Physical quantity sensor fixing structure

Abstract

The present application provides a physical quantity sensor fixing structure capable of supporting a physical quantity sensor having a detection unit that detects a physical quantity and a lead wire with high support rigidity with respect to a conductive support member to which the lead wire is connected. In a physical quantity sensor fixing structure in which a holder (2) that holds a thermistor (1) is fixed to a plurality of conductive support members (51, 52) to which a plurality of lead wires (11, 12) are respectively connected with respect to a plurality of conductive support members (51, 52) to which a plurality of lead wires (11, 12) are respectively connected, the holder (2) has a main body member (3) that is formed with a housing portion (30) that houses at least a portion of the thermistor (1), and a cover member (4) that covers at least a portion of the housing portion (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fixed structure for physical quantity sensors. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, vehicles were equipped with physical quantity sensors that detect various physical quantities. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an integrated temperature sensor and pressure sensor device for detecting the temperature and pressure inside the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

[0003] This integrated temperature and pressure sensor device comprises a pressure sensor unit, a temperature sensor, pressure sensor terminals, temperature sensor terminals, and a resin housing housing the aforementioned components. The housing is constructed from a molded resin material and a pre-molded resin material. The temperature sensor has a temperature sensing element and leads electrically connected to the temperature sensor terminals, the leads being connected to the temperature sensor terminals within the pre-molded material. The temperature sensing element is positioned inside a protective element to prevent collision with foreign objects flowing into the intake manifold, and the leads extend from the pre-molded material inside the protective element. The temperature sensing element is supported in a non-contact manner by the leads extending from the pre-molded material.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-180944 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] In the integrated temperature sensor and pressure sensor device described in Patent Document 1, since the temperature sensing element of the temperature sensor is supported by leads, vibrations can easily occur in the temperature sensing element due to factors such as the vibration of an internal combustion engine, raising concerns about its durability depending on the installation position of the sensor device. Furthermore, when using the temperature sensor to detect the temperature of heat-generating components such as motors or wires, the distance between the temperature sensing element and the heat-generating component can change due to vibration, potentially leading to a decrease in the accuracy of temperature detection.

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a physical quantity sensor, which can provide a physical quantity sensor having a detection part for detecting physical quantities and a lead wire with increased support rigidity relative to a conductive support member for connecting leads.

[0010] Solution for solving the problem

[0011] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention provides a fixing structure for a physical quantity sensor. The physical quantity sensor, which has a detection unit for detecting physical quantities and multiple leads connected to the detection unit, is fixed relative to multiple conductive support members that are respectively connected to multiple leads using a holder. The holder comprises: a main body member having a receiving portion that houses at least a portion of the physical quantity sensor; and a cover member that covers a portion of the receiving portion.

[0012] Invention Effects

[0013] The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to the present invention can improve the support rigidity of the physical quantity sensor relative to the conductive support component. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a holder-integrated physical quantity detection device that uses a fixed structure for a physical quantity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A sectional view along line AA.

[0016] Figure 3 (a) and (b) are three-dimensional diagrams representing the assembly process.

[0017] Figure 4 (a) and (b) are the front view and side view of the main component of the holder for holding the physical quantity sensor.

[0018] Figure 5 (a) is Figure 4 (a) is a BB-line sectional view, and (b) is... Figure 4 (a) CC line section view.

[0019] In the picture:

[0020] 1—Thermistor (physical quantity sensor), 10—Detection part, 11, 12—Lead wire, 2—Retainer, 20—Curing resin, 3—Main body component, 30—Receiving part, 300—Recess, 301, 302—Groove, 321, 322—Fitting hole, 331, 332—Partition wall, 34—Cover component receiving part, 340—Recess, 340a—Bottom surface, 4—Cover component, 40—Plate part, 51, 52—Conductive support component. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a holder-integrated physical quantity detection device that uses a fixed structure for a physical quantity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1A sectional view along line AA. Figure 3 (a) and (b) are three-dimensional diagrams representing the assembly process. Figure 4 (a) and (b) are the front view and side view of the main component of the holder for holding the physical quantity sensor. Figure 5 (a) is Figure 4 (a) BB line section view, Figure 5 (b) is Figure 4 (a) CC line section view.

