JPH06265407A - Infrared imaged sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sharply reduce resonance sound resulting from vibration transmitted to an outer packaging case during the actuation of a chopper device by connecting and sticking a sensor unit to the holding section inside the outer packaging case through an elastic means. CONSTITUTION:The first elastic body is made of material having elastic force, and pressed into a holding hole formed in the holding section 1a of an outer packaging case 1, and composed of a protrusive section 5a having a hollow part 5b where a fixing screw 7 is inserted through and a flat plate section 5c. The second elastic body 6 is made of material having elastic force, and is flat plate-shaped, and has an attaching hole 6a where the protrusive part 5a of the elastic body 5 is fitted-in. A sensor unit 4 is elastically connected and stuck to the holding section 1a of the case 1 by fastening a screw 7 through the elastic bodies 5, 6, and accommodated in an accommodating space 1b in the case 1. Thus the transmission of vibration occurring in a chopper device during its actuation to the outer packaging case can be sharply controlled for sharply reducing resonance sound occurring in the outer packaging case.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a sensor unit composed of a pyroelectric sensor housed in an outer case and a chopper device for controlling the incident state of infrared light to the pyroelectric sensor to emit infrared light. The present invention relates to an infrared image sensor device for detecting the state of a source, and particularly to an infrared image sensor device having excellent silent characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus for detecting a state of an infrared ray emitting source by using a pyroelectric sensor and performing a desired operation is, for example, a field of a security system such as an intruder alarm device, a switch for lighting, an automatic cleaning switch for a toilet or the like. It is useful in various switch fields such as automatic door switches and the like, and in recent years, it is rapidly expanding to the field of household electronic devices.

A pyroelectric sensor is an element having a characteristic of generating an electric signal in response to a change in infrared rays incident on the sensor. In the above-mentioned device, an infrared ray emission, which is usually a human body, is emitted. The output electric signal of the pyroelectric sensor that changes according to the movement of the source and the change of the infrared emission amount is used.

On the other hand, it is also known that a pyroelectric type sensor is combined with a chopper device for forcibly controlling the incident state of infrared rays to the pyroelectric type sensor to form a sensor unit to detect infrared rays.

In the conventional chopper device, one blade member having an appropriate opening or notch is rotated by an appropriate driving source in front of the pyroelectric sensor, and the blade or the notch is inserted through the opening or notch. It is well known to control the passing state of infrared rays.

As a result, the pyroelectric sensor responds to a change in infrared rays based on the difference between the infrared rays entering through the opening or the notch and the infrared rays entering without passing through the opening or the notch, and outputs an appropriate electric signal. By outputting and using such an electric signal, for example, in the case of human body detection, it will be possible to detect even a human body that is not moving, and the application field of the infrared detection system using the pyroelectric sensor will be significantly expanded. .

Further, by scanning the sensor unit in an appropriate range, it is possible to construct an infrared image sensor device capable of detecting the state of the infrared emission source in a predetermined area having an appropriate spread as an infrared image having a planar spread. It is well known.

[0008] The infrared image sensor device can obtain information such as the arrangement of persons and the number of persons in the living room when the infrared emission source is a person, for example. It should be noted that such information can be used for development such as utilization for air conditioning control in the living room.

[0009]

The infrared image sensor device using the sensor unit including the chopper device can detect the state of the infrared emission source whose infrared emission state does not change as described above, and various developments are conceivable. However, in consideration of application to the field of home electric appliances such as the air conditioning of the living room, it is strongly desired to reduce noise.

That is, when the infrared image sensor device is applied to the field of home electric appliances, it is considered that the infrared emission source, which is usually an infrared ray detection target, is a person, so that a sound generated during the operation of the device, a so-called operation sound is Depending on
For example, in the middle of the night, there is a risk that the sound will be extremely offensive.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application have made various examinations on the content, size, and the like of the operation sound generated in the infrared image sensor device by the sensor unit including the chopper device, and various operation sounds are generated. Due to the structure in which the sensor unit is normally housed in the exterior case, the exterior case
It was confirmed that the resonance sound caused by the transmission of vibration during the operation of the chopper device cannot be ignored.

In other words, when a sensor unit consisting of a pyroelectric sensor and a chopper device is used by being housed in an outer case, it is necessary to suppress resonance noise due to the operation of the chopper device. There is.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and remarkably reduces the resonance sound generated by the transmission of the vibration during the operation of the chopper device to the exterior case in which the sensor unit is housed. An object is to provide a completed infrared image sensor device.

