JP2013028221A - Method and device for controlling vehicular retractable getting-on-and-off step - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for controlling a vehicular retractable getting-on-and-off step which can prevent contact between the expanded step and an obstacle even in the case of the single function-type step expanded and stored depending on the opening and closing of a door.SOLUTION: This device for the vehicle includes an expansion inhibiting switch 11 which changes an expansion inhibiting mode of inhibiting the expansion of the step regardless of the opening and closing of the door over to a normal mode of expanding or storing the step depending on the opening and closing of the door.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method and apparatus for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle.

  In general, as shown in FIG. 5, in a vehicle 1 having a high vehicle height such as an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) or a pickup truck, step 2 is provided to assist passengers to get on and off.

  Since Step 2 is mounted at a low position on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 1, it has problems that the rough road running performance is deteriorated and the appearance design is impaired.

  In order to solve such a problem, a so-called retractable boarding / alighting step has been developed in which the step 2 can be stored from the developed position during traveling.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a conventional vehicle retractable boarding / exiting step control device includes a courtesy switch, a door latch lock switch, and the like that detect opening and closing of the front, rear, left and right doors in the case of a four-door vehicle 1. A door switch 4, an actuator 5 such as a left and right motor that expands and retracts step 2, a position sensor 6 that detects the amount of expansion of step 2 based on the drive amount of the actuator 5, and the door switch 4 A controller for inputting the door open / close state detected and the unfolding amount of step 2 detected by the position sensor 6 and outputting a driving signal for unfolding or storing step 2 to the actuator 5 based on these information 7. In FIG. 7, 8 is a battery, 9 is a courtesy lamp that is lit by energization from the battery 8 when the door is opened and the door switch 4 is turned on, and 10 is the door switch 4 and the controller 7. It is a diode provided in the middle of the electric circuit to be connected.

  In the vehicle retractable boarding / alighting step control device, when the door is opened and the door switch 4 is turned on, and the door switch 4 detects that the door is opened, the battery 8 is energized and the courtesy lamp is turned on. 9 is turned on and the controller 7 is also energized via the diode 10, and the controller 7 outputs a drive signal for deploying step 2 to the actuator 5. The step 2 deploys while the door When the door switch 4 is turned off and the door switch 4 detects that the door is closed, the energization from the battery 8 is cut off, the courtesy lamp 9 is turned off, and the energization from the controller 7 via the diode 10 is performed. Is also cut off, and a drive signal for storing step 2 is output from the controller 7 to the actuator 5, and step 2 is stored.

  For example, Patent Document 1 shows a general technical level related to the control device for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle as described above.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-24448

  However, in the conventional retractable boarding / egressing step control device for a vehicle as described above, when the door is opened after parking at a place where there is an obstacle such as a curb, the developed step 2 is in contact with the obstacle. There was a risk of it.

  Incidentally, the control device for the retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is called a single function type, and is mainly mounted on a used vehicle, so that the installation work is simple. It is required not to choose a vehicle or a vehicle.

  On the other hand, a control device for a vehicle retractable boarding / alighting step called a multi-function type is not only a door opening / closing state as in the single function type, but also includes a traveling state of the vehicle 1 in step 2. And a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, and when the door speed is detected by the door switch 4 when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is less than a set value, A drive signal for expanding step 2 from the controller 7 to the actuator 5 is output. When the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is equal to or higher than a set value, the step 2 is expanded. A drive signal is stored to store step 2, and step 2 is stored. In addition, there is a function of forcibly deploying and uninhibiting deployment of step 2 by an operation switch. It is therefore, if the step 2 and deployment prohibited by the manipulation switch, the problem of the step 2 as described above comes into contact with the obstacle becomes avoidable.

  However, the multi-function type requires communication with the controller 7 in order to determine the traveling state of the vehicle 1, and the communication method differs depending on the vehicle type. At the same time, the communication method must be changed, and the cost increases. Therefore, it is difficult as a real problem to mount a multi-function type in a vehicle that has been used.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention is a retractable boarding / alighting vehicle for vehicles that can prevent contact between an unfolded step and an obstacle, even if it is a single-function type step that is unfolded and stored in response to opening and closing of a door. It is an object of the present invention to provide a step control method and apparatus.

The present invention relates to a control method for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle that is deployed when the door is open and stored when the door is closed.
A retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle, wherein a deployment prohibiting mode for prohibiting the development of a step regardless of opening / closing of the door and a normal mode for developing or storing a step according to the opening / closing of the door are switched. This is a control method.

