JP2007153154A - Alarm device for preventing cap from being left unfastened - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm device for preventing a cap from being left unfastened which is capable of transmitting radio signals of high electric field intensity to an alarm generator even if a lid member is closed. <P>SOLUTION: An unfastening-detector 1 for preventing a cap from being left unfastened which outputs the result of detection from an antenna by radio signals when detecting the cap 7 for a fuel tank that is left unfastened or insufficiently fastened is attached to the back side of a metallic lid member 11. An alarm generator 3 is provided which receives the radio signals to give an alarm to a driver in a vehicle. A conductive sheet material 15 is provided between an output electrode 13a of the unfastening detector 1 and the lid member 11, and the conductive sheet material 15 is arranged in a contact manner with the output electrode 13a and the back side of the lid member 11. Thus, the output electrode 13a and the lid member 11 are coupled with each other by capacity-coupling and used as an antenna of the unfastening detector 1 of the lid member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device for forgetting to tighten a fuel tank cap provided on a vehicle body.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-254671 discloses a cap tightening alarm device in which a transponder element with an electromagnetic induction type capacitor is provided in a fuel tank cap of a vehicle, and a reader unit and an antenna are provided in a fuel filler port. In this forgetting cap tightening alarm device, the charge of the power pulse sent from the reader unit on the fuel filler side to the cap side is stored in a capacitor, and this energy is used as a power source to send data back from the transponder element to the fuel filler side. And this data is received by the antenna of the fuel filler, and the received data is transmitted to the reader unit via the wiring so that the driver can confirm that the cap is forgotten to be tightened.

However, in such an alarm device for forgetting to tighten the cap, wiring such as a lead wire has to be provided between the fuel filler opening and the driver's seat. Therefore, the inventor of the present application, when detecting forgotten tightening or insufficient tightening of the fuel tank cap, outputs the detection result from the antenna with a radio signal, and receives the above-mentioned radio signal, A forgetting cap tightening alarm device equipped with an alarm generating device for issuing an alarm to a driver in the city was considered. In this alarm device, the tightening forgetting detection device is arranged in a cap housing recess in which a fuel filler and a fuel tank cap attached to the fuel filler are accommodated. And the opening part of this recessed part for cap accommodation is obstruct | occluded with the metal cover member attached so that opening and closing is possible with respect to a vehicle body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-254671

  However, in the cap tightening forgotten alarm device that the inventor previously considered, the antenna of the forgetful tightening detecting device is disposed in the cap housing recess, so that when the opening of the recess is completely blocked by the lid member, The lid member became a shield against the antenna, and a radio signal having a strong electric field strength could not be transmitted to the alarm generation device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cap tightening forgetting alarm device capable of transmitting a radio signal having a strong electric field strength to an alarm generating device even when the lid member is closed.

  The cap tightening forgotten alarm device to be improved by the present invention includes a tightening forgetting detecting device and an alarm generating device. The vehicle body is formed with a cap housing recess for housing a fuel filler and a fuel tank cap attached to the fuel filler. And the opening part of this recessed part for cap accommodation is obstruct | occluded with the metal cover member attached so that opening and closing is possible with respect to a vehicle body. The forgetting-to-tighten detection device is attached to the back surface of the lid member and detects forgetting to tighten the fuel tank cap. The detection result is output as a radio signal from the antenna. The alarm generation device receives a radio signal from the forgetting-to-tighten detection device and issues an alarm to the driver in the vehicle. In the present invention, a lid member is used as an antenna of the forgetting-to-tighten detection device. When a lid member is used as the antenna of the forgetting-to-tighten detection device, even if the lid member is closed, the lid member itself is always an antenna, so that a radio signal having a strong electric field strength can be transmitted from the lid member to the alarm generation device. If the frequency of the radio signal used in the alarm device is set to a frequency at which the lid member can be used as an antenna, the lid member sufficiently functions as an antenna. If a gap is formed between the lid member and the vehicle body, or if a packing that exhibits an electrical insulating function is disposed between the lid member and the vehicle body, the lid member functions as an antenna as it is.