[0014]

An infrared image sensor device according to the present invention is an infrared image sensor device having an outer case, a sensor unit, an elastic means, and a fixing means, and the outer case is It has a holding part inside and a member storage space, and the sensor unit controls the pyroelectric sensor that generates an electric signal according to the change of the incident infrared light and the incident state of the infrared light to the pyroelectric sensor. The elastic means is composed of a material having an elastic force, the fixing means connects and fixes two members, and the sensor unit is elastic by the fixing means. It is configured by being connected and fixed to the holding portion via the means.

[0015]

Since the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the sensor unit is connected and fixed to the holding portion inside the outer case by the fixing means through the elastic means. It will be.

Therefore, the transmission of the vibration generated during the operation of the chopper device of the sensor unit to the exterior case is suppressed by virtue of the elastic means.

As a result, the resonance sound due to the external case caused by the transmission of the vibration during the operation of the chopper device to the external case is suppressed, and the sound generated during the operation of the infrared image sensor device is controlled to be extremely small. Will be done.

[0018]

1 is a schematic side sectional view showing an essential part of an embodiment of an infrared image sensor device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main part of the infrared image sensor device with a protective cover 3 to be described later removed. The schematic front view is shown.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an outer case 1 comprises a main body 2 and a protective cover 3, has a holding portion 1a inside, and a storage space 1 for a sensor unit 4 which will be described later.
b.

The sensor unit 4 includes a pyroelectric sensor (not shown) that generates an electric signal in response to a change in the incident infrared ray and a chopper device that controls the incident state of the infrared ray to the pyroelectric sensor. It is configured.

The first elastic body 5 is made of a material having an elastic force, is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in the holding portion 1a of the outer case 1, and is a fixing means which is a fixing means for connecting and fixing the two members. A protruding portion 5a having a hollow portion 5b through which the screw 7 is inserted,
The second elastic body 6 is made of a material having an elastic force and is formed of a flat plate portion 5c connected to the projecting portion 5a. The second elastic body 6 has a flat plate shape and the projecting portion 5a of the first elastic body 5 is fitted into the mounting hole. 6a.

Therefore, the sensor unit 4 is elastically connected and fixed to the holding portion 1a of the outer case 1 by tightening the fixing screw 7 via the first and second elastic bodies 5 and 6, and the outer case is fixed. It will be stored in the storage space 1b in the space 1. That is, the first and second elastic bodies 5 and 6 constitute elastic means that is interposed between the sensor unit 4 and the exterior case 1. In this embodiment, the fixing means using the fixing screw 7 may be, for example, a fixing means that can connect and fix the sensor unit 4 and the outer case 1 with the elastic means interposed therebetween. Conventionally known fixing means such as an appropriate adhesive or a fitting structure can be appropriately selected and employed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view showing the main part of another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.
Components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same functional members.

As is clear from FIG. 3, this embodiment has a plurality of holding portions for the outer case 1 for holding the sensor unit 4, which is one in the embodiment shown in FIG. In this example, there are two.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 1c is provided in addition to the above-mentioned holding portion 1a, and the sensor unit 4 is held by a plurality of holding portions 1a, 1c as will be described later. As a result, it is held in the outer case 1.

The third elastic body 8 is made of a material having an elastic force similarly to the first and second elastic bodies 5 and 6, and has an exterior casing.
A protruding portion 8a having a hollow portion into which a mounting protrusion 4a attached to the sensor unit 4 is fitted, and a flat plate portion continuously provided to the protruding portion 8a. 8b.

Therefore, the sensor unit 4 has the exterior case 1
Is elastically held by the holding portion 1c of the outer case 1 through the third elastic body 8, that is, the third elastic body 8 constitutes an elastic means interposed between the sensor unit 4 and the holding portion 1c of the exterior case 1. ing.

The mounting projection 4a of the sensor unit 4 is held by the holding portion 1c via the third elastic body 8 in the illustrated example, but the sensor unit 4 holds the exterior case 1 in addition. It is connected and fixed to the portion 1a via the first and second elastic bodies 5 and 6, so that it may be performed without the third elastic body 8.

That is, the vibration generated during the operation of the sensor unit 4 is transmitted to the outer case 1 by holding the sensor unit 4 and at least one of the plurality of holding portions 1a and 1c, for example, holding by the holding portion 1a is elastic. The use of the third elastic body 8 can be appropriately selected as a result of being performed through the means.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view showing a main part of still another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.
Further, FIG. 5 is a protection cover of the essential part of the embodiment shown in FIG.
3 shows a schematic front view with 3 removed. In this embodiment, unlike the previous two embodiments in which the sensor unit 4 is not scanned, the sensor unit 4 can be scanned within an appropriate range to detect the state of the infrared emission source within a predetermined area having an appropriate spread. Here is an example.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the previous FIGS.
The constituent members having the same reference numerals indicate the same functional members, and the exterior case 1 including the main body 2 and the protective cover 3 has the holding portion 1 inside.
It has d, 1e, 1f and is provided with a storage space 1b for each member described later.

