JP2603430Y2 - Solar radiation detection sensor - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar radiation detecting sensor used for a temperature control device of an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement of a solar radiation detecting sensor for detecting oblique solar radiation from two directions of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent air conditioners for automobiles have a temperature control unit for automatically adjusting the temperature in a passenger compartment to a desired temperature by sensing the amount of solar radiation received by a vehicle in addition to the outside air temperature and the inside air temperature. I have. The sensible temperature of the occupant in the passenger compartment varies not only with the temperature of air blown from the air conditioner for the car but also with the amount of solar radiation, so the amount of solar radiation received by the vehicle is detected by the solar radiation detection sensor, and the room temperature is finely adjusted. ing.

However, in the case of direct sunlight having the strongest sunlight, the amount of sunlight entering the passenger compartment is smaller than that of oblique sunlight, and does not significantly affect the sensed temperature. In such cases, it is necessary to attenuate it and adjust to oblique solar radiation.

Further, in an air conditioner for a vehicle of a left and right independent temperature control type for individually adjusting the temperature in the left and right directions in a vehicle cabin, it is necessary to individually detect oblique solar radiation from two directions from left and right. In addition, among the diagonal solar radiations from the two front and rear directions, the solar radiation irradiated into the vehicle interior through the windshield greatly affects the sensed temperature, so that it is necessary to accurately detect diagonal solar radiation from the front.

Therefore, in order to reliably detect, for example, diagonal solar radiation in two directions, a solar radiation detection sensor for detecting solar radiation from two directions as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has been proposed.

The solar radiation detecting sensor 10 shown in FIG. 8 includes two light receiving means 12 in a transparent or translucent cover portion 11.
R and 12L are horizontally arranged on a base 13, and a light shielding plate 14 is provided upright at the center of a gap 19 between the light receiving means 12R and 12L to divide each of the light receiving means 12R and 12L into left and right, and one of them is on the left side. Left detecting light receiving means 1 for detecting oblique solar radiation
2L, and the other is right-side detection light-receiving means 12R for detecting oblique right-sided solar radiation.

In the solar radiation detecting sensor 10a shown in FIG. 9, light receiving means 12R and 12L are disposed on a slope 15R and 15L of a base 15 having a mountain-shaped cross section in a transparent or translucent cover portion 11, respectively. The light receiving means provided on the slope 15L is a left detection light receiving means 12L for detecting left oblique sunlight, and the light receiving means provided on the other slope 15R is a right detection light receiving means 12R for detecting right oblique sunlight.

These solar radiation detecting sensors 10, 10a are:
Based on the amount of light received by the left detection light receiving means 12L and the right detection light receiving means 12R, it is placed on a dashboard or the like of the car, and the solar radiation state such as the incident direction and the incident angle of the solar light in addition to the solar radiation intensity. Is calculated, and the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle interior is adjusted based on the solar radiation state.

Each of the illustrated light receiving means 12R and 12L has a photoelectric conversion element 16R (16
L) is mounted on the conductive substrate 17 by one element, and the photoelectric conversion element 16R (16L) and the conductive substrate 17 are sealed with a transparent resin, that is, resin-molded. The protective body 18 is formed by this transparent resin. Such light receiving means 12R and 12L have the base 13,
Even if the metal 15 is made of metal, it cannot be fixed using solder, so that it is fixed on the bases 13 and 15 using an adhesive.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Conventional solar radiation detecting sensors 10, 10a for detecting solar radiation from the above-mentioned two directions.
In the case of (2), two light receiving means 12R (12L) in which only one photoelectric conversion element 16R (16L) is sealed must be arranged.
Becomes inevitably large, and the solar radiation detection sensor 10,
10a could not be reduced in size.

Further, in the solar radiation detecting sensors 10 and 10a in which a plurality of light receiving means 12R and 12L are arranged, as described in detail below, there is a certain limit in improving the measurement accuracy.

