JP4472544B2 - Case positioning mechanism for mobile equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a case positioning mechanism in a moving body mounting apparatus.

  When a radar device used in an ACC system (adaptive cruise control system), Stop & Go system (congestion tracking system), inter-vehicle warning system, etc. is mounted on a vehicle, the direction of the object detection axis of the radar device is set in advance. If the direction of the target object detection axis is not correctly oriented, the oncoming vehicle on the adjacent lane will be detected incorrectly, and the system will malfunction, or only the road surface, overpass and signboard will be detected and the preceding vehicle will not be detected. The problem occurs that the system does not work. Therefore, it is necessary to perform aiming to match the direction of the object detection axis of the radar device with the direction of the target object detection axis.

  As this type of technology, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a radar device that uses a laser sensor to calculate the inclination of the reference plane by measuring the distance to the reference plane using a laser sensor while moving the aiming device along the rail. The distance to a plurality of positions on the front surface of the vehicle is measured to calculate the inclination of the front surface, and the axis adjustment state of the radar device relative to the vehicle is determined by comparing the inclination of the reference surface of the bumper and the inclination of the front surface of the radar device. A technique has been proposed in which aiming is performed by detecting and adjusting the mounting angle of the radar apparatus so that this axis adjustment state is appropriate.

  A conventional adjustment of the mounting angle of the radar apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. In the case 21 of the radar device, a bolt fixing portion 22 is formed for connection to a base bracket 23 attached to the vehicle body via an aiming bolt 24. The aiming bolt 24 is formed with a gear portion 25 that moves itself in the axial direction, and a collar 26 that supports the aiming bolt 24 is mounted. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the driver 27 is inserted into the gear portion 25 to be engaged, and the driver 27 is rotated in this state, so that the aiming bolt 24 approaches the bolt fixing portion 22 facing it. Or leave them apart. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, by adjusting the distances LA and LB between the bolt fixing portions 22 formed on the left and right sides of the case 21 and the portions of the base bracket 23 facing the bolt fixing portions 22, Adjust the angle of the contained radar.

  Further, another adjustment of the mounting angle of the conventional radar apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, the case 31 of the radar device is formed with an attachment shaft 33 that is rotatably attached to a base bracket 32 attached to the vehicle body. A cam 38 is disposed on the lower side of the base bracket 32. A rotating shaft 39 provided at an eccentric position of the cam 38 is rotatably connected to the base bracket 32. The cam 38 is in contact with a positioning member 41 fixed to the case 31. A worm wheel gear 37 coaxial with the rotating shaft 39 is integrated with the cam 38, and the worm wheel gear 37 meshes with the worm gear 36. Further, the case 31 and the base bracket 32 are biased in a direction in which they are attracted to each other via a spring 40. Then, the cam mechanism moves the case position back and forth to perform aiming.

That is, by driving the worm gear 36, the worm wheel gear 37 meshing with the worm gear 36 is rotated. Accordingly, since the cam 38 integrated with the worm wheel gear 37 is rotated, the case 31 is displaced as shown by an arrow P together with the positioning member 41 contacting the cam 38 as shown in FIG. Fig. 6 shows the cam 38 'and the positioning member 41' after displacement). At this time, since the case 31 is urged by the spring 41 in a direction approaching the bracket 32, the case 31 is positioned at a position where both are balanced. In this way, the angle of the radar housed in the case 31 is adjusted.
JP 2002-303672 A

However, the conventional techniques have the following problems.
For example, in the prior art shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, since it is necessary to provide the bolt fixing portion in the radar apparatus in correspondence with the aiming bolt, the size of the radar apparatus is increased accordingly. In addition, since the standard of the driver to be inserted into the aiming bolt is not unified, there is a possibility that depending on the driver, even if the driver is inserted, it will only rotate idly within the gear part of the aiming bolt, or the gear part may be crushed in some cases. Furthermore, in order to fix the radar apparatus, an aiming bolt and a collar supporting the same are required at least at three locations, which causes an increase in the number of parts and weight.

  In addition, in the prior art shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, a member for biasing such as a spring is required separately, and the position of the case is shaken back and forth due to vibrations of the vehicle body accompanying traveling. There is a problem that the detection accuracy of the object is affected.

