Infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle

Abstract

Infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) for measuring a temperature in a motor vehicle (V), comprising: a mounting means which is designed to be installed in a trim strip on one side in the motor vehicle (V), an adjustment means which is designed to be installed in the mounting means to adjust an installation angle (A) of an infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle (V), wherein the holding means is a retaining bracket (3) which is installed in an A-pillar (61, 62, 162) in the motor vehicle (V), and the adaptation means comprises a casing (5, 105) which is designed to be fastened in the retaining bracket (3) and to form an internal installation space between the casing (5, 105) and the retaining bracket (3), and a main board (7, 107) which is designed to be inserted into a board housing (17, 117) which is positioned between the retaining bracket (3) and the casing (5, 105), wherein the adaptation means further comprises a warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109), which is attached to the main board (7, 107) at an angle, so that the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle (V) is connected to the main board (7, 107) at an angle, wherein the warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) has a connection angle (C) with respect to the main board (7, 107), which is changed depending on the installation angle (A) of the holding bracket (3) and an image angle (B) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109), wherein an inner side of the warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is designed such that a connection terminal (23) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is enclosed, so that distortion of the connecting terminal (23) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is prevented, wherein the infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) further comprises: a cover (13) which is designed to be detachably fastened from an outer side of the casing (5, 105) in the retaining bracket (3), wherein the cover (13) is arranged therebetween and has a contact bore (19) which is coupled to an infrared transmission window (15, 80c) and extends through one side of the infrared transmission window (15, 80c), and the cover (13) is bent such that the profile of its outer side is adapted to the profile of an outer side of the decorative strip.

Description

Background of the inventionField of the invention

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an infrared sensor arrangement, in particular to an infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle, which is provided in a trim strip in a vehicle interior accessory part, for example an A-pillar, and is suitable for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle without impairing the aesthetics of the vehicle interior, and also has excellent suitability for use in other vehicle models. Description of the state of the art

[0002] DE 100 41 598 A1 discloses a vehicle air conditioning system that automatically controls the temperature within a passenger compartment to a target temperature using a non-contact temperature sensor. The object to be achieved is to provide a vehicle air conditioning system capable of precisely controlling the control temperature within a passenger compartment by effectively utilizing a non-contact temperature sensor, even when the number of sensors is reduced. To achieve this, a control unit for a vehicle air conditioning system is provided, including a temperature setting unit for setting the temperature of the passenger compartment to a target temperature, and a non-contact temperature sensor that detects the surface temperature of a predetermined detection area of ​​the passenger compartment.The predetermined detection range of the non-contact temperature sensor includes a first detection range in which the surface temperature is changed to approximately correspond to the inside air temperature in the passenger compartment, a second detection range in which the surface temperature is changed in accordance with the outside air temperature outside the passenger compartment, and a third detection range in which the surface temperature is changed in accordance with the amount of sunlight entering the passenger compartment.

[0003] US 2004 / 0 089 005 A1 discloses a vehicle air conditioning system that has an IR sensor that detects the air temperature in a vehicle compartment. The IR sensor is arranged on an instrument panel, so that the sensor is positioned above switches and a blowout port on the instrument panel. Accordingly, the detection area of ​​the IR sensor is prevented from being disturbed by the hands of a driver or passenger, even when the switches are operated by the driver. Thus, the air conditioning system is capable of stable climate control.

[0004] US 2003 / 0 211 820 A1 discloses a car defroster that detects fogging of the window pane using a sensor and blows conditioned air from a defroster vent onto the window pane to remove the fog. An infrared sensor is used to measure the surface temperature of the window pane, and the defrosting process is performed according to the measurement result. The infrared sensor is provided, for example, in the center of the ceiling of the passenger compartment and consists of at least two sensor elements, allowing the temperature of window panes to be detected in multiple directions.

[0005] DE 102 00 486 A1 relates to an air conditioning system and a device for regulating thermal comfort in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one non-contact temperature sensor and an air vent. To increase comfort for vehicle occupants and minimize the required heating or cooling power of an air conditioning system, it is proposed that a non-contact temperature sensor be assigned to each air vent, which preferably together form a structural unit, wherein the measuring area detected by the temperature sensor approximately corresponds to the air flow area determined by the orientation of the air vent. As a result, the temperature of the surface, which is also tempered by the outflowing air, is precisely measured in every position of the air vent.

[0006] Disadvantages of the known state of the art include complex and special solutions, which are perceived as disturbing by vehicle occupants.

[0007] Thus, the object of the invention is to improve the adaptability of an infrared sensor arrangement and to prevent impairment of the aesthetics of the vehicle interior due to the infrared sensor.

[0008] The object is achieved by an infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle having the features according to claim 1. Further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] In order to optimize the air conditioning in the interior of a motor vehicle, especially the cooling, it is first necessary to accurately measure the temperature in the vehicle interior.

