JP6249168B2 - Ultrasonic sensor for vehicle and distance detector for vehicle equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle ultrasonic sensor mounted on a vehicle body, for example, a vehicle distance detector used in an obstacle detection device.

  In recent vehicles (for example, automobiles), for example, an obstacle detection device called “clearance sonar” is provided to assist driving during parking. This device attaches a predetermined number of ultrasonic sensors to the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle (for example, two on the front bumper and four on the rear bumper), and the ultrasonic waves transmitted from each ultrasonic sensor hit the obstacle. By detecting the time to return, the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle is measured. When the distance becomes smaller than the set value, the driver is notified by voice or the like.

  Specifically, the ultrasonic transducer oscillates the ultrasonic wave toward the outside of the vehicle, receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by the external object, and vibrates, thereby detecting the distance from the vehicle to the object. In other words, the ultrasonic transducer must vibrate itself during transmission and reception, but the vibration during transmission (transmission) is transmitted to the housing case of the ultrasonic transducer, the mounting part of the vehicle body, etc., and these vibrations including the ultrasonic transducer are If it has not been eliminated (disappeared) by the time of reception, the received signal will be erroneously detected. Therefore, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the ultrasonic vibrator is covered with a cushion material (elastic body) and then stored in the case, and the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator is transmitted to the case and the vehicle body. This prevents (absorbs). However, since the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the inner peripheral surface of the cushion material are in contact with each other over a wide area, vibration transmission occurs at this contact portion, and further contrivance is required.

JP 2013-24846 A JP 2013-53988 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic sensor for a vehicle capable of maintaining stable detection performance and assembly dimensional accuracy, and to provide such an ultrasonic sensor for a vehicle. Another object is to provide a vehicle distance detector.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above problems, an ultrasonic sensor for a vehicle according to the present invention includes:
An ultrasonic sensor for a vehicle mounted on a vehicle body,
An ultrasonic vibrator that oscillates or receives ultrasonic waves and vibrates, a cylindrical elastic body having an inner peripheral surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic vibrator, and holding the ultrasonic vibrator; A case body having a cylindrical portion for accommodating the elastic body,
A plurality of recesses are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body, and the plurality of recesses are arranged in a discontinuous manner in a crossing direction that intersects the axial direction in a developed state centered on the axis of the inner peripheral surface. Arranged,
The elastic body forms an air layer between the concave portion and the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer, and the concave portion non-formed portion of the inner peripheral surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic vibrator is elastically held.

  According to such a vehicular ultrasonic sensor, an air layer (non-contact portion) is formed between the plurality of concave portions formed on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body and the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer. The forming portion and the outer peripheral surface come into contact (contact portion) to elastically hold the ultrasonic transducer. Therefore, the contact area between the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body and the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer is reduced, and the non-contact part is filled with an air layer with a large acoustic impedance, so that the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is It becomes difficult to be transmitted to the body and the car body. Of course, the vibration from the case body or the vehicle body to the ultrasonic vibrator is hardly transmitted.

  In addition, a plurality of recesses are arranged in a discontinuous manner in the crossing direction with respect to the axial direction, and a recess structure that is difficult to deform can be obtained. Therefore, even when the apparatus is mounted in a place exposed to rainwater, muddy water, etc., particularly outside the vehicle body, it is possible to prevent a decrease in acoustic impedance due to water immersion in the recess and to exhibit stable detection performance. Furthermore, deformation of the recess during assembly (change in contact area) can be suppressed, and dimensional accuracy, and hence suppression of vibration transmission and stability of detection performance can be maintained over a long period of time.

  For the elastic body, a non-conductive elastic material such as silicone rubber or urethane rubber is used. Further, the “crossing direction” includes “orthogonal direction” and “oblique crossing direction”, and the “oblique crossing direction” may include a spiral arrangement state on the inner peripheral surface.

