JPH0127365B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an angle detection device suitable for detecting various angles such as the inclination angle of a vehicle, a ship, or other moving object, and the rotation angle of a vehicle steering handle. Regarding.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of angle detection device, for example, there is one that detects the swing angle of a pendulum that swings in accordance with the inclination of the vehicle as the inclination angle of the vehicle.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such an angle detection device, the pendulum vibrates in response to mechanical vibrations of the vehicle, so there has been a problem that the detection accuracy is reduced. Further, in such an angle detection device, since the swing angle of the pendulum is only visually recognized by a scale, there is a problem in that the detection result cannot be obtained electrically.

To solve this problem, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-27852, a light source is arranged at the radial center of a donut-shaped container filled with a light-shielding liquid and air bubbles, and each band-shaped resistor is connected to a light source. A photo sensor consisting of a photoconductive material buried between a conductor and a conductor is provided in an annular shape along the radial outer circumferential surface of the container, and when light from a light source is incident radially and radially toward the inner circumferential surface of the container. It is also conceivable that a photo sensor detects the light that passes through the air bubbles and is transmitted in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface of the container.

By the way, in such a configuration, the photo sensor is formed in the form of a thin film along the outer peripheral surface of the container by a vacuum deposition method, a baking method, etc.
Since the outer peripheral surface of the container is annular, it is difficult to uniformly form a photo sensor in the form of a thin film on such an outer peripheral surface. Therefore, uneven gaps may occur between the outer peripheral surface of the container and the contact surface of the photo sensor, and if the photo sensor is made to adhere uniformly to the outer surface of the container, unevenness may occur on the surface of the photo sensor. This results in a decrease in measurement accuracy.

Therefore, in order to cope with such a problem, the present invention attempts to accurately detect an angle change in the vertical direction of a detected object through a photoelectric conversion process in an angle detection device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In solving the above problems, the structural features of the present invention are such that the object to be detected whose angle changes upward or downward is erected in an arc shape with an apex above, and is floating. A transparent cylinder is formed by enclosing free air bubbles together with a light-shielding liquid, and a transparent cylinder is arranged in front of the front surface in the axial direction of the transparent cylinder so as to project light toward the front surface in the axial direction of the transparent cylinder. a light projecting means for transmitting a part of the light from the axial front surface of the cylindrical body to the axial back surface thereof through the air bubbles as a spot light; a flat photoconductive band formed of a photoconductive material and which produces a photoelectric conversion effect at the light receiving portion when the spot light is received; and a flat resistive band formed of a resistive material along the arc direction of the photoconductive band. Then, a conductive material is formed along the arc direction of the photoconductive band so as to be parallel to the resistive band with an interval in the width direction of the resistive band. a flat electrode band short-circuited to a corresponding intermediate portion of the resistance band; The detection is performed according to the value, and the detection result is taken out from the electrode band as a detection signal.

(Function) By configuring the present invention in this way, when the light from the light projecting means is projected onto the front surface in the axial direction of the transparent cylinder from the front, most of the light is transmitted by the light shielding liquid. While the light is blocked, the remaining portion of the light passes through the bubble and is transmitted as spot light from the axial front surface to the axial back surface of the transparent cylinder. Then, the photoconductive band receives the spot light at a portion behind the bubble and produces a photoelectric conversion effect, shorting the intermediate portion of the resistive band corresponding to the light receiving portion to the electrode band.

(Effect) In order to achieve such an effect, as in the above technique, the light projecting means is disposed in front of the front surface in the axial direction of the transparent cylinder, while the photoconductive band, the resistance band and the electrode A band is provided on the back side of the transparent cylinder in the axial direction, and the photoconductive band is formed in the shape of a flat plate in the same vertical plane, and the resistance band and the electrode band are each formed in the shape of a flat plate on the photoconductive band. So,
The formation of each of the photoconductive band, resistance band, and electrode band requires uniform adhesion between the photoconductive band and the resistance band or electrode band, and uniformity of each surface of the photoconductive band, resistance band, and electrode band. It is possible to achieve a uniform flat plate shape while ensuring a uniform planar state.

