JP4334850B2 - Ultrasonic device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic device that transmits, receives, or transmits / receives ultrasonic waves that can be used in a vehicle obstacle detection device, a rear monitoring device, an inclination angle measurement device, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, in an obstacle detection device for a vehicle, a recess is formed in a corner portion of a rear bumper fixed to the rear portion of the vehicle body, and an ultrasonic sensor can turn a predetermined angle in a horizontal direction in this recess. And it is stored freely. A spindle for pivotally supporting in the recess is fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the ultrasonic sensor, and the upper spindle is constituted by a hollow pipe, and a lead wire to the transmission / reception unit is used as the spindle. It is wired through. (For example, see Utility Model Reference 1)
[0003]
[Utility model document 1]
Actual Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-43662 (page 2, column 3, line 24-line 27, and column 3, line 44-column 4, line 4, and FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional obstacle detection device, two conductors are connected to each of the transmitter and the receiver, and these conductors are wired through the support shaft. For this reason, when assembling a conventional obstacle detection device, the work of passing the four conductors from the transmitter and receiver through the spindle, the end of the conductor passed through the spindle, for example, a circuit board Work to connect to is required. However, there is no problem if the number of conductors is small, but in recent inclination angle measuring devices, etc., it is necessary to connect a large number of conductors from ultrasonic sensors, temperature sensors, power supplies, etc. to the circuit board. Not only is the connection operation not easy, but there is also a great possibility that the connection position of the conducting wire is wrong, and there is a problem that the assembly workability and the reliability are not sufficient.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to easily and reliably connect the conductors to the circuit board even when the number of conductors is large, thereby assembling workability and reliability. An ultrasonic apparatus capable of improving the performance is obtained.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the ultrasonic device according to the present invention, a holder having a frame-shaped or cylindrical side plate, a plurality of electrical components including an ultrasonic sensor held by the holder, and a connection to each of these electrical components via a lead wire are and a circuit board held on one end side of the side plate of the holder, in the ultrasonic apparatus for transmitting or receiving or transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, the end of which is connected to an electrical component lead, the connection portion of the circuit board A connector provided at the tip of the other end to be connected and a connector temporary fixing portion for temporarily fixing the connector to the side plate are provided.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 when the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention is applied to a vehicle tilt angle measuring apparatus. Since the ultrasonic transmission / reception device of the present invention can be applied to a rear monitoring device, an obstacle detection device, and the like in addition to a vehicle inclination angle measurement device, the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface is directed in a direction according to the purpose. Usually, the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception surface is directed downward in the oblique angle measurement device, but is directed in an arbitrary direction in the rear monitoring device, the obstacle detection device, and the like. In view of the above, and because it is convenient for explaining the features of the present invention, the first embodiment is illustrated with the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface facing upward.
[0008]
In FIG. 1, the tilt angle measuring device is illustrated at the bottom, but a case main body 1 arranged on the vehicle side, a holder 2 arranged inside the case main body 1, and an ultrasonic wave held by the holder 2 Two ultrasonic sensors (electric parts) 3 and 4 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected on the road surface and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected on the road surface, as well as holders in parallel with them on the left and right sides of these ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 2, two ultrasonic sensors 3, 4 held by 2, a circuit board 5 that is assembled to the lower part of the holder 2 to control the four ultrasonic sensors 3, 4 and a temperature sensor (electrical part) (not shown), and the holder 2 A cover 6 is provided on the outside of the case body 1 so as to cover the upper part. The case body 1, the holder 2 and the cover 6 are assembled and attached to the bottom of the vehicle body by a plurality of fixing screws 7. The circuit board 5 is electrically connected to the vehicle side via a cable (power line) 8 and a connector 9.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the tilt angle measuring apparatus, and functions other than the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 are configured on the circuit board 5. That is, the circuit board 5 generates specific frequency pulses and supplies them to the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 respectively. The specific frequency pulses received by the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 and converted into electrical signals are specified from the frequency pulses. Receiving circuits (band-pass filters) 12a and 12b that extract frequency components, a phase-synchronous detection circuit 13 that generates a phase difference by comparing the received waveforms extracted from these receiving circuits 12a and 12b, and the phase difference And an arithmetic control circuit 14 for calculating the inclination angle of the vehicle with respect to the road surface R and controlling the entire inclination angle measuring device.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1 again, the case main body 1 has a substantially rectangular bottom plate 21 disposed on the vehicle side, and a frame-shaped or cylindrical side plate 22 that integrally extends upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 21. ing. Concave portions 23 are formed at the corners of the bottom plate 21 and the side plates 22, and concave portions 24 are formed at approximately the middle in the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 21 and the side plates 22. The recess 24 is provided with a seat 25 for the fixing screw 7, and a screw insertion hole 26 is formed in the seat 25.
