KR101004477B1 - Multi-functional Rain Sensor with Prism - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rain sensor. More specifically, in addition to rainwater, the measurement area is widened by allowing the prism to reflect infrared beams generated from the anti-fog infrared rays LEDs for rain detection and rain radiation to the windshield of the vehicle so that they can be received again through the prism. In addition, the size of the overall configuration is compact, it is possible to more accurately detect the amount of rain as well as the indoor sensor can be measured in a single module rain sensor.

The present invention has the effect of being able to detect not only rainwater, but also indoor steaming at the same time using a prism. In addition, while the present invention can detect rain and fog at the same time, the measurement area is extended, the detection performance is improved, and the size of the substrate can be minimized.

Vehicle, rain sensor, steaming lens, lens, infrared LED, receiver

Description

Prismatic Rain Sensor with Kim Seo Rim {Multi-functional Rain Sensor with Prism}

The present invention relates to a rain sensor. More specifically, in addition to rainwater, the measurement area is widened by allowing the prism to reflect infrared beams generated from the anti-fog infrared rays LEDs for rain detection and rain radiation to the windshield of the vehicle so that they can be received again through the prism. In addition, the size of the overall configuration is compact, it is possible to more accurately detect the amount of rain as well as the indoor sensor can be measured in a single module rain sensor.

In general, the rain wiper is controlled and operated in ETACS or BCM. In the case of a vehicle equipped with the wiper automatic operation mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the wiper motor driving signal is output using the results detected by the rain sensor 10 in addition to the wiper driving motor 12 and the rain sensor 10. A rain sensor unit 11 is further provided. In rainy weather, the rain sensor 10 detects the water droplets formed on the glass window, and detects whether it rains or not, or whether it rains a lot or less, and serves as a signal for driving the wiper.

In general, when the rain is set to the wiper automatic mode by the driver, the LED light emitting unit (21 of FIG. 2) of the rain sensor 10 emits an infrared beam to the windshield surface of the vehicle. The emitted infrared beam is reflected by the glass surface to be incident again, and the incident infrared beam is detected by the photo sensor (22 in FIG. 2), which is a light receiving element. Measure

That is, when rain water is applied to the outside of the windshield of the vehicle, the reflectance of the infrared beam is changed, or the light is directed to the other side due to refraction. Accordingly, the rain sensor system calculates a deviation between the reflectance of the reflected infrared beam and the infrared beam reflectance in a normal state, and outputs a wiper motor driving signal predetermined to the wiper motor according to the deviation.

The wiper motor is then driven in response to the wiper motor drive signal, the wiper starts to operate, and the speed or frequency of the left and right movements of the wiper is determined by the detected amount of rain.

In the conventional rain sensor system as described above, since the transmittance of the front glass is determined above the center point of the LED and the photo sensor, there is a problem in that the amount of rainwater cannot be accurately measured.

In addition, the wider the area to be detected in the window, the more accurately and quickly it can be detected. To this end, the number of sensors must be increased and at the same time, the size of the PCB board to which the sensor is attached must be increased. Accordingly, since the structure must be complicated, there are problems such as excessive manufacturing cost and poor manufacturability.

In addition, the existing rain sensor only detects the rain water formed on the glass window, there is a disadvantage that can not detect the fog generated in the glass window.

Therefore, the necessity of a new structure for maximizing the area to be sensed to detect water droplets of a wider area to be detected with a minimum number of components is emerging. The development of a structure to detect the problem is called for.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rain sensor that can detect not only rain water, but also the fog of the room at the same time using a prism.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a rain sensor that can simultaneously detect rain and fog, the measurement area is extended, the sensing performance is improved, and the size of the substrate can be minimized.

The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided on the front glass side of the vehicle, the rain sensor having a detection sensor, the detection sensor is: rainwater detection light emitting unit and rainwater detection light receiving unit, and steaming detection And a light emitting part and a fog sensing light receiving part, wherein the light emitting parts and the light receiving parts are provided to face opposite sides of the substrate, and an inner space is formed to accommodate the light emitting parts and the light receiving parts, and the light emitting parts are radiated from the light emitting parts. A prism having a plurality of surfaces formed to reflect or refract light in multiple stages, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting units is reflected or refracted by the plurality of surfaces of the prism to be incident to the light receiving units Provides a prismatic rain sensor combined with a Kim Seorim detection.

The plurality of surfaces of the prism may include: a lower reflection surface provided below the substrate to upwardly reflect downward light, and upwardly reflecting light reflected from the lower reflection surface or downward light of the lower reflection surface A side reflection surface reflecting light toward the glass, a first upper surface receiving light from the windshield or emitting light toward the windshield, and an upper side of a sensing sensor provided on an upper side of the substrate to receive light from the windshield. Receiving, or comprises a second upper surface for emitting light toward the front glass.