Therefore, when the angle of the object to be detected changes upward or downward, the angle of the transparent cylinder, the resistance band, the photoconductive band, and the electrode band change integrally with high accuracy, but the angle changes with this angular change. Regardless of
The bubble maintains its spatial position unchanged in relation to the gravity of the light-shielding liquid, and the photoconductive band changes the light-receiving area for the spot light with precision without any mechanical contact or the like. As a result, the angle change of the object to be detected can always be detected with high accuracy. In such a case, since the change in angle of the object to be detected is electrically extracted from the electrode band, the results of this electrical detection can be directly used to control the angle of the object to be detected and various other controls.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. It is constructed by assembling a mechanism 20 and a reflecting plate 30. The casing 10 is made of an aluminum material and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has both front and rear walls 11 and 12 vertically extending in parallel to the axle of the vehicle, and is fixed to a part of the vehicle at the bottom wall 13. ing. A rectangular opening 14 is formed at the upper end of the casing 10, and this opening 14 is covered with a rectangular lid 15 made of aluminum. Furthermore, the inner surfaces of the casing 10 and its lid 15 are uniformly coated with matte black paint to prevent light reflection.

The detection mechanism 20 has a rectangular substrate 21 made of aluminum material, and the outer peripheral edge 21a of the substrate 21 is connected to the casing 10.
The bottom wall 13, both left and right walls 16, 16 (only the right wall is shown in FIG. 1), and the inner surfaces of the lid 15 are fitted into grooves 10a formed in parallel on both the front and rear walls 11, 12. It is installed vertically within the casing 10. A circular hollow part 21 is provided in the center of the substrate 21.
b is bored, and both circular flanges 21c, 21c are provided on both surfaces of the substrate 21 to protrude concentrically with the circular hollow portion 21b.

The detection mechanism 20 also includes a plate-shaped annular member 22 formed from an aluminum material, and this annular member 2.
A pair of transparent annular soda glass plates 2 concentrically supported within the circular hollow portion 21b of the substrate 21.
3 and 24 (having insulating properties). Both circular flanges 2 are provided on both surfaces of the annular member 22.
2a and 22a protrude concentrically with the circular hollow part of the annular member 22, and the annular member 22
The diameter of the outer circumferential surface 22b is shorter than the diameter of the circular hollow portion 21b of the substrate 21 by a predetermined length. Each soda glass plate 23, 24 is connected to each flange portion 21c, 21c of the substrate 21 and each of these flange portions 21.
The substrate 21
The annular member 22 is fixed to both surfaces of the annular member 22 with an adhesive 25, so that the annular member 22 is vertically supported concentrically within the circular hollow portion 21b of the substrate 21, and the inner circle of the circular hollow portion 21b is fixed. Together with the circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface 22b of the annular member 22, a tubular portion P having an annular shape and a substantially square cross section is formed.

Inside the cylindrical part P, a light-shielding liquid W is sealed together with air bubbles F. The light-shielding liquid W is composed of a saturated solution formed by dissolving black dye in pure water, and the air bubbles F are formed under its gravity. located below on both sides.
The bubble F has a substantially spherical shape that is inscribed in the inner surface of the cylindrical portion P, and is located at the upper end of the cylindrical portion P so as to be able to float under its buoyancy. A light emitting device 26 is fitted into the circular hollow portion of the annular member 22 with adhesive, and this light emitting device 26 emits red light generated from a semiconductor light emitting diode built into the casing 10.
The light is emitted toward the front wall 11 of. The reflecting plate 30 receives the red light from the light emitter 26, reflects it as diffused light, and makes it incident on the entire surface of the soda glass plate 23. This means that most of the diffusely reflected light from the reflecting plate 30 that has entered the soda glass plate 23 is blocked from passing through to the soda glass plate 24 side by the light-shielding liquid W, and the remaining diffusely reflected light is This means that a portion of the light passes through the bubbles F and is transmitted as spot light to the soda glass plate 24 side.

Further, the detection mechanism 20 includes a resistance band 27, an electrode band 2
8. It has a photoconductive film band 29 and an insulating plate 29a, and the insulating plate 29a is formed in an annular and flat plate shape from an insulating material so as to have a radial width corresponding to the radial width of the cylindrical portion P. There is. The photoconductive film band 29 is
A photoconductive material (for example, CdSe) is printed and fired over the entire surface of the insulating plate 29a to form an annular and flat plate shape, and has a predetermined high internal resistance value when in a non-light receiving state. Further, the photoconductive film band 29 is
When light is received, a photoelectric conversion action occurs in the light receiving portion, and the internal resistance value of the light receiving portion is reduced to approximately zero.

