Inspection device for raindrop detection device, jig for inspection, inspection method

Abstract

To provide an inspection device for a raindrop detection device, an inspecting jig, and an inspection method, each enabling detection of unevenness in the accuracy of raindrop detection due to individual difference.SOLUTION: An inspection device 50 inspects a raindrop detection device 20, and comprises an inspecting jig 51, and a PC 55. The inspecting jig 51 drops a reference raindrop agent whose diameter is preliminarily identified in a raindrop detection area. The PC 55 determines, with regard to the reference raindrop agent dropped in the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device 20 by the inspecting jig 51, whether or not the difference between the amount of rainfall calculated from the value of diameter of the reference raindrop agent calculated by the raindrop detection device 20 and the amount of rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent. The raindrop detection device 20 includes a light source portion 22a, a light reception portion 22b, a raindrop detection portion 25a, and a diameter calculation portion 25b. The raindrop detection portion 25a detects a raindrop having passed through the raindrop detection area in accordance with a change of received light quantity of the light having been received by the light reception portion 22b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device, an inspection jig, and an inspection method for inspecting whether a raindrop detection device operates normally. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, tipping bucket rain gauges have been used to measure rainfall. These rain gauges are equipped with a receiver that receives falling rainwater, a filter that drips the rainwater received in the receiver, and a tipping bucket that tips over to collect the rainwater dripping from the filter. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a raindrop detection device in which a light source unit and a light receiving unit are arranged opposite each other, and when raindrops pass through a raindrop detection area formed between the light source unit and the light receiving unit, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit decreases, and the device detects raindrops based on this decreased amount of light received. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-098170 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-described conventional raindrop detection device has the following problems. In other words, although the raindrop detection device disclosed in the above publication can detect raindrops that pass through the raindrop detection area based on changes in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, there is a risk that the raindrop detection accuracy will vary due to individual differences in the raindrop detection device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection device, an inspection jig, and an inspection method for a raindrop detection device that are capable of detecting variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A raindrop detection device inspection device according to a first aspect of the present invention inspects a raindrop detection device and includes a dripping unit and a determination unit. The dripping unit drips a reference raindrop agent, the diameter of which is specified in advance, onto the raindrop detection area. The determination unit compares the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dripped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device by the dripping unit, calculated by the diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device, with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determines whether the difference satisfies a predetermined condition. The raindrop detection device includes a light source unit, a light receiving unit, a raindrop detection unit, and a diameter calculation unit. The light source unit emits light in a predetermined direction. The light receiving unit is positioned opposite the light source unit and receives the light emitted from the light source unit. The raindrop detection unit detects raindrops that pass through the raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit according to changes in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. The diameter calculation unit calculates the diameter of the raindrops detected by the raindrop detection unit.

[0007] Here, in an inspection device for a raindrop detection device that detects raindrops passing between a light source unit and a light receiving unit, a standard raindrop agent with a known diameter is dropped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device by a dropping unit. The rainfall calculated from the diameter value of the standard raindrop agent calculated by a diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device is compared with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the standard raindrop agent, and a determination is made as to whether the difference satisfies predetermined conditions or not to indicate whether the individual is abnormal.

[0008] Here, the dropping unit is, for example, a member that drops the reference raindrop agent one by one onto the raindrop detection area, and may be either a manually driven or automatically driven member. The determination unit is, for example, a PC connected to the raindrop detection device, which receives the calculation results from the diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device and determines whether the results are within the acceptable range based on the difference from the diameter of a predetermined reference raindrop agent.

[0009] The light source unit of the raindrop detection device is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and emits light in a predetermined direction to a light receiving unit that is arranged opposite to the light receiving unit with a predetermined distance therebetween. The light receiving unit of the raindrop detection device is, for example, a photodiode that receives light emitted from the light source unit and outputs it as a voltage value. Detecting raindrops includes detecting, for example, the diameter of the raindrop, the volume of one raindrop, the amount of rainfall per unit time, and the speed of the raindrop.

[0010] This allows a reference raindrop agent, the diameter of which is known in advance by the dripping section, to be dripped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device, and if the difference between the rainfall calculated from the diameter value of the reference raindrop agent calculated by the diameter calculation section of the raindrop detection device and the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the raindrop detection device can be determined to be an abnormal individual. Therefore, a raindrop detection device determined to be an abnormal individual can be subjected to a predetermined correction process and used, or determined to be unusable. As a result, variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences can be detected.

[0011] The inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to the second invention is the inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to the first invention, in which the dripping section includes an inspection jig that drips a predetermined number of standard raindrop agents onto the raindrop detection area. This allows an inspection jig to be used to drop a predetermined number of standard raindrop agents into the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device and measure the rainfall calculated from their diameter.If the difference between the actual rainfall calculated from the diameter of the standard raindrop agent and the calculated rainfall exceeds a specified tolerance range, it can be determined that the device cannot be used as is.

