JPH10123236A - Obstacle detector for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an obstacle detector for vehicle which can be built in a vehicle neatly such that an ultrasonic oscillatory sensor can exhibit detection power sufficiently while being protected against damage by receiving the sensor in a recess and holding the sensor in place while touching the bottom of the recess. SOLUTION: A recess 3 is made in the rear surface of an outer shell 2 arranged around a vehicle 1. The recess 3 has thin bottom part 4 and an ultrasonic oscillatory sensor 5 is received therein and held in place while touching the bottom part 4 thereof. Furthermore, a cut 6 is made in the circumferential fringe part of the recess 3. The sensor 5 comprises a laminate of a ceramic disc 8 and a slightly larger metal base disc 9 connected, at the opposite ends thereof, through a wiring cord 7. The sensor 5 oscillates upon application of a high frequency signal to the ceramic 8 and the metal base 9 and generates an ultrasonic wave.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle obstacle detecting device for detecting the presence of an obstacle around a vehicle or the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 17, an ultrasonic vibration type sensor 5 is provided on an outer shell 2 located around a vehicle 1.
The presence of an obstacle S around the vehicle 1 or
An obstacle detecting device for a vehicle that detects a distance between the obstacle S and the vehicle 1 and the like is generally known. In this case, for example, the vehicle 1 is an automobile, and the outer shell 2 provided with the sensor 5 is a vehicle bumper of the automobile. The sensor 5 is fitted into a mounting hole 38 formed through the outer shell 2,
The wiring cord 7, which is attached to the outer shell 2 so as to be exposed on the front side thereof and is derived from the sensor 5, provides the driver with the presence of the obstacle S and the distance between the obstacle S and the vehicle 1. Is connected to a control unit that performs control for notifying or the like, or a notification, a notification unit (neither is shown), or the like.

Therefore, in the obstacle detecting device for a vehicle, the sensor 5 is vibrated by a high-frequency signal, and the vibration generates an ultrasonic wave. By vibrating the sensor 5, an electric signal is generated by the vibration piezoelectric phenomenon in the sensor 5, and by processing the electric signal, the existence of the obstacle S or the distance between the obstacle S and the vehicle 1 is determined. Is detected.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the sensor 5 is mounted so as to be exposed on the front side of the outer shell 2, the appearance of the vehicle 1 is impaired, and the sensor is not used. 5 was also easily damaged by external force. In this case, the sensor 5 may be attached to the back side of the outer shell 2, but in this case, the outer shell 2 becomes an obstacle, and the detection capability of the sensor 5 is significantly reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, the problem is that the sensor is not exposed on the front side of the outer shell, the appearance of the vehicle is improved, and Another object of the present invention is to provide an obstacle detecting device for a vehicle, in which the sensor is protected by an outer shell and is hardly damaged, and the detection capability of the sensor is sufficiently exhibited.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an obstacle detecting device for a vehicle, wherein a concave portion is formed on a back surface of an outer shell located at a peripheral portion of the vehicle, and a bottom portion of the concave portion is formed. An ultrasonic vibration type sensor is accommodated in the recess, and the sensor is held and fixed in contact with the bottom of the recess.