[0011]
The holder 2 is formed from, for example, a synthetic resin material and has a top plate (holding plate) 31. A side plate 32 disposed inside the side plate 22 of the case body 1 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 31. The outer surface of the long side of the side plate 32 of the holder 2 can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the side plate 22 of the case main body 1, and the short side of the side plate 32 of the holder 2 is disposed away from the side plate 22 of the case main body 1. It has become. The top plate 31 and the side plate 32 of the holder 2 are also formed with notches or recesses 33 and 34 corresponding to the recesses 23 and 24 of the case body 1. The top plate 31 of the holder 2 is formed with circular windows 35 and 36 for exposing the ultrasonic transmission / reception surfaces of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 and a cylindrical projection 37 for exposing the temperature sensor. A cylindrical portion (not shown) for fitting and holding the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 is formed on the lower surface side of the top plate 31, and boss portions 38 and 39 surrounding the window portions 35 and 36 are formed on the upper surface of the top plate 31. Has been.
[0012]
The cover 6 has a top plate 41 that covers the holder 2. A side plate 42 extends downward from the periphery of the top plate 41, and the inner surface of the side plate 42 can contact the outer surface of the side plate 22 of the case body 1. ing. The top plate 41 and the side plate 42 of the cover 6 are formed with a recess 43 corresponding to the recess 23 of the case body 1 and the recess 33 of the holder 2. A fixing portion 44 used for fixing the cover 6 to the vehicle protrudes from the lower edge of the side plate 42 into the recess 43 in the recess 43, and a screw insertion hole through which the fixing screw 7 is inserted. 45 is formed. Then, on the inner surface of the top plate 41, four horn portions 46, 47 extending so as to substantially contact the upper surfaces of the ultrasonic sensors 3, 4 are formed.
[0013]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, connection pins (connection ends) 53 and 54 are connected to the other ends of the leads (conductive wires) 51 and 52 connected at one end to the ultrasonic sensor 3, respectively. The connecting portions of the leads 51 and 52 and the connecting pins 53 and 54 are protected by a connector 55 made of, for example, an insulating synthetic resin. The connector 55 has, for example, a rectangular shape, and has a left side surface 55a, a right side surface 55b, a front surface 55c, a rear surface 55d, an upper surface 55e, and a lower surface 55f. In the vicinity of one side edge of the short side of the circuit board 5, connection portions 56 and 57 to which the connection pins 53 and 54 are connected are provided. These leads 51 and 52, connection pins 53 and 54, connector 55, and connection portions 56 and 57 are prepared corresponding to all the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4.
[0014]
Although not shown, the lead from the temperature sensor is provided with connection pins and connectors similar to those of the leads 51 and 52 from the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4, and the circuit board 5 is also provided with a connection portion for them. ing. Also, connection pins and connectors having a similar structure are provided on the opposite side of the connector 8 of the cable 8, and a connection portion to which these connection pins are connected is prepared on the circuit board 5.
