JP2014240819A - Photosensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensor which suppresses an increase in manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: The photosensor includes: a light receiving element (10); a light-emitting element (20); a mounting part (30) mounting the light receiving element and the light-emitting element respectively thereon; a lid part (40) forming, together with the mounting part, a storage space for storing the light receiving element and the light-emitting element. The lid part includes a material for transmitting therethrough each of light received by the light receiving element and light emitted by the light-emitting element. A portion (41) of the lid part corresponding to the light receiving element on an inner surface has a curved surface shape for condensing the light entering the lid part onto the light receiving element, and a portion (42) of the lid part corresponding to the light-emitting element on the inner surface has a curved surface shape for emitting light emitted by the light-emitting element outside the lid part.

Description

  The present invention is a light having a light receiving element, a light emitting element, a mounting portion on which the light receiving element and the light emitting element are mounted, and a lid that forms a storage space in which the light receiving element and the light emitting element are stored together with the mounting portion. It relates to sensors.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, a solar radiation sensor having a light receiving element, a light emitting element, and a housing that accommodates these elements has been proposed. The housing is formed of a translucent plastic material suitable for attenuating sunlight incident on the light receiving element. A filter made of a plastic material having a different color from that of the housing is integrally formed in the housing.

JP-A-11-160147

  As described above, in the solar radiation sensor described in Patent Document 1, the housing made of translucent plastic and the filter made of plastic of a different color from the housing are integrally formed. For this reason, there are problems that the types of forming materials are increased and the manufacturing cost is increased.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical sensor in which an increase in manufacturing cost is suppressed.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a light receiving element (10) for converting light into an electric signal, a light emitting element (20) for converting an electric signal into light, and a light receiving element and a light emitting element. An optical sensor having a mounting portion (30) and a lid portion (40) that constitutes a storage space in which the light receiving element and the light emitting element are stored together with the mounting portion by being fixed to the mounting portion, The lid portion is made of a material that transmits light received by the light receiving element and light emitted by the light emitting element, and a portion (41) corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion is light incident on the lid portion. The portion (42) corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion has a curved shape to emit light emitted from the light emitting element to the outside of the lid portion. It is characterized by.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the lid (40) is formed with the curved surface (41) corresponding to the light receiving element (20) and the curved surface (42) corresponding to the light emitting element (20). 40) enters the light receiving element (10), and the light emitted from the light emitting element (20) is emitted to the outside of the lid (40). According to this, in order to collect the light incident on the lid (40) on the light receiving element (10) and to emit the light emitted by the light emitting element (20) to the outside of the lid (40), Compared to the configuration in which (40) is formed from two different materials, an increase in the type of forming material is suppressed, and an increase in manufacturing cost is suppressed.

  In the present invention, the portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion has a smoother surface roughness than the portion corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion so as to collect the light incident on the lid portion on the light receiving element. The portion corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion is rougher than the portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion in order to diffuse the light emitted by the light emitting element to the outside of the lid portion. A configuration is preferred.

  According to this, the site | part (henceforth 1st site | part (41)) corresponding to the light receiving element (10) in the inner surface of a cover part (40) is set to the light emitting element (20) in the inner surface of a cover part (40). The light incident on the lid (40) can be condensed on the light receiving element (10) as compared with the configuration having a rougher surface roughness than the corresponding part (hereinafter referred to as the second part (42)). In addition, the second part (42) diffuses the light emitted from the light emitting element (20) to the outside of the lid part (40) as compared with the configuration in which the surface roughness is smoother than that of the first part (41). Can do. As a result, the light receiving range of the light receiving element (10) is expanded and the light emitting area of the light emitting element (20) is expanded.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the optical sensor which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a top view which shows the modification of an optical sensor. It is sectional drawing which follows the IV-IV line of FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a vehicle will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
Based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the optical sensor according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the boundary is shown by a broken line in order to clarify the boundary between a first part 41 and a second part 42 described later. In the following, the three directions that are orthogonal to each other are referred to as an x direction, a y direction, and a z direction. A plane defined by the x direction and the y direction is referred to as a defined plane. The x direction corresponds to the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the y direction corresponds to the front-rear direction (traveling / retreating direction) of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical sensor 100 includes a light receiving element 10, a light emitting element 20, a mounting part 30, a lid part 40, and a control part 50. Each of the elements 10, 20 and the control unit 50 is stored in a storage space constituted by the mounting unit 30 and the lid 40, and light incident in the storage space via the lid 40 is received by the light receiving element 10. The light received by and emitted from the light emitting element 20 is emitted to the outside through the lid 40. The optical sensor 100 serves as a solar radiation sensor and a security indicator. The optical sensor 100 calculates the position of the sun by analyzing the output signal of the light receiving element 10 and posts a warning to the user by driving the light emitting element 20 to turn on. The control unit 50 drives each of the elements 10 and 20 having such a function. Note that the calculation of the sun position and the like and warning to the user are performed by the control unit 50 or a CPU provided in the vehicle mounted.