Therefore, in this case, since the sensor is housed in the recess formed on the back side of the outer shell and is not exposed to the front side, the appearance of the vehicle is improved, and the sensor is protected from external force by the outer shell. The sensor is held and fixed while being in contact with the thin bottom of the recess, so that the thin bottom vibrates integrally with the sensor and has a detection capability. Is fully demonstrated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the first aspect, wherein a concave notch is formed in a peripheral portion of the concave portion, and the concave portion is connected to the sensor. The wiring cord is led out of the recess from the recess. Therefore, in this case, especially, the wiring cord is led out of the sensor housed in the recess through the recessed portion without any trouble.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the outer shell body in which the recess is formed is made of a synthetic resin. It is a bumper. Therefore, in this case, in particular, the vehicle bumpers located before and after the peripheral portion of the vehicle are optimally used as the outer shell body provided with the sensor, and the outer shell body is made of synthetic resin and is formed to be thick and lightweight. Therefore, a deep recess can be formed on the back surface of the outer shell, and the sensor can be accommodated and accommodated in the recess.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the outer shell body in which the recess is formed is made of metal. It is characterized by being. Therefore, in this case, in particular, since a recess is formed on the back surface of the outer shell body which is a metal vehicle body, the bottom of the recess is strong even though it is thin, and is accommodated in the recess. The sensor is securely protected, and the bottom portion made of the same thin metal vibrates integrally with the sensor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the plurality of concave portions are provided in a circumferential direction of the vehicle. It is characterized in that sensors are arranged in each recess. Therefore, in this case, in particular, by selecting any one of a plurality of sensors arranged in the circumferential direction of the vehicle and performing the detecting operation, it is possible to easily select and change the detection area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the sensor is provided on the bottom of the recess. It is characterized by being brought into pressure contact by the elastic restoring force of the body. Therefore, in this case, in particular, since the sensor is elastically pressed into contact with the bottom of the recess and held and fixed, the holding and fixing is stable, and therefore, the bottom is stably integrally formed with the sensor. Vibrate.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the sixth aspect, the pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body is adjustable. Features. Therefore, especially in this case,
By adjusting the pressing force due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic body, the contact pressure of the sensor against the bottom of the recess is changed, so that the vibration efficiency, that is, the sensitivity of the sensor is adjusted by the adjustment, and the detection by the sensor is performed. The size of the area can be easily variably adjusted.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS.
3 shows an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 3, wherein an obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to the embodiment includes an outer shell 2 positioned around a vehicle 1.
A concave portion 3 is formed on the back surface of the concave portion 3 and the bottom portion 4 of the concave portion 3 is made thin, and an ultrasonic vibration type sensor 5 is accommodated in the concave portion 3 and the sensor 5 is attached to the bottom portion of the concave portion 3. 4 and held and fixed. In this case, the vehicle 1 is an automobile,
The outer shell 2 in which the recess 3 is formed is a vehicle bumper made of a synthetic resin of the same vehicle. A recess 6 is formed in a peripheral portion of the recess 3, and a wiring cord 7 connected to the sensor 5 is led out of the recess 3 from the recess 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 5 is formed by laminating and integrating a circular plate-shaped ceramic 8 and a circular plate-shaped metal base 9 slightly larger than the ceramic. The sensor 5 is connected to each other, and vibrates when a high-frequency signal is applied to the ceramic 8 and the metal base 9 to generate ultrasonic waves by the vibration. The sensor 5 is housed in the recess 3 with the ceramic 8 on the back side.
Is in contact with the bottom 4 of the recess 3.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
The wiring cord 7 derived from the sensor 5 is disposed at a corner portion of the outer shell 2 which is a vehicle bumper on the rear side of the vehicle.
The control unit 10 is connected to a control unit 10 for performing control for notifying a distance or the like, or notification, a notification unit 11, and the like. The notifying means 11 is a buzzer which can also notify other persons approaching the rear side of the vehicle 1. The control unit 10 extends the wiring cord 7 toward the driver's seat to display a signal to notify the driver. It is connected to an LED or the like as the means 12. In this case, an ultrasonic wave is generated by the vibration of the sensor 5, and the ultrasonic wave hits the obstacle S and is reflected to cause the sensor 5 to ultrasonically vibrate, whereby an electric signal is generated in the sensor 5 by a vibration piezoelectric phenomenon. By processing the electric signal, the presence of the obstacle S or the distance between the obstacle S and the vehicle 1 is detected.

The circuit configuration of the control unit 10 and its operation state will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Integrator I
13 starts integration at the same time as turning on the power supply, and when the potential of the next stage reaches a certain level, drives the monostable multi I14 and discharges the integrated charge by the switching I15 by the signal of the monostable multi I14. You. In this case, the switching I15 receives the signal of the monostable multi I14 and receives the signal of the integrating circuit I14.
The electric charge stored in 13 is discharged instantaneously.

