JPH04115112A - Incident-light detecting sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to embed an incident-light detecting sensor into a decorative member by providing a plurality of photodetectors in the dispersed pattern on the inner surface of a cabinet which is formed in a recessed surface shape. CONSTITUTION:The incident sunlight through the opening part of the upper surface of a cabinet 1 passes through a transparent resin body 9 and hits a solar cells 3, 5 and 7. The solar cells 3, 5 and 7 receive the sunlight and output the signals corresponding to the differences in the data such as the intensity and the altitude (incident angle) of the sunlight. The output signals from the solar cells 3, 5 and 7 are inputted into an operating circuit. Then, operation is executed in the operating circuit. The intensity, the altitude and the bearing of the sunlight are operated based on the outputs signals of the solar cells 3, 5 and 7. Therefore, when only the opening part is optically formed in the cabinet 1, the incident light detecting sensor is made to function as the sensor. The kinds of the data of the incident light to be detected depends on the characteristics of the photodetector.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an incident light detection sensor, and more particularly to an incident light detection sensor that detects information about incident light such as light intensity and incident angle. .

[Prior Art] As a conventional incident light detection sensor of this type, there is, for example, a solar radiation sensor described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 141816/1983. This solar radiation sensor detects the angle of incidence of sunlight entering the vehicle interior, and is installed protruding from the top surface of the dash board in the vehicle interior. The structure has three sloped surfaces facing in three directions (total of three directions, the direction of travel of the vehicle and two left and right directions) on the outer surface of the block material, and a photodetection element is attached to each sloped surface. Since this solar radiation sensor is installed protruding from the upper surface of the dash board, a hemispherical transparent cover is placed over it to protect the photodetection element etc. [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional solar radiation sensor described above is There is a problem in that it cannot function unless it is placed protruding from the top surface of the dash board. This causes a problem in that, for example, the design of the vehicle interior is compromised.

An object of the present invention is to enable an incident light detection sensor such as the above solar radiation sensor to be embedded in a decorative member such as a dash board.

[Means for solving the problem] The incident light detection sensor of the present invention receives incident light and detects at least one piece of information about the incident light among information such as the intensity of the light and the angle of incidence. An incident light calibration sensor that outputs a signal to be detected is characterized in that a plurality of photodetecting elements are distributed and installed on the inner surface of a housing formed in a concave shape.

[Operation] In the incident light detection sensor of the present invention having the above configuration, the plurality of light detection elements distributed on the inner surface of the housing receive the incident light that enters from the opening of the concave surface of the housing. The incident light received by each photodetecting element differs depending on information about the incident light such as the intensity of the light and the angle of incidence. Since each photodetection element outputs a signal that reflects the difference in information on the incident light, information on the incident light is detected based on the output signal of each photodetection element.

Therefore, the incident light detection sensor having the above structure (as long as the opening of the concave surface of the housing is optically open) can function as a sensor even if it is embedded in a decorative member. The intensity and angle of incidence of light depend on the characteristics of the photodetecting element.

[Example] A solar radiation sensor for a vehicle will be described below as an example of the incident light detection sensor of the present invention.

(First Example) The solar radiation sensor of the first example includes a housing 1, three solar cells 3. 5. 7 and a transparent resin body 9. The housing 1 has a cylindrical shape, and has a concave shape with a closed bottom and an open top. One circular solar cell 3 is arranged on the bottom surface of the inner surface of the housing 1. Two rectangular solar cells 5 and 7 are arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The two solar cells 5.7 have a size that roughly divides the inner peripheral surface of the housing 1 into two, and together they cover almost the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the housing 1. The transparent resin body 9 is a solar cell 3. 5. Housing 1 where 7 is placed
is filled into the hollow part of.

A solar radiation sensor having the above structure (embedded in the interior of a dash board or the like with the dividing line formed by the two solar cells 5 and 7 on the inner peripheral surface of the good housing 1 facing the traveling direction E of the vehicle. The opening portion is optically opened from the interior.

The solar radiation sensor described above operates as follows. Sunlight entering from the opening on the top surface of the housing 1 passes through the transparent resin body 9 and passes through each solar cell 3. 5. 7. Each solar cell3. 5. 7 receives sunlight and outputs a signal according to the difference in light information such as the intensity of sunlight and altitude (angle of incidence). The output signal of each solar cell 3°5.7 is input to an arithmetic circuit (not shown). In the arithmetic circuit, for example, a calculation is executed based on the following calculation formula, and each solar cell 3. 5
．． Based on the output signal of 7, the intensity, altitude, and direction of sunlight are calculated. The calculation formula is as follows.

