JP2001141645A - Raindrop detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a raindrop detecting device whose total height is low, whose protrusion amount into a vehicle room is small, whose safety to a passenger is high and which does not disturb a visibility. SOLUTION: Grooves 4a which are opened in a relationship nearly parallel to the glass face of a windshield glass 8 are formed in both side ends of an inside housing 4. A spring 7 is held in the grooves 4a. The spring 7 is pressed by a pressure contact part 2a which is formed at an outside housing 2. The inside housing 4 is brought into close contact with the glass face of the windshield glass 8 by the elastic force of the spring 7. Consequently, a gap between the inner face of the outside housing 2 in which a spring is installed in conventional cases and the upper face of the inside housing 4 is not required. The total height of this raindrop detecting device can be made low, and a protrusion amount into a vehicle room is small. As a result, it is possible to provide the raindrop detecting device whose safety with reference to a crew member is high and which does not disturb a visibility.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a raindrop detecting device for optically detecting raindrops attached to a windshield glass of an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of raindrop detecting device,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-510416 discloses an example. This raindrop detecting device is provided with a transmitter and a receiver, and detects raindrops and the like existing on the outer surface of the windshield glass in a range of a measurement section between the transmitter and the receiver. For accurate operation of the raindrop detector,
There is a need to optically couple the transmitter and receiver directly to the windshield glass without air intervention. To achieve this, a silicon sheet is laid between the transmitter and the receiver and the windshield glass, and the transmitter and the receiver are pressed against the windshield glass surface by a spring force. Structurally, it has an outer housing, an inner housing, fixing means, and a fixing device, and the fixing device is adhesively fixed to the windshield glass. The inner housing holds the main components of the raindrop detector. The inner housing is supported by the outer housing on its upper surface (hereinafter, the direction away from the windshield glass surface is “up” and the opposite direction is “down” when the raindrop detector is fixed to the windshield glass). It is pressed toward the windshield glass surface by the applied spring force. The outer housing is detachably engaged with a fixing device adhesively fixed to the windshield glass via fixing means. Thereby, the raindrop detecting device is fixed to the windshield glass surface.

[0003]

Incidentally, the known raindrop detecting device has a structure in which the upper surface of the inner housing is pressed by a spring supported by the outer housing, so that there is a gap between the inner surface of the outer housing and the upper surface of the inner housing. A certain gap is required to accommodate the spring. as a result,
The height (dimension in the thickness direction of the windshield glass) of the raindrop detector increases. This raindrop detecting device is usually mounted inside the windshield glass, that is, inside the vehicle. Therefore, a large height means a large amount of protrusion into the room, which may hinder the driver's view or may damage the occupant's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a raindrop detecting device which has a small height of the raindrop detecting device and which has a small protrusion into the cabin and does not obstruct the driver's view, and which is highly safe for occupants. The purpose is to:

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inner housing provided with a holding portion formed at an intermediate height of the inner housing. At the same time, an elastic member is brought into contact with the holding portion, and a pressing portion extending from the outer housing presses the elastic member, and presses the inner housing against the glass surface of the windshield glass via the elastic member. Like that. With this configuration, when the raindrop detecting device is mounted on the windshield glass, the elastic member can be held without protruding above the upper surface of the inner housing (toward the outer housing). That is, a gap for accommodating the spring between the inner surface of the outer housing and the upper surface of the inner housing in the known raindrop detecting device becomes unnecessary. As a result, a low height raindrop detecting device can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding portion is a groove provided in the inner housing and opened in a substantially parallel relationship with a glass surface of the windshield glass. With this configuration, when the raindrop detecting device is mounted on the windshield glass, the position of the action point at which the elastic member presses the inner housing against the windshield glass is smaller than that of the known raindrop detecting device. Close to the glass surface of the shield glass. Thereby, when vibration is applied to the raindrop detection device, the adhesion of the windshield glass of the inner housing to the glass surface can be improved. Further, since the elastic member can be held without protruding above the upper surface of the inner housing (toward the outer housing), a gap for accommodating a spring between the inner surface of the outer housing and the upper surface of the inner housing in the known raindrop detecting device. Becomes unnecessary. As a result, a low height raindrop detecting device can be realized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the holding portion is a step portion provided at both end portions of the inner housing and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface of the windshield glass. With this configuration, when the raindrop detecting device is mounted, the position of the action point at which the elastic member presses the inner housing against the windshield glass is closer to the windshield glass than in the case of the known raindrop detecting device. Thereby, even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detecting device, the inner housing can be stably adhered to the windshield glass surface. Further, by holding the elastic member without protruding above the upper surface of the inner housing (to the outer housing side), the elastic member for accommodating the spring between the inner surface of the outer housing and the upper surface of the inner housing in the known raindrop detecting device. No gap is required. As a result, a low height raindrop detecting device can be realized.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the elastic member has a plurality of bent portions, and the bent portion on the windshield glass side contacts the groove of the inner housing. The bent portion on the side opposite to the windshield glass is in contact with the pressing portion. With this configuration, the contact pressure between the inner housing and the windshield glass can be made uniform, so that even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detector, the inner housing can stably adhere to the windshield glass surface.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the grooves are provided on the first and second ends provided on both side ends of the inner housing.
It has a second groove. According to this configuration, the holding portion of the elastic member that presses the inner housing against the windshield glass surface is provided at two places, that is, since there are two elastic members, a more stable pressing force can be obtained, and vibration is applied to the raindrop detector. Even when it is added, the inner housing can stably adhere to the windshield glass surface.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the elastic members disposed in the first and second grooves, respectively,
Each end is connected to form an integral structure.
With this configuration, the elastic member can be attached to the inner housing at two places at the same time and without any displacement, so that the workability is improved.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the fixing device has a pair of rising portions that rise in a direction substantially perpendicular to the glass surface of the windshield glass, and a cutout portion is formed in the rising portion. The notch is provided so as to engage with the fixing member. According to this configuration, the operation of fixing the outer housing mounted with the inner housing to the fixing device bonded and fixed to the windshield glass includes:
Workability can be improved because it can be performed easily and reliably without the need for special tools.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the tip portions of the pair of rising portions provided in the fixing device are inclined toward the inside facing each other. According to this configuration, the operation of attaching the outer housing, to which the inner housing is mounted, to the fixing device bonded and fixed to the windshield glass can be easily performed. That is, after the outer housing on which the inner housing is mounted is mounted on one of the raised portions, the mounting operation on the other raised portion can be easily performed, so that the workability can be improved.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

1 and 2 are a sectional view and an exploded perspective view of a raindrop detecting device according to the present invention. The raindrop detecting device 1 includes an outer housing 2, a spring 7 (elastic member),
It has an inner housing 4, a stopper 3 (fixing member), and a bracket 5 (fixing device). The inner housing 4 incorporates a main component (detection means) of a raindrop detection and signal processing function for optically detecting raindrops adhering to the outer surface of the windshield glass 8 from the inner surface on the vehicle interior side. I have.

At both end portions of the inner housing 4, first and second groove portions 4a are formed as holding portions for the springs 7 so as to open in a substantially parallel relationship with the surface of the windshield glass 8. Further, a guide portion 4b is provided on the side surface on which the groove portion 4a is provided, the guide portion 4b having one end opening to the groove portion 4a and the other end opening to the upper surface of the inner housing 4. A spring 7 is mounted in the groove 4a. A silicon sheet 6 is adhered to a predetermined position on the lower surface of the inner housing 4 (on the side of the windshield glass 8).

The spring 7 has a plurality of bent portions, that is, a bent portion 7a on the side opposite to the windshield glass 8 and a bent portion 7b on the side of the windshield glass 8, and a connecting portion 7c.
Thus, the two springs 7 are integrally connected at one end. The bent portion 7 b of the spring 7 on the windshield glass 8 side presses the inner housing 4 against the windshield glass 8 in the groove 4 a of the inner housing 4.
In addition, the bent portion 7a on the opposite side of the windshield glass 8
Is pressed by the pressing portion 2a of the outer housing 2.

A stopper 3 is slidably engaged with the guide portion 2b of the outer housing 2 on the outer housing 2. The outer housing 2 has a pressing portion 2a of the spring 7 attached thereto.
Are slidably provided on the guide portion 4b of the inner housing 4.

The stopper 3 is slidably engaged with the guide portion 2b of the outer housing 2. In addition, bracket 5
The protrusions 3a are provided on both sides as locking portions that engage with the notches 5b provided on the tip side of the rising portion 5a. The outer housing 2 is fixed to the bracket 5 by engaging the stopper 3 with the guide portion 2b of the outer housing 2 and engaging the projection 3a with the notch 5b of the rising portion 5a of the bracket 5.

The bracket 5 is integrally formed by pressing a steel plate. As described above, the bracket 5 is provided with a pair of rising portions 5a that rise substantially in the vertical direction of the glass surface of the windshield glass 8, and the rising portion 5a has a window. A notch 5b extending in a direction parallel to the glass surface of the shield glass 8 is provided. Further, as shown in FIG.
Are bent inward toward each other.

