KR20230078266A - Hybrid Rain Sensor having rain gaging function - Google Patents

Abstract

A hybrid type rainfall measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical rainfall measuring module including a light emitting element emitting infrared rays and a light receiving element receiving infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element, and a plurality of electrodes to which current is applied. and an optical waveguide providing a movement path through which infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element are introduced and received by the light receiving element.

Description

Hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall {Hybrid Rain Sensor having rain gaging function}

The present invention relates to a hybrid rain sensor capable of more accurate measurement of rainfall by mixing an optical type and a permittivity type.

There are various known methods of measuring rainfall. Among them, in the case of the optical type, the amount of rainfall is measured through the amount of infrared rays that are received after light scattering by irradiating infrared rays to a window or a glass of a vehicle where raindrops form. In the case of the method using the permittivity, the amount of water attached to a specific surface is measured using the permittivity of water.

However, in both of the above methods, when it rains, the amount of water is primarily measured by specifying the amount of water formed on the surface, and the amount of rainfall is measured according to the amount of water on the surface.

Therefore, there is a problem in that the form of rain formed on the surface or present on the surface at the time of measurement is different depending on the specific rainfall such as drizzle or shower, and different amounts of rainfall measurement data are calculated even under the same conditions.

Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1195962

The present invention is to solve the above problems, to provide a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring hybrid rainfall that can be equipped with an optical and dielectric type rainfall measurement module with a simple structure.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. .

Hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring hybrid rainfall of the present invention for solving the above problems is an optical rainfall measurement module including a light emitting element that emits infrared rays and a light receiving element that receives infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element, to which current is applied It further includes a permittivity type rainfall measurement module including a plurality of electrodes and an optical waveguide providing a movement path through which infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element are introduced and received by the light receiving element.

The optical rainfall measurement module includes a moving guide arranged in the vertical direction, a coupling part coupled to the moving guide to be movable in the vertical direction, and a light emitting element coupling formed by bending one end of the coupling part toward the rear end based on the vertical direction. and a light-receiving element coupling portion formed by bending one end of the coupling portion toward a rear end in a vertical direction.

The optical waveguide is provided on a main body disposed to face the coupling part, an inflow part provided on one side of the main body and having a first inclined surface facing the light emitting element coupling part, and the other side of the main body, wherein the It may include an outflow part having a second inclined surface facing the light receiving element coupling part.

The dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module may be coupled to the front surface of the main body.

A plurality of permittivity-type rainfall measurement modules may be provided in the upper and lower directions.

A hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

First, it is possible to provide a rainfall measurement device capable of measuring two types in a simpler form by reflecting the morphological characteristics of the optical and dielectric type rainfall measurement devices.

Second, it is possible to measure the amount of raindrops over a wider area by driving an optical type and having a plurality of permittivity methods, so that more accurate rainfall information can be secured.

Effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing a state in which a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a window;
Figure 2 is a view showing a state in which the rear cover of the hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention is removed;
Fig. 3 is a view showing the front of Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is a view showing a state in which the moving module of the hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention moves downward;
5 is a view for explaining a path along which infrared rays irradiated from an optical rainfall measurement module of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention move;
Figure 6 is a view for explaining an area measured by infrared rays irradiated from an optical rainfall measurement module of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a diagram showing a circuit diagram of a dielectric constant-type rainfall measurement module of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is a view for schematically explaining that the amount of water droplets is measured by a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a view for schematically explaining a state in which rain forms on a specific area when it rains;

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may add, change, delete, etc. other elements within the scope of the same spirit, through other degenerative inventions or the present invention. Other embodiments included within the scope of the inventive idea can be easily proposed, but it will also be said to be included within the scope of the inventive concept.

1 is a view showing a state in which a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a window, and FIG. 2 is a state in which the rear cover of the hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention is removed. , Figure 3 is a view showing the front of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a view showing a state in which the mobile module of the hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring the rainfall of one embodiment of the present invention is moved to the bottom.