[0015]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a connector temporary fixing portion 61 for temporarily fixing the connector 55 is provided on the short side of the side plate 32 of the holder 2. In the connector temporary fixing portion 61, the side plate 32 is formed with two slits 62 for passing the leads 51 and 52 from the inside of the holder 2 to the outside. Further, on the outer surface of the side plate 32, three plate-like base portions 63 that vertically extend from both the left and right sides of the slit groove 62 and press the side surfaces 55 a and 55 b of the connector 55, and the side plate 32 on the right side from the end of each base portion 63 And a pressing protrusion 65 that extends in parallel to the front surface 55c of the connector 55 and protrudes in a bowl shape from the end of each arm portion 64 toward the side plate 32 and presses substantially the middle of the front surface 55c of the connector 55. It is composed of However, the arm portion 64 is not provided in the rightmost base portion 63.
[0016]
In the connector temporary fixing portion 61, three stopper portions 66 for pressing the upper surface 55 e of the connector 55 extend horizontally from the upper surface of the base portion 63. Of the three stopper portions 66, the leftmost stopper portion 66 and the rightmost stopper portion 66 are configured to press only the upper surface 55e of the connector 55 on one side, and the stopper portion 66 positioned between these stopper portions 66 is The upper surface 55e of the connector 55 on both sides is pressed.
[0017]
In the first embodiment, since four connectors 55 for the four ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 are prepared, another connector temporary fixing portion 61 is connected to the right side of the connector temporary fixing portion 61. It is provided on the line. Although not shown in the drawings, a temporary connector for the temperature sensor and the connector for the cable 8 are provided on the side plate 32 on the opposite side of the temporary connector connector 61. However, the connector temporary fixing portion for the temperature sensor can be provided on the same straight line as the connector temporary fixing portion 61.
[0018]
When assembling such an inclination angle measuring apparatus, the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 are pushed into the cylindrical portion of the holder 2 and fixed. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the connector 55 is pushed from the lower side of the connector temporary fixing portion 61 into the connector temporary fixing portion 61 while the leads 51 and 52 are passed through the slot 62 of the holder 2. As a result, both side surfaces 55a and 55b of the connector 55 slide relative to the adjacent base portion 63, and the front and rear surfaces 55c and 55d of the connector 55 slide relative to the pressing protrusion 65 and the side plate 32. At this time, the arm portion 64 receives the connector 55 while being bent outward, and its elastic force presses the connector 55 via the pressing protrusion 65. Then, when the upper surface 55e of the connector 55 comes into contact with the stopper portion 66, the movement of the connector 55 is stopped, and the assembly of the connector 55 to the connector temporary fixing portion 61 is completed.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 6, after all the connectors 55 are temporarily fixed by the connector temporary fixing portions 61, the circuit board 5 is supported below the holder 2, and the connection pins 53 and 54 integrated with the connector 55 are connected to the circuit board 5. Align with the connecting portions 56 and 57. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the holder 2 and the circuit board 5 are pressed, the connection pins 53 and 54 and the connection portions 56 and 57 are connected, and they are soldered together. Then, the holder 2 to which the circuit board 5 is assembled is fitted into the case body 1, and the cover 6 is placed on the outside of the case body 1 from above the holder 2 to complete the assembly of the tilt angle measuring device.
[0020]
The tilt angle measuring apparatus thus assembled is used by being installed at the bottom of the vehicle with the ultrasonic transmission / reception surfaces of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 facing downward. At the time of operation of the tilt angle measuring apparatus, the arithmetic control circuit 14 transmits an intermittent command to the transmission circuit 11 as shown in FIG. The transmission circuit 11 generates a specific frequency pulse in response to a command from the arithmetic control circuit 14 and supplies it to the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4. The ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 transmit ultrasonic waves A and B having the same phase toward the road surface R, respectively. These ultrasonic waves A and B strike the road surface R and are reflected, and the ultrasonic waves C and D reflected by the road surface R are received by the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4.