[0012] The raindrop detection device inspection device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the raindrop detection device inspection device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, and further includes a display unit that displays the determination result from the determination unit. This allows the user to be notified of the determination result using the measurement result of the rainfall amount calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent in the raindrop detection device via the display on the display unit.

[0013] A raindrop detection device inspection device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the raindrop detection device inspection device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the reference raindrop agent is a sphere. This allows, for example, the use of a sphere having a size, shape, and transmittance similar to that of a raindrop as the reference raindrop agent to enable detection of the reference raindrop agent under conditions similar to those when detecting actual raindrops.

[0014] The inspection jig according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is an inspection jig used in the inspection device for the raindrop detection device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention. The inspection jig has a base member, a plurality of first openings formed in the base member into which reference raindrop agents are set one by one, and a support plate that supports the reference raindrop agents set in the first openings from below and slides relative to the base member so that the reference raindrop agents are dropped one by one from the first openings. This allows the support plate to be slid relative to the base member to release the support from the support plate from below, so that multiple reference raindrop agents set in multiple first openings provided in the base member can be dropped in the desired order.

[0015] The sixth aspect of the present invention relates to an inspection jig for a raindrop detection device, which is the same as the fifth aspect of the present invention, in which the support plate has a gap larger than that of the reference raindrop agent and includes a second opening that drops raindrops one by one into the raindrop detection area when moved to a position overlapping with the first opening in a plan view. With this, by sliding the support plate relative to the base member and moving it so that the first opening and the second opening overlap in a plan view, it is possible to drop desired reference raindrop agents one by one.

[0016] A seventh aspect of the present invention relates to a raindrop detection device inspection method that includes a dripping step and a determination step. In the dripping step, a reference raindrop agent having a predetermined diameter is dripped onto the raindrop detection area. In the determination step, for the reference raindrop agent dripped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device in the dripping step, a rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent calculated by a diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device is compared with a rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent to determine whether the detection accuracy satisfies a predetermined condition. The raindrop detection device includes a light source unit, a light receiving unit, a raindrop detection unit, and a diameter calculation unit. The light source unit emits light in a predetermined direction. The light receiving unit is positioned opposite the light source unit and receives the light emitted from the light source unit. The raindrop detection unit detects raindrops that pass through the raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit according to changes in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. The diameter calculation unit calculates the diameter of the raindrops detected by the raindrop detection unit.

[0017] Here, in an inspection device for a raindrop detection device that detects raindrops passing between a light source unit and a light receiving unit, a standard raindrop agent with a known diameter is dropped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device by a dropping unit. The rainfall calculated from the diameter value of the standard raindrop agent calculated by a diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device is compared with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the standard raindrop agent, and a determination is made as to whether the difference satisfies predetermined conditions or not to indicate whether the individual is abnormal.

[0018] Here, the dropping unit is, for example, a member that drops the reference raindrop agent one by one onto the raindrop detection area, and may be either a manually driven or automatically driven member. The determination unit is, for example, a PC connected to the raindrop detection device, which receives the rainfall calculated from the calculation results of the diameter calculation unit of the raindrop detection device, and determines whether it is within the acceptable range based on the difference from the rainfall calculated from the diameter of a predetermined reference raindrop agent.

[0019] The light source unit of the raindrop detection device is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and emits light in a predetermined direction to a light receiving unit that is arranged opposite to the light receiving unit with a predetermined distance therebetween. The light receiving unit of the raindrop detection device is, for example, a photodiode that receives light emitted from the light source unit and outputs it as a voltage value. Detecting raindrops includes detecting, for example, the diameter of the raindrop, the volume of one raindrop, the amount of rainfall per unit time, and the speed of the raindrop.

[0020] This allows a reference raindrop agent, the diameter of which is known in advance by the dripping section, to be dripped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device, and if the difference between the rainfall calculated from the diameter value of the reference raindrop agent calculated by the diameter calculation section of the raindrop detection device and the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the raindrop detection device can be determined to be an abnormal individual.