That is, the solar radiation detecting sensor 10 shown in FIG.
In this case, the two light receiving means 12R and 12L must be fixed to the horizontal upper end surface 13a of the base 13 with an adhesive, and the light shielding plate 14 must be fixed to the center of the gap 19 with an adhesive. It was difficult to make the line coincide with the center line of the gap 19. Therefore, the distance between the light shielding plate 14 and the right photoelectric conversion element 16R is not always equal to the distance between the light shielding plate 14 and the left photoelectric conversion element 16L. For this reason, the right and left detection light receiving means 12R and 12L may differ in the amount of light that the light shielding plate 14 blocks the sunlight, and the left and right detection sensitivity may be asymmetric. Further, due to unevenness in the amount of the adhesive when the individual light receiving means 12R and 12L are fixed, etc., the individual light receiving means 12R and 12L
Even if 2L is mounted on the same plane 13a of the base 13, the light receiving surface 20 of each of the photoelectric conversion elements 16R, 16L
R and 20L are not necessarily located on the same plane. In this regard, the light shielding amount of the light shielding plate 14 is different between the photoelectric conversion elements 16R and 16L. The detection sensitivity varied among the solar radiation detection sensors.

In the solar radiation detecting sensor 10a shown in FIG.
Since the light receiving means 12R and 12L are fixed on the two slopes 15R and 15L of the substrate 15 having a mountain-shaped cross section with an adhesive, the position of the right photoelectric conversion element 16R and the position of the left photoelectric conversion element 16L are determined. Even if the position slightly deviates along the slope direction, there is little possibility that the detection sensitivity becomes asymmetric in the left-right direction. However, since the individual light receiving means 12R and 12L are attached to the inclined surfaces 15R and 15L via an adhesive, the inclination angle formed between the light receiving surface 20R of the right photoelectric conversion element 16R and the bottom surface 15a of the base 15 Is not always equal to the inclination angle formed between the light receiving surface 20L of the left photoelectric conversion element 16L and the bottom surface 15a, and the left and right detection sensitivity becomes asymmetric due to the difference in the inclination angle. At the same time, the detection sensitivity varies among the individual solar radiation detection sensors.

As described above, when the light receiving means of the prior art is used, since the detection sensitivity varies among the individual solar radiation detecting sensors 10, 10a, the solar radiation state cannot be accurately detected.

In order to eliminate variations in the left and right detection sensitivities in the solar radiation detection sensor 10 shown in FIG. 8, as described above, the intermediate position between the right photoelectric conversion element 16R and the left photoelectric conversion element 16L is used. The light-shielding plate 14 must be attached to the position with high precision, and the work of fixing the light-shielding plate 14 to the base 13 becomes extremely complicated, and the fixing strength is not sufficient because it is fixed by an adhesive. Moreover, in the structure in which the light shielding plate 14 is provided between the two light receiving units 12R and 12L,
Since the number of parts itself increases, the cost of the solar radiation detection sensor 10 also increases.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems associated with the prior art described above, and there is no variation in detection sensitivity among the individual solar radiation detection sensors, and the solar radiation state is detected with high reliability and high accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a solar radiation detection sensor capable of performing the following.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar radiation detecting sensor in which a light-receiving means in which a photoelectric conversion element is sealed with a resin is fixed on a flat base. The light receiving means includes at least two photoelectric conversion elements formed of a semiconductor chip for receiving sunlight and outputting a light amount signal corresponding to the amount of received light, and at least two slopes inclined at an equal angle with respect to a reference plane. Formed on each of the slope portions, the substrate having each of the photoelectric conversion elements attached thereto, and the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and the substrate are sealed with a solar light transmitting material to form the solar light. This is a solar radiation detection sensor in which a protective body is formed from a transparent material.

[0018]

[0019]

The photoelectric conversion element made of a semiconductor chip has excellent flatness. Therefore, simply mounting the photoelectric conversion element on a substrate provided with a slope portion inclined at an equal angle with respect to a reference plane allows each photoelectric conversion element to be mounted. The light receiving surface will be inclined at an equal angle with respect to the reference surface. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the light receiving means does not vary for each photoelectric conversion element, and according to the solar radiation detection sensor provided with the light receiving means, oblique solar radiation from at least two directions is detected symmetrically and accurately. In addition, simply fixing one light receiving means on the base provides a solar radiation detection sensor capable of detecting oblique solar radiation from at least two directions, so that the sensor can be easily assembled.

[0020]

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a solar radiation detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a light receiving unit shown in FIG.

The solar radiation detecting sensor 30 shown in FIG. 1 is for detecting diagonal solar radiation in two directions, left and right. The solar radiation detecting sensor 30 is provided in a transparent or translucent cover portion 31.
One light receiving means 32 is arranged on the base 33 in the horizontal direction.

