FR3087712A1 - DOOR CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a door control device (2) for vehicles adapted to close a door without giving a feeling of discomfort to a user, an information notification tool (24) implements notification of various information, and an open-close controller (27) controls the opening or closing of a vehicle door, the open-close controller (27) being configured to accommodate in a situation involving a notification condition prescribed is satisfied by an open state of the vehicle door, for the information notification tool (24) to give a notification to request a door closing operation, and for adaptation in a situation involving an open state door uninterrupted with the elapse of a prescribed time interval after the notification given to request the door closing operation, to automatically implement a door closing command. Abstract figure: figure 1

Description

Description Title of the invention: DOOR CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Technical field

The present invention relates to door control devices for vehicles.

Prior art

To cope with the state of a door left open despite a situation involving a user unable to manually close the door, document JP 2013-19158 A describes a technique for automatically implementing a Stack closing control by detection of the user's intention to close the door.

Technical problem 100031 Incidentally, in a navigation system configured so that a vehicle is driven automatically on a road, in which a user is traveling, a vehicle movement control is automatically implemented, without requiring assistance by the user , may be present.

At the same time, automatically controlled situations can be foreseen, including, inter alia, notification of related information, and, opening-closing operations of a door.

In this regard, the control of the opening or closing of the door is also part of the control of the vehicle and depends on the way of controlling the system.

There may therefore be a user who employs such a navigation system and who neglects to show his intention to open or close the door.

In such a navigation system, if the door in an open state was not closed by the user, the door would be left as it is, open, even after implementation of the technology described in JP 2013-19158 A, until the user shows an intention to close the door.

Operational problems can result, such as a condition of the vehicle unable to start.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a door control device for vehicles adapted to close a door without giving a feeling of discomfort to a user.

Technical solution

To solve the problem described, according to aspects of the present invention, there is provided a door control device for vehicles comprising an information notification tool configured to implement notification of various information, and a controller. opening-closing configured for adaptation in a situation involving a prescribed notification condition satisfied with an open state of a door of a vehicle, for the information notification tool 2 to give a prescribed notification to request a door closing operation, and for adaptation in a situation involving an open state of the door with a prescribed time interval elapsed after the prescribed notification, to automatically implement a door closing command.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the opening-closing controller is configured to define the prescribed time interval on the basis of a set of information relating to people going up or down when the door is open.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the opening-closing controller is configured to acquire an age of people or a number of people, as information relating to people going up or down when the door is open.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the open-close controller is configured to acquire an age of the persons as information relating to the persons ascending or descending when the door is open, and to adjust the prescribed time interval so that it is longer, as the age of the people increases.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the opening-closing controller is configured to acquire a number of people as information relating to people going up or down when the door is open, and to adjust the prescribed time interval so that it be longer, as the number of people increases.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the open-close controller is configured to modify the prescribed time interval as a function of current weather conditions or of an air conditioning state.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the prescribed notification condition comprises a condition as to the seated state of the persons in the vehicle, or a condition of wearing the seat belt of the persons in the vehicle.

Benefits provided

As described above, according to aspects of this invention, the door can be closed without giving a feeling of discomfort to a user.

Brief description of the drawings 100151 Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which: FIG.

1 100161 I fie. ' I is an overall structural diagram of a driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig.

2 100171 Ifie.21 is a diagram showing an example of a personal information setting screen at an information terminal in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of this invention; Fig.

3 100181 Ifig. 31 is a diagram showing an example set of information relating to a reservation status in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 4

[0019] [fig.4] is a diagram showing an example of a map for determining a range to be specified from a combination of precipitation and a wind speed in the system (driverless operation according to modes of embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5

[0020] [fig.5] is a diagram showing an example of a card for determining a range to be specified from an outside temperature in the driverless operating system according to (the modes (the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. . 6

[0021] [fig.6] is a diagram showing an example of a card for determining a range to be specified from a difference between an outside temperature and an inside temperature in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 7

[0022] [fig.7] is a diagram showing an example of a card for determining a range to be specified from the number of passengers in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 8

[0023] [Fig.8] is a flowchart showing procedures for a door opening control process in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 9

[0024] [Fig.9] is a flowchart showing procedures for a door close control process in the driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention.

Description of the embodiments

[0025] According to embodiments of the present invention, there is disclosed a door control device 2 for vehicles comprising an information notification tool 24 configured to implement notification of various information, and an information controller. open-close 27 configured for adaptation in a situation involving that a prescribed notification condition is satisfied by an open state of a door on a vehicle, for the information notification tool 24 to give a prescribed notification in order to request a door closing operation, and for adaptation in a situation involving an open state of the door with the elapse of a prescribed time interval after the prescribed notification, to automatically implement a door closing command .

[0026] Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the door control device 2 for vehicles makes it possible to close the door without giving the user any feeling of discomfort.

[0027] Details of a driverless operating system according to embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the driverless operating system, generally designated by the numeral 1, is designed to include, for example, a set of passenger buses as vehicles each provided with a door control device 2 for vehicles, a server device 3 as an information processor governing the entire system, and a multiplicity of users each carrying an information terminal 4 as a registered mobile device .

