JPH01254416A - Solar radiation sensor for air conditioner of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve appearance and a directional characteristic by covering a sensor for converting a solar radiation quantity into a signal with a concave- lens shaped cover to condense light. CONSTITUTION:A sensor 1 is covered with a concave-lens shaped cover 2 to condense solar radiation on the sensor 1. In this cover 2, the curvature is differentiated between the outside and inside and light incident in the D direction is first refracted inward by the outside curvature and, then greatly refracted by the inside curvature on getting out of the cover 2 and directed to the sensor 1. By this structure, the directivity is improved enabling the height of the cover to be reduced to improve appearance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar radiation sensor for an automotive air conditioner that detects the amount of solar radiation and converts it into a signal necessary for a control unit.

Background of the Invention In recent years, solar radiation sensors for automobile air conditioners are often installed in the instrument panel of vehicles, so in terms of design, they are required to be integrated with the instrument panel and look natural, and in terms of characteristics, An object with wide directivity is required so that a wide range of solar radiation can be detected.

An example of the solar radiation sensor of the conventional automobile air conditioner described above will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show different solar radiation sensor structures of conventional automobile air conditioners. In FIG. 3, a sensor 1 senses the amount of solar radiation and outputs a signal according to the solar radiation. Numerals 3 and 4 are covers, which act as lenses to focus light on the sensor section, as well as a case for mounting inside the vehicle and making it look good.

The characteristics of the solar radiation sensor of the automobile air conditioner configured with the sensor and the cover as described above will be explained below.

First, a solar radiation sensor having a cover 3 as shown in Fig. 3 has a flat appearance and does not feel strange even when installed on the instrument panel, but its characteristics with respect to the angle of incidence of solar radiation are A.
The light from the eight directions reaches the sensor section, but the light from the C direction is reflected on the cover surface and does not reach the sensor section.

Next, in a solar radiation sensor having a cover 4 as shown in FIG. 4, since the cover has a spherical shape with respect to the solar incidence angle, light from direction C also reaches the lens. However, since the cover is spherical, when it is attached to a flat instrument panel, it protrudes by the height of H, resulting in an unsightly appearance. However, in order to ensure the characteristics, a spherical cover with a height H as low as possible is generally used as long as the characteristics allow.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the above configuration has the problem that if emphasis is placed on the directional characteristics, the appearance becomes poor, and conversely, when the appearance is made good, the directional characteristics become poor.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a solar radiation sensor for an automobile air conditioner that has good directivity and good appearance.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a solar radiation sensor for an automobile air conditioner according to the present invention includes a sensor and a cover in the shape of a concave lens to collect light from the sensor.

Effects of the present invention As described above, the directivity characteristics do not deteriorate even if the height H of the cover is made very low due to the ((η) configuration, so that the appearance and the directivity characteristics can be satisfied at the same time.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a solar radiation sensor for an automobile air conditioner according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a solar radiation sensor for an automobile air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows directional characteristics of the solar radiation sensor according to the present invention and a conventional solar radiation sensor.

In FIG. 1, 2 is a cover in the shape of a concave lens. The characteristics will be explained below. Since cover 2 has different curvatures on the outside and inside, the light coming in from direction C,
First, it is bent into the cover 2 due to the curvature of the outside, and when it exits the cover 2, it is largely bent due to the curvature of the inside and reaches the sensor 1.

In a conventional spherical object in which the height of the cover 2 is the same height H, as shown in FIG. 4, light from the 0 direction does not reach the sensor.

On the other hand, if the directivity characteristics up to the direction C in FIG. 1 are acceptable, the height H can be made lower than in the conventional case.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a sensor and a cover having a concave lens shape to collect light on the sensor, it is possible to improve directivity and reduce the height of the cover. Wide range directivity and appearance can be satisfied at the same time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a solar radiation sensor for an automobile air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a comparison diagram of the directivity characteristics of the same solar radiation sensor structure and a conventional structure, and Figs. 3 and 4 respectively. It is a block diagram of a different conventional solar radiation sensor. 1...Sensor, 2...Cover. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person1-
Sensor Figure 1 2-Cover Figure 2 Poor solar incidence angle

Claims (1)

[Claims] A solar radiation sensor for an air conditioner for an automobile, comprising a sensor that converts the amount of solar radiation into a signal, and a cover in the shape of a concave lens to collect light on the sensor.