JPH01285444A - Waterdrop detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at the promotion of an aptitude of drive control over a windshield wiper by situating a waterdrop detecting surface on a windshield, and wiping this waterdrop detecting surface with a wiping means which wipes clean the windshield. CONSTITUTION:A waterdrop detector 1 consists of a waterdrop detecting means 2 and a wiping means 3. The waterdrop detecting means 2 is installed on a windshield outer surface B of an automobile A, and the position is within a wiper operating range C, having a waterdrop detecting surface 20 adjoined outward. The wiping means 3 consists of a windshield wiper 31 with a blade for wiping the wiper operating range C on the windshield outer surface B. At the time of operation of the wiping means 3, the waterdrop detecting surface 20 and the windshield outer surface B are wiped clean by this blade 30, and it is installed so as to cause a waterdrop sticking state on the waterdrop detecting surface to become equal to that of the windshield outer surface B, so that drive control over the wiper is thus properly performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting adhesion of water droplets such as rain and controlling the drive of, for example, a wiper.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of water droplet detection, as shown in Utility Application No. 82-174550 previously filed by the present applicant, and as shown in Fig. E3.7.8, a light guide a consisting of a light guide is sandwiched. The infrared light emitting diode b and the photodiode C are made to face each other, and water droplets e (for example, raindrops) adhering to the water droplet detection surface d formed on the outer surface of the light guide a are detected.
There is a device f which detects a change in the amount of light received on the side of a photodiode C by detecting a change in the amount of light received on the side of a photodiode C, and is designed to be able to control the drive of a wiper, for example, by detecting the adhesion of water droplets. As shown in FIG. 7, this device f was built into a part of the door mirror g so that water droplets could be detected.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when the device f is installed as shown in Fig. 7, adhesion due to residual water droplets on the water droplet detection surface will be detected, and until these residual water droplets are removed, the situation outside the vehicle cannot be monitored. There was a concern that the detection signal would be output without any modification. The challenge was to develop a device that could accurately detect conditions outside the vehicle cabin.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and includes a water droplet detection means arranged in a wiper wiping area on the outer surface of a windshield and with a water droplet detection surface facing outward; The present invention solves the conventional problems by providing a water drop detection device characterized by comprising a wiping means having a blade for wiping a detection surface.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the water droplet detection surface is located, for example, on the front windshield, and this water droplet detection surface is wiped by a wiping means that wipes the outer surface of the front windshield, so that the outer surface of the front windshield and the water droplet detection surface are similar to each other. Water droplets are attached.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a water droplet detection device, and as shown in FIG.
The water droplet detection means 2 is provided on the outer surface B of the front windshield of the automobile A, and its position is in the wiper wiping area C.
The water droplet detection surface 20 is disposed in close contact with the lower edge side of the front cross section so as not to impair the driver's forward visibility, and the water droplet detection surface 20 faces outward. The wiping means 3 is composed of a wiper 31 having a blade 30 for wiping the wiper wiping area C on the outer surface B of the front windshield, and the blade 30 detects the water droplets when the wiping means 3 is operated, that is, when it rotates. The water drop detection surface 20 of the means 2 and the outer surface B of the front windshield are wiped so that the state of water drop adhesion on the water drop detection surface 20 becomes similar to the state of water drop adhesion on the outer surface B of the front windshield.

The water droplet detection surface 20 of the water droplet detection means 2 is preferably located above the wiping means 3, that is, the wiper 31, which is in a standby state when not in operation, and is exposed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water droplet detection means 2 includes an upper case 4, an inner case 5 formed into a flat box shape from a material with good light guiding properties, and a middle case 5 which corresponds to the shape of the upper case 4. 4
and a buffer member 6 made of a rubber plate that sandwiches the inner case 5. The middle case 5 is integrally equipped with the light guide plate 7 whose outer surface 70 is exposed from the opening 40 of the upper case 4, and the exposed outer surface 70 is used as the water droplet detection surface 20.