The door control device 2 is provided in each vehicle to control a representative door (hereinafter referred to simply by the term door) representing a plurality of doors forming targets to be controlled individually in opening or closing in the vehicle.

The door control device 2 comprises a combination of a passenger information acquisition tool 21 and a weather acquisition tool 22.

What is more, the door controller 2 comprises a combination of a communication tool 23 and an information notification tool 24.

Further, the door controller 2 includes a combination of an air conditioning controller 25, a position information detector 26, and an open-close controller 27.

The passenger information acquisition tool 21 is configured to implement the acquisition of information relating to each passenger having to travel in the vehicle.

The passenger information acquisition tool 21 may well include, for example, a seat sensor, a seat belt sensor, a camera assembly, and the like.

The meteorological acquisition tool 22 is configured to implement the acquisition of information relating to the meteorological conditions around the vehicle.

The weather acquisition tool 22 may well include, for example, an outdoor temperature sensor, an airspeed sensor, a raindrop sensor, and the like.

The communication tool 23 is configured to use communication media, such as wireless communication networks, to implement communications therethrough with the server device 3 and the like, establishing thus transmission and reception of information, as required.

The information notification tool 24 is configured to implement the notification of a range of information involving vision, hearing, and the like, to the passengers in the vehicle.

The information notification tool 24 may well include, for example, a monitor assembly, a speaker assembly, a lamp assembly, a counter assembly and / or a supplied horn assembly (s). ) inside the vehicle, as well as a liquid crystal display assembly provided on the outside of the vehicle.

The information notification tool 24 may well employ a display tool 42, described below, of the information terminal 4 to implement an information notification, as required.

The air conditioning controller 25 and the opening-closing controller 27 are respectively configured with a computer unit comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a combination of a RAM. (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory) and flash memory to store data such as backup data, and a combination an input port and an output port.

On each computer unit, the ROM stores various data including constants, maps, and the like, as well as a set of programs usable by the computer unit to operate it as an air conditioning controller or controller. 'open-close 27.

In other words, the computer unit is configured for the CPU to execute programs stored in the ROM, using the RAM as a working area, as needed, to function as an air conditioning controller 25 or more. open-close controller 27 according to the present embodiments.

The air conditioning controller 25 is configured to control an air conditioner on bases such as an exterior temperature of the vehicle and an interior temperature which is a temperature in a passenger compartment, to make the temperature in the passenger compartment equivalent to a predefined temperature .

The position information detector 26 is configured to cooperate with a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) antenna not described, to receive radio waves through it from GNSS satellites, and to use information contained in the 6 radio waves received, in order to acquire from them a set of position information, such as a combination of a latitude and a longitude, relative to a current location.

The open-close controller 27 is connected at the input port, among other things, to the aforementioned passenger information acquisition tool 21, and to a range of sensors involving the tool of weather acquisition 22 and the position information detector 26.

The open-close controller 27 is connected at the output port, among others, to the aforementioned communication tool 23, and to a range of control targets relating to a representative door not shown as well as to the information notification tool 24.

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to be based on a set of information detected by the array of sensors, in order to implement commands to open or close the vehicle door.

The air conditioning controller 25 and the opening-closing controller 27 are interconnected to each other by CAN communication lines (controller area network, DC Controller Arca Network) constituting a local network. (LAN, from English Local Arca Network) intra-vehicle conforming to a standard such as a CAN standard, for example.

The air conditioning controller 25 and the open-close controller 27 are configured to send and receive signals such as control signals between them via the CAN communication lines.

The server device 3 is configured with a computer unit comprising a CPU, a memory assembly such as a combination of a random access memory, a ROM and a hard disk device, and a combination an input port and an output port.

In the server device 3, the hard disk device stores a set of programs usable for the server device 3 to function as a combination of an information collection tool 31 and a management tool. information 32.

In other words, the server device 3 is configured for the CPU to execute programs read from the hard disk device, as needed, to thereby function as the combination of the information collection tool 31 and of the information management tool 32.

The server device 3 comprises a communication device 33 configured to communicate, among other things, with the door control device 2 for vehicles and the information terminal 4 through communication media such as a network of radio communication, to perform transmission and reception of information.

The information collection tool 31 is configured to receive, among other things, passenger information and reservation information described later, from the information terminal 4 and store them in the disk device. hard at server device 3.

The information management tool 32 is configured to operate on the base of, among other things, passenger information and reservation information stored in the hard disk device at the server device 3, to generate and managing, among other things, information relating to a reservation status at each bus stop where the vehicle is to pick up or drop off a passenger or passengers, and information relating to each passenger to get on or off at each bus stop.

The information management tool 32 is configured to respond to a set of requests from the door control device 2 for vehicles comprising, among other things, a request for information on reservation states and a request information on the passengers, by sending to the door control device 2 for vehicles a set of information generated for this purpose comprising, inter alia, information relating to reservation states and information relating to passengers.

The information terminal 4 is configured with a computer unit comprising a CPU, a combination of a RAM, a ROM and a flash memory, and a combination of an input port and a an output port.

