JPH09113621A - Optical radar equipment for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain optical radar equipment which can be perfectly prevented that a irregular refrection a light transmission window caused by a light beam from a light emitting element reaches a light receiving element directly through glass panels, and is constituted in a stably airtight state, and can be assembled easily at a low cost. SOLUTION: Optical radar equipment for vehicle is constituted in an airtight state by inserting packings 25 between a case 11 and light transmitting window 23 and between the case 11 and a light receiving window 24 and forming a partition wall 25a composed of the packing 25 between the windows 23 and 24. Therefore, the equipment can perfectly prevent the part of a light beam emitted from a light emitting element 15 which is irregularly reflected in the glass panel of the window 23 and leaks to the window 24 side from reaching a light receiving element 18 through the glass panels of the windows 23 and 24, because the wall 25a composed of the packing 25 can completely intercept the part of the light. In addition, since the airtightness of the radar equipment is secured by compressing the packings 25 between the case 11 and window 23 and between the case 11 and window 24, the airtightness of the equipment is stabilized and the equipment can be assembled easily at a low cost.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical radar device for a vehicle, which emits a light beam from a light emitting source and receives reflected light from an object to detect the distance to the object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical radar device for a vehicle, which emits a beam of light from a light emitting source, receives reflected light from an object, and detects the distance to the object based on the relationship between transmitted and received signals, has been conventionally known. As an example, there is a structure as shown in FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle optical radar device,
A case 2 forming a frame member of a window is a light emitting element that emits a light beam, and 3 is a lens that irradiates the light beam of the light emitting element 2 in a predetermined range. On the other hand, 4 is a light receiving element that converts the reflected and returned beam light into an electric signal, and 5 is a light receiving lens that collects the reflected and returned beam light and collects it on the light receiving element 4. 6 is fitted into the opening 1a of the case 1,
A glass panel which transmits the light beam from the light emitting element 2 and transmits the reflected light from the object, 7 is printed on the back surface of the glass panel 6, and the light transmitting window 7a and the light receiving window 7b are not printed. Low printed film, 8 is the opening 1a of the case 1
It is a sealant that firmly seals between the glass panel 6 and the glass panel 6.

Next, the operation will be described. The light beam emitted from the light emitting element 2 is shaped into a predetermined beam shape by the lens 3, and is irradiated onto a predetermined range through the light transmission window 7a of the glass panel 6. When the irradiated light beam hits the object and is reflected back, the reflected light that has returned passes through the light receiving window 7b of the glass panel 6 and is collected by the light receiving lens 5 to be collected by the light receiving element 4 to generate an electrical signal. Is converted to. The distance to the object is calculated and detected based on the relationship between the light emission signal of the light emitting element 2 and the light reception signal received by the light receiving element 4 at this time.

In this case, a part of the light beam emitted from the light emitting element 2 and shaped into a predetermined beam shape by the lens 3 is diffusely reflected on the inner and outer surfaces of the glass panel 6 to receive the light.
After that, there is a problem that it reaches the light receiving element 4 and impairs the measuring function. In order to prevent this, a printed film 7 is provided on the back surface of the glass panel 6, whereby the light transmitting window 7a,
The light receiving window 7b is separated, and the glass film 6 is formed by the printing film 7.
The reflection of light on the inner surface side is prevented, and the light beam passing through the glass panel 6 and reaching the light receiving element 4 is prevented.

Next, another conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes a light-transmitting window which is emitted from the light-emitting element 2, is transmitted through the light beam shaped into a predetermined beam shape by the lens 3, and is fixed to the case 1 by the sealant 8, and 10 is light reflected by the object. Is a light-receiving window which is transmitted through and is fixed to the case 1 by the sealant 8. In this conventional example, the light transmitting window 9 and the light receiving window 10 are separated by the case 1, and a part of the beam light from the light emitting element 2 passes through the glass panels of the light transmitting window 9 and the light receiving window 10 to receive light. The element 4 is prevented from reaching.

[0006]

In the conventional optical radar device for a vehicle as described above, in the case of the conventional example 1, a printing film is provided on the back surface of the glass panel to separate the light transmitting window and the light receiving window. Therefore, a method of preventing a part of the beam light from the light emitting element from reaching the light receiving element through the glass panels of the light transmitting window and the light receiving window is adopted. Therefore, there was a problem that it was not possible to completely block light.

Further, in both the conventional examples 1 and 2, a method of fixing the glass panel to the case with a sealant is adopted, but in this case, the sealant is evenly distributed over the entire circumference of the glass panel and the airtightness is impaired. Since it is necessary to manufacture it without pinholes, this sealing work requires a lot of time, and it is difficult to obtain airtight stability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a part of the light beam from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element through the glass panels of the light transmitting window and the light receiving window. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical radar device for a vehicle that completely prevents the above-mentioned problems, has stable airtightness, is easy to assemble, and is low in cost.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle optical radar device in which a packing is inserted between a case and a light-transmitting window or a light-receiving window to ensure airtightness and a light-transmitting window. A partition wall made of packing is provided between the light receiving window and the light receiving window.