The plurality of recesses formed on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body can take the following form.
(1) A plurality of concave portions are arranged in a row along the circumferential direction, and the rows are provided in a plurality of rows along the axial direction, and the plurality of concave portions are staggered on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body (that is, stepped) ) Or a grid-like (that is, lattice) arrangement.
(2) In the developed state, the plurality of recesses are intermittently arranged at a predetermined pitch along an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and an oblique intersecting direction obliquely intersecting the axial direction.
(3) Each of the plurality of recesses has a polygonal shape (for example, a regular polygon such as a regular hexagon, a square, a regular triangle, or a right triangle) and is opened on the inner circumferential surface, and is blocked by the outer circumferential surface of the ultrasonic transducer. An air layer is formed.
(4) The plurality of recesses open to the inner peripheral surface in a form having the same opening shape and opening area.
(5) The plurality of recesses open to the inner peripheral surface in a form in which the opening shape and / or the opening area changes in the axial direction.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the vehicle distance detector of the present invention is
The case body of such an ultrasonic sensor for a vehicle is mounted on a vehicle body via an attachment member,
The ultrasonic transducer oscillates an ultrasonic wave toward the outside of the vehicle, receives an ultrasonic wave reflected by an external object, and vibrates to detect a distance from the vehicle to the object.

  According to such a vehicle distance detector, the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is not easily transmitted to the case body or the vehicle body, and stable distance detection performance and assembly dimensional accuracy can be maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic explanatory drawing which illustrates the vehicle provided with the clearance sonar as a vehicle distance detector which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the attachment structure to the bumper of clearance sonar. The perspective view of clearance sonar. The exploded perspective view of clearance sonar. The plane sectional view of the principal part of the ultrasonic sensor for vehicles concerning the present invention. The plane sectional view of the microphone as an ultrasonic transducer. The rear view of a microphone. The top view which shows an example of the cushion member as an elastic body. AA sectional drawing of FIG. Explanatory drawing which expand | deploys and shows the internal peripheral surface of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of FIG. The top view which shows the other example of a cushion member. BB sectional drawing of FIG. Explanatory drawing which expand | deploys and shows the internal peripheral surface of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other modification of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other modification of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other modification of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the further another modification of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples shown in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 includes a plurality of clearance sonars 3 (vehicle distance detectors) mounted on front and rear bumpers 2 (vehicle bodies) and an ECU (Electronic as a control unit). Control Unit) 4. Under predetermined conditions, ultrasonic waves are transmitted (oscillated) from the vehicle ultrasonic sensor (hereinafter also simply referred to as an ultrasonic sensor) 100 provided in each clearance sonar 3 to the outside of the vehicle. Then, the ultrasonic sensor 100 receives the ultrasonic wave (reflected wave) that hits the obstacle 5 (external object) in the transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave and thereby returns the clearance sonar 3 from the vehicle to the obstacle 5. The distance is detected, and the ECU 4 notifies the driver by voice or the like according to the distance.

  The clearance sonar 3 including the ultrasonic sensor 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. The ultrasonic sensor 100 is composed of a cylindrical microphone 10 (ultrasonic transducer) that forms a sensor body and a non-conductive material such as silicone rubber, and a cylindrical cushion member 20 (elastic) that covers and elastically holds the microphone 10. Body) and a resin case body 30 that accommodates and supports the cushion member 20 and the microphone 10. The microphone 10 transmits (oscillates) ultrasonic waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and vibrates by receiving reflected waves that have returned upon hitting the obstacle 5 (see FIG. 1). The clearance sonar 3 includes a bezel 200 as a receiving seat that covers the case body 30 and a retainer 300 as a fixture attached to the bezel 200. The ultrasonic sensor 100 (case body 30) includes the bezel 200 and the retainer 300. It is attached to the bumper 2 as an attachment member.

  Further, the structure of the ultrasonic sensor 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. The microphone 10 accommodates a piezoelectric element 12 in a housing 11 and has two lead wires 13, two connection pins 14, and a connector 15. The housing 11 is made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and a piezoelectric element 12 made of piezoelectric ceramics is attached to the inner surface of a bottomed cylindrical bottom portion 111, and its outer surface is located outside the bumper 2 and vibrates. A surface 112 is formed (see FIG. 2). Grooves 115 are formed at two circumferential positions on the outer peripheral surface 114 of the cylindrical portion 113 of the housing 11.

  One end side of the two lead wires 13 is connected to the housing 11 and the piezoelectric element 12, respectively, and the other end side thereof is drawn out of the housing 11 and connected to the two connection pins 14, respectively. A resin connector 15 is inserted. Further, the interior space of the housing 11 is filled with a non-conductive and elastic sealing member 16 such as silicone rubber, and the entire piezoelectric element 12 and a part of the lead wire 13 are sealed.