[0022] In this embodiment, the physical quantity sensor is fixed by a retainer relative to a plurality of conductive support members. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as an example, a thermistor 1 for detecting temperature is described, but the physical quantity sensor could also be a thermocouple, for example. Additionally, the physical quantity sensor is not limited to sensors that detect temperature; for example, a magnetic field sensor that detects the strength of a magnetic field could also be used.

[0023] The thermistor 1 has a sensing section 10 for detecting temperature and multiple leads 11, 12 connected to the sensing section 10. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the detection unit 10 is configured to have a flat metal oxide sintered body 100, a pair of electrode plates 101 and 102 clamping the metal oxide sintered body 100, and a sealing body 103 sealing the metal oxide sintered body 100 and the pair of electrode plates 101 and 102. The sealing body 103 is made of, for example, a glass sealing material and is formed into an ellipsoidal shape. However, the material and shape of the sealing body 103 are not limited to this, and appropriate materials and shapes can be used.

[0024] The leads 11 and 12 of the thermistor 1 are made of a linear, highly conductive metal, such as tin-plated copper wire, and one end of each is connected to a pair of electrode plates 101 and 102 of the detection unit 10. Figure 3 As shown in (a), leads 11 and 12 are bent at four points 111-114 and 121-124, respectively.

[0025] The thermistor 1 is held by a resin holder 2. The holder 2 has: a main body 3 having a receiving portion 30 that houses at least a portion of the thermistor 1; and a cover 4 covering a portion of the receiving portion 30, both integrally formed in a cuboid shape. The main body 3 and the cover 4 are both molded bodies made of injection-molded resin. Furthermore, the resin material for the main body 3 is preferably a material with a thermal conductivity of 1 W / m·K or higher, and more preferably a material with a thermal conductivity of 3 W / m·K or higher.

[0026] The retainer 2 secures the thermistor 1 relative to a plurality of conductive support members 51, 52. The plurality of conductive support members 51, 52 are, for example, terminals of a connector, but are not limited thereto; for example, they could also be portions of metal wires protruding outward from the housing of electronic devices such as control units. The conductive support members 51, 52 are made of rod-shaped metal conductors with a cross-sectional area larger than that of the leads 11, 12 of the thermistor 1, and have higher rigidity than the leads 11, 12, extending parallel to each other.

[0027] The other ends of the leads 11 and 12 of the thermistor 1, opposite to the ends connected to the detection unit 10, are respectively connected to the conductive support members 51 and 52. The leads 11 and 12 are connected to the conductive support members 51 and 52, for example, by welding, but they can also be connected by brazing or riveting.

[0028] Hereinafter, lead 11 of one of leads 11 and 12 will be referred to as the first lead 11, and lead 12 of the other lead will be referred to as the second lead 12. In addition, conductive support member 51 connected to the first lead 11 will be referred to as the first conductive support member 51, and conductive support member 52 connected to the second lead 12 will be referred to as the second conductive support member 52.

[0029] like Figure 4 As shown, the main body component 3 includes: a recess 300 that houses the detection portion 10; a first groove 301 that houses at least a portion of the first lead 11; a second groove 302 that houses at least a portion of the second lead 12; and a connecting groove 31 that connects the first groove 301 and the second groove 302. The recess 300, together with the first and second grooves 301 and 302, forms the housing portion 30. Alternatively, the connecting groove 31 may not be formed in the main body component 3.

[0030] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in (a), the recess 300 is composed of a hemispherical bottom portion 300a that curves along the outline of the sealing body 103 of the detection portion 10 and an opening side portion 300b that is closer to the opening side than the bottom portion 300a. The opening side portion 300b opens on the flat upper surface 3a of the main body member 3. A stepped surface 300c is formed at the boundary between the bottom portion 300a and the opening side portion 300b. The inner diameter of the opening side portion 300b in the recess 300 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the stepped surface 300c (the maximum inner diameter of the bottom portion 300a).