The lower reflection surface is composed of two or more, and reflects the light emitted from the sensor provided on the lower side of the substrate to the side reflection surface, or the light reflected from the side reflection surface and the lower side of the substrate Characterized in that the reflective sensor provided in the.

A second side reflection surface is further provided behind the second upper surface.

The lower reflecting surface, the side reflecting surface, the first upper surface, and the second upper surface may be formed to correspond to the number of the light emitting parts.

The prism is characterized in that the filter is further provided.

The present invention has the effect of being able to detect not only rainwater, but also indoor steaming at the same time using a prism.

In addition, while the present invention can detect rain and fog at the same time, the measurement area is extended, the detection performance is improved, and the size of the substrate can be minimized.

Hereinafter, with reference to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, in order to explain the general operation of the rain sensor, referring to FIG. 2 of the prior art, the PCB substrate 20 is directed toward the windshield 15 of the vehicle, at one end of the light emitting unit 21 and at the other end of the vehicle. The light receiving part 22 was provided. The light output from the light emitter 21 reaches the light receiver 22 by refraction or reflection. At this time, the light emitting unit 21 and the light receiving unit 22 are installed facing the same side on the same plane of the substrate 20. Let us compare this prior art with the present invention.

3 is a view for explaining the configuration of the rain sensor according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the rain sensor 100 of the present invention faces one or more rainwater detecting light emitting units 110 and rainwater detecting light emitting units 110 provided toward the lower side of the substrate 180. First and second lower reflective surfaces 130 and 131 which are formed to be inclined at the lower side of the 110, the side reflective surface 140, the side reflective surface 140 and the glass 150 which are upwardly formed at a predetermined angle or perpendicular to the side. Light incident through the first upper surface 160 and the second upper surface 170 and the second upper surface 170 through which the light reflected from the glass 150 may be incident again. The rainwater detecting light receiving unit 120 is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 180 to be input. The position of the rain detection light emitting unit 110 and the rain detection light receiving unit 120 can be interchanged, in which case the path of the light is in the opposite direction. The prism 100 may further include a filter 200 to transmit only infrared rays, so as to increase the sensitivity of the detection.

4 is a view showing a prism of the rain sensor according to the present invention, Figures 5 and 6 are views showing the arrangement of the prism and the substrate of the rain sensor according to the present invention, Figure 7 is a rainwater detecting foot, the light receiving unit and the Kim Seorim It is a figure for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of a sensing foot and a light receiving part. 4 to 7, the prism 100 has an internal space and is formed in an elongated shape, and the rainwater sensing light emitting unit 110 and the fog sensing light emitting unit 112 are respectively disposed at the same position on the substrate 180. It is provided in pairs with the rainwater detecting light receiving unit 120 and the dimness detecting light receiving unit 122.

The rainwater detecting light emitting unit 110 and the fog sensing light emitting unit 112 are preferably using an infrared LED, and are respectively provided in the lower side of the substrate 180 toward the lower side. The rainwater detecting unit 120 and the fog sensing unit 122 are usually used with a photosensor, and are installed on the upper side of the substrate 180.

Seam detection can be made possible by increasing the sensitivity and increasing the sensitivity of the existing rain detection receiver. When the rim is detected, it gives the rim information to the heater or the air conditioner, and displays or operates to remove the rim automatically or manually.

The first and second lower reflecting surfaces 130 and 131 are portions where the rainwater detecting light emitting unit 110 and the Kim Seolim sensing light emitting unit 112 first emit light downward, and reflect light downwards upward. It plays a role. A plurality of inclined surfaces may be formed or horizontal surfaces may be formed so that the light directed downward may be raised obliquely upward. This may be referred to collectively as a lower reflective surface.

5 or 6, when the rainwater detecting light emitting unit 110 and the seam detecting light emitting unit 112 are disposed at one side, the rain reflecting light emitting unit may be provided in one direction as shown in FIG. 7. 110, if there is a fog rim detection unit 112 is provided with a lower reflecting surface for each light emitting position. In the drawings, the first lower reflective surface 130 and the second lower reflective surface 131 are examples.

The first lower reflective surface 130 is reflected by the second lower reflective surface 131 again while the light emitted downward is not directed toward the substrate 110 but toward the outside of the substrate 110. Set the angle of the inclined surface appropriately so that it faces ().

The side reflection surface 140 is formed in a direction inclined at an angle vertically or upwardly, and the light directed from the second lower reflection surface 131 toward the outside of the substrate 180 is again positioned at the upper side of the substrate 180. Reflect toward the The inclination angle of the side reflection surface 140 may be configured in various ways depending on the design conditions.