The light receiving means 32 of this embodiment has a structure in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L mounted on a substrate 34 are integrally molded with a resin. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the light receiving means 32 includes two photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L, and a conductive paste in which the two photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L are arranged via a separation band 39. A substrate 34 fixed via a conductive material such as
A first lead portion 36a integrally formed with the substrate 34,
36b, and second lead portions 37a, 37 connected to the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L via bonding wires.
b. The substrate 34 includes photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 3R,
A circuit for electrically connecting 5L to the leads 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b is printed on a pattern. And
The photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L, the substrate 34, and the leads 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b are sealed with a protective body 38 formed by heating and molding a sealing material such as a transparent resin or a translucent resin, and are integrally fixed. Have been.

Since the transparent resin or the translucent resin forming the protective body 38 transmits light, the photoelectric conversion elements 35R,
5L receives the solar light and outputs a light quantity signal corresponding to the received light quantity. Since each of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L is an electronic component made of a semiconductor chip, the thickness is equal and the flatness is extremely good. The substrate 34 to which the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L are attached is also a component having a flat surface formed with high accuracy. Therefore, simply attaching the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L on the substrate 34,
The light receiving surface 47R of each photoelectric conversion element 35R, 35L, 4
7L (see FIG. 3) is located on the same plane parallel to the substrate 34. Also, the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35R
When mounting L, since the mounting position can be easily adjusted, each photoelectric conversion element 35R, 35L is easily arranged at a position parallel to the center line 40 of the separation band 39 and equidistant from the center line 40. be able to.

The lead portions 36a, 36b, 37a, 3
7b constitutes a signal transmission member that transmits a light amount signal output from the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L. These leads 36a, 36b, 37a, and 37b are led out of the protection body 38, and the light amount signal is input to a temperature control unit (not shown) provided outside the protection body 38.
Then, in the temperature control unit, the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L
A predetermined solar radiation correction is performed based on the light amount signal output from the vehicle, and the temperature in the vehicle cabin is controlled to a temperature at which the occupant feels comfortable.

In the light receiving means 32 of the present embodiment, furthermore, a projection is provided on a resin molding die for molding the protection body 38 or by insert molding.
The light shielding means 44 for blocking oblique solar radiation is provided at the center line 40 of the separation band 39.
Along with the protection body 38.

That is, the light shielding means 44 shown in FIG.
Is formed integrally with the protection body 38 using a resin molding die provided with a protrusion, and a deep groove 45 having a shape corresponding to the protrusion of the die is formed along the center line 40, and It is formed so as to be orthogonal to the substrate 34. Deep groove 45
, The light receiving means 32 is divided into left and right, the right photoelectric conversion element 35R in the figure functions as a right sunlight detecting element for detecting the right oblique sunlight by blocking the left oblique sunlight, and the left photoelectric conversion element 35L in the figure. Functions as a left solar radiation detecting element for detecting oblique solar radiation on the left side while oblique solar radiation on the right is shielded. It is preferable to fill the deep groove 45 with a material having a lower refractive index than the protective body 38 or a material that does not transmit light, because the light shielding effect is further increased and the left and right separation sensitivity is increased.

On the other hand, the light shielding means 44 shown in FIG.
Instead of the deep groove 45, the light shielding plate 46 is formed by insert molding along the center line 40 at the time of resin molding. Also in this case, the light receiving means 32 is divided into right and left by the light shielding plate 46, the photoelectric conversion element 35R on the right side in the figure functions as a right solar radiation detecting element, and the photoelectric conversion element 3 on the left side in the figure.
5L functions as a left solar radiation detecting element. Since the light shielding plate 46 is sealed and integrally fixed together with the protective body 38 and the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L, etc., compared with the conventional solar radiation detection sensor 10 in which the light shielding plate 14 is erected on the base 13, In addition, the strength is remarkably improved against impact, vibration and the like.

The upper end surface and the lower end surface of the protective body 38 are formed so as to be parallel to the light receiving surfaces 47R, 47L of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L. And the light receiving means 32
The lower end surface of the protective body 38 is fixed on the base 33 via an adhesive or the like.

