JP2005324664A - Vehicular door opening/closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular door opening/closing device capable of opening/closing a door at the intention of an occupant without touching the door by the occupant. <P>SOLUTION: An ECU 8 acquires the authentication success signal from a security system 1, supplies the drive current to a cover driving motor 5 and opens a cover 3. In addition, the ECU supplies the drive current to an LED 6 to illuminate the periphery of an ultrasonic transmitter 21 and an ultrasonic receiver 22. When a hand of a user is placed over the range of measurement of a distance measurement instrument 2, and the relative distance between the vehicular door and the hand of the user is measured by the distance measurement instrument 2, the ECU 8 starts an internal timer. When the relative distance is continuously measured for a predetermined time, the ECU 8 supplies the drive current to a door lock motor 5 to unlock the door, and supplies the drive current to a door opening/closing motor 7 to open/close the door so that the measured distance by the distance measurement instrument 2 is matched with the predetermined value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle door opening / closing device that performs opening / closing driving of a vehicle door.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle door opening / closing device that opens and closes a door of a bus entrance and a door of a left rear seat of a taxi is known. In this conventional apparatus, a door opening / closing switch is usually provided in a driver's seat of a vehicle, and when the driver operates the driver, a driving device such as a servo motor is driven to open / close the door.

  Thus, in the conventional apparatus, it is not necessary for the occupant to hold the door handle to open and close the door, and it is easy to use. However, with conventional devices, for example, the door of the vehicle is slightly opened so that it does not hit an obstacle, or the door is opened widely so that the passenger can quickly get on the vehicle. The door cannot be opened or closed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a vehicle door opening and closing device capable of opening and closing the door according to the intention of the passenger without the passenger touching the door of the vehicle. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle door opening and closing device according to claim 1 is a vehicle door opening and closing device provided with a drive device that opens and closes a vehicle door. Measuring means for measuring the distance between a predetermined part on the body of the passenger on board, and the distance measured by the measuring means, and the vehicle with respect to the drive device so that the acquired distance matches the predetermined distance Drive control means for opening and closing the door.

  Thus, in the vehicle door opening and closing device of the present invention, the distance between the vehicle door and a predetermined part on the body of the passenger boarding the vehicle is measured by the measuring means. The drive control means causes the drive device to open and close the door of the vehicle so that the distance measured by the measurement means matches the predetermined distance. In other words, the vehicle door opening and closing device can open and close the vehicle door by regarding the movement of a predetermined part of the passenger as the intention of the passenger.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the predetermined part on the occupant's body enters the predetermined measurement area, the measurement means starts measuring the distance, and the drive control means It is desirable to cause the driving device to open and close the door when the part is continuously in the measurement region for a predetermined time or more. This is because when the predetermined part on the body of the passenger continues for a predetermined time or longer and is within the measurement area of the measurement means, it can be reliably determined that the passenger intends to open and close the door of the vehicle.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shield that shields the measuring means from the outside of the vehicle, and the detecting means detects that the passenger has approached the vehicle, and the detecting means has detected that the passenger has approached the vehicle. In this case, it is desirable to provide a shield opening / closing means for opening / closing the shield. Thereby, when the occupant is not in the vicinity of the vehicle, the measuring unit can be shielded from the outside of the vehicle by the shield, and the failure of the measuring unit due to, for example, foreign matter mixed in from the outside can be prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy caused by the measurement means becoming dirty. Further, when the shield is closed, there is no part for operating the door of the vehicle (part corresponding to the door knob), and the security of the vehicle can be improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an authentication device that performs user authentication of a vehicle is provided in the vehicle, and the detection unit detects that a passenger has approached the vehicle when the authentication device has succeeded in user authentication of the vehicle. It is desirable. This is because when the authentication means succeeds in user authentication of the vehicle, the user is approaching the vehicle and is highly likely to open and close the vehicle door.

  As described in claim 5, it is desirable that the measuring means is installed on the door of the vehicle. Thereby, the measuring means can measure the distance between the door of the vehicle and the predetermined part on the occupant's body accurately and reliably.

  It is desirable to provide illumination means for illuminating the surroundings of the measurement means. By illuminating the surroundings of the measuring means with the illuminating means, for example, even at night or when the vehicle is in a tunnel, the passenger can surely grasp the position of the measuring means.