The driving source 9 is composed of, for example, a motor fixed to the holding portion 1d, and outputs a driving force for rotating the sensor unit 4 from its output shaft 9a. The output shaft 9a is rotatably supported by a bearing 20 on the holding portion 1e of the outer case 1.

The first rotating shaft member 10 is used for the sensor unit 4
Of the outer casing 1 and is rotatably attached to the holding portion 1e of the outer case 1.

The second rotating shaft member 11 is the first rotating shaft member 1
0 forms the rotation axis of the sensor unit 4 together with 0, and is connected to the sensor unit 4 and the exterior case 1
Is rotatably attached to the holding portion 1f.

The belt member 12 is an output shaft 9a of the drive source 9.
Is provided between the first gear 13 mounted on the first rotating shaft member 10 and the second gear 14 mounted on the first rotating shaft member 10 with the screw 15. It constitutes a transmission means for transmitting to the member 10.

The fourth elastic body 16 is similar to the first elastic body described above.
A hollow portion made of a material having an elastic force, which is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in the holding arm 10a of the first rotating shaft member 10 and into which a fixing screw 18 as a fixing means for connecting and fixing the two members is inserted. Projection 16a having 16b, and projection 16
The mounting hole is composed of a flat plate portion 16c continuous with a, and the fifth elastic body 17 is also made of a material having an elastic force like the second elastic body and has a flat plate shape and into which the protrusion 16a is fitted. 17a.

Therefore, by tightening the fixing screw 18 via the fourth and fifth elastic bodies 16 and 17, the sensor unit 4 is
Is elastically connected and fixed to the holding arm 10a of the first rotating shaft member 10. That is, the fourth and fifth elastic bodies 16 and 17 are composed of the sensor unit 4 and the first rotary shaft member 1.
It constitutes the first elastic means interposed between 0s.
When viewed between the sensor unit 4 and the outer case 1, the first elastic means constitutes first elastic means for indirectly and elastically connecting and fixing the sensor unit 4 to the outer case 1. is doing.

The sixth elastic body 19 is made of a material having an elastic force similar to the fourth and fifth elastic bodies 16 and 17, and has a holding hole formed in the holding portion 1f of the outer case 1. It is provided with a protruding portion 19a having a hollow portion into which the rotating shaft forming portion 11a of the second rotating shaft member 11 is press-fitted and a flat plate portion 19b that is connected to the protruding portion 19a.

Therefore, the second rotating shaft member 11 and the holding portion 1f of the outer case 1 are elastically connected via the sixth elastic body 19, that is, the sixth elastic body 19 is the first elastic body. It constitutes a second elastic means interposed between the two-rotation shaft member 11 and the holding portion 1f of the outer case 1.

By the way, unlike the previous two embodiments, this embodiment is an example of an apparatus capable of scanning the sensor unit 4 in an appropriate range and detecting the state of the infrared emission source within a predetermined area having an appropriate spread. Hereinafter, the sensor unit 4 in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
A case where scanning is performed within an appropriate range will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 6 which is a schematic plan view of a main part of the same embodiment.

Now, with the sensor unit 4 positioned as shown by the solid line in FIG.
When the drive source 9, which is a motor, performs an appropriate forward / reverse rotation operation as indicated by an arrow, the forward / reverse rotation driving force is output to the first gear 13 mounted on the output shaft 9a.

The driving force output to the first gear 13 is
The first rotating shaft member 1 transmitted to the second gear 14 via the belt member 12 and further equipped with the second gear 14.
It will be transmitted to 0.

The drive source 9 transmitted to the first rotary shaft member 10.
The forward / reverse rotation driving force is further transmitted to the sensor unit 4 via the holding arm 10a. As a result, in the sensor unit 4, the first rotation shaft member 10 and the sensor unit 4 are fixed. Second rotating shaft member 1
It will rotate about 1 as a rotation axis.

In other words, the sensor unit 4 consisting of a pyroelectric type sensor and a chopper device (not shown) has an appropriate range in the outer case 1, that is, a position as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. Will be scanned in between.

At this time, the sensor unit 4 operates the chopper device to detect the infrared radiation source within an appropriate range, so that the vibration generated during the operation of the chopper device is stored in the sensor unit 4. It is about to be transmitted to the outer case 1.