1 to 4, the hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical rainfall measurement module 100, a dielectric constant rainfall measurement module 200, and an optical waveguide 300.

The optical rainfall measurement module 100 uses the fact that the refractive index of the glass window is approximately 1.5, the refractive index of water droplets is 1.33, and the refractive index of air is 1 when irradiating infrared rays to the surface of the glass window (G). This is a method using the principle that light enters the water droplets when irradiated to a part with water droplets, and is reflected when irradiated to a window. That is, the amount of water on the surface of the glass window G is measured through the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 102, and the amount of precipitation is predicted based on this.

On the other hand, in the calculation method for predicting precipitation using the optical rainfall measurement module 100 of this embodiment, if the prediction is made through the amount of infrared rays irradiated from the light emitting element 101 recovered from the light receiving element 102, various well-known calculation method will be applied.

The optical rainfall measurement module 100 of the present invention includes a light emitting device 110, a light receiving device 120, a moving guide 130, and a moving module 140.

The light emitting element 110 emits infrared rays, and the light receiving element 120 receives infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 110 and passing through an optical waveguide 300 to be described later. In addition, the amount of water droplets on the surface of the glass window G is determined based on the change in the amount of light received from the light receiving element 120 .

The movement guide 130 is formed long in the up and down directions, and the movement module 140 to be described below performs a guide function to move in the up and down directions. On the other hand, the moving guide 130 in this embodiment is made of a permanent magnet in the shape of a cylinder, and as the moving module 140 to be described later is provided with a solenoid lead coil, the moving module () according to the direction of the applied current 140) is formed to move in the upward and downward directions.

In the moving module 140, the light emitting element 110 and the light receiving element 120 are coupled to both ends in the vertical direction, and while moving in the vertical direction along the moving guide 130, water droplets are emitted with respect to the glass window G of a wider area. quantity is detected. Therefore, it is possible to secure more accurate data in measuring the amount of rainfall based on the measured water droplets.

Specifically, the moving module 140 in this embodiment includes a coupling part 141, a light emitting element fixing part 142, and a light receiving element fixing part 143.

The coupling part 141 is coupled to the moving guide 130 so as to be movable in the up and down directions. The shape of the coupling part 141 is not limited, but in this embodiment, since the moving guide 130 is made of a cylindrical permanent magnet, it is formed in a shape with a hole inserted into the cylinder, and a solenoid coil 141a around it. will be cold Therefore, it moves in the up and down directions according to the application of current, and it is not necessary to have a separate drive motor, etc., so the size of the entire product can be compact.

The light emitting element fixing part 142 is formed by bending one end of the coupling part 141 to the rear end based on the upward and downward directions, and the light emitting element 110 is fixed. The light-receiving element fixing part 143 is formed by bending one end of the coupling part 141 toward the rear end in the upper and lower directions, and the light-receiving element 120 is fixed thereto. That is, the light emitting device 110 radiates infrared rays toward the outside of the coupling portion 141, and the light receiving device 120 receives infrared rays flowing from the outside of the coupling portion 141, thereby forming the optical waveguide 300. It is possible to form a long path through which infrared rays travel inside.

The optical waveguide 300 performs a function of inducing infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 110 to be incident on the glass window G at an angle of 45 degrees. Therefore, as the refractive index of the glass window is 1.5, the refractive index of air is 1, and the refractive index of water droplets is 1.33, the infrared rays entering the glass window (G) enter the water droplets in the area where there is water and diverge to the outside, and the area without water droplets. In , the overall reflection will be conducted.

Specifically, a recessed hole 300a is formed on the front surface of the optical waveguide 300 in this embodiment, and both sides of the front surface come into contact with the glass window G. Therefore, an air layer is formed between the recessed groove 300a and the rear surface of the glass window G, and accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, infrared rays can be totally reflected between the front surface and the rear surface of the glass window G. Meanwhile, a dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200 to be described later is coupled to the recessed groove 300a.

