JP2005280400A - Vehicle height adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device facilitating getting on/off of a handicapped person or the like to an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle height adjustment device is provided with a reader 2; a door sensor 4; a computer 6; a controller 8; a compressor 10; and an air bag 12. The air bag 12 supports a vehicle body of the automobile. A user carrying a radio tag 14 approached to the automobile provided with standard vehicle height and opens a door. Opening/closing thereof is detected by the door sensor 4. After detection, the reader 2 transmits a recognition signal. The radio tag 14 receiving the recognition signal transmits a data signal toward the reader 2. The data signal includes the data regarding disability of the user. An operation part 16 determines the vehicle height suitable for getting on/off of the user based on the data. The controller 8 discharges a predetermined amount of air from the air bag 12. The vehicle body 29 descends by discharging and the proper vehicle height is accomplished. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting the vehicle height of an automobile.

  When a physically handicapped person gets in and out of a car, depending on the content or degree of the obstacle, getting in and out may be impossible or may be difficult. For example, there is a person with a lower limb disorder that makes it impossible to sit on a seat that is too high, or that it is difficult to sit on a seat that is too low. There are similar problems for older people who have no physical strength and small children.

Automobiles with adjusted floor heights have been developed for the disabled. For example, low-floor vehicles are sold for disabled people who cannot sit in a seat that is too high. Cars equipped with lifts are also on sale for people with disabilities who cannot sit in too high a seat.
JP 2001-1730 A JP 2001-121936 A JP 2003-89309 A JP 2003-146042 A

  Preparing a low floor car or a car equipped with a lift is expensive. Moreover, the operation of the lift is troublesome for the physically handicapped. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that facilitates getting on and off an automobile of a disabled person or the like.

The vehicle height adjusting device according to the present invention is:
A reader that receives a signal including data related to the user's attributes from a wireless tag owned by a user of the car;
Based on the data included in this signal, a calculation unit that determines a vehicle height suitable for getting on and off the user,
And an elevating unit that elevates and lowers the vehicle body according to the determination by the arithmetic unit.

The program according to the present invention is:
(1) a step in which the calculation unit determines a vehicle height suitable for getting on and off the user based on data relating to the attribute of the user obtained from a wireless tag owned by the user of the car; and (2) this use. The computer causes the computer to execute a step instructing the lifting / lowering part that raises and lowers the vehicle body to shift to a vehicle height suitable for passengers getting on and off.

Preferably, this program is
(3) After the completion of the user's boarding / exiting is detected by the closing or locking of the door, the computer further causes the computer to execute a step of instructing the elevator unit to move to the standard vehicle height.

  By this vehicle height adjusting device, a vehicle height suitable for the user is easily achieved. By using this vehicle height adjusting device, a disabled person or the like can easily get on and off the vehicle.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a vehicle height adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This device is installed in an automobile. This apparatus includes a reader 2, a door sensor 4, a computer 6, a controller 8, a compressor 10, and an air bag 12. FIG. 1 also shows a wireless tag 14 (also referred to as “ID tag”, “IC tag”, etc.). This wireless tag 14 is owned by the user of the automobile. The user carries the wireless tag 14. The wireless tag 14 may be attached to a user's belongings (a handicapped person's notebook, a cane, a wheelchair, etc.). The wireless tag 14 stores data related to user attributes. Specific examples of attributes include physical features such as physique and the content and degree of disability. As the wireless tag 14, an electromagnetic induction tag, an electromagnetic coupling tag, a microwave tag, an optical tag, or the like can be used.

  The reader 2 transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless tag 14. The door sensor 4 is attached in the vicinity of the hinge of the door, and detects opening / closing of the door. The computer 6 includes a calculation unit 16 (typically a CPU) and a memory 18. The controller 8 includes a plurality of solenoid valves (not shown). The airbag 12 corresponds to an elevating part. The controller 8 and the compressor 10 are connected by a pipe 20. Both the controller 8 and the air bag 12 are connected by a pipe 22.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing a part of the automobile to which the airbag 12 of the apparatus of FIG. 1 is attached. The automobile includes a wheel 24, an arm 26, a suspension device 28, and a vehicle body 29. The suspension device 28 includes a shock absorber 30, a coil spring 32, and the airbag 12. The airbag 12 is provided with an intake / exhaust port 34. The air bag 12 is inflated by filling the air bag 12 with air through the intake / exhaust port 34. FIG. 2 shows the airbag 12 in an inflated state. In FIG. 2, what is indicated by a double arrow H1 is the height of the vehicle body 29 from the ground G.