[0021] Therefore, a raindrop detection device determined to be an abnormal individual can be subjected to a predetermined correction process and used, or determined to be unusable. As a result, variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences can be detected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The raindrop detection device inspection device according to the present invention can detect variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view showing the configuration of a raindrop detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the raindrop detection device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of the raindrop detection device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the raindrop detection device taken along the line AA in FIG. 3. [Figure 5]5A is a perspective view showing a substrate on which the main components of the raindrop detection device shown in FIG. 4 are arranged, and FIG. 5B is a top view thereof. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the raindrop detection device of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing functional blocks generated inside the microcontroller of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the change in voltage indicating raindrops detected by the raindrop detection device of FIG. 6 and the elapsed time. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view showing the configuration of an inspection device that inspects the raindrop detection device of FIG. 6. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an inspection jig included in the inspection device of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a base portion on which the inspection jig of FIG. 10 is set. [Figure 12] 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a plate shutter that slides along a slide groove in the base portion of FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a diagram showing an example of the results of an inspection carried out by the inspection device of FIG. 9. [Figure 14] (a), (b), and (c) are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the structure in which the reference raindrop agent is dropped one by one onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device using an inspection jig and a plate shutter. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing the process flow of a raindrop detection device inspection method carried out by the inspection device of FIG. 9. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an inspection jig included in an inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the inspection jig of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The inspection device 50 and inspection method for the raindrop detection device 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the applicant provides the accompanying drawings and the following description to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention, and they are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0025] (1) Configuration of the raindrop detection device 20 As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the raindrop detection device 20 of this embodiment detects raindrops that pass through a predetermined opening 21a provided on the top surface of the housing part 21, and calculates the amount of rainfall by detecting the size of the detected raindrops and the amount per unit time.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the raindrop detection device 20 includes a housing 21, a light source 22a and a light receiving unit 22b provided inside the housing 21, legs 23, a base 24, and a microcomputer 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 21 is a substantially cylindrical member, and has an opening 21a, an inner wall surface 21b, a ceiling surface 21c, and an outer peripheral surface 21d.

[0027] The opening 21a is provided at approximately the center of the ceiling surface 21c, and is formed to penetrate the inside of the housing 21. The inner wall surface 21b forms the inner wall of the housing part 21 at the through portion formed by the opening part 21a. The light source part 22a and the light receiving part 22b are arranged at positions facing each other on the inner wall surface 21b.

[0028] The ceiling surface 21c is a substantially disk-shaped portion that forms the ceiling portion of the substantially cylindrical housing portion 21, and has an opening 21a in its central portion. The outer peripheral surface 21d is a surface that forms the outer peripheral portion of the substantially cylindrical housing portion 21, and a gap of a predetermined size is provided between the lower end of the outer peripheral surface 21d and the base 24. The light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b are arranged at positions facing each other on the inner wall surface 21b of the opening 21a, as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b are arranged at positions facing each other on a substantially circular substrate 22c so as to sandwich the raindrop detection area A1 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b).

[0029] The light source unit 22a is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), irradiates infrared light toward the light receiving unit 22b via a lens 22d that collimates the light. The light receiving unit 22b is, for example, a photodiode, and is arranged opposite the light source unit 22a as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), and receives light condensed through a lens 22e that condenses the light irradiated from the light source unit 22a.

[0030] Light is then irradiated from the light source unit 22a onto a raindrop detection area A1 (see Figure 4) formed between the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b, and part of the light detected by the light receiving unit 22b is blocked by raindrops, reducing the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 22b, thereby detecting the presence or absence of raindrops. As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the substrate 22c is an approximately circular member with an opening formed in the center, and the light source unit 22a, the light receiving unit 22b, and the lenses 22d and 22e are arranged on its upper surface.

[0031] An opening formed in the center of the substrate 22c corresponds to the raindrop sensing area A1 and the opening 21a formed in the housing 21. Lens 22d is disposed above light source unit 22a such as an LED, and is disposed so that its multiple fan-shaped portions face light-receiving unit 22b. Lens 22d reflects the infrared light emitted from light source unit 22a by 90 degrees to convert it into parallel light, which is then emitted toward light-receiving unit 22b.

[0032] Lens 22e is disposed above light receiving unit 22b such as a photodiode, and is disposed so that its multiple fan-shaped portions face the light source unit 22a. Lens 22e collects the infrared light emitted from light source unit 22a, reflects it at an angle of 90 degrees, and directs it to light receiving unit 22b disposed directly below. The plurality of legs 23 are erected on the upper surface of the base 24 .

[0033] The base 24 is a substantially disk-shaped member, and supports the housing 21 of the raindrop detection device 20 and the like via a plurality of legs 23 erected on an upper surface 24a thereof. The microcomputer 25 is connected to the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b, and detects raindrops that have passed between the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b in accordance with changes in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 22b.

[0034] More specifically, in addition to the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b, the raindrop detection device 20 includes a microcomputer 25, a memory (storage unit) 25d, a DC (direct current) cut unit 26a, an amplifier unit 26b, an AC (alternating current) / DC (direct current) light quantity conversion unit 26c, an amplifier unit 26d, an AC (alternating current) environmental component cancellation unit 26e, and an AC modulation drive unit 26f, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, the microcomputer 25 is connected to a memory 25d, and controls each part of the raindrop detection device 20 by reading various programs and various data stored in the memory 25d. Here, the infrared light emitted from the light source section 22a is received by the light receiving section 22b, and the DC cut section 26a removes environmental components such as ambient light from the detection result detected by the light receiving section 22b.