  As described in claim 7, it is desirable that the illumination unit operates when the authentication device succeeds in the user authentication of the vehicle. This is because when the user authentication of the vehicle is successful, it is necessary to reliably illuminate the periphery of the measuring means.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the drive device has a function of changing an opening / closing speed when the door of the vehicle is opened / closed, and is provided with an opening degree detecting means for detecting the degree of opening of the vehicle door, and the drive control When the opening degree of the vehicle door is greater than the predetermined upper limit opening degree or smaller than the predetermined lower limit opening degree, the means determines whether the vehicle is open to the drive device. It is desirable to make the opening / closing speed moderate as compared to the case where the door opening degree is smaller than the upper limit opening degree and larger than the lower limit opening degree. As a result, when the door opening degree of the vehicle becomes larger than the predetermined upper limit opening degree or becomes smaller than the predetermined lower limit opening degree, the door opening / closing speed becomes slow. When the door is fully closed, it is possible to prevent a large force from being applied to the door.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle door opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle door opening and closing device operates by being installed on a vehicle door.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when a user approaches the vehicle, the security system 1 communicates with a portable device (not shown) possessed by the user and executes user authentication. If the above-described user authentication is successful, the security system 1 outputs an authentication success signal. The vehicle user authentication may be performed using identification information of a mobile phone possessed by the user of the vehicle.

  The distance measuring device 2 includes an ultrasonic transmitter 21 and an ultrasonic receiver 22. The ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22 are attached to the inside of the vehicle door and measure the relative distance between the vehicle door and the user's hand. Specifically, the distance measuring device 2 transmits an ultrasonic wave having a predetermined frequency from the ultrasonic transmitter 21. When the user's hand is held near the ultrasonic transmitter 22 and the transmitted ultrasonic wave hits the user's hand and is reflected, the ultrasonic receiver 22 receives the reflected wave. And the relative distance between the door of a vehicle and a user's hand is measured from the phase difference and attenuation level of the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the received reflected wave. In particular, the reason why the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22 are mounted inside the door of the vehicle is to accurately and reliably measure the relative distance between the door of the vehicle and the user's hand. The measuring range of the distance measuring device 2 is several cm to 10 cm in the vicinity of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a cover 3 that shields the transmitter and the receiver from the outside of the vehicle is attached to the front surfaces of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22 so as to be integrated with the door of the vehicle. It is done. The cover 3 is configured to be opened and closed by a cover driving motor 4 described later. Note that the relative distance measurement described above is not limited to a measuring device using ultrasonic waves, and any measuring device using light, such as an infrared measuring device, a laser measuring device, a stereo camera, etc. Is also available.

  The cover driving motor 4 is a small servo motor, and is connected to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the cover 3 via one or a plurality of gears (not shown). The cover driving motor 4 is driven when a driving current is supplied, and rotates the rotating shaft of the cover 3 by operating one or a plurality of gears, thereby opening and closing the cover 3. The opening and closing of the cover 3 may be performed using an electromagnetic relay or the like.

  The door lock motor 5 is a small servo motor, and is connected to a door lock striker (not shown) that locks the door of the vehicle via one or more gears (not shown). The door lock motor 5 is driven when a drive current is supplied, and the door lock striker is slid by operating one or a plurality of gears to lock / unlock the door of the vehicle. The locking / unlocking of the vehicle door may be performed using an electromagnetic locking device.

  LED6 is attached to the upper part of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22, as shown in FIG. When the drive current is supplied, the LED 6 starts to emit light and illuminates the surroundings of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22. Regarding the above-mentioned illumination, it is good also as utilizing a small light bulb and a fluorescent lamp.

  The door opening / closing motor 7 is a small servo motor, and is connected to a rotating shaft of a vehicle door via one or a plurality of gears (not shown). The door opening / closing motor 7 is driven when a drive current is supplied, and operates one or a plurality of gears to rotate the rotation shaft of the vehicle door and open / close the vehicle door. The door opening / closing drive of the vehicle may be performed by providing a door opening / closing hinge arm and sliding the arm.

  ECU8 is comprised from a known computer and performs opening / closing control of the door of a vehicle. Specifically, when acquiring an authentication success signal from the security system 1, the ECU 8 supplies a drive current to the cover drive motor 5 to open the cover 3. Further, a drive current is supplied to the LED 6 to illuminate the periphery of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22. When the user's hand is placed over the measurement range of the distance measuring device 2 and the relative distance between the vehicle door and the user's hand is measured by the distance measuring device 2, the ECU 8 starts an internal timer. When the aforementioned relative distance is continuously measured for a predetermined time, the ECU 8 starts door opening / closing control. That is, the door current is supplied to the door lock motor 5 to unlock the door and the door opening / closing motor 7 is supplied with the drive current so that the measured distance measured by the distance measuring device 2 matches the predetermined distance. It is opened and closed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart relating to a process in which the vehicle door opening and closing apparatus according to the present embodiment determines whether or not to start opening / closing control of the vehicle door. The processing of this flowchart is executed every predetermined time.

