JPS60111942A - Optical oil sensor - Google Patents

Optical oil sensor

Info

Publication number
JPS60111942A
JPS60111942A JP58219807A JP21980783A JPS60111942A JP S60111942 A JPS60111942 A JP S60111942A JP 58219807 A JP58219807 A JP 58219807A JP 21980783 A JP21980783 A JP 21980783A JP S60111942 A JPS60111942 A JP S60111942A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
light
light emitting
oil
contamination
diode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP58219807A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Kazuhiko Yamamoto
一彦 山本
Masayuki Yamaguchi
正之 山口
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority to JP58219807A priority Critical patent/JPS60111942A/en
Publication of JPS60111942A publication Critical patent/JPS60111942A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
    • G01N21/314—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry with comparison of measurements at specific and non-specific wavelengths

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a sensor capable of detecting contamination quantitatively, by mounting two light emitting elements having different light emitting wavelength and a light receiving element having sensitivity to both light emitting wavelengths by utilizing such a phenomenon that the reducing ratios in the light transmitting amounts of visible light and near infrared rays are different corresponding to the contamination of oil. CONSTITUTION:Glass fibers 4, 5, 6 are respectively optically connected to a red visible light emitting diode 1, an infrared ray emitting diode 2 and a silicon phototransistor 3 at one ends thereof and the other end parts thereof are bundled by a metal pipe 7 composite light emitting photodiodes 8, 9 having light receiving wavelengths corresponding to different light emitting wavelengths may be used. In the case of the latter, the metal pipe 7 is set in engine oil and the difference of light transmitting amounts based on the contamination of oil due to the reflection of an oil surface is inputted to the photodiodes 12, 13 within the photodiode 9 and the signals of the photodiodes 12, 13 are passed through amplifiers 14, 15 while the output signals thereof are compared and detected by an operator circuit 16. When the contamination of oil reaches the vicinity of usable limit, the diode 17 of a display 19 is allowed to emit light and, when exceeds the usable limit, the diode 18 thereof is allowed to emit light.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 産業上の利用分野 本発明は、オイルの汚れ、特に、エンジンオイルの汚れ
具合を検知し、オイル交換の時期を正しく報知するだめ
の信号を発生する光学式オイルセンサに関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical oil sensor that detects oil contamination, particularly engine oil contamination, and generates a signal to correctly notify the oil change time. .

従来例の構成（とその問題点 近年、自動車の省エネルギ化、高機能化をはかるだめの
取り組みが活発となり、これに対応してカーエレクトロ
ニクス化が急速に進んでいる。また、゛このようなカー
エレクトロニクス化の進歩につれて、各種の情報を検知
するためセンナが多用されるに至っている。Conventional configuration (and its problems) In recent years, efforts have been made to make automobiles more energy efficient and highly functional, and in response, car electronics are rapidly progressing. As car electronics progresses, sensors are increasingly being used to detect various types of information.

ところで、このような取り組みがなされてはいるものの
、エンジンオイルの汚れの検知は依然としてオイルゲー
ジに付着させたオイルを視覚で判定することにより行な
われている。したがって、オイル交換の時期は、走行距
離数とオイルの汚れ具合いの視覚判定に基づいて決定さ
れるところとなり、ともすると、汚れのひどいオイルが
その捷ま使用され続ける場合がある。このため、カーエ
レクトロニクス化による省エネルギ対策とは逆行するエ
ンジン効率の低下の問題が生じる。寸だ、オイルゲージ
を用いるオイル汚れの判定を頻繁に行なうことは面倒で
あり、オイルの汚れを常時監視することは不可能に近い
。Incidentally, although such efforts have been made, detection of engine oil contamination is still performed by visually determining the amount of oil deposited on an oil gauge. Therefore, the timing of oil change is determined based on the number of miles traveled and a visual judgment of how dirty the oil is, and in some cases, heavily contaminated oil may continue to be used. For this reason, there arises the problem of a decrease in engine efficiency, which goes against the energy-saving measures taken by car electronics. Indeed, it is troublesome to frequently check oil contamination using an oil gauge, and it is nearly impossible to constantly monitor oil contamination.

発明の目的 本発明は、オイルの汚れを常時検知することができ、ま
た、汚れがオイル交換を要するところまで進行したとき
にこれを報知する信号を発生することもでき、さらに、
自動車のエンジン内のように高温内でも使用が可能な耐
熱性を具備する光学式オイルセンサの提供を目的とする
ものである。OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention is capable of constantly detecting oil contamination, and is also capable of generating a signal to notify when the contamination has progressed to the point where the oil needs to be replaced.
The object of the present invention is to provide an optical oil sensor that has heat resistance and can be used even at high temperatures such as inside an automobile engine.