  The case body 30 includes a cylindrical portion 32 that accommodates and supports the cushion member 20 and the microphone 10, a main body portion 33 that accommodates a circuit board 31 that is electrically connected to the microphone 10 by the connection pins 14, and the circuit board 31. And a connector part 34 for external output. A flange 322 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 321 of the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 32.

  The cushion member 20 includes a cylindrical holding cylinder portion 21 that elastically holds the microphone 10 and a cylindrical fitting cylinder portion 22 that is fitted to the case body 30. On the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 of the cushion member 20, two flanges 212 are formed in the circumferential direction, and the flange 212 engages with a groove 115 formed on the outer peripheral surface 114 of the cylinder portion 113 of the housing 11. . A circumferential groove 222 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 221 of the fitting cylindrical portion 22 of the cushion member 20, and the groove 222 engages with a flange 322 formed on the inner peripheral surface 321 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the case body 30. .

  In the internal space of the fitting cylinder portion 22, a non-conductive and elastic cushioning member 23 such as foamed silicone is disposed in order to suppress vibration transmission from the rear end portion of the microphone 10 to the case body 30. . The lead wire 13, the connection pin 14, and the connector 15 are drawn out to the internal space of the cylindrical portion 32 of the case body 30 through a through hole (not shown) formed in the buffer member 23, and the tip end portion of the connection pin 14. Is inserted into the through hole 311 of the circuit board 31. Further, the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32 and the main body portion 33 of the case body 30 is filled with a non-conductive and elastic sealing member 35 such as silicone rubber, and the lead wire 13, the connection pin 14, the connector 15, The circuit board 31 and the like are sealed.

Example 1
Next, the structure of the cushion member 20 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. A plurality of (many) recesses 213 are formed on the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 of the cushion member 20. As shown in FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view, these recesses 213 have six substantially equilateral triangular down slopes, and are depressions that open to the inner peripheral surface 211 in a substantially regular hexagonal shape. When viewed in FIG. 10 which is an exploded view, these substantially regular hexagonal recesses 213 are oblique to the orthogonal direction RE (corresponding to the circumferential direction of FIG. 9) orthogonal to the axial direction AX and to the axial direction AX. Along a crossing direction OB that intersects with each other, they are intermittently arranged at a constant pitch.

  Specifically, the recesses 213 opened in a substantially regular hexagonal shape on the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval along the circumferential direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 9). A plurality of rows are provided along the axial direction AX (in FIG. 9, five rows L1 to L5 from the upper side, which is the outer side of the vehicle, to the lower side, which is the inner side). Further, in the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21, these recesses 213 are arranged in two staggered (that is, stepped) rows adjacent to each other, and the recess non-forming portion 214 (that is, the contact portion) is a so-called honeycomb. It has a structure.

  And the recessed part 213 is block | closed by the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10), and an air layer is formed. Thus, an air layer (non-contact portion) is formed between the recess 213 and the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11, so that only the recess non-forming portion 214 of the inner peripheral surface 211 is the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11. 114, and the microphone 10 is elastically held.

  Thus, by arranging the substantially regular hexagonal concave portions 213 in a staggered pattern, the concave portion non-formed portions 214 exhibit a strong honeycomb structure, so that the mutual interval between the concave portions 213 is narrowed, and the holding cylinder portion 21 (cushion) The contact area between the inner peripheral surface 211 of the member 20) and the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10) (the total area of the recess-non-forming portions 214) can be reduced. Moreover, since the non-contact portion is filled with an air layer having a large acoustic impedance, the vibration of the microphone 10 is hardly transmitted to the case body 30 and the bumper 2.

  In addition, since the plurality of recesses 213 are arranged discontinuously in the orthogonal direction RE and the oblique crossing direction OB with respect to the axial direction AX, a recess structure that is difficult to deform is obtained. Therefore, even when it is mounted on the bumper 2 that is constantly exposed to rainwater, muddy water, etc., it is possible to prevent a decrease in acoustic impedance due to water immersion in the recess 213 and to exhibit stable detection performance. Furthermore, deformation (contact area variation) of the recess 213 at the time of assembly can be suppressed, and dimensional accuracy, and hence suppression of vibration transmission and stability of detection performance can be maintained for a long time.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 11 shows a modification of FIG. In the recess 213 shown in FIG. 11, five rows L1 to L5 are arranged in a grid pattern (that is, a lattice pattern).