  When the air is discharged from the airbag 12 through the intake / exhaust port 34, the airbag 12 contracts. FIG. 3 shows the airbag 12 in a contracted state. With the contraction, the vehicle body 29 descends. In FIG. 3, what is indicated by a double-headed arrow H2 is the vehicle height after descending. The vehicle height H2 is smaller than the vehicle height H1 shown in FIG. The vehicle height is increased by filling the contracted airbag 12 with air. The desired vehicle height can be obtained by adjusting the air filling amount and the exhaust amount. An air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be used as the elevating unit instead of the airbag 12.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle height adjustment method using the apparatus of FIG. In this method, first, a user carrying the wireless tag 14 approaches an automobile having a standard vehicle height and opens a door (STEP 1). This opening is detected by the door sensor 4 (STEP 2). The detection signal is transmitted from the door sensor 4 to the computer 6 (STEP 3). The computer 6 transmits an instruction signal toward the reader 2 (STEP 4).

  The reader 2 that has received the instruction signal transmits a recognition signal from an antenna (not shown) (STEP 5). The wireless tag 14 that has received this recognition signal transmits a data signal to the reader 2 (STEP 6). This data signal includes data relating to the user's physical disability. The reader 2 that has received the data signal transmits the data included in the data signal to the computer 6 (STEP 7).

  The calculation unit 16 determines whether or not the vehicle height adjustment is necessary based on the data (STEP 8). When the adjustment is necessary, the calculation unit 16 determines a vehicle height suitable for the user getting on and off (STEP 9). Specifically, from the table recorded in advance in the memory 18 of the computer 6, the vehicle height at which the user is most likely to get on is selected by the calculation unit 16. Furthermore, the calculating part 16 determines the amount of air discharge required in order to achieve an appropriate vehicle height (STEP 10). A signal related to the discharge amount is transmitted from the calculation unit 16 to the controller 8 (STEP 11). The controller 8 discharges a predetermined amount of air from the airbag 12 based on the discharge amount signal (STEP 12). This discharge is achieved by opening and closing the solenoid valve. The vehicle body 29 is lowered by the discharge. In other words, the vehicle height is lowered.

  When the appropriate vehicle height determined by the calculation unit 16 is higher than the standard vehicle height, the controller 8 sends compressed air to the airbag 12. This compressed air is obtained by the compressor 10.

  When the vehicle height is appropriate, the user gets into the car (STEP 13). Further, the user closes the door (STEP 14). This closing is detected by the door sensor 4 (STEP 15). Instead of closing, door locking may be detected. This detection signal is transmitted from the door sensor 4 to the computer 6 (STEP 16). The calculating part 16 determines the amount of air filling required to achieve the standard vehicle height (STEP 17). A signal related to the filling amount is transmitted from the calculation unit 16 to the controller 8 (STEP 18). The controller 8 fills the airbag 12 with a predetermined amount of air based on the filling amount signal (STEP 19). This filling is achieved by opening and closing the solenoid valve. The compressed air used for filling is obtained by the compressor 10. By filling, the vehicle body 29 rises. The standard vehicle height is achieved by the rise. An automobile that has achieved the standard vehicle height can travel in an appropriate state.

  When the vehicle height appropriate for getting on and off determined by the calculation unit 16 is higher than the standard vehicle height, air is discharged from the airbag 12 by the controller 8. This emission achieves standard vehicle height.

  The vehicle height adjusting device may include a sensor that detects the vehicle height. When the sensor detects that the vehicle height has reached a predetermined value, the solenoid valve is turned ON or OFF, and air flow is blocked. In this case, it is not necessary to determine the discharge amount and the filling amount by the calculation unit.

  The vehicle height may be adjusted according to the user's physique, age, and the like. Detection (STEP 2) may be performed by the user's operation of the door knob. The computer may include a first calculation unit that receives a signal from the reader 2, a second calculation unit that determines an appropriate vehicle height, and a third calculation unit that sends an instruction to the controller 8.

  Even when the user gets off, it is preferable that the vehicle height is adjusted based on the data recorded in the wireless tag 14.

  The present invention can be applied not only when the user is a driver, but also when sitting on the passenger seat or the rear seat. The present invention can also be applied when a user gets in and out of a hatch door.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a vehicle height adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a part of the automobile to which the air bag of the apparatus of FIG. 1 is attached. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the automobile of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle height adjustment method using the apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Reader 4 ... Door sensor 6 ... Computer 8 ... Controller 10 ... Compressor 12 ... Air bag 14 ... Wireless tag 16 ... Calculation part 18 ... Memory 24. ..Wheel 26... Arm 28... Suspension device 29... Car body 34.

Claims (3)

A reader that receives a signal including data related to the user's attributes from a wireless tag owned by a user of the car;
Based on the data included in this signal, a calculation unit that determines a vehicle height suitable for getting on and off the user,
A vehicle height adjusting device comprising an elevating unit that elevates and lowers the vehicle body in accordance with the determination by the arithmetic unit. A calculation unit determining a vehicle height suitable for getting on and off the user based on data on the attribute of the user obtained from a wireless tag owned by a user of the vehicle;
The program for making a computer perform the step which a calculating part directs to the raising / lowering part which raises / lowers a vehicle body about the transition to the vehicle height suitable for this user's getting on / off. 3. The program according to claim 2, further comprising: causing the computer to further execute a step of instructing the elevator unit to shift to the standard vehicle height after completion of the user's boarding / exiting is detected by closing or locking the door. .

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