A first inclined surface 301 is formed on a portion of the optical waveguide 300 facing the rear light emitting element 110, and a second inclined surface 302 is formed on a portion facing the light receiving element 120.

As described above, since the light emitting element fixing part 142 and the light receiving element fixing part 143 are formed by bending backward on the coupling part 141, the first inclined surface 301 emits light fixed to the light emitting element fixing part 142. Infrared rays emitted from the device 110 are formed to enter the first inclined surface 301 in a vertical direction. In addition, the second inclined surface 301 may be formed so that infrared rays flowing into the light receiving element 120 enter the light receiving element 120 without scattering.

5 is a diagram for explaining a path along which infrared rays irradiated from an optical rainfall measurement module of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention move, and FIG. 6 is a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram for explaining the area where infrared rays irradiated from the optical rainfall measurement module of the rain sensor measure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement process of infrared rays in the optical rainfall measurement module of the present invention will be described.

Infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 110 are introduced into the first inclined surface 301 of the optical waveguide 300 . As described above, the light emitting element fixing part 142 is bent to be inclined to the coupling part 141, and the first inclined surface 301 allows infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element 110 to enter the optical waveguide in the vertical direction. It is also formed obliquely.

Infrared light entering the optical waveguide 300 is reflected from the side of the optical waveguide and enters the glass window G at an angle of 45 degrees for total reflection.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the size of the entire product is reduced by adopting a structure in which the light emitting element fixing part 142 and the first inclined surface 301 are formed to be inclined and reflect from the side of the optical waveguide 300 to enter the glass window G. You can take it compactly. Specifically, in order to secure the total reflection movement path of infrared rays in the glass window G as shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting element should be placed at the end of the optical waveguide, but in the present invention, the light emitting element 110 is utilized by the first inclined surface 301. ) is provided on the inside of the optical waveguide 300 so that the size of the product can be reduced.

Infrared electricity entering the inside of the glass window (G) is totally reflected between the front and back sides of the glass window, and when there is a water droplet on the front side of the window glass, the infrared light will flow into the droplet side according to Snell's law. Accordingly, a difference occurs in the amount of infrared rays recovered by the light receiving element 120 depending on how many water droplets are present on the surface of the glass window G.

Through this, in the present invention, the area with water droplets is firstly calculated on the entire surface area of the glass window, and the amount of rainfall is secondarily estimated based on this.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6, while the surface (S) to which infrared rays are irradiated is limited, water droplets located on the surface of the glass window are irregularly arranged. That is, when the amount of rainfall is measured with water droplets located only on the surface S irradiated with infrared rays over the entire area, there is a possibility of error. Therefore, in the present invention, the moving module 130 in which the light emitting element 110 and the light receiving element 120 are coupled is moved in the upward and downward directions, and the amount of water droplets is measured in a wider area so that the above error can be reduced. do.

7 is a diagram showing a circuit diagram of a rainfall measurement module of a dielectric constant method of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a dielectric constant method of a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a drawing for schematically explaining that the amount of droplets is measured.

7 and 8, the dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200 applies a high-frequency signal for a capacitance change that is different from the permittivity change of a capacitor using a very high dielectric upper part of the water to measure an oscillation frequency change or an impedance change. A known method of detecting and measuring rainfall is used.

In other words, the amount of water located in the measurement target area is measured, and the amount of rainfall is estimated based on this measurement to calculate the amount of rainfall. However, in the case of this method, there is a disadvantage in that the reliability of the data is lowered when the amount of rainfall is small.

Therefore, in the present invention, there is an advantage in that it is possible to accurately determine the amount of water located in a specific area using two methods, an optical method and a permittivity method, and eventually secure accurate information on rainfall.

In the dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200, when two plate-shaped electrodes 201 and 202 cross each other like comb teeth and a voltage is applied to the two electrodes, an electric field is applied between the two electrodes as shown in FIG. In the presence of water droplets, the capacitance increases because the permittivity of water is higher than that of vacuum or glass in the electric field outside the window. This increase in capacitance is related to the total volume of water droplets, and various known calculation methods may be used for specific calculation methods.