The light reflected from the lateral reflection surface 140 is output to the outside from the first upper surface 160 formed to be inclined. The output light is directly input to the glass 150 at the required angle, and the reflected light is input back to the second upper surface 170 on the opposite side.

The second upper surface 170 may be corrected by refracting the path of light when the light reflected or refracted by the glass 150 is directed toward the rainwater detecting light receiving unit 120 or the fog sensing light receiving unit 122, respectively. In addition, as shown in (a), the second side reflective surface 190 is further provided on one side, and the light input to the second upper surface 170 is reflected once more on the second side reflective surface 190 so that It may be input to the light receiving unit 120, 122.

The substrate 180 is a PCB to which the light emitting parts 110 and 112 and the light receiving parts 120 and 122 are attached to both sides. Minimization and compactness of vehicle components are continuously required, the present invention has the advantage of minimizing the size of the PCB substrate 180, making the size of the overall rain sensor compact.

Referring to FIG. 7, (a) and (b) are rainwater detecting light emitting units 110 and laver sensing light emitting units 112 arranged in pairs in both directions, and (c) is a rainwater detecting light emitting unit ( 110, the antifogging light emitting unit 112 is disposed on the opposite side.

8 and 9 are views for explaining the manner in which the rain sensor according to the present invention operates. Referring to the operation, when the wiper automatic operation mode is selected according to the driver's operation in rainy weather, the controller controls the infrared LED light emitting units 110 and 112 to emit light periodically by a controller not shown.

When the infrared LED light emitting unit 110 or 112 emits light in response to a light emission control signal of the controller, an infrared beam is emitted, and the infrared beam is spaced below the first lower half at predetermined intervals as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is reflected from the slope 130 and the second lower reflective surface 131.

The reflected infrared beam is reflected back while being incident on the lateral reflection surface 140, and the reflected infrared beam is incident on the windshield 150 of the vehicle from the first upper surface 160. At this time, the beam of the rain detection light emitting unit 110 is adjusted to be incident to measure rain water outside the glass, and the beam of the mist detection light emitting unit 112 is adjusted to be incident to measure the mist of the inside of the glass.

The infrared beam incident on the windshield 150 of the vehicle is reflected by the windshield 150, and the reflected infrared beam is input from the second upper surface 170 to be incident on the light receiving units 120 and 122. The light receiving unit 120 or 122 converts the detected value into an electrical signal, and the amount of rain water detection signal or a fog detection signal converted into the electrical signal is input to the controller. As described above, the rainwater detecting unit 120 and the fog sensing unit 122 may measure rainwater and mist, respectively, by the difference in sensitivity or amplification degree.

Then, the controller generates a wiper drive control signal using the amount of rain detection signal, and the wiper drive control signal is output to the wiper drive motor to control the operating speed of the wiper. In addition, by detecting the fog of the inner glass to operate the heater or air conditioner or to alert the driver.

This operation can be performed in a plurality of light emitting units, and the application can be easily performed by forming a lower reflection surface, a side reflection surface 140, a first upper surface 160, and the like on various surfaces of the prism.

10 is a view for explaining the size of the detection area and configuration according to the conventional rain sensor, and the size of the detection area and configuration according to the rain sensor of the present invention. 10, (a) is a conventional rain sensor configuration, each end of the substrate 20 is provided with a light emitting portion 21 and a light receiving portion 22 to detect the portion of the glass 15 above the center do. In this case, the width as much as W2 in the center can be detected. The width of the substrate 20 required at this time is W1.

In the present invention as shown in (b), while the width W3 of the substrate 180 is smaller than that of the conventional W1, two rainwater detection light emitting unit 110 or the fog detection light emitting unit 112 may be provided, the glass ( In 150, an amount of space corresponding to W4 in a relatively wider area than W2 can be detected. Therefore, the present invention has an excellent effect of compacting the size of the limited substrate 180, but rather extending the sensing region.

11 is a view for explaining the size of the configuration according to the rain sensor of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, instead of the light receiving parts 120 and 122 and the light emitting parts 110 and 112 facing in opposite directions when the light emitting parts 110 and 112 are provided only on one side, the light emitting parts 110 and 112 are located close to each other. Since the operation is possible, the size of the substrate 180 can be reduced.

The arrow shows a simplified path of the emitted light. The light receiving units 120 and 122 are disposed on the upper side of the substrate 180 and the light emitting units 110 and 112 are disposed on the lower side of the substrate 180 and the reflecting unit is provided. When the light receiving and the light emitting parts are configured to face in the same direction as in the prior art, a large substrate having a wide width as in W6 has to be provided. . Instead of making the substrate smaller, a separate reflector should be provided. However, in actual manufacture, the smaller substrate makes a great contribution to the compactness of the overall size.