In the computer unit at the information terminal 4, the ROM stores a combination of an OS (operating system) and a set of usable application programs by the IT unit to function as an information terminal 4.

In other words, the computer unit is configured for the CPU to execute application programs on the OS, as needed, to thereby function as an information terminal 4.

The information terminal 4 can quite be composed, for example, of a smartphone, a personal computer or the like.

The information terminal 4 is configured with an operating tool 41, a display tool 42, a position information detector 43, a communication tool 44 and a controller 45.

The operating tool 41 is configured to receive operational input data from a user.

The operating tool 41 may well be configured with, for example, a touch sensor, a set of keys, a keyboard and / or the like.

The display tool 42 is configured to display images, texts and the like prepared at the controller 45.

The display tool 42 may well be configured with an image display device such as a liquid crystal display.

The position information detector 43 is configured to cooperate with an undescribed GNSS antenna, to receive therethrough radio waves from GNSS satellites, and to use information contained in the received radio waves, in order to acquiring therefrom a set of positional information, such as a combination of latitude and longitude, relative to a current location.

The communication tool 44 is configured to use communication media, such as wireless communication networks, to implement communications therethrough with the server device 3 and the like, establishing thus a transmission and reception of information, according to the needs.

The controller 45 is configured with programs operating on the OS at the level of the information terminal 4.

The controller 45 is configured to control, via the OS at the information terminal 4, associated command targets comprising, inter alia, the operating tool 41, the display tool 42, the data detector. Position information 43, communications tool 44, and the like, for implementing, among other things, acquiring information, displaying images, and sending information, as desired.

The controller 45 is configured so that "each user or his assistant" (hereinafter referred to collectively as a user) operates the operating tool 41 to enter by the latter, among others, a combination of a set of "information relating to a passenger concerned", in other words "information relating to the user" and a set of "information relating to a reservation concerned", in other words "information relating to the time, place at which , and the vehicle to get into, and the place to get off ”.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information terminal 4 is provided with a touch screen 46 serving as a set of integrated hardware elements of the operating tool 41 and of the display tool 42.

Controller 45 is configured so that touch screen 46 displays a personal information setting screen, requiring a user to enter a set of passenger information.

As illustrated in the left section of FIG. 2 (i.e., lower half of the drawing sheet of Fig. 2), the personal information setting screen to be displayed includes a combination of a personal name entry line 101, a date of birth entry line 102, a gender identification entry line 103 and an address entry line 104, and a combination of a drop-down menu (menu) key of door 105 (operation process) setting, a personal setting (or personal situation setting) pull-down menu (menu) key 106, and a door mode (setting menu) pull-down menu key. payment 107, as well as a save (configuration data) button (key) 108.

Controller 45 is configured to respond to pressing a displayed region of any one of entry lines 101, 102, 103, and 104 and keys 105, 106, 107, and 108, making a determination such that a corresponding treatment is selected, followed by the implementation of the treatment.

This process can also include displaying a letter entry screen.

The personal name entry line 101 is displayed in the form of a combination of blanks to allow a user to enter his last name therein.

The date of birth entry line 102 is displayed as a series of blanks, in a row, to allow the user to enter numbers therein representing their year, month and day of birth.

The gender identification entry line 103 is displayed as an entry tool for the user to identify their gender.

The controller 45 may well be configured so that the input tool is displayed, for example, as a combination of a toggle button representing a man 109 and a toggle button representing a woman 110 at the same time. choice.

The address entry line 104 is an entry tool making it possible to enter the user's address.

Door setting pull-down menu key 105 is a setting tool for defining information relating to a method of performing door open-close operations.

The controller 45 is configured to respond to a press of the door adjustment drop-down menu key 105, by expanding a "door adjustment" menu, as illustrated for example in the central section of FIG. 2.

The “door adjustment” menu, placed under the control of the controller 45, displays a “door opening-closing speed” adjustment tool to define a speed of the door opening-closing operations by choosing between, by example, three options: "high", "medium" and "low".

It should be noted that in the figure, each black circle represents a selected state, and each white circle represents an unselected state.

In addition, the "door adjustment" menu, placed under the control of the controller 45, displays a "door open-close time" adjustment tool to define a time interval taken by the operations of door open-close by choosing between, for example, three options: "long", "medium" and "short".

In addition, the “door setting” menu, placed under the control of the controller 45, displays an “information notification sound alert” setting tool to set a volume of information notification sound alerts associated with operations. door opening-closing by choosing between, for example, three options: "high", "medium" and "low".

The personal setting drop-down menu key 106 is a setting tool for defining a set of personal information as criteria that the user thinks should "be given special consideration" or a set of personal information as criteria that the user thinks should be "given special consideration". the user thinks “needs special attention”.

Controller 45 is configured to respond to a press of the personal setting pull-down menu key 106, expanding a "personal setting" menu, as illustrated for example in the right section of FIG. 2.

