JP2005054466A - Opening/closing control device of opening/closing body of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening/closing control device of an opening/closing body for an automobile which assists abnormality recognition of the driver even when the automobile starts without a latched condition of a tail gate and prevents the tail gate from improvidently opening. <P>SOLUTION: When a driver shifts to a reversal control in a state that he/she starts an automobile during a closed control and the automobile exceeds over a specified speed or changes over an automatic transmission to a drive range to start it during the reversal control, ECU 30 stops a reduction motor 21 while keeping an electromagnetic clutch 23 in the connection state, then, the tail gate 4 is locked in a biting condition of a load 61 and improvident opening is prevented and the load 61 is removed by the driver and sounding of an alarm buzzer 51 or lighting of an alarm lamp 52 is kept continuously till reclosure of the tail gate 4 is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body, and more particularly to a technique for preventing the tailgate from being opened carelessly.

  Station wagons (hereinafter referred to as wagon cars) and one-box cars are provided with a tailgate and a sliding door as an opening / closing body that opens and closes the vehicle body opening part, in addition to a hinged door for a driver to get on and off. . As the tailgate and the sliding door, a manual type that is manually opened and closed is generally used, but in recent years, the power tailgate and the power sliding door that are opened and closed by using the driving force of the electric motor are increasing. . Among them, the power tailgate houses a tailgate drive mechanism consisting of an electric motor, electromagnetic clutch, link mechanism, etc. at the rear end of the roof, and the tailgate is driven in the opening direction or closing direction by operating the open / close switch by the driver. It has a structure.

In power tailgates and power sliding doors, when the opening / closing body pinches an object (such as luggage) during the closing drive, the opening / closing body is driven in reverse (open driving) to facilitate removal of the object and prevent damage to the object. ) (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In the case of a power tailgate, when a closing movement of the tailgate is detected at the time of full opening, it is determined that the gas stay supporting the tailgate has failed, and an electromagnetic clutch is connected to maintain the full open state (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-180271 A (paragraphs 0027 and 0028, FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-107642 (paragraphs 0031 and 0032, FIG. 2)

  When loading a baggage in a luggage compartment of a normal wagon car, the driver stands at the rear of the vehicle body and confirms the state of the baggage, and then closes by holding a handle provided on the tailgate. However, in a wagon car equipped with a power tailgate, the driver opens and closes the tailgate by operating the open / close switch installed in the tailgate or the open / close switch installed in the driver's seat. In some cases, the following problems may occur.

For example, if the driver sits in the driver's seat immediately after operating the tailgate open / close switch or operates the open / close switch while sitting in the driver's seat, a large amount of luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment. , Luggage status and tailgate opening and closing status can not be confirmed in the room mirror. Therefore, even if the driver interferes with the tailgate that is driven to close the rear end of the load, the driver may not notice that and starts the wagon car. In the case of power tailgates, when the tailgate pinches a load during the closing operation or when it significantly interferes with the tailgate, the tailgate is often reversed and stopped as described above. There is a risk of running completely. In the case of the tailgate, there is a gas stay that supports the gate body. Therefore, if the vehicle continues traveling in such a state, the tailgate may be opened carelessly. In order to solve such problems, there are some that forcibly close the tailgate even if it receives some resistance, but in this case, the tailgate does not easily reverse, so the trapped luggage is damaged. There was a fear.
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and even when the automobile starts without the tailgate being in a latched state, the driver's abnormality is recognized and the tailgate is unintentionally opened. An object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body that does not occur.

An opening / closing control device for an opening / closing body for an automobile according to the invention of claim 1 is provided between an electric motor used for driving an opening / closing body for opening / closing a vehicle body opening portion, and the electric motor and the opening / closing body. An opening / closing body drive means having a clutch as a constituent element, an open / close state detection means for detecting an open / close state of the open / close body, and an operation state detection means for detecting an operation state of the opening / closing body drive means; An opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body that controls the opening / closing body driving means based on detection results of the opening / closing state detection means and the operating state detection means, wherein the traveling state detection means detects a traveling state of the automobile. The electric motor is further stopped when the object is caught between the opening part of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body during the closing operation of the opening / closing body, and the object is not caught. And gate latch and maintains the clutch while said electric motor is stopped in the binding state when the motor vehicle remains outside latched state has shifted to the running state without.
According to this configuration, for example, when a load or the like is caught during the closing operation of the tailgate, the electric motor is stopped, and when the driver starts the vehicle as it is, the electromagnetic clutch is maintained in the coupled state. As a result, the tailgate is locked by the drive resistance of a worm reduction mechanism or the like provided integrally or separately with the electric motor, and inadvertent opening of the tailgate is prevented.