  In particular, when the radar device is mounted on a vehicle, it is usually necessary to attach it to the front of the vehicle because of the necessity of detecting the preceding vehicle. When a radar unit that is large in the width direction as in the above-described prior art is mounted in front of the radiator, there is a problem that the amount of ventilation to the radiator is reduced, and as a result, the cooling capacity is lowered.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a case positioning mechanism in a moving body mounting apparatus that can perform positioning properly and can be reduced in size and weight by suppressing the number of parts.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an attachment shaft (for example, the attachment shaft 6 in the embodiment) that is attached to a movable body so as to be rotatable and a plurality of positioning members that protrude outward (for example, the embodiment) The positioning members 11 and 12) are provided with a case (for example, the case 2 in the embodiment) and the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of positioning members, and the plurality of positioning members are rotated by rotating about their own rotation axes. A base member (for example, in the embodiment), to which the cam to be moved (for example, the cam 9 in the embodiment) and the mounting shaft of the case are rotatably attached and the cam is rotatably attached via the rotating shaft. A base bracket 5), wherein the outer peripheral shape of the cam is at least a portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members In, characterized in that the distance of the axis of the rotating shaft to the cam outer peripheral edge from the raw point as the origin when the r, is approximately equal to the shape shown by the polar coordinate equation r = b + acosθ.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral shape of the cam is shown in a range of a ≦ b in the polar coordinate equation at least at a portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members. It is substantially equal to the shape.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer peripheral shape of the cam is such that the cam outer peripheral end and the origin are at least at a part of the portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members. Is made larger than the distance r indicated by the polar coordinate equation.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the outer peripheral shape of the cam is such that the distance between the cam outer peripheral end and the origin is in the vicinity of the portion indicated by θ = 180 degrees in the polar coordinate equation, based on the distance r indicated by the polar coordinate equation. Is also made larger.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the case is a case of an in-vehicle radar device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the cam is rotationally moved around the rotation shaft, the plurality of positioning members in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cam and a case provided with these positioning members are connected to the mounting shaft. Displaces as a base point. Here, since the outer peripheral shape of the cam is substantially equal to the shape shown by the polar coordinate equation, the plurality of positioning members can be displaced while maintaining contact with the cam while maintaining a certain distance. . Thereby, the angle of the case including the plurality of positioning members can be adjusted with high accuracy. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide the aiming bolt mounting portion on the base member, the size and weight can be reduced accordingly. Furthermore, since an urging member such as a spring is not required, the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. Further, even when external vibration is input, since positioning is performed by a plurality of positioning members, it is possible to prevent the case from being shaken and to ensure positioning reliability.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, it can be set as a suitable shape in manufacturing and designing as said cam shape.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, as the cam rotates, the plurality of positioning members reciprocate in a direction approaching or separating from the base member. At this time, since the portion where the distance is increased (in other words, the portion where the thickness of the cam is increased) comes into contact with the plurality of positioning members, excessive rotation of the cam can be suppressed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is easy to secure a mounting space for the rotating shaft at the polar coordinate origin position of the polar coordinate equation, and the thickness of the portion can be secured, so that the strength near the rotating shaft is sufficiently high. Can be secured.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the number of parts required for positioning can be reduced, the width direction can be reduced accordingly, and even when mounted on the front of the vehicle, the projection viewed from the front of the vehicle The area can be reduced. As a result, it is easier to ensure the amount of ventilation to the radiator than before. Since a plurality of positioning members and a cam mechanism are used, the shake of the case can be suppressed regardless of the vibration of the vehicle, and thereby the accuracy of the axis adjustment of the radar mounted in the case can be ensured.

  A case positioning mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a radar apparatus to which a case positioning mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the radar apparatus shown in FIG.

  For example, the radar apparatus 1 is accommodated between a front grill fixed to a front bumper of a vehicle and an engine room (none of which is shown) that is opened and closed by a bonnet. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 2 of the radar device 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a radar mechanism mounted therein. A mounting shaft 6 connected to the shaft of the internal radar mechanism is formed on the outside of both side surfaces of the case 2 so as to protrude. On the other hand, the base bracket 5 is formed in a substantially U shape in a plan view when installed on the vehicle body, and the mounting shaft 6 of the case 2 is rotatably attached to both side surfaces of the base bracket 5.