The "personal adjustment" menu, placed under the control of the controller 45, has a column of adjustment points which is displayed therein so that an arbitrary pattern of combination thereof is selected for adjustment among eight options, to namely: "motor handicap", "use of a cane", "visual handicap", "weakness of grip", "hearing handicap", "toddler", "pregnancy" and "injury".

Controller 45 is configured to provide no restriction on a range of tuning models, and also to allow no tuning.

The payment method drop-down menu key 107 is an adjustment tool for defining a payment method for a tariff or the like.

A payment card, or the like, can be chosen as the payment method.

The save button 108 is a key making it possible to implement a transmission to the device forming a server 3, taking into account a set of information having been entered or defined until then after a last transmission at the level of the personal name entry line 101, date of birth entry line 102, gender ID entry line 103, address entry line 104, setting drop-down menu key gate 105, the personal setting drop-down menu key 106 and the payment method drop-down menu key 107.

In other words, the controller 45 is configured to respond to a selection by pressing a user on the save button 108, transmitting to the server device 3 a passenger identifier (identification number) which is an identifier that identifies the user as a passenger, in combination with information entered or defined until then after the last transmission at the personal name entry line 101, of the date of birth entry line 102 , Gender ID entry line 103, Address entry line 104, Door setting drop-down menu key 105, Personal setting drop-down menu key 106, and payment method drop-down menu 107, as they are collected as a user's passenger information set.

At the level of the server-forming device 3, the information collection tool 31 is configured to respond to a reception (at the level of the server-forming device 3 of the information terminal 4) of a set of passenger information. combined with a passenger identifier of any passenger, adding or overwriting, if necessary to accumulate, all or an arbitrary subset of the information set then received, 11 into a passenger information set associated with the Passenger ID of the passenger and accumulated in the hard disk device of the server device 3.

It should be noted that the passenger identifier of any passenger can completely be replaced by any information applicable to the identification of this passenger.

The controller 45 is configured to display on the touch screen 46 a reservation screen configured for, for example, a user to enter therein a set of information relating to points of his reservation to be defined, including, for example, a bus stop to which the user must board, as well as a combination of a date and time to which to board.

The controller 45 is configured to manage the set of information, including the bus stop where to get on, the combination of the date and time to get on, as well as a bus stop where to get off, at as they are entered on the reservation screen, to send this to the server device 3 as a set of reservation information of a "relevant passenger" (i.e. of the aforementioned user) in combination with information identifying the passenger.

At the level of the server-forming device 3, the information collection tool 31 is configured to respond to a reception from the information terminal 4 of the reservation information set, by causing the device to hard disk of the server device 3 stores it in association with information identifying the passenger.

At the information terminal 4 of each user concerned, the controller 45 is configured to operate after a transmission of a set of reservation information to the server device 3, the latter being followed by a response of the server device 3 confirming the completion of an associated reservation, for example initially, at a prescribed time preceding a reservation time of the day of the trip, by sending to the server device 3 at each prescribed time, a set position information relating to the current location of this information terminal 4 (in other words, the aforementioned user) acquired by the position information detector 43, in combination with information identifying the passenger.

At the level of the server device 3, the information collection tool 31 is configured to respond to a reception of the set of position information from the aforementioned information terminal 4, by sending the set of information from position received, which is combined with information identifying that passenger, to the "door control device 2 for vehicles" provided in a vehicle in which the user is intended to make a trip via the described reservation.

Thus, in the "door control device 2 for vehicles", the opening-closing controller 27 is suitable for analyzing a set of current 12 successive locations before and after the passenger's journey, or a sub- whole thereof, as needed, to obtain a succession of points representing a passenger flow line.

At the level of the server device 3, the information management tool 32 is configured to operate on the basis of a set of data relating to the reservations stored on the hard disk device in the server device 3, to generate (that is to say to edit and analyze data to be prepared) a set of arguments regarding the reservation states in the form of a listing of the reservation conditions and of the results of analyzes relating to them by vehicle and by bus stop, as for example illustrated in FIG. 3.

In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there is generated, as a set of data relating to a reservation state by vehicle at a respective bus stop on a relevant operating route, an argument in the form of an information list listing a set of information concerning, inter alia: a subset thereof covering the times of the day including an expected time of arrival at the bus stop; a subset of it covering a combination of numbers of people including the total number of people currently in the vehicle, the number of people as passengers or passengers in the passenger compartment of the vehicle when it is stop at the bus stop, the number of people as a passenger or passengers about to get off at the bus stop, the number of people as a passenger or passengers about to get on at the bus stop bus and the number of people as passengers or passengers in the passenger compartment when leaving the bus stop; and a subset thereof covering a set of personal information relating to each passenger currently in the passenger compartment or waiting at the bus stop.

At the level of the door control device 2 for vehicles, the opening-closing controller 27 is configured to acquire such a set of data relating to a reservation state associated with an upcoming bus stop, and to operate on the basis of this data set, to define a set of points to be specified for a sequence of door open-close operations at the bus stop.