  In a vehicle, the back surface of the lid member is generally covered with an insulating coating film. In such a case, various methods of transmitting radio wave radiation energy to the lid member can be considered. For example, the forgetting tightening detection device is configured to include an output electrode extending outside the main body of the forgetting tightening detection device and extending along the back surface of the lid member in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member. And in the state which made the output electrode contact the back surface of a cover member, you may make it affix the electroconductive sheet material of a predetermined | prescribed magnitude | size on the back surface so that an output electrode may be covered. Alternatively, the forget-to-tighten detection device is configured to include an output electrode at a position facing the back surface of the lid member in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member. And you may make it arrange | position the electroconductive sheet material of the predetermined magnitude | size electrically connected with the output electrode between the output electrode and the back surface of a cover member so that a back surface may be contacted. In this case, an insulating coating film formed on the back surface of the lid member is used as a dielectric layer, capacitive coupling is formed between the conductive sheet material and the lid member, and both are electrically coupled by capacitive coupling. Can be connected. Therefore, the predetermined size of the conductive sheet material may be determined so as to obtain a capacity capable of transmitting radio wave radiation energy from the output electrode to the lid member by capacitive coupling. In this way, the conductive sheet material and the metal of the lid member face each other through the insulating coating film of the lid member, and radio wave radiation energy from the output electrode is transmitted to the lid member. For this reason, the cover member can be used as an antenna of the forgetting to tighten the cover member by a simple operation of attaching the conductive sheet material to the back surface of the cover member.

  The forgotten tightening detection device can be mounted on the back surface of the lid member in various modes. For example, the forgotten tightening detection device can be attached to the attachment structure provided on the back surface of the lid member by screwing or caulking.

  The forget-to-tighten detection device operates using a storage battery as a power source, and when the cap for the fuel tank is completely tightened with respect to the fuel filler and the lid member is completely closed, the storage battery is connected to the internal circuit. It is possible to configure the forgetting-to-tighten detection device so that the power supply is stopped. In this way, when the fuel tank cap is not completely tightened or the lid member is not completely closed, power is supplied from the storage battery to the internal circuit, and a radio signal is transmitted from the antenna. To alert the driver. Therefore, the driver can know not only when the fuel tank cap is not completely closed, but also when the lid member is not completely closed.

  As the alarm generation device, an existing alarm generation device with a reception function provided on the vehicle body may be used. In this way, an alarm device forgetting to tighten the cap can be configured without installing a new alarm generator.

  According to the present invention, since the lid member is used as the antenna of the forget-to-tighten detection device, even when the lid member is closed, a radio signal having a strong electric field strength can be transmitted from the lid member to the alarm generation device. Therefore, it is possible to reliably warn of forgetting to tighten the fuel tank cap.

  If electromagnetic radiation energy is transmitted to the lid member using capacitive coupling, the lid member can be easily used as an antenna.

  Embodiments of a cap tightening forgotten alarm device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle body provided with a cap tightening forgetting alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a fuel tank in a state where a lid member is opened in the vehicle body provided with a cap tightening forgetting alarm device. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the forgotten tightening alarm device of the present embodiment includes a forgetful tightening detecting device 1 and an alarm generating device 3 arranged in the vicinity of the driver's seat. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the forgetful tightening detection device 1 closes the opening of the cap housing recess 9 in which the fuel filler 5 and the fuel tank cap 7 attached to the fuel filler 5 are accommodated. The metal lid member 11 is attached to the back surface of the vehicle body so as to be opened and closed.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in which the internal mechanism in a state in which the forgetful tightening detection device 1 in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member 11 is cut along with the lid member 11 is omitted. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the forgetting to tighten detection apparatus 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tightening-forgetting detection device 1 includes a device main body 13 and a conductive sheet material 15. And the apparatus main body 13 is a screw | thread which penetrates the protrusion part 13a provided in the apparatus main body 13, and the metal attachment structure which is not shown provided with respect to the back surface of the cover member 11. Screwed to the back. In addition, a caulking piece may be provided on a metal mounting structure, and the caulking piece may be caulked against the projecting portion 13a so that the apparatus main body 13 is caulked against the mounting structure. Forgetting to tighten the cap and forgetting to close the lid member are detected based on the on / off state of the detection switch 14 or the amount of pushing in the device body 13 of the forgetting to tighten detection device 1 with the internal mechanism omitted. A detection unit, a signal processing unit that generates a wireless signal for transmitting the detection result wirelessly, and a storage battery as a power source are arranged. The power supply circuit for supplying power from the storage battery to the signal processing unit is detected when the fuel tank cap 7 is completely tightened with respect to the fuel filler port 5 and the lid member 11 is completely closed. The power supply from the storage battery to the signal processing unit is stopped in conjunction with the operation of the power switch 14. The detection unit determines the state based on the pushing amount of the detection switch 14 based on the contact between the detection switch 14 and the fuel tank cap 7. For example, when the pressing amount of the detection switch 14 is larger than the reference value, it is determined that the fuel tank cap 7 is not sufficiently tightened. If the pressing amount is within the reference range, the lid member 11 is completely closed. When the pushing amount is smaller than the reference amount, it is judged that the lid member 11 is not completely closed or that the fuel tank cap 7 is not present.