According to the light receiving means 32 having the above structure, first,
Photoelectric conversion element 35 composed of a semiconductor chip with high dimensional accuracy
Since R and 35L can be directly arranged on the substrate 34 that can be processed with high precision, the accuracy of the mounting position of each of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L with respect to the center line 40 of the separation band 39 is significantly increased, and each of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R , 35L are also arranged on the same plane. In addition to the improvement of the mounting position accuracy of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L, the light shielding means 44 is used in a resin molding using a resin mold that can be formed with high accuracy.
Since (45, 46) is formed integrally with the protective body 38 along the center line 40, the light shielding plate 14 is mounted on the base 13 at an intermediate position between the two photoelectric conversion elements 12R and 12L. By comparison, the center line of the light shielding means 44 and the center line 40 of the separation band 39 can be easily matched with high accuracy, and the light receiving surfaces 47R and 47L can be provided so as to be perpendicular to the light receiving surfaces 47R and 47L.

Therefore, the distance VR between the right light quantity conversion element 35R and the light shielding means 44 and the left light quantity conversion element 35R
L and the distance VL between the light shielding means 44 can be easily equalized, and the light shielding amount of the light
There is no difference between 5R and 35L, and the left and right detection sensitivities are symmetric as is clear from the characteristic diagram shown in FIG. In addition, variations in detection characteristics (for example, detection peaks) of the individual light receiving means 32 are extremely small. According to the solar radiation detection sensor 30 in which this is assembled, it is possible to accurately and uniformly detect the solar radiation state. Become.

The assembling of the solar radiation detecting sensor 30 is as follows.
One light receiving unit 3 in which two photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L are incorporated and a light shielding unit 44 is integrally formed.
2 only needs to be fixed on the base 33. Therefore, 1
A fixed detection accuracy can be ensured only by managing the accuracy when attaching the light receiving means 32 to the base 33,
Further, the assembling work is facilitated through the reduction of the number of parts, and the cost is excellent.

It is to be noted that three or more photoelectric conversion elements are
By arranging the light-blocking members 9 through the light-shielding members 9 and providing the light-shielding means 44 having the above-described configuration in each of the separation bands 39, it is also possible to accurately detect the state of solar radiation from a plurality of directions of three or more.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the light receiving means of the solar radiation detecting sensor according to another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the light receiving means shown in FIG. Insolation detection sensor 3 of this embodiment
0a is also for detecting diagonal solar radiation in two directions, left and right. As in the case of the above-mentioned solar radiation detection sensor 30, one light receiving means 50 is placed horizontally on the base 33 in the transparent or translucent cover portion 31. It is arranged in the direction. This light receiving means 5
As shown in FIG. 5, the zero substrate 51 is bent at a central portion in the longitudinal direction to form two slopes 51R and 51L, and is disposed with the convex portion facing the upper surface. The oblique distance between the two slope portions 51R and 51L is determined by the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and
It has dimensions larger than 5L in length. Slope part 51R,
At the lower end of 51L, first lead portions 36a and 36b are integrally formed with the substrate 51.
6a and 36b are arranged so as to be located on the same plane. Further, the second lead portions 37a, 37 connected to the photoelectric conversion elements 35R, 35L via bonding wires.
b is the slope 5R near the side of the slopes 51R and 51L.
The first lead portions 36a, 3d,
Flat part 5 arranged on the same plane as the plane on which 6b is located
And 3. The bonding wires are connected to the inclined portions 52 of the second lead portions 37a and 37b. The photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L and the slope 51
R, 51L, substrate 51, lead portions 36a, 36
b, 37a, and 37b are sealed by a protective body 54 formed by heating and molding a sealing material such as a transparent resin or a translucent resin, and are integrally fixed.

In FIG. 6 showing a cross section of the solar radiation detection sensor 30a, reference numeral "55" indicates one reference plane. The substrate 51 is formed such that an angle αR between one slope 51R and the reference plane 55 is equal to an angle αL between the other slope 51L and the reference plane 55. By the way, the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L, which are semiconductor chips,
Since the light receiving surfaces 47R and 47L are parallel to the bottom surface, if the light receiving means 50 is fixed to the slope portions 51R and 51L, the angle at which the plane on which the light receiving surface 47R of one photoelectric conversion element 35R is located forms the reference plane 55. Is equal to the aforementioned αR, and the angle between the plane on which the light receiving surface 47L of the other photoelectric conversion element 35L is located and the reference plane 55 is equal to the aforementioned αL. As a result, the reference plane of each of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L is 55
Are equal.