Hereinafter, a more specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The case 2 includes a case main body 3 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a cover portion 4 that projects to the front side (vehicle front side) of the case main body 3 and covers the case main body 3.
Further, an angle detection unit 13 that detects the angle of the radar device 1 is mounted on the upper surface of the case 2 of the radar device 1. The angle detection unit 13 includes a transparent cylindrical body made of glass, for example, supported by a pair of front and rear cylindrical body supporting members. The cylinder is arranged in the front-rear direction so that the axis thereof is along the axis of the radar apparatus 1, and the floating member floats movably in the front-rear direction in the liquid enclosed therein. The angle of the radar apparatus 1 is detected by detecting the displacement of the floating member, but the details are omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

A cam 9 is disposed on the lower side of the base bracket 5. A rotating shaft 10 provided at an eccentric position of the cam 9 is rotatably connected to the base bracket 5. In the case 2, two positioning members 11 and 12 that contact the outer peripheral surface of the gum 9 so as to sandwich the cam 9 from both sides are formed on one side of the case 2.
A worm wheel gear 8 coaxial with the rotating shaft 10 is integrated with the cam 9, and the worm wheel gear 8 meshes with the worm gear 7.

  In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral shape of the cam 9 is such that the distance from the origin to the outer peripheral end of the cam 9 is at least the part in contact with the plurality of positioning members 11, 12 with the axis of the rotating shaft 10 as the origin. In this case, the shape is substantially equal to the shape represented by the polar coordinate equation r = b + acos θ (in other words, the outer shape of the cam 9 is substantially equal to the epicycloid curve). Here, a and b are predetermined constants. The aiming range is determined by the value of a. Further, the size of the cam 9 is adjusted by the values of a and b. In the present embodiment, a = 5 and b = 8 are set because it is suitable for design.

The positioning process of the radar apparatus configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of case positioning of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the positioning operation of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view of the main part of FIG.
First, by driving the worm gear 7, the worm wheel gear 8 meshing with the worm gear 7 is rotated. Accordingly, the cam 9 integrated with the worm wheel gear 8 is rotated. Then, when the cam 9 is rotated about the rotary shaft 10, the positioning members 11, 12 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cam 9 and the case 2 including these are displaced with the mounting shaft 6 as a base point. To do.

Here, since the outer peripheral shape of the cam 9 is substantially equal to the shape shown by the polar coordinate equation, the positioning members 11 and 12 maintain contact with the cam 9 while maintaining a certain distance. However, it can be displaced.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance L between the contact points PQ of the positioning members 11 and 12 before displacement and the contact point P'Q 'with the cam 9 of the positioning members 11 and 12 after displacement. The distance L ′ is substantially equal. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, even when the base bracket 5 and the case 2 are displaced in the approaching direction (indicated by reference numerals), the base bracket 5 and the case 2 Even in the case of displacement in a direction away from each other (indicated by “'”), the positioning members 11 and 12 are displaced while maintaining contact with the cam 9 while maintaining a certain distance.

  Thereby, the angle of case 2 provided with the positioning members 11 and 12 can be adjusted with sufficient accuracy. Since the case 2 including the positioning members 11 and 12 is displaced with the mounting shaft 6 as a base point, the aiming can be performed by accurately adjusting the axis of the radar connected to the mounting shaft 6.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide the aiming bolt mounting portion on the base bracket 5, it is possible to reduce the size and weight accordingly. Furthermore, since an urging member such as a spring is not required, the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. Further, even when external vibration is input, since positioning is performed by the positioning members 11 and 12, the position of the case 2 can be prevented from being displaced, and positioning reliability can be ensured. Furthermore, since the positioning members 11 and 12 are disposed so as to straddle both sides of the cam 9, the positioning reliability can be further improved.

  In addition, since the on-vehicle radar device according to the present embodiment can reduce the number of parts necessary for positioning, it can be reduced in the width direction, and even when the radar device is mounted on the front surface of the vehicle. The projected area viewed from the front of the vehicle can be reduced. As a result, it is easier to ensure the amount of ventilation to the radiator than before. In addition, since a plurality of positioning members and cam mechanisms are used, the shake of the case 2 can be suppressed regardless of the vibration of the vehicle, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the axis adjustment of the radar mounted in the case 2. it can.

