a housing of a vehicle periphery monitoring device. The housing shown in FIG. 7 includes a housing 1100 for housing the components of the vehicle periphery monitoring device. A window for transmitting light, that is, an emission window 1102 for emitting laser light to the outside of the housing 1100, and an entrance window 1104 for receiving reflected light corresponding to the laser light are provided at a front portion of the housing 1100. Are formed.

[0004] These exit window 1102 and entrance window 1
In order to prevent water droplets and the like from entering the inside of the housing 1100 via the light guide 104, a plate-shaped protection member 1130 formed of a light-permeable material (for example, glass or resin) includes an emission window 1102 and an incident light. Housing 1 so as to cover window 1104
100 inside the front.

Further, the protective member 1130 and the housing 110
The elastic member 1140 for preventing intrusion of water droplets or the like from between the inner surface 1100a and the front inner surface 1100a. The elastic member 1140 includes a rubber O-ring 1142 having substantially the same shape as the exit window 1102, and an entrance window 1104.
A rubber O-ring 1144 having substantially the same shape as that of FIG. Then, the inner surface 11 of the front part of the housing 1100
00a, O-rings 1142, 114 of the elastic member 1140
By pressing the protection member 1130 through the four parts, the inner surface 1100a of the housing 1100 and the protection member 11 are pressed.
The O-rings 1142 and 1144 are compressed between them. As a result, the space between the front inner side surface 1100a of the housing 1100 and the protection member 1130 is sealed, and waterproof measures are taken for the exit window 1102 and the entrance window 1104.

[0006]

By the way, the exit window 110
2 and the entrance window 1104 are directed to the outside of the vehicle.
High water pressure may be applied. For example, there is a case where the vehicle is washed by applying water injected at a high pressure to the vehicle. In such a case, when the pressure of the water is equal to or more than an assumed value (excessive), the O-rings 1142, 114
4, the O-rings 1142, 1144 may be displaced, and as a result, water may enter from between the inner side surface 1100a of the front part of the housing 1100 and the protection member 1130. Sex is also considered.

The above problem is caused not only by a device for monitoring an object around a vehicle based on receiving reflected light of an externally irradiated laser beam, but also by obtaining wave information such as light and radio waves. In the case of a vehicle periphery monitoring device that detects information on an object existing in a vehicle, there is a possibility that the same may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a vehicle periphery monitoring device, a protection member for closing a window formed in a housing for transmitting light from the inside and an inner surface of the housing. The purpose is to suppress the intrusion of water from between.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention In order to solve the above-mentioned object, in the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the present invention (claim 1), at least the O-ring portion is protected from the inner surface of the housing. It has an elastic member that is sandwiched between members (that is, compressed between the members) to secure the airtightness therebetween, but the inner peripheral side of the O-ring portion is And an annular buffer member for reducing the water pressure applied to the O-ring portion.

According to the vehicle periphery monitoring device thus configured, since the buffer member is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the O-ring, the water pressure applied to the O-ring portion from the inner peripheral side can be reduced. it can. Therefore, the sealed part by the O-ring part,
That is, it is possible to prevent water from entering the housing from between the protection member and the inner surface of the housing.

Various forms of the cushioning member are conceivable. For example, the cushioning member may be formed separately from the elastic member. However, as described in claim 2, the cushioning member is formed of an elastic member (O-ring). It is preferable to integrally mold the O-ring portion with the same material as the O-ring portion. According to the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the second aspect configured as described above, the positional relationship of the cushioning member with respect to the O-ring portion can be made constant, so that the cushioning member itself is separated from the O-ring portion and the hydraulic pressure is reduced. It does not impair the mitigation effect. Since the cushioning member is also made of an elastic material, it can easily withstand sudden fluctuations in water pressure and the like, and can effectively reduce the water pressure. As a result, intrusion of water from between the protective member and the inner side surface of the housing can be suppressed.

Here, the water flow from the outside passes through the window formed in the housing and hits the protective member, and then applies pressure to the O-ring from the inner peripheral side of the O-ring. It is considered that the sealed portion between the O-ring portion and the protection member receives a larger water pressure than the sealed portion between the ring portion and the inner peripheral surface of the housing. That is, it is considered that the amount of water flooded from between the O-ring portion and the protection member accounts for a large proportion of the total amount of water flooded.