Next, a method of assembling the raindrop detecting device 1 of the present invention and a method of attaching the windshield glass 8 to the glass surface will be described. In a step before the step described below, the bracket 5 is adhesively fixed at a predetermined position on the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 and the main components of the raindrop detection function are already incorporated in the inner housing 4. Have been.

First, a silicon sheet 6 is placed at a predetermined position below the inner housing 4 (on the side of the windshield glass 8).
Glue. Next, the spring 7 is inserted into the groove 4a of the inner housing 4. At this time, the upper bent portion 7a of the spring 7 is located substantially at the center of the guide portion 4b of the inner housing 4. Next, the stopper 3 is temporarily attached to the guide portion 2b of the outer housing 2. Thereafter, the outer housing 2 is mounted on the inner housing 4 by fitting the pressing portion 2a of the outer housing 2 into the guide portion 4b of the inner housing 4 and abutting the upper bending portion 7a of the spring 7.

Next, the assembly of the inner housing 4, the outer housing 2, and the stopper 3, assembled as described above, is attached to the windshield glass 8 by a bracket 5.
The procedure for attaching to is described.

The assembly of the inner housing 4, the outer housing 2 and the stopper 3 is held with the groove 4a of the inner housing 4 inclined with respect to the surface of the windshield glass 8 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Next, as shown in FIG. 3, one raised portion 5a of the bracket 5 is set in a gap between the inner housing 4 and the outer housing 2 on the side closer to the windshield glass 8 of the assembly, and While visually confirming that the contact state between the silicon sheet 6 adhered to the housing 4 and the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 is good (there is no intrusion of air bubbles, foreign matter, etc.), the rising portion set earlier is set. 5a is gradually rotated with one of the fulcrums as a fulcrum, and the other raised portion 5a is rotated.
Set to. Finally, the guide portion 2 of the outer housing 2
b to the outer housing 2
The locking portion 3 provided on the stopper 3
a and the notch portion 5b of the rising portion 5a of the bracket 5 is engaged. Thus, the attachment of the raindrop detecting device 1 to the windshield glass 8 is completed.

With the above-described structure, grooves 4a are formed at both ends of the inner housing 4 so as to open in a substantially parallel relationship with the glass surface of the windshield glass 8, and the springs 7 are held in the grooves 4a. The spring 7 is pressed by the pressing portion 2 a provided on the outer housing 2, and the inner housing 4 is pressed against the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 by the elastic force of the spring 7 so as to be in close contact with the glass surface. in this case,
The spring 7 is held below the upper surface of the inner housing 4. Therefore, a gap for accommodating a spring between the inner surface of the outer housing 2 and the upper surface of the inner housing 4 in the known raindrop detecting device becomes unnecessary, and the height of the raindrop detecting device 1 can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to realize a raindrop detection device that has a small protrusion into the room and does not hinder the driver's view and is highly safe for the occupant.

In the present embodiment, since the groove 4a of the inner housing 4 is formed at an intermediate height position of the inner housing 4, the spring 7 for pressing the inner housing 4 against the windshield glass is located at the point of application of the force. Is closer to the windshield glass 8 than in the case of the known raindrop detector. Thereby, even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detecting device 1, the inner housing 4 can stably adhere to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8. Therefore, the raindrop detection function can be stably maintained.

In this embodiment, the spring 7 is provided with a plurality of bent portions 7a and 7b,
Side two bent portions 7b are formed in the groove portions 4a of the inner housing 4.
And the bent portion 7a on the side opposite to the windshield glass 8 is brought into contact with the pressing portion 2a provided on the outer housing. With this configuration, the number of action points at which the spring 7 presses the inner housing 4 against the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 is four in total, and the contact pressure between the silicon sheet 6 and the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 is made uniform. can do. For this reason, even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detecting device 1, the inner housing 4 can stably adhere to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8. Therefore, the raindrop detection function can be stably maintained.

In this embodiment, the springs 7 are respectively mounted in the first and second grooves 4a of the inner housing 4 and one ends thereof are connected to form an integral structure. With this configuration, the springs can be mounted on the first and second groove portions 4a of the inner housing 4 at two places at the same time and without any displacement, so that the workability can be improved.

