JP2019018632A - Pinching detection device and opening/closing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pinching detection device which can detect pinching with a good accuracy with a simple and inexpensive configuration.SOLUTION: A pinching detection device has: a sensor electrode 51 which is provided on a peripheral edge part of a door opening; a position detection electrode 52 which is provided on a back door, and in which a distance between itself and the sensor electrode 51 becomes shorter as the back door is gradually closed toward a vehicle body; and a detection part 53 which detects a change in an electrostatic capacity formed in the sensor electrode 51 in order to detect pinching of an obstacle. In this case, the position detection electrode 52 charges the electrostatic capacity formed in the sensor electrode 51 with an amount of charge according to a distance between itself and the sensor electrode 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a pinch detection device and an opening / closing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle including an opening / closing system that automatically opens and closes an opening / closing body such as a back door by an actuator. In this kind of opening and closing system, a pinching detection device that detects the pinching of an obstacle is mounted so that the obstacle is not pinched between the opening and closing body and the vehicle body during the closing operation of the opening and closing body.

  As a pinch detection device, a method of detecting an obstacle using a change in capacitance formed on a sensor electrode is known. By the way, in this pinching detection device, the sensor electrode approaches the vehicle body while the opening / closing body reaches the fully closed state. For this reason, the sensor electrode and the vehicle body are capacitively coupled, and the capacitance formed on the sensor electrode changes. As a result, although there is no obstacle, there is a risk that pinching will be erroneously detected.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a sensor electrode and an opening member side portion located in the capacitance sensing direction are covered with a shielding electrode. The shield electrode is applied with a voltage whose potential is the same as that of the sensor electrode, and the opening member side portion is electrostatically cut off from the sensor electrode. It is restrained to become.

JP-A-2005-240428

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the entire range of the vehicle body surface facing the sensor electrode must be covered with a shielding electrode over a wide range. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that the cost increases and the shape of the shielding electrode must be developed for each vehicle body shape. Further, when an obstacle touches the shield electrode, or when an obstacle exists in the immediate vicinity of the shield electrode, there is a problem that the obstacle cannot be detected due to the influence of the shield electrode.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a pinching detection device and an opening / closing system capable of accurately detecting pinching with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  In order to solve such a problem, the first invention provides a pinching detection device that detects pinching of an obstacle by an opening / closing body that opens and closes an opening of a vehicle body. This pinching detection device includes a sensor electrode provided on one of the peripheral edge of the opening and the opening and closing body, and a sensor electrode provided on the other edge of the opening and the opening and closing body, the closer the opening and closing body is closed toward the vehicle body. A position detection electrode for detecting a change in capacitance formed on the sensor electrode in order to detect an obstacle being caught, and the position detection electrode includes: The capacitance formed on the sensor electrode is charged with a charge amount corresponding to the distance.

  Here, in the first invention, it is preferable that a sensor voltage is periodically applied to the sensor electrode, and a detection voltage having a higher potential and the same phase as the sensor electrode is applied to the position detection electrode.

  In the first invention, the opening / closing body is preferably attached to the vehicle body via a hinge part and opened / closed by swinging the open end side. In this case, the sensor electrode is provided on each side end of the opening / closing body from the base end side to the open end side, and the position detection electrode is in a state where the opening / closing body is closed in the peripheral edge portion of the opening. It is desirable that each sensor electrode is provided at a position facing the sensor electrode and close to the hinge part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an opening / closing mechanism that automatically opens and closes an opening / closing body provided in an opening of a vehicle body, and a pinching detection device according to the first invention that detects pinching of an obstacle by the opening / closing body An opening and closing system is provided.

  According to the present invention, pinching can be accurately detected with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

Explanatory drawing which shows typically the back door of the motor vehicle to which the opening / closing system which concerns on this embodiment is applied The block diagram which shows the structure of the switching system which concerns on this embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the pinch detection apparatus applied to the switching system Explanatory drawing which shows the concept of the pinch detection process by the pinch detection device Flow chart showing opening / closing operation of back door by opening / closing system

  Hereinafter, the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described by applying it to the back door 5 of the automobile 1. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the back door 5 of the automobile 1 to which the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  The back door 5 is a door that is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 and opens and closes the door opening 3 provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 2. The back door 5 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body 2 via a hinge part 6. In the present embodiment, the hinge component 6 is provided at the upper edge 4 a of the peripheral edge 4 of the door opening 3, that is, the peripheral edge 4 on the vehicle body 2 side that surrounds the door opening 3. The back door 5 is a flip-up type door whose upper end (base end) 5a is attached to the vehicle body 2 via a hinge part 6 and opens and closes by swinging the lower end (open end) 5b side. is there.

  The opening / closing system 10 is a system called a power back door that automatically opens and closes the back door 5. The opening / closing system 10 mainly includes an opening / closing switch 20, an opening / closing sensor 25, an opening / closing mechanism 30, a pinching detection device 50, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 60.

  The opening / closing switch 20 is an operation member that receives an opening / closing operation of the back door 5 from an occupant. The opening / closing switch 20 includes a driver's seat of the automobile 1, a switch provided on the back door 5, a switch mounted on an electronic key, and the like. By operating the opening / closing switch 20, the ECU 60 can be instructed to open / close the