Therefore, it is preferable to form a cushioning member. That is, the cushioning member is formed such that the cushioning member is in close contact with at least the surface of the protection member when the O-ring portion is sandwiched between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member. Then, the water pressure applied to at least the sealed portion between the O-ring and the protection member can be reduced. As a result, intrusion of water from between the protective member and the inner side surface of the housing can be efficiently suppressed.

It is more preferable that the cushioning member is formed not only in close contact with the surface of the protective member but also in close contact with the inner surface of the housing. Then, in addition to the hermetically sealed portion between the O-ring portion and the protection member, the water pressure of the hermetically sealed portion between the O-ring portion and the inner peripheral surface of the housing can be reduced. And it can suppress more reliably that water invades from between a protection member and the inner surface of a housing | casing.

As a more specific configuration of such a cushioning member, for example, the configuration described in claim 4 can be considered.
That is, the cushioning member is formed so that the cushioning member is sandwiched between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member, so that the inner peripheral surface of the cushioning member is recessed between the inside of the housing and the protection member. You do it.

According to the vehicle surroundings monitoring device of the fourth aspect, the buffer member comes into close contact with both the inner side surface of the housing and the protective member.
Sealing between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member can be achieved. Moreover, since the inner peripheral surface of the cushioning member is recessed near the center between the inside of the housing and the protective member, it is possible to reliably receive the water pressure from the inner peripheral surface side. The pressure applied to the ring portion can be effectively suppressed.
And it can suppress that water invades from between a protection member and the inner surface of a housing | casing.

On the other hand, when the cushioning member is formed separately from the elastic member, for example, it is conceivable to make the cushioning member as described in claim 5. That is, the buffer member is formed in a frame shape that can be fitted into the window frame of the window. Moreover, the cushioning member is formed so that the space between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member can be separated from the inside of the window frame when the frame-shaped cushioning member is fitted into the window frame.

[0018] In the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the fifth aspect, the space between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member is formed inside the window frame by a buffer member fitted into the window frame. Is separated from the space. Therefore, even when an external water flow passes through the window and hits the protection member, water flows from the space inside the window frame to the space between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member (that is, the O-ring portion is provided). Into the O-ring portion, and the water pressure applied to the O-ring portion is reduced.
As a result, intrusion of water from between the protective member and the inner side surface of the housing can be suppressed.

The cushioning member in such a form may be made of a hard material such as a metal. That is, when the buffer member is fitted into the window frame, it is considered that a large pressure due to the water flow is applied to the buffer member, and relatively high strength is required to effectively reduce the pressure. For this reason, a soft material needs to be formed large in order to obtain the strength, but in that case, light and radio waves passing through the window may be obstructed. On the other hand, if a hard material is used, it can be said that the buffer member can be configured with a size that does not hinder light or radio waves, which is preferable.

In order to prevent water from entering from between the protective member and the inner surface of the housing, at least one of the inner surface of the housing and the surface of the protective member may be provided. Any one of the contact areas with the O-ring may be roughened. Claim 6 configured in this manner.
According to the vehicle surroundings monitoring device described above, since the friction coefficient between the O-ring portion and the surface of the protection member or the inner surface of the housing is high, the displacement of the O-ring portion can be suppressed. . As a result, intrusion of water from between the protective member and the inner side surface of the housing can be suppressed.

There are various methods for roughening the surface, such as a method using a sand blaster and a method using a knurling process. In particular, when the protective member is formed of glass, it is preferable to bake the ceramic. Alternatively, a method of making the surface of the protection member rough may be employed.

As described above, when the sealed portion between the O-ring portion and the protective member receives a greater water pressure than the sealed portion between the O-ring portion and the inner peripheral surface of the housing. It is considered effective to roughen the surface of the protective member. In order to prevent water from entering from between the protective member and the inner surface of the housing, a frame member made of a material harder than the elastic member is provided as described in claim 7. May be. The frame member has an opening formed so as to surround the O-ring portion, and the O-ring portion is supported from the outer peripheral side of the O-ring portion at a peripheral portion of the opening.

