JP2008260495A - Glass breakage detecting sensor, and arrangement structure thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a glass breakage detecting sensor of simple structure capable of detecting breakage of a glass, restricting deterioration of durability. <P>SOLUTION: The glass breakage detecting sensor 10 is placed in an inner panel 5 wherein a PWR supporting a window glass freely to be opened/closed inside a vehicular door is arranged, and detects existence of breakage of the window glass 5 based on strain of the inner panel 5 to be caused in the state of completely closing the window glass. This glass breakage detecting sensor 10 comprises a straining body 11 to be strained with the inner panel 5, a strain detecting portion 12 provided in the straining body 11 so as to output a detection signal showing the amount of strain of the straining body 11, and a pair of lower washers 15 and 16 having a different thickness. The straining body 11 is fixed to the inner panel 5 through the lower washers 15 and 16 so as to be located in the state of previously straining in the straining direction of the inner panel 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a glass breakage detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of breakage of an openable / closable glass such as a window glass provided on a vehicle door, and an arrangement structure of the glass breakage detection sensor.

  Conventionally, for example, a glass breakage detection device described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. This type of glass breakage detection device is a direct detection type glass breakage detection device that directly detects the breakage of glass. It can be detected.

Specifically, in the glass breakage detection device described in Patent Document 1, a conductive film is formed inside the laminated glass to be broken, and one end of each lead wire is connected to both ends of the conductive film, The other ends of these lead wires are connected to the breakage detection sensor. When the glass is broken, the breakage of the glass can be detected by detecting a change in the electric resistance value of the conductive film caused by the breakage by the breakage detection sensor.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-132681 (see paragraphs [0019] to [0022], FIG. 1 etc.)

  However, in such a direct detection type glass breakage detection device, it is necessary to form a conductive film on the glass, so that the structure becomes complicated. In addition, since it is necessary to route the lead wire to the glass, it may be difficult to route the lead wire or the lead wire may break when applied to the movable glass. Not suitable for practical use.

  By the way, in general, in a power window device for a vehicle, in order to maintain a reliable closed state, when the window glass is fully closed, pressure is applied to the window glass in the closing direction. For this reason, when the window glass is in a fully closed state, the inner panel of the door that supports the window glass is bent by the pressure. Therefore, if the window glass is damaged in the fully closed state, the bending of the inner panel is eliminated. Therefore, for example, if a strain sensor is installed on the inner panel of the door, it is considered that the presence or absence of breakage of the window glass can be detected by detecting the bending state of the inner panel by the strain sensor. That is, it is considered that it can be determined that the window glass has been damaged when the distortion sensor detects that the deflection of the inner panel is greatly reduced in the fully closed state of the window glass.

  When the strain sensor is disposed on the inner panel based on this idea, it is necessary to install the strain sensor at a location that bends reliably when the window glass is fully closed. However, since the installation location of such a strain sensor can be said to be a fragile location in other words, there is a risk of bending (distortion) even when the window glass is in an open state. Therefore, when the strain sensor is distorted in the direction opposite to the direction of bending when the window glass is fully closed, the strain sensor is distorted in the opposite direction when the window glass is fully closed. That is, when the window glass changes from the open state to the fully closed state, the strain sensor is temporarily displaced to a state where no distortion is generated and then displaced to a state distorted in the opposite direction. For this reason, stress from a plurality of directions is applied to the strain sensor, and the durability of the strain sensor may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is a glass breakage detection sensor and a glass breakage detection sensor capable of detecting breakage of glass with a simple structure while suppressing a decrease in durability. It is to provide an arrangement structure.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, the window glass is installed in an inner panel provided with an opening / closing mechanism that supports the window glass so that the window glass can be opened and closed. A glass breakage detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of breakage of the window glass based on the distortion of the inner panel generated in a closed state, the strain generating body causing distortion together with the inner panel, provided on the strain generating body, A strain detection unit that outputs a detection signal indicating a strain amount of the strain generating body, and a pair of fixing units that are respectively provided on both sides of the strain detection unit in the strain generating body and fix the strain generating body to the inner panel; A strain direction regulating means for pre-distorting the strain generating body in a strain direction of the inner panel generated in the fully closed state in the open state of the window glass. And of the subject matter.