[0031] In this embodiment, the first and second grooves 301 and 302 accommodate a portion of the first and second leads 11 and 12 respectively, and the first lead 11 is connected to the first conductive support member 51 and the second lead 12 is connected to the second conductive support member 52 outside the holder 2.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown in (a), the main body component 3 has a first fitting hole 321 for receiving one end of the first conductive support component 51 and a second fitting hole 322 for receiving one end of the second conductive support component 52. The main body component 3 is fixed to the first and second conductive support components 51 and 52 by fitting the first and second conductive support components 51 and 52 into the first and second fitting holes 321 and 322. The first conductive support component 51 is provided with protrusions 511 and 512 to prevent it from falling out of the first fitting hole 321. In addition, the second conductive support component 52 is provided with protrusions 521 and 522 to prevent it from falling out of the second fitting hole 322.

[0033] The first and second fitting holes 321 and 322 open on the side 3b of the main body 3, perpendicular to the length direction of the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52, and the first and second grooves 301 and 302 also open on this side 3b. The front ends of the first and second leads 11 and 12 that connect to the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 are led out from the ends on the side 3b of the first and second grooves 301 and 302 to the outside of the retainer 2. The portion between the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 and the first and second grooves 301 and 302 in the main body 3 forms the partition portions 331 and 332 that divide the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 and the first and second grooves 301 and 302.

[0034] The receiving portion 30 (recess 300 and first and second grooves 301, 302) faces a predetermined direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and length direction of the first and second conductive support members 51, 52 near the retainer 2. Figure 4 (a) The paper surface is open vertically in the forward direction. The first and second leads 11 and 12 of the thermistor 1 housed in the housing 30 are prevented from falling out of the first and second recesses 301 and 302 by the cover member 4.

[0035] The cover member 4 has a flat plate portion 40 and a pair of arms 41, 42 extending from both ends of the plate portion 40 in a direction perpendicular to the length direction (the arrangement direction of the first and second conductive support members 51, 52). The plate portion 40 covers the first and second grooves 301, 302. The arms 41, 42 are respectively provided with locking protrusions 411, 421 for locking the main body member 3.

[0036] A cover member receiving portion 34 for receiving the cover member 4 is formed in the main body component 3. For example... Figure 5 As shown in (b), the cover component receiving portion 34 is composed of a recess 340 for receiving the plate portion 40 of the cover component 4, and groove portions 341 and 342 for receiving the arm portions 41 and 42, respectively. Locking surfaces 341a and 342a are formed in the groove portions 341 and 342 to lock the locking protrusions 411 and 421. The first and second grooves 301 and 302 are formed recessed from the bottom surface 340a of the recess 340. Furthermore, the depth of the first and second grooves 301 and 302 from the bottom surface 340a is greater than the thickness of the first and second leads 11 and 12. The first and second leads 11 and 12 received in the first and second grooves 301 and 302 may or may not contact the plate portion 40 of the cover component 4.

[0037] The detection part 10 of the thermistor 1 is fixed to the main body part 3 within the recess 300 by a curable resin 20. Epoxy resin is preferably used as the curable resin 20, and more preferably an epoxy resin with a thermal conductivity of 1 W / m·K or higher. Furthermore, a portion of the curable resin 20 can be immersed in the first and second recesses 301 and 302, or between the bottom surface 340a of the recess 340 and the plate portion 40 of the cover part 4.

[0038] Next, the assembly sequence of the retainer 2 and its surrounding parts will be described. This assembly sequence includes: a first receiving step, in which the thermistor 1 is received in the receiving portion 30 of the main body component 3; a second receiving step, in which the cover component 4 is received in the cover component receiving portion 34 of the main body component 3; an injection step, in which liquid curable resin 20 before curing is injected into the recess 300 of the detection portion 10 containing the thermistor 1; a fitting step, in which the first and second conductive support components 51 and 52 are fitted into the first and second fitting holes 321 and 322 of the main body component 3; and a connection step, in which the first and second leads 11 and 12 are connected to the first and second conductive support components 51 and 52. Furthermore, there are no particular restrictions on the order of these steps, except that the first receiving step is performed before the second receiving step and the injection step.