The points to be specified include, as listed in a lower section of FIG. 3, a speed of the door opening-closing operations, an audible information notification alert volume, a time required for the door opening and closing operations, a time before notification when closing door, a period of time to elapse after notification of the door closing until an automatic closing operation, etc.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to automatically switch between, as an open-close mode of the door of this vehicle, a manual open-close mode for opening or closing the door in response. to a prescribed open-close operation, and an automatic open-close mode for automatically opening or closing the door without relying on an input open-close operation.

The prescribed opening-closing operation may well include, inter alia, a manual operation to eventually actuate a door switch, such as a direct manual operation of the door, an indirect manual operation to the door. '' using a remote control of the door, or, an indirect manual operation of the door using the information terminal 4.

It should be noted that, as used herein, the term "open-close operation" designates both: the operation of opening or closing the door; and the operation of opening and closing the door.

To make the distinction clear, a combination of terms is sometimes used: “a door opening event” meaning an opening of the door (between the closed state and the open state or en route); “A door closing event” meaning a closing of the door (between the open state and the closed state or while in transit); and "a door open-close event" meaning an opening of the door followed by a closing of the door.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to use the information notification tool 24 to implement the notification of a current state of the open-close mode (or of the command mode. of the open-close command) of the door as being the manual open-close mode or the automatic open-close mode.

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to automatically switch between the manual opening-closing mode and the automatic opening-closing mode depending on a passenger or passengers in the vehicle cabin.

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to operate in a situation not involving any passenger in the passenger compartment, to define the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening command. closing) of the door in automatic open-close mode.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to switch to the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command) of the door depending on whether a prescribed condition is satisfied or not by a set of information relating to a passenger or passengers about to get on or off when the door is operated to open or close or to open and close (or when the open command - door closing is implemented for a door open event, a door close event or a door open-close event).

It should be noted that the door closing event can be triggered after confirmation of the seated state of persons as passenger or passengers in the passenger compartment. 14

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to: adjust the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command) of the door in automatic open-close mode, in a situation involving a current location of "passengers or intended passengers" within a prescribed distance range from the vehicle; and set the open-close mode (or the command mode of the open-close command) of the door to the manual open-close mode, in a situation involving a current location of persons not present within the prescribed distance range from the vehicle.

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to adjust the prescribed distance range according to the current weather conditions, a condition of air conditioning in the passenger compartment of the vehicle or the number of people as passengers or passengers to get into the vehicle.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to configure, as a prescribed distance range, a specific distance range based on a set of information comprising a set of data relating to, inter alia, precipitation and a wind speed, for example, which the weather acquisition tool 22 has acquired as a data set representing current weather conditions.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to set the specific distance range to a lower value, as the precipitation increases, and further, to set the specific distance range to a lower value, as the wind speed increases.

[0090] The open-close controller 27 is configured to employ, for example, a two-dimensional map in the form of a matrix as illustrated in FIG. 4, to define the prescribed distance range over a specific distance range as depending on the variables of precipitation and wind speed.

By proceeding in this way, in bad weather, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) of the door is prevented from switching to automatic opening-closing mode, unless a passenger needing to board is nearby.

Therefore, tendencies that the door opens automatically can be effectively suppressed, which could cause a passenger or passengers already on board to experience discomfort.

The meteorological acquisition tool 22 can be configured to acquire information representative of the meteorological conditions at a current location, from external servers via the communication tool 23.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to define, as a prescribed distance range, a specific distance range based on a set of information including a set of data on an outside temperature, for example, that the meteorological acquisition tool 22 acquired as a data set representing current meteorological conditions.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to set the specific distance range to a low value, when the outside temperature is in an unpleasant high temperature range or in an unpleasant low temperature range.

[0094] The open-close controller 27 is configured to employ, for example, a three-dimensional matrix map as shown in Figure 5, to define the prescribed distance range as a specific distance range as as a function of a variable that is the outside temperature.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to define, as a prescribed distance range, a specific distance range based on a set of information comprising a set of data relating to a difference between the outside temperature and interior temperature, for example, as acquired from the air conditioning controller 25 to form a data set representing an air conditioning condition in the vehicle.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to set the specific distance range to a lower value, as the difference between the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature increases.

[0096] The open-close controller 27 is configured to employ, for example, a three-dimensional matrix map as shown in Figure 6, to define the prescribed distance range as a specific distance range as as a function of a variable that is the difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature.

By proceeding in this way, when the difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature is large enough, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) is prevented from changing. the door will switch to automatic open-close mode, unless a passenger to board is nearby.

Therefore, tendencies that the door opens automatically can be effectively suppressed, which could cause a passenger or passengers already on board to experience discomfort.

The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to obtain the number of people as passengers or passengers to get into the vehicle on the basis of a set of data relating to a reservation state acquired from the device forming server 3.

The open-close controller 27 is configured to set, as a prescribed distance range, a specific distance range increasing, as the number of people as passengers or passengers to get into the vehicle increases. 16

[0099] The open-close controller 27 is configured to employ, for example, a two-dimensional map in the form of a matrix as illustrated in FIG. 7, to define the prescribed distance range as being a specific distance range as as a function having as a variable the number of people as passengers or passengers who must get into the vehicle.

