Raindrop detection device

• US 20070222997A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Junichi, Gotoh, Kouichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit

Abstract

A raindrop detection device includes a first fixing member which is fixed to a windshield and has a first engagement portion, an inner housing in which a detection unit is accommodated, an outer housing in which the inner housing is accommodated and which is fixed to the inner housing, a second fixing member having a second engagement portion which is detachably engaged with the first engagement portion of the first fixing member, and a leaf spring which is engaged with the inner housing to press and bias the inner housing toward the windshield. The second fixing member has a leaf-spring biasing portion, which contacts the leaf spring to elastically bias the leaf spring toward the windshield at a predetermined pressing force.

Claims

1. A raindrop detection device, comprising:

a first fixing member which is fixed to a windshield and has a first engagement portion;

a detection unit for optically detecting raindrop adhered to the windshield;

an inner housing in which the detection unit is accommodated;

an outer housing in which the inner housing is accommodated and which is fixed to the inner housing;

a second fixing member having a second engagement portion which is detachably engaged with the first engagement portion of the first fixing member, the second fixing member being detachably engaged with the inner housing to detachably fix the inner housing to the first fixing member; and

a leaf spring which is engaged with the inner housing to press and bias the inner housing toward the windshield, wherein

the second fixing member has a leaf-spring biasing portion, which contacts the leaf spring mounted to the inner housing to elastically bias the leaf spring toward the windshield at a predetermined pressing force.

2. The raindrop detection device according to claim 1, wherein

a length direction and a width direction of the leaf spring are substantially parallel with a main plane of the windshield.

3. The raindrop detection device according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is a flat leaf spring.

4. The raindrop detection device according to claim 1, wherein:

the inner housing has a pair of leaf-spring engaging portions by which two ends of the leaf spring are supported; and

a substantial middle portion of a length direction of the leaf spring is elastically biased toward the windshield by the leaf-spring biasing portion of the second fixing member.

5. The raindrop detection device according to claim 4, wherein

the outer housing has an opening which is arranged at an end surface of a side of the outer housing, the second fixing member being insertable into the outer housing through the opening in such a state that the second fixing member is substantially parallel with a main plane of the windshield.

6. The raindrop detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the leaf spring is positioned nearer a side of the windshield than the second fixing member and extends in an insertion direction of the second fixing member.

7. The raindrop detection device according to claim 6, wherein

the leaf-spring biasing portion of the second fixing member bends the leaf spring toward the windshield while making a main plane of the leaf spring sliding, when the second fixing member is inserted into the outer housing.

8. The raindrop detection device according to claim 6, wherein

a line connecting the second engagement portion of the second fixing member with the leaf-spring biasing portion thereof is substantially parallel with a normal to the windshield.

9. The raindrop detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing member is bonded to the windshield.

10. The raindrop detection device according to claim 4, wherein

the leaf-spring engaging portion is arranged at an outer surface of a side wall of the inner housing, and protrudes from the outer surface.

11. The raindrop detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the leaf-spring biasing portion is a taper-shaped protrusion, and is arranged at a substantially same position as the second engagement portion in the up-down direction.