An optical radar device for a vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention is one in which a filter having a slit is provided on the inner surface of the light transmitting window and the light receiving window, and a partition formed integrally with the packing is inserted into the slit. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle optical radar device in which a plate for compressing packing through the filter and fixing the packing to the case is arranged on the inner surface of the filter.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, 11 is a case that houses a vehicle optical radar device and forms a frame member of a window, 12 is a cover that forms a pair with the case 11, and 13 is inserted into the mating surface of the case 11 and the cover 12. , Packing to keep airtightness, 1
4 is a substrate on which an electronic circuit (not shown) is assembled, 15
Is a light emitting element which is attached to the substrate 14 and emits light beam, 16 is a lens which irradiates the light beam of the light emitting element 15 to a predetermined range, 17 is the same as the light emitting element 15 and the lens 16, and the lens 16 is held It is a holder.
Reference numeral 18 is a light receiving element for converting the reflected and returned light beam into an electric signal, 19 is a small substrate holding the light receiving element 18 fixed, 20 is a spacer for holding the small substrate 19 at a predetermined position, and 21 is reflected. The light receiving lens 22 that collects the returned beam light and collects it in the light receiving element 18, and the light receiving lens 21.
Is a shield cover that keeps the electric field at a predetermined position and surrounds the small substrate 19 to prevent electric noise. Reference numeral 23 is a light-transmitting window for transmitting a light beam emitted from the light-emitting element 15 and shaped into a predetermined beam shape by the lens 16, 24 is a light-receiving window for transmitting reflected light from an object, and 25 is a case 11 and light-transmitting window. The packing is inserted between the window 23 and the light receiving window 24 to keep airtightness and has a partition wall 25a between the light transmitting window 23 and the light receiving window 24. Reference numeral 26 denotes a filter having a characteristic of transmitting the wavelength component of the light beam emitted from the light emitting element 15 and not transmitting light having other wavelengths, and having a light beam transmitting portion corresponding to the light transmitting window 23 and the light receiving window 24. 26a is a light transmitting window 2
3 is a slit provided between the light beam transmitting portions corresponding to 3 and the light receiving window 24, and 27 is a plate for compressing the packing 25 through the light transmitting window 23, the light receiving window 24, and the filter 26 and fixing it to the case 11. .

Next, the operation will be described. Light emitting element 15
The beam light emitted from is shaped into a predetermined beam shape by the lens 16, and is irradiated onto a predetermined range through the filter 26 and the light transmission window 23. The reflected light that the irradiated light beam hits on the object and is reflected back returns through the light receiving window 24 and the filter 26 and is condensed by the light receiving lens 21.
Are collected in and converted into an electric signal. The distance to the object is calculated and detected based on the relationship between the light emitting signal of the light emitting element 15 and the light receiving signal received by the light receiving element 18 at this time.

At this time, a part of the light beam from the light emitting element 15 is diffusely reflected on the inner and outer surfaces of the glass panel of the light transmitting window 23 and is emitted to the light receiving window 24 side.
The light is blocked by a and is prevented from reaching the light receiving element 18 from the light transmitting window 23 through the light receiving window 24. Similarly, the filter 26
The beam light that is diffusely reflected on the inner and outer surfaces of the light transmitting window 23 side and exits inside the filter 26 toward the light receiving window 24 side is shielded by the partition wall 25a of the packing 25 inserted into the slit 26a of the filter 26, and is transmitted from the light transmitting window 23. Light receiving element 1 through light receiving window 24
Prevent reaching 8.

[0015]

As described above, according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention.
According to the vehicle optical radar device according to the above, a part of the light beam from the light emitting element is diffusely reflected in the glass panel of the light transmitting window and the light leaking to the light receiving window side can be completely shielded by the partition wall made of packing. It is possible to completely prevent reaching the light receiving element through the glass panels of the light transmitting window and the light receiving window.

Further, according to the vehicle optical radar device of the third aspect, the packing is compressed between the case and the glass panels of the light transmitting window and the light receiving window to secure the airtightness. A vehicle optical radar device that is stable, easy to assemble, and low in cost can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle optical radar device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a vehicle optical radar device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a conventional optical radar device for a vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view showing a conventional optical radar device for a vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another conventional optical radar device for a vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an optical radar device for a vehicle according to another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 cases, 15 light emitting elements, 18 light receiving elements, 23
Light transmitting window, 24 light receiving window, 25 packing, 25a partition wall, 26 filter, 26a slit, 27 plate.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light beam emitted from a light emitting source is emitted through a light transmitting window, reflected light from an object is received through a light receiving window, and the light transmitting window and the light receiving window are separated into a case. In the installed vehicle optical radar device, seal between the case and the light transmitting window and between the case and the light receiving window,
An optical radar device for a vehicle, further comprising a packing having a partition wall between the light transmitting window and the light receiving window. 2. A filter is provided on the inner surfaces of the light-transmitting window and the light-receiving window, a slit is formed between the light-transmitting portions of the filter corresponding to the light-transmitting window and the light-receiving window, and the slit is formed integrally with the packing. The vehicle optical radar device according to claim 1, wherein the separated partition is inserted. 3. The vehicle optical radar device according to claim 2, wherein a plate for compressing the packing through the filter to fix the packing to the case is arranged on the inner surface of the filter.