[0010] For this purpose, a contactless temperature measurement method using an infrared sensor is currently the most commonly used. According to this method, an infrared sensor installed in the motor vehicle measures the temperature around the face of a vehicle occupant in a contactless manner, and the air conditioning of the vehicle interior, in particular a cooling state, can be controlled in response to the measurement result.

[0011] In order to measure the temperature in the motor vehicle according to the contact-based temperature measurement method, the installation of an infrared sensor arrangement in a suitable position in the vehicle is required. An example of an infrared sensor arrangement is shown in the Fig. 1 to 3.

[0012] The Fig. 1 to 3 with the reference numeral 101 is installed in a front edge region of the motor vehicle, for example in an A-pillar 162, and is thus designed to comprise a casing 105, a main circuit board 107, an infrared sensor 109, a warpage protection bracket 111 and a circuit board housing 117.

[0013] The casing 105 is an outer housing which forms a front side of the infrared sensor assembly 101. As shown in Fig. 2, since the casing 105 is provided in an inclined manner in the garnish strip of the A-pillar 162, a fixed projection 129 protrudes from a front side of the casing 105, so that the fixed projection 129 is detachably connected to a front bolt 145 protruding from an inner side of the garnish strip by means of a screw or the like. Furthermore, a guide tube 106 extends toward a lower end from a front side of the casing 105 and is thus inserted with the infrared sensor 109 protruding forward while being vertically connected to the main board 107.

[0014] Furthermore, the main board 107 is an element in which the infrared sensor 109 and other control circuits or elements as shown in Fig. 3, which is inserted through an open side of a rear end of the shell 105.

[0015] Furthermore, the infrared sensor 109 is a core component of the infrared sensor arrangement 101 for measuring a temperature in the motor vehicle, as shown in Fig. 3, which is vertically connected to the main board 107 and arranged at a rear end of the casing 105, and thus projects further forward along the guide tube 106 than the casing 105.

[0016] The warpage protection bracket 111 is also a means for protecting the infrared sensor 109, which is connected to the main board 107 and which, as shown in Fig. 3, is vertically attached to the main board 107 so that the protective bracket 111 can enclose and protect a connection terminal 123 of the infrared sensor 109, which is vertically connected to the main board 107.

[0017] Accordingly, the circuit board housing 117 is a section for fixing the infrared sensor assembly 101 in the trim strip of the A-pillar 162 at the rear of the casing 105, while holding the main circuit board 107 and, as shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, has a predetermined thickness or greater to accommodate the main board 107, and is detachably connected to a rear bolt 147 which projects into an inner side of the trim strip by means of the fixed nose 130 and projects rearwardly from an opposite side of the fixed nose 120 of the shell 105.

[0018] In the typical infrared sensor assembly 101 designed as explained above, the infrared sensor 109 for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle and the warpage protection bracket 111 for holding the infrared sensor 109 are arranged as shown in Fig. 3, is vertically connected to the main board 107. Thus, the overall size of the infrared sensor assembly 101 in addition to the casing 105 is very large, and it is very difficult to arrange the infrared sensor assembly 101 at a position where the inner trim strip, for example, the A-pillar, is narrow.

[0019] In particular, when the casing 105 is arranged inclined to correspond to an angle of view of the infrared sensor 109, the guide tube 106 guiding the infrared sensor 109 inevitably protrudes from the casing 105 and is thus exposed to the outside of the A-pillar 162, so that the aesthetics of the vehicle interior may be impaired.

[0020] In addition, in order to correspond to the dimensions or shape of the trim strip, which vary depending on the vehicle model, and the viewing angle or height of the infrared sensor 109, the installation portions of the shell 105 and the board case 117 are respectively designed differently, so that consequently the shape or the manufacturing efficiency of the infrared sensor assembly may be deteriorated. Advantages of the invention

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an infrared sensor assembly for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle, which makes it possible to improve the adaptability of an infrared sensor assembly and to prevent impairment of the aesthetics of the vehicle interior due to the infrared sensor by compressing the component structure of the infrared sensor from an infrared sensor assembly arranged on a vehicle front side, in particular an A-pillar section.

[0022] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the following description and will become apparent upon reference to embodiments of the present invention. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the claimed means and combinations thereof.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an infrared sensor assembly for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle comprises: a mounting means configured to be installed in a trim strip on one side in the motor vehicle, and an adjusting means configured to be installed in the mounting means so that the installation angle of an infrared sensor for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle can be adjusted.

[0024] The mounting means may further comprise a retaining bracket installed in an A-pillar of the motor vehicle, and the adapting means may comprise a shell configured to be secured in the retaining bracket and to form an internal installation space between the shell and the retaining bracket, and a main circuit board configured to be inserted into a circuit board housing positioned between the retaining bracket and the shell.

[0025] The adaptation means may further comprise a warpage protection bracket for the infrared sensor, which is attached to the main board at an inclination so that the infrared sensor for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle is connected to the main board at an inclination.

