JPH10297384A - Head for light beacon on-vehicle machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To emit a light at a prescribed angle without slanting a base plate by arranging the plate for mounting one or plural luminous elements to the base plate so that the light can be emitted at a prescribed angle through a columnar spacer in which flat two side surfaces make an acute angle in parallel with one surface of a case in a light beacon on-vehicle head storing case. SOLUTION: Plural luminous diodes 8 are lined up in a row on a base plate 6 and mounted on the base plate 6 through a spacer 7 so that the light is emitted at a prescribed slant angle. The spacer 7, luminous diode 8, photo diode 11 for receiving a light, capacitor 9 for driving the luminous diode and terminal 10 are arraigned on the base plate 6. As the base plate 6 for mounting the luminous element 8 is arranged in parallel with one surface of a head storing case 5b for a light beacon car-mounted machine and as the height of the case can be lowered when one surface of the case is installed on a nearly horizontal place, the sight of a driver is not disturbed and an irradiation angle the most suitable for the sending of a signal from one or plural luminous elements 8 to a machine on a road can be ensured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head for an on-vehicle optical beacon using an optical beacon system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The optical beacon system is one of road-vehicle communication systems.
This is a method in which communication is performed between a roadside device and a vehicle-mounted device using spatially propagating light as a transmission medium. Information such as traffic congestion information, construction information, and accident information is transmitted from the on-road device to the on-vehicle device, and the vehicle-specific ID, travel time information, and the like are transmitted to the on-road device.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of communication from a vehicle-mounted device to a road device 32. Optical beacon head 3
1 is usually installed on the upper surface of the dashboard inside the vehicle facing the windshield of the vehicle. To transmit a signal from the head 31 for the optical beacon on-vehicle device to the on-road device 32, the vehicle 1 travels upward from the horizontal plane in the traveling direction of the vehicle. The light must be transmitted in a direction of about 47 °.

FIG. 12 shows an optical beacon vehicle-mounted head 31.
It is a perspective view which shows an example. A light emitting element 32 for transmission is mounted on a substrate 35 in a case 34 having a transparent window 33. In order to transmit an optical signal from the head 31 for the optical beacon device at the above-mentioned angle, light must be emitted from the light emitting element 32 in an oblique direction. Are installed at a predetermined angle. Therefore, the height H of the head for the optical beacon
However, as shown in FIG.

[0005]

As described above, when the optical beacon on-vehicle head 31 is installed on the dashboard, the height H of the optical beacon on-vehicle head is high. Therefore, there is a demand for an in-vehicle device having a lower height. However, when the shape of the on-vehicle device is reduced, there is a problem that the installation angle of the substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted cannot be set.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize an optical beacon vehicle-mounted head capable of emitting light at a predetermined angle from a light emitting element without tilting a substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical beacon vehicle-mounted head in which a substrate on which a light emitting element is mounted is disposed in a case for housing the optical beacon vehicle-mounted head, parallel to one surface of the case. Then, one or a plurality of light emitting elements, so that light can be emitted at a predetermined angle with respect to the substrate,
The two flat sides are attached to the substrate via a columnar spacer having an acute angle (claim 1).

[0008] The "predetermined angle" is selected to be an angle most suitable for transmitting a signal to a road machine. According to the above configuration, since the substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted is arranged parallel to one surface of the case, if the one surface of the case is mounted in a substantially horizontal place (that is, the “one surface” becomes the mounting surface) ), One or a plurality of light emitting elements can emit light at a predetermined angle. Then, the height of the case can be reduced.