[0100] Thus, when the number of people as passengers or passengers having to get into the vehicle is sufficiently reduced, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) is prevented. of the door will switch to automatic open-close mode, unless a passenger who is to board is nearby.

Therefore, tendencies that the door opens automatically can be effectively suppressed, which could cause a passenger or passengers already on board to experience discomfort.

[0101] The open-close controller 27 is configured to define the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command) of the door on the basis of a set of information. relating to persons as passenger or passengers about to get on or off in a data set relating to a reservation state acquired from the device forming the server 3.

[0102] The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to operate for events related to a passenger about to get on or off, to define the open-close mode (or the control mode of the control of opening-closing) of the door on the basis, among others, of a frequency of use, or information relating to the passenger's personal adjustment, such as his age, presence or absence of handicap, for example .

The open-close controller 27 can be configured to operate for an event related to a passenger about to get on or off, to set the automatic open-close mode in situations involving, among other things, a passenger condition who is old enough or an irregular user, for example.

For each passenger, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) of the door can be completely defined by the passenger himself / herself, as passenger information. of this passenger.

[0103] The open-close controller 27 is configured to continuously or periodically detect the current states of the door in relation to the open or closed position and to associated actions, and operates for adaptation in a situation regarding a prescribed notification condition satisfied with an uninterrupted open state of the door, to employ the information notification tool 24 to give an affected user or affected users a prescribed notification 17 to request a manual operation of the door. door closing, or to inform that the door will close automatically.

[0104] The prescribed notification condition includes, for example, the effective elapse of a first prescribed time interval.

It should be noted that the notification condition to be met may well be a combination of normal criteria that must be fulfilled before a door is closed, such as confirmation of the departure from the vicinity of the door of all persons concerned as as passenger or passengers on board, an object in the vehicle, a visitor or visitors from outside the vehicle, and / or a passenger or passengers who have alighted, confirmation that all persons in the vehicle are seated, and confirmation of the wearing of seat belts for all persons in the vehicle.

Note that, as used herein, the term "prescribed" means both "specified" and "predetermined".

[0105] The open-close controller 27 is configured to adapt to a situation involving an uninterrupted open state of the door even after the expiration of a second prescribed time interval after the prescribed notification given with the prescribed notification condition satisfied, to automatically implement a door closing command without depending on a manual operation by the user.

[0106] The opening-closing controller 27 is configured to define the second prescribed time interval on the basis of a set of information relating to persons as passengers or passengers about to get on or off when the door is open.

[0107] The open-close controller 27 is configured to define the second prescribed time interval based, inter alia, on an age of persons as passengers or passengers about to get on or off when the door is open, and the number of people forming the passenger or passengers about to get on or off.

[0108] The open-close controller 27 is configured to set the second prescribed time interval to be longer, as an age of people as passengers or passengers about to get on or off when the door is open rises.

[0109] The open-close controller 27 is configured to define the second prescribed time interval as being longer, as a number of people as passengers or passengers about to get on or off when the door is open increases.

[0110] The open-close controller 27 is configured to define the second prescribed time interval on the basis, for example, of a set of information acquired as a set of data relating to meteorological conditions. current by the meteorological acquisition tool 22.

[0111] Specifically, the open-close controller 27 is configured to set the second prescribed time interval to be longer, as the precipitation decreases, and to set the second prescribed time interval to be longer, to as the wind speed weakens.

Further, the open-close controller 27 is configured to set the second prescribed time interval to be shorter, as the outdoor temperature moves away from a prescribed range.

In addition, the open-close controller 27 is configured to set the second prescribed time interval to be shorter, as the difference between the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature increases.

[0112] A description is now made of a door opening control process to be implemented by the door control device 2 for vehicles configured as described in the present embodiments, with reference to FIG. 8.

It should be noted that the door opening control process to be described must be implemented when the vehicle is stopped to allow one or more passengers to get on or off.

In a step S1, the opening-closing controller 27 acts on the basis of a condition for adjusting the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) of the door, to set the open-close mode (or control mode) to be manual open-close mode or automatic open-close mode, and uses the information notification tool 24 to give a notification (read open-close mode (or command mode) as defined.

In a step S2, the open-close controller 27 determines whether the defined open-close mode (or the control mode) is the automatic open-close mode.

If this open-close mode (or the control mode) is determined to be the automatic open-close mode, the flow goes to a step S3, where the open-close controller 27 acts to ensure that the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command) of the door is the automatic open-close mode, and to implement an automatic opening command to complete the process.

In step S2, if it is determined that the open-close mode (or the control mode) is not the automatic open-close mode, the flow goes to a step S4, where the open-close controller 27 acts to determine whether the door has been operated to open by a user.

In step S4, if it is determined that the door is not operated to open, the open-close controller 27 operates to repeat the processing of step S4.

In step S4, if it is determined that the door has been operated to open, the flow goes to step 55.

Here, the open-close controller 27 performs a door open operation to complete the process.

[0117] A description is now made of a door closing control process to be implemented by the door control device 2 for vehicles in accordance with the present embodiments, with reference to FIG. 9.

