JP2774991B2 - Automotive mirror cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a mirror for an automobile, which maintains a field of view of a mirror surface such as a fender mirror and a door mirror. ice,
The present invention relates to a structure of an automobile mirror cleaning device for removing frost, fogging, and the like.

[Prior Art] As a conventional example of this kind of a mirror cleaning device for an automobile, there is a technology described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 30552/1986.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for cleaning an automobile mirror disposed outside a vehicle disclosed in the above publication.

In the figure, a rearview mirror disposed outside the vehicle is a rearview mirror body 72 on which a glass mirror 71 is mounted.
Is supported by a stay 73, and the rearview mirror body 72 is
For example, an ultrasonic vibrator 47 made of ceramics is provided between the stay 73 and the stay 73. The ultrasonic vibrator 74 includes
An operation switch 75 is connected to the interior of the vehicle so that the operation switch 75 can be operated from inside the vehicle. A drive circuit 76 and a power supply 77 are connected in series between the ultrasonic transducer 74 and the operation switch 75.

The drive circuit 76 amplifies the signal generated by the oscillator with an amplifier, sends the amplified signal to the ultrasonic vibrator 74, and appropriately vibrates the ultrasonic vibrator 74.

The automotive mirror cleaning device using the conventional ultrasonic vibrator configured as described above can operate as follows.

When water drops or the like adhere to the mirror surface of the rearview mirror, the operation switch 75 in the vehicle compartment is operated to vibrate the ultrasonic vibration 74. The vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 74 can remove water droplets and the like adhering to the mirror surface by vibrating the entire rearview mirror main body 72.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when removing the water droplets and the like attached to the surface of the mirror 71 with the ultrasonic vibrator 74, when the ultrasonic vibrator 74 vibrates the mirror 71 surface, Due to the ultrasonic vibration, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 74 disposed on the mirror 71 is transmitted to the lead wire that supplies power thereto. Therefore, it is expected that the electrical and mechanical connection between the ultrasonic vibrator 74 and the harness such as a lead wire may appear as a trouble such as disconnection of the harness due to the ultrasonic vibration.

On the other hand, as a prior art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-145046 discloses a technique of a two-layer structure in which a transparent piezoelectric sheet is provided on the side to which raindrops adhere and a transparent holding layer is provided on the side to which no raindrops adhere. . However, it does not disclose any technology that can eliminate the possibility that the electrical and mechanical connection between the ultrasonic vibrator and the harness such as a lead wire may appear as a trouble such as disconnection of the harness due to the ultrasonic vibration. I haven't.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-227446 discloses a main body made of a transparent plate and a transparent first body provided on the surface of the main body.
A transparent conductive film provided on the first conductive film, a transparent second conductive film provided on the piezoelectric film, and a first conductive film. A raindrop removing device including a high-frequency power supply that applies a high-frequency voltage between the film and the second conductive film is disclosed. However, even in this technology, a technology that can eliminate the possibility that the electrical and mechanical connection between the ultrasonic vibrator and the harness such as a lead wire appears as a trouble such as disconnection of the harness due to the ultrasonic vibration. Is not disclosed at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a mirror cleaning device for an automobile in which a harness for supplying power to an ultrasonic transducer does not cause a trouble such as disconnection.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An automotive mirror cleaning device according to claim 1, which is attached to the back surface of the mirror and generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power, Having a thin metal plate electrically and mechanically connected to the lead wire at a site outwardly away from the electrode of the ultrasonic transducer,
A flexible printed circuit board formed to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic transducer.

An apparatus for cleaning a mirror for an automobile according to claim 2, wherein the metal plate material is electrically and mechanically attached to an electrode of an ultrasonic vibrator which is mounted on the back side of the mirror and generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying electric power. And a metal thin plate of a flexible printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate material.

The cleaning device for an automobile mirror according to claim 3, which is attached to the back surface of the mirror, and which has one electrode of an ultrasonic vibrator for generating ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power, a metal thin plate of a flexible printed circuit board. Electrically and mechanically, and electrically and mechanically connect a metal plate to the other electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator, and further electrically and mechanically connect a thin metal plate of a flexible printed board to the metal plate. This is a mechanical connection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a mirror for an automobile, wherein the metal plate material according to the second or third aspect is phosphor bronze.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a mirror for an automobile, wherein the metal plate material according to any one of the second to fourth aspects is formed so as to cover an entire surface of an electrode at an end of the ultrasonic vibrator. It was done.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive mirror cleaning device, wherein the metal plate material and / or the flexible printed board according to any one of the first to fifth aspects has a continuous planar width. It is.

[Operation] According to claim 1, it is attached to the back side of the mirror,
A metal thin plate electrically and mechanically connected to a lead wire at a portion outwardly distant from the electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator to an electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power By electrically and mechanically connecting a flexible printed board formed so as to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic vibrator, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator can be flexibly printed. The power is supplied in a state where the power is followed by the flexibility of the substrate.

In claim 2, it is attached to the back side of the mirror,
A metal thin plate constituting a flexible printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to an electrode of an ultrasonic vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations on the surface of the mirror by supplying electric power through a metal plate electrically and mechanically connected. The power is supplied in a state where the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is followed by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board. At this time, since the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator can be transmitted to the metal plate material electrically and mechanically connected, it is preferable to connect the thin metal plate side to the side that obtains the ultrasonic vibration.

In claim 3, it is attached to the back side of the mirror,
A metal thin plate constituting a flexible printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to one electrode of an ultrasonic vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power, whereby the ultrasonic vibrator The generated ultrasonic vibration is caused to follow by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board, and the flexible printed circuit board is formed via a metal plate electrically and mechanically connected to the other electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator. By electrically and mechanically connecting the thin metal plates, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is followed by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board, and power is supplied in that state. At this time,
Since the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator can be transmitted to a metal plate material that is electrically and mechanically connected, it is preferable to connect the thin metal plate side to a side that obtains ultrasonic vibration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the metal plate of the second or third aspect is made of phosphor bronze having a relatively high altitude to supply power and transmit vibration.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the metal plate member according to any one of the second to fourth aspects is formed so as to cover an entire surface of an electrode at an end portion of the ultrasonic vibrator, thereby reducing vibration. The transmission efficiency has been improved.

In claim 6, the width of the plane of the metal plate material and / or the flexible printed circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is made continuous to prevent stress from being applied to discontinuous points. It was done.

[Example] Here, an example of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a mirror 1 of a vehicle mirror cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a control circuit for electrically controlling a cleaning device for an automobile mirror according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, a metal such as chromium is deposited on one surface inside a glass substrate 11 which is curved at a predetermined curvature by a thin film forming method such as vapor deposition or sputtering.
The mirror 1 is formed by forming the glass substrate 11 and the metal deposition layer 12. An insulating layer 13 formed by coating an insulator on one end of the upper surface of the metal deposition layer 12 on the vehicle body side so that the surface to which the substantially cubic ultrasonic transducer 22 is joined is convex. To form The insulating layer 13 is an ultrasonic vibrator
On the surface of the metal deposition layer 12 at the fixing position of 22, the area is larger than the area of the plane where the ultrasonic transducer 22 is joined.

On the surface of the insulating layer 13 at one end of the mirror 1 on the vehicle body side, a substantially cubic ultrasonic transducer 22 is bonded by an adhesive. As the ultrasonic vibrator 22, an ultrasonic vibrating element 22b made of piezoelectric ceramics using a piezo effect element is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic vibrator 22 includes an upper electrode 22a, an ultrasonic vibrating element 22b, and a lower electrode 22c, and the ultrasonic vibrator 22 has a mirror-side electrode terminal 21 and an anti-mirror. The electrode terminal 23 on the side is connected, and power is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 22 via the electrode terminal 21 on the mirror side and the electrode terminal 23 on the side opposite to the mirror. The lead wires 24c and 24d are connected to the electrode terminals 21 on the mirror side.
Alternatively, it is soldered to the end of the electrode terminal 23 on the side opposite to the mirror. The connection between the lead wire 24c and the electrode terminal 21 on the mirror side and the connection between the lead wire 24d and the electrode terminal 23 on the anti-mirror side are as follows.
It is not limited to the soldering, but is crimped by a crimping device or the like, or crimped by caulking or the like,
It is possible to use known connection means that are electrically and mechanically connected.

The electrode terminals 23 on the anti-mirror side are sandwiched between synthetic resin layers 23a and 23c made of polyimide having a thickness of about 50 [μm] on both sides, and a thin metal plate 23b made of phosphor bronze having a thickness of about 35 [μm] at the center. The flexible printed circuit board 23A has a flexible structure and is provided with a crimping pin 28 at an end of the flexible printed circuit board 23A. The lead wire 24d is soldered to a crimping pin 28 at the end of the flexible printed circuit board 23A to form a harness on the side opposite to the mirror.

The electrode terminals 21 on the mirror side are sandwiched between synthetic resin layers 21a and 21c made of polyimide having a thickness of about 50 [μm] on both sides, and a thin metal plate 21b made of phosphor bronze having a thickness of about 35 [μm] at the center. A flexible printed circuit board 21A having a flexible structure, a metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic transducer 22, and the flexible printed circuit board 21A and the metal plate 25 The mirror harness on the side of the mirror is composed of a metal plate 21b of the flexible printed circuit board 21A and a crimp stop 26 for electrically connecting the metal plate 25.

A crimping pin 27 is provided at an end of the flexible printed board 21A, and a lead wire 24c is soldered to a crimping pin 28 at the end of the flexible printed board 21A.

The metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic transducer 22 is firmly connected to the metal deposition layer 12 of the mirror 1 via the insulating layer 13.

When the ultrasonic vibrator 22 supplies electric power between the lead wires of the electrode terminal 21 on the mirror side and the electrode terminal 23 on the mirror side, the ultrasonic vibrator 22 moves in the thickness direction (up and down direction in FIG. 2) and the ultrasonic vibration. It expands or contracts in the plane direction of the child 22 (the left-right direction in FIG. 2). That is, in general, the ultrasonic transducer 22 has a longitudinal effect of expanding and contracting in the same direction as the direction of the applied electric field, and a lateral effect of expanding and contracting in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the applied electric field.
In the ultrasonic transducer 22 used in the device of the present embodiment,
It has a characteristic that the resonance frequency due to the horizontal effect is lower than the resonance frequency due to the vertical effect. Therefore, in this embodiment, a bending wave is generated in the mirror 1 using the lateral effect. However, in some mirrors 1 having a high resonance frequency, it may be preferable to use the longitudinal effect.
Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the one that generates the bending wave in the mirror 1 using the lateral effect, but also includes the one that expands and contracts the mirror 1 using the vertical effect.

Normally, the ultrasonic vibrator 22 has a unique resonance frequency determined by its shape. Therefore, the resonance frequency needs to be determined in consideration of both the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 and the mirror 1. In the present embodiment, 30 [KHz]
The ultrasonic vibrator 22 having a resonance frequency of 30 [KHz] to 50 [KHz] utilizing the natural vibration of the mirror 1 existing at 50 [KHz].
Is used. However, since this natural frequency exists from a low frequency to a high frequency, another frequency may be used.

FIG. 5 is a central cross-sectional view of a main part of a mirror of a mirror cleaning apparatus for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cleaning view of a mirror for a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a central horizontal cross-sectional view of a main part of a mirror of the device. FIG. 7 is a central transverse cross-sectional view of a main part of a mirror of a vehicle mirror cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and symbols as those in the first embodiment of the present invention indicate the same or corresponding parts, and thus the duplicated description will be omitted. In particular, here, only the differences from the above embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 5, the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic transducer 22 is
On the upper surface of the insulating layer 13 formed by coating an insulator on the upper surface of the metal vapor deposition layer 12, a vibrator electrode layer 31 mainly composed of silver formed by firing is bonded. Further, a connection terminal 32 for connecting an electric wiring to the insulating layer 13 is joined, and the vibrator electrode layer 31 is formed on the surface of the insulating layer 13 and the upper surface of the connection terminal 32 by firing. Is done. Further, a lead wire 24c is connected to the connection terminal 32 by crimping. That is, the vibrator electrode layer 31 is located at one end on the short side on the surface of the metal deposition layer 12, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the connection terminal 32 on the surface of the insulating layer 13. I have.

In FIG. 6, the lower electrode 22 of the ultrasonic vibrator 22
c is directly bonded to the upper surface of the metal deposition layer 12. The metal-deposited layer 12 is separated from the upper surface of the glass substrate 11 that constitutes the mirror 1 by a slit 11a using a mask or the like at a portion that functions only as an electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator 22. The metal deposition layer 12a is formed. Then, a connection terminal 32 for connecting an electric wiring is joined to the upper surface of the vibrator-side metal deposition layer 12a, and further, the upper surface of the connection terminal 32 joined to the vibrator-side metal deposition layer 12a and the vibrator-side metal deposition layer
The bonding layer 33 of silver or the like is formed on a part of the upper surface of 12a by firing, and the connection terminals 32 are formed on the surface of the vibrator-side metal deposition layer 12a.
Are electrically and mechanically connected. A lead wire 24c is connected to the connection terminal 32 by crimping. Connection terminal 32 bonded on the surface of the metal deposition layer 12a
Is located at one end on the short side of the mirror 1 and is electrically and mechanically connected to the connection terminal 32 on the surface of the metal deposition layer 12a.

Then, in FIG. 7, the electrode terminal 23 on the side opposite to the mirror is shown.
As shown in FIG. 3, a flexible printed circuit board 23A having a sandwich structure including a synthetic resin layer 23a, 23c made of polyimide on both surfaces and a metal thin plate 23b made of copper in the center is formed. A crimping pin 28 is provided at an end of the flexible printed circuit board 23A. The lead wire 24d is soldered to a crimping pin 28 at the end of the flexible printed circuit board 23A to form a harness on the side opposite to the mirror.

Similarly, the electrode terminal 21 on the mirror side is made of a synthetic resin layer made of polyimide on both surfaces, similarly to the electrode terminal 23 on the anti-mirror side.
21a, 21c, a flexible printed circuit board 21 having a sandwich structure of a metal thin plate 21b made of copper in the center portion.
A, and the flexible printed circuit board 21A
A crimping pin 27 is provided at the end of. Further, the thin metal plate 21b is electrically and mechanically connected to the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic transducer 22. The lead wire 24d is soldered to a crimping pin 28 at the end of the flexible printed circuit board 23A to form a harness on the side opposite to the mirror.

The opposite surface of the thin metal plate 21b joined to the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic transducer 22 is an insulating layer formed by coating the insulator on the upper surface of the metal deposition layer 12 via the synthetic resin layer 21c.
13 are joined to the upper surface.

Mirror 1 and ultrasonic vibrator 22 configured as described above
Is driven as follows.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a control circuit 40 for electrically controlling a cleaning device for an automobile mirror according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a start switch 48 is a switch disposed at a position where a driver in a vehicle driving the cleaning device for a vehicle mirror of the present embodiment can easily operate. The start switch 48 is connected to an input circuit 42 such as an amplifier circuit.
Is input to a monostable circuit 43 that constitutes a timer circuit that generates an output only for a predetermined time according to the input,
“L” is input to the input circuit 42 when the start switch 48 is on, and “H” is input when it is off. When the start switch 48 is turned on, the monostable circuit 43 outputs “H” for a predetermined time period.
Is output. The monostable circuit 43 serving as the timer circuit is supplied with power from a power supply circuit 41 such as a constant voltage power supply supplied with power from the vehicle battery 47.

Incidentally, the monostable circuit 43 which is the timer circuit will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, when the start switch 48 is on, "L" is input to the input circuit 42, and the output thereof is used as the monostable circuit.
The output of 43 is "H" state for 5 seconds in this embodiment.

Thus, the output of the monostable circuit 43 drives the relay 443 via the relay driver circuit 441 forming a relay circuit. When the relay 443 is excited, the contact 445 closes, and power is directly supplied to the triangular wave generating circuit 451 for driving the mirror 1, the voltage controlled oscillation circuit 452, and the vibrator driving circuit 453. The triangular wave generation circuit 451 and the voltage control oscillation circuit 4
52, the vibrator drive circuit 453 forms a left-side vibration circuit 45L. The output of the relay 443 of the relay circuit is
Electric power is directly supplied to the triangular wave generation circuit 451, the voltage control oscillation circuit 452, and the vibrator drive circuit 453 for driving the mirror 1 on the light side.
Since R is processed by the same circuit as the left-side vibration circuit 45L, the description thereof is omitted.

The triangular wave generating circuit 451 includes a step wave generating circuit for generating repeatedly, a sawtooth wave generating circuit, a triangular wave generating circuit, and the like, and is a circuit whose output voltage repeatedly changes over time. The voltage-controlled oscillation circuit 452 is a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit (VCO) that changes the oscillation frequency of the output according to the magnitude of the input voltage. The vibrator drive circuit 453 generates a high-voltage / high-frequency signal for causing the ultrasonic vibrator 22 to vibrate ultrasonically.

The power supply circuit 41, the input circuit 42, the timer circuit, the relay circuit, and the like constitute a control circuit 40 by being mounted on a specific printed circuit board. Further, the start switch 48 is provided near a driver such as an instrument panel.

The control circuit of the cleaning device for a vehicle mirror according to the present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows.

The AC power of the ultrasonic frequency supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 22 is supplied from the transducer drive circuit 453. The vibrator drive circuit 453 is supplied from a voltage control oscillation circuit 452, and further,
The output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillation circuit 452 is supplied by the output voltage of the triangular wave generation circuit 451,
Is controlled by a monostable circuit 43 which is a timer circuit.

Therefore, when the start switch 48 is turned on, the monostable circuit 43 is put into the operating state via the input circuit 42, and the relay driver circuit 441 of the relay circuit is driven only for a predetermined time period. When the relay driver circuit 441 is driven, the relay 443
Contact 445 is turned on, and power from the power supply circuit 41 is not shown. The right side vibration circuit 45R and the left side vibration circuit 45L (not shown)
To supply power. When the left-side vibration circuit 45L and the right-side vibration circuit 45R are supplied with power, the triangular wave generation circuit 451 generates an output that changes its output voltage over time at a predetermined frequency, and controls the voltage. Oscillation circuit
452. The voltage control oscillation circuit 452 generates an output of a frequency corresponding to the input voltage, inputs the output of the changing frequency to the vibrator drive circuit 453, and drives the ultrasonic vibrator 22 at the ultrasonic frequency by the vibrator drive circuit 453. Vibrate. Therefore,
Since the triangular wave generation circuit 451 changes the output voltage with a change over time at a predetermined frequency, the ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 changes at a predetermined frequency width with a change over time.

As described above, the automotive mirror cleaning device of the present embodiment is attached to the back surface of the mirror 1 and generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror 1 by supplying electric power. Upper electrode constituting the vibrator 22
Metal plate 23b electrically and mechanically connected to electrodes such as 22a
Synthetic resin layers 23a, 23 made of polyimide on both sides having
c, and a flexible printed circuit board 23A having a highly flexible structure in which a metal thin plate 23b made of phosphor bronze is sandwiched at the center. In this type of embodiment,
Since the flexible printed circuit board 23A having high flexibility is electrically and mechanically connected to electrodes such as the upper electrode 22a constituting the ultrasonic vibrator 22, the ultrasonic vibrator
Even when power is supplied to the 22 through the thin metal plate 23b of the flexible printed circuit board, the flexible printed circuit board 23
The power supply can be maintained in a state of being followed by the flexibility of A.

In particular, the mirror side of the ultrasonic vibrator 22, which is attached to the back side of the mirror 1 and generates ultrasonic vibrations on the front side of the mirror 1 by supplying power, has another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in the example, other correspondences are possible depending on the function of the mirror 1 and the configuration of the mirror 1 side. Also, on the mirror side of the ultrasonic vibrator 22, only the thin metal plate 21b of the flexible printed board 21A in FIG. 1 is used as a substitute for the metal plate material 25, and a synthetic resin layer made of polyimide on both sides of the flexible printed board 21A is used. The ends of the mirrors 23a and 23c may be joined to the ends of the mirror 1 for use.

Therefore, the configuration of the above embodiment is mounted on the back side of the mirror 1 and electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 22 for generating ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror 1 by supplying power, and the electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator 22. And mechanically connected sheet metal 23b
An embodiment of the first invention including the flexible printed circuit board 23A having the following.

Further, the cleaning device for an automobile mirror according to the present embodiment is mounted on the back surface of the mirror 1 and generates an ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror 1 by supplying electric power. 22, a metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to electrodes such as the lower electrode 22c, and synthetic resin layers 21a and 21c made of polyimide on both surfaces electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate 25, a central portion. And a flexible printed circuit board 21A having high flexibility in which a thin metal plate 21b made of phosphor bronze is used as a sandwich structure.

This type of embodiment is made of a synthetic resin layer 21a, 21c made of polyimide on both sides and a phosphor bronze in the center through a metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the electrode of the ultrasonic transducer 22. Since the flexible printed circuit board 21A having high flexibility and having a sandwich structure of the metal thin plate 21b is electrically and mechanically connected, the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is applied to the mirror 1 via the metal plate material 25. The transmission efficiency can be increased by the hardness of the material of the metal plate material 25, and particularly, the metal plate material 25 is arranged on the mirror 1 side where the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is obtained. preferable.

In addition, synthetic resin layers 21a and 21c made of polyimide are provided on both sides via a metal plate material 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 shown in FIG. The structure of a harness in which a flexible printed circuit board 21A having a flexible structure and a thin metal plate 21b having a sandwich structure is electrically and mechanically connected is shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to a flexible printed circuit board 23A having high flexibility in which the metal thin plate 23b has a sandwich structure.

That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is mounted on the back side of the mirror 1 and generates ultrasonic vibrations on the surface of the mirror 1 by supplying power, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator 22. An embodiment including a metal plate member 25 and a flexible printed circuit board 21A having a thin metal plate 21b electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate member 25 can be an embodiment of the second invention.

However, the upper electrode 22a and the lower electrode 2 of the ultrasonic transducer 22
2c has different functions from each other, and ideally, the lower electrode 22c
Distortion occurs only on the side due to ultrasonic vibration, and the lower electrode 22c needs to be able to transmit it to the mirror 1 with high efficiency.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the lower electrode 22c of the ultrasonic vibrator 22.
Through the synthetic resin layers 21a, 21 made of polyimide on both sides
c, a flexible printed circuit board 21 having a flexible structure in which a metal thin plate 21b made of phosphor bronze is sandwiched in the center.
A harness where A is electrically and mechanically connected, and on the upper electrode 22a of the ultrasonic vibrator 22, synthetic resin layers 23a and 23c on both surfaces,
It is desirable to use a harness in which a metal thin plate 23b of a highly flexible flexible printed circuit board 23A having a sandwich structure of a metal thin plate 23b is connected to a central portion.

That is, an ultrasonic vibrator 22 that is attached to the back surface of the mirror 1 and generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror 1 by supplying power, and one of the electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is electrically and mechanically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 22. A flexible printed circuit board 23A having a connected metal thin plate 23b, a metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the other electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator 22, and an electric and mechanical connection to the metal plate 25 An embodiment including the flexible printed circuit board 21A having the thin metal plate 21b can be an embodiment of the third invention.

In the above embodiments of the present invention, the metal deposition layer 12 formed on the back surface of the glass substrate 11 to serve as a reflection surface, and the metal deposition layer 12
The ultrasonic vibrator 22 fixed to the side and insulated from the metal vapor deposition layer 12 that generates heat when energized, and the ultrasonic vibrator 22 on the surface of the metal vapor deposition layer 12 where the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is fixed.
Insulating layer formed in a larger area than the plane area connecting
13 and a control circuit 40 for driving the ultrasonic vibrator 22, the ultrasonic vibrator 22 fixed to the metal deposition layer 12 side of the transparent member is driven, and the surface of the transparent member is Water droplets and the like attached to the surface can be atomized and removed.

The connection terminals 32 and 33 and the connection terminal 23 are arranged at the end of the mirror 1 on the vehicle body side. Therefore, even if the removal of water droplets and fogging on one short side of the glass substrate 11 becomes insufficient, the position is on the vehicle body side and is an area that is not used for backward confirmation. The visibility at the rear is not reduced.

In the embodiments of the first invention to the third invention,
A flexible printed circuit board having thin metal plates 21b and 23b electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate material 25 or the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer 22 is made of a synthetic resin layer 21 made of polyimide on both surfaces.
a, 21c or 23a, 23c and metal sheet made of copper etc. in the center
21b or 23b is a flexible printed circuit board 23A or 21A having a sandwich structure and high flexibility, but when implementing the present invention, it is not limited to the materials and structures of the above embodiments. , Metal sheet 21 in the center
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an insulating resin layer is provided only on one side of b or 23b. For example, it is possible to use a plurality of layers. The flexible printed circuit board 23A
Alternatively, if 21A is formed so as to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic transducer 22, the electric resistance can be reduced. Further, the flexible printed circuit board 23A or 21A is formed in such a shape that the width of its plane is not continuously changed or changed, and is configured so as not to cause a discontinuous point at a specific place, so that stress is applied to the discontinuous point. Can be prevented.

In the first to third embodiments, the metal plate 25 electrically and mechanically connected to the other electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 is a thin plate made of phosphor bronze. However, other materials can be used when practicing the present invention. In particular, when joining to the mirror 1,
It is preferable to use one having a predetermined hardness or more and a predetermined electric resistance or less such as phosphor bronze. When the metal plate material 25 is formed to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic vibrator 22, the electric resistance can be reduced, and the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 22 can be efficiently transmitted. Can be. Further, the metal plate material 25 has a shape in which the width of the plane is continuously changed or does not change, and is configured so as not to generate a discontinuous point at a specific location, so that stress can be prevented from being applied to the discontinuous point. .

Further, the insulating layer 13 in the above embodiment can be an adhesive layer made of an adhesive for connecting the ultrasonic vibrator 22 and the like.

Although the glass member 11 is used as the transparent member in the above embodiment, a transparent substrate such as a synthetic resin substrate can be used when the present invention is implemented. Further, although the metal vapor deposition layer 12 is a chromium vapor deposition layer, the metal vapor deposition layer 12 is not limited to the chromium vapor deposition layer, and other metal materials can be used. It is possible to use a metal material capable of obtaining a resistance value and chemical stability, and the chromium deposition layer can satisfy these conditions. Of course, those lacking chemical stability can be dealt with by coating the upper surface or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the automotive mirror cleaning device according to the first aspect, the ultrasonic vibrator that is attached to the back surface of the mirror and generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power is provided. By electrically and mechanically connecting a metal thin plate constituting the flexible printed circuit board to the electrode, power is supplied in a state where the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is followed by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board. Things. Therefore, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator can be buffered by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board, and stress is not applied to a specific portion of the harness, so that trouble such as disconnection of the harness can be avoided. In addition, since the flexible printed circuit board is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic transducer, mechanical strength can be improved. And since it has a metal thin plate electrically and mechanically connected to the lead wire at a position outwardly separated from the electrode of the ultrasonic transducer, the lead wire can be easily connected electrically and mechanically. Becomes

In claim 2, it is attached to the back side of the mirror,
A metal thin plate constituting a flexible printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to an electrode of an ultrasonic vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations on the surface of the mirror by supplying electric power through a metal plate electrically and mechanically connected. By connecting to the, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is supplied by supplying power while the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is followed by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board. Buffering can be performed by the flexibility of the printed circuit board, and stress is not applied to a specific portion of the harness. Therefore, trouble such as disconnection of the harness can be avoided. At this time, since the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator can be transmitted by a metal plate material that is mechanically connected, the ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted by connecting the thin metal plate side to the side that obtains the ultrasonic vibration. it can.

In claim 3, it is attached to the back side of the mirror,
A metal thin plate constituting a flexible printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to one electrode of the ultrasonic vibration that generates ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying power,
Thereby, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is made to follow by the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board, and the other electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator is connected to the other electrode via a metal plate material electrically and mechanically connected. By electrically and mechanically connecting the metal thin plate forming the flexible printed circuit board to the electrical and mechanical connecting of the metal thin plate forming the flexible printed circuit board, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is applied to the flexible printed circuit board. Power is supplied in a state of following by the flexibility. This type of vehicle mirror cleaning device has the effects of the first and second aspects.

According to the fourth aspect, the metal plate material according to the second or third aspect is made of phosphor bronze having a relatively high altitude, so that power supply and transmission of vibration can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect, the metal plate material according to any one of the second to fourth aspects is formed so as to cover an entire surface of an electrode at an end of the ultrasonic vibrator.
Vibration transmission efficiency can be improved.

In claim 6, the width of the plane of the metal plate material and / or the flexible printed circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is made continuous to prevent stress from being applied to discontinuous points. And its life can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a mirror of a cleaning device for an automobile mirror according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a central transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a control circuit for electrically controlling a vehicle mirror cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a vehicle mirror cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a central cross-sectional view of a main part of a mirror of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a central cross-sectional view of a main part of a mirror of a mirror cleaning device for an automobile according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. And FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional apparatus for cleaning a mirror of an automobile. In the figure, 1: mirror, 11: glass member 12: metal deposition layer, 22: ultrasonic transducers 21b, 23b: thin metal plates 21A, 23A: flexible printed circuit board 25: metal plate material. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and symbols indicate the same or corresponding parts.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-55-145046 (JP, A) JP-A-63-227446 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60S 1/60 B60S 1/02 B60R 1/06

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultrasonic vibrator attached to the back side of a mirror for generating ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the mirror by supplying electric power, and a lead wire at a position outwardly separated from an electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator. And a flexible printed board formed to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic vibrator. Cleaning device. 2. An ultrasonic vibrator attached to a back surface of a mirror and configured to generate ultrasonic vibration on a surface of the mirror by supplying power, and a metal electrically and mechanically connected to an electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator. A mirror cleaning device for an automobile, comprising: a plate member; and a flexible printed circuit board having a thin metal plate electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate member. 3. An ultrasonic vibrator mounted on the back side of the mirror and generating ultrasonic vibrations on the surface of the mirror by supplying power, and electrically and mechanically connected to one electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator. Flexible printed board having a thin metal plate, a metal plate electrically and mechanically connected to the other electrode of the ultrasonic transducer, and a flexible print having a thin metal plate electrically and mechanically connected to the metal plate A cleaning device for an automobile mirror, comprising: a substrate; 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said metal plate is made of phosphor bronze. 5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the metal plate is formed to cover substantially the entire surface of the electrode at the end of the ultrasonic vibrator. Mirror cleaning device. 6. The cleaning of a mirror for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate and / or the flexible printed board have a continuous width in a plane. apparatus.