The output of the solar cell 3 on the bottom is A, the output of the solar cell 5 on the left side is B, the output of the solar cell 7 on the right side is C, the light-receiving area of the solar cell on the bottom is Sa, and the light-receiving area of the left and right solar cells. Assuming that Sb+c is Sb+c, the intensity 1 of sunlight incident on the vehicle interior, the altitude θ, and the direction φ are expressed by the following formula.

S a °sin θ Here, the symbol H indicates the diameter of the solar cell 3 on the bottom surface, and the symbol H indicates the height of the two solar cells 5 and 7 on the inner peripheral surface.

Although each calculation formula has been shown above, the calculation of the orientation φ may be determined by referring to the maps shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), for example, instead of using the above calculation formula.

The map shown in FIG. 3(A) has been created in advance through theory and experiment to determine the relationship between the output B of the solar cell 5 on the left side, the output C of the solar cell 7 on the right side, and the orientation φ. By illuminating the detected outputs B and C of the solar cells 5 and 7 on a map, the orientation φ can be easily calculated. Also, Figure 3 (B)
The map shown in is a map of the calculation formula for the direction ψ described above.

Calculated from the detected outputs B and C of the solar cells 5 and 7.
By comparing the obtained value (B-C)/(B+C) with this map, the direction φ can be easily calculated.

According to the solar radiation sensor of the first embodiment described above, the housing]
If the opening at the top of the solar panel is optically opened from the interior of the dash board or the like, it is possible to embed the solar radiation sensor in the interior. As a result, the design of the vehicle interior can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) The solar radiation sensor of the second embodiment (as shown in the perspective view of FIG.
19.21, and a transparent resin body 23. The housing] 1 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, and has a concave shape with a closed bottom and an open top.

The outer cross-sectional shape of the housing 1 is a square. One square solar cell] 3 is arranged on the bottom of the inner surface of the housing. Rectangular solar cells 15, 17, 19, 2] of a size that covers the entire surface of each surface are arranged on four inner peripheral surfaces of the housing 1]. The transparent resin body 23 is filled in a hollow portion inside the housing in which the solar cells 13, 15, 17, and 19 are arranged.

The solar radiation sensor (companion housing) having the above configuration is embedded in the interior of a dash board or the like, with the diagonal lines formed by the four solar cells 15, 17, 19, 21 on the inner surface facing toward the sun in the direction of travel of the vehicle. However, the opening of the housing 1 is optically opened from the interior.

In the above solar radiation sensor (Each solar cell) 3°15.
17, 19, and 21 receive sunlight entering through the opening on the top surface of the housing 11 through the transparent resin body 23. Each solar cell13. 15. 17. 19°211 It outputs a signal that reflects the differences in the intensity, altitude, and direction of the sunlight it receives. And each solar cell 13, 15.17, 19.2
The intensity, altitude, and direction of sunlight are calculated from the output signal of No. 1.

According to this solar radiation sensor, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment,
4 solar cells with approximate orientation φ 15, 17.19.21
It has the advantage that it can be detected from the strength and weakness of the output.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the sensor may be used to detect light other than sunlight. Further, it may be a sensor that detects information related to incident light other than intensity, altitude, and direction, or at least one of the information. Furthermore, although the second embodiment shows a configuration in which the solar cells are combined in a square shape on the inner surface of the housing, a configuration in which a large number of solar cells are combined in a polygon with more vertices and installed on the inner surface of the housing is also possible. .

In this case, there is an advantage that the orientation φ can be detected with a simple determination circuit that determines the strength or weakness of a large number of solar cells. In addition, photodetecting elements are not limited to elements that apply the photovoltaic effect such as solar cells, but those with characteristics that match the wavelength of the incident light to be detected and the type of information attached to the incident light to be detected are used. be done.

In addition to solar cells, there are various other devices such as devices that utilize photoelectron emission effects such as photomultiplier tubes, devices that utilize photoconductive effects such as photoconductive elements, and CCD image sensors.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, the incident light calibration sensor of the present invention has the effect that the singer incident light detection sensor can be embedded in a decorative member.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a solar radiation sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the solar radiation sensor, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a map used for calculation, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a solar radiation sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. ]...Housing 3. 5. 7... Solar cell 9... Transparent resin body 11... Housing 13.15.1
7,19.21...Solar cell 23...Transparent resin body

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an incident light detection sensor that receives incident light and outputs a signal for detecting at least one piece of information on the incident light among information such as light intensity and incident angle, the sensor is formed in a concave shape. An incident light detection sensor characterized in that a plurality of light detection elements are distributed and installed on the inner surface of a housing.