  According to the above configuration, since the detection signal output from the distortion detection unit changes according to the distortion amount of the strain generating body increased by the full closing of the window glass, the distortion of the inner panel accompanying the full closing operation of the window glass. Can be reliably detected. Therefore, when the window glass is broken in the fully closed state, the amount of distortion of the inner panel is reduced. Therefore, by using such a glass breakage detection sensor, the strain generating body in the fully closed state of the window glass is used. It becomes possible to detect the presence or absence of breakage of the window glass based on the change in the amount of distortion. In addition, even when the window glass is in the open state, the strain generating body is distorted in the distortion direction of the inner panel that is generated when the window glass is fully closed. When the window glass is fully closed, the strain generating body is further distorted in the same direction as the previously distorted direction due to the distortion of the inner panel. That is, the strain direction of the strain generating body is restricted to one direction. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the strain generating body from being distorted in the direction opposite to the direction of bending when the window glass is fully closed, and to prevent stress from the other direction from being applied to the strain generating body. The Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in durability of the strain generating body due to the stress.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the glass breakage detection sensor according to the first aspect, each fixing portion includes a washer interposed between the strain generating body and the inner panel. In addition, the gist of the strain direction regulating means is constituted by the washers having different thicknesses.

  According to the above configuration, the strain direction of the strain generating body can be easily regulated by interposing the washers having different thicknesses between the strain generating body and the inner panel. Further, by changing the thickness of the washer according to the installation location of the strain body on the inner panel, the strain direction of the strain body can be reliably regulated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the glass breakage detection sensor according to the first or second aspect, the strain detection unit includes a plurality of strain detection elements, and the difference between the strain generating bodies by the strain detection elements. The gist of the invention is to output an electric signal indicating the total value as the detection signal.

  According to the said structure, the distortion change of the strain body accompanying the opening / closing of a window glass is separately detected by each distortion | strain detection element. And the electric signal which shows the difference total value of the distortion amount of the strain body detected by these distortion detection elements is output as a detection signal. For this reason, based on the detection signal, the strain change of the strain generating body can be detected with higher accuracy.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that the glass breakage detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is disposed at a position lower than the opening / closing mechanism in the inner panel.

  According to the above configuration, since the stress in the direction of compression from the opening / closing mechanism is applied to the lower portion of the inner panel than the portion where the opening / closing mechanism is disposed, the window glass is more than the upper portion of the opening / closing mechanism. Distortion tends to occur when the glass is fully closed. Therefore, by arranging the glass breakage detection sensor at such a lower position, it becomes possible to more reliably detect the distortion of the inner panel accompanying the fully closing operation of the window glass.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect glass breakage with a simple structure while suppressing a decrease in durability.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

<Configuration of vehicle door 1>
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a window glass 2 as a damage detection target is disposed on a vehicle door (door) 1. The door 1 includes an outer panel 3 disposed outside the vehicle, an interior panel 4 disposed indoors, and an inner panel 5 disposed therebetween. The outer panel 3 and the inner panel 5 are made of steel plates, and the outer panel 3 forms the exterior of the vehicle. The interior panel 4 is made of a resin material or the like, and the inner panel 5 is disposed in a space surrounded by the outer panel 3 and the interior panel 4 so as not to be exposed to the outside. The window glass 2 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction between the outer panel 3 and the interior panel 4 by a power window regulator (PWR) 6 as an opening / closing mechanism disposed above the inner panel 5 (FIG. 1 (b)). Slidable in the directions indicated by arrows Y1, Y2). That is, the window glass 2 is a movable glass that can be opened and closed by moving in the surface direction (sliding direction).

  The window glass 2 is configured such that the lower end portion is accommodated in the door 2 even at the upper movement limit position (fully closed position). And the lower end part is supported by PWR6. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, the PWR 6 includes a motor 6c, and a main body 6a fixed to the substantially central portion of the inner panel 5 together with the motor 6c, and is rotatably supported by the main body 6a. And an X arm 6 b that supports the lower end portion of the window glass 2. The PWR 6 drives the motor 6c based on an operation signal input from an operation unit (not shown), and the window 6 is moved up and down by the X arm 6b being driven by the motor 6c. When the window glass 2 is closed by the automatic closing operation, the PWR 6 continues to drive the motor 6c for a certain period of time even after the window glass 2 is completely moved up, and applies pressure to the window glass 2 in the closing direction. The closing operation is finished in the added state. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the inner panel 5 is not distorted when the window glass 2 is in the open state, but when the window glass 2 is in the fully closed state, for example, FIG. As shown in b), the inner panel 5 bends (distorts) in the direction of the arrow F <b> 1 due to the application of stress to the window glass 2.