That is, since water pressure is applied to the O-ring portion from the inner peripheral side thereof, the O-ring portion shifts outward. Therefore, if the O-ring portion is supported by the frame member from the outer peripheral side of the O-ring portion, displacement of the O-ring portion due to water pressure can be prevented. As a result, intrusion of water from between the protective member and the inner side surface of the housing can be suppressed.

The above-described "buffer member", "roughening" and "frame member" may be used in appropriate combination.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a vehicle periphery monitoring device described below as a first embodiment is disposed at a front portion of a vehicle so as to irradiate a laser beam in a traveling direction of the vehicle and receive a reflected light thereof. Things.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing components of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 of the present embodiment includes the following optical system. That is, the optical system of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 includes a lens unit 10 that generates a laser beam having a certain divergence angle,
A reflecting mirror 20 that reflects the laser light emitted from the lens unit 10 and guides the laser light in a predetermined direction;
A polygon mirror 30 that reflects the laser light guided by the mirror and continuously changes the irradiation direction thereof, and a light receiving lens 40 that condenses the reflected light of the laser light irradiated through the polygon mirror 30. . The reflected light collected by the light receiving lens 40 is received by the photodiode 50 and converted into an electric signal.

The lens unit 10 is provided with a laser diode (not shown) for generating a pulsed laser beam in the infrared region, and supplies electric power to the laser diode to generate a laser beam from the laser diode. Circuit board 1
3, a collimator lens 14 for converting the laser light generated by the laser diode into light having a certain divergence angle and emitting the light from the lens unit 10, and these constituent parts 13, 14.
And a unit housing 16 for guiding the laser light from the laser diode to the collimating lens 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 includes a plurality of electronic circuit boards in addition to the light emitting circuit board 13 as described below. That is, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 includes a motor driving circuit board 60 that drives a motor to rotate the polygon mirror 30, a photodiode 50 mounted thereon, and amplifies and waveforms an electric signal generated by the photodiode 50. A light receiving circuit board 70 for shaping and outputting as a light receiving signal, and an electronic circuit formed on each of the light emitting circuit board 13 and the motor drive circuit board 60 to operate the above optical system to perform laser beam scanning. A control circuit board 80 for performing various arithmetic processing such as finding the position and relative speed of an object present in a scanning area (that is, a scanning area of laser light) based on a light receiving signal from the light receiving circuit board 70; Power supply circuit for supplying power to each electronic circuit configured on the circuit board 13, the motor drive circuit board 60, and the control circuit board 80 Plate 90
And

The vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 has a structure for holding and protecting the above components at predetermined positions. That is, the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 is formed with a front case 100 for accommodating each of the above-described components, and is insertably formed inside the front case 100, and holds the above-described components inside the front case 100 with high positional accuracy. And a rear case 120 for closing an opening at the rear of the front case 100.

At the front of the front case 100, an emission window 102 for emitting the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 30 to the outside of the front case 100, and an entrance for receiving the reflected light corresponding to the laser beam. A window 104 is formed. Then, in order to prevent water droplets and the like from entering the inside of the front case 100 through the exit window 102 and the entrance window 104, a plate-shaped protection member 13 is provided.
0 is disposed inside the front part of the front case 100 so as to close the exit window 102 and the entrance window 104. Specifically, protection member 130 is arranged between the front of inner case 110 and the front of front case 100 housed inside front case 100. The protection member 13
Numeral 0 is formed of transparent glass, and does not hinder the passage of light through the exit window 102 and the entrance window 104.

The protective member 130 and the front case 10
A packing 140 with an O-ring is disposed between the inner surface of the front portion and the O-ring to prevent water droplets or the like from entering therethrough. The packing 140 with the O-ring includes a rubber emission window O-ring 142 having substantially the same shape as the emission window 102, and
O-ring 1 for entrance window made of rubber having substantially the same shape as entrance window 104
Reference numeral 44 denotes a member integrally formed of rubber. The inner case 110 is pressed against the inner surface of the front part of the front case 100 via the packing 140 with the O-ring and the protection member 130, so that the emission window 102 is formed.
And waterproofing measures near the entrance window 104 are taken.

