JP2006182284A - Door opening switch device for back door for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a door opening switch device for a back door for a vehicle, capable of achieving excellent water-proof performance and operability of an operation part without deteriorating appearance. <P>SOLUTION: A detection electrode is installed on a part of the back door for a vehicle that is opened by a door opening/closing mechanism, capacity change between the detection electrode and the ground due to approaching of part of a human body to the detection electrode is detected, and a door opening/closing mechanism is actuated in this door opening switch device for a back door for a vehicle. It is provided with a plastic plate 5 having a metal layer 12 on the surface to compose a garnish of the back door for a vehicle, and an FPC 15 installed on the back surface side of the plastic plate 5. The metal layer 12 on the plastic plate 5 is set as the detection electrode to be connected through a connection part 20 to the FPC 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an opening switch device provided in a back door for a vehicle such as an automobile.

Conventionally, as an opening switch device for this type of vehicle back door, a device applied to an automobile is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The device disclosed herein is an open / close control device for a back door of an automobile, and the back door is controlled by on / off control of an electric motor and a solenoid valve constituting a mechanism for automatically opening / closing the back door by manual or remote operation. Therefore, even an operator with weak muscular strength such as using a wheelchair or a crutch can easily open and close the back door.
JP 2000-158947 A, paragraphs 0008, 0009, FIG.

  In the above-described conventional open / close control device for a back door of an automobile, details of a switch for turning on and off the automatic opening / closing mechanism are not shown, but a switch having an electrical contact is generally used. The Such a switch is embedded in a door knob or the like because it loses its aesthetics when it appears on the exterior of an automobile and also requires waterproofness. However, if there is a switch in such a position, there is a drawback that it is difficult to operate for both handicapped persons and persons with physical disabilities.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an opening switch device for a vehicle back door that is excellent in waterproofness and operability of an operation unit without impairing aesthetics.

  In the vehicle back door opening switch device according to the present invention, a detection electrode is attached to a part of the vehicle back door that is opened by the door opening mechanism, and a part of the human body approaches the detection electrode. An opening switch device for a vehicle back door that detects a change in capacitance between the detection electrode and ground and activates the door opening / closing mechanism, wherein a metal layer is formed on a surface of the vehicle back door garnish. It comprises a plastic plate and a flexible printed circuit board mounted on the back side of the plastic plate, wherein the metal layer of the plus chip plate is connected to the flexible printed circuit board as the detection electrode.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a light source for displaying the position of the detection electrode is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, and a window for transmitting light from the light source is formed on at least a part of the plastic plate. Has been.

  In this case, the light source may be used in combination with a line sense lamp for illuminating the license plate.

  In another embodiment, the control unit is configured to change a lighting state of the light source when a part of a human body approaches the detection electrode and to activate the door opening mechanism when the human body contacts the detection electrode. A circuit is further provided.

  In this case, a receiving means for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a predetermined transmitter is provided, and the control circuit is provided only when a predetermined information signal for owner recognition is detected from the radio signal received by the receiving means. It is desirable to make it work.

  According to the present invention, the metal layer formed on the surface of the plastic plate constituting the garnish of the vehicle back door is connected to the flexible printed circuit board as a detection electrode, so that the switch can be operated with a wide detection area without losing the overall aesthetics. It is possible to provide a door opening switch device for a vehicle back door that can be formed and is excellent in waterproofness and operability of the operation portion.

  If a light source for displaying the position of the detection electrode is mounted, the position of the switch can be easily understood even in a dark place, and the operability is further improved. If the light source is used in combination with a line sense lamp, the number of parts will not increase.

  When a part of the human body approaches the detection electrode, the lighting state of the light source is changed, and the door opening mechanism is activated when the human body contacts the detection electrode. Therefore, the operability is further improved.

  Further, by permitting this operation only when a predetermined information signal for owner recognition included in the radio signal is detected, a security problem can be cleared.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an opening switch device for an automobile back door according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the center of the rear end portion of the back door 2 of the automobile 1, a license plate attachment portion 4 to which the license plate 3 is attached is provided. The license plate mounting portion 4 is provided with a plastic plate 5 constituting a garnish as a laterally extending exterior part projecting in a bowl shape at the top. The plastic plate 5 constitutes an opening switch device 6 described later.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the door opening switch device 6, and FIG. 3 shows an AA 'cross section in FIG.