[0021]
The ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 that have received the ultrasonic waves C and D convert the electric signals into frequency pulses corresponding to the ultrasonic waves C and D, and transmit them to the phase-locked detection circuit 13 through the receiving circuits 12a and 12b, respectively. The phase synchronous detection circuit 13 compares the reception waveforms of the frequency pulses extracted from the reception circuits 12a and 12b. Therefore, if the vehicle and the road surface R are parallel, the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 receive the ultrasonic waves C and D at the same timing, so that their phases are the same. If the vehicle is tilted forward with respect to the road surface R, the ultrasonic sensor 3 receives the reflected wave earlier than the ultrasonic sensor 4, and the phases of the ultrasonic waves C and D are advanced in the ultrasonic sensor 3. . If the vehicle is tilted backward with respect to the road surface R, the ultrasonic sensor 3 receives reflected waves later than the ultrasonic sensor 4 and the phases of the ultrasonic waves C and D are delayed in the ultrasonic sensor 3. ing. The tilt angle in the left-right direction is measured in the same way.
[0022]
According to the first embodiment, the connector 55 is temporarily fixed to the connector temporary fixing portion 61, and the connection pins 53 and 54 of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 and the circuit board 5 are simply assembled by assembling the circuit board 5 and the holder 2. Since the connection portions 56 and 57 can be electrically connected, even when the number of leads 51 and 52 is large, they can be easily and reliably connected to the circuit board 5 and the assembly workability and reliability can be improved. . Since the holder 2 is composed of the top plate 31 and the side plate 32 and the connector temporary fixing portion 61 is provided on the outer surface of the side plate 32, the temporary fixing operation of the connector 55 and the confirmation of the position of the connector 55 are facilitated. To improve performance and reliability.
[0023]
Further, since the connector temporary fixing portion 61 presses the five surfaces 55a to 55e except for the lower surface 55f of the rectangular connector 55, the connector 55 can be temporarily fixed to the holder 2 without being swung. The positions of the connection pins 53 and 54 of the 52 and the connection portions 56 and 57 of the circuit board 5 can be accurately aligned. When the connector 55 is pushed into the connector temporary fixing portion 61, the connector 55 and the pressing projection 65 come into contact with each other in a small area, and the connector 55 moves while bending the arm portion 64, so that the connector 55 is pushed in. The force can be reduced, and the connector 55 can be clamped by the elastic force of the arm portion 64 after the connector 55 is pushed into a predetermined position.
[0024]
Furthermore, since the slits 62 for guiding the leads 51 and 52 to the outside are provided in the side plate 32 of the holder 2, no gap is left between the holder 2 and the circuit board 5. The connection structure between the lead from the temperature sensor and the circuit board 5 and the connection structure between the cable 8 as the power supply line and the circuit board 5 are also the leads 51 and 52 from the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 and the circuit board 5. Thus, the temperature sensor and the cable 8 can be easily and reliably connected to the circuit board 5.
[0025]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a temporary connector fastening portion 61A of an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the connector temporary fixing portion 61 </ b> A, a locking protrusion (locking portion) 67 that restricts the downward movement of the connector 55 is provided at the lower end portion of the base portion 63. That is, the lower end portion of the base portion 63 so that the locking projections 67 that lock the lower surface 55f of the connector 55 pushed into a predetermined position of the connector temporary fixing portion 61A respectively lock both side edges of the lower surface 55f of the connector 55. It is formed so as to protrude inward from. An inclined surface 67a for guiding the connector 55 is provided on the lower surface side of the locking projection 67, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0026]
In the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the downward movement of the connector 55 pushed into the predetermined position of the connector temporary fixing portion 61A can be prevented by the locking protrusion 67. it can. Further, the connector 55 can be easily guided between the base portion 63 by the inclined surface 67 a of the locking projection 67.
