JP2006258754A - Solar radiation sensor and vehicular instrument system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solar radiation sensor and a vehicular instrument system capable of accurately detecting incidence of extraneous light into an instrument. <P>SOLUTION: This solar radiation sensor used for controlling the onboard instrument is provided with an extraneous light incidence device 44 arranged on a position different from the onboard instrument, meeting the incidence condition of the extraneous light entering into the onboard instrument, and introducing the extraneous light meeting the incidence condition to the inside; and an optical sensor 42 arranged inside the extraneous light incidence device 44, detecting the extraneous light meeting the incidence condition and generating an illuminance signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a solar radiation detection apparatus and a vehicle instrument system used for brightness adjustment of a display panel of an in-vehicle instrument, display control of the display panel, and the like.

Conventionally, a configuration using an illuminance signal of an optical sensor installed on an instrument panel or in an in-vehicle instrument to control the brightness of the display panel in the in-vehicle instrument or display control (shutter control) of the display panel is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-156369 A

  However, in a configuration in which an optical sensor is installed on the instrument panel, even if extraneous light (sunlight) is not incident on the instrument, it is incident on the optical sensor on the instrument panel, and vice versa. Even if it is incident on the instrument, it may not be incident on the optical sensor on the instrument panel, and the instrument panel always detects the incident (incident light) in the instrument accurately. It ’s difficult.

  On the other hand, in the configuration in which the optical sensor is installed in the instrument, it is incident on a part of the instrument by modeling the instrument panel or the cluster that covers the entire instrument or the outer periphery of individual instruments such as speedometers and tachometers. However, it may not necessarily enter the optical sensor. In particular, when the cluster is formed with independent openings such as two eyes or three eyes, the opening shape appears as a shadow in the instrument. As described above, even if the optical sensor is installed in the meter, it is difficult to always accurately detect the incident (light incident) in the meter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a solar radiation detection apparatus and a vehicle instrument system that can more accurately detect the incidence of extraneous light into the instrument. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the technical means described in each claim is adopted.

In this invention of Claim 1, it is a solar radiation detection apparatus used for control of a vehicle-mounted instrument,
An external light incident device that is arranged at a position different from the vehicle-mounted instrument, satisfies the incident condition of the external light incident in the vehicle-mounted instrument, and introduces the external light satisfying the incident condition,
And an optical sensor that is installed in the external light incident device and detects the external light satisfying the incident condition and generates an illuminance signal.

  Thereby, in this invention, the illumination intensity information similar to the external light which injects into the said vehicle equipment at the position different from a vehicle equipment becomes detectable.

  In the present invention according to claim 2, the extraneous light incident device has the incident condition of the extraneous light, and has a light-shielding lens that guides the extraneous light that satisfies the incident condition to the optical sensor side. By setting the light shielding condition of the lens in accordance with the incident condition, it is possible to detect illuminance information similar to the external light incident on the vehicle-mounted instrument.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the light-shielding lens is formed by partially printing a light-shielding material on a light-transmitting substrate, and has the same effect as the second aspect. Play.

  In this invention of Claim 4, the said external light incident device is set to the external shape to which the said incident conditions of the external light were set, and the hood which guides the external light which satisfy | fills the said incident conditions to the said optical sensor side The present invention is characterized in that it has a modeling part, and the external light incident conditions can be set by setting the external shape of the external light incident device without providing a light-shielding lens, and the same effect as in claim 2 or claim 3 can be achieved.

  In this invention of Claim 5, the said external light incident device is arrange | positioned in the position between the said light shielding lens and the said optical sensor, adjusts the optical path of the external light which arrives from the said light shielding lens, and the said light It has the incident amount adjustment member which correct | amends the incident amount to a sensor, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  As a result, in the present invention, even if there is a variation in the thickness and material of the light transmitting body from the outside to the optical sensor, it is possible to correct the optical path and the incident amount to some extent to suppress the variation.

  In the present invention according to claim 6, the light-shielding lens has a light transmission amount adjustment layer that partially suppresses the amount of incident light to the optical sensor in the light transmitting portion, and finely adjusts the amount of incident light to the optical sensor. Is possible.

  In this invention of Claim 7, the said extraneous light incident apparatus is mounted in the position without a back obstruction behind the vehicle, and even if it exists in a different position from a vehicle-mounted instrument, it injects into a vehicle-mounted instrument. Illuminance information similar to external light can be detected.

In this invention of Claim 8, it is an instrument system for vehicles using the solar radiation detection apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 7,
The vehicle-mounted instrument has a transmittance variable member for adjusting the illuminance of the display panel on the front surface thereof, and a light source for the display panel illumination,
Control means for adjusting the illuminance of the display panel by varying the light transmittance of the transmittance variable member based on the illuminance signal from the optical sensor or by varying the luminance of the light source. To do.