[0036] The detection result from which the DC environmental component has been removed is amplified in amplifier 26b, then converted into a DC component in AC / DC light quantity converter 26c, and the analog signal amplified in amplifier 26d is input to microcomputer 25. The DC cut unit 26a transmits to the microcomputer 25 the data (ADRAW) of the detection result at the light receiving unit 22b before removing the disturbance light component.

[0037] The microcomputer 25 receives the detection result from the light receiving unit 22b and controls the AC / DC light quantity conversion unit 26c to perform AC / DC conversion processing by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control, and controls the AC modulation driving unit 26f to switch the light quantity of the light source unit 22a. Furthermore, the signal indicating the light intensity level converted into an AC component in the AC / DC light intensity conversion unit 26c is sent to an AC environmental component cancellation unit 26e, which removes the AC voltage component that drives the light source unit 22a, such as an LED, and then sent to an AC modulation drive unit 26f, where it is used to adjust the output of the light source unit 22a.

[0038] In addition, the AC environmental component cancellation unit 26e sends ADFB (feedback of raindrop voltage including DC component) to the microcontroller 25, and when ADFB reaches a certain value or above, it can detect that the LED drive current has abnormally increased due to light blocking by foreign matter or damage to components, etc. Here, the microcomputer 25 reads various programs stored in the memory 25d and generates the functional blocks shown in FIG.

[0039] That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the microcomputer 25 has a raindrop detection unit 25a, a diameter calculation unit 25b, and a rainfall calculation unit 25c. The raindrop detector 25a detects raindrops that have passed between the light source 22a and the light receiver 22b (raindrop detection area A1) in accordance with changes in the amount of light received by the light receiver 22b. More specifically, when a raindrop passes through the raindrop detection area A1, part of the infrared light emitted from the light source unit 22a is blocked, and the light detection result at the light receiving unit 22b changes. As shown in Fig. 8, the raindrop detection unit 25a regards the change in voltage value (peak value) obtained by amplifying the detection result at the light receiving unit 22b as a raindrop candidate, and detects the raindrop candidate as a raindrop when the peak value of the voltage corresponding to each raindrop candidate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0040] The detection results shown in Figure 8 show an example in which three raindrop candidates were detected within the measurement time, and all of the raindrop candidates had peak values exceeding the threshold, so they were detected as raindrops. The differences between the three peak values in the graph shown in FIG. 8 mainly appear as differences in the diameter, transmittance, etc. of the detected raindrops. The diameter calculation unit 25b calculates the diameter of the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit 25a. Specifically, the diameter calculation unit 25b calculates the diameter of the voltage value having a peak value corresponding to the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit 25a using a table or the like showing the relationship between the voltage value and the diameter.

[0041] Here, assuming that the transmittance of raindrops is approximately constant, the larger the diameter of the raindrops, the greater the amount of infrared light blocked by the light source unit 22a, and therefore the larger the diameter of the raindrops. The rainfall calculation unit 25c calculates the amount of rainfall per unit time using the raindrop diameter calculated by the diameter calculation unit 25b. Specifically, the rainfall calculation unit 25e calculates the volume V (= 4 / 3 × π × r3) of each raindrop from the diameter R of the raindrop that passes through the raindrop detection area A1, and calculates the amount of rainfall by integrating the volumes of the raindrops detected per unit time (e.g., one minute). Note that π is the circumference constant and r is the radius (= diameter R / 2).

[0042] (2) Configuration of the inspection device 50 The inspection device 50 of the raindrop detection device 20 of this embodiment is an apparatus that inspects the calculation accuracy of the diameter of raindrops detected by the above-mentioned raindrop detection device 20 using a reference raindrop agent B1 (see Figure 14(a) etc.), and as shown in Figure 9, it is equipped with an inspection jig (dropping part) 51, a base part 52, a plate shutter (support plate) 53, and a PC (judgment part) 55.

[0043] Here, the reference raindrop agent B1 is used to test the raindrop detection device 20 and is a sphere whose diameter is specified in advance. The method of testing the raindrop detection device 20 by actually dropping a reference raindrop agent into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20 and calculating the amount of rain from the diameter of the detected reference raindrop agent will be described in detail later.

[0044] The inspection jig (dropping unit) 51 is used to drop a predetermined number of standard raindrop agents B1, each with a specific diameter, onto the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20. As shown in Fig. 10, the inspection jig 51 includes an upper jig (base member) 51a and a lower jig 51b. The upper jig 51a is set on the upper surface of the lower jig 51b in a state where it can slide relative to the lower jig 51b, and as shown in Figure 10, it has set holes (first openings) 51aa in which multiple standard raindrop agents B1 are set.