The upper end surface and the lower end surface of the protective body 54 are formed so as to be parallel to the reference plane 55. And
The light receiving means 50 has the lower end surface of the protective body 54 fixed on the base 33 via an adhesive or the like.

Even with such a light receiving means 50, a photoelectric conversion element 35R made of a semiconductor chip having high dimensional accuracy can be used.
Since the 35L can be directly disposed on the substrate 51 that can be processed with high accuracy, the accuracy of the mounting position of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L with respect to the substrate 51 is significantly increased,
Light receiving surface 47R, 47L of each photoelectric conversion element 35R, 35L
Are also equal to the reference plane 55. In addition to improving the accuracy of the mounting position of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L, the respective photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L are integrally sealed by the protective body 54 at the time of resin molding using a resin mold that can be formed with high accuracy. Therefore, the inclination angles of the light receiving surfaces 47R and 47L with respect to the reference plane 55 are more uniform than when the two light receiving units 12R and 12L are mounted on the inclined surfaces 15R and 15L as in the conventional example of FIG. It will be. Therefore, the bottom surface of the protection body 54 and the top surface of the base are formed horizontally so as to be parallel to the reference plane 55, and one of the photoelectric conversion elements 35R is directed to the right and the other photoelectric conversion element 35L is directed to the left. By simply mounting 50 on the base 33, as is clear from the characteristic diagram shown in FIG. 7, the left and right detection sensitivities are symmetric, and the insolation from the left side of the vehicle and the insolation from the right side are accurately detected symmetrically. can do. Moreover, the individual light receiving means 50
The variation in the detection characteristics (for example, the detection peak) for each is extremely small, and the solar radiation state can be accurately and uniformly detected.

The solar radiation detection sensor 30a can be assembled only by disposing one light receiving means 50 in which the two photoelectric conversion elements 35R and 35L are incorporated in an inclined manner on the base 33. A fixed detection accuracy can be ensured only by managing the accuracy at the time of attaching the light receiving means 50 to the base 33, and the assembly work is facilitated by reducing the number of parts, and the cost is excellent. It will be.

It is to be noted that three or more inclined portions inclined at the same angle with respect to the reference plane 55 are formed on the substrate 51, and each inclined portion is provided with a photoelectric conversion element, so that a plurality of directions from three or more directions can be obtained. It is also possible to accurately detect the solar radiation state.

[0040]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, 1
By fixing only the light receiving means on the base, a solar radiation detecting sensor capable of detecting oblique solar radiation from at least two directions is provided, so that assembly of the sensor is facilitated.

Further, the detection sensitivity of the light receiving means does not vary for each photoelectric conversion element, and according to the solar radiation detection sensor provided with the light receiving means, oblique solar radiation from at least two directions can be detected symmetrically and with high accuracy. It becomes possible to detect.

[0042]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a solar radiation detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the light receiving unit shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing examples of light shielding means.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic line diagram of the light receiving unit shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a light receiving unit of a solar radiation detection sensor according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the light receiving unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of the light receiving unit shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional solar radiation detection sensor.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a conventional solar radiation detection sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

32, 50: light receiving means, 33: base, 34, 51: substrate, 38,
54: protector, 35 (35R, 35L): photoelectric conversion element, 39: separation band, 40: center line of separation band,
44 (45, 46): light shielding means, 51R, 5
1L: slope, 55: reference plane.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-38532 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/00 101

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A light receiving means in which a photoelectric conversion element is resin-sealed.
In the solar radiation detection sensor having (50) fixed on a flat base (33), the light receiving means (50) comprises at least a semiconductor chip which receives solar radiation and outputs a light quantity signal corresponding to the received light quantity. Two photoelectric conversion elements (3
5R, 35L) and at least two inclined at equal angles to the reference plane (55)
Two slopes (51R, 51L) are formed, and these slopes (51R, 51R) are formed.
51L), a substrate (51) having each of the photoelectric conversion elements (35R, 35L) attached thereto, and the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (35R, 35L) and the substrate (51). A solar radiation detection sensor characterized by being sealed with a solar light transmissive material and forming a protective body (54) with the solar light transmissive material.