Specifically, in this embodiment, a circuit as shown in FIG. 7 to which the resistor 203 is applied is configured, and the amount of attached water droplets is calculated by a known calculation method while repeating charging and discharging.

On the other hand, the dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200 of the present invention is provided in the form of a module with the above circuit built-in, and a plurality of them may be provided in the groove 300a on the front surface of the optical waveguide 300 in the vertical direction.

As described above, a groove must be formed on the front of the optical waveguide 300 for total reflection of infrared rays in the glass window G, and in the present invention, the dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200 is positioned by utilizing the groove. By doing so, the size of the entire product can be brought compactly.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the moving module 140 is moved in the up and down directions along the moving guide 130 made of permanent magnets when current is applied to the solenoid coil 140a. Therefore, due to the electric field generated by the current applied to the solenoid coil during the movement process, the measurement of the amount of water droplets by the permittivity in the corresponding area may be inaccurate.

Therefore, in the present invention, the permittivity-type rainfall measurement module 200 is disposed in the up and down directions, and when the moving module 140 is located at the top, the volume of droplets is measured through the permittivity-type rainfall measurement module 200 at the bottom. Measurement is performed, and when the moving module 140 is located at the lower part, data is obtained from the upper permittivity-type rainfall measuring module 200.

Therefore, a more accurate measurement of rainfall will be possible.

9 is a diagram for schematically explaining a state in which rain forms on a specific area when it rains. Referring to FIG. 9, the measuring method of the hybrid type rainfall measuring device according to the present invention will be described.

As described above, in the case of the optical type, since the area occupied by water droplets on the surface is measured in a specific area, the amount of water varies depending on the characteristics of rain even when the area is the same. In particular, when a water film is formed on the surface of a glass window according to the characteristics or amount of rain, it is difficult to measure accurate data because all of the infrared rays entering the window escape to the outside.

On the other hand, in the case of the dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module 200, it is difficult to accurately measure when a very small amount of water droplets form on the window to be measured.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the information on the amount of water on the glass window to be measured by the optical rainfall measurement module 100 and the permittivity-type rainfall measurement module 200 is out of the set range, one value is converted to another value. will be able to replace

Therefore, in the case of rain in various forms and amounts, it is possible to secure accurate information on the amount of rain falling on the glass window (G), which is the surface to be measured, so that the calculation result for the amount of rainfall through the secured amount of water is accurate There are advantages.

In the above, the configuration and characteristics of the present invention have been described based on the embodiments according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore such changes or modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

100: optical rainfall measurement module 110: light emitting device
120: light receiving element 130: moving guide
140: mobile module 200: permittivity method rainfall measurement module
201: first electrode 202: second electrode
300: optical waveguide 301: first inclined surface
302: second slope

Claims (5)

An optical rainfall measurement module including a light emitting element emitting infrared rays and a light receiving element receiving infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element;
A permittivity type rainfall measurement module including a plurality of electrodes to which current is applied; and
A hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall further comprising an optical waveguide for providing a movement path in which infrared rays emitted from the light emitting element are introduced and received by the light receiving element. According to claim 1,
The optical rainfall measurement module,
Moving guides disposed in the vertical direction;
A coupling part coupled to the moving guide so as to be movable in up and down directions, a light emitting element coupling part formed by bending one end of the coupling part in the rear end in the vertical direction, and one end of the coupling part bent in the rear end in the vertical direction. A hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall including a formed light receiving element coupling part. According to claim 2,
The optical waveguide is provided on a main body disposed to face the coupling part, an inflow part provided on one side of the main body and having a first inclined surface facing the light emitting element coupling part, and the other side of the main body, wherein the A hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall including an outflow part having a second slope facing the light receiving element coupling part. According to claim 1,
The dielectric constant type rainfall measurement module is a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall coupled to the front of the main body. According to claim 1,
The permittivity type rainfall measurement module is a hybrid rain sensor capable of measuring rainfall provided with a plurality of up and down directions.

Images