[0045] 10, the set holes (first openings) 51aa are, for example, 8 columns x 7 rows, a total of 56 through holes, and have opening diameters slightly larger than the diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1. Therefore, the reference raindrop agent B1 set in the set holes 51aa is supported from below by the flat portion of the lower jig 51b, and is held within the set holes 51aa. 10, the lower jig 51b has an upper surface with a larger area than the upper jig 51a and a set hole 51ba that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface. The lower jig 51b slides the upper jig 51a within a stepped portion 51c formed in a concave shape on the upper surface of the lower jig 51b. That is, the upper jig 51a slides relative to the lower jig 51b within the stepped portion 51c formed on the upper surface of the lower jig 51b.

[0046] This allows the set hole 51aa of the upper jig 51a and the set hole (first opening) 51ba of the lower jig 51b to be moved to a position where they overlap in a planar view, so that the standard raindrop agent B1 held in the set hole 51aa of the upper jig 51a can be dropped one level down into the set hole 51ba of the lower jig 51b (see Figures 14(a) to 14(b)). As shown in FIG. 11, the base portion 52 has a support portion 52a, a slide groove 52b, a drop hole 52c, and a cylindrical portion 52d.

[0047] The support portion 52a is a portion of the base portion 52 on which the inspection jig 51 is set, and has a slide groove 52b and a drop hole 52c formed on the upper surface thereof, as shown in FIG. The slide groove 52b is a concave groove along which a plate shutter (support portion) 53 (described later) slides, and as shown in FIG. 11, a drop hole 52c is provided near the center thereof.

[0048] The drop hole 52c is a portion that communicates with the opening 21a of the raindrop detection device 20, and is positioned directly above the opening 21a when the raindrop detection device 20 is set in the inspection device 50. The reference raindrop agent B1 dropped from the inspection jig 51 passes through the drop hole 52c by natural fall, and the reference raindrop agent B1 is detected in the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20.

[0049] The cylindrical portion 52d is a cylindrical member that forms the drop hole 52c, and is provided so as to extend downward from the rear surface side of the support portion 52a. The plate shutter (support part) 53 is a member that is operated when dropping the reference raindrop agent B1 one by one from the inspection jig 51 into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20, and as shown in Figure 12, has a plate-shaped member 53a, a drop hole (second opening) 53b, and an opening 53c.

[0050] The plate shutter 53 is slid in a desired direction using the driving force of a motor or the like. The plate-like member 53a is installed so as to fit into the slide groove 52b of the base portion 52 described above, and slides along the slide groove 52b. The plate-like member 53a is also provided with a drop hole (second opening) 53b and an opening 53c.

[0051] The drop holes (second openings) 53b are through holes formed to allow multiple standard raindrop agents B1 set in the set holes 51aa, 51ba of the inspection jig 51 to drip, and as shown in Figure 12, eight of them are provided diagonally with respect to the sliding direction (longitudinal direction). As a result, the reference raindrop agent B1, which was supported on the leftmost surface shown in Figure 12 before dripping, is dripped one by one at the timing when the drop hole 53b on the leftmost side in the figure overlaps with the set hole 51aa in a planar view.

[0052] Then, when the seven standard raindrop agents B1 set in the set holes 51aa are dropped from the drop hole 53b on the left side of the figure, the seven standard raindrop agents B1 set in the set holes 51aa in the second row are dropped from the drop hole 53b second from the left in the figure. In this way, the eight drop holes 53b corresponding to the eight rows of set holes 51aa move in order to positions overlapping with the set holes 51aa, allowing the standard raindrop agents B1 to be dropped one by one.

[0053] The PC (determining unit) 55 is connected to the raindrop detection device 20 and the inspection device 50, and has a monitor (display unit) 55a as shown in FIG. The PC 55 compares the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 dropped into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20 by the inspection jig 51, calculated by the diameter calculation unit 25b of the raindrop detection device 20, with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1, and determines whether the difference satisfies a predetermined condition. More specifically, the PC 55 determines the raindrop detection device 20 as pass if, for example, the one-minute rainfall (mm / h) calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 calculated by the diameter calculation unit 25b of the raindrop detection device 20 is within a range of 12.0 to 18.0 mm / h and the number of raindrops matches the actual number of dropped reference raindrop agent B1 (56), and determines the raindrop detection device 20 as fail if it is outside the range.

[0054] The monitor (display unit) 55a displays information such as the results of the inspection of the raindrop detection device 20 in the PC 55. Here, the test results displayed on the monitor 55a are, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, the test results are displayed as a determination result, the number of raindrops detected in the test, and the amount of rainfall per minute. Here, the PC 55 determines whether or not the "number of raindrops" and the value of the one-minute rainfall displayed on the screen of the monitor 55a after one minute satisfy the following conditions. The number of raindrops must be exactly the same as the number of standard raindrop agent B1 dropped from all of the set holes 51aa, "56." - The one-minute rainfall is within the range of 12.0 to 18.0 This allows a user who has inspected the raindrop detection device 20 using the inspection device 50 to check the inspection results on the screen of the monitor 55a.