[0026] Furthermore, the distortion protection bracket of the infrared sensor may have a connection angle with respect to the main board, which is changed depending on an installation angle of the support bracket and the image angle of the infrared sensor.

[0027] The retaining bracket can also be detachably attached to the A-pillar in the motor vehicle.

[0028] The jacket may also include an infrared transmission window provided on one side of the front of the jacket.

[0029] The retaining bracket can also be installed at a lower end of the A-pillar.

[0030] An inner side of the warpage protection bracket for the infrared sensor may also be configured to enclose a terminal of the infrared sensor so that warpage of the terminal of the infrared sensor is prevented.

[0031] The infrared sensor assembly may further comprise a cover configured to be removably secured in the retaining bracket from an outer side of the shell so that the cover is disposed therebetween, and has a contact bore coupled to the infrared transmission window and extending through one side of the infrared transmission window, and curved such that the profile of its outer side is adapted to the profile of an outer side of the trim strip.

[0032] Furthermore, the mounting means may be an installation groove formed in the A-pillar of the motor vehicle, and the adjustment means may be fixed in the installation groove and comprise a cap shell configured to include an angle adjustment mechanism installed to adjust an angle of the infrared sensor, and a sensor mount configured to receive and fix the infrared sensor such that the infrared sensor is indirectly installed in the angle adjustment mechanism, and may be installed in the angle adjustment mechanism at different angles.

[0033] The angle adjustment mechanism may further comprise a tubular receiving element configured to form a receiving groove in which the sensor holder is received, and at least two angle adjustment screws configured to extend from an outer side of the receiving element toward an inner side of the receiving element in order to fix the sensor holder received in the receiving groove at different angles.

[0034] The receiving groove can also be circular and the angle adjusting screws can be arranged on the circumference of the receiving element at equal distances along a circumferential direction and in pairs opposite each other, and the angle adjusting screws, each formed in pairs, can be arranged at a predetermined distance from each other over the length of the receiving element.

[0035] An outer periphery of the sensor bracket may further be provided with an installation direction fixing protrusion for fixing an installation direction along the circumferential direction of the receiving groove when the sensor bracket is received in the receiving groove, and the receiving groove may be provided in an installation direction fixing groove corresponding to the installation direction fixing protrusion.

[0036] Furthermore, the installation groove can be provided at a lower end of the A-pillar.

[0037] The infrared sensor assembly may further comprise a receiving element cover configured to cover the receiving groove of the receiving element and having a central portion provided with a through-hole through which a portion of the infrared sensor, which is indirectly installed in the receiving element, passes through the sensor holder.

[0038] The receiving element cover may be provided with a cut-off part which is designed to communicate with the through-hole so that a smooth movement of the infrared sensor through the through-hole is ensured when the infrared sensor is installed.

[0039] According to the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to compress the overall size of the infrared sensor assembly by connecting the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle to the main board and the warpage protection bracket in an inclined manner.

[0040] For this reason, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the vehicle interior because the infrared sensor can be embedded in the trim strip of a vehicle interior accessory, such as the A-pillar.

[0041] Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the optimal temperature measurement performance by adjusting the length or width of the support bracket depending on the internal structure of the trim in the vehicle, for example, the A-pillar, and to change the connection angle of the infrared sensor depending on the field of view of the infrared sensor even when the infrared sensor assembly is used in a different vehicle model, and at the same time to realize easy matching of the infrared sensor assembly only by matching the profile of the outer side of the cover to the embedded plane profile corresponding to the vehicle interior accessory, for example, the A-pillar.

[0042] According to the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, since the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle is installed at different angles in the cap shell by means of the plurality of angle adjusting screws, and the cap shell is installed in the installation groove formed in the A-pillar, it is possible to compress the overall size of the infrared sensor assembly.

[0043] For this reason, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the vehicle interior because the infrared sensor can be embedded in the trim strip of a vehicle interior accessory, such as the A-pillar.

[0044] It is still possible to maintain the optimal temperature measurement performance and support the easy adjustment of the infrared sensor array by changing the connection angle of the infrared sensor even if the vehicle model in which the infrared sensor array is used is changed and thus the angle of the A-pillar changes. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a partially extracted perspective view of a typical infrared sensor array used in a vehicle interior; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the infrared sensor arrangement according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a vehicle interior in which an infrared sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is employed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the Fig. 4 shown infrared sensor arrangement; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the Fig. 5 shown infrared sensor arrangement from behind; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the Fig. 4 shown infrared sensor arrangement; Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an angle of view of an infrared sensor of the infrared sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an installation angle of a bracket, and a connection angle of the infrared sensor; Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle interior illustrating a method of measuring temperature in a motor vehicle by the infrared sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for measuring a three-dimensional thermal image of the vehicle interior using the infrared sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of an infrared sensor assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a connected state between the main components of the Fig. 9 shown infrared sensor arrangement; Fig. 13 is a plan view of a cap shell of the Fig. 10 shown infrared sensor arrangement; Fig. 14 is a side view showing the cap skirt of the Fig. 10 shown infrared sensor arrangement; Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an installation structure between the cap shell of the infrared sensor assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention and an installation groove formed in an A-pillar of the motor vehicle. Description of specific embodiments

[0045] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments can be implemented in various ways by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, so that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0046] An infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] An infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a mounting means configured to be installed in a trim strip on one side of the vehicle; an adjusting means configured to adjust an installation angle of an infrared sensor for measuring temperature in the motor vehicle.