[0027]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 9 shows colored leads (conductive wires) 71 and 72 and a connector 55 of an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the leads 51 and 52 of the first embodiment are colored leads 71 and 72 that can identify the characteristics of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4. In addition, labels (identification means) 73 and 74 on which information on the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 is written are attached to the upper surface 55 e of the connector 55. For the information of these labels 73 and 74, colors, letters, numbers and the like are used. The other configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0028]
In the third embodiment, the characteristics of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 can be easily confirmed based on the colors of the colored leads 71 and 72 and the information on the labels 73 and 74, and the connection pins of the ultrasonic sensors 3 and 4 can be confirmed. The positions of 53 and 54 and the connecting portions 56 and 57 of the circuit board 5 are not mistaken, and the assembly workability and reliability can be further improved. In addition, if the shape of the connector connected to each electrical component is changed, it is possible to more reliably avoid erroneous assembly.
[0029]
In the above description, the connector 55 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the connector temporary fixing portions 61 and 61A correspond to the connector 55. However, the shape of the connector 55 is not limited, and the connector temporary fixing. The shape of the portions 61 and 61A may correspond to the shape of the connector 55. In addition, although the connector temporary fixing portions 61 and 61A for temporarily fixing the two connectors 55 are provided in two locations, the four connectors 55 can be provided continuously in a row without being divided. Furthermore, although it has been described that the inclination angle of the vehicle with respect to the road surface R is measured in accordance with the phase difference of the ultrasonic waves, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied when measuring by other methods such as a time difference. In the above description, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves has been described. However, the apparatus can be used for an apparatus that performs only transmission and only reception.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the connector provided at the tip of the other end connected to the connection portion of the circuit board of the conductive wire having one end connected to the electrical component, and the connector are temporarily fixed to the side plate of the holder. Since the connector temporary fixing portion is provided, even when the number of conducting wires is large, the conducting wires can be easily and accurately connected to the circuit board, and assembling workability and reliability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a circuit board of the tilt angle measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a relationship between a circuit board and a connector of the tilt angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a holder of an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which one connector is temporarily fixed to the holder of the tilt angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which all connectors are temporarily fixed to the holder of the tilt angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the positions of the holder and the circuit board are aligned.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder and the circuit board of the tilt angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are combined.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a connector temporary fixing portion of an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing leads and connectors of an inclination angle measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body, 2 Holder, 3, 4 Ultrasonic sensor, 5 Circuit board, 6 Cover, 8 Cable (power supply line), 31 Top plate (holding plate), 32 Side plate, 51, 52 Lead (conductor), 53, 54 Connection pin (connection end), 55 connector, 56, 57 connection part, 61, 61A connector temporary fixing part, 62 slot, 63 base part, 64 arm part, 65 pressing protrusion (protrusion part), 66 stopper part, 67 engagement Stop projection (locking portion), 71, 72 Colored lead (conductor), 73, 74 Label (identification means).

Claims (5)

A holder having a frame-shaped or cylindrical side plate;
A plurality of electrical components including an ultrasonic sensor held in the holder;
In an ultrasonic device that has a circuit board connected to each of these electrical components via a conducting wire and held on one end side of the side plate of the holder, and transmits or receives or transmits / receives ultrasonic waves,
A connector provided at the tip of the other end connected to the connection part of the circuit board of the conducting wire having one end connected to the electrical component ;
An ultrasonic device comprising: a connector temporary fixing portion for temporarily fixing the connector at the other end of the conducting wire to the side plate.   The connector temporary fixing part extends vertically from the side plate of the holder and presses both side surfaces of the connector, and extends substantially parallel to the side plate and is located on the front side of the connector. The front and rear surfaces of the connector cooperate with the side plate. And a stopper portion that extends from at least one of the side plate, the base portion, and the arm portion and restricts movement of the connector in a direction opposite to the circuit board side. Ultrasonic device.   The ultrasonic device according to claim 1, wherein the connector temporary fixing portion includes a locking portion that restricts movement of the connector toward the circuit board.   The ultrasonic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the conducting wire and the connector is provided with an identification means for identifying the characteristics of the electrical component to which the electric wire is connected. .   5. The ultrasonic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the identification means is at least one of shape, color, letter, and number.

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