The resistance band 27 is formed of a resistance material into a flat plate shape and approximately annular shape, and the outer surface of the soda glass plate 24 and the photoconductive film band 29 are formed on both surfaces of the resistance band 27, respectively.
The soda glass plate 24 and the photoconductive film band 29 are fixed vertically and concentrically to the outer circumference of the surface (the second
(see figure). In this case, the diameter of the inner circumferential edge of the resistance band 27 is made somewhat smaller than the diameter of the outer circumferential edge of the cylindrical portion P. Further, both terminals 27a and 27b of the resistance band 27 are located symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through the insulating plate 29a, that is, the center O of the resistance band 27, as shown in FIG. Line l ₁ ,
Each is connected via _l2 .

The electrode strip 28 is formed of a conductive material into a flat plate shape and approximately annular shape, and the outer surface of the soda glass plate 24 and the photoconductive film strip 29 are formed on both surfaces of the electrode strip 28, respectively.
It is fixed vertically and concentrically with the soda glass plate 24 and the photoconductive film band 29 on the inner circumference of the surface thereof. In such a case, the diameter of the outer circumferential edge of the electrode band 28 is made somewhat smaller than the diameter of the inner circumferential edge of the cylindrical portion P, so that the photoconductive film band 29 exposed between the resistance band 27 and the electrode band 28 is The annular portion faces the cylindrical portion P. Further, the terminal 28a of the electrode band 28 is connected to the resistance band 27
The lead wire L ₃ is located between both terminals 27a and 27b of
It is connected to the. Therefore, in the insulating plate 29, each radius line ₁ , ₂ (corresponds to a vertical line passing through the center O of the resistance band 27 when the vehicle is horizontal), ₃
As shown in Figure 2, ∠Q ₁ OQ ₂ = ∠
Q ₂ OQ ₃ and ∠Q ₁ OQ ₃ = φ, and the insulating plate 29
a, that is, the inclination angle θ of the vehicle in the left-right direction is the radius line
If defined by the radius line _r for OQ ₂ , φ:R:V=φ/2−θ:r:V _r (1) holds true. However, R is ∠Q ₁ OQ ₃ of resistance band 27
= indicates the resistance value corresponding to φ, r indicates the resistance value corresponding to ∠Q ₁ OQ _r =φ/2−θ of the resistance band 27, V indicates the power supply voltage of battery B, and V _r indicates the resistance value Indicates the voltage corresponding to the value r. Therefore, V _r =rV/R=(1/2-θ/φ)V (2) is obtained. This means that when the photoconductive film band 29 receives spot light from the bubble F on the radius line _r , the resistance band 27 and the electrode band 2
Under the short circuit of 8, the voltage V _r is the inclination angle θ of the vehicle.
As a symbol representing this, it means that it occurs between both lead wires l ₂ and l ₃ . Note that the lead wire _l2 is grounded. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 indicates a rubber bush from which both input terminals and lead wires _l1 to _l3 of the light emitter 26 are taken out.

In this embodiment configured as above, the reflection plate 30 is arranged in front of the cylindrical part P, while the insulating plate 29a, photoconductive film band 29, electrode band 28 and resistance band 27 are arranged in the cylindrical part. On the other hand, the photoconductive film band 29 is formed into a flat plate shape in the same vertical plane, and the electrode plate band 28 and the resistance band 27 are each formed into a flat plate shape on the photoconductive film band 29. Thus, the photoconductive film band 29 and the electrode band 28
The formation of each of the resistance bands 27 and 27 ensures uniform adhesion between the photoconductive film band 29 and the electrode band 28 or the resistance band 27, and the formation of each surface of the photoconductive film band 29, the electrode band 28, and the resistance band 27. While ensuring a uniform plane condition,
A uniformly uniform flat plate shape can be achieved.