The monostable multi I14 receives the signal of the integrating circuit I13 and outputs a signal for a certain period of time.
15, drive the monostable multi II17. The gate 16 receives the signal of the monostable multi I14, outputs a signal after a predetermined time, and sends the signal to the integrating circuit II18, and is a so-called time gate for determining a detection distance. The monostable multi II 17 receives the signal of the monostable multi I 14 and outputs a signal for a certain period of time. The signal determines the application time of the drive applied to the sensor 5. The signal resets the circuit of the flip-flop 19. Is done.

The oscillation circuit 20 receives the signal of the monostable multi II 17 and generates a high frequency signal for driving the sensor 5 for a time determined by the monostable multi II 17. Also the driver
Reference numeral 21 denotes a high-frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit 20 to generate a signal of a level necessary for driving the sensor 5.

The amplification circuit 22 amplifies the weak reflected signal from the sensor 5 to a certain level, and the detection circuit 23 removes the high frequency component of the vibration frequency of the sensor 5 from the amplified signal, and Only the envelope of is extracted. The level detection circuit 24 is a circuit for determining whether or not the level of the output component of the detection circuit 23 has reached a predetermined level, and the integration circuit II18 has a time width of the input signal that has reached the predetermined level. This is a circuit for determining whether there is a predetermined time width. That is, if the time is shorter than the predetermined time, it is determined that the signal is electric noise or the like and is not a reflected signal from the obstacle S. here,
A gate signal is applied from the gate 16, and it is also determined whether or not the input wave is within a predetermined time (within the gate).

When there is an input wave judged to be inside the gate with a predetermined time width in the integrating circuit II18, the flip-flop 19 is turned on by the signal of the input wave.
Is driven and the presence of the same signal is stored. The memory is reset by the monostable multi II 17 and is no longer stored when there is no reflected wave (input wave). The switching II 25 is a circuit for turning on the LED which is the display means 12 to keep informing the existence of the obstacle S of the vehicle 1 while the memory signal of the flip-flop 19 exists.

The control unit 10 has the circuit configuration as described above. In this case, when a transmission signal is applied to the sensor 5, the sensor 5 vibrates together with the thin bottom 4 of the recess 3 of the outer shell 1. The ultrasonic waves are emitted into the air by the vibration, and the obstacle S
Is present, the ultrasonic wave is reflected by the obstacle S, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the sensor 5 via the bottom 4 of the concave portion 3 of the outer shell 1, and the sensor 5 generates electricity by the vibration piezoelectric phenomenon. Converted to a signal. The electric signal enters the amplification circuit 22 as a received wave input, and the output from the amplification circuit 22 is as shown in the time chart of FIG.

That is, the output wave from the amplification circuit 22 includes a reverberation wave a and a reflected wave b from the obstacle S, and a high-frequency component is removed from the output wave in the detection circuit 23, and its envelope is obtained. Only those are extracted. When the level of the output component of the detection circuit 23 reaches a predetermined level A, the level detection circuit
24 determines and outputs this to the integration circuit II18. Here, if the position of the obstacle S is within a predetermined distance range (within the gate) and has a constant reflected wave width and is equal to or higher than a predetermined level B, the flip-flop 19 is driven and the integration circuit III2
Output to 6. If the reflected wave continues a plurality of times for each transmission, the level of the output component of the integrating circuit III26 becomes equal to or higher than a certain level C, the switching II25 is turned on, and the display means 12
Is turned on, whereby the presence of the obstacle S is notified to the driver.