FIG. 2A shows the output window 102 and the input window 10.
It is a figure which shows typically the waterproofing measures taken in the vicinity of 4. In addition, in this figure, the state is shown from below the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2. The packing 140 with an O-ring is equivalent to the “elastic member” in the claims, and in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The emission window O-ring 142 and the incidence window O-ring 144 correspond to the “O-ring part” in the claims, and are formed so as to surround the emission window 102 and the incidence window 104 corresponding to the respective O-rings. . And these O-rings 14
2, 144 are sandwiched between the inner surface 100a of the front case 100 and the protection member 130, so that the space therebetween is sealed.

More specifically, in a state where the protection member 130 is wrapped with the packing 140 with an O-ring,
2 and 144 are located between the protection member 130 and the inner surface 100a of the front case 100 (see FIG. 2B). And the front part of the inner case 110. And
By fixing the rear case 120 to the rear part of the front case 100 with screws 124, the inner case 110 can be pressed against the inner surface 100a of the front part of the front case 100. Thereby, the front case 10
0 between the inner surface 100a and the protective member 130,
The two O-rings 142 and 144 are compressed (see FIG. 2C), and the space therebetween is sealed.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the lip portions 143, 1
45 are formed. The lip portions 143 and 145 correspond to the "buffer member" of the claims, and extend along the inner peripheral portions of the O-rings 142 and 144 in order to reduce the water pressure applied to the O-rings 142 and 144 from the inner peripheral side. It is formed annularly. The O-rings 142 and 144 are formed so that their cross-sectional shapes are substantially circular.
3, 145 is formed such that its cross section becomes wider toward the inner peripheral side. And lip part 1
43 and 145 are inner side surfaces 100 of the front case 100.
a and the protective member 130 are compressed. Further, in the sandwiched state, the inner peripheral surfaces 143a and 145a are concavely formed (particularly in the vicinity of the central portion) between the inner surface 100a of the front case 100 and the protection member 130 (FIG. 2 (c)). ))) Is formed.

Returning to FIG. 1, description of the overall configuration of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 will be continued. An O-ring 146 is disposed between the front case 100 and the rear case 120 to prevent water droplets or the like from entering therethrough. A connector 150 is provided on the outer surface of the rear case 120 for inputting / outputting a signal to / from the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 and supplying power.
It is inserted into the inside of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 through the through hole 122 of No. 0. An O-ring 148 is disposed between the connector 150 and the rear case 120 to prevent water droplets and the like from entering through the through hole 122 of the rear case 120.

The components of the optical system, such as the lens unit 10, the reflection mirror 20, the polygon mirror 30, and the light receiving lens 40, and the circuit boards 13, 60, 70, 80, 90
Are held inside the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 using the inner case 110 as a common support.

Of these, the lens unit 10, the reflection mirror 20, and the polygon mirror 30 are arranged in the space on the right inside the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2. The space where the lens unit 10, the reflection mirror 20 and the polygon mirror 30 are arranged is vertically divided by a partition wall 112 configured as a part of the inner case 110, and the lens unit 10 is fixed on the upper surface of the partition wall 112. Is done. The reflection mirror 20 is fixed to the inner case 110 by the reflection mirror support member 22 in front of the lens unit 10 (that is, in the emission direction of the laser light when viewed from the lens unit 10). On the other hand, the polygon mirror 30 is arranged in a space below the partition 112. The partition 112 has an opening 118 through which laser light from the reflection mirror 20 to the polygon mirror 30 passes.
Are formed.

The vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 of the present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows. First, when the laser light emitted from the laser diode is emitted from the collimating lens 14 as light having a divergence angle, the laser light enters the reflection mirror 20.

The laser light reflected by the reflecting mirror 20 passes through the partition wall opening 118, and then passes through the polygon mirror 30.
Incident on. The laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 30 passes through the protection member 130 and is emitted from the emission window 102 to the outside of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2. The laser light emitted in this manner is applied to a vehicle or an object on the road, and the reflected light passes through the entrance window 104 and the protection member 130, is further condensed by the light receiving lens 40, and reaches the photodiode 50. The light is converted into an electric signal by the photodiode 50. The laser light emitted from the lens unit 10 is pulsed light, and its emission timing,
Based on the time difference from light emission to light reception, information on the object such as position information (distance, direction) of the object with respect to the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 is obtained.