Therefore, when the vehicle is in a horizontal state (that is, θ=0°), the bubble F is located within the cylindrical portion P on the radius line ₂ (see FIG. 2) in the insulating plate 29a. In this state, the red light from the light emitter 26 hits the reflector 3.
0 and detecting mechanism 2 as diffuse reflected light.
0, the portion corresponding to the light-shielding liquid W of the annular portion of the diffusely reflected light corresponding to the cylindrical portion P is blocked by the light-shielding liquid W, and the bubbles of the annular portion of the diffusely reflected light are blocked by the light-shielding liquid W. A portion corresponding to F passes through the air bubble F from the front surface to the back surface of the cylindrical portion P and is transmitted as a spot light to a portion on the radius line ₂ of the photoconductive film band 29, which is a uniform flat plate of the same photoconductive film band 29. In relation to the shape, the incidence is accurate. Then, the photoconductive film band 29 generates a photoelectric conversion effect at the spot light receiving portion, and the resistance value of the light receiving portion becomes almost zero, and the portion of the resistance band 27 on the radius line ₂ is short-circuited to the electrode band 28. do. As a result, the second
In the formula, r=R/2, that is, the voltage V _r based on θ=0°
=V/2 is obtained between both leads l ₂ and l ₃ . This means that V _r =V/2 is the voltage that defines the horizontal state of the vehicle, and the photoconductive film band 29 and the electrode band 28
and in relation to each uniform flat plate shape of the resistance band 27,
This means that it was detected with high accuracy.

In such a state, when the vehicle is tilted in one direction from left to right by an inclination angle θ, the detection mechanism 20 detects each of the uniform flat plates of the photoconductive film band 29, the electrode band 28, and the resistance band 27. In relation to the shape, it is tilted with precision. In such a case, the bubbles F and the light-shielding liquid W maintain their same positions regardless of the inclination of the cylindrical portion P and the insulating plate 29a, so that the bubbles F move relatively along the radius line _r of the insulating plate 29a. becomes. Then, the photoconductive film band 29 receives the spot light from the bubble F at the portion on the radius line _r , and a photoelectric conversion effect occurs at the light receiving portion, and the portion on the radius line _r of the resistance band 27 is turned into an electrode. Short circuit to band 28. As a result, a voltage V _r =rV/R=(1/2-θ/φ)V is obtained between both lead wires l ₂ and l ₃ based on equation (2). This means that V _r is the voltage that defines the tilt angle θ of the vehicle in one direction, the photoconductive film band 29 and the electrode band 2, as described above.
8 and the resistance band 27, which have a uniform flat plate shape, this means that the detection was performed with high accuracy. Also,
If the vehicle is tilted in the left and right directions by an inclination angle of -θ, by replacing θ with -θ in equation (2), substantially the same detection result as described above can be obtained. It will be done.

In the above description of the operation, the annular portion of the photoconductive film band 29 exposed between the resistance band 27 and the electrode band 28 is protected against light other than spot light from the air bubbles F,
That is, since it is shielded from ambient light, errors due to ambient light will not be mixed into the above-mentioned detection results. Further, the resistance band 27 is only short-circuited to the electrode band 28 by the light-receiving portion at a portion corresponding to the light-receiving portion of the photoconductive film band 29, and the remaining portion of the resistance band 27 is connected to the soda glass plate 24 and the photoconductive film. Since the non-light-receiving portion of the band 29 is substantially insulated from the electrode band 28, the above-mentioned detection results are free from errors due to undesirable electrical loads.

Further, in the embodiment described above, an example was explained in which the light emitter 26 and the reflector plate 30 were used as means for projecting light onto the soda glass plate 23. The reflecting plate 30 may be omitted so that the red light from the light emitter 26 is directly incident on the soda glass plate 23.