The invention of claim 2 further includes warning means for warning the driver of the occurrence of an abnormality in the opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body according to claim 1,
If an object is caught between the vehicle body opening portion and the opening / closing body, the warning is issued until the object is released and the gate latch is in a fully latched state or until the vehicle is in a state other than a state where the vehicle can run. A warning is provided by means.
According to this configuration, since the driver can quickly recognize the abnormality by the warning, the driver can expect to eliminate the pinching by rearranging the luggage and the like and to close the tailgate reliably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body according to claim 1 or 2, at least of the opening / closing body driving means, the opening / closing state detecting means, and the operating state detecting means. When one abnormality is recognized, the clutch is maintained in a coupled state while the electric motor is stopped.
According to this configuration, even if an electrical or mechanical abnormality occurs in the device, the tailgate is not opened carelessly.

  According to such an opening / closing control device for an opening / closing body for a vehicle, even when the vehicle starts without the gate latch being in a latched state, the driver can easily recognize the abnormality and the tailgate not intended by the driver. Will be prevented.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wagon car will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a rear part of an automobile according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of equipment related to control, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of tailgate opening / closing control, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a cargo is caught in the wagon car according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an opening (vehicle body opening portion) 3 for loading a load into a luggage compartment 2 is formed at the rear end of a vehicle body 1 of an automobile, and a tailgate (opening / closing) for opening and closing the opening 3 is formed. The body) 4 is attached so as to be swingable with the upper end portion as a fulcrum. The roof 5 of the vehicle body 1 is provided with a tailgate driving device (opening / closing body driving means) 20, and the tailgate 4 is fully closed by the operation of the tailgate driving device 20 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). And a fully open position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body 1 is equipped with an ECU (electronic control unit) 30 that controls the drive of the tailgate driving device 20 and the like, and a gate latch 40 that locks the tailgate 4 in the closed position. Yes. The tailgate 4 is provided with an outer handle switch 31 that detects an operation of an outer handle (not shown) and an inner handle switch 32 that detects a finger hooking on the inner handle (not shown). Detection signals from the handle switches 31 and 32 are transmitted to the ECU 30. The vehicle body 1 is provided with a gas stay (not shown) so as to cancel out the weight of the tailgate 4 and perform buffering.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tailgate drive device 20 includes a reduction motor 21 in which a worm reducer is integrated with an electric motor, and the rotational force of the reduction motor 21 via the rack element and link element. It comprises a power transmission mechanism 22 that transmits as an opening / closing force, and an electromagnetic clutch 23 that connects the reduction motor 21 and the power transmission mechanism 22. The reduction motor 21 is driven by the ECU 30 via an FET circuit (not shown), and the state of the FET circuit is monitored by the ECU 30.

  An angle sensor 33 that detects an opening angle of the tailgate 4 is attached to the vehicle body 1 coaxially with a hinge (not shown) of the tailgate 4. The gate latch 40 includes a latch closer 41 that is driven and controlled by the ECU 30 to bring the tail gate 4 into an engaged state, and a latch sensor 42 that detects the state of a half latch or a full latch and inputs a detection signal to the ECU 30. It is attached.

  In this embodiment, as a switch for opening and closing the tailgate 4, a main switch 34 is installed in a driver's seat (not shown), a gate switch 35 is installed on the bottom surface of the tailgate 4, and the ignition key 36 is remote-controlled. The key switch 37 is attached. The main switch 34 and the gate switch 35 directly input an opening / closing command signal to the ECU 30, and the key switch 37 inputs an opening / closing command signal to the ECU 30 via a receiving unit 38 connected to the ECU 30. Various signals such as a detection signal (vehicle speed VS) of a vehicle speed sensor 39 provided for an ABS (anti-lock brake system) and a position signal of an automatic transmission are input to the ECU 30.