Further, if a case in which the upper surface and the lower surface are basically parallel is used as a case for housing the head for the optical beacon on-board unit (claim 2), the case can be made a flat case, and the "lower surface" The height of the case can be kept to a minimum by using as the mounting surface.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a head 3 for an on-vehicle optical beacon that performs optical transmission with an optical beacon communication device on a road, and an FM antenna 4 that receives FM multiplex radio waves.
Are connected to the optical / FM integrated receiver 2, and the optical / FM
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a use state in which the integrated receiver 2 is connected to the navigation device body 1.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the head 3 for the vehicle-mounted optical beacon. The head 3 for the vehicle-mounted optical beacon includes flat cases 5a and 5b whose upper and lower surfaces are parallel to each other in a fitted state.
It has a cord 5e and a connector 5f for receiving power from the optical / FM integrated receiver 2 and transferring received signals. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the head 3 for an in-vehicle optical beacon is installed on a horizontal surface of a dashboard in a vehicle. The dimensions of the case of the head 3 for the vehicle-mounted optical beacon are:
89 mm wide, 47 mm deep, 22 mm high,
Because it is relatively small, the dashboard can be installed wherever there is a small amount of horizontal surface. If there is no horizontal surface of the dashboard, the optical beacon on-vehicle device head 3 is mounted using the auxiliary mounting tool so as to be installed horizontally.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper case 5a and the lower case 5b of the head 3 for the vehicle-mounted optical beacon have been vertically removed. At least the upper case 5a is formed of a material that allows infrared rays to pass (for example, polycarbonate). The substrate 6 on which the light emitting element 8 and the like are mounted is disposed in the cases 5a and 5b in parallel with the lower surface of the lower case 5b.

On the substrate 6, six light emitting diodes 8 are arranged in a line, and mounted on the substrate 6 via a spacer 7 so as to emit light at a predetermined oblique angle θ. The angle θ is a constant angle (for example, 47 °) satisfying the inequality 0 ° <θ <90 °. In addition to the spacer 7 and the light emitting diode 8, the substrate 6 has a photodiode 11 for receiving light, a capacitor 9 for driving the light emitting diode,
Terminals 10 and the like are arranged.

The light emitting diode 8 has a wavelength of 850 nm.
Alternatively, a PN junction for irradiating infrared rays of 950 nm is solidified with a transparent resin 8a, and as shown in FIG.
Seen from above, it has an elliptical shape. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (d), a wide directional angle φ can be obtained in the major axis direction of the ellipse. FIG. 5 (e) shows a swelling 8c of the resin generated around the electrode 8b of the light emitting diode 8 on the bottom surface of the resin portion 8a. Such resin swell 8
Although c is often too small to be seen, a large bulge 8c as shown in the figure may occur due to manufacturing variations at the time of commercialization.

FIG. 6 shows the shape of the spacer 7. The spacer 7 itself is made of a transparent heat-resistant resin (for example, polycarbonate). By employing a transparent resin, the characters printed on the substrate 6 can be read even after the spacer 7 is attached, and the state of soldering can be confirmed. As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (c), the pedestals 71a and 71b are provided at five places on the bottom surface of the spacer 7, and projections 72 are protruded from three of the pedestals 71b. Is fitted into a hole provided in the substrate 6 so that positioning can be performed. Further, the pedestals 71a, 71b
Plays a role of creating a gap between the bottom surface of the spacer 7 and the substrate 6, and the gap avoids the influence of the flow solder.

The spacer 7 is formed as shown in FIGS.
The cross section is in the shape of a trapezoidal quadratic prism,
Consists of a surface 7a, a bottom surface 7d, a back surface 7c, and a slope 7b.
Have been. The angle between the inclined surface 7b and the bottom surface 7d is (90
° -θ). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the spacer 7.
is there. In FIG. 7, for easy understanding, the spacer 7 is
Painted as opaque. Upper surface 7a of spacer 7
From the bottom to the bottom, partially on the slope 7b,
It penetrates through-hole 7e having an H-shaped cross section. this
The width of the through hole 7e is D₁Displayed with. Also,
The through hoe extends vertically from the slope 7 b of the spacer 7.
Forming a semi-circular dug 7f wider than the ru 7e
I have. The width of this dug 7f is D_TwoIs displayed in
(D _Two> D₁Holds). In addition, digging 7f
Is not limited to a semicircular column, but may be a quadrangular column.

FIG. 8 shows the through hole 7 of the spacer 7.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electrode 8b of the light emitting diode 8 is inserted into e. When the light emitting diode 8 is inserted all the way, the bottom surface of the resin portion 8a of the light emitting diode 8
6 (i), the irradiation angle θ (47 °) of the light emitting diode 8 is determined. In this contact state, even if there is a bulge 8c of the resin on the bottom surface of the resin part 8a of the light emitting diode 8, the bulge 8c is buried in the semicircular dug 7f described above. Of bottom and slope 7 of spacer 7
No rattling occurs in contact with b. Therefore, the irradiation angle θ of the light emitting diode 8 can be accurately determined.