  Thus, by arranging the substantially regular hexagonal recesses 213 in a grid pattern, the mutual interval between the recesses 213 is made wider than the staggered arrangement, and the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 (cushion member 20) The contact area with the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10) (the total area of the non-recessed portion 214) can be made slightly larger. Therefore, even if the cushion member 20 is a soft material with low hardness, it can be avoided from deformation of the recess 213 and water immersion.

(Example 2)
Next, another example of the cushion member 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, which is a cross-sectional view, the plurality of (many) recesses 213 have four substantially trapezoidal downward sloping surfaces and one substantially rectangular bottom surface. It is a recess opening in the peripheral surface 211. As seen in FIG. 14 which is a development view, these substantially square-shaped recesses 213 intersect orthogonally with respect to the orthogonal direction RE (corresponding to the circumferential direction of FIG. 13) orthogonal to the axial direction AX and the axial direction AX. Are arranged intermittently at a constant pitch along the oblique crossing direction OB.

  Specifically, the recesses 213 opening in a substantially rectangular shape on the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction (left and right direction in FIG. 13), and the line is an axis line. A plurality of rows are provided along the direction AX (in FIG. 13, three rows L1 to L3 from the upper side, which is the outer side of the vehicle, to the lower side, which is the inner side). In addition, in the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21, these concave portions 213 are arranged in a grid pattern (that is, lattice shape) in three rows L1 to L3, and the concave portion non-forming portion 214 (that is, the contact portion). Has a so-called network structure (or lattice structure).

  Also in this example, the concave portion 213 is blocked by the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10) to form an air layer, and only the concave portion non-formed portion 214 of the inner peripheral surface 211 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11. Touch and hold the microphone 10 elastically.

  Thus, by arranging the substantially rectangular recesses 213 in a grid pattern, the recess non-forming portions 214 have a simple mesh structure, so that the interval between the recesses 213 is wider than the staggered arrangement, and the holding cylinder The contact area between the inner peripheral surface 211 of the portion 21 (cushion member 20) and the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10) (the total area of the non-recessed portion 214) can be made slightly larger. Therefore, the molding cost of the cushion member 20 can be suppressed regardless of the hardness of the material.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 15 shows a modification of FIG. The recesses 213 shown in FIG. 15 are provided in five rows L1 to L5, two adjacent rows are arranged in a staggered shape (that is, a stepped shape), and the recess-free portion 214 has a step structure.

  In this way, by arranging the substantially rectangular recesses 213 in a staggered pattern, the recess non-forming portion 214 exhibits a step structure, so that the interval between the recesses 213 is narrowed, and the holding cylinder portion 21 (cushion member 20). The contact area between the inner peripheral surface 211 of the housing 11 and the outer peripheral surface 114 of the housing 11 (microphone 10) (the total area of the recess-non-formed portions 214) can be reduced.

(Modifications 3 and 4)
FIG. 16 shows another modification of FIG. 10, in which six substantially equilateral triangular recesses 213 are gathered radially to form a substantially regular hexagonal gathering recess 213 ′, and these gathering recesses 213 ′ are formed as L1 to L5. The two adjacent rows are arranged in a staggered pattern (that is, in a stepped pattern). FIG. 17 shows another modification of FIG. 15, in which four substantially right-angled triangular recesses 213 are gathered radially to form a substantially rectangular gathering recess 213 ′. Five rows L5 are provided, and these adjacent concave portions 213 ′ are arranged in two adjacent rows in a staggered pattern (that is, in a stepped shape). By arranging these collective recesses 213 ′ in a staggered pattern (or a grid pattern), the width of the recess non-forming part 214 (the mutual distance between the recesses 213) is further reduced, and the contact area (the recess non-forming part 214 It is possible to further reduce the total area.