  The light receiving element 10 converts light into an electrical signal. Specifically, the light receiving element 10 is a PD. The back surface of the surface mounted on the mounting portion 30 in the light receiving element 10 is a light receiving surface 10a, and the light receiving surface 10a is along a prescribed plane. Light incident on the lid 40 and condensed by the lid 40 is incident on the light receiving surface 10a.

  The light emitting element 20 converts an electrical signal into light. Specifically, the light emitting element 20 is an LED. The back surface of the surface mounted on the mounting portion 30 in the light emitting element 20 is a light emitting surface 20a, and the light emitting surface 20a is along a prescribed plane. The light emitted from the light emitting element 20 is emitted to the outside through the lid 40.

  The mounting unit 30 mounts the elements 10 and 20 and the control unit 50. The mounting portion 30 is made of an insulating resin, and a lead is insert-molded (not shown). One end of the lead is provided in the storage space, and the other end is exposed to the outside. More specifically, one end of the lead is provided on the mounting surface 30a on which the elements 10 and 20 and the control unit 50 in the mounting unit 30 are mounted, and the other end of the lead is a socket ( (Not shown). Each of the elements 10 and 20 and the controller 50 is electrically connected to the vehicle via the leads.

  The lid part 40 constitutes a storage space together with the mounting part 30. The outer surface of the lid portion 40 has a dome shape, and the edge portion thereof is fixed to the mounting portion 30. Thereby, a storage space is configured by the mounting portion 30 and the lid portion 40.

  The lid 40 is made of a material that transmits light received by the light receiving element 10 and light emitted by the light emitting element 20. A portion of the inner surface of the lid portion 40 corresponding to the light receiving element 10 (hereinafter referred to as a first portion 41) has a curved surface shape so that the light incident on the lid portion 40 is condensed on the light receiving element 10. Specifically, the first portion 41 has a curved surface shape that is recessed in a direction from the light receiving element 10 toward the lid portion 40, and has a spherical surface shape. Further, a portion corresponding to the light emitting element 20 on the inner surface of the lid portion 40 (hereinafter, referred to as a second portion 42) has a curved shape so that light emitted from the light emitting element 20 is emitted to the outside of the lid portion 40. Yes. Specifically, the second portion 42 has a curved surface shape that is recessed in the direction from the light emitting element 20 toward the lid portion 40, and has a flat surface shape.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first part 41 and the second part 42 are arranged in the y direction, and the first part 41 and the second part 42 are connected to form one curved surface. It is made. The optical sensor 100 is mounted on the vehicle such that the first part 41 is positioned on the traveling direction side of the vehicle and the second part 42 is positioned on the backward direction side of the vehicle. As the optical sensor 100 is mounted on the vehicle in this way, sunlight that enters the vehicle from the front of the vehicle enters the light receiving element 10.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first part 41 and the second part are used for condensing the light incident on the lid 40 on the light receiving element 10 and diffusing the light emitted by the light emitting element 20 to the outside of the lid 40. A difference is provided in the surface roughness of each of 42. That is, the first portion 41 is processed to have a surface roughness smoother than that of the second portion 42, and the second portion 42 is processed to have a surface roughness rougher than that of the first portion.

  Next, functions and effects of the optical sensor 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. As described above, the first portion 41 that is a curved surface corresponding to the light receiving element 10 and the second portion 42 that is a curved surface corresponding to the light emitting element 20 are formed in the lid portion 40, and light incident on the lid portion 40. Enters the light receiving element 10, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 is emitted to the outside of the lid 40. According to this, in order to condense the light incident on the lid 40 on the light receiving element 10 and to emit the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 to the outside of the lid 40, the lid is formed of two different materials. Compared to the configuration, an increase in the type of forming material is suppressed, and an increase in manufacturing cost is suppressed.

  The first portion 41 has a surface roughness that is greater than that of the second portion 42 in order to condense the light incident on the lid portion 40 onto the light receiving element 10 and diffuse the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 to the outside of the lid portion 40. The second portion 42 has a rougher surface roughness than the first portion. According to this, the light incident on the lid 40 can be condensed on the light receiving element 10 as compared with the configuration in which the first portion has a surface roughness larger than that of the second portion. Further, the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 can be diffused to the outside of the lid portion 40 as compared with the configuration in which the second portion has a smoother surface roughness than the first portion. As a result, the light receiving range of the light receiving element 10 is expanded and the light emitting region of the light emitting element 20 is expanded.