According to the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2 of the first embodiment described above, the following effects (1) to (4) can be obtained. (1) The front case 10 is provided in the vehicle periphery monitoring device 2.
O, which is compressed between the inner side surface 100a and the protection member 130 to secure the airtightness therebetween.
Packing 1 with O-ring having rings 142 and 144
40 are provided. And the O-ring 142,
Lips 143 and 145 are formed in the inner peripheral portion of the 144 in an annular shape along the inner peripheral portion. Therefore, the water pressure applied to the O-rings 142 and 144 from the inner peripheral side can be reduced, and the sealed portion by the O-rings 142 and 144, that is, the protection member 130 and the inner surface 10 of the front case 100 can be reduced.
Water can be prevented from entering the front case 100 from between 0a.

(2) The lip portions 143 and 145 are made of the same material as the O-rings 142 and 144 (ie, rubber in this embodiment).
O-rings 142 and 14
The position of the lips 143, 145 with respect to 4 is kept constant. Therefore, the lip portions 143 and 145 themselves do not separate from the O-rings 142 and 144, and the effect of reducing the water pressure is not impaired. Then, the lip portions 143, 1
45 is also made of an elastic material (i.e., rubber in this embodiment), so that it can easily withstand, for example, sudden fluctuations in water pressure.
It is possible to effectively reduce the water pressure. Therefore, the protection member 130 and the inner surface 100a of the front case 100
It is easier to further suppress the water from entering the front case 100 from the interval.

(3) The O-rings 142 and 144 of the lip portions 143 and 145 are
0a and the protection member 130,
The protective member 130 is formed so as to be in close contact with the surface. Therefore, the O-rings 142 and 144 and the protection member 13
The water pressure applied to the sealed portion between zero and
145. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently prevent water from entering the front case 100 from between the protection member 130 and the inner surface 100a of the front case 100.

(4) The inner surface 10 of the front case 100
The inner peripheral surfaces 143a and 145a are recessed between the inner surface 100a of the front case 100 and the protective member 130 by being compressed between the protective member 130 and the protective member 130. Therefore, the lip portions 143 and 145 can reliably receive the water pressure from the inner peripheral surface side.
Sealing between the inner surface 100a and the protection member 130 can be achieved. Therefore, the pressure applied to the O-rings 142 and 144 can be more effectively suppressed, and the protection member 1
Water droplets and the like can be more reliably prevented from entering the inside of the device 2 from between the inside 30 and the inner side surface 100a of the front case 100.

The effects obtained by the present embodiment are as described in (1) to (4) above. FIG. 3B is a graph showing experimental results for confirming the effects. FIG. 3 (a)
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a conventional configuration used as a comparative example, that is, a state near O-rings 1142 and 1144 in FIG. 7. The experiment was performed using the front case 100 (1) of the device having the conventional configuration and the device 2 having the configuration of the present embodiment (see FIG. 2A).
The flow of water jetted from a predetermined distance is applied to the front surface of the apparatus 100), whereby the amount of water that has entered the inside of the apparatus (the amount of flooded water) is measured. The pressure of the water to be injected is 7.8 MPa, and the injection time is 15 seconds.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the amount of water in the apparatus 2 of the present embodiment (in the graph, “O-ring”) is compared with the amount of water in the apparatus of the conventional configuration (indicated by “O-ring” in the graph). O-ring with lip ") is significantly reduced. Thus, the O-ring 142,
By forming the lip portions 143 and 145 on the inner peripheral portion of the 144, it is confirmed that water droplets and the like can be reliably prevented from entering the inside of the device 2 from between the protective member 130 and the inner side surface 100a of the front case 100. Was.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG.
As shown in (a), in the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the second embodiment, instead of the lips 143 and 145, the plate 243 is used as a “buffer member” and the emission window O-ring 24 is used.
2 and the inner periphery of the entrance window O-ring 244 by integral molding.