In this embodiment, the bracket 5 as a fixing device is integrally formed by pressing a steel plate. With this configuration, the work of bonding the bracket 5 to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 can be easily performed, so that workability can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the bracket 5
The tip portions of the pair of rising portions 5a are bent inward to face each other. With this configuration, when assembling the assembly of the inner housing 4, the outer housing 2, and the stopper 3 to the bracket 5 bonded and fixed to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8, the silicon sheet 6 and the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 are used. It can be easily visually confirmed that the contact state is good (there is no intrusion of bubbles, foreign matter, etc.). Therefore, work quality can be improved and
Work efficiency can be improved.

In this embodiment, the bracket 5
Is an integrally molded product made by pressing steel plate.
It may be a molded article made of resin.

In the present embodiment, the springs 7 mounted on the first and second grooves 4a of the inner housing 4 have an integral structure, but two independent springs may be mounted.

FIG. 4 shows a first modification of the present embodiment. In this modification, the spring 7 is formed in a flat ring shape. In this case, since the pressing portion of the spring 7 against the groove 4a of the inner housing 4 has a planar shape with a certain length, the silicon sheet 6 and the windshield glass 8
Can be made uniform in contact surface pressure with the glass surface. For this reason, even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detecting device 1, the inner housing 4 can stably adhere to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8. Therefore, the raindrop detection function can be stably maintained.

FIG. 5 shows a second modification of the present embodiment. In this modified example, step portions 4 a extending in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 are provided at both end portions of the inner housing 4 as holding portions of the spring 7.
With this configuration, when the raindrop detecting device is mounted, the spring 7
The position of the action point at which the inner housing 4 presses the inner housing 4 against the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 is closer to the windshield glass 8 than in the case of the known raindrop detector. Thus, even when vibration is applied to the raindrop detecting device, the inner housing 4 can stably adhere to the glass surface of the windshield glass 8. Therefore, the raindrop detection function can be stably maintained. Further, by holding the spring 7 without protruding above the upper surface of the inner housing 4 (toward the outer housing 2 side), the spring 7 is provided between the inner surface of the outer housing 2 and the upper surface of the inner housing 4 in the known raindrop detecting device. A gap for accommodating the spring is unnecessary. As a result, a low height raindrop detecting device can be realized.

In the second modification, the spring 7 is a coil spring. However, the spring 7 is not limited to the coil spring, and the inner housing 4 is pressed against the glass surface of the windshield glass 8 by its elastic force. If so, the form of the spring does not matter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 2) of a raindrop detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main configuration of a raindrop detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the raindrop detecting device is being mounted on a bracket adhered and fixed to a windshield glass.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a first modification of the raindrop detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second modification of the raindrop detecting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Raindrop detector 2 Outer housing 2a Press-contact part 3 Stopper (fixing member) 4 Inner housing (detection means) 4a Groove part (spring holding part, step part) 5 Bracket (fixing device) 5a Elevated part 5b Notch part 6 Silicon Seat 7 Spring (elastic member) 8 Windshield glass

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device bonded and fixed to a windshield glass, an inner housing in which a detecting means for optically detecting raindrops adhering to the windshield glass is housed, and the inner housing is attached to the windshield glass. The raindrop detecting device, comprising: an outer housing that is housed in a state pressed against a glass surface and is detachably fixed to the fixing device; and a fixing member that detachably fixes the outer housing to the fixing device. The housing is provided with a holding portion at an intermediate height position of the inner housing, and an elastic member is brought into contact with the holding portion, and a pressing portion extending from the outer housing presses the elastic member. And the inner housing is attached to the glass surface of the windshield glass via the elastic member. A raindrop detecting device characterized by being pressed. 2. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is provided in the inner housing,
A raindrop detecting device, wherein the groove is an opening that is opened substantially in parallel with a glass surface of the windshield glass. 3. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is a step provided on both side ends of the inner housing and extending in a direction substantially parallel to a glass surface of the windshield glass. A raindrop detecting device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member has a plurality of bent portions, and the bent portion on the windshield glass side contacts the groove of the inner housing. The raindrop detecting device, wherein the bent portion on the opposite side to the windshield glass is in contact with the pressing portion while being in contact with the windshield glass. 5. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the groove has first and second grooves provided on both side ends of the inner housing. 6. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein each of the elastic members disposed in the first and second grooves has one end connected to form an integral structure. Characteristic raindrop detector. 7. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device has a pair of rising portions that rise in a direction substantially perpendicular to a glass surface of the windshield glass, and the rising portion has a notch. A raindrop detecting device, wherein the cutout portion and the fixing member are configured to engage with each other. 8. The raindrop detecting device according to claim 7, wherein the tip portions of the pair of rising portions provided on the fixing device are inclined inwardly facing each other. Detection device.