12 is a view for comparing the size and detection area of the rain sensor according to the prior art and the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12, (a) shows a conventional rain sensor substrate in a plan view. The light emitting unit 21 and the light receiving unit 22 sense as much as the W2 region in the substrate 20 having a width W1. If the sensing area is to be extended more than W2, more light emitting parts and light receiving parts should be provided, and the size of the substrate should be larger.

(b) shows a rain sensor substrate portion of the present invention in a plan view, the light emitting portion 110, 112 is provided on the back side of the substrate 180 on which one light receiving portion 120, 122 is installed, the position close to each other Since it can be placed on, the width of the substrate is relatively small, such as W3. In addition, each time the light emitting units 110 and 112 are installed on the rear side, the detection area is continuously increased, and the number of light receiving units 120 and 122 may be smaller than that of each of the light emitting units 110 and 112. have.

In the case of (c), when two light emitting units 110 and 112 are installed, the sensing area is increased as in W4, but the size of the substrate is still relatively small as in W3, and the light receiving units 120 and 122 are Each one is enough. Increasing the light emitting units 110, 112 on the back side to 3, 4, ... by forming an appropriate reflecting surface, it is possible to detect a wider area, in which case the detection performance of the rain sensor is improved and sensitive It will have a repelling effect.

What has been described above is just one embodiment for implementing the rain sensor according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, it departs from the gist of the invention as claimed in the following claims Without this, anyone skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will have the technical spirit of the present invention to the extent that various modifications can be made.

1 is a view for explaining a general rain sensor.

2 is a view for explaining a detection area of a general rain sensor.

3 is a view for explaining the configuration of the rain sensor according to the present invention.

4 is a view showing a prism of the rain sensor according to the present invention.

5 and 6 are views showing the arrangement of the prism and the substrate of the rain sensor according to the present invention.

7 is a view for explaining the arrangement of the rain detection feet, the light receiving portion and the mist detection feet, the light receiving portion.

8 and 9 are views for explaining the manner in which the rain sensor according to the present invention operates.

10 is a view for explaining the size of the detection area and configuration according to the conventional rain sensor, and the size of the detection area and configuration according to the rain sensor of the present invention.

11 is a view for explaining the size of the configuration according to the rain sensor of the present invention.

12 is a view for comparing the size and detection area of the rain sensor according to the prior art and the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: Prism

110: rainwater detection light emitting unit 112: steaming detection light emitting unit

120: rainwater detection light receiving unit 122: Kim Seorim detection light receiving unit

130: first lower reflective surface 131: second lower reflective surface

140: side reflection surface 150: vehicle windshield

160: first upward direction 170: second upward direction

180: PCB substrate 190: second side reflection surface

Claims (6)

In the rain sensor provided on the front glass side of the vehicle, having a detection sensor, The detection sensor is: A rainwater detecting light emitting unit and a rainwater detecting light receiving unit, It includes a steaming sensing light emitting unit and a steaming sensing light receiving unit, The light emitting parts and the light receiving parts are provided to face opposite sides of the substrate, An inner space is formed to accommodate the light emitting parts and the light receiving parts, and a prism having a plurality of surfaces formed to reflect or refract light emitted from the light emitting parts in multiple stages. The rainwater detecting light emitting unit and the light emitting portion of the anti-fog light emitting unit are reflected or refracted by a plurality of surfaces of the prism to be incident to the rain detecting light receiving unit and the antifogging light receiving unit, respectively, characterized in that the combined anti-fog type prism type sensor. The method of claim 1, Many aspects of the prism are: A lower reflection surface provided below the substrate and reflecting downward light upward; A side reflection surface reflecting light reflected from the lower reflection surface upwards or reflecting light downward to the lower reflection surface; A first upper surface receiving light from the windshield or emitting light toward the windshield; and It is provided on the upper side of the detection sensor provided on the upper side of the substrate to receive light from the windshield, or comprises a second upper surface for emitting the light toward the windshield, characterized in that the anti-fogging combined prism type rain sensor . The method of claim 2, The lower reflection surface is composed of two or more, Reflects the light emitted from the sensor provided on the lower side of the substrate to the side reflection surface, The anti-fog type prism type rain sensor, characterized in that for reflecting the light reflected from the side reflecting surface down to the sensor provided on the lower side of the substrate. The method of claim 2, The second prism type rain sensor, characterized in that the second side reflection surface is further provided behind the second upper surface. The method of claim 2, The lower reflecting surface, the lateral reflecting surface, the first upper surface, the second upper surface is a prismatic rain sensor combined with the anti-fog sensing, characterized in that formed in a number to correspond to the number of the light emitting portion. The method of claim 2, The prism type combined rain sensor, characterized in that the prism is further provided with a filter.

Images