  In step 301, the ECU 8 determines whether an authentication success signal has been received from the security system 1. This is because when the security system 1 succeeds in user authentication, the user is approaching the vehicle and is likely to open and close the door of the vehicle. If an authentication success signal is received from the security system 1, the process proceeds to step 302. If not, the process ends.

  In step 302, a drive current is supplied to the cover drive motor 4 and the cover 3 is opened. Thereby, when the user is not in the vicinity of the vehicle, the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22 can be shielded from the outside of the vehicle, for example, the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic reception caused by the mixing of foreign matter from the outside. It is possible to prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy due to a failure of the instrument 22 and contamination of the instrument. Further, when the shield is closed, there is no part for operating the vehicle door (part corresponding to the door knob), and the security of the vehicle can be improved.

  In step 303, a drive current is supplied to the LED 6 to illuminate the vicinity of the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22. Thus, for example, even at night or when the vehicle is in a tunnel, the user can position the ultrasonic transmitter 21 and the ultrasonic receiver 22 by supplying a driving current to the LED 6 to ensure illumination. You can be sure of it.

  In step 304, it is determined whether or not the relative distance between the vehicle door and the user's hand is measured by the distance measuring device 2, that is, whether or not the user's hand is held within the measurement range of the distance measuring device 2. judge. When the relative distance is measured, the process proceeds to step 305. Otherwise, the above determination is repeated until the distance measuring device 2 measures the relative distance between the vehicle door and the user's hand.

  In step 305, an internal timer is started. In step 306, it is determined from the value of the internal timer started in step 305 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. When the distance measuring device 2 continuously measures the above relative distance for a predetermined time or more, that is, when the user's hand is continuously within the measuring range of the distance measuring device 2 for a predetermined time or more, the user opens the door of the vehicle. This is because it can be reliably determined that there is an intention to open and close. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 307. Otherwise, the above determination is repeated until a predetermined time has elapsed. In step 307, the vehicle door opening / closing control is started. The detailed operation of this step will be described later.

  In the process of this flowchart, after the relative distance between the vehicle door and the user's hand is measured by the distance measuring device 2, the above-mentioned relative distance is not measured before a predetermined time elapses ( In the case where it is no longer possible, the ECU 8 stops the process of this flowchart and supplies a drive current to the cover drive motor 4 to close the cover 3. Further, the ECU 8 performs the same process when the relative distance cannot be measured within a predetermined time after receiving the authentication success signal from the security system 1.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to a process in which the vehicle door opening and closing device of the present embodiment drives the vehicle door to open and close. The process of this flowchart corresponds to the process of step 307 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 described above, and is executed every predetermined time.

  In step 401, the ECU 8 supplies a drive current to the door lock motor 5 to unlock the vehicle door. In step 402, the relative distance between the door of the vehicle and the user's hand measured by the distance measuring device 2 is acquired. In step 403, a drive current is supplied to the door opening / closing motor 7 so that the relative distance acquired in step 402 matches the predetermined distance, and the door is opened and closed.

  As described above, in the vehicle door opening and closing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the door is measured such that the relative distance between the vehicle door and the hand of the user of the vehicle is measured, and the measured relative distance matches the predetermined distance. The opening / closing motor 7 is driven to perform opening / closing control of the vehicle door. Therefore, this vehicle door opening and closing device can recognize the movement of the user's hand as the user's intention and can open and close the vehicle door.

  Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described. The vehicle door opening and closing device of the present modification is different from the above-described embodiment in that the opening and closing speed of the vehicle door is changed depending on the opening and closing angle of the door.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the vehicle door opening and closing apparatus according to this modification.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the motor rotation sensor 9 detects the rotation direction and the number of rotations of the door opening / closing motor 7, and outputs a left rotation signal and a right rotation signal each time the door opening / closing motor 7 makes one rotation left and right. . Regarding the rotation detection of the door opening / closing motor 7, a small measuring instrument using a laser or the like may be used.

  The ECU 8 of the present modification acquires the left rotation signal and the right rotation signal output from the motor rotation sensor 9 when opening and closing the vehicle door, and the number of the acquired left rotation signal and right rotation signal is not illustrated. Counting is performed by an internal counter, and a door opening / closing angle of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a door opening / closing angle) is calculated from the value of the counter. When the calculated door opening / closing angle is larger than a predetermined upper limit angle or smaller than a predetermined lower limit angle, the ECU 8 compares the door opening / closing angle with a case where the door opening / closing angle is smaller than the upper limit angle and larger than the lower limit angle. Then, the opening / closing speed of the door of the vehicle is decreased by a predetermined speed, and the opening / closing speed of the door is made gentle.

  Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to a process in which the vehicle door opening and closing device of the present modification changes the opening and closing speed of the vehicle door. The processing of this flowchart is executed at predetermined intervals independently of the processing of the flowchart during execution of the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above.

  In step 601, the ECU 8 calculates a door opening / closing angle from the value of the internal counter. In step 602, it is determined whether or not the door opening / closing angle calculated in step 601 is larger than the upper limit angle. If larger than the upper limit angle, the process proceeds to step 604. Otherwise, go to step 603.

  In step 603, it is determined whether or not the door opening / closing angle calculated in step 601 is smaller than the lower limit angle. If it is smaller than the lower limit angle, the process proceeds to step 603. If not, the process ends. In step 604, the opening / closing speed of the door is decreased by a predetermined speed to make the opening / closing speed of the door gentle.

  Thus, in the vehicle door opening / closing device of this modification, when the door opening / closing angle is larger than the upper limit angle or smaller than the lower limit angle, the door opening / closing angle is smaller than the upper limit angle and the lower limit angle. Compared with the case where it is larger than this, the opening and closing speed of the door is made gentle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large force from being applied to the door when the door is fully open or when the door is fully closed.

  In the above-described embodiment and modification, when the security system succeeds in user authentication, a determination process is performed as to whether or not to start opening / closing control of the vehicle door. However, a sensor that detects the approach of the user to the vehicle may be provided, and the above-described determination process may be performed when the sensor detects the approach of the user.

  Finally, the vehicle door opening and closing device according to the present embodiment and the modification can be suitably used not only as a vehicle door but also as a door opening and closing device in a home or building. However, it should be noted that the most preferable case is when it is used as an opening and closing device for opening and closing a vehicle door.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle door opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the fuel injection device of this embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the installation position of the ultrasonic transmitter and ultrasonic receiver in the door of a vehicle. It is a flowchart regarding the process which judges whether the vehicle door opening / closing apparatus of this embodiment starts opening / closing control of the door of a vehicle. It is a flowchart regarding the process which the vehicle door opening and closing apparatus of this embodiment opens and closes the door of a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the vehicle door opening / closing apparatus in the modification of this embodiment. It is a flowchart regarding the process in which the door opening / closing apparatus for vehicles of this modification changes the opening / closing speed of the door of a vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Security system 2 ... Distance measuring device 21 ... Ultrasonic transmitter 22 ... Ultrasonic receiver 3 ... Cover 4 ... Cover drive motor 5 ... Door lock motor 6 ... LED
7 ... Door open / close motor 8 ... ECU
9 ... Motor rotation sensor

Claims (8)

A vehicle door opening and closing device provided with a drive device for opening and closing a vehicle door,
Measuring means for measuring a distance between the door of the vehicle and a predetermined part on the body of a passenger boarding the vehicle;
A drive control unit is provided for acquiring the distance measured by the measurement unit and causing the drive device to open and close the door of the vehicle so that the acquired distance matches a predetermined distance. Vehicle door opening and closing device. The measurement means starts measuring the distance when a predetermined part on the body of the passenger enters a predetermined measurement region,
The drive control means causes the drive device to open and close the door when the predetermined part of the occupant is continuously in the measurement area for a predetermined time or more. The vehicle door opening and closing device according to claim 1. A shield for shielding the measuring means from the outside of the vehicle;
Detecting means for detecting that the passenger approaches the vehicle;
3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising shielding unit opening / closing means for opening / closing the shielding unit when the detection unit detects that the passenger approaches the vehicle. Door opener. An authentication device for performing user authentication of the vehicle is provided in the vehicle,
The said detection means detects that the said passenger approached the said vehicle, when the said authentication apparatus succeeds in the user authentication of the said vehicle, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle door opening and closing device. The vehicle door opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the measuring means is installed on a door of the vehicle. The vehicle door opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an illumination unit that illuminates the periphery of the measurement unit. The vehicle door opening and closing device according to claim 6, wherein the lighting unit operates when the authentication device has succeeded in user authentication of the vehicle. The drive device has a function of changing an opening / closing speed when opening and closing the door of the vehicle,
An opening detection means for detecting the degree of opening of the vehicle door;
If the degree of opening of the vehicle door is larger than a predetermined upper limit opening degree or smaller than a predetermined lower limit opening degree based on the detection result of the opening degree detecting means, the drive control means 2. The opening / closing speed of the device is made slower than in a case where an opening degree of the vehicle door is smaller than the upper limit opening degree and larger than the lower limit opening degree. The vehicle door opening and closing device according to claim 7.

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