  The plastic plate 5 includes a plastic base material 11 having an L-shaped cross section, a metal layer 12 that is formed by plating, vapor deposition, or the like on the surface and serving as a decoration and a detection electrode, and a central front surface of the plastic base material 11. It has a position display window 13 for displaying the position of the detection electrode made of transparent resin fitted, and a license illumination window 14 for license plate illumination made of transparent resin fitted on the lower right and left sides of the plastic base material 11. A flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as “FPC”) 15 is disposed along the plastic plate 5 on the back surface side of the plastic plate 5. The FPC 15 is mounted with an LED 16 serving as a light source for displaying the position of the detection electrode at a position where light is emitted from the position display window 13 toward the front, and a license is applied at a position where light is emitted downward from the license illumination window 14. An LED 17 serving as a lamp is mounted, and electronic components 18 for realizing various functions of the opening switch device are mounted at other positions. One end portion of the FPC 15 is connected to a connector 19 for connection to an external circuit, and the other end portion of the FPC 15 is connected to the metal layer 12 via the connection portion 20. The FPC 15 and the electronic components mounted thereon are entirely covered with a waterproof case 21.

  The connection unit 20 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, the nut 22 is insert-molded on the plastic base material 11 so that one end surface thereof faces one surface of the plastic base material 11, and the surface of the plastic base material 11 facing the nut 22 is metal-plated or the like. By forming the metal layer 12 with this, conduction between the metal layer 12 and the nut 22 is achieved. Then, the bolts 23 are fastened to the nuts 22 so as to be in contact with a conductive pattern (not shown) of the FPC 15, and the metal layer 12 and the FPC 15 are electrically connected, and the end of the FPC 15 and the plastic plate 5 are fixed.

  The door opening switch device 6 is inserted into the mounting hole of the automobile body from the base end side of the waterproof case 21 provided with the connector 19 and is liquid-tightly attached to the automobile body via a seal member.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the automatic door opening device for the back door according to the present embodiment.

  The capacitance detection circuit 31 outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the capacitance Cx between the detection electrode 30 made of the metal layer 12 and the ground. The detection circuit 31 includes an oscillation circuit, for example, and generates a signal whose oscillation frequency or duty ratio changes according to the capacitance Cx generated by the detection electrode 30. The detection voltage output from the detection circuit 31 is input to one input terminal of the comparator 32. A determination voltage generated by the determination voltage generation circuit 33 is applied to the other input terminal of the comparator 32. The comparator 32 outputs a first detection signal and a second detection signal, respectively, when the detection voltage exceeds predetermined first and second determination voltages. The first and second detection signals are detection signals that are output in stages such as the approach of the human body and the contact of the human body, and are input to the switch control circuit 34.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the opening control of the back door 2 is performed using the radio wave from the smart key 35 incorporating the portable transmitter. The smart key 35 transmits a radio signal including identification number (ID) information at predetermined time intervals. On the other hand, the smart key receiving circuit 36 provided on the vehicle body side receives the radio signal including the ID information described above, collates with the ID information stored therein, and performs individual authentication of the driver. When the authentication is completed, an authentication completion signal is given to the switch control circuit 34, and a lock mechanism (not shown) is released. The authentication completion signal is also supplied to the light source drive circuit 38, and the light drive circuit 38 displays the approach of the human body to the detection electrode 30, the contact of the human body, etc. with different illumination patterns on the condition that the authentication is completed. Lighting control of the LED 16 is performed.