  Thereby, in this invention, based on the illumination intensity information of a solar radiation detection apparatus, it becomes possible to change the illumination intensity of a display panel, or to change the brightness | luminance of a light source.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present invention obtains a place satisfying an incident condition for incident extraneous light (sunlight) in an in-vehicle instrument at a vehicle position different from the instrument, and in the solar radiation detection apparatus installed at the vehicle position, the extraneous light is applied to the in-vehicle instrument. It is characterized by introducing carefully selected extraneous light to the internal photosensor to satisfy the incident condition of incident light and reproducing the solar radiation situation of the on-board instrument. As the installation location of the solar radiation detection device, a location where there is no obstruction when the external light is incident on the rear of the vehicle is desirable.For example, on the vehicle roof, on the rear package tray, on the rear trunk, on the rear bumper, in the rear combination lamp, There is a rear high-mount stop lamp.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, automobiles, large vehicles, construction vehicles, and the like as vehicles. Here, an example in which a solar radiation detection device is installed in a high-mount stop lamp of an automobile having a rear package tray will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a combination meter 100 which is a general vehicle-mounted instrument, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an assembly of a solar radiation detection device in a high-mount stop lamp. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the solar radiation detection device.

(In-vehicle instrument)
In FIG. 1, a combination meter (vehicle-mounted instrument) 100 is disposed at a position visible from the driver in front of the driver's seat of the automobile, and includes a display panel 200 for displaying various vehicle information and allowing the driver to visually recognize the vehicle. The indicator instruments of the speedometer 300 and the tachometer 400 are arranged. In-vehicle instrument 100 may be arranged in the center of the instrument panel instead of in front of the driver's seat. The display panel 200 is made of a thin metal plate, for example, an aluminum thin plate, and has a scale portion 300a and a character portion 300b for a pointer instrument. Further, the display surface of the display panel 200 is subjected to a gloss process and a mirror process so as to obtain a novel appearance, and a pattern is applied.

  In FIG. 2, a light guide plate 600 that collects light from a light source 700 such as a light emitting diode and guides it to the scale unit 300a and the character unit 300b is disposed on the back surface of the display panel 200. The printed circuit board 500 is mounted in a resin case 800, and is mounted with a movement 1000 which is a rotating inner unit and a control means 1100 of the in-vehicle instrument 100. A cover glass 1200 is fixed to the front end of the annular facing plate 900, and a light control film 1300 that is a light transmittance variable member is stretched over the entire surface of the cover glass 1200 on the back surface (inner side surface) of the cover glass 1200. ing. As a result, the display state and illuminance of the display panel 200 are changed to improve the visibility of the display panel 200.

  The light control film 1300 is formed by sandwiching ECD (Electrochromic Display) between two protective glass plates. When the applied voltage to the transparent electrode is 0, the light transmittance is high, and the light transmission increases as the applied voltage is increased. This is a configuration in which the rate decreases.

(Solar radiation detection device)
In FIG. 3, a high mount stop lamp body 3 is mounted on a rear package tray 2 in the vicinity of the rear window 1 of the automobile, and the solar radiation detection device 4 is effectively directed toward the rear of the vehicle in the high mount stop lamp body 3. It is attached at a predetermined angle so that incident light can be sensed. The high-mount stop lamp body 3 includes a resin case cover 31, a stop lamp 32 made up of a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit red light, a smoke lens 33 that makes the inside difficult to see with a polycarbonate molded product, and a solar radiation detection including a light shielding lens 44. A case 41 for fixing the device 4 and the smoke lens 33 in the high-mount stop lamp body 3 is provided.

  In particular, the mounting angle of the solar radiation detection device 4 itself and the mounting position and mounting angle between the solar radiation detection device 4 and the smoke lens 33 and the rear window 1 affect the incident condition of the external light on the optical sensor (not shown). Therefore, it is necessary to increase the mounting accuracy. In this example, the incident conditions of the extraneous light entering the vehicle-mounted instrument 100 are 120 degrees in the vehicle left-right direction (that is, incident angle or azimuth angle) with respect to the rear of the vehicle, and An effective incident light area of 60 degrees (altitude or elevation angle) is secured.