[0039] According to the assembly steps, a physical quantity detection device 6 with a thermistor 1 and a holder 2 is obtained, in which the thermistor 1 is fixed by the holder 2 relative to the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52.

[0040] Effects of the implementation method

[0041] Based on the embodiments of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0042] (1) Thermistor 1 is housed in the housing portion 30 of the main body component 3. At least a portion of the housing portion 30 is covered by the cover component 4, thus preventing thermistor 1 from falling out of the housing portion 30 and holding it by the retainer 2. As a result, the support rigidity can be improved compared to the case where the detection portion 10 of thermistor 1 is only supported by the first and second leads 11, 12.

[0043] (2) The receiving part 30 has a recess 300 for receiving the detection part 10 of the thermistor 1 and a first and second groove 301 and 302 for receiving the first and second leads 11 and 12, so that the thermistor 1 can be reliably held.

[0044] (3) The recess 300 and the first and second grooves 301 and 302 are open in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52. Therefore, in the first receiving process, the thermistor 1 can be easily received in the receiving part 30 of the main body member 3, and the first and second leads 11 and 12 can be connected along the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 respectively.

[0045] (4) The front ends of the first and second leads 11 and 12 on the opposite side of the detection part 10 are led out from the first and second grooves 301 and 302 to the outside of the holder 2 and connected to the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52. Therefore, it is possible to stably connect the first and second leads 11 and 12 to the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 while the thermistor 1 is held in the holder 2.

[0046] (5) By fitting the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52 into the first and second fitting holes 321 and 322 of the main body member 3, the main body member 3 can be easily fixed to the first and second conductive support members 51 and 52.

[0047] (6) The main body component 3 has end portions 331 and 332 that divide the first and second grooves 301 and 302 and partition portions 331 and 332 that divide the first and second fitting holes 3a and 322, thereby preventing cracks from forming in the main body component 3 when the first and second conductive support components 51 and 52 are fitted into the first and second fitting holes 321 and 322.

[0048] (7) The detection part 10 of the thermistor 1 is fixed in the recess 300 by the curable resin 20, so the detection part 10 can be firmly fixed to the main body 3. In addition, since the recess 300 has a bottom side portion 300a that follows the shape of the sealing body 103 of the detection part 10 and an opening side portion 300b with an inner diameter larger than the bottom side portion 300a, the detection part 10 can be reliably positioned using the bottom side portion 300a, and the curable resin 20 can be reliably distributed around the sealing body 103 in the portion closer to the opening side than the step surface 300c.

[0049] (8) The cover member 4 has a flat plate portion 40 covering the first and second grooves 301, 302. The first and second grooves 301, 302 are formed in the main body member 3 in such a way that they are recessed from the bottom surface 340a of the recess 340 of the receiving plate portion 40. Therefore, the cover member 4 can reliably prevent the first and second leads 11, 12 from detaching.

[0050] Summary of implementation methods

[0051] Next, the technical ideas learned from the embodiments described above will be described by reference to the accompanying reference numerals and the like. However, the reference numerals in the following description are not limited to components, etc., that specifically represent the constituent elements in the claims in the embodiments.

[0052] [1] A fixing structure for a physical quantity sensor, wherein a holder 2 is used to hold the physical quantity sensor 1, and a physical quantity sensor (thermometer 1) having a detection unit 10 for detecting physical quantities and a plurality of leads 11, 12 connected to the detection unit 10 is fixed relative to a plurality of conductive support members 51, 52 to which the plurality of leads 11, 12 are respectively connected, the holder 2 having: a main body member 3 having a receiving portion 30 for receiving at least a portion of the physical quantity sensor 1; and a cover member 4 covering at least a portion of the receiving portion 30.

