SENSOR APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING ON A VEHICLE WINDOW TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE SUN

Abstract

A sensor apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle window for determining the position of the sun includes at least one lens body and at least one detector with photosensitive regions, wherein the lens body has a radiation entry side and a radiation exit side which faces the detector. The sensor apparatus is wherein an opaque structure is arranged inside the lens body, at least four lens sections of the lens body are defined by the opaque structure, a photosensitive region of the detector is assigned to each lens section, and each lens section has at least one convex lens contour on the radiation exit side of the lens body.

Claims

1. A sensor apparatus for mounting on a vehicle window for determining the position of the sun, wherein the sensor apparatus has at least one lens body and at least one detector with photosensitive regions, wherein the lens body has a radiation entry side and a radiation exit side facing the detector, wherein an opaque structure is arranged inside the lens body, at least four lens sections of the lens body are defined by the opaque structure, a photosensitive region of the detector is assigned to each lens section, and each lens section has at least one convex lens contour on the radiation exit side of the lens body.

2. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the lens body is of substantially flat construction on the radiation entry side facing the window of the vehicle.

3. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the opaque structure is constructed in the form of a cross with four cross arms, that a lens section of the lens body in the form of a quadrant is formed between each two adjacent cross arms of the cruciform opaque structure.

4. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein at least portions of the cross arms of the cruciform structure are wedge-shaped.

5. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the vertices of the acute angles defined between the wedge faces are situated on the outer sides of the structure at the outer ends of the cross arms.

6. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein a notional ground plane is defined by the cross arms of the structure, and a frustum is at least partially defined by the ground plane and wedge faces of the cross arms arranged at an angle to the ground plane.

7. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the surfaces of the cross arms arranged parallel to the ground plane defined by the cross arms are arranged to face the detector, and the wedge faces arranged at an angle to the notional ground plane defined by the cross arms are arranged to face the radiation entry side of the lens body.

8. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the radiation entry side of the lens body has a structured surface.

9. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein in the mounted state the photosensitive regions of the detector are arranged between the cross arms of the cruciform structure on the side of the lens body facing away from the window.

10. The sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the convex lens contours are domed outwardly in the direction of the respective photosensitive regions on the side of the lens body facing the detector.

11. A vehicle with a window and a sensor apparatus according to Claim 1 arranged on the window.

12. A method for determining the position of the sun, in particular with a sensor apparatus according to Claim 1, with a cruciform opaque structure having four cross arms, wherein four translucent quadrants are formed between the cross arms, wherein at least one photosensitive region is assigned to each quadrant, wherein the light intensity of the light incident on four photosensitive regions and thus also a shadow cast by the cross arms onto the quadrants is captured by the four photosensitive regions independently of each other, and the relative position of the sun to the vehicle is calculated from the four captured light intensity values.

13. The method according to Claim 12, wherein azimuth and elevation of the sun's position are calculated.

14. The method according to Claim 12, wherein the position of the sun is determined from the four measured light intensity values by means of an algorithm.

15. The method according to Claim 12, wherein the position of the sun is determined from the four measured light intensity values by means of trigonometric angle functions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the following text, the invention will be explained further with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawing. Specifically, the schematic illustrations show in:

[0024] FIG. 1: a sensor apparatus with a lens body, an opaque structure and a detector;

[0025] FIG. 2: an opaque element; and

[0026] FIG. 3: a sensor apparatus according to FIG. 1 mounted on a window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a sensor apparatus 1 with a lens body 2, an opaque structure 3 arranged inside the lens body 2, and a detector 4. The lens body 2 has a radiation entry side 5 and a radiation exit side 6. The radiation entry side 5 of the lens body 2 has a substantially flat construction and is intended for lying flush against a window 7 of a vehicle. An opaque structure 3 is arranged inside the lens body 2. In particular, the opaque structure 3 may be arranged in the volume of the lens body 2. The opaque structure 3 is of substantially cruciform construction and has four cross arms 8. Portions of the cross arms 8 are wedge-shaped. The cross arms 8 each have a cuboid portion 16, on which the wedge-shaped portion 17 is situated. A notional plane is defined by the cross arms 8, in particular by the cuboid portion 16 of the cross arms 8. The surfaces of the cross arms 8 that face the detector 4 lie in this notional plane. The wedge faces 9 of the cross arms 8, which are arranged to face the radiation entry side 5 are at an angle to this notional plane. Lens sections 10 in the form of quadrants are formed between each two adjacent cross arms 8. A photosensitive region 11 of the detector 4 is assigned to each lens section 10. The photosensitive regions 11 are arranged in a 22 grid. Each of the lens sections 10 has a convex lens structure 12 domed outwards in the direction of the photosensitive regions 11 on the radiation exit side 6. The sunlight that enters the lens body 2 through the radiation entry side 5 is directed onto the respective photosensitive regions 11 through the convex lens structures 12.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cruciform opaque structure 3 according to FIG. 1. A lens section 10, to which a photosensitive region 11 of a detector 4 is assigned, is arranged between each two adjacent cross arms 8. A portion of the cross arms 8 is wedge-shaped, wherein a notional plane in which a surface of the cross arms is situated is defined by the cross arms 8. The wedge faces 9 extend at an angle to the defined notional plane. From the middle 13 of the structure 3, the wedge faces 9 slope outwards towards the notional plane. Acute angles 15 are formed between the notional defined plane and each of the wedge faces 9. The wedge faces 9 adjoin a top face 14 situated in the middle 13 of the structure 3. A frustum may be partially defined by the top face 14 and the wedge faces 9.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a sensor apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1. The converging wedge faces 9 are arranged to face the window 7. The convex lens structures 12 on the radiation exit side 6 are arranged to face the detector 4. The light that enters through the window 7 and is guided through the lens body 2 is directed onto the photosensitive regions 11 of the detector 4.