発明の構成 本発明は、オイルの汚れに波長依存性があること、すな
わち、不使用状態で汚れのないオイルでは可視光領域か
ら近赤外６領域において、はぼ均一とみなせる光透過特
性をもつが、使用」され汚れが進むにしたがって可視光
領域の尤の透過はの減少が近赤外領域の光のそれよりも
犬となることの確認に基づいてなされたものである。か
かる波長依存性を積極的に利用する本発明の光学式オイ
ルセンサは、異る発光波長を有する２個の発光素子と、
両売光素子の発光波長に検出感度をもつ受光素子を備え
るとともに、発光素子および受光素子のそれぞれに光フ
ァイバの一端が光結合され、さらに、これらの光ファイ
バめ少くとも他端が金属管で束ねられ検出端部とされた
構成となっている。Structure of the Invention The present invention is based on the fact that oil contamination is wavelength-dependent, that is, unused and uncontaminated oil has light transmission characteristics that can be considered to be almost uniform in the visible light region to the near-infrared 6 region. However, this was based on the confirmation that the transmission of visible light decreases more than that of near-infrared light as it gets dirty after use. The optical oil sensor of the present invention, which actively utilizes such wavelength dependence, includes two light emitting elements having different emission wavelengths,
A light-receiving element having detection sensitivity for the emission wavelength of both light-emitting elements is provided, one end of an optical fiber is optically coupled to each of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, and at least the other end of each of these optical fibers is a metal tube. It has a configuration in which it is bundled to form a detection end.

この構成によれば、２個の発光素子からオイｌし面へ向
けて出射した光の反射光量がオイルの汚れに基〈光透上
量の変化に対応して変イヒすることを小炙出して、オイ
ルの汚れを連続的に、しかも、定；目的に検知すること
ができる。According to this configuration, the amount of reflected light emitted from the two light emitting elements toward the oiled surface changes depending on the oil dirt (in response to changes in the amount of light transmitted). Therefore, oil contamination can be detected continuously and with a fixed purpose.

実施例の説明 以−ドに、図面を参照して本発明の光学式オイルセンサ
について詳しく説明する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Following the description of embodiments, the optical oil sensor of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

第１図は、本発明の光学式オイルセンサの一例を示す斜
視図であり、発光ダイオード１，２およびシリコンホト
トランジスタ３のそれぞれにガラスファイバ４．５およ
び６の一端が光結合され、さらに、ガラスファイバ４〜
６の少くとも他方の端部は金属管７で束ねられた構造と
な−ている。FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the optical oil sensor of the present invention, in which one ends of glass fibers 4.5 and 6 are optically coupled to light emitting diodes 1, 2 and silicon phototransistor 3, respectively, and further, Glass fiber 4~
At least the other end of the tubes 6 is bound together with a metal tube 7.

発光ダイオード１と２は、異る発光波長をもつものであ
り赤色可視発光ダイオードと赤外発光ダイオードまたは
、赤色と緑色の可視発光ダイオードである。なお、シリ
コンフォトトランジスタ３にかえて、長波長側と短波長
（Ｉｌｌのそれぞれに検出感度をもつ２個のホトダイオ
ード接合を単一の基板内に作り込んで形成したホトダイ
オードを用いること、さらに、発光波長の異なる２個の
発光ダイオード基板を同一ハノケージに納め、これを発
光ダイオード１と２にかえて用いることもできる。The light emitting diodes 1 and 2 have different emission wavelengths, and are a red visible light emitting diode and an infrared light emitting diode, or red and green visible light emitting diodes. In addition, instead of the silicon phototransistor 3, it is possible to use a photodiode formed by fabricating two photodiode junctions in a single substrate, each having a detection sensitivity for a long wavelength side and a short wavelength side (Ill). It is also possible to house two light emitting diode substrates with different wavelengths in the same cell cage and use this instead of the light emitting diodes 1 and 2.

第２図は、上記の腹合形光光ダイオードと複合形ホトダ
イオードをＩｌｌいて構成した本発明にかかる光学式オ
イルセンサの４１′４成例を示す斜視図であり、独立し
た素子が複合形の発光ダイオード８とホトダイオード９
の２個となるため、２本のガラスファイバ１０と１１お
よび金属管７付加して全体が構成されている。FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a 41'4 configuration example of an optical oil sensor according to the present invention, which is constructed by combining the above-described ventral type photodiode and a composite type photodiode. Light emitting diode 8 and photodiode 9
Since there are two pieces, the whole is constructed by adding two glass fibers 10 and 11 and a metal tube 7.