However, in the present embodiment, as described above, it is rotatably connected to the exterior case 1 via the first rotary shaft member 10 and the second rotary shaft member 11. The sensor unit 4 is connected and fixed to the first rotating shaft member 10 via the first elastic means, and further is fixed to the second rotating shaft member 11, but the second rotating shaft member 11 is fixed. Is rotatably attached to the outer case 1 via the second elastic means.

The first and second elastic means are formed of the fourth, fifth and sixth elastic bodies 16, 17, and 19 made of a material having an elastic force as described above, and therefore, the chopper. The transmission of the vibration of the chopper device generated during the operation of the device to the exterior case 1 is significantly suppressed by the first and second elastic means.

For this reason, even if the vibration due to the operation of the chopper device is transmitted to the outer case 1, the resonance sound caused thereby is remarkably reduced.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a main part of still another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention. In the figure, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 represent the same functional members. .

In this embodiment, as is clear from the drawings,
The structure of the fixing means for fixing the holding arm 10a of the first rotating shaft member 10 and the sensor unit 4 is different from that of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. That is, the fixing means of the previous embodiment is one fixing screw 18, whereas this embodiment is different in that the fixing means is composed of two fixing screws 21 and 22.

Further, in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sensor unit 4 is held by the first rotary shaft member 10 and the second rotary shaft member 11, but the same is held by the first rotary shaft member 10 and the second rotary shaft member 11. The difference is that only one rotation shaft member 10 is used.

For this reason, the shape of the fifth elastic body 17 becomes large, and the required number of the fourth elastic bodies 16 not shown in the drawing increases, but the first rotating shaft member 1 of the sensor unit 4 is increased.
Elastic connection to the holding arm 10a of 0 and stability of the fixed state are greatly improved, and a more practical infrared image sensor device can be obtained.

Further, since the sensor unit 4 is held at one place, it is possible to obtain an infrared image sensor device having a simplified device configuration as in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

That is, the connection of the sensor unit 4, the number of fixing points and the number of fixing points with respect to the fixing target can be appropriately set, and this can be applied to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

As described above, in the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention, the operation sound generated during the operation of the device does not become an offensive sound in the middle of the night, for example, and the noise reduction can be realized in the field of home appliances. The device is suitable for application to

[0056]

The infrared image sensor device according to the present invention comprises:
As described above, the sensor unit including the chopper device is housed in the exterior case as described above, and directly connected to the exterior case via the elastic means, or indirectly via the separate member, for example, the rotating shaft member. Since they are connected, it is possible to remarkably suppress the transmission of the vibration of the chopper device generated during the operation of the device to the outer case, and as a result, it is possible to remarkably reduce the resonance sound generated in the outer case. Have

Therefore, the present invention can provide an infrared image sensor device suitable for application to the field of home appliances, which does not produce a very offensive sound at midnight, that is, the noise generated during operation is extremely small. It has the effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a main part of an embodiment of an infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.

5 is a schematic front view showing a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a main part of still another embodiment of the infrared image sensor device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exterior case 2 Main body 3 Protective cover 4 Sensor unit 5 1st elastic body 6 2nd elastic body 7 Fixing screw 8 3rd elastic body 9 Drive source 10 1st rotating shaft member 11 2nd rotating shaft member 12 Belt member 13 First gear 14 Second gear 15 Screw 16 Fourth elastic body 17 Fifth elastic body 18 Fixing screw 19 Sixth elastic body 20 Bearing 21 Fixing screw 22 Fixing screw