  Further, in the exploded perspective view of the solar radiation detection device 4 shown in FIG. 4, a light sensor 42 including a photosensor such as a photodiode or a phototransistor and extraneous light are placed in the housing portion on the surface side of the black resin case 41. A prism 43 for adjusting the angle dependency (optical path) of external light and a light-shielding lens 44 printed with a light-shielding film having a predetermined shape are accommodated in order so as to be introduced into the light-receiving portion of the optical sensor 42. The housing 41 on the back side of the case 41 accommodates the printed circuit board 45 and the wire assembly 46 on which the processing circuit of the solar radiation detection device 4 is mounted, and covers the black resin back side case lid 47. Note that a photosensor which is a light receiving portion of the optical sensor 42 may be directly mounted on the printed circuit board 45.

  Here, the light shielding lens 44 is mask-printed in a predetermined shape with heat-resistant black ink as a light shielding material on the back surface of a light transmissive sheet base material (light transmissive base material) made of polycarbonate, for example, and has low light transmittance. A light shielding film is formed. The shape is set to reproduce the solar radiation state of the in-vehicle instrument 100 by introducing the external light carefully selected to satisfy the incident condition of the incident on the in-vehicle instrument 100 to the in-vehicle instrument 100.

  In addition, although the prism 43 does not have the function, it functions as an incident light adjusting member for changing the optical path of the extraneous light and condensing it on the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 42. Therefore, a Fresnel lens is formed on the inner surface of the prism 43 (that is, the surface facing the optical sensor 42) as an incident amount adjusting member.

  Here, the external light incident device according to the first aspect corresponds to the light-shielding lens 44 and the prism 43 which are upstream of the optical path of the optical sensor 42, and the surface side accommodation portion of the case 41 which supports them.

  Next, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an incident condition in which extraneous light (sunlight) is incident on the vehicle-mounted instrument 100, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the light-shielding film 44a of the light-shielding lens 44 in consideration of the incident condition on the vehicle-mounted instrument 100. It is explanatory drawing which shows a printing area | region.

  In FIG. 5, (a) shows the incident range of the external light to the vehicle-mounted instrument 100 on the driver seat side of the left steering wheel. The vehicle front-rear direction is set to 0 degree from the vehicle-mounted instrument 100, and the vehicle It shows that a range of 60 degrees at the left and right is set as an incident angle range (total of 120 degrees). This incident angle may be expressed as the azimuth angle of the sun. On the other hand, (b) shows the altitude (or elevation angle) of the extraneous light to the vehicle-mounted instrument 100 on the driver's seat side, and indicates that a range of up to 60 degrees is set as the altitude in the vertical direction of the vehicle. ing.

  In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis of the light shielding lens 44 is matched with the incident angle (azimuth angle), and the vertical axis is matched with the altitude (elevation angle). The black point 44b indicates the center of the light receiving unit of the optical sensor 42.

  As a procedure for creating the light-shielding lens 44, first, the illuminance distribution in the in-vehicle instrument 100 is measured or simulated, and an incident condition in which extraneous light (sunlight) enters the in-vehicle instrument 100 is obtained.

  Subsequently, the illuminance distribution in the high-mount stop lamp body 3 at an installation position different from the vehicle-mounted instrument 100 is measured. In addition, carefully selected extraneous light satisfying the incident condition for the extraneous light to enter the in-vehicle instrument 100 is introduced to the internal optical sensor 42, and the light transmittance distribution of the extraneous light to reproduce the solar radiation situation of the in-vehicle instrument 100 is set. The light shielding film 44a is mask-printed in a predetermined pattern shape, and the printing halftone lens is used in combination for adjustment. This halftone dot may be printed on the surface of the light blocking lens 44, or a lens may be added as a separate object. The printing halftone lens is formed by locally forming a halftone dot (black dot) of heat-resistant black ink as a light shielding material at a position where the light shielding lens 44 does not have the light shielding film 44a. This is a light transmission amount adjustment layer that finely adjusts the light transmittance distribution at the time of arrival.

(Instrument system)
Next, FIG. 7 shows a vehicle instrument system that variably controls the luminance control of the display panel 200 of the in-vehicle instrument 100 and the light transmittance of the light control film (ECD) 1300 based on the illuminance signal of the solar radiation detection device 4 described above. 8 will be used for explanation.

  FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the vehicle instrument system. The control device 1100 constituting the control means is composed of a microcomputer, a peripheral circuit, and the like including a CPU, a storage device 1100a of ROM and RAM. The control device 1100 inputs illuminance information, vehicle speed information, engine speed information, opening / closing information of the ignition switch 1600, and the like from the solar radiation detection device 4 and various sensors 1400, performs predetermined calculation processing, and performs pointer instruments 300, 400 The light control film 1300 and various light sources 700 are controlled. 1500 is an in-vehicle battery.