Further, in the above embodiment, the device of the present invention:
Although an example has been described in which the detection mechanism 20 and the reflection plate 30 are assembled into the casing 10, the present invention device may be configured by using a disk-shaped electric field as shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. Light-emitting surface emitter 4
A toric body 42 made of an aluminum material is fixed concentrically to the light emitting surface of the surface light emitting body 41; Disc 43 made of material
, a circular soda glass plate 44 fixed concentrically to the torus 42 and the disc 43, and the surface light emitter 41, the torus 42, the disc 43, and the soda glass plate 44. A light-shielding liquid W and air bubbles F sealed in an annular cylindrical portion P ₁ and a photoconductive film band 29 printed and fired on the outer surface of a soda glass plate 44 concentrically with the cylindrical portion P ₁ so as to correspond to the cylindrical portion P 1 . A resistive band 27 and an electrode band 28 are fixed concentrically to the outer surface of the photoconductive film band 29, and the soda glass plate 4
4. Photoconductive film band 29, resistance band 27 and electrode band 28
It may also be configured by an opaque resin film 45 that covers each exposed surface portion. Therefore, if the device of the present invention configured in this way is vertically fixed to a part of the vehicle so that the surface light emitter 41 is parallel to the axle of the vehicle, the planar light from the surface light emitter 41 can be emitted from the vehicle. The part corresponding to the bubble F passes through the bubble F as a spot light, passes through the soda glass plate 44, and enters the photoconductive film band 29, so that the light receiving part of the photoconductive film band 29, the resistance band 27, and the electrode band 28 The inclination angle θ in the left-right direction of the vehicle is determined by the same action as in the above embodiment between
can be detected as a voltage V _r based on equation (2).

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the device of the present invention is applied as a means for detecting the inclination angle in the left-right direction of a vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. The device of the present invention may be applied to detect various angles such as the turning angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the device of the present invention was configured as a means for detecting only the inclination angle in the left and right direction of the vehicle.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of the figure, both detection mechanisms 50,
50 and the reflecting plate 30 in the above embodiment are adopted, one of the detection mechanisms 50, 50 is vertically fixed to a part of the vehicle parallel to the axle, and the other of the detection mechanisms 50, 50 is fixed to a part of the vehicle so as to be parallel to the axle thereof. One detection mechanism 50
The reflective plate 30 is vertically fixed to a part of the vehicle so as to be perpendicular to the detection mechanism 50, 50.
By configuring the device of the present invention by vertically fixing it to a part of the vehicle so as to face each other at 45 degrees, the inclination angle of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction as well as the lateral inclination angle of the vehicle can be adjusted as described above. can be detected in substantially the same way as in the case of In such a case, in each detection mechanism 50, the opaque resin film 45 is omitted from the structure shown in FIG. A light source 52 may be provided in the center of the light source 52, and the diffusely reflected light from each light source 52 reflected by the reflecting plate 30 may be made to enter each transparent soda glass plate 51 as shown in the figure. Incidentally, in order to block the disturbance light, both the detection mechanisms 50, 50 and the reflection plate 30 may be covered with a suitable casing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a diagram showing the attachment relationship between the insulating plate, the resistance band, the photoconductive film band, and the electrode band in FIG. 1, and FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional view showing another modification of the embodiment. Explanation of symbols, 26... Light emitter, 27... Resistance band, 28... Electrode band, 29... Photoconductive film band, 30
... Reflection plate, 41 ... Surface light emitter, 52 ... Light source,
W... Light-shielding liquid, F... Bubbles, P, P ₁ ... Cylindrical portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transparent cylindrical body which is formed by enclosing floating air bubbles with a light-shielding liquid, which are erected in an arc shape with the apex upward on a detected object whose angle changes upward or downward, and an axial direction of this transparent cylindrical body. It is arranged in front of the front surface in the axial direction of the transparent cylinder so as to project light toward the front surface, and a part of the light is passed through the bubble from the front surface in the axial direction to the back surface in the axial direction of the cylinder body as spot light. A light projecting means for transmitting light, and a photoconductive material formed on the axial back surface of the transparent cylinder in the same vertical plane along the arc direction thereof, and when the spot light is received, a photoelectric conversion action is performed at the light receiving portion. The resulting flat photoconductive band, the flat resistive band formed of a resistive material along the arc direction of the photoconductive band, and the light beam parallel to the resistive band with an interval in the width direction thereof. The conductive band is provided with a flat electrode band formed of a conductive material along the arc direction of the conductive band and short-circuited to an intermediate portion of the resistive band corresponding to the light-receiving portion of the photoconductive band through the light-receiving portion of the photoconductive band. An angle detection device that detects a change in the angle of a detection object according to a resistance value between a base end and an intermediate portion of the resistance band that changes accordingly, and extracts the detection result from the electrode band as a detection signal. Device.