  The first part 41 and the second part 42 are connected to form one curved surface. According to this, the increase in the physique of the cover part 40 is suppressed compared with the structure in which each of the first part and the second part forms an independent curved surface. As a result, an increase in the physique of the optical sensor 100 is suppressed.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  The 1st site | part 41 comprised the curved surface shape recessed in the direction which goes to the cover part 40 from the light receiving element 10, and showed the example which has comprised the spherical surface shape. However, the curved surface shape of the first portion 41 is not limited to the above example, and any shape can be used as long as it is a shape that condenses the light incident on the lid 40 on the light receiving element 10.

  The 2nd site | part 42 comprised the curved surface shape dented in the direction which goes to the cover part 40 from the light emitting element 20, and showed the example which has comprised the surface shape of the oblate ball. However, the curved surface shape of the second portion 42 is not limited to the above example, and any shape can be used as long as the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 is emitted to the outside of the lid portion 40.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the optical sensor 100 is mounted on the vehicle such that the first part 41 is located on the traveling direction side and the second part 42 is located on the backward direction side. However, the mounting of the optical sensor 100 on the vehicle is not limited to the above example. For example, the optical sensor 100 may be mounted on the vehicle such that the second part 42 is located on the backward direction side and the first part 41 is located on the traveling direction side. As the optical sensor 100 is mounted on the vehicle in this way, sunlight that enters the vehicle from the rear of the vehicle enters the light receiving element 10.

  In this embodiment, the 1st site | part 41 showed the example whose surface roughness was processed more smoothly than the 2nd site | part 42, and the 2nd site | part 42 showed the surface roughness processed rather than the 1st site | part. . However, the surface roughness of each of the first part 41 and the second part 42 need not be particularly processed.

  In this embodiment, the example which the 1st site | part 41 and the 2nd site | part 42 continued and comprised one curved surface was shown. However, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a configuration in which the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 each have an independent curved surface may be employed. According to this, the light of the light emitting element 20 incident on the inside of the lid portion 40 from the second portion 42 is repeatedly reflected inside the lid portion 40 and then enters the light receiving element 10 via the first portion 41. Is suppressed.

  As described above, part of the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 and incident on the lid 40 may be repeatedly reflected in the lid 40 and may enter the light receiving element 10. Therefore, for example, when the optical sensor 100 is activated, the output characteristics of the light receiving element 10 may be corrected by emitting light from the light emitting element 20 and diagnosing fluctuations in the output signal of the light receiving element 10. Specifically, first, the output signal of the light receiving element 10 is stored as an initial value without emitting light from the light emitting element 20. Thereafter, light is emitted from the light emitting element 20, and the output signal of the light receiving element 10 is stored as an inspection value. Next, a value obtained by subtracting the initial value from the inspection value is compared with an expected value of an output signal that is expected to be output from the light receiving element 10 when light is emitted from the light emitting element 20. Then, a correction value corresponding to the difference between the two is calculated, and the output characteristic of the light receiving element 10 is corrected with the correction value. Such a correction process may be performed by the control unit 50 or may be performed by a CPU mounted on the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Light receiving element 20 ... Light emitting element 30 ... Mounting part 40 ... Cover part 41 ... 1st site | part 42 ... 2nd site | part 100 ... Optical sensor

Claims (7)

A light receiving element (10) for converting light into an electrical signal;
A light emitting element (20) for converting an electrical signal into light;
A mounting portion (30) for mounting each of the light receiving element and the light emitting element;
A light sensor having a lid (40) that constitutes a storage space in which the light receiving element and the light emitting element are stored together with the mounting part by being fixed to the mounting part,
The lid portion is made of a material that transmits light received by the light receiving element and light emitted by the light emitting element.
A portion (41) corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion has a curved surface shape so as to collect light incident on the lid portion on the light receiving element, and the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion. The corresponding portion (42) has a curved surface shape so that the light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted to the outside of the lid portion. The portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion is more rough than the portion corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion so as to collect the light incident on the lid portion on the light receiving element. Is smooth
The portion corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion is rougher than the portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion in order to diffuse the light emitted by the light emitting element to the outside of the lid portion. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is rough. The part corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid part has a curved shape that is recessed in the direction from the light receiving element toward the lid part,
The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the lid corresponding to the light emitting element has a curved shape that is recessed in a direction from the light emitting element toward the lid. A portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion has a surface shape of a sphere,
4. The optical sensor according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the lid corresponding to the light emitting element has an oblate surface shape.   5. A portion corresponding to the light receiving element on the inner surface of the lid portion and a portion corresponding to the light emitting element on the inner surface of the lid portion form a single curved surface. The optical sensor according to any one of claims.   2. The vehicle is mounted on the vehicle such that a portion corresponding to the light receiving element is located on a traveling direction side of the vehicle and a portion corresponding to the light emitting element is located in a backward direction of the vehicle. The optical sensor according to any one of? 5.   The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the lid portion has a dome shape.

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