A light emitting element 8 consisting of an infrared light emitting diode and a light receiving element 9 consisting of a photodiode are housed in the inner case 5 facing each other on both sides of the light guide plate 7, and a harness is connected to the light receiving and emitting element 8.9! 0 is molded in the opening part of the inner case 5, and the inside of the inner goo 5 is sealed. As described above, the light emitting element 8 and the light receiving element 9 are arranged facing each other with the light guide plate 7 in between, and the light from the light emitting element 8 is provided so as to reach the light receiving element 9 via the light guide plate 7. For example, when a water droplet e adheres to the water droplet detection surface 20, the light receiving state on the light receiving element 9 side changes, and this change is output as a water droplet adhesion detection signal (the progress of light is indicated by an arrow 8a).

As shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting element 8 is installed in the inner case 5 at an angle with respect to the light guide plate 7 and with a space 51 formed around the light guide plate 7. It is provided so that the light enters well (the lens effect is not lost by providing a space around the light emitting element). Furthermore, since the light receiving element 9 is inserted parallel to the outer surface 70, the inner case 5 can be made flat. The area around the light receiving element 9 is filled with a resin 52 to reduce the angle of reflection and refraction so that light can enter efficiently. Furthermore, an air layer section 53 consisting of a vacant chamber is provided on the back side of the light guide plate 7, and the interface between the light guide plate 7 and the air layer section 53 is used as a reflecting surface so that the light is preferably reflected within the light guide plate 7. It is set in.

The water droplet detection means 2 is attached to the outer surface of the front windshield via a buffer member 6 to absorb the gap between it and the curved outer surface of the windshield to prevent rattling and also absorb vibrations. (The shape of the upper case and the shape of the back surface of the middle case can also be made to correspond to the outer surface shape of the front windshield, resulting in a better mounting condition.)

Since the blade slides on the outer surface of the light guide plate, a hard coat may be applied to improve resistance. Applying this hard coat improves water repellency and eliminates wiping residue caused by wiping means. You will be able to do it.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the water droplet detection device includes a water droplet detection means arranged in a wiper wiped area on the outer surface of the windshield and with a water droplet detection surface facing outward, and a water droplet detection means for the water droplet detection means. Since the wiping means has a blade for wiping the surface, the water droplet detection surface of the water droplet detection means is wiped with the wiping means to equalize the water droplet adhesion state on the outer surface of the windshield and the water droplet adhesion state on the water droplet detection surface. This has the effect that a water droplet adhesion detection signal that accurately corresponds to the situation outside the vehicle interior can be obtained, and, for example, wiper drive control can be performed appropriately. Note that by providing the water droplet detection means on the lower edge side of the window glass, visibility is not obstructed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a car equipped with an embodiment of the water droplet detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the water droplet detection means in the embodiment in a separated state, and FIG. 3 is also an explanatory diagram showing the water droplet detection means in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the middle case in the water droplet detection means in cross section; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the light receiving and emitting elements of the middle case
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an automobile having a conventional example, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the conventional example is incorporated, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the conventional example. 1... Water drop detection device 2... Water drop detection means 3... Wiping means 5... Inner case 6... Buffer member 7... ...Light guide plate 8 ... Light emitting element 9 ... Light receiving element @1 Figure 814! 1 @6 Figure 1i8 Figure

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A water droplet detection means disposed in a wiper wiping area on the outer surface of the windshield with a water droplet detection surface facing outward, and a wiping means having a blade for wiping the water droplet detection surface of the water droplet detection means. A water droplet detection device characterized by: (2) The water droplet detection device according to claim 1, wherein the water droplet detection means is arranged on the lower edge side of the window glass. (3) The water droplet detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wiping means comprises a wiper for wiping the outer surface of the windshield. (4) The water droplet detection means has a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged in a facing state on both sides of a light guide plate whose outer surface is a water droplet detection surface, and from the light emitting element side to the light receiving element side via the light guide plate. The water droplet detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is provided to be able to detect the light reception state of the water droplet detection device. (5) The water droplet detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water droplet detection means is provided with an air layer on the back side of the light guide plate. (6) The water droplet detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the water droplet detection device is provided with a cushioning member made of rubber on the back surface, and is attached to the outer surface of the windshield via the cushioning member. Water drop detection device.