  The detection of forgetting to tighten the fuel tank cap is performed by arranging a magnet in the fuel tank cap 7, arranging a reed switch in the lid member 11, and bringing the fuel tank cap 7 and the lid member 11 closer to each other. The power supply to the signal processing unit may be stopped.

  The apparatus main body 13 includes an output electrode 13 b at a position facing the back surface of the lid member 11 in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member 11. Between the output electrode 13 b and the back surface of the lid member 11, the conductive sheet material 15 electrically connected to the output electrode 13 b is disposed so as to be in contact with the back surface of the lid member 11. In this example, a copper tape having a thickness of 0.1 mm × width of 15 mm × length of 20 mm was used as the conductive sheet material 15. This copper tape has a conductive adhesive or adhesive on both sides, and the conductive sheet material 15 and the output electrode 13a are joined together by this conductive adhesive or adhesive. The lid member 11 has a structure in which the surface of the metal plate 11a is covered with an insulating coating film 11b. Therefore, the conductive sheet material 15 and the metal plate 11a of the lid member 11 face each other through the insulating coating film 11b.

  The size of the conductive sheet material 15 is determined so that the output electrode 13b and the lid member 11 are electrically connected by capacitive coupling and radio wave radiation energy from the output electrode 13b is transmitted to the lid member 11. . As a result, the lid member 11 functions as an antenna that outputs a detection result for detecting forgotten or insufficient tightening of the fuel tank cap as a radio signal. And the radio signal output from the antenna (lid member 11) is received by the receiving part of the alarm generator 3 in the company through the window glass from the outside of the vehicle body. The alarm generation device 3 issues an alarm to the driver in the vehicle. As the alarm generating device 3, an existing alarm generating device with a receiving function provided on the vehicle body, for example, forgetting to remove the key or forgetting to turn off the light may also be used.

Next, the electric field strength of the radio signal received by the alarm generation device 3 was measured using the cap tightening forgotten alarm device of the present embodiment and the cap tightening forgotten alarm device of the comparative example. Note that the cap tightening alarm device of the comparative example is an alarm device having the same structure as that of the present embodiment, with a wire antenna attached to the back surface of the lid member 11. The measurement was performed by outputting a 315 MHz radio signal with the lid member 11 closed, and measuring the electric field strength at each position of P1 to P7 shown in FIG. Table 1 shows the measurement results.

