JPS6343243B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic sunshade control device for a vehicle, which prevents direct sunlight from hitting an occupant.

Some vehicles have ceiling windows on the roof that can be opened and closed.
When opened, these ceiling windows allow daylight and ventilation, making the interior of the vehicle more comfortable. However, although this is comfortable when the sunlight is weak, if strong direct sunlight shines into the passenger compartment during the summer season and hits the occupants directly, the comfort provided by ventilation etc. will be greatly impaired. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to close the ceiling windows to block sunlight.

The present invention provides a device that satisfies these demands, and is characterized by having a roof provided with an opening and a lid that opens and closes the opening by forward and reverse driving of a motor. In a vehicle equipped with windows, an optical sensor that detects the strength of sunlight is installed on the top of the roof so that direct sunlight hits the roof, and the lid is closed when the intensity of sunlight exceeds a certain level based on the output from the optical sensor. Also, automatic control means is provided to drive the motor 7 in forward and reverse directions so as to open the motor 7 when the temperature is below a certain level, and the light sensor is configured to receive only sunlight in a range where the direct sunlight irradiated from the opening directly hits the occupant of the vehicle. A hood is provided around the lid, a manual opening/closing switch is provided for manually opening and closing the lid, and the automatic control means is operable only when the opening/closing switch is opened.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a passenger vehicle, 2 is a roof, and the roof 2 is provided with a ceiling window 3. The ceiling window 3 includes an opening 5 formed in the roof 2 so as to communicate with the interior of the vehicle compartment 4, and a sliding lid 6 provided so as to be slidable back and forth to open and close this opening 5. The movable lid 6 can be opened and closed by forward and reverse rotation of a motor 7 built into the roof 2. Reference numeral 8 denotes an optical sensor that detects the strength of sunlight, and is made of a solar cell or the like, and is installed on the roof 2 or the like. Note that the range where the direct sunlight irradiated from the opening 5 directly hits the occupant 9 is within the range of the angle α, so a hood is provided around the optical sensor 8 so that only sunlight within this range is received.

In FIG. 2, 10 is a control circuit for controlling the motor 7 in forward and reverse directions, and 11 is an open/close switch for manual operation. Reference numeral 12 denotes a setting device for variably setting the intensity of sunlight when the ceiling window 3 is closed. 13 is a comparator, which connects the electric signal of sunlight detected by the optical sensor 8 with the setting device 12.
A close signal is generated when the sunlight is strong, and an open signal is generated when the sunlight is weak.

In the above configuration, the ceiling window 3 is normally opened and closed by manual operation of the opening/closing switch 11. If the ceiling window 3 is opened by turning on the opening/closing switch 11,
The automatic control system is powered on, and the optical sensor 8 receives sunlight and generates an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the sunlight.
On the other hand, since a fixed set value is set in the setter 12, the electric signal and the set value are compared in the comparator 13. If the sunlight at this time is very strong, the control circuit 10
A closing signal is sent to the motor 7, which causes the motor 7 to rotate in reverse and slide the sliding lid 6 forward. Therefore, the ceiling window 3 is closed and the occupants 9 inside the vehicle compartment 4 are not exposed to strong direct sunlight. If the sunlight is weak, comparator 13 will not generate a signal. After the ceiling window 3 is automatically closed, when the sunlight becomes strong, the comparator 13 generates an opening signal, and the ceiling window 3 is automatically opened again. Further, when the ceiling window 3 is closed by the opening/closing switch 11, the power of the automatic control system is turned off.

The signal processing system may be composed of a microcomputer or the like. The same method can also be applied to a tiltable and removable ceiling window.

According to the present invention, an optical sensor that detects the strength of sunlight is installed on the top surface of the roof so that it is exposed to direct sunlight,
An automatic control means is provided which drives the motor 7 in the forward and reverse directions so that the cover is closed when the intensity of sunlight is above a certain level and opened when the intensity of sunlight is below a certain level based on the output from the light sensor. There is no need to manually operate the lid 6 to prevent direct sunlight from hitting the room, and a comfortable living environment can be maintained.

In addition, since a hood is provided around the optical sensor so that the direct sunlight irradiated from the opening portion only receives sunlight within the range where the occupant of the vehicle is directly exposed, the hood is provided around the optical sensor, so that the sunlight is emitted only when the occupant is directly exposed to sunlight. The sensor can detect the strength of direct sunlight, eliminating the need to close the lid needlessly even though there is no risk of direct sunlight hitting the passenger.
This makes it possible to maintain even more comfortable living conditions.

Furthermore, a manual opening/closing switch for manually opening/closing the lid is provided, and the automatic control means is operable only when the opening/closing switch is opened. When the lid is closed, the lid will not open automatically even when direct sunlight is weak, allowing the passenger to keep the lid closed as desired, and also requiring manual operation of the open/close switch. When the lid is opened, it is possible to immediately open and close the lid automatically to prevent direct sunlight from hitting the occupants, and there is no need to go through the hassle of switching between manual and automatic settings. Also, there is no need to worry about forgetting to switch to automatic mode and exposing the occupants to strong direct sunlight.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system. 1...Passenger vehicle, 2...Roof, 3...Ceiling window,
6... Sliding lid, 7... Motor, 8... Light sensor, 10... Control circuit, 12... Setting device, 13...
...Comparator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a vehicle having a ceiling window on the roof that includes an opening and a lid that opens and closes the opening by forward and reverse driving of a motor, an optical sensor for detecting the strength of sunlight is provided on the top surface of the roof. Automatic control means for driving the motor 7 in the forward and reverse directions so as to close the cover when the intensity of the sunlight is above a certain level and open it when the intensity of the sunlight is below a certain level based on the output from the light sensor. A hood is provided around the optical sensor so that only sunlight in a range where the direct sunlight irradiated from the opening directly hits the occupant of the vehicle is received, and a hood is provided around the optical sensor, and a hood is provided for manual operation to manually open and close the lid. 1. An automatic solar control device for a vehicle, characterized in that an opening/closing switch is provided, and the automatic control means is operable only when the opening/closing switch is opened.