[0053] [2] According to the fixed structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [1] above, a recess 300 for receiving the detection part 10 and a plurality of grooves 301 and 302 for receiving at least a portion of each of the plurality of leads 11 and 12 are formed in the main body component 3, and the recess 300 is connected to the plurality of grooves 301 and 302.

[0054] [3] According to the fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [2] above, the recess 300 and the plurality of grooves 301, 302 are open in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plurality of conductive support components 51, 52.

[0055] [4] According to the fixed structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [2] or [3] above, the front ends of the plurality of leads 11, 12 on the opposite side to the detection part 10 are led out from the plurality of grooves 301, 302 to the outside of the holder 2, and the front ends of each of the plurality of leads 11, 12 are connected to the plurality of conductive support members 51, 52 outside the holder 2.

[0056] [5] According to the fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [2] to [4] above, a plurality of fitting holes 321, 322 are formed in the main body component 3 to accommodate one end of each of the plurality of conductive support components 51, 52. The plurality of conductive support components 51, 52 are fitted into the plurality of fitting holes 321, 322, thereby fixing the main body component 3 to the plurality of conductive support components 51, 52.

[0057] [6] According to the fixed structure of the physical quantity sensor described above [5], the main body component 3 has partitions 331 and 332, which are divided into the ends of the plurality of grooves 31 and 32 through which the plurality of leads 11 and 12 are respectively led out and the plurality of fitting holes 321 and 322.

[0058] [7] According to the fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [2] to [6] above, the cover component 4 covers the plurality of grooves 301, 302, and the detection part 10 is fixed in the groove (300) by curable resin 20.

[0059] [8] The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor described in [2] to [7] above, wherein the cover member 4 has a flat plate portion 40 covering the plurality of grooves 301, 302, and a recess 340 for receiving the plate portion 40 is formed on the main body member 3, wherein the plurality of grooves 301, 302 are formed in such a way that they are recessed from the bottom surface (340a) of the recess (340).

[0060] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the embodiments described above do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily necessary means to solve the problems of the invention.

Claims

1. A fixing structure for a physical quantity sensor, which uses a holder to hold the physical quantity sensor and a plurality of conductive support members respectively connected to a plurality of leads to fix the physical quantity sensor having a detection part for detecting a physical quantity and the plurality of leads connected to the detection part, characterized in that, The retainer has: a main body component having a receiving portion that houses at least a portion of the physical quantity sensor; and a cover component that covers at least a portion of the receiving portion. The main body component has a recess for accommodating the detection section and a plurality of grooves for accommodating at least a portion of each of the plurality of leads, the recess being in communication with the plurality of grooves. The cover component has a flat plate portion that covers the plurality of grooves. A recess for receiving the plate is formed in the main body component. The plurality of grooves are formed in such a way that they are recessed from the bottom surface of the recess.

2. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The recess and the plurality of grooves open in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plurality of conductive support members.

3. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front ends of the plurality of leads on the side opposite to the detection section extend from the plurality of grooves to the outside of the retainer. The front ends of each of the plurality of leads are connected to the plurality of conductive support members outside the retainer.

4. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that, The front ends of the plurality of leads on the side opposite to the detection section extend from the plurality of grooves to the outside of the retainer. The front ends of each of the plurality of leads are connected to the plurality of conductive support members outside the retainer.

5. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The main body component has multiple fitting holes formed to accommodate one end of each of the plurality of conductive support components. The main body component is fixed to the multiple conductive support components by fitting the multiple fitting holes together.

6. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The main body component has a partition wall portion that divides the ends of the plurality of grooves for respectively leading out the plurality of leads and the plurality of fitting holes.

7. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The cover component covers the plurality of grooves. The detection part is fixed in the recess by a curable resin.

8. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cover component covers the plurality of grooves. The detection part is fixed in the recess by a curable resin.

9. The fixing structure of the physical quantity sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cover component covers the plurality of grooves. The detection part is fixed in the recess by a curable resin.

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