[0048] In the following, an infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4 to 8 are explained.

[0049] According to the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a bracket 3 is used as the mounting means, which is installed in the A-pillars 61 and 62 in a vehicle, and the fitting means includes a cover 5 which is arranged in the bracket 3, and an internal installation space is formed between the cover 5 and the bracket 3, and a main board 7 which is inserted into the board case 17 so that the main board 7 is positioned between the bracket 3 and the cover 5.

[0050] The infrared sensor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is designed to be installed on a side of various trim strips forming a vehicle interior to measure the temperature in the vehicle, and can be used, for example, as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, indicated by reference numeral 1, are installed in the left and right A-pillars, which are positioned at the left and right corners of a vehicle's front side. This is intended to keep the infrared sensor array 1 as far away as possible from a vehicle occupant, who is the temperature measurement target. The reason why a large distance must be maintained between the infrared sensor array 1 and the vehicle occupant is to ensure the widest possible field of view even when using an infrared sensor with a lens that is inexpensive but has a narrow field of view.

[0051] As in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, an infrared sensor assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is installed on a vehicle front side to measure the temperature in a vehicle, is configured to include the bracket 3, the shell 5, the main board 7 and the infrared sensor 9, and is preferably configured to further include a warpage protection bracket 11 for the infrared sensor and a cover 13.

[0052] The retaining bracket 3 is a base through which the infrared sensor arrangement 1 is mounted on an inner side of the trim strip in the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 5, and can support the attachment of the infrared sensor arrangement 1 at a desired position regardless of the shape or dimensions of an inner side of the corresponding trim strip, ie the trim strip of the illustrated A-pillars 61 and 62.

[0053] The viewing angle of the infrared sensor 9 is increased by positioning the infrared sensor 9 at the lower ends of the A-pillars 61 and 62 within the limited installation space in the vehicle. Therefore, to increase the viewing angle of the infrared sensor 9 if necessary, the support bracket 3 can be installed at the lower ends of the A-pillars 61 and 62.

[0054] For this purpose, as in the Fig. 5 to 7, the retaining bracket 3 is designed to comprise a central substrate 25 which extends upwards and downwards along its length, supports 27 which extend parallel to one another and which are bent at right angles at the upper and lower ends of the substrate 25, and fixed lugs 29 which are again bent at right angles at the ends of the upper and lower supports 27, so that they extend parallel to the substrate 25 or supports 27, in which the upper end of the substrate 25 is provided with a cut-off retraction bore 31 through which a connecting element 21 is exposed upwards, wherein a screw bore 33 which establishes a screw connection between the casing 5 and the cover 13 is provided on the support 27, and screw bores 35 each extend through the fixed lugs 29,so that the retaining bracket 3 itself is screwed, for example, to an inside of the trim strip of the A-pillars 61 and 62.

[0055] The casing 5 is an outer housing of the infrared sensor arrangement 1, which encloses the infrared sensor 9 and, as shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, is configured to include a semi-cylindrical housing 37 defining an internal space between the shell 5 and the retaining bracket 3 for accommodating the infrared sensor 9 and the warpage protection bracket 11, and an infrared transmission window 15 radially projecting to extend from an upper end on an outer side of the housing to a central lower end of the housing. In this case, as shown, the penetrating fixed projections 39 are protrudingly provided at the lower and upper ends of the housing 37, into which the screw holes 41 enter through the fixed projections 39, so that a detachable screw connection is established between the shell 5 and the retaining bracket 3.In addition, the infrared transmission window 15 projects radially on one side at the front of the casing 5 to protect the infrared sensor 9 and is made of a material that is normally transparent to infrared rays radiated from a heat source, for example a vehicle occupant, to the infrared sensor 9.

[0056] The main board 7 is a component in which various control circuits or elements of the infrared sensor 9 as well as the infrared sensor 9, as shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, which is inserted into the board housing 17 so that the main board 7 is positioned between the holding bracket 3 and the shell 5, and which is positioned on the substrate 25 of the holding bracket 3 through the board housing 17 and exposed to the interior of the shell 5. In this case, one end of the main board 7 is connected to an external lead via the connecting member 21, and the upper end of the board housing 17 is provided with a cut-off part 43 having the same shape as the connecting member 21 so that the connecting member 21 can be inserted.