[0055] Here, the process of dropping the standard raindrop agent B1 one by one onto the raindrop detection area A1 using the inspection jig 51 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c). That is, the reference raindrop agent B1 set in the 56 set holes 51aa provided in the upper jig 51a of the inspection jig 51 shown in Figure 10 is supported on the upper surface of the lower jig 51b arranged below the upper jig 51a, as shown in Figure 14(a). At this time, the set holes 51ba provided in the lower jig 51b are positioned offset in plan view from the set holes 51aa of the upper jig 51a.

[0056] Next, when the upper jig 51a is slid in the direction of the arrow (toward the left) shown in Figure 14(a), the set hole 51aa provided in the upper jig 51a moves to a position where it overlaps with the set hole 51ba of the lower jig 51b in a planar view, as shown in Figure 14(b). As a result, the reference raindrop agent B1 set in the set hole 51aa of the upper jig 51a falls into the set hole 51ba of the lower jig 51b and is supported on the upper surface of the plate shutter 53. At this time, the drop hole 53b provided in the plate shutter 53 is positioned offset in plan view from the set hole 51ba provided in the lower jig 51b.

[0057] Then, when the plate shutter 53 is slid in the direction of the arrow (toward the left) shown in Figure 14(b), the drop hole 53b provided in the plate shutter 53 moves to a position where it overlaps one of the set holes 51ba of the lower jig 51b in a planar view, as shown in Figure 14(c). As a result, the reference raindrop agent B1 set in the setting hole 51ba of the lower jig 51b falls into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20 through the drop hole 53b of the plate shutter 53.

[0058] After that, when the plate shutter 53 is further slid in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the set hole 51ba next to the set hole 51ba into which the reference raindrop agent B1 fell becomes connected to the drop hole 53b, and the reference raindrop agent B1 falls into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20. By repeating this process for eight rows, the eight standard raindrop agents B1 set in the first row of the set holes 51aa of the upper jig 51a and the set holes 51ba of the lower jig 51b can be dropped one by one. Then, the drop holes 53b, which are offset in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the plate shutter 53, drop the eight standard raindrop agents B1 set in the second row one by one, and then drop the standard raindrop agents B1 from the third row to the seventh row in sequence, so that a total of 56 standard raindrop agents B1 can be dropped one by one into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20.

[0059] <Method for inspecting the raindrop detection device 20> The method of inspecting the raindrop detection device 20 performed by the inspection device 50 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0060] That is, in step S11, the inspection device 50 is started up. Next, in step S12, the user sets the inspection jig 51, in which the reference raindrop agent B1 has been set in the setting hole 51aa, in the inspection device 50 using, for example, tweezers. Next, in step S13, in the inspection device 50, the plate shutter 53 is slid in a predetermined direction, and the reference raindrop agent B1 is dropped one by one from the inspection jig 51 into the opening 21a of the raindrop detection device 20 (dropping step).

[0061] Next, in step S14, the PC 55 determines whether the raindrop detection device 20 is within the pass range, depending on whether the rainfall calculated from the measurement result of the diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 detected by the raindrop detection device 20 is within a predetermined range compared with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 (determination step). If the raindrop detection device 20 is determined to be pass, the process proceeds to step S15, and if the raindrop detection device 20 is determined to be fail, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0062] Next, in step S15, since the determination in step S14 is that the test has passed, the process proceeds to step S17, where the test result that the test has passed is displayed on the monitor 55a of the PC 55. On the other hand, in step S16, since the determination in step S14 is that the product has failed, the process proceeds to step S17, where the monitor 55a of the PC 55 displays the test result that the product has failed the test.

[0063] <Major features> The inspection device 50 of this embodiment inspects the raindrop detection device 20 and includes an inspection jig 51 and a PC 55. The inspection jig 51 drops a reference raindrop agent, the diameter of which is specified in advance, into the raindrop detection area A1. The PC 55 compares the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dropped into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20 by the inspection jig 51, calculated by the diameter calculation unit 25b of the raindrop detection device 20, with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determines whether the difference satisfies a predetermined condition. The raindrop detection device 20 includes a light source unit 22a, a light receiving unit 22b, a raindrop detection unit 25a, and a diameter calculation unit 25b. The light source unit 22a emits light in a predetermined direction. The light receiving unit 22b is disposed opposite the light source unit 22a and receives light emitted from the light source unit 22a. The raindrop detection unit 25a detects raindrops that pass through the raindrop detection area A1 between the light source unit 22a and the light receiving unit 22b in response to changes in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 22b. The diameter calculation unit 25b calculates the diameter of the raindrops detected by the raindrop detection unit 25a.