Note that the door close control process to be described should be carried out after the door has opened with the vehicle stopped to allow one or more passengers to get on or off.

At a step S11, the open-close controller 27 determines whether the prescribed notification condition is satisfied or not.

After determining that the prescribed notification condition is not satisfied, the open-close controller 27 operates to repeat a processing of step S11.

[0119] If it is determined that the prescribed notification condition is met, the flow proceeds to a step 512, where the open-close controller 27 acts for the information notification tool 24 to give a notification for request a manual door opening operation.

[0120] Then, in a step S13, the opening-closing controller 27 acts to define a second prescribed time interval in accordance with the adjustment conditions concerned.

[0121] Then, in a step S14, the open-close controller 27 determines whether the door is closed or not by a manual closing operation of the door.

After determining that the door is closed, the open-close controller 27 switches the flow to an end of the process.

[0122] In step S14, if it is determined that the door is not closed, the flow proceeds to a step S15, in which the open-close controller 27 acts to determine whether the second time interval prescribed has expired or not.

Then, if it is determined that the second prescribed time interval has not elapsed, the open-close controller 27 returns the tlux to step S14 to repeat the relevant processing.

[0123] In step S15, if it is determined that the second prescribed time interval has elapsed, the flow goes to a step S16 where the open-close controller 27 acts to automatically close the door, the flow continues. continuing with the end of the process.

Thus, according to the present embodiments, an automatic switchover implemented between an automatic opening-closing mode and a manual opening-closing mode of a door is provided, followed by a summary notification. making it possible to successfully achieve an effective grasp of a current control mode of a door open-close control concerned also in a transport system having no operator in an associated vehicle, thus making it possible to suppress the trends according to which one or more passengers does not experience, among other things, troublesome operations or a feeling of discomfort.

[0125] Further, the switching from manual open-close mode to automatic open-close mode is performed in accordance with a passenger or passengers in a passenger compartment, thereby suppressing trends in which the passenger or passengers in the cabin feel discomfort.

[0126] In addition, in situations where no passenger is in the passenger compartment, the automatic opening-closing mode is defined, allowing a passenger or passengers to board the passenger compartment without performing any changes. opening or closing operation.

If there is no passenger in the passenger compartment, there is no possibility of discomfort due to the extended duration of the door opening.

[0127] In addition, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) of the door is switched in accordance with a set of information relating to persons as passengers or passengers. about to go up, and followed by a notification allowing the door to be operated to open and / or close, automatically or manually, according to a type or condition of persons, thus allowing to suppress the tendencies according to which a or several passenger (s) already on board feel (s) discomfort, as well as those according to which one or more passenger (s) still to get on feels (s) discomfort.

[0128] In addition, the automatic opening-closing mode can quite be chosen in situations relating to position information of a person having reserved being in a location provided for the person to climb, or the opening mode. -manual closing in situations not involving any position information of a person having reserved being in a place intended for the person to board, which makes it possible to suppress the tendencies according to which one or more passenger (s) already on board feel (s) discomfort, as well as those according to which one or more passenger (s) still to get on feels (s) discomfort.

[0129] In addition, a range of positions of a person having reserved is defined as being variable depending on the weather conditions, as a criterion for switching between the automatic opening-closing mode and the manual opening-closing mode, which makes it possible to suppress the tendencies according to which one or more passenger (s) feel (s) discomfort.

[0130] In addition, the opening-closing mode (or the control mode of the opening-closing command) of the door is defined on the basis of a set of information relating to a passenger or to passengers. passengers about to board or disembark, as it is in a data set relating to a reservation state, cc which allows to suppress the tendencies according to which one or more passenger (s) already on board is feeling (ent ) discomfort, as well as those according to which one or more passenger (s) still to get on feels discomfort.

[0131] Furthermore, according to the cited embodiments, a notification must be given to trigger a closing operation of the door when a prescribed notification condition is satisfied and if an open state of the door is maintained uninterrupted thereafter. ci, followed by a door closing command to be automatically implemented.

Consequently, the door is automatically controlled to close in a situation concerning one or more user (s) having previously apprehended the passage to a closed state of the door.

It is therefore possible to bring the door to the closed state, which makes it possible to suppress the tendencies according to which the user or users feel that the door is suddenly closed.

[0132] In addition, a time interval must have elapsed before an automatic closing of the door, on the basis of a set of information relating to one or more passenger (s) about to get on or off when the door is open, thereby eliminating a tendency for the door to be automatically commanded to close while such a passenger is getting on or off.

[0133] In addition, a time interval must have elapsed between a notification triggering a closing operation of the door and an automatic closing of the door, depending on a combination between an age of the persons as a passenger or passengers and the number of passengers which affects the time required to get on or off, thereby suppressing a tendency for the door to close automatically while such a passenger is getting on or off.

[0134] In addition, a time interval must elapse between a notification triggering a door closing operation and an automatic door closing, which is defined longer in a situation concerning an elderly passenger, allowing thereby suppressing a tendency for the door to close automatically while the passenger is getting on or off.

