JPS5984165A - Steering angular velocity sensor for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent misoperation due to fine reciprocation of a steering wheel by arranging an optical switch which detects the rotation of a disk interlocking with the rotation of the steering wheel nearly in the center of the light passing part or shield part of the disk. CONSTITUTION:The disk 6 interlocking with the steering wheel has notches 6a. The rotation of the disk 6 is detected by an optical switch 7. The optical switch 7 is arranged nearly in the center of the notch part 6a of the disk and the notch part 6a is formed within a range much greater than the play angle theta of the steering wheel. Therefore, even when the steering wheel reciprocates within the range of the play angle theta, no pulse output is generated by the optical switch 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering angular velocity sensor for an automobile that detects the steering operation speed of an automobile.

If you make a sudden steering operation while driving a car,
The car body leans due to centrifugal force, but the amount depends on the stiffness of the Fi suspension system. Therefore, in the past, when driving stability was particularly important, a stiff suspension system was installed in advance at the expense of ride comfort.

However, recently, variable damping force dampers have been used in suspension systems, making it possible to adjust the stiffness of the suspension system. As a result, if the 4 suspension system is adjusted to be soft during normal driving, and the suspension system is controlled to become stiff when sudden steering operations are performed, the ride will be comfortable during normal driving, and the vehicle body will remain stable during sudden steering operations. It is possible to maintain driving stability by reducing the slope of the vehicle.

In order to perform the above control, it is necessary to detect the steering operation speed, but as such a detection means,
Automotive steering angular velocity sensors that have no contact parts and use inexpensive optical switches are commonly used.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a steering angular velocity sensor for an automobile using an optical switch proposed in the conventional C5 and a steering handle portion.

In the figure, (1) is a steering handle (no is a steering shaft 7 that transmits the operation of the steering handle (1) to a steering mechanism (not shown)), and (3) is a steering wheel that covers the steering shaft (2) and is fixed to the vehicle body. ft1y
Par, (4) t; t Cam mW that automatically returns the turn signal lever (5), (6) is the steering handle (
1) a disc rotating at the same time; (T) is a cover for detecting the movement of the disc (6); - an optical switch attached to (3); (8) is a light emitting element of the optical switch (7); An electric device that supplies power and amplifies the output of the light-receiving element, (9) is a cam mechanism (4) fitted to the steering shaft.
This is a pin for fixing and rotating the disc (6) to the steering handle (1) at the same time.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sensor portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the optical switch (1).

The disc (6) is provided with a cutout portion serving as a light passage portion and a convex portion serving as a light blocking portion in sequence along the circumferential direction. Further, the optical switch (7) has a light emitting element (10) as shown in FIG.
) and a light-receiving element (11) are arranged to face each other, and the circumferential portion of the disc (6), that is, the notch and the convex portion, are sandwiched between them so as to be movable. ) and the turn shift lever (5) are arranged as shown in the figure, but since they are not directly related to the present invention, their explanation will be omitted.

In the above configuration, the steering handle (1)
When the disk (6) rotates fully, the disk (6) also rotates as a unit, and the optical switch (7) installed between the circumference of the disk emits light from the light emitting element (10) to the light receiving element (11). As the light passes through the notch and the convex portion in sequence, the light is intermittent and generates a pulse output for 2t.

It is possible to detect the operating speed of the eristeering handle (1) based on the frequency or period of this pulse output.

However, the steering mechanism of an automobile is provided with an angle of play in order to improve steering stability, and steering is not performed even if the steering wheel is turned for several degrees in the left-right direction. Within this play angle range, the steering wheel may slightly reciprocate even though the driver has no intention of steering the vehicle. For example, if the boundary between the notch and the convex portion on the circumference of the disk (6) is at the position of the optical switch (r), the optical switch f
f) continuously generates a "C" pulse output.

In other words, the conventional system had a drawback in that even though steering was not performed, it was detected as if the steering was being performed.The present invention was made in view of these points, and its purpose is to detect the steering wheel. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering angular velocity sensor for an automobile that prevents malfunctions due to slight forward movement within the play angle of the vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses an optical switch to prevent the optical switch from generating a pulse output even if the steering wheel moves slightly forward when the steering wheel is in a position to drive the vehicle straight. It is arranged approximately at the center of the light passing section or the light blocking section of the disk.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a disk (6) and an optical switch (7) showing one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the operation and configuration are the same as those described above, so explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows the relative positions of the disc (6) and the optical switch (7) when the steering wheel is in a position to drive the vehicle straight. The angle θ indicates the play angle of the steering handle. In this embodiment, the optical switch ff) is arranged approximately at the center of the notch (6a), and
a) ti, play angle θ of steering handle (1), C
t) is also formed in a sufficiently large range. Therefore, if the steering handle (1) is within the range of play angle θ, the disc (
Even when the optical switch (6) moves back and forth, the optical switch (7) does not cut off the light, so intermittent pulse outputs are not generated.

This eliminates the possibility of misrecognizing minute reciprocating movements of the disc (6) within the range of the play angle θ of the steering handle (1). In addition, in the above description, the play angle of the steering handle (1) was set at the cutout part of the disc (6) to be 0 or more, but the optical switch (7) was installed at the center of the convex part of the disc (6), The range of this convex part is the steering wheel (1)
The same effect can be obtained even if the play angle θ is made sufficiently large.

In addition, in this example, only one notch (6 m) of the disc (6) was made sufficiently large with the play angle θ, but all the notches or protrusions were made sufficiently thick with the play angle θ. has the same effect.

It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the light passing portion of the disc (6) is a hole instead of a notch.

As explained above, according to the unexploded El11, malfunctions due to minute reciprocating movements of the steering wheel can be prevented with a simple configuration in which the optical switch is placed approximately at the center of the light passing section or the light blocking section of the disc. I can do it. Also,
By making the angle of the light passing portion or the light blocking portion of the disc sufficiently larger than the play angle of the steering handle 9, it is possible to completely eliminate false detection due to the reciprocating movement of the play of the XV steering handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows a side view of a conventional automobile steering angular velocity sensor and a steering wheel part, a second sectional view, and a fourth sectional view.
The figure is a plan view of a sensor portion showing an embodiment of the steering angular velocity sensor for an automobile according to the present invention. (1)・Dispute steering handle, (2)・ass
Steering shaft, (6)...circle &, (6a)
...Notch, (1) ...Optical switch, (8
)...Electrical device, (10)...Light emitting element, (1
1)... Light receiving element. Agent Nobu Ano -

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering wheel,
A disc having a plurality of light passing parts and light blocking parts alternately formed along the circumferential direction, and a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing each other with the light passing part and the light blocking part in between, an optical switch that detects rotation of the disk, and the steering wheel is connected to the vehicle vl? When the optical switch is in the straight-ahead position, the optical switch 19 of the disc, light passing section, or light blocking section
A steering angular velocity sensor for an automobile, characterized in that it is arranged so as to be located at the center of the steering wheel. (2) The automobile according to claim 1, characterized in that the light passing portion or the light blocking portion of the disc located at the position of the optical switch is formed in a range corresponding to the steering wheel play angle. Steering angular velocity sensor.