The present invention also includes a door switch for detecting opening and closing of the door,
An actuator for deploying and storing steps;
When the door switch detects that the door is open, it outputs a drive signal for expanding the step to the actuator, and when it detects that the door is closed, it outputs a drive signal for storing the step to the actuator. In a control device for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle comprising
A vehicular storage comprising a deployment prohibiting switch that switches between a deployment prohibiting mode that prohibits the deployment of a step regardless of whether the door is opened or closed, and a normal mode that deploys or stores a step according to the opening or closing of the door This relates to the control device for the expression getting-on / off step.

  According to the above means, the following operation can be obtained.

  For example, if the deployment prohibition switch is in the normal mode and the door is open and the step is deployed, if the deployment prohibition switch is switched from the normal mode to the deployment prohibition mode, the step is stored immediately and the deployment prohibition switch is in the normal mode. If the deployment prohibition switch is switched from the normal mode to the deployment prohibition mode while the door is closed and the step is stored, the step will remain stored even after the door is opened, and the deployment prohibition switch is in the deployment prohibition mode. When the deployment prohibition switch is switched from the deployment prohibition mode to the normal mode while the door is open and the step is stored, the step is immediately deployed. Further, the deployment prohibition switch is in the deployment prohibition mode, and the step is stored when the door is closed. Even if the expansion prohibition switch is switched from the expansion prohibition mode to the normal mode, the step remains stored. Next, it will not be deployed unless the door opening.

  In other words, if the deployment prohibition mode is selected and switched in advance using the deployment prohibition switch, the deployed step will come into contact with the obstacle even if the door is opened after parking at an obstacle such as a curb. Can be avoided.

  In the vehicle retractable boarding / alighting step control device, the electric circuit is connected to the normal mode in the middle of the electric circuit connecting the door switch and the controller, or the electric circuit is cut off and the electric circuit is cut off. An on / off switch for the deployment prohibition mode can be provided as the deployment prohibition switch. In this way, it is possible to switch between the normal mode and the deployment prohibition mode only by performing common and simple electrical wiring work regardless of the vehicle model. Thus, it is easy to handle vehicles that have been used.

  According to the control method and apparatus for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle according to the present invention, even if the step is a single function type that is expanded and stored in response to opening and closing of a door, the contact between the expanded step and an obstacle is obviated. An excellent effect that it can be prevented can be achieved.

It is a block diagram which shows the 1st Example of the control method and apparatus of the retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles of this invention. 1 is an electric circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of a method and apparatus for controlling a retractable boarding / alighting step for a vehicle according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the step in the expansion | deployment prohibition mode and normal mode accompanying the door opening and closing in 1st Example of the control method and apparatus of the retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Example of the control method and apparatus of the retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the boarding / alighting step provided in a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control method and apparatus of the conventional retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles. It is an electric circuit diagram which shows an example of the control method and apparatus of the conventional retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles.

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

  1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a control method and apparatus for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 5 to 7 denote the same parts. The basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional one shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, but the feature of the first embodiment is that the door is opened and closed as shown in FIGS. First, there is a deployment prohibition switch 11 that switches between a deployment prohibition mode that prohibits the deployment of step 2 and a normal mode that deploys or stores step 2 according to the opening / closing of the door.

  In the case of the present embodiment, in the middle of the electric circuit connecting the door switch 4 and the controller 7, the electric circuit is connected to enter the normal mode, or the electric circuit is cut off to enter the development prohibition mode. An on / off switch 11a (see FIG. 2) is provided as the expansion prohibiting switch 11.

  When the expansion prohibition switch 11 is switched to the expansion prohibition mode, a display lamp 12 provided on an instrument panel (not shown) is turned on.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the expansion prohibition switch 11 is in the normal mode and the door is open and step 2 is in the expansion state, if the expansion prohibition switch 11 is switched from the normal mode to the expansion prohibition mode, step 2 is immediately stored. .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the expansion prohibition switch 11 is in the normal mode and the expansion prohibition switch 11 is switched from the normal mode to the expansion prohibition mode while the door is closed and the step 2 is being stored, the door may be opened thereafter. Step 2 remains stored.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the expansion prohibition switch 11 is in the expansion prohibition mode and the expansion prohibition switch 11 is switched from the expansion prohibition mode to the normal mode while the door is opened and the step 2 is stored, the step 2 is immediately expanded. The

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, even if the deployment prohibition switch 11 is in the deployment prohibition mode and the door is closed and step 2 is being stored and the deployment prohibition switch 11 is switched from the deployment prohibition mode to the normal mode, step 2 is stored. It will remain untouched and will not be deployed unless the door is opened.

  That is, if the deployment prohibition mode is selected and switched in advance by the deployment prohibition switch 11, even if the door is opened after parking at an obstacle such as a curbstone, the deployed step 2 is in contact with the obstacle. Can be avoided.