Although the contents of the present invention have been described above by way of embodiments, it is needless to say that the contents of the present invention are not limited only to the embodiments. For example, the application target of the present invention is not limited to a radar apparatus, but includes a sonar, a camera, a lamp, and the like. Further, in the embodiment, the case where the plurality of positioning members 11 and 12 are provided on one side surface of the case 2 and the radar axis is adjusted in the vertical direction has been described. A plurality of positioning members may be provided on the side surface to adjust the radar axis, or a plurality of positioning members may be provided on the front or back of the case 2 to adjust the radar axis in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Moreover, although a vehicle is preferable as a moving body, it is not restricted to this, For example, a two-wheeled vehicle etc. may be sufficient.
It is suitable for manufacturing and designing that the outer peripheral shape of the cam 9 is substantially equal to the shape shown in the range of a ≦ b in the polar coordinate equation at least at a portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members 11 and 12. It is preferable in that it is a simple shape.

  In addition, the outer peripheral shape of the cam is the polar coordinate equation that represents the distance between the outer peripheral end of the cam 9 and the origin (center O of the rotating shaft 10) in at least a part of the portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members 11 and 12. It is preferable that the distance r is larger than the distance r indicated by. If it does in this way, with the rotation of the cam 9, the plurality of positioning members 11, 12 will reciprocate in a direction approaching or leaving the base bracket 5. At this time, since the portion where the distance is increased (in other words, the portion where the thickness of the cam is increased) comes into contact with the plurality of positioning members 11, 12, excessive rotation of the cam 9 can be suppressed. it can.

  Further, the outer peripheral shape of the cam 9 is set in the vicinity of a portion indicated by θ = 180 degrees in the polar coordinate equation (the outer peripheral end of the cam 9 that is the shortest rmin from the origin O), and the distance between the outer peripheral end of the cam 9 and the origin is It is preferable that the distance r is larger than the distance r indicated by the polar coordinate equation. If it does in this way, it will become easy to ensure the attachment space of the rotating shaft 10 in the polar coordinate origin position of the polar coordinate equation, and since the thickness of the part can be secured, sufficient strength near the rotating shaft 10 is secured. be able to.

1 is a schematic plan view of a radar apparatus to which a case positioning mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a schematic side view of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. It is a principle figure of case positioning of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. It is a principal part perspective view of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. It is a principal part top view of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positioning operation | movement of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of a main part of FIG. 6. It is a schematic top view of the radar apparatus which is an example of a prior art. It is a schematic perspective view of the aiming bolt shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the adjustment operation | movement of the aiming bolt shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view of the radar apparatus which is another example of a prior art. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positioning operation | movement of the radar apparatus shown in FIG. It is a principle figure of case positioning of the radar apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Radar apparatus 2 ... Case 5 ... Base bracket (base member)
6 ... Mounting shaft 9 ... Cam 10 ... Cam rotating shafts 11, 12 ... Positioning members

Claims (5)

A case including an attachment shaft attached in a rotatable manner to the moving body and a plurality of positioning members protruding outward;
A cam for moving the plurality of positioning members by contacting an outer peripheral surface of the plurality of positioning members and rotating about a rotation axis thereof;
In a case positioning mechanism comprising: a base member that pivotably attaches the mounting shaft of the case and pivotally attaches the cam via the rotating shaft;
The outer peripheral shape of the cam is represented by a polar coordinate equation r = b + acos θ, where r is the distance from the origin to the outer peripheral end of the cam with the axial center of the rotating shaft as the origin at least at the part that contacts the plurality of positioning members. A case positioning mechanism in a mobile body mounting device, characterized in that the shape is substantially equal to the shape of the movable body mounting device.   2. The movement according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral shape of the cam is substantially equal to a shape indicated by a ≦ b in the polar coordinate equation at least at a portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members. Case positioning mechanism for body-mounted devices.   The outer peripheral shape of the cam is that the distance between the outer peripheral end of the cam and the origin is made larger than the distance r indicated by the polar coordinate equation in at least a part of the portion in contact with the plurality of positioning members. The case positioning mechanism in the movable body mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that   The outer peripheral shape of the cam is such that the distance between the cam outer peripheral end and the origin is larger than the distance r indicated by the polar coordinate equation in the vicinity of the portion indicated by θ = 180 degrees in the polar coordinate equation. The case positioning mechanism in the movable body mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The case positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the case is a case of an on-vehicle radar device.

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