以上のように構成された本発明の光学式オイルゲージで
は、発光ダイオードから放出された光がこれに光結合さ
れたガラスファイバを経てオイル面へ向けて出射され、
また、オイル面で反射された光を受光側ファイバで取り
込み、これをホトトランジスタまたはホトダイオードで
光電変換する動作が実行される。In the optical oil gauge of the present invention configured as described above, the light emitted from the light emitting diode is emitted toward the oil surface through the glass fiber optically coupled to the light emitting diode,
Further, an operation is performed in which the light reflected by the oil surface is taken in by the light-receiving fiber and photoelectrically converted by the phototransistor or photodiode.

第３図は、ホトダイオードで光電変換して得られる信号
を処理し、所定の発光表示を行なう回路の構成を示すブ
ロック図である。図示するように、ホトダイオード１２
と１３で光電変換された信号を増幅する増幅器１４．１
５、同増幅器の出力信号を比較し、かつ、処理する演算
増幅回路部１６および異なる発光色の発光ダイオード１
７および１８を有する表示部１９とで構成されている。FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a circuit that processes a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion using a photodiode and performs a predetermined light emission display. As shown, a photodiode 12
and an amplifier 14.1 that amplifies the photoelectrically converted signal at 13.
5. An operational amplifier circuit unit 16 that compares and processes the output signals of the same amplifier, and a light emitting diode 1 that emits light of different colors.
7 and 18.

たとえば、光学式オイルセンナが自動車のエンジノオイ
ルの汚れ検知のために用いられるときには、第１図およ
び第２図で示した金属管７の部分、すなわち、検出端部
をエンジン内の所定部分にセットし、一方、第３図で示
した回路の少なくとも表承部１９を車内の前面パネル部
にセットする。そして、たとえば、発光ダイオード１７
を黄色、発光ダイオード１８を赤色とし、エンジンオイ
ルの汚れが使用限界に近いところ寸で進んだところで発
光ダイオード１７を発光させ、さらに汚ｉｚが進行し、
使用限界をこえたところで発光ダイオード１８を発光さ
せるならば、エンジンオイルノ交換時期が近いととなら
びにエンジンオイルの交関が必要であることを確実に知
ることができる。なお、オイルの汚れによる類波長側の
光透過阻の変化は大きく、このため、ＳＮ比が大きくな
り回路処理が容易となる。寸だ、オイルの汚れか使用限
界に近いところまで進んだときの透過率は、可視光領域
では非常に小さくなるが、近赤外領域の透過率はそれほ
ど小さくはならず、このため、近赤外領域で使用限界の
透過率を旧確に判定することができる。For example, when an optical oil sensor is used to detect dirt in automobile engine oil, the part of the metal tube 7 shown in FIGS. Meanwhile, at least the mounting portion 19 of the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is set on the front panel inside the vehicle. For example, the light emitting diode 17
is yellow, and the light emitting diode 18 is red, and when the engine oil contamination is close to the limit of use, the light emitting diode 17 is made to emit light, and as the contamination progresses further,
If the light emitting diode 18 is made to emit light when the usage limit has been exceeded, it is possible to reliably know that it is almost time to replace the engine oil and that the engine oil needs to be replaced. Incidentally, the change in light transmission inhibition on the similar wavelength side due to oil contamination is large, and therefore the S/N ratio becomes large and circuit processing becomes easy. However, when the oil gets dirty or near the limit of use, the transmittance becomes very small in the visible light region, but the transmittance in the near-infrared region does not become so small. It is possible to accurately determine the use limit transmittance in the outer region.

以」二、本発明を２つの例を示して説明したが、発光素
子と受光素子に光結合される光ファイバの他端を対向配
置して透過形センサとすることもできる。また、オイル
もエンジンオイルに限定されるものではないこと勿論で
ある。Second, although the present invention has been described with reference to two examples, it is also possible to form a transmission type sensor by arranging the other ends of the optical fiber optically coupled to the light emitting element and the light receiving element to face each other. Moreover, it goes without saying that the oil is not limited to engine oil.

発明の効果 本発明の光学式オイルセンサは、オイルの汚れに波長依
存性があることを効果的に利用したもので、オイルの汚
れを定量的に検知し、さらに、報知手段を駆動するだめ
の検知信号を発生しうるものである。したがって、本発
明の光学式オイルセンサを使用するならば従来は市確な
検知が困難であったオイルの汚れを、正確にしかも連続
的に確認することが可能となる。Effects of the Invention The optical oil sensor of the present invention effectively utilizes the wavelength dependence of oil contamination, and quantitatively detects oil contamination. It is capable of generating a detection signal. Therefore, if the optical oil sensor of the present invention is used, it becomes possible to accurately and continuously confirm oil contamination, which has been difficult to accurately detect in the past.