  A warning buzzer 51 and a warning light 52 are installed on an instrument panel of a vehicle compartment (not shown), and the warning buzzer 51 is sounded and the warning light 52 is turned on by a command from the ECU 30.

  Next, the procedure of tailgate closing control and reversal control in the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS.

≪Closed control≫
<Normal time>
When the driver opens the tailgate 4 and loads the cargo into the luggage compartment 2 and operates the main switch 34 or the gate switch 35 to the closing side, the ECU 30 performs the tailgate closing control shown in FIG. 3 at a predetermined control interval. Run repeatedly. When starting the tailgate closing control, the ECU 30 first turns on the electromagnetic clutch 23 in step S1, then starts the reduction motor 21 in the closing direction in step S2, and in step S3 the first timer T1. Start. As a result, the driving force of the reduction motor 21 is transmitted to the tailgate 4 via the electromagnetic clutch 23 and the power transmission mechanism 22, and the tailgate 4 starts to close at a predetermined speed.

  Next, the ECU 30 determines whether any abnormality has occurred in the tailgate drive device 20 in step S4. If this determination is No, it is determined in step S5 whether the handle switches 31, 32 are in the OFF state. Determine whether. If the determination in step S5 is Yes, the ECU 30 further determines in step S6 whether or not the vehicle speed VS is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, that is, whether or not the vehicle speed VS can be regarded as a stopped state.

  If the determination in step S6 is Yes and the warning buzzer 51 is sounded and the warning light 52 is turned on, the ECU 30 stops the warning buzzer 51 and the warning light 52 being turned on in step S7. .

  Next, the ECU 30 determines whether or not an object is sandwiched between the opening 3 and the tailgate 4 in step S8 based on the detection result of the angle sensor 33 and the output current value of the reduction motor 21. The object pinching can be determined based only on the detection result of the angle sensor 33, or can be determined based on the output current value of the reduction motor 21 and the detection result of the latch sensor 42.

  If the determination in step S8 is No, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the gate latch 40 is a half latch from the detection result of the latch sensor 42 in step S9, that is, whether or not the tailgate 4 is in the lowest position. Determine.

  Since the determination in step S9 is No at the beginning of the closing control, the ECU 30 determines in step S10 whether or not the value of the first timer T1 has reached the limit value T1max. If this determination is No, step S4 is performed. To S10 are repeated. The limit value T1max is set to a value (for example, 5 seconds) at which the fully opened tailgate 4 is fully closed.

  When the automatic closing of the tailgate 4 is normally performed, the tailgate 4 is fully closed (half latch state) before the value of the first timer T1 reaches the limit value T1max, and the determination in step S9 is Yes. . Then, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S11 and puts the electromagnetic clutch 23 into a released state in step S12.

  Next, the ECU 30 resets the first timer T1 in step S13, and starts "closer control" in which the tail closer 4 and the gate latch 40 are brought into the engaged state from the half latch state by the latch closer 41 in step S14. If the warning buzzer 51 is sounded and the warning light 52 is turned on, the warning buzzer 51 and the warning light 52 are turned off in step S15, and the closing control is ended.

<When an error occurs>
If any abnormality occurs in the tailgate driving device 20 or the like and the determination in step S4 is Yes, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S16 while keeping the electromagnetic clutch 23 in the engaged state. Then, the tailgate 4 is locked by the worm speed reducer of the reduction motor 21 via the electromagnetic clutch 23 and the power transmission mechanism 22, and the tailgate 4 is not opened or closed carelessly.

  Thereafter, the ECU 30 resets the first timer T1 in step S17, performs the sounding of the warning buzzer 51 (continuous sound) and the lighting of the warning lamp 52 in step S18, and ends the closing control. As a result, the driver can recognize the abnormality of the tailgate driving device 20 and manually close the tailgate 4 and then take measures such as requesting a repair shop for repair. Note that when the tailgate 4 is manually closed, the driver needs to release the electromagnetic clutch 23. This may be caused by, for example, turning the ignition key 36 ON / OFF or setting the automatic transmission to the parking state. It becomes possible by doing.