The O-ring 24
In a state in which 2,244 are sandwiched between the inner surface 200a of the front case 200 and the protection member 230, the inner surface 200a of the front case 200 is not in contact with the inner surface 200a of the front case 200. Are formed in close contact with each other.

In such a configuration, the O-ring 24
The water pressure applied to a sealed portion between the protection member 230 and the protection member 230 is reduced by the plate portion 243. Therefore, according to the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the present embodiment, the same effects as (1) to (3) can be obtained. Note that the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above points, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, instead of providing the “relaxation member”, as shown in FIG. 4B, the contact area between the emission window O-ring 342 and the entrance window O-ring 344 on the surface of the protection member 330. Is roughened. Specifically, the surface is roughened by baking the ceramics 343.

For this reason, in the vehicle periphery monitoring device of this embodiment, the O-rings 342 and 344 and the protection member 33 are provided.
O-ring 3
Even if a water pressure is applied to 42 and 344, the displacement can be suppressed. As a result, intrusion of water from between the protection member 330 and the inner surface 300a of the front case 300 can be suppressed. Note that the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above points, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, instead of providing the “relaxation member”, as shown in FIGS.
Frame member 443 made of a metal that is harder than metal
Is provided. The frame member 443 has openings 447 and 449 formed so as to surround the O-rings 442 and 444, as shown in FIG.
9 support the O-rings 442 and 444 from the outer peripheral side.

Therefore, according to the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the present embodiment, the displacement of the O-rings 442 and 444 due to the water pressure can be prevented. As a result, the protection member 430 and the inner surface 400a of the front case 400 are It is possible to suppress the intrusion of water from between. Note that the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above points, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of O-rings 542 and 544 in the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the fifth embodiment.
(B) is the figure which showed the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus of 5th Embodiment from the front. As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the fifth embodiment includes a "buffering member" that is configured separately from the O-rings 542 and 544. That is, a metal mounting frame 543 that can be fitted into the window frame of the exit window 502, and the entrance window 504.
A metal attachment frame 545 that can be fitted into the window frame.
When these mounting frames 543 and 545 are fitted into the window frames of the windows 502 and 504, the front case 500
The space 500 between the inner surface 500a and the protection member 530
b is formed so as to be separated from the space 500c in the window frame.

FIG. 6 shows a form of the mounting frame 543 attached to the window frame of the emission window 502 as an example among the mounting frames 543 and 545. FIG. 5B shows the mounting frame 543.
5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5B. FIG. 5C is a side view of the mounting frame 543, and FIG. 5D is an enlarged view of the vicinity indicated by B in FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting frame 543 has a cylindrical portion 543a which is formed in the same shape as the emission window 502 to which the mounting frame 543 is to be mounted, and which can be inserted into the window 502, and a cylindrical portion 543a. A flange 543b formed on the outer periphery of an end on the protection member 530 side of the both ends, and a flange 543b is formed so as to open outward at an end opposite to the flange 543b among both ends of the cylindrical portion 543a. The plurality of folded portions 54
3c.

When the cylindrical portion 543a of the mounting frame 543 is inserted into the emission window 502 from the inside of the front case 500, the folded portion 543c hits the window frame of the emission window 502, so that the mounting frame 543 moves out of the front case 500. Shedding is prevented. Then, when the protective member 530 pushes the flange 543b of the mounting frame 543 from the inside to the outside of the front case 500, the folded portion 543c bends to function as a spring. That is, the bent back portion 543c hits the window frame of the emission window 502, and the flange portion 543b comes into contact with the protection member 530, so that the mounting frame 543 becomes the inner surface 500a of the front case 500.
And the protection member 530.

In this manner, the mounting frames 543 and 545 are
02, 504, the space 500b between the inner surface 500a of the front case 500 and the protection member 530 is provided via the mounting frames 543, 545 (more specifically, the cylindrical portion 543a). Is separated from the inner space 500c. Therefore, the water flow from the outside
2, 504, and also on the protection member 530, water is removed from the space 500c in the window frame by the O-rings 542, 544.
Is difficult to flow into the space 500b where
The water pressure applied to 42,544 is reduced. As a result, the protection member 530 and the inner surface 500a of the front case 500
Can be suppressed from entering water.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can take various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made as to using any one of the means of “buffer member”, “roughening of the protection member”, and the “frame member”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. This is preferable because the waterproofness between the inner surface of the housing (the front case in the above embodiment) and the protective member can be further enhanced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vehicle periphery monitoring device has been described as detecting the information on the object existing in the irradiation direction by receiving the reflected light of the laser light irradiated to the outside. However, it is not limited to this. Vehicle periphery monitoring device (for example, CCD camera, video camera, etc.) that detects information about objects around the vehicle by obtaining wave information such as light and radio waves
The present invention can be similarly applied to