<Configuration of Glass Breakage Detection Sensor 10>
As shown in FIG. 1B, a glass breakage detection sensor 10 is disposed at a position below the PWR 6 in the inner panel 5. The glass breakage detection sensor 10 is desirably disposed in a weak portion that is easily bent (easy to be distorted) in the inner panel 5 when the window glass 2 is fully closed. In the present embodiment, the glass breakage detection sensor 10 is located immediately below the main body portion 6a of the PWR 6. It is arranged. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the glass breakage detection sensor 10 is disposed at a position where the inner panel 5 is distorted in the direction of the arrow F <b> 1 when the window glass 2 is fully closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the glass breakage detection sensor 10 includes a strain-generating body 11 that has a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and a substantially center of one side surface (upper surface in FIG. 2) of the strain-generating body 11. The strain detection part 12 mounted in the site | part and the upper washers 13 and 14 and the lower washers 15 and 16 as a fixing part provided in the both sides site | part of the strain body 11 are provided.

  Through holes 11 a and 11 b are formed through substantially both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the strain body 11, respectively. The strain detection unit 12 is fixed between the through holes 11a and 11b. The strain detection unit 12 includes a plurality (two in this embodiment) of strain detection elements (strain gauges) and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the strain amount of the strain generating body 11.

  The first upper washer 13 is attached to the through hole 11a, and the second upper washer 14 is attached to the through hole 11b. A first lower washer 15 is attached to the lower end of the first upper washer 13, and a second lower washer 16 is attached to the lower end of the second upper washer 14.

  Specifically, each of the upper washers 13 and 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and flange portions 13a and 14a having an outer diameter larger than that of the through holes 11a and 11b are formed in the upper portion, and an outer diameter is formed in the lower portion. Insertion portions 13b and 14b set to have a diameter that is the same as or slightly smaller than the through holes 11a and 11b are formed. Further, the upper washers 13 and 14 are provided with through holes 13c and 14c penetrating in the vertical direction. The length of the first insertion portion 13b is set to be equal to the total value of the thickness of the strain body 11 and the thickness of the first lower washer 15. Similarly, the length of the second insertion portion 14 b is set to be equal to the sum of the thickness of the strain body 11 and the thickness of the second lower washer 16. On the other hand, each of the lower washers 15 and 16 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a different height (thickness), penetrates in the vertical direction, and has a through hole 15a having a diameter equivalent to that of the through holes 11a and 11b of the strain body 11. 16a are transparently provided. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the second lower washer 16 is formed higher than the first lower washer 15, and the height (thickness) T <b> 1 of the first lower washer 15 and the height of the second lower washer 16 are set. The relationship with the thickness (thickness) T2 is set to be “T1 <T2”. Then, the respective washer portions 13b and 14b are inserted into the corresponding through holes 11a and 11b, and the lower washers 15 and 16 corresponding to the lower ends of the respective insertion portions 13b and 14b are inserted, whereby the respective washers 13 to 16 are raised. It will be in the state where it was attached to distortion body 11.

<Disposition mode of glass breakage detection sensor 10 and glass breakage detection operation>
The glass breakage detection sensor 10 configured in this way is fixed to the inner panel 5 using fastening members 17 and 18 such as bolts as shown in FIGS. That is, the fastening member 17 is inserted into the through hole 13 c of the first upper washer 13 and fastened to the inner panel 5, and the fastening member 18 is inserted into the through hole 14 c of the second upper washer 14 and fastened to the inner panel 5. Thus, the glass breakage detection sensor 10 is fixed to the inner panel 5.

  For this reason, the first lower washer 15 and the second lower washer 16 are interposed between the strain body 11 and the inner panel 5, respectively. Here, since the lower washers 15 and 16 are set to different heights (thicknesses), as shown in FIG. 5A, the inner panel 5 is not distorted, that is, the window glass. 2, the strain generating body 11 is distorted in the F1 direction shown in the figure due to the difference in thickness between the lower washers 15 and 16. Therefore, the strain detection unit 12 always detects a strain in the compression direction of the strain generating body 11, and outputs an electrical signal (detection signal) corresponding to the compression amount.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the inner panel 5 is distorted in the direction of the arrow F1 with the fully closing operation of the window glass 2, the strain generating body 11 follows the distortion of the inner panel 5 in the same direction. It will be in a more distorted state. Therefore, the strain detection unit 12 is in a state in which strain in the further compression direction of the strain generating body 11 is detected, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the compression amount. That is, each of the lower washers 15 and 16 functions as a strain direction restricting unit that distorts the strain generating body 11 in advance in the strain direction of the inner panel 5.