  In the first embodiment, in the middle of the electric circuit connecting the door switch 4 and the controller 7, the electric circuit is connected to the normal mode, or the electric circuit is cut off and the development prohibition mode is set. Since the on / off switch 11a is provided as the expansion prohibition switch 11, it is possible to switch between the normal mode and the expansion prohibition mode only by performing common and simple electric wiring work regardless of the vehicle type. Correspondence to the car becomes easy.

  Further, when the deployment prohibition switch 11 is switched from the normal mode to the deployment prohibition mode, the display lamp 12 provided on the instrument panel (not shown) is lit, so that the driver is switched to the deployment prohibition mode. It becomes possible to grasp.

  Thus, even in the case of the single-function type step 2 that is developed and stored according to the opening and closing of the door, the contact between the developed step 2 and the obstacle can be prevented in advance. It is also possible to make the driver recognize that the development prohibition mode is selected by turning on the display lamp 12.

  FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the control method and apparatus for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same parts, The basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the electric circuit is connected to the normal mode in the middle of the electric circuit connecting the door switch 4 and the controller 7, or Instead of providing an on / off switch 11a that cuts off the electric circuit and enters the expansion prohibition mode as the expansion prohibition switch 11, the controller 7 selects whether the normal mode or the expansion prohibition mode is selected as an electric signal. An expansion prohibiting switch 11 ′ for inputting is provided, and a display lamp 12 ′ that is turned on by an electrical signal from the controller 7 when the expansion prohibiting switch 11 ′ is switched from the normal mode to the expansion prohibiting mode. Those digits.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the deployment prohibition switch 11 'is in the normal mode, the door is opened, and step 2 is deployed, when the deployment prohibition switch 11' is switched from the normal mode to the deployment prohibition mode, step 2 is immediately stored. In addition, when the deployment prohibition switch 11 'is in the normal mode, and the door is closed and the step 2 is being stored, the deployment prohibition switch 11' is switched from the normal mode to the deployment prohibition mode. If the deployment prohibition switch 11 'is switched from the deployment prohibition mode to the normal mode while the deployment prohibition switch 11' is in the deployment prohibition mode and the door is opened and step 2 is stored, the step 2 is When the deployment prohibition switch 11 'is in the deployment prohibition mode and the door is closed and the step 2 is stored, the deployment prohibition switch is immediately deployed. Be switched 1'from deployment prohibition mode to the normal mode, step 2 will remain stored and are not deployed unless the door opening.

  That is, if the deployment prohibition mode is selected and switched in advance by the deployment prohibition switch 11 ′, even if the door is opened after parking at an obstacle such as a curb, the deployed step 2 will come into contact with the obstacle. Can be avoided.

  Further, when the expansion prohibition switch 11 'is switched from the normal mode to the expansion prohibition mode, the display lamp 12' provided on the instrument panel (not shown) is turned on, so that the driver is switched to the expansion prohibition mode. It becomes possible to grasp this.

  Thus, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, even if the step 2 is a single function type that is expanded and stored in accordance with the opening and closing of the door, the contact between the expanded step 2 and the obstacle is obviated. Can be prevented. Further, it is possible to make the driver recognize that the development prohibition mode is selected by turning on the display lamp 12 '.

  It should be noted that the control method and device for the retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the steps disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle, but is disposed below the rear door. Needless to say, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as being applicable to the provided steps.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Step 4 Door switch 5 Actuator 7 Controller 11 Deployment prohibition switch 11 'Deployment prohibition switch 11a On-off switch 12 Indicator lamp 12' Indicator lamp

Claims (3)

In a control method of a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle that is deployed when the door is opened and stored when the door is closed,
A retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle, wherein a deployment prohibiting mode for prohibiting the development of a step regardless of opening / closing of the door and a normal mode for developing or storing a step according to the opening / closing of the door are switched. Control method. A door switch that detects opening and closing of the door;
An actuator for deploying and storing steps;
When the door switch detects that the door is open, it outputs a drive signal for expanding the step to the actuator, and when it detects that the door is closed, it outputs a drive signal for storing the step to the actuator. In a control device for a retractable boarding / exiting step for a vehicle comprising
A vehicular storage comprising a deployment prohibiting switch that switches between a deployment prohibiting mode that prohibits the deployment of a step regardless of whether the door is opened or closed, and a normal mode that deploys or stores a step according to the opening or closing of the door A control device for an expression boarding / exiting step.   In the middle of the electrical circuit connecting the door switch and the controller, the electrical circuit is connected to enter the normal mode, or the on / off switch that shuts off the electrical circuit and enters the deployment prohibited mode is used as the deployment prohibited switch. The control apparatus of the retractable boarding / alighting step for vehicles according to claim 2 provided.

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