Therefore, in the vehicle obstacle detecting device of the present embodiment, the sensor 5 is housed in the recess 3 formed on the back side of the outer shell 2 and is not exposed to the front side, so that the appearance of the vehicle 1 is improved. Good, and the sensor 5 is
The sensor 5 is protected from external force and is not easily damaged. Further, since the sensor 5 is held and fixed in contact with the thin bottom 4 of the recess 3, the thin bottom 4 is Vibration integrally with the sensor and the detection ability is sufficiently exhibited.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device of this embodiment, the wiring cord 7 is led out of the sensor 5 accommodated in the recess 3 through the recess 6 without any trouble.
Further, vehicle bumpers located before and after the peripheral portion of the vehicle 1 are optimally used as the outer shell 2 provided with the sensor 5, and the outer shell 2 is made of synthetic resin and is formed to be thick and lightweight. Therefore, a deep recess 3 can be formed on the back surface of the outer shell 2, and the sensor 5 can be housed in the recess 3 with good fit.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.
5 shows an obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG. 5, and in the obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to the embodiment, a plurality of recesses are provided in the circumferential direction of the vehicle 1, that is, in the longitudinal horizontal direction of the vehicle bumper. Places 3 are arranged side by side, and a sensor 5 is provided in each recess 3. Therefore, in this case, the vehicle 1
By selecting one of the plurality of sensors 5 that are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and performing a detection operation thereof, selection and change of a detection area can be easily performed as shown in FIG. The vehicle bumper is a vehicle bumper on the front side of the vehicle 1, which is an automobile, and is otherwise configured in the same manner as the vehicle obstacle detection device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. Accordingly, the same operation and effect as those of the vehicle obstacle detection device of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 show the first embodiment of the present invention.
9 shows a vehicle obstacle detection device according to still another embodiment corresponding to 2, 3, 6, and 7, in which the sensor 5 is elastically attached to the bottom 4 of the recess 3; The body (spring 32) is pressed and contacted by the elastic restoring force. The sensor 5 is pressed against the bottom 4 of the recess 3 by the holding cover 27. In this case, an adjusting screw 29 is inserted into a support hole 28 formed near the periphery of the holding cover 27. Is screwed into a screw hole 30 provided around the recess 3 of the outer shell 2, and a spring 32 is provided between a washer 31 abutting on the head of the adjusting screw 29 and the surface of the holding cover 27. It is interposed. The spring 23 is an adjustment screw
29
Is pressed against the sensor 5. Therefore, in this case, the sensor 5 is elastically pressed into contact with the bottom 4 of the recess 3 to be held and fixed, so that the holding and fixing is stable, and therefore, the bottom 4 is integrally formed with the sensor 5. Vibrates stably.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device of this embodiment, the pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body (spring 32) can be adjusted. In other words, by rotating the adjusting screw 29 to change the screw insertion depth into the screw hole 30, the degree of compression of the spring 29 changes, and the pressing force due to the elastic restoring force of the spring 29 is adjusted. Is what is done. In this case, the pressing force is increased by tightening the adjusting screw 29 and screwing it into the screw hole 30 deeply. In this state, the sensor 5 becomes hard to vibrate. By reducing the screwing depth, the pressing force is weakened, and in this state, the sensor 5 easily vibrates.

Therefore, in this case, the contact pressure of the sensor 5 against the bottom 4 of the recess 3 is changed by changing the degree of tightening of the adjusting screw 29 and adjusting the pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the spring 32. Therefore, the vibration efficiency, that is, the sensitivity of the sensor 5 can be adjusted by the adjustment so that the size of the detection area by the sensor 5 can be easily variably adjusted. That is, as shown in FIG.
The detection area can be reduced by increasing the pressing force, and conversely, the detection area can be increased by reducing the pressing force.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device of this embodiment, the sensor 5 is also provided on the outer shell 2 serving as a vehicle bumper on the front side of the vehicle 1, which is an automobile. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are configured similarly to the vehicle obstacle detection device of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
The same functions and effects as those of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 13 shows a vehicle obstacle detecting device according to still another embodiment corresponding to claims 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the present invention. In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to this embodiment, The sensor 5 is pressed against the bottom 4 of the recess 3 by a holding plate spring 34 which is an elastic body.
Is fixedly attached to the periphery of the recess 3. Therefore,
In this case, due to the elastic restoring force of the pressing leaf spring 34, the pressing convex portion 36 in the middle of the pressing leaf spring 34 is pressed against the sensor 5 with a constant pressing force.
Is fixed by being elastically pressed into contact with the bottom 4, so that the holding and fixing is stable, and the bottom 4 vibrates stably integrally with the sensor 5. In addition,
Other than that, the vehicle obstacle detecting device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 is configured in the same manner as the vehicle obstacle detecting device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The same operation and effect as those of the object detection device are achieved.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 show a vehicle obstacle detecting apparatus according to still another embodiment corresponding to claims 1 and 4 of the present invention. In the vehicle obstacle detecting apparatus according to this embodiment, FIG. The outer shell 2 in which the recess 3 is formed is a metal vehicle body. In this case, a recess 3 is formed on the back surface of the outer shell 2 of the vehicle body located on the rear side of the vehicle 1 which is an automobile, and a pair of protrusions provided on the bottom 4 of the recess 3 are provided. Support piece 37
The sensor 5 is attached and supported. Therefore, in this case, since the recess 3 is formed on the back surface of the outer shell 2 which is a metal vehicle body, the bottom 4 of the recess 3 is strong even though it is thin, and the recess 3 is strong. The sensor 5 housed therein is reliably protected, and the bottom 4 made of the same thin metal vibrates reliably with the sensor 5. In addition,
Other than that, it is configured similarly to the vehicle obstacle detection device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The same operation and effect as those of the object detection device are achieved.