FIG. 6 (i) shows that the bottom surface of the resin portion 8a of the light emitting diode 8 is in contact with the inclined surface 7b of the spacer 7 and the electrode 8b of the light emitting diode 8 is soldered to the substrate. 2 shows a height K from the base to the base of the electrode 8b of the light emitting diode 8. The height K is determined to be equal to or less than a certain height so that the head of the light emitting diode 8 does not contact the fitted case 5a.

As a means for satisfying the demand for miniaturization, as shown in FIG. 13, by utilizing the property that the light quantity of the light emitting diode increases in proportion to the forward current, one light emitting diode can be used within a range in which the light emitting diode does not fail. If the current is increased to increase the amount of light, the number of light emitting diodes can be reduced to obtain the same amount of light as a whole. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the spacer 7 shown in FIG. 6 has a trapezoidal quadrangular prism shape in cross section. However, the shape is not limited to this as long as the two flat sides of the column form an acute angle.
It may be a triangular prism as shown in FIG. 9A or a column having a rounded back as shown in FIG. Although six light emitting diodes are arranged in a line, the number of light emitting diodes is six.
It is not limited to individuals. For example, as shown in FIG.
You may make it attach to. Further, the light emitting diodes may be arranged in a plurality of rows.

Various other changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0021]

As described above, according to the head for the optical beacon on-vehicle device of the present invention, it is possible to secure the irradiation angle most suitable for transmitting a signal to the on-road device and to reduce the height of the case. The effect of eliminating the possibility of obstructing the driver's view is obtained. In particular, if the case is parallel and flat, the height of the case can be minimized,
The above effects can be best achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an optical beacon on-vehicle device head 3 and an FM antenna 4 connected to an optical / FM integrated receiver 2;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a use state in which the M-integrated receiver 2 is connected to the navigation device body 1.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a head 3 for a vehicle-mounted optical beacon;
(a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the head 3 for an in-vehicle optical beacon is installed on a horizontal surface of a dashboard in a vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the case of the head 3 for a vehicle-mounted optical beacon has been removed vertically.

5A and 5B are external views of a light-emitting diode 8 used in the head 3 for a vehicle-mounted optical beacon, where FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, FIG. 5C is a side view, and FIG. (E) is a diagram showing a bulge 8c of the resin generated around the electrode 8b of the light emitting diode 8 on the bottom surface of the resin portion 8a.

6A and 6B are external views of a spacer 7 used in the head 3 for the vehicle-mounted optical beacon; FIG. 6A is a front view, FIG.
(c) is a bottom view, (d) is a right side view, (e) is a rear view, (f) is a plan view, (g) is an AA sectional view, (h) is a BB sectional view,
(i) is a sectional view when the light emitting diode 8 is attached to the substrate 6 via the spacer 7.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a spacer 7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electrode 8b of a light emitting diode 8 is inserted into a through hole 7c of a spacer 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modification of the shape of the spacer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which one light emitting diode is used.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a communication state from an on-vehicle device to a road device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional head for an optical beacon device.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between a light amount of a light emitting diode and a forward current.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus main body 2 Integrated optical / FM receiver 3 Head for optical beacon equipment 4 FM antenna 4 5a Upper case 5b Lower case 6 Substrate 7 Spacer 8 Light emitting diode 8a Resin part 8b Electrode 8c Resin swell 7b Slope 7e Drilling through hole 7f

Claims (2)

[Claims] An optical beacon head for an in-vehicle optical beacon using an optical beacon method, wherein a substrate on which a light emitting element is mounted is placed in a case for housing the head for an in-vehicle optical beacon, parallel to one surface of the case. It is characterized in that one or a plurality of light emitting elements are mounted on the substrate via a columnar spacer having two flat sides forming an acute angle so that light can be emitted at a predetermined angle with respect to the substrate. Head for optical beacon onboard equipment. 2. The head for an on-vehicle optical beacon according to claim 1, wherein a case for storing the head for the on-vehicle optical beacon uses a case whose upper surface and lower surface are basically parallel.