  From Table 1, it can be seen that if the forgetting cap tightening alarm device of the present embodiment is used, the electric field strength at each position of P1 to P7 can be increased by an average of 10 dB as compared with the forgetting cap tightening alarm device of the comparative example.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are cross-sectional views in which the internal mechanism of the forget-to-tighten detection device 101 in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member 111 of the cap-tightening forgotten alarm device according to another embodiment of the present invention is omitted; It is a reverse view of the forgetting to close detection apparatus. The alarm device of this example has the same structure as the alarm device shown in FIG. 1 except for the output electrode and the conductive sheet material. The output electrode 113 b of the alarm device of this example extends outside the device main body 113 and is along the back surface of the lid member 111 in a state where the device main body 113 is attached to the back surface of the lid member 111. Then, in a state where the output electrode 113 b is in contact with the back surface of the lid member 111, the conductive sheet material 115 is attached to the back surface of the lid member 111 so as to cover the output electrode 113 b. Capacitive coupling is formed between the conductive sheet material 115 including the output electrode 113 b and the metal plate 111 a of the lid member 111 by attaching the conductive sheet material 115 to the back surface of the lid member 111 and the output electrode 113. Has been. Therefore, even in this way, radio wave radiation energy can be transmitted from the apparatus main body 113 to the lid member 111.

It is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle body provided with the cap fastening forget alarm device of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a fuel tank cap in a state where a lid member is opened in a vehicle body provided with a cap tightening forgetting alarm device. It is the schematic sectional drawing which abbreviate | omitted the internal mechanism of the state which mounted | wore the back surface of the lid member with the forgetting tightening detection apparatus used for the cap tightening forgetting alarm apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the back surface of the forgetting to close detection apparatus. It is sectional drawing which abbreviate | omitted the internal mechanism of the forgetting tightening detection apparatus of the state with which it attached with respect to the back surface of the cover member of the cap tightening forgetting alarm apparatus of other embodiment of this invention. It is a reverse view of the forgetting tightening detection apparatus of the cap tightening forgetting alarm apparatus of other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Forget-to-tighten detection device 3 Alarm generator 5 Refueling port 7 Fuel tank cap 9 Cap housing recess 11 Lid member 11b Insulating coating 13 Device body 13a Output electrode 14 Detection switch 15 Conductive sheet material

Claims (6)

A metal lid that is provided on the vehicle body and is attached to the vehicle body so as to be openable and closable in order to close an opening of a cap housing recess for housing a fuel filler port and a fuel tank cap attached to the fuel filler port. A forget-to-tighten detection device that is attached to the back surface of the member and outputs a detection result from an antenna by a radio signal when detecting forgetting to tighten the fuel tank cap; and
A forgotten cap tightening alarm device comprising an alarm generating device that receives the wireless signal and issues an alarm to a driver in the vehicle,
A cap tightening forgotten alarm device, wherein the lid member is used as the antenna of the forgetting tightening detecting device. The back surface of the lid member is covered with an insulating coating,
The forgotten tightening detection device includes an output electrode extending outside the main body of the forgetful tightening detection device and extending along the back surface in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member.
With the output electrode in contact with the back surface of the lid member, a conductive sheet material of a predetermined size is attached to the back surface so as to cover the output electrode,
The predetermined size of the conductive sheet material electrically connects the conductive sheet material and the lid member by capacitive coupling, and transmits radio wave radiation energy from the output electrode to the lid member. The cap tightening forgetting alarm device according to claim 1 defined in claim 1. The back surface of the lid member is covered with an insulating coating,
The tightening forgetting detection device includes an output electrode at a position facing the back surface in a state of being attached to the back surface of the lid member,
Between the output electrode and the back surface of the lid member, a conductive sheet material of a predetermined size electrically connected to the output electrode is disposed so as to contact the back surface,
The predetermined size of the conductive sheet material electrically connects the conductive sheet material and the lid member by capacitive coupling, and transmits radio wave radiation energy from the output electrode to the lid member. The cap tightening forgetting alarm device according to claim 1 defined in claim 1.   2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the forgetful tightening detection device is attached to an attachment structure provided on the back surface of the lid member by screwing or caulking, and is attached to the back surface. Forget-to-tighten alarm device.   The forgotten tightening detection device operates with a storage battery as a power source, and the storage battery is fully closed when the fuel tank cap is completely tightened with respect to the fuel filler port and the lid member is completely closed. The cap tightening forgotten alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the forgetting tightening detecting device is configured to stop power feeding from the internal circuit to the internal circuit.   The cap tightening forgotten alarm device according to claim 1, wherein an existing alarm generating device with a receiving function provided in the vehicle body is also used as the alarm generating device.

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