  As a result, different detection signals are output from the distortion detector 12 depending on whether the inner panel 5 is not distorted or distorted. Specifically, the strain detection unit 12 is configured to output an electrical signal indicating a difference total value of detection voltages detected by each strain detection gauge as a detection signal, and the higher the strain amount of the strain generating body 11, the higher the strain amount. A detection signal indicating a difference total value of values is output, and a detection signal indicating a lower difference total value is output as the strain amount of the strain generating body 11 is smaller.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the lower washers 15 and 16 are set to different heights (thicknesses) in the fully closed state of the window glass 2 (in the case of “Yes” shown in FIG. 6A). ) Of the difference total value output from the distortion detection unit 12 compared to the case where the lower washers 15 and 16 are set to the same height (thickness) (in the case of “none” shown in the figure). The value increases. Specifically, when the difference in height between the lower washers 15 and 16 is set to 1.5 mm, as shown in FIG. 6B, the difference total value in the fully closed state of the window glass 2 is “None”. From the experiment, it was found that there was an increase of about 20% compared to

  As shown in FIG. 7, such a glass breakage detection sensor 10 is packaged together with an amplifier 21 that is electrically connected to the strain detection unit 12 and amplifies and outputs a detection signal output from the strain detection unit 12. And constitutes the glass breakage detection structure 20. An external device can be connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 21, and the glass breakage detection device 23 is configured by electrically connecting the breakage determination unit 22. Although the breakage determination unit 22 detects distortion of the inner panel 5 based on an output signal from the amplifier 21 (a fully closed state of the window glass 2), the opening determination of the window glass 2 is not performed. When it is determined that the distortion of the inner panel 5 can no longer be detected, it is determined that the window glass 2 has been damaged. When the breakage determination unit 22 determines that the window glass 2 is damaged, the breakage determination unit 22 performs control such as outputting an operation signal to a control target such as an alarm device. For this reason, control of the vehicle based on the presence or absence of breakage of the window glass 2 becomes possible.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) Since the detection signal output from the distortion detector 12 changes according to the amount of distortion of the strain-generating body 11 increased by the window glass 2 being fully closed, the inner panel 5 associated with the window glass 2 being fully closed. Can be reliably detected. Therefore, when the window glass 2 is damaged in the fully closed state, the amount of distortion of the inner panel 5 is reduced. Therefore, by using such a glass breakage detection sensor 10, the window glass 2 in the fully closed state is used. The presence or absence of breakage of the window glass 2 can be detected based on the change in the strain amount of the strain generating body 11. Moreover, the first and second lower washers 15 and 16 cause the strain generating body 11 to be distorted in the direction of distortion of the inner panel 5 that occurs when the window glass 2 is fully closed even when the window glass 2 is fully opened. When the window glass 2 is fully closed, the strain body 11 is further distorted in the same direction as the previously distorted direction due to the distortion of the inner panel 5. That is, the strain direction of the strain body 11 is restricted to one direction. For this reason, it is prevented that the strain body 11 is distorted in the direction opposite to the direction of bending when the window glass 2 is fully closed, and stress from the other direction is applied to the strain body 11. Can be suitably suppressed. Therefore, a decrease in durability of the strain body 11 due to the stress can be suppressed.

  (2) By interposing the first and second lower washers 15 and 16 having different thicknesses between the strain body 11 and the inner panel 5, the strain direction of the strain body 11 can be easily regulated. . In addition, by changing the thickness of the lower washers 15 and 16 according to the installation location of the strain body 11 in the inner panel 5, the strain direction of the strain body 11 can be reliably regulated.

  (3) Since the strain detection unit 12 includes two strain gauges (strain detection elements), it is possible to individually detect the strain change of the strain generating body accompanying the opening and closing of the window glass 2 by each strain gauge. And the electric signal which shows the difference total value of the distortion amount of the strain body 11 detected by these distortion detection elements is output as a detection signal. For this reason, compared with the case where the strain detection unit 12 is configured using one strain gauge, it is possible to detect the strain change of the strain generating body 11 accompanying the opening and closing of the window glass 2 with higher accuracy.