[0057] The infrared sensor 9 is a core component of the infrared sensor arrangement 1, which captures a thermal image of the motor vehicle interior to provide temperature information and is, as shown in the Fig. 5 to 7, is connected to the main board 7 at an angle. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above, a sensor comprising a lens having a 60° field of view can be used as the infrared sensor 9.

[0058] The infrared sensor warpage protection bracket 11 is a support means for connecting the infrared sensor 9 to the main board 7 in an inclined manner as described above or for protecting the infrared sensor 9 which is arranged inclinedly on the main board 7 as shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, wherein the warpage protection bracket 11 is a short cylindrical element whose bottom surface is inclined. Due to the inclined bottom surface, the warpage protection bracket as such protects a connection terminal 23 of the infrared sensor 9, which is attached to the main board 7 at an angle due to the inclined bottom surface.

[0059] In this case, the distortion protection bracket 11 of the infrared sensor determines the connection angle of the main board 7 taking into account the image angle of the infrared sensor 9 and the installation angle of the support bracket 3 and, as shown in the Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the connection angle C of the main board 7 of the warpage protection bracket 11 is an angle formed by the main board 7 and the warpage protection bracket 11, which is achieved by adding the installation angle A of the main board 7, i.e., the support bracket 3, to an inclined angle of the infrared sensor 9 with respect to the angle of view B of the infrared sensor 9, i.e., a field of view h. For this reason, the connection angle of the warpage protection bracket 11 to the main board 7 is changed depending on an installation height of the support bracket 3, which determines the installation angle of the support bracket 3 and the angle of view of the infrared sensor 9.

[0060] Furthermore, the cover 13 is an external element which conceals the infrared sensor arrangement 1 in the trim strip and, as shown in the Fig. 5 to 7, consists of a plate which extends over the length so as to cover a front portion of the shell 5, and which is adapted to receive the bolts 45 which project from the upper and lower portions of an inner side of the shell 5 into the screw hole 33 of the support bracket 3, so that a screw connection is made by a screw which passes through the screw hole 41 of the shell 5, so that the cover 13 is detachably fastened in the support bracket 3, and the shell 5 is positioned therebetween.

[0061] Furthermore, one side of the front side of the cover 13 is provided with the contact hole 19 along its length upwards and downwards, so that the cover 13 is coupled to the infrared transmission window 15. In this case, the profile of the outer side may be bent with a degree of curvature corresponding to a profile of the outer side of the A-pillar trim strip.

[0062] The operation of the infrared sensor arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and with the configuration described above will be explained below.

[0063] According to the infrared sensor arrangement 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown for example in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 9, when the infrared sensor array 1 is installed at a central lower end of the left and right front seats 55 and 56 and the right rear seat 58, the left infrared sensor array 1 can detect a thermal image of the vehicle occupants seated in the left and right front seats 55 and 56 and the right rear seat 58, while the right infrared sensor array 1 can detect a thermal image of the vehicle occupants seated in the left and right front seats 55 and 56 and the left rear seat 57. This is because the left infrared sensor array 1 is covered by a driver's seat and thus does not detect the thermal image of the vehicle occupant seated in the left rear seat 57, and the right infrared sensor array 1 is covered by a passenger's seat and thus does not detect the thermal image of the vehicle occupant seated in the right rear seat 58.

[0064] Meanwhile, each infrared sensor 9 determines the connection angle C of the main board 7 depending on the image angle B, as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 8, and the inclined installation angle A of the infrared sensor assembly 1, ie the retaining bracket 3, and is embedded in the casing 5 which is to be installed in the A-pillars 61 and 62, wherein the temperature in the motor vehicle is measured without the casing 5 protruding on the outside of the A-pillars 61 and 62.

[0065] For this reason, even if the vehicle model used for the infrared sensor assembly 1 is changed, the infrared sensor assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be smoothly used by only adjusting the length or width of the support bracket depending on the internal structure of the front pillars 61 and 62, the connection angle of the warpage protection bracket 11 for the main board 7 and the infrared sensor 9 depending on the field of view of the infrared sensor 9, and the profile of the outer side of the cover 13.

[0066] When the infrared sensor arrangements 1 are installed in the left and right A-pillars 61 and 62 as described above, a Fig. An operator 30 shown in Figure 9 acquires two-dimensional thermal images captured by the infrared sensor 9, and a controller 40 corrects the generated two-dimensional image to generate three-dimensional images. As explained above, the method for generating a three-dimensional thermal image includes thermal image acquisition (S20), temperature filtering (S30), thermal image correction (S40), stereo matching (S50), temperature compensation (S7), and temperature post-compensation (S80).