(Light control film control)
The purpose of this control is to prevent extraneous light from being reflected by the display panel 200 and dazzling the driver, and to ensure the visibility of the display panel 200.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, based on the illuminance information detected by the solar radiation detection device 4, the target light transmittance of the light control film (ECD) 1300, which is a light transmittance variable member, is a data map in the storage device 1100a. Then, the light control film 1300 is voltage-controlled (ECD drive) so that the corresponding light transmittance is obtained. That is, when the reflected illuminance on the display panel surface is relatively high, the light transmittance of the light control film 1300 is controlled to be relatively low, and when the reflected illuminance on the display panel surface is relatively low, the light transmittance of the light control film 1300 is controlled. Is controlled relatively high. In general, ECD is in a state where light transmittance is high (approx. 70%) when the applied voltage is 0, and the light transmittance decreases as the applied voltage is increased, and changes to a state where the light transmittance is low (approximately 30%). To do.

(Intensity control of instrument)
The purpose of this control is the same as that of the light control film control, but the solution is different.

  As shown in FIG. 8 (b), based on the illuminance information detected by the solar radiation detection device 4, the target luminance of the light source 700 in the vehicle-mounted instrument 100 is calculated from the data map in the storage device 1100a so that the corresponding luminance is obtained. In addition, the voltage applied to the light source 700 or the drive duty ratio is controlled. In other words, when the reflected illuminance on the display panel surface is relatively high, the light emission luminance of the light source 700 is controlled to be relatively high, and when the reflected illuminance on the display panel surface is relatively low, the emission luminance of the light source 700 is relatively high. Control to lower.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the incident condition in which extraneous light (sunlight) is incident on the solar radiation detection device 4 is set by the light-shielding lens 44 or the printing dot lens, but instead of these lenses 44 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the external light incident condition is set to an external shape (that is, a light shielding wall), and a hood modeling unit 401 that guides the external light that satisfies the incident condition to the solar radiation detection device 4 side is provided. Also good.

It is a front view of the combination meter 100 which is a vehicle-mounted instrument. It is the II sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is an assembly | attachment schematic diagram which shows the assembly | attachment state of the solar radiation detection apparatus 4 in a high mount stop lamp. It is a disassembled perspective view of the solar radiation detection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the incident conditions in which extraneous light (sunlight) injects into the vehicle-mounted meter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing area | region of the light shielding film 44a of the light shielding lens. It is a control block diagram of a vehicle instrument system. 4 is a flowchart showing each control flow of the control device 1100. It is a front and back perspective view which shows an external light incident device.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rear window 2 Rear package tray 3 High mount stop lamp body 4 Solar radiation detection device 41 Case (part of external light incident device)
42 optical sensor 43 prism 44 light blocking lens (part of external light incident device)
100 Combination meter (on-board instrument)
200 Display Panel 300, 400 Pointer Instrument 401 Hood Modeling Unit 500 Printed Circuit Board 600 Light Guide Plate 700 Light Source 1100 Control Device 1300 Light Control Film (ECD)

Claims (8)

A solar radiation detection device used for controlling an on-vehicle instrument,
An external light incident device that is arranged at a position different from the vehicle-mounted instrument, satisfies the incident condition of the external light incident in the vehicle-mounted instrument, and introduces the external light satisfying the incident condition,
A solar radiation detection apparatus, comprising: an optical sensor that is installed in the external light incident device and detects the external light satisfying the incident condition and generates an illuminance signal.   2. The solar radiation detection according to claim 1, wherein the external light incident device includes a light-shielding lens that sets the external light incident conditions and guides external light satisfying the incident conditions to the optical sensor side. apparatus.   The solar radiation detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding lens is formed by partially printing a light shielding material on a light transmissive substrate.   The external light incident device is set to an outer shape in which the incident condition of the external light is set, and includes a hood modeling portion that guides the external light satisfying the incident condition to the optical sensor side. Item 2. The solar radiation detection apparatus according to item 1.   The extraneous light incident device is disposed at a position between the light shielding lens and the optical sensor, adjusts an optical path of extraneous light coming from the light shielding lens, and corrects an incident amount to the optical sensor. The solar radiation detection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an adjustment member.   The solar radiation detection device according to claim 2, wherein the light-shielding lens has a light transmission amount adjustment layer that partially suppresses an incident amount to the optical sensor at a light transmission portion thereof.   The solar radiation detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the extraneous light incident device is mounted at a position free from a rear obstacle behind the vehicle. A vehicle instrument system using the solar radiation detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The vehicle-mounted instrument has a transmittance variable member for adjusting the illuminance of the display panel on the front surface thereof, and a light source for the display panel illumination,
Control means for adjusting the illuminance of the display panel by varying the light transmittance of the transmittance variable member based on the illuminance signal from the optical sensor or by varying the luminance of the light source. Vehicle instrument system.

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