<During manual operation>
The driver may grasp the outer handle or the inner handle to open the tailgate 4 while the tailgate 4 is automatically closed due to forgetting to load the luggage in the luggage compartment 2 or the like. In this case, since the handle switches 31 and 32 are in the ON state and the determination in step S5 is No, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S19, releases the electromagnetic clutch 23 in step S20, and sets the tailgate 4 Can be opened and closed manually without resistance. Thereafter, after resetting the first timer T1 in step S21, the ECU 30 blows the warning buzzer 51 and turns on the warning lamp 52 if the warning buzzer 51 is blown and the warning lamp 52 is turned on in step S22. The lighting of 52 is stopped and the closing control is finished.

<Starting travel>
After the driver operates the main switch 34 or the gate switch 35 to the closed side, the vehicle is started before the tailgate 4 is completely closed, and the vehicle speed VS may exceed a predetermined speed. In this case, since the determination in step S6 is No, the ECU 30 sounds the warning buzzer 51 (intermittent sound) and turns on the warning lamp 52 in step S23. As a result, the driver can recognize that the tailgate 4 is not fully closed and can perform deceleration and stop. In this case, since the closing control is continued, if the tailgate 4 is fully closed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the ECU 30 performs the processing after step S11 and ends the closing control.

<When time is over>
For some reason, the tailgate 4 may not be automatically closed, and the value of the first timer T1 may reach the limit value T1max before the fully closed state is reached. In this case, since the determination in step S10 is Yes, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 and locks the tailgate 4 in step S24, then resets the first timer T1 in step S25, and the warning buzzer in step S26. The sounding of 51 (continuous sound) and the lighting of the warning lamp 52 are performed, and the closing control is finished.

<When sandwiched>
As shown in FIG. 5, the load 61 is sandwiched between the opening 3 and the tailgate 4 being automatically closed, and the output current value of the reduction motor 21 increases rapidly even though the tailgate 4 is not fully closed. There is. In this case, since the determination in step S8 is Yes, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S27, and after blowing the warning buzzer 51 (continuous sound) and lighting the warning lamp 52 in step S28, In step S29, the first timer T1 is reset, and in step S30, “inversion control” is started and the closing control is ended. At this time, since the electromagnetic clutch 23 is in the ON state, the tailgate 4 is locked.

≪Inversion control≫
<Normal time>
When the reversal control is started, the ECU 30 first starts the reduction motor 21 in the releasing direction in step S41 of FIG. 4, and starts the second timer T2 in step S42. As a result, the driving force of the reduction motor 21 is transmitted to the tailgate 4 via the electromagnetic clutch 23 and the power transmission mechanism 22, and the tailgate 4 starts to open at a predetermined speed.

  Next, the ECU 30 determines whether any abnormality has occurred in the tailgate drive device 20 in step S43. If this determination is No, it is determined in step S44 whether the vehicle speed VS is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. Determine. If the determination in step S44 is Yes, the ECU 30 further determines in step S45 whether or not the automatic transmission (not shown) is in the parking state.

  If the determination in step S45 is Yes, the ECU 30 determines whether the tailgate 4 has been raised to the fully open position from the detection result of the angle sensor 33 in step S46.

  Since the determination in step S46 is No at the beginning of the inversion control, the ECU 30 determines in step S47 whether or not the value of the second timer T2 has reached the limit value T2max. Returning to step S47, the process up to step S47 is repeated. The limit value T2max is set to a value (for example, 5 seconds) at which the fully closed tailgate 4 is fully opened.

  When the automatic opening of the tailgate 4 is normally performed, the tailgate 4 is fully opened before the value of the second timer T2 reaches the limit value T2max, and the determination in step S46 is Yes. Then, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S48, releases the electromagnetic clutch 23 in step S49, resets the second timer T2 in step S50, and ends the closing control. As a result, the tailgate 4 is held in the fully open position by the gas stay, so that the driver recognizes the fully open state by blowing the warning buzzer 51 or lighting the warning lamp 52, and the load causing the jamming. After removing 61, automatic closing can be performed by operating the main switch 34 or the gate switch 35. In the case of the present embodiment, the alarm buzzer 51 and the warning lamp 52 are turned on until the tailgate 4 is closed again.