[0067] Here, the correction of the sensor (S10) first consists in correcting a distortion in the thermal image acquired by the infrared sensor 9. In the sensor correction (S10), for example, using a monochromatic checkerboard pattern to correct a distortion in the optical image, the temperature is measured while changing a position of a correction plate in which cooling and heating regions are alternately arranged in a checkerboard pattern for different positions with a predetermined distance, and then the calibration is performed by a conventional optical calibration method using the acquired thermal image information to extract a calibration matrix.

[0068] Subsequently, thermal image acquisition (S20) is performed by capturing the thermal image in the motor vehicle using the infrared stereo sensor 9, which is calibrated for sensor correction (S10). During thermal image acquisition (S20), each sensor 9 captures the thermal image for the same point on a virtual coordinate configured in the vehicle to generate a two-dimensional thermal image.

[0069] Subsequently, temperature filtering (S20) is performed by removing afterimage effects, error diffusions, and noise from the thermal image that arise in the thermal image captured during thermal image acquisition (S20). Temperature filtering improves the quality of the thermal image, for example, by removing noise using various methods, such as removing error pixels from the thermal image noise output by the infrared sensor 9.

[0070] Subsequently, a thermal image correction (S40) is performed, in which the thermal image (S40) acquired during the thermal image acquisition (S20) is corrected depending on the calibration values ​​of the infrared sensor 9, which were obtained during the sensor correction (S10). During the thermal image correction (S40), a rectification is performed on the thermal image, which was corrected using the calibration values ​​obtained during the sensor correction (S10), ie, from the calibration matrix.

[0071] Rectification of the thermal images is a process for satisfying an epipolar condition for the thermal image captured by the left and right infrared sensors. Depending on the epipolar condition, when the optical axes of the stereo sensor 9 are parallel to each other, a point in the thermal image captured by one side sensor corresponds to a point in the thermal image captured by the other side sensor. In this case, a line connecting the two corresponding points is referred to as an epipolar line.

[0072] Subsequently, stereo matching (S50) is performed to achieve a coordinate disparity between corresponding points of each thermal image by comparing the corresponding thermal images corrected during thermal image correction (S40). During stereo matching (S50), each thermal image captured by the stereo sensor 9 is considered, another thermal image is set as a target image, and then a position within the thermal image of a specific pixel is projected onto the reference thermal image, and the target thermal image is obtained at a specific point on the virtual coordinates in the vehicle. Finally, the disparity is achieved by determining the difference between the thermal image coordinates between the corresponding thermal images as explained above.

[0073] Subsequently, to generate the three-dimensional thermal image (60), the three-dimensional thermal image is generated by imaging and mapping the coordinate disparity of the thermal image obtained in the stereo matching (S50). When generating the three-dimensional thermal image (60), the three-dimensional thermal image is obtained from the corresponding thermal images based, for example, on an image matching method selected from a variety of methods for obtaining three-dimensional information from the two-dimensional image. For this purpose, the disparity obtained in the stereo matching (S50) is calculated for each pixel of the reference thermal image and then stored as an image to create a disparity map.Then, the three-dimensional thermal image can finally be obtained by generating a plurality of disparity maps depending on a change in different angles of view by repeating the above process and combining the plurality of generated disparity maps.

[0074] Here, the temperature compensation (S70) serves to remove a deviation depending on a distance difference from each sensor 9 for the three-dimensional thermal image obtained in the generation of the three-dimensional thermal image (S60), and to remove a temperature difference which arises depending on a distance difference which arrives at each sensor 9 at a specific coordinate in the motor vehicle corresponding to the specific point on the three-dimensional thermal image.

[0075] The temperature post-compensation (S80) is used to finally determine a three-dimensional thermal image. As described in Fig. 6, during the temperature post-compensation (S80), a temperature difference caused by the distance difference between the left and right sensors 9, which was subjected to the temperature compensation (S70), can be removed, and the deviation can then be finally compensated due to the material of an object whose temperature was measured. For this purpose, during the temperature post-compensation (S80), the temperature value of the three-dimensional thermal image, from which the temperature difference depending on the distance difference between the left and right sensors 9 was removed, is used in the temperature compensation (S70) taking into account the specific emissivity of each material of the vehicle accessories for each coordinate, which is predefined and stored in the motor vehicle depending on the coordinate information, iefrom a vehicle seat, vehicle ceiling, or instrument panel, or the specific emissivity for each body part of a vehicle occupant. In this case, the specific emissivity of an ideal body as the temperature measurement target, such as a black body, is 1, of a human body 0.95, of the instrument panel 0.5, and of the vehicle ceiling 0.8.

[0076] In the following, an infrared sensor arrangement for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 11 to 15 and part of the Fig. 4 to 10, and the description of the known part of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be omitted. In an infrared sensor arrangement 2 for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an installation groove 70 formed in the A-pillars 61 and 62 in the motor vehicle is used as the mounting means, and a cap shell 80 provided in the installation groove 70 is used as the adaptation means, as well as the sensor holder 90 in which the infrared sensor 8 is received and fastened, and which is installed in the cap shell 80 at various angles.