[0064] As a result, a reference raindrop agent B1, the diameter of which is known in advance by the inspection jig 51, is dropped into the raindrop detection area A1 of the raindrop detection device 20, and if the difference between the rainfall calculated from the diameter value of the reference raindrop agent B1 calculated by the diameter calculation unit 25b of the raindrop detection device 20 and the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the raindrop detection device 20 can be determined to be an abnormal individual. Therefore, the raindrop detection device 20 determined to be an abnormal individual can be subjected to a predetermined correction process and used, or determined to be unusable. As a result, variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences can be detected.

[0065] [Other embodiments] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0066] (A) In the above embodiment, the raindrop detection device 50 is described as an example in which the reference raindrop agent B1 is automatically dropped one by one into the raindrop detection area A1 from the inspection jig 51 set on the top of the raindrop detection device 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the inspection jig 151 may be configured such that a support plate 153 is manually pulled out from a main body 151a of an approximately cylindrical base 152 set above the raindrop detection device, and the reference raindrop agent B1 is dropped one by one from a set hole 151aa in which the reference raindrop agent B1 is set.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 17, the inspection jig 151 includes a main body 151 a, a base 152 , and a support plate 153 . The main body 151a is the base of the inspection jig 151, and has a plurality of set holes (first openings) 151aa provided in the approximately square flat surface, a convex portion 151ab that is set to fit into a concave portion 152c on the base portion 152 side, and an insertion portion 151ac into which the support plate 153 is inserted in a slidable state.

[0068] The base 152 is a substantially cylindrical member that is set directly above the opening 21a of the raindrop detection device, and has a cylindrical portion 152a that is set so as to communicate with the opening 21a. The support plate 153 supports from below the multiple reference raindrop agents set in the set holes 151aa of the main body 151a of the inspection jig 151 to prevent them from falling, and is gradually pulled out from the insertion portion 151ac of the main body 151a when the reference raindrop agents are dropped one by one from the inspection jig 151. The support plate 153 also has a plate-shaped portion 153a that supports the reference raindrop agents set in the set holes 151aa, and an inclined portion 153b formed to intersect at a predetermined angle with the direction in which the support plate 153 is pulled out (the alignment direction of the set holes 151aa). As a result, when a plurality of reference raindrop agents are set in the set hole 151aa, by gradually pulling out the support plate 153 from the inspection jig 151, the support from below of the reference raindrop agents is released by the inclined portion 153b, and the reference raindrop agents can be dropped one by one.

[0069] (B) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the PC 55 performs a pass / fail judgment on the raindrop detection device 20 based on whether the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent B1 dropped and measured by the raindrop detection device 20 is within a predetermined range. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the difference between the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent measured by the raindrop detection device and the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter value of the reference raindrop agent is less than a predetermined threshold, the raindrop detection device may be judged to be pass.

[0070] (C) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the variation in diameter calculation accuracy due to individual differences in the raindrop detection devices 20 is inspected by the inspection device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the calculation accuracy of the raindrop detection device is outside the allowable range, a correction process to correct the calculation result is performed inside the raindrop detection device 20, and the inspection device may then inspect the corrected raindrop detection device.

[0071] (D) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the inspection device 50 inspected the raindrop detection device 20 using a spherical reference raindrop agent. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if there is a device that can produce and drop raindrops whose diameter can be accurately defined, the test may be carried out using actual raindrops (water droplets) as the reference raindrop agent.

[0072] (E) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a sphere was used as the reference raindrop agent to set the correction equation, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the raindrop detection device may be tested using a reference raindrop agent having a shape other than a sphere.

[0073] <Additional Notes> The raindrop detection device inspection device according to the first invention is an inspection device that inspects the raindrop detection device, The raindrop detection device is a light source unit that emits light in a predetermined direction; a light receiving unit disposed opposite the light source unit and configured to receive light emitted from the light source unit; A raindrop detection unit that detects raindrops that have passed through a raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit in accordance with a change in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit; a diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit; It is equipped with A dripping unit that drips a reference raindrop agent having a predetermined diameter onto the raindrop detection area; a determination unit that compares the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dropped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device by the dropping unit with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determines whether the difference satisfies a predetermined condition; and It is equipped with:

[0074] The raindrop detection device inspection device according to the second invention is the raindrop detection device inspection device according to the first invention, The dropping unit includes a test jig that drops a predetermined number of the reference raindrop agent onto the raindrop detection area. The raindrop detection device inspection device according to the third invention is the raindrop detection device inspection device according to the first or second invention, The device further includes a display unit that displays the determination result from the determination unit.

[0075] A raindrop detection device inspection device according to a fourth invention is an inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to any one of the first to third inventions, The reference raindrop is a sphere. The inspection jig according to the fifth invention is an inspection jig used in the inspection device for the raindrop detection device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, The inspection jig has a base member, a plurality of first openings formed in the base member into which the reference raindrop agents are set one by one, and a support plate that supports the reference raindrop agents set in the first openings from below and slides relative to the base member so that the reference raindrop agents are dropped one by one from the first openings.

