JPH048388Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an ultrasonic detection device for an automobile, and more specifically, an ultrasonic detection device for an automobile that detects both an object behind the automobile and a road surface under the automobile. Regarding equipment.

Prior Art Conventionally, devices for detecting obstacles behind a car using ultrasonic waves have been known.
It is disclosed in Publication No. 57-84377 and the like.

Problems with the Prior Art In order to optimally adjust the characteristics of, for example, a shock absorber depending on the condition of the road surface, it is necessary to detect the road surface.

However, although conventional ultrasonic detection devices were able to detect obstacles behind the vehicle, they were unable to detect the road surface below the vehicle, so a separate detection device for road surface detection was required. However, there was a problem in that the configuration was complicated.

Purpose of the invention The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of detecting obstacles behind the car as well as the road surface below the car, and which uses ultrasonic waves for cars with a simple configuration. The purpose is to provide a detection device.

Structure of the invention The automotive ultrasonic detection device of the invention includes a hollow cylindrical transducer that emits ultrasonic waves in the radial direction, and an ultrasonic wave that is inserted into the hollow part of the hollow cylindrical transducer and emitted in the radial direction. A conical reflecting member that directs sound waves in an axial direction and a cover that appropriately covers the periphery of the hollow cylindrical vibrator are provided, and the relative positions of the conical reflecting member and the cover with respect to the hollow cylindrical vibrator are appropriately switched. The transmitting direction of the ultrasonic waves is controlled by the radial direction or the axial direction, and objects behind the car are detected by ultrasonic radiation in either the radial direction or the axial direction, and the road surface below the car is detected by the other ultrasonic radiation. The feature of this configuration is that it performs detection.

Function The ultrasonic detection device for automobiles of the present invention uses a hollow cylindrical vibrator and emits ultrasonic waves in the radial direction of the vibrator.

Further, the conical reflecting member reflects the ultrasonic waves emitted to the hollow portion of the hollow cylindrical transducer in the axial direction, thereby making it possible to radiate the ultrasonic waves in the axial direction.

That is, the relative positions of the conical reflecting member and the cover with respect to the hollow cylindrical vibrator are appropriately changed.
Ultrasonic radiation can be performed in either of two different directions.

Therefore, if one of the two directions is used for radiation in the horizontal direction and the other direction is used for radiation below the car, it is possible to detect obstacles behind the car and the road surface below the car. I can do it.

Furthermore, the configuration is simple.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. Here, Fig. 1 is a schematic external view showing the state in which an ultrasonic detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear bottom of a car to detect obstacles behind the car, and Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main parts of the ultrasonic detection device in a state where it detects obstacles behind the vehicle, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the main parts, and FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in a state where the road surface below the automobile is detected. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic detection device 1 is attached to the rear bottom of an automobile A, and includes a hollow cylindrical vibrator 2, a reflecting member 3, a cover 4, and a mounting base 5. , a control circuit section (not shown).

The hollow cylindrical vibrator 2 is made of hardened ceramic in a cylindrical shape, vibrates in the radial direction, and efficiently radiates ultrasonic waves radially outward from the outer circumferential surface and radially inward from the inner circumferential surface.

The reflecting member 3 has a cylindrical body 3a with a diameter large enough to be inserted into the hollow part of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2, and a conical bottom part 3b, and can move up and down as described later.

The cover 4 has a cylindrical shape that covers the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2, and has an opening 4a in the peripheral wall and an opening 4b at the bottom. It also moves up and down as will be described later.

The mounting base 5 is used to attach this ultrasonic detection device 1 to a car A.
The hollow cylindrical vibrator 2 is fixedly supported with respect to the automobile A, while the reflecting member 3 and the cover 4 are supported so as to be movable up and down. The vertical movement is performed by, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism.

For the control circuit section, a conventionally known circuit of this kind can be used.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, the reflecting member 3 and cover 4 are pushed out from the mounting base 5, and the cylindrical body 3a of the reflecting member 3 is inserted into the hollow part of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2.
The opening 4a of the cover 4 is located on the outer peripheral wall surface of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2.

Then, the ultrasonic waves are radiated outward in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2, and as shown in FIG. Obstacles around the vehicle A, such as the obstacle O shown in FIG. 1, can be detected.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. and the cover 4
to cover the outer periphery of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2.

Then, the ultrasonic waves radiated inward in the radial direction from the inner circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2 are reflected by the conical bottom 3b and radiated downward of the automobile A.

As a result, the road surface L below the vehicle A can be detected, so that, for example, it is possible to detect whether the road surface is a paved road or a rough road, and to detect the height of the road surface.

Based on the detection results, the damping force and height of the shock absorber are adjusted, and the spring constant of the suspension is adjusted to perform optimal control according to the road surface.

When detecting the rear of the automobile A by the radial radiation of the hollow cylindrical vibrator 2 as in the above embodiment device 1, it is possible to detect a wide range behind the automobile. Further, the ultrasonic waves reflected by the conical bottom portion 3b of the reflecting member 3 have strong directivity, so that the road surface directly below the automobile A can be detected.

On the other hand, the bottom opening 4b of the cover 4 in FIG.
If the above embodiment device 1 is rotated 90 degrees and attached to the car A so that the opening 4a faces the rear of the car A and the opening 4a faces the bottom of the car A, it will have strong directivity. Obstacles can be detected,
Furthermore, the road surface below the vehicle A can be detected over a wide range of areas. In this case, since the energy density is high, it is possible to detect a long distance behind the car A.

Effects of the invention According to the invention, there is provided a hollow cylindrical transducer that emits ultrasonic waves in the radial direction, and an ultrasonic wave that is inserted into the hollow part of the hollow cylindrical transducer and emitted in the radial direction in the axial direction. a conical reflecting member to which the ultrasonic wave is directed; and a cover that appropriately covers the periphery of the hollow cylindrical transducer; By controlling the wave direction, objects behind the vehicle can be detected by ultrasonic radiation in either the radial or axial direction, and the road surface beneath the car can be detected by the other ultrasonic radiation. An ultrasonic detection device for an automobile is provided, which is capable of emitting ultrasonic waves in the horizontal and vertical directions with a simple configuration, and is therefore suitable for both detecting obstacles behind the automobile and the road surface. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic external view showing the state in which an ultrasonic detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear bottom of a car to detect obstacles behind the car. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main parts of the ultrasonic detection device in a state where it detects obstacles, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the main parts, and FIG. A corresponding diagram, FIG. 5, is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in a state where the road surface below the automobile is detected. Explanation of symbols, 1...Ultrasonic detection device, 2...Hollow cylindrical vibrator, 3...Reflection member, 3a...Cylindrical body, 3b...Conical bottom, 4...Cover, 4a
...Opening, 4b...Bottom opening, A...Car, W
...Rear wheel, O... Rear obstacle, L... Road surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a hollow cylindrical transducer that emits ultrasonic waves in the radial direction; a conical reflecting member that is inserted into the hollow part of the hollow cylindrical transducer and directs the ultrasonic waves emitted in the radial direction in the axial direction; a cover that appropriately covers the periphery of the cylindrical transducer, and controls the transmitting direction of the ultrasonic wave by appropriately switching the relative positions of the conical reflecting member and the cover with respect to the hollow cylindrical transducer; An ultrasonic detection device for an automobile, characterized in that an object behind the automobile is detected by ultrasonic radiation in one of the axial directions, and a road surface under the automobile is detected by the other ultrasonic radiation. .