Solar sensor for a vehicle

• US 5,726,441 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Honda, Yuji, Samukawa, Katsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/665,552
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.1, 250/214 R, 250/330, 250/332, 250/214 LS, 250/214 AL, 250/214 D, 250/214 C, 359/353, 359/350, 359/361, 359/229, 359/27 S, 359/601-603, 257/431, 340/943
• US Class Current: 250/214.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0075 the input being solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/12 Sunshine duration recorders measuring intensity of sunshine G01J

Abstract

By giving an attention to the fact that the difference in the transmittance of solar radiation in the visible light region is small for each type of glass, even though the type of window glass is changed, the sensitivity ratio α of a sensor element 43a in a solar sensor 43 is set to be from 0.8 to 5 so that it has a spectral sensitivity closer to the visible light region in comparison with a conventional solar sensor. By this, the variation in the deviation of the sensor outputs depending on the types of the window glass is eliminated. Thus, a target sensor output corresponding to the amount of solar radiation can be attained without being influenced by the types of the glass, even when the transmittance for the wavelengths of sun light changes depending on the types of the glass.

Claims

1. A solar sensor for a vehicle, for receiving incident solar radiation transmitted through a window glass of the vehicle, wherein

said solar sensor has a sensitivity in a wavelength band from a visible light region to a near infrared region, and

said solar sensor has a spectral sensitivity with a sensitivity ratio within a range from 0.8 to 5.0, the sensitivity ratio being expressed as:

(a sensitivity for a wavelength longer than 700 nm)/(a sensitivity for a wavelength shorter than 700 nm).

2. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solar sensor has a spectral sensitivity with a sensitive ratio within a range from 1 to 3.

3. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the peak of said spectral sensitivity resides within a range between 500 nm and 800 nm among the solar radiation wavelength band.

4. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

5. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

6. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

7. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

8. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

9. A solar sensor as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

10. A control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a solar sensor having a sensitivity in a wavelength band from a visible light region to a near infrared region, and having a spectral sensitivity with a sensitivity ratio within a range from 0.8 to 5.0, the sensitivity ratio being expressed as;

(a sensitivity for a wavelength longer than 700 nm)/(a sensitivity for a wavelength shorter than 700 nm); and

a control means for receiving the detected signals from said solar sensor to drive and control apparatuses mounted in the vehicle.

11. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said solar sensor has a spectral sensitivity with a sensitive ratio within a range from 1 to 3.

12. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the peak of said spectral sensitivity resides within a range between 500 nm and 800 nm among the solar radiation wavelength band.

13. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light;

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

14. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

15. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

16. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 12, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

17. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 12, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

18. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 12, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

19. An air conditioning control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a solar sensor having a sensitivity in a wavelength band from a visible light region to a near infrared region, and having a spectral sensitivity with a sensitivity ratio within a range from 0.8 to 5.0, the sensitivity ratio being expressed as;

(a sensitivity for a wavelength longer than 700 nm)/(a sensitivity for a wavelength shorter than 700 nm); and

an air conditioning control means for receiving the detected signals from said solar sensor to control the air conditioning state of an air conditioning apparatus for the vehicle.

20. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said solar sensor has a spectral sensitivity with a sensitive ratio within a range from 1 to 3.

21. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the peak of said spectral sensitivity resides within a range between 500 nm and 800 nm among the solar radiation wavelength band.

22. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or 20, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation;

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

23. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or 20, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

24. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or 20, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

25. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light;

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

26. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

27. An air conditioning control apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

28. An illumination control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a solar sensor having a sensitivity in a wavelength band from a visible light region to a near infrared region, and having a spectral sensitivity with a sensitivity ratio within a range from 0.8 to 5.0, the sensitivity ratio being expressed as;

(a sensitivity for a wavelength longer than 700 nm)/(a sensitivity for a wavelength shorter than 700 nm); and

an illumination control means for receiving the detected signals from said solar sensor to automatically control to turn on or off lamps for the vehicle based on the detected signals.

29. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said solar sensor has a spectral sensitivity with a sensitive ratio within a range from 1 to 3.

30. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein the peak of said spectral sensitivity resides within a range between 500 nm and 800 nm among the solar radiation wavelength band.

31. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation;

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

32. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

33. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

34. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 30, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation;

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element; and

a pedestal for supporting said sensor element and said cover member.

35. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 30, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation of the sun light; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said sensor element satisfying the condition of said spectral sensitivity.

36. An illumination control apparatus as claimed in claim 30, comprising:

a sensor element for generating a signal in accordance with the amount of solar radiation; and

a cover member with light transparent characteristic, arranged to cover the sensor element;

said cover member selectively transmitting solar light having a wavelength band between 500 nm and 800 nm so as to satisfy the condition of said spectral sensitivity.