(Modifications 5 and 6)
FIG. 18 shows still another modified example of FIG. 10, in which the opening area of the concave portion 213 that opens in a substantially regular hexagonal shape on the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 is inward from the uppermost row L1 that is the outer side of the vehicle. Becomes gradually smaller toward the lowermost row L5. FIG. 19 shows still another modification of FIG. 10, and the uppermost row L1 in which the opening area of the recess 213 opening in a substantially regular hexagonal shape on the inner peripheral surface 211 of the holding cylinder portion 21 is the outside of the vehicle. Gradually increases toward the innermost lowermost row L5. By changing the opening area (and / or opening shape) of the recess 213 in the axial direction AX, the cushion member 20 can be designed according to the characteristics of the microphone 10.

  In the above description, only the clearance sonar 3 has been described, but the vehicle distance detector may be a distance detector other than the clearance sonar 3 (for example, an inter-vehicle distance detector). Further, the clearance sonar 3 may be attached to a vehicle body other than the bumper 2.

  In Example 2 (FIGS. 12 to 14) and various modifications, parts having the same functions as those in Example 1 (FIGS. 8 to 10) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. ing. In addition, the embodiments and modifications described above can be implemented in appropriate combination within a range that does not cause technical contradiction.

2 Bumper (Body)
3 Clearance sonar (vehicle distance detector)
5 Obstacles (external objects)
10 Microphone (ultrasonic transducer)
114 Outer peripheral surface 20 Cushion member (elastic body)
211 Inner peripheral surface 213 Recessed portion 214 Recessed portion non-formed portion 30 Case body 32 Cylindrical portion 100 Ultrasonic sensor for vehicle 200 Bezel (mounting member)
300 Retainer (Mounting member)
AL axis AX axis direction OB oblique crossing direction (crossing direction)
RE orthogonal direction (cross direction)
L1-L5 column

Claims (7)

An ultrasonic sensor (100) for a vehicle mounted on a vehicle body (2),
An ultrasonic transducer (10) that oscillates or receives ultrasonic waves and has an inner peripheral surface (211) that contacts the outer peripheral surface (114) of the ultrasonic transducer (10). A cylindrical elastic body (20) for holding the vibrator (10) and a case body (30) having a cylindrical portion (32) for storing the elastic body (20);
A plurality of recesses (213) are formed on the inner peripheral surface (211) of the elastic body (20), and the plurality of recesses (213) are centered on the axis (AL) of the inner peripheral surface (211). In the unfolded state, they are arranged in a discontinuous manner in the intersecting direction (RE, OB) intersecting the axial direction (AX),
The elastic body (20) forms an air layer between the concave portion (213) and the outer peripheral surface (114) of the ultrasonic transducer (10), while the concave portion of the inner peripheral surface (211) is not. The ultrasonic sensor (100) for vehicles, wherein the forming unit (214) comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface (114) of the ultrasonic transducer (10) and elastically holds the ultrasonic transducer (10). The plurality of recesses (213) are arranged in a row along the circumferential direction, and the rows are provided in a plurality of rows (L1 to L5) along the axial direction (AX).
The vehicle ultrasonic sensor (100) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses (213) are arranged in a staggered or grid pattern on the inner peripheral surface (211) of the elastic body (20). ).   In the unfolded state, the plurality of recesses (213) are respectively predetermined along an orthogonal direction (RE) orthogonal to the axial direction (AX) and an oblique intersecting direction (OB) obliquely intersecting the axial direction (AX). The vehicle ultrasonic sensor (100) according to claim 1 or 2, which is intermittently arranged at a pitch.   The plurality of recesses (213) each have a polygonal shape and open on the inner peripheral surface (211), and are closed by the outer peripheral surface (114) of the ultrasonic transducer (10) to form the air layer. Item 4. The vehicle ultrasonic sensor (100) according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The ultrasonic sensor (100) for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of recesses (213) are opened in the inner peripheral surface (211) in a form in which an opening shape and an opening area are equal.   The ultrasonic sensor (100) for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of recesses (213) open on the inner peripheral surface (211) in a form in which an opening shape and / or an opening area changes in an axial direction (AX). . The case body (30) of the vehicle ultrasonic sensor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is attached to the vehicle body (2) via an attachment member (200, 300).
The ultrasonic transducer (10) oscillates the ultrasonic wave toward the outside of the vehicle, receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by the external object (5), and vibrates, thereby the distance from the vehicle to the object (5). A vehicle distance detector (3) characterized in that