  (4) Since the stress in the direction of compression from the PWR 6 is applied to the lower part of the inner panel 5 below the part where the PWR 6 is disposed, the entire part of the window glass 2 is more than the upper part of the PWR 6. Prone to distortion when closed. Therefore, by disposing the glass breakage detection sensor 10 at such a lower position, it is possible to reliably detect the distortion of the inner panel 5 accompanying the fully closing operation of the window glass 2.

  In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.

  The glass breakage detection sensor 10 does not necessarily need to be disposed at a position below the PWR 6 in the inner panel 5, and may be disposed, for example, at a position above the PWR 6. Further, the glass breakage detection sensor 10 is not necessarily disposed on the inner panel 5, and is disposed on the X arm 6 b of the PWR 6, for example, and is based on the distortion amount of the X arm 6 b accompanying the opening / closing operation of the window glass 2. The window glass 2 may be detected for breakage. That is, the glass breakage detection sensor 10 may be disposed anywhere as long as the amount of distortion changes between the fully closed state and the open state of the window glass 2.

  The strain detector 12 does not necessarily have to be mounted on the mounting surface side of the first upper washer 13 and the second upper washer 14 in the strain body 11, but the mounting surface of the first lower washer 15 and the second lower washer 16 May be implemented on the side. In such a case, the strain detection unit 12 detects the strain in the pulling direction of the strain generating body 11, and can obtain the same effects as the above-described embodiment.

  The number of strain gauges (strain detection elements) provided in the strain detection unit 12 is not necessarily two, and may be only one or three or more.

  The glass breakage detection sensor 10, the amplifier 21, and the breakage determination unit 22 may be integrated into one package. That is, you may comprise the glass breakage detection apparatus 23 with one structure.

(A) is a front view of the door for vehicles which shows the installation state of the glass breakage detection sensor of one embodiment of the present invention roughly, (b) is an AA line sectional view of (a). The disassembled perspective view which shows schematic structure of the glass breakage detection sensor of the embodiment. The top view of the glass breakage detection sensor of the embodiment. AA line sectional view of Drawing 4. (a) is sectional drawing which shows the installation state of the glass breakage detection sensor of the embodiment, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the state of the glass breakage detection sensor in the distortion state of an inner panel. (A), (b) is a graph which shows the comparative example of the distortion detection state by the glass breakage detection part of the embodiment. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the glass breakage detection apparatus of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Door for vehicles, 2 ... Window glass, 5 ... Inner panel, 6 ... Power window regulator (PWR, opening-closing mechanism), 10 ... Glass breakage detection sensor, 11 ... Strain body, 12 ... Strain detection part, 13th DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper washer (fixed part), 14 ... 2nd upper washer (fixed part, 15 ... 1st lower washer (fixed part, distortion direction control means), 16 ... 2nd lower washer (fixed part, distortion direction control means), 22 ... Breakage determination part, 23 ... Glass breakage detection apparatus.

Claims (4)

Whether the window glass is broken or not based on the distortion of the inner panel, which is installed in an inner panel provided with an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the window glass in a door for a vehicle and is fully closed A glass breakage detection sensor for detecting
A strain generating body that produces strain together with the inner panel, a strain detection section that is provided on the strain generating body and outputs a detection signal indicating the amount of strain of the strain generating body, and both sides of the strain detection section in the strain generating body A pair of fixing portions that are respectively provided at the portions and fix the strain generating body to the inner panel; and in the open state of the window glass, the strain generating body is previously placed in the strain direction of the inner panel that occurs when the window glass is fully closed. A glass breakage detection sensor comprising: a strain direction regulating means for warping. Each of the fixing parts includes a washer interposed between the strain body and the inner panel, and
The glass breakage detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the strain direction regulating means is configured by the washers having different thicknesses.   The strain detection unit includes a plurality of strain detection elements, and outputs an electrical signal indicating a difference total value of the strain generating bodies by the strain detection elements as the detection signal. The glass breakage detection sensor described in 1.   An arrangement structure of the glass breakage detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the glass breakage detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is disposed at a position below the opening / closing mechanism of the inner panel.

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