[0033]

As described above, in the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sensor is not exposed on the front side of the outer shell, the appearance of the vehicle is improved, and the sensor is not provided. The shell is protected from external force and is hardly damaged. In addition, the sensor comes into contact with the thin bottom of the recess and vibrates integrally with the bottom, so that the detection ability is sufficiently exhibited.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the wiring cord is led out of the sensor accommodated in the recess through the recessed portion without any trouble.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in particular, vehicle bumpers located before and after a peripheral portion of the vehicle are optimally used as an outer shell provided with a sensor. The outer shell body is made of a synthetic resin, and can form a deep recess on the back surface thereof, so that the sensor can be accommodated and accommodated in the recess.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, since a recess is formed on the back surface of the outer shell which is a metal vehicle body, the vehicle is accommodated in the recess. The sensor is reliably protected and the metal bottom of the recess vibrates integrally with the sensor.

Further, in the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in particular, one of a plurality of sensors arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the vehicle is selected and the detection operation is performed. This makes it possible to easily select and change the detection area.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, the sensor is elastically pressed into contact with the bottom of the recess to be held and fixed in a stable state. The bottom vibrates stably integrally with the sensor.

In the vehicle obstacle detecting device according to the present invention, the vibration efficiency, that is, the sensitivity of the sensor is adjusted by adjusting the pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body. The size of the detection area by the sensor can be easily variably adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a vehicle obstacle detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a rear portion of the vehicle in the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sensor in the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control unit in the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an operation state of a control unit in the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a vehicle obstacle detection device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle showing a detection state of the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 9 is a main part rear view showing a vehicle obstacle detection device according to still another embodiment.

10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle showing a detection state of the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 13 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a vehicle obstacle detection device according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a main part rear view showing a vehicle obstacle detection device according to yet another embodiment.

15 is a sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing a vehicle in the vehicle obstacle detection device.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a detection state of a conventional vehicle obstacle detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Outer shell 3 Recess 4 Bottom 5 Sensor 6 Recess 7

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G08G 1/16 G01S 13/93 Z

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recess is formed on the back surface of an outer shell located at a peripheral portion of a vehicle, the bottom of the recess is made thin, and an ultrasonic vibration type sensor is housed in the recess. An obstacle detection device for a vehicle, wherein the sensor is held and fixed in a state where the sensor is in contact with the bottom of the recess. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a concave notch is formed in a peripheral portion of the concave, and a wiring cord connected to the sensor is led out of the concave from the concave notch. Obstacle detection device. 3. The vehicle obstacle detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell body in which the recess is formed is a synthetic resin vehicle bumper. 4. The obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell body in which the recess is formed is a metal vehicle body. 5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of recesses are arranged in a circumferential direction of the vehicle, and a sensor is provided in each of the recesses.
The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 4. 6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is pressed against the bottom of the recess by an elastic restoring force of the elastic body.
An obstacle detection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The vehicle obstacle detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body is adjustable.