[0076] An inspection jig according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the inspection jig according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, The support plate includes a second opening having a gap larger than that of the reference raindrop agent and configured to drop raindrops one by one onto the raindrop detection area when the support plate is moved to a position overlapping with the first opening in a plan view. A raindrop detection device inspection method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an inspection method for inspecting a raindrop detection device, The raindrop detection device is a light source unit that emits light in a predetermined direction; a light receiving unit disposed opposite the light source unit and configured to receive light emitted from the light source unit; A raindrop detection unit that detects raindrops that have passed through a raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit in accordance with a change in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit; a diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit; It is equipped with A dripping step of dripping a reference raindrop agent having a predetermined diameter onto the raindrop detection area; a determining step of comparing a rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dropped on the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device in the dropping step with a rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determining whether the detection accuracy satisfies a predetermined condition; It is equipped with: [Industrial Applicability]

[0077] The raindrop detection device inspection device of the present invention has the effect of being able to detect variations in raindrop detection accuracy due to individual differences, and is therefore widely applicable as an inspection device for inspecting raindrop detection devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 20 Raindrop detector 21 Housing 21a opening 21b Inner wall 21c Ceiling surface 21d Outer surface 22a Light source section 22b Light receiving part 22c board 22d, 22e lenses 23 Legs 24 base 24a Top side 25 Microcomputer 25a Raindrop detection part 25b Diameter calculation section 25c Rainfall calculation part 25d Memory (storage section) 26a DC cut section 26b Amplification section 26c AC / DC light intensity conversion unit 26d Amplifier 26e AC environmental component cancellation section 26f AC modulation driver 30 illuminance meter 40 Thermo-hygro-barometer 50 Inspection equipment 51 Inspection jig (dropping part) 51a Upper jig (base member) 51aa Set hole (first opening) 51b Lower jig 51ba Set hole (first opening) 51c Step 52 Base 52a Support part 52b Slide groove 52c Fall Hole 52d Cylindrical part 53 Plate shutter (support plate) 53a Plate-shaped member 53b Drop Hole (Second Opening) 53c aperture 55 PC (judgment section) 55a Monitor (display) 151 Inspection jig 151a Main body 151aa Set hole (first opening) 151ab convex part 151ac insertion part 152 Base 152a Cylindrical part 152c recess 153 Support plate 153a Plate-shaped part 153b Slope A1 Raindrop detection area B1 Standard raindrop agent

Claims

1. An inspection device for inspecting a raindrop detection device, The raindrop detection device is a light source unit that emits light in a predetermined direction; a light receiving unit disposed opposite the light source unit and configured to receive light emitted from the light source unit; A raindrop detection unit that detects raindrops that have passed through a raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit in accordance with a change in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit; a diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit; It is equipped with A dripping unit that drips a reference raindrop agent having a predetermined diameter onto the raindrop detection area; a determination unit that compares the rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dropped onto the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device by the dropping unit with the rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determines whether the difference satisfies a predetermined condition; and A raindrop detection device inspection device comprising:

2. The dripping unit includes an inspection jig that drips a predetermined number of the reference raindrop agent onto the raindrop detection area, 2. An inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to claim 1.

3. Further provided is a display unit that displays the determination result of the determination unit.

3. An inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The reference raindrop agent is a sphere.

3. An inspection device for a raindrop detection device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. An inspection jig used in the inspection device for the raindrop detection device according to claim 1 or 2, The inspection jig includes a base member, a plurality of first openings formed in the base member and into which the reference raindrop agents are set one by one, and a support plate that supports the reference raindrop agents set in the first openings from below and slides relative to the base member to drip the reference raindrop agents one by one from the first openings. Inspection jig.

6. The support plate has a gap larger than the reference raindrop agent and includes a second opening that drops raindrops one by one into the raindrop detection area when moved to a position overlapping with the first opening in a plan view. The inspection jig according to claim 5 .

7. A method for inspecting a raindrop detection device, comprising: The raindrop detection device is a light source unit that emits light in a predetermined direction; a light receiving unit disposed opposite the light source unit and configured to receive light emitted from the light source unit; A raindrop detection unit that detects raindrops that have passed through a raindrop detection area between the light source unit and the light receiving unit in accordance with a change in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit; a diameter calculation unit that calculates the diameter of the raindrop detected by the raindrop detection unit; It is equipped with A dripping step of dripping a reference raindrop agent having a predetermined diameter onto the raindrop detection area; a determining step of comparing a rainfall calculated from the diameter of the reference raindrop agent dropped on the raindrop detection area of the raindrop detection device in the dropping step with a rainfall calculated from the actual diameter of the reference raindrop agent, and determining whether the detection accuracy satisfies a predetermined condition; A method for inspecting a raindrop detection device comprising:

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