<When an error occurs>
If any abnormality occurs in the tailgate driving device 20 or the like under reverse control and the determination in step S43 is Yes, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S51 while keeping the electromagnetic clutch 23 in the engaged state. In step S52, the second timer T2 is reset to end the closing control. As a result, the tailgate 4 is locked by the worm speed reducer of the reduction motor 21 via the electromagnetic clutch 23 and the power transmission mechanism 22, and the tailgate 4 is not opened or closed carelessly. Also in this case, the sounding of the warning buzzer 51 and the lighting of the warning light 52 are continued until the luggage 61 is removed by the driver and the tailgate 4 is closed again.

<Starting travel>
The driver may start the vehicle at the time of closing control and shift to reverse control when the vehicle speed VS exceeds a predetermined speed, or may place the automatic transmission in the drive range to start during reverse control. is there. In these cases, since the determinations in step S44 and step S45 are No, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S51 while keeping the electromagnetic clutch 23 in the engaged state, as in the case of abnormality, and in step S52. The second timer T2 is reset and the closing control is terminated. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the tailgate 4 is locked in a state in which the luggage 61 is sandwiched, and inadvertent release is prevented. The sounding of the warning buzzer 51 and the lighting of the warning light 52 are continued until the luggage 61 is removed by the driver and the tailgate 4 is closed again.

<When time is over>
For some reason, the tailgate 4 cannot be automatically opened smoothly, and the value of the second timer T2 may reach the limit value T2max before the tailgate 4 is fully opened. In this case, since the determination in step S47 becomes Yes, the ECU 30 stops the reduction motor 21 in step S53, locks the tailgate 4 to prevent inadvertent opening / closing, and then in step S54. The second timer T2 is reset and the closing control is terminated. Also in this case, the sounding of the warning buzzer 51 and the lighting of the warning light 52 are continued until the luggage 61 is removed by the driver and the tailgate 4 is closed again.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the tailgate 4 is appropriately locked when an abnormality occurs during the closing control or the reversing control or when the running is started, so that the tailgate 4 is not inadvertently opened. Will come to be.

  Although description of specific embodiment is finished above, the aspect of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tailgate with an automatic opening / closing mechanism of a wagon car, but is applied to a sliding door with an automatic opening / closing mechanism of a one-box car, a trunk with an automatic opening / closing mechanism of a sedan car, or the like. May be. Also, the specific configuration of the apparatus and the specific procedure of control can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a side view which shows the rear part of the wagon vehicle which concerns on embodiment. It is a block block diagram of the apparatus in connection with control in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the closure control in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the inversion control in embodiment. It is a side view which shows the state in which the sandwiching of the load occurred in the wagon car according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

3 opening (body opening part)
4 Tailgate (opening / closing body)
20 Tailgate drive device (opening / closing body drive means)
21 Reduction motor (electric motor)
23 Electromagnetic clutch (clutch)
30 ECU (opening and closing control device)
33 Angle sensor (open / close state detection means)
42 Latch sensor (open / closed state detection means)
51 Warning buzzer (Warning means)
52 Warning light (Warning means)
61 luggage

Claims (3)

An opening / closing body drive means comprising as an element an electric motor that is used to drive an opening / closing body that opens and closes a vehicle body opening portion; and a clutch interposed between the electric motor and the opening / closing body;
An open / close state detecting means for detecting an open / close state of the open / close body;
Provided in an automobile having an operating state detecting means for detecting an operating state of the opening / closing body driving means, and controls the opening / closing body driving means based on detection results of the opening / closing state detecting means and the operating state detecting means. An opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body,
It further comprises a driving state detecting means for detecting a driving state of the automobile,
In the closing operation of the opening / closing body, when the object is caught between the opening part of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body, the electric motor is stopped, and the object is not released and the gate latch is not released. An opening / closing control device for an opening / closing body for an automobile, wherein the clutch is maintained in an engaged state while the electric motor is stopped when the automobile is shifted to a running state without being in a latched state. A warning means for warning the driver of the occurrence of an abnormality,
If an object is caught between the vehicle body opening portion and the opening / closing body, the warning is issued until the object is released and the gate latch is in a fully latched state or until the vehicle is in a state other than a state where the vehicle can run. The opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein warning is provided by means.   When at least one of the open / close body driving means, the open / close state detecting means, and the operating state detecting means is found to be abnormal, the clutch is maintained in a coupled state while the electric motor is stopped. The opening / closing control device for an automotive opening / closing body according to claim 1.

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