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An infrared image sensor device having an outer case, a sensor unit, an elastic means, and a fixing means, wherein the outer case has a holding portion inside and a member storage space. The sensor unit is composed of a pyroelectric sensor that generates an electrical signal in response to a change in incident infrared light and a chopper device that controls the incident state of infrared light on the pyroelectric sensor. The means is composed of a material having an elastic force, the fixing means is for connecting and fixing two members, and the sensor unit is elastically connected to the holding portion through the elastic means by the fixing means,
An infrared image sensor device which is housed in a member housing space inside an exterior case by being fixed. 2. An infrared image sensor device having an outer case, a sensor unit, an elastic means, and a fixing means, wherein the outer case has a plurality of holding portions inside and a member storage space. The sensor unit includes a pyroelectric sensor that generates an electric signal in response to a change in incident infrared light, and a chopper device that controls the incident state of infrared light to the pyroelectric sensor. The elastic means is made of a material having an elastic force, the fixing means is for connecting and fixing two members, and the sensor unit is held by a plurality of holding portions and the elastic means is used by the fixing means. The outer casing is elastically connected and fixed to at least one of the plurality of holding portions via
An infrared image sensor device that is stored in the member storage space inside. 3. An infrared image sensor device having an exterior case, a sensor unit, a drive source, a rotating shaft member, a transmitting means, an elastic means, and a fixing means, the exterior case. Has a holding portion inside and a member storage space, and the sensor unit shows a pyroelectric sensor that generates an electric signal in response to a change in the incident infrared light and an incident state of the infrared light on the pyroelectric sensor. And a chopper device for controlling, the drive source outputs a driving force for rotating the sensor unit, and the rotary shaft member forms the rotary shaft of the sensor unit. The means is for transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the rotary shaft member, the elastic means is made of a material having elastic force, and the fixing means is for connecting and fixing the two members. Sensor unit, drive source, times The shaft member is housed in the member housing space in the exterior case, and the sensor unit is elastically connected and fixed to the rotating shaft member by the fixing means through the elastic means, and the rotating shaft member is rotated to the holding portion. It is mounted so that it can be mounted and is connected to a drive source via a transmission means, and the drive source transmits the driving force to the rotation shaft member via the transmission means, and rotates the sensor unit with the rotation shaft member as a rotation shaft. Infrared image sensor device. 4. The fixing means is at least one fixing screw, and the elastic means is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in the holding portion and has a hollow portion into which the fixing screw is inserted and the projection portion and the protruding portion. A first elastic body formed of a continuous flat plate portion and a second elastic body having a flat plate shape having a mounting hole into which the protrusion of the first elastic body is fitted.
The infrared image sensor device described. 5. A mounting protrusion which is connected and fixed to one of the plurality of holding portions by a fixing means, is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in another holding portion, and is attached to the sensor unit. 3. The outer casing is elastically connected and held via a third elastic body formed of a protruding portion having a hollow portion into which the portion is fitted and a flat plate portion connected to the protruding portion. Infrared image sensor device. 6. The fixing means is at least one fixing screw, and the elastic means has a hollow portion which is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in a holding arm formed in the rotating shaft member and into which the fixing screw is inserted. A second elastic body having a flat plate shape with a mounting hole into which the projecting portion of the first elastic body is fitted. Item 3. The infrared image sensor device according to Item 3. 7. An exterior case, a sensor unit, a drive source, a first rotating shaft member, a second rotating shaft member, a transmitting means, a first elastic means, and a second elastic means. An infrared image sensor device having a fixing means, wherein the outer case has a plurality of holding portions inside and a member storage space, and the sensor unit is electrically operated in response to a change in incident infrared rays. It is composed of a pyroelectric sensor that generates a signal and a chopper device that controls the incident state of infrared rays to the pyroelectric sensor, and the drive source outputs a driving force that rotates the sensor unit. The first rotation shaft member forms the rotation shaft of the sensor unit, the second rotation shaft member forms the rotation shaft of the sensor unit, and the transmission means transmits the driving force of the drive source to the first. The first elastic shaft is transmitted to the first rotation shaft member. Stage is intended to be constructed of a material having an elastic force, the second elastic means is intended to be constructed of a material having an elastic force, fixing means connecting the two members,
The sensor unit, the drive source, the first rotary shaft member, and the second rotary shaft member are fixedly housed in the outer case.
The sensor unit is elastically connected and fixed to the first rotary shaft member by the fixing means via the first elastic means, and the second
The first rotating shaft member is fixed to the rotating shaft member, the first rotating shaft member is rotatably attached to the holding portion inside the exterior case, and is connected to the drive source through the transmitting means. The first rotating shaft is rotatably attached to the holding portion inside the outer case via the second elastic means, and the drive source transmits the driving force to the first rotating shaft member via the transmitting means. An infrared image sensor device for rotating a sensor unit with a member and a second rotating shaft member as a rotating shaft. 8. The fixing means is at least one fixing screw, and the first elastic means is erected from the flat plate portion and the flat plate portion,
A fourth elastic body including a protrusion having a hollow portion that is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in a holding arm of the first rotating shaft member and has a fixing screw inserted therein, and a protrusion of the fourth elastic body. The infrared image sensor device according to claim 7, comprising a fifth elastic body having a flat plate shape and having a mounting hole into which is inserted. 9. A hollow portion into which the second elastic means is press-fitted into a holding hole formed in a holding portion of the exterior case and into which a rotary shaft forming portion provided side by side with the second rotary shaft member is fitted. 8. The infrared image sensor device according to claim 7, comprising a sixth elastic body formed of a protrusion having a protrusion and a flat plate portion connected to the protrusion.