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle periphery monitoring device as one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration near a window of a housing in the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing experimental results for confirming the effects of the vehicle periphery monitoring device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration near a window in the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the second to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration near a window in a vehicle periphery monitoring device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mounting frame fitted into a window frame.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration near a window of a housing in a conventional vehicle periphery monitoring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Vehicle periphery monitoring device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 ... Front case 100a, 200a, 300a, 440a, 500a ...
Inner side surfaces 102, 502 ... Outgoing windows 104, 504 ... Ingoing windows 120 ... Rear case 130, 230, 330, 430, 530 ... Protective member 140 ... Packing with O-rings 142, 242, 342, 442, 542 ... For outgoing windows O-rings 144, 244, 344, 444, 544: O-rings for entrance windows 143, 145: Lips 143a, 145a: Inner peripheral surface of O-rings 243: Plate 343: Ceramics 443: Frame member 447: Opening 500b: Space between inner surface and protective member 500c Space in window frame 543, 545 Mounting frame 543a Tube part 543b Flange 543c Folded part

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) // F16J 15/10 F16J 15/10 A H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 E (72) Inventor Takeka Terui Aichi 1-1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya F-term in Denso Corporation (reference) 3J040 AA01 AA12 BA03 EA02 EA16 FA05 HA30 5C022 AA04 AC41 AC65 AC66 AC77

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle periphery monitoring device for detecting information about an object present around a vehicle, a window formed in a housing, a protection member for closing the window from inside the housing, and surrounding the window. Having an O-ring portion formed to
An elastic member that seals between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member by compressing at least the O-ring portion between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member; Is provided on the inner peripheral side of the
A peripheral monitoring device for a vehicle, comprising: an annular buffer member for reducing water pressure applied to a ring portion. 2. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is made of the same material as the elastic member.
A peripheral monitoring device for a vehicle, wherein the peripheral monitoring device is formed integrally with an inner peripheral portion of a ring portion. 3. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member is in a state where the O-ring portion is compressed between an inner surface of the housing and the protection member.
A vehicle periphery monitoring device formed so as to be in close contact with the surface of the protection member. 4. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the buffer member is compressed between an inner surface of the housing and the protection member so that an inner peripheral surface of the buffer member is compressed. A vehicle periphery monitoring device, which is formed so as to be recessed between the inside of a housing and the protection member. 5. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is formed so as to be fittable into a window frame of the window, and is formed inside the housing when fitted to the window frame. A periphery monitoring device for a vehicle, wherein the periphery monitoring device is formed in a frame shape that separates a space between a side surface and the protection member from within a frame of the window. 6. A vehicle periphery monitoring device for detecting information on an object present around a vehicle, comprising: a window formed in a housing for obtaining wave information such as light and radio waves; A protection member for closing from the inside of the body, and an O-ring portion formed to surround the window,
An elastic member that seals the space between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member by compressing at least the O-ring portion between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member; The contact area with the O-ring portion on at least one of the inner surface of the housing and the surface of the protection member,
A vehicle periphery monitoring device characterized by having a roughened surface. 7. A vehicle periphery monitoring device for detecting information on an object present around a vehicle, comprising: a window formed in a housing for obtaining wave information such as light and radio waves; A protection member for closing from the inside of the body, and an O-ring portion formed to surround the window,
An elastic member that seals between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member by compressing at least the O-ring portion between the inner surface of the housing and the protection member; And a frame member formed of a hard material and having an opening formed so as to surround the O-ring portion, and supporting the O-ring portion at the peripheral edge of the opening from the outer peripheral side of the O-ring portion. A peripheral monitoring device for a vehicle, comprising: