JP2827761B2 - Solar radiation sensor for automotive air conditioner - 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 sensor for detecting the amount of solar radiation, converting the amount of solar radiation into a signal necessary for controlling the air conditioner, and outputting the signal in an automotive air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A solar radiation sensor of a vehicle air conditioner senses the intensity of sunlight with a photodetector, and outputs an electric output signal generated by the amount of light incident on the photodetector by a lead wire.
The control of the vehicle air conditioner is performed in consideration of the vehicle interior environment or the amount of heat of sunlight and radiation by sunlight given to the occupant. The solar radiation sensor is generally attached to an instrument panel in a vehicle cabin by a claw or the like provided in a case for accommodating the photodetector.

Hereinafter, an example of a solar radiation sensor of a conventional automotive air conditioner will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of a solar radiation sensor of a conventional automobile air conditioner. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a photodetector, which includes a photodetection element 12, detects the amount of solar radiation and outputs a signal corresponding to the solar radiation. 13 is a lens and a photodetector 1
It also has the function of a lens that collects light and the design function to improve the appearance when it is attached to the instrument panel in the passenger compartment. Reference numeral 14 denotes a case for accommodating the photodetector 11, which is generally provided with a claw portion 14a for attaching the solar radiation sensor to an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment.

An output signal generated by the photodetector 11 is guided from a lead leg 15 of the photodetector 11 to a control unit of an air conditioner through a lead wire 16, and the effects of solar radiation on the vehicle interior environment and the occupant's feeling are considered. The controlled air conditioner is controlled.

For joining the lead foot 15 and the lead wire 16, the terminal 17 is attached to the lead wire 16 by caulking.
The lead foot 15 and the terminal 17 are joined by soldering.

Further, as a measure for preventing the movement of the photodetector due to the force of pulling or pushing the lead wire 16, the terminal 17 is inserted into a printed circuit board 18 having a hole into which the terminal 17 can be inserted, and soldered. The terminal 17 is attached to the printed circuit board 18 by the
Is inserted into a concave portion 20 provided by a rib 19 or the like inside to prevent the movement of the photodetector 11 for both positioning and fixing to the case 14.

[0008]

However, in the above-described configuration, the bonding of the lead foot 15 of the photodetector 11, the terminal 17, and the printed circuit board 18 does not sufficiently guarantee the reliability of soldering of three components at the same time. Undesirable bonding is required. In addition, for the function of simply preventing movement of the photodetector 11 due to external force to the lead wire 16,
There is a waste that the expensive printed circuit board 18 must be provided.

Therefore, there has been a demand for an inexpensive configuration that ensures high reliability and can guarantee an external force applied to the lead wire in joining the lead leg and the lead wire of the photodetector.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a solar radiation sensor for an automotive air conditioner according to the present invention is provided with a terminal having a protruding portion at the tip of the lead wire on the photodetector side,
The protruding portion is inserted into a concave portion provided in a case for housing a photodetector.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the external force to the lead wire can be assured by the above-mentioned structure without using a high-cost printed circuit board and without making a joint which is not preferable in terms of the reliability of soldering, that is, simultaneous soldering of three parts. It is possible to provide a solar radiation sensor for an air conditioner for a vehicle that has been fulfilled.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a solar radiation sensor of a vehicle air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photodetector, which is provided with at least one photodetector 2.
The photodetector 1 detects the amount of solar radiation hitting the photodetector 2 and outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the amount of solar radiation. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lens for collecting light on the photodetector 1,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a case for accommodating the photodetector 1, which is usually divided into two or three for convenience of assembly. An output signal generated by the photodetector 1 is connected to a lead leg 5 of the photodetector 1.
It is led to a control unit of an air conditioner via a lead wire 6 joined by a method that can guarantee high reliability such as soldering, welding, and caulking.

Further, the lead wire 6 is caulked with a terminal 8 having a protruding portion 7 at the tip of the photodetector 1, and the protruding portion 7 is provided inside the case 4 with ribs 9 a, 9 b and the like. The light detector 1 is inserted into the recess 10 and the position of the light detector 1 is determined and fixed.

In the solar radiation sensor configured as described above, when an external force acts on the lead wire 6 to push the lead wire 6 toward the photodetector 1, the lead wire 6 and the terminal 8 are connected. Since the terminal 8 is firmly fixed by caulking, an external force tries to push the terminal 8 into the photodetector 1 side. However, the protrusion 7 provided on the terminal 8 has a rib 9a inside the case 4. Therefore, the photodetector 1 does not move due to external force. Conversely, when an external force is applied to the lead wire 6 as a force to pull the lead wire 6, the protrusions 7 provided on the terminals 8 and the ribs 9 b inside the case 4 are similar to the above. No movement of the photodetector 1 occurs.

[0015] Of course, when the solar radiation sensor is completed, the lead wire 6 or the terminal 8 rises and the projection 7 is inserted into the recess 10 so that the projection 7 does not come off from the recess 10 of the case 4. A convex portion 11 is provided inside the case 4 located on the side opposite to that of FIG.

The photodetector 1 has two or more lead legs 5 and two or more lead wires 6 for guiding output signals. However, each lead leg 5, lead wire 6 or terminal 8 is required. When contact occurs, a malfunction occurs. In the conventional bonding method using a printed circuit board, contact was prevented by securing terminals to the printed circuit board after securing an interval between the lead wires so as not to make contact. There is a possibility that contact will occur due to the abolition of. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a rib 12 (or a pin, a boss, or the like) is arranged inside the case 4 as necessary so that contact between the lead legs 5, the lead wires 6, and the terminals 8 does not occur. Needless to say, prevention is being carried out.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a projection-shaped joint between a lead leg of a photodetector of a solar radiation sensor and a lead wire for guiding an output signal from the photodetector to a control unit of an air conditioner. By providing a terminal provided with at the tip of the lead wire on the photodetector side, and inserting the protruding portion into a concave portion inside the case for accommodating the photodetector, the photodetector due to external force applied to the lead wire It is possible to provide a highly reliable and inexpensive method by eliminating the joint of three components simultaneous soldering which is difficult to guarantee the reliability while preventing the movement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a solar radiation sensor of an automotive air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional solar radiation sensor for vehicle air conditioning.

[Explanation of Signs] 1 photodetector 2 photodetector 3 lens 4 case 5 lead foot 6 lead wire 7 protruding portion 8 terminal 9a rib 9b rib 10 concave portion 11 convex portion 12 rib

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01J 1/02 B60H 1/00 101

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photodetector, a lens provided on a light source side of the photodetector, a lead wire for guiding an electric output signal generated by light incident on the photodetector, and the photodetector housed therein. And a terminal for caulking the lead wire.
And the terminal protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the terminal.
Having a protruding portion which is formed inside the case.
With a concave recessed outwardly
In addition, inside the case facing the recess, the recess side is provided.
To prevent disengagement between the protrusion and the recess.
A solar radiation sensor for an air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising a holding part for stopping .