[0077] The infrared sensor assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is designed to be installed on a side of various trim strips forming a vehicle interior in order to measure the temperature in the vehicle and, for example, as shown in Fig. 4, to be installed in the left and right A-pillars 61 and 62, which are positioned in the left and right corners of a vehicle front side. This serves to keep the infrared sensor array 2 away from a vehicle occupant, who is the temperature measurement target, if possible. The reason why a large distance must be maintained between the infrared sensor array 1 and the vehicle occupant is to ensure the widest possible field of view even when using an infrared sensor with a lens that is inexpensive but has a narrow field of view.

[0078] In the infrared sensor assembly 2 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is installed at the vehicle front side to measure the temperature in the vehicle, as shown in the Fig. 11 to 15, the support means is the installation groove formed in an A-pillar 162 in the vehicle, and the adjustment means may be arranged in the installation groove, and may comprise a cap shell 80 configured to include an angle adjustment mechanism 81 installed to adjust an angle of the infrared sensor and a sensor mount 90 configured to receive and fix the infrared sensor 8 so that the infrared sensor 8 is indirectly installed in the angle adjustment mechanism 81 and can be installed in the angle adjustment mechanism 81 at different angles, and preferably further comprises a receiving member cover 85.

[0079] The installation groove 70 is a base through which the infrared sensor assembly 2 is detachably attached to an inner side of the trim strip in the vehicle and, as shown in Fig. 15, the mounting of the infrared sensor assembly 2 in a desired position can be supported regardless of the shape or dimensions of an inner side of the corresponding trim strip, ie the trim strip of the A-pillars 61 and 62, as shown.

[0080] For this purpose, as in Fig. 15, the fitting groove 70 has a shape extending upward and downward along its length, and includes a main groove 71 configured to be positioned at a central portion of the fitting groove 70, and intermediate grooves 72 at the upper intermediate side and the lower intermediate side extending upward and downward from the main groove 71.

[0081] The cap shell 80 includes a housing 80a which is plate-shaped and exposed outside the A-pillars 61 and 62, and the angle adjusting mechanism 81 which is positioned on one side of the housing 80a to adjust the angle of the infrared sensor 8.

[0082] Here, an inner side of the housing 80a, ie, a side contacting the A-pillars 61 and 62, is vertically provided with a pair of connecting members 80b, which are elastically connected to each other and secured in the installation groove 70 via the intermediate groove 72. Furthermore, the housing 80a may be provided with an infrared transmitting window 80c for protecting the infrared sensor 8, and the infrared transmitting window 80c may be integrally formed with the housing 80a by a double injection molding method or the like, depending on the manufacturing method.

[0083] Here, the angle adjustment mechanism 81 comprises a tubular receiving element 82, which is designed to form a receiving groove 83 in which the sensor holder 90 is received, and at least two angle adjustment screws 84, which are designed to extend from an outer side of the receiving element 83 towards an inner side of the receiving element 83 in order to fix the sensor holder received in the receiving groove 82 at different angles.

[0084] Here, the receiving groove 82 can be circular, as shown, and the sensor holder 90 can be cylindrical in shape according to the shape of the receiving groove 82.

[0085] The angle adjusting screws 84 can also be arranged on the circumference of the receiving element 83 at equal distances along a circumferential direction and arranged in pairs opposite one another, and the angle adjusting screws 84 formed in pairs can be arranged at a predetermined distance from one another over the length of the receiving element.

[0086] For example, in Fig. 13 and when viewing the receiving element 83 from the side, the angle adjusting screws 84, which are positioned at the upper and lower sections of the receiving element 83 and are formed in pairs, can be spaced apart from each other over the length of the receiving element 83 at a predetermined distance L1 and, as shown in Fig.14, and when viewing the receiving element 83 from above, the angle adjusting screws 84, which are positioned on the left and right sides of the receiving element 83 between the angle adjusting screws 84 and are formed in pairs, can be arranged over the length of the receiving element 83 so that the angle adjusting screws 84 are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance L2.

[0087] The paired angle adjustment screws 84 are spaced apart along the length of the receiving element 83, and the sensor bracket 90 can thus be fixed up and down, as well as left and right, at various angles depending on how tightly the angle adjustment screws 84 are tightened. As the number of angle adjustment screws 84 increases, the sensor bracket 90 can be fixed at various angles in various directions, up and down, as well as left and right. Therefore, the infrared sensor 8, which is fixed to the sensor bracket 90, can also be fixed at various angles.

[0088] The sensor holder 90 is designed to receive and fix the infrared sensor 8 in such a way that the infrared sensor 8 is indirectly installed in the angle adjustment mechanism 81 and can be provided with a groove in which the infrared sensor 8 is received and fixed, which, as shown, can be cylindrical. The sensor holder 90 is installed in the angle adjustment mechanism 81 at various angles when the sensor holder 90 receives and fixes the infrared sensor 8.

