JPS6021425A - Optical detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust sensitivity readily by providing a tube body having a light transmitting part in front of a light receiving element so that the body can be freely moved. CONSTITUTION:In front of a light receiving element 7, which is supported by a housing (base body) 2, a cylinder (tube body) 5 having a cone shaped light transmitting part 5b is provided. The cylinder 5 is engaged with a ring (annular body) 4, which is rotatably supported by the housing 2. Therefore, the distance between the light transmitting part 5b and a light receiving part 7 can be adjusted by the rotation of a ring 4. Namely, when the cylinder 5 is located at the lowest position and the distance to the light receiving element 7 is shortest, the light receiving range of the light receiving element 7 is of a cubic angle shown by (a). When the distance to the light receiving element 7 is increased, the light receiving range becomes a cubic angle shown by (b). Thus the sensitivity can be readily adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an optical detection device whose sensitivity can be easily adjusted, and is particularly suitable for detecting ambient brightness in automobiles.

Conventionally, this type of adjustment mechanism was developed in U.S. Pat.
17 and those that perform electrical processing using variable resistance. However, with the conventional type, it is difficult to make gradual adjustments, and the mechanism is not point symmetrical, which causes design problems.Also, with the variable resistor type, 11 wrinkles are formed in the circuit device, so in hybrid ICs, etc., the assembly is difficult. The problem is that it becomes difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical detection device that can easily perform gradual adjustment and has a simple configuration in a device that performs mechanical adjustment of the detection element portion. .

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory assembly diagram showing individual components of this optical detection device.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a filter made of optically transparent resin or glass, 2 is a housing that becomes the base when the whole is assembled, and 3 is each element of the adjustment mechanism. The housing cover 4 is an annular body (ring) that is rotated during adjustment. A through hole 12 is provided in the housing 2 so that the ring 4 can be rotated from the outside, and a groove 3b is formed in the cover 3 for the same purpose. A female thread 4b is formed on the inside of the ring 4, and serrations are formed on the outside for convenient rotation. The downward protrusion 1a of the filter 1 serves to prevent the ring 4 from moving up and down.

Reference numeral 5 designates a cylindrical body (cylinder) in which a cone-shaped light transmitting portion 5b is formed, and a male screw 5C is formed on the outer periphery of the cylinder, and a female screw 4 is formed on the outer periphery of the cylinder.
It is designed to mesh with b.

A groove 5a extending in the axial direction is formed in the cylinder 5, and this groove 5a loosely fits into a protrusion 3a formed on the cover 3, thereby preventing the cylinder 5 from rotating together with the ring 4.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a hybrid IC board serving as a circuit portion, on which an amplifier circuit and other circuit components are mounted.

7 is a photodiode 7 disposed on the hybrid IC 6 as a light receiving element. 6a is a hybrid IC
6 is a lead bin for making an electrical connection with the outside; 8 is a terminal to which the lead pin 6a and solder are connected; 9 is a terminal holder; 10 is a lead wire connected to the terminal 8 within the terminal boulder 9; It is the back cover.

Here, the filter 1, housing 2, cover 3, hybrid IC 6, holder 9, and back cover 11 are fixed to each other by adhesive. In addition, housing 2, cover 3,
The ring 4, cylinder 5, boulder 9 and back l111 are made of resin.

In the above configuration, referring to FIG. 1, the cylinder 5 is located at the lowest position and is closest to the light receiving element 71. At this time, the light receiving range of the light receiving element 7 is represented by each solid a.

When the ring 4 is rotated with a thin screwdriver or the like through the through hole 12 provided in the housing 2 and the groove 3b provided in the cover 3, the ring 4 rotates at a position where it is sandwiched between the cover 3 and the protrusion 1a of the filter 1. .

The cylinder 5 does not rotate due to the action of the groove 5a and the protrusion 3a (and is displaced in the axial direction by a distance corresponding to each rotation of the ring 4). 7 increases.

Assuming that the cylinder 5 has now moved to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the light receiving range of the light receiving element 7 will be a solid angle indicated by b.

If the object to be detected by this optical detection device is a uniform surface light source such as the sky, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 7 is proportional to the solid angle. Therefore, the detection sensitivity in the case of solid angle a is better than in the case of solid angle S, and between solid angles a and b, the detection sensitivity is arbitrarily selected from a continuous range according to the rotation angle of ring 4. be able to. It goes without saying that by setting the pinch of the screws between the ring 4 and the cylinder 5, the adjustment range of the sensitivity to the rotation angle of the ring 4 can be arbitrarily selected.

In addition, the relationship between the screw 4b of the ring 4 and the screw 5C of the cylinder 5 in the above embodiment is as shown in the protrusion 4C shown in figure fA3.
The relationship between the screw and the screw 5C or the relationship between the protrusion 4d and the spiral groove 5b shown in FIG. 4 may be modified.

In addition, the shape and material of each component can be changed and selected as necessary, and the fixing means is not limited to adhesive, but as shown in FIG.
It may also be fixed by fitting the recesses 12b, 12b, and 12C.

For example, the cylinder 5, which is a cylindrical body, is not completely cylindrical, and may have a shape in which a portion, for example, the groove 5a, is completely cut off.

The light transmitting portion 5b of the cylinder 5 may be made of resin or glass that is transparent to light.

As described above, according to the present invention, the sensitivity can be easily adjusted by moving the distance of the light transmitting part by rotating the annular body of the cylindrical body that is disposed in front of the optical element and has the light transmitting part. .

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an assembly explanatory drawing showing its constituent parts, Figs.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the assembly of parts showing the above modification. l...filter, 2...housing (base body), 3...
...Cover, 4...Ring (annular body), 4a...Female thread, 5...Cylinder, 5c...Male thread, 7...
Light receiving element. Representative Patent Attorney Takashi Okabe Figure 1a Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cylindrical body provided with a light transmitting part of a predetermined area is disposed in front of the light receiving element supported by the base, and the cylindrical body has a distance between the light transmitting part and the light receiving element with respect to the base. An optical detection device in which the distance is changed in accordance with the rotation angle during rotation by an annular body which is supported so as to be variable and whose cylindrical body is rotatably supported by the base body.