特に、エンジンオイルの汚れの検知に用いるならば、エ
ンジンオイルの交換時期を正しく確認でき、汚れたエン
ジンオイルの使用によるエンジン効率の低下の問題を確
実に除くことができる。In particular, if used to detect contamination of engine oil, it is possible to accurately confirm when the engine oil should be replaced, and it is possible to reliably eliminate the problem of reduced engine efficiency due to the use of dirty engine oil.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図および第２図は、本発明の光学式オイルセンサの
構成例を示す斜視図、第３図は、光学式オイルセンサか
らの出力信号を処理し所定の発光・　表示を行なう回路
の構成を示すブロック図である。 １．２・・・・発光ダイオード、３・・・・・・シリコ
ンホトトランジスタ、４〜６，１０．１１・・・・・・
ガラスファイバ、７・・・・・金属管、８・・・・複合
形発光ダイオード、９・パ・・複合形ホトダイオード、
１２゜１３・・・・・・ホトダイオード、１４．１５・
・・・・増幅器、１６・・・・・・演算増幅回路部、１
７．１８・・・・・・表示用発光ダイオード、１９・・
・・・・表示部。FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing configuration examples of the optical oil sensor of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a circuit that processes output signals from the optical oil sensor and performs predetermined light emission and display. FIG. 1.2... Light emitting diode, 3... Silicon phototransistor, 4-6, 10.11...
Glass fiber, 7...Metal tube, 8...Composite light emitting diode, 9...Composite photodiode,
12゜13... Photodiode, 14.15.
...Amplifier, 16...Operation amplifier circuit section, 1
7.18... Display light emitting diode, 19...
...Display section.

Claims (4)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）異なる発光波長を有する２個の発光素子と、両売
光素子の発光波長に検出感度をもつ受光素子とを備える
とともに、前記発光素子および受光素子のそれぞれに光
ファイバの一端が光結合され、さらに、これらの光ファ
イバの少くとも他端が金属管で束ねて固定され、検出端
部とされたことを特徴とする光学式オイルセンサ。−(1) Two light-emitting elements having different emission wavelengths and a light-receiving element having detection sensitivity for the emission wavelengths of both light-receiving elements are provided, and one end of an optical fiber is optically coupled to each of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. and further, at least the other ends of these optical fibers are bundled and fixed with a metal tube to serve as a detection end. − （２）２個の発光素子が、赤色および緑色の可視発光ダ
イオードであることを！１キ徴とする特許、請求の範囲
第１項に記載の光学式オイルセンサ。(2) The two light emitting elements are red and green visible light emitting diodes! An optical oil sensor according to claim 1 of the patent, which has one characteristic. （３）２個の発光素子赤色の可視発光ダイオードと赤外
発光ダイオードであることを特徴とする特許請求の範囲
第１項に記載の光学式オイルゲージ。(3) The optical oil gauge according to claim 1, wherein the two light emitting elements are a red visible light emitting diode and an infrared light emitting diode. （４）受光素子が、異る発光波長に検出感度をもつ２個
のｐｎ接合をもつホトダイオードであることを特徴とす
る特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の光学式オイルセンサ。(4) The optical oil sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving element is a photodiode having two pn junctions having detection sensitivities for different emission wavelengths.
JP58219807A 1983-11-22 1983-11-22 Optical oil sensor Pending JPS60111942A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP58219807A JPS60111942A (en) 1983-11-22 1983-11-22 Optical oil sensor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP58219807A JPS60111942A (en) 1983-11-22 1983-11-22 Optical oil sensor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS60111942A true JPS60111942A (en) 1985-06-18

Family

ID=16741341

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP58219807A Pending JPS60111942A (en) 1983-11-22 1983-11-22 Optical oil sensor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS60111942A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02107045U (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-24
JPH0471597A (en) * 1990-07-12 1992-03-06 Alps Electric Co Ltd Automatic washing device
KR100356639B1 (en) * 1999-11-06 2002-10-18 한국과학기술연구원 Device for measuring oil contamination
CN111948146A (en) * 2020-08-11 2020-11-17 哈尔滨工程大学 Quick detection device of greasy dirt in short distance scope

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02107045U (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-24
JPH0471597A (en) * 1990-07-12 1992-03-06 Alps Electric Co Ltd Automatic washing device
KR100356639B1 (en) * 1999-11-06 2002-10-18 한국과학기술연구원 Device for measuring oil contamination
CN111948146A (en) * 2020-08-11 2020-11-17 哈尔滨工程大学 Quick detection device of greasy dirt in short distance scope

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