[0135] In addition, a time interval must elapse between a notification triggering a closing operation of the door and an automatic closing of the door, which is defined longer as the number of people as a passenger or passengers increases, thereby removing a tendency for the door to close automatically while people are getting on or off.

[0136] In addition, a time interval is defined as having to elapse between a notification triggering a closing operation of the door and an automatic closing of the door, and having to be long in situations involving weak pre-hours. ripples or situations involving low wind speed, as well as a time interval defined as having to elapse between a notification initiating a closing operation of the door and an automatic closing of the door, and to be brief in situations involving an outside temperature far from a prescribed temperature range or in situations involving a large difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature, thereby suppressing tendencies in which one or more passenger (s) already on board feels (ent) discomfort.

[0137] In addition, a notification can quite be given to trigger an operation of closing the door provided that all the passengers are ready to close the door, and followed by an automatic closing command, making it possible to suppress the. tendencies in which passengers feel the door is closed suddenly, if possible.

[0138] Multiple types of prescribed ranges have been defined in accordance with current weather conditions, condition of air conditioning in the vehicle, the number of people as a passenger or passengers to get into the vehicle, or the like. However, it should be noted that there may well be a mode setting of the open-close mode (or of the control mode of the open-close command) of the door depending on the current weather conditions, the condition of air conditioning in the vehicle, the number of people as passengers or passengers to get into the vehicle, or the like.

For example, the manual opening-closing mode can quite be defined in situations involving current weather conditions, a condition of air conditioning in the vehicle, a number of people as passengers or passengers having to get into the vehicle, or the like, as being such as to reduce the prescribed distance range.

[0139] Further, according to the present embodiments, examples described include an open-close controller implementing, inter alia, a range of determinations and calculations based on a range of sensor information.

Note, however, that, without restrictions to this, there may well be an open-close controller 27 configured to: employ a device outside the vehicle, such as an external server, to implement, among other things, a range of determinations and calculations based on detection information from a multitude of sensors, as sent to them from time to time via the communication tool 23; receiving, inter alia, the results of such determinations and the results of such calculations, as sent from time to time via the communication tool 23; and operating based on, inter alia, the results received from the determinations and calculations, to implement a variety of commands.

23 101401 Further, according to the present embodiments, the examples described include a controller 45 configured to provide options over a time interval to be selected for door open-close operations.

However, it can easily be configured to automatically recommend the contents of "door setting" taking into account the contents of "personal setting".

[0141] In addition, according to the present embodiments, the examples described include an open-close controller 27 configured to define the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command). of the door depending on whether or not the current location of a passenger booked to board is within a prescribed distance range from the vehicle used as a reference point.

Note, however, that the vehicle used as a reference point may well be substituted with a specific predefined location, such as the location of a predefined stop.

In other words, there may well be a configuration making it possible to define the open-close mode (or the control mode of the open-close command) of the door according to the current location of the passenger. is or is not within a prescribed distance range from the specific predefined location.

[0142] Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, it is apparent that one skilled in the art can make modifications thereto without departing from the scope of this invention.

It is intended that any such modification and all such equivalents will be covered in this invention.

List of reference signs

[0143] - 1: driverless operating system - 2: door control device for vehicles - 4: information terminal - 21: passenger information acquisition tool - 22: weather acquisition tool - 23 : communication tool - 24: information notification tool - 25: air conditioning controller - 27: open-close controller.

List of documents cited Patent documents

[0144] For all practical purposes, the following patent document is cited: - [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-19158 A.

24 [Claim 1] [Claim 2] [Claim 3] [Claim 4] [Claim 5]

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] A door control device (2) for vehicles comprising: an information notification tool (24) configured to implement notification of various information; and an open-close controller (27) configured for adaptation to a situation involving a prescribed notification condition satisfied with an open state of a vehicle door, for the information notification tool (24 ) gives a prescribed notification to request a door closing operation, and for adaptation in a situation involving an open state of the door with a prescribed time interval after the prescribed notification, to automatically implement a closing closing command the door. [Claim 2] A door control device (2) for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the open-close controller (27) is configured to define the prescribed time interval based on a set of person information up or down when the door is open. [Claim 3] Door control device (2) for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein the open-close controller (27) is configured to acquire an age of people or a number of people, as information about people going up or down when the door is opened. [Claim 4] Door control device (2) for vehicles according to claim 2, in which the opening-closing controller (27) is configured to acquire an age of persons as information relating to persons ascending or descending when the door is opened, and set the prescribed time interval to be longer as people age. [Claim 5] Door control device (2) for vehicles according to claim 2, in which the opening-closing controller (27) is configured to acquire a number of people as information relating to people going up or down when the door is open, and set the prescribed time interval to be longer, as [Claim 6] [Claim 7] that the number of people is increasing. A door control device (2) for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the open-close controller (27) is configured to change the prescribed time interval in accordance with current weather conditions or an air conditioning condition . A door control device (2) for vehicles according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the prescribed notification condition comprises a condition as to the seated state of the persons on board the vehicle, or a carrying condition of the seat belt for people on board the vehicle.