  When the first detection signal from the comparator 32 is input in a state where the authentication completion signal is input, the switch control circuit 34 turns on the LED 16 via the light source driving circuit 38. Thereby, the position of the detection electrode 30 is displayed through the position display window 13. In addition, when the second detection signal from the comparator 32 is input in a state where the authentication completion signal is input, the switch control circuit 34 sets the door open signal to an on state and outputs it to the motor drive circuit 37. When the door open signal is turned on, the motor drive circuit 37 starts driving the motor 38 for opening and closing the back door 2. As a result, the back door 2 enters the door opening operation. When the back door 2 is fully opened, the motor drive circuit 37 detects this and lowers the motor drive signal. As a result, the switch control circuit 34 and the light source driving circuit 38 are turned off.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of opening the back door 2 according to the present embodiment.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the driver 41 who accommodates the smart key 35 in the pocket approaches the automobile 1, the smart receiving circuit 36 detects this and outputs an authentication completion signal. In this state, when the human body approaches the plastic plate 5, the first detection signal is output from the comparator 32, so the light source driving circuit 38 lights the LED 16. If the lighting pattern at this time is a blinking pattern or the emission color is a conspicuous color, the switch position becomes clearer. Thereby, the driver 41 can visually recognize which side the switch (detection electrode 30) for opening the back door is located.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the driver 41 touches the position illuminated by the LED 15a with a part of the human body (for example, the back of the hand), the light source driving circuit 38 causes the LED 16 to be higher than before, for example. It is lit with luminance or a different luminescent color. As a result, the driver 41 can visually recognize that the switch is turned on. At the same time, the switch control circuit 34 turns on the motor drive circuit 37. Thereby, the back door 2 is automatically opened, and as shown in FIG.6 (c), it can be set as a complete door open state.

  According to the automatic door opening device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, even when the driver 41 holds the luggage 42, it is only necessary to lightly press a part of the body, for example, the back of the hand, etc. The back door 2 can be opened. Since the metal layer 12 of the plastic plate 5 also serves as the detection electrode 30, it is possible to form a switch with a wide detection area without impairing the overall beauty. Moreover, since the door opening switch device 6 is modularized by the waterproof case 21, the waterproof property of the operation unit can be improved. Further, by displaying the position of the switch by turning on the LED 16, it is possible to immediately know which side should be contacted, and to improve the operability.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of an opening switch device 7 for an automobile back door according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the previous embodiment, the light source for position display is provided independently, but in this embodiment, the light source for position display is shared with the LED 17 for the license lamp.

  In this embodiment, when the human body is close to the plastic plate 8, the LED 17 for the license lamp is turned on. Further, for example, in a situation where the LED 17 is already lit at night, the switch position is displayed by blinking the LED 17, setting it to a high luminance state, changing the emission color, or the like. When a part of the human body comes into contact with the plastic plate 8 in the vicinity of the license lamp, an opening operation similar to the above is started.

  According to this embodiment, since the position display window 13 and the LED 16 are not necessary, the cost can be reduced and the appearance of the automobile is not impaired at all.

1 is a rear view of an automobile equipped with a door opening switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the same door switch device. It is AA 'sectional drawing in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the connection part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the door opening switch apparatus. It is a figure which shows door opening operation using the door opening switch apparatus. It is a front view of the opening switch apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automobile, 2 ... Back door, 3 ... License plate, 4 ... License plate mounting part, 5, 8 ... Plastic plate, 6, 7 ... Opening switch apparatus, 12 ... Metal layer, 13 ... Window for position display, 14 ... license lighting window, 15 ... FPC, 16, 17 ... LED, 19 ... connector, 20 ... connection part, 21 ... waterproof case.

Claims (5)

A detection electrode is attached to a part of the vehicle back door that is opened by the door opening mechanism, and a change in capacitance between the detection electrode and the ground due to the approach of a part of the human body to the detection electrode is detected. A door opening switch device for a vehicle back door that operates the door opening and closing mechanism,
A plastic plate having a metal layer formed on the surface and constituting a garnish for a vehicle back door;
With a flexible printed circuit board mounted on the back side of this plastic plate,
A door opening switch device for a vehicle back door, wherein the metal layer of the plus chip plate is connected to the flexible printed circuit board as the detection electrode. A light source for displaying the position of the detection electrode is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board,
The opening switch device for a vehicle back door according to claim 1, wherein a window that transmits light from the light source is formed in at least a part of the plastic plate.   3. The vehicle back door opening switch device according to claim 2, wherein the light source is used in combination with a license lamp for illuminating a license plate.   And a control circuit that changes a lighting state of the light source when a part of a human body approaches the detection electrode, and operates the door opening mechanism when the human body comes into contact with the detection electrode. The opening switch device for a vehicle back door according to claim 2 or 3. A receiving means for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a predetermined transmitter;
5. The vehicle back door opening switch according to claim 4, wherein the control circuit operates only when a predetermined information signal for owner recognition is detected from the radio signal received by the receiving means. apparatus.

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