[0089] Here, an outer periphery of the sensor holder 90 may be provided with an installation direction fixing projection 82a for determining an installation direction along the circumferential direction of the receiving groove 82 when the sensor holder 90 is received in the receiving groove 82, and the receiving groove 82 may be provided with an installation direction fixing groove 82a corresponding to the installation direction fixing projection 91.

[0090] The viewing angle of the infrared sensor 8 is increased when the infrared sensor 9 is positioned at the lower ends of the A-pillars 61 and 62 within the limited installation space in the motor vehicle. Therefore, in order to maximize the viewing angle of the infrared sensor 9, the installation groove 70 can be installed at the lower ends of the A-pillars 61 and 62.

[0091] Here, the infrared sensor assembly for measuring the temperature in a motor vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a receiving element cover 85 which is designed to cover the receiving groove 82 of the receiving element 83 and has a central portion provided with a through hole 85a through which a portion of the infrared sensor 8 is indirectly installed in the receiving element 83, which extends through the sensor holder 90.

[0092] Here, the receiving element cover 85 may be provided with a cut-off part 85b which is designed to communicate with the through-hole 85a in order to ensure smooth movement of the infrared sensor 8 which passes through the through-hole 85a when the infrared sensor 8 is installed.

[0093] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for various illustrative purposes, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, such modifications, additions, and substitutions are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0094] According to the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to compress the overall size of the infrared sensor assembly by connecting the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle to the main board and the warpage protection bracket in an inclined manner.

[0095] For this reason, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the vehicle interior, as the infrared sensor can be embedded in the trim strip of a vehicle interior accessory, such as the A-pillar.

[0096] It is further possible to maintain the optimal temperature measurement performance by adjusting the length or width of the support bracket depending on the internal structure of the trim in the motor vehicle, for example, the A-pillar, and to change the connection angle of the infrared sensor and change the connection angle of the infrared sensor depending on the field angle of the infrared sensor even when the infrared sensor assembly is applied to a different vehicle model, and at the same time, easy matching of the infrared sensor assembly can be realized only by matching the profile of the outer side of the cover to the embedded plane profile of the corresponding vehicle interior accessory part, for example, the A-pillar.

[0097] According to the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, since the infrared sensor assembly for measuring temperature in a vehicle is installed in the cap shell by the plurality of angle adjusting screws at different angles, and the cap shell is installed in the installation groove formed in the A-pillar, it is possible to compress the overall size of the infrared sensor assembly.

[0098] For this reason, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the vehicle interior because the infrared sensor can be embedded in the trim strip of a vehicle interior accessory, such as the A-pillar.

[0099] It is also possible to maintain the optimal temperature measurement performance and support easy adjustment of the infrared sensor array by changing the connection angle of the infrared sensor even if the infrared sensor array is used for a different vehicle model or the angle of the A-pillar changes.

Claims

[1] Infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) for measuring a temperature in a motor vehicle (V), comprising: a mounting means which is designed to be installed in a trim strip on one side in the motor vehicle (V), an adjustment means which is designed to be installed in the mounting means to adjust an installation angle (A) of an infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle (V), wherein the holding means is a retaining bracket (3) which is installed in an A-pillar (61, 62, 162) in the motor vehicle (V), and the adaptation means comprises a casing (5, 105) which is designed to be fastened in the retaining bracket (3) and to form an internal installation space between the casing (5, 105) and the retaining bracket (3), and a main board (7, 107) which is designed to be inserted into a board housing (17, 117) which is positioned between the retaining bracket (3) and the casing (5, 105), wherein the adaptation means further comprises a warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109), which is attached to the main board (7, 107) at an angle, so that the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) for measuring the temperature in the motor vehicle (V) is connected to the main board (7, 107) at an angle, wherein the warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) has a connection angle (C) with respect to the main board (7, 107), which is changed depending on the installation angle (A) of the holding bracket (3) and an image angle (B) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109), wherein an inner side of the warpage protection bracket (11, 111) for the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is designed such that a connection terminal (23) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is enclosed, so that distortion of the connecting terminal (23) of the infrared sensor (8, 9, 109) is prevented, wherein the infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) further comprises: a cover (13) which is designed to be detachably fastened from an outer side of the casing (5, 105) in the retaining bracket (3), wherein the cover (13) is arranged therebetween and has a contact bore (19) which is coupled to an infrared transmission window (15, 80c) and extends through one side of the infrared transmission window (15, 80c), and the cover (13) is bent such that the profile of its outer side is adapted to the profile of an outer side of the decorative strip. [2] Infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) according to claim 1, wherein the retaining bracket (3) is detachably fastened to the A-pillar (61, 62, 162) in the motor vehicle (V). [3] Infrared sensor arrangement (1, 2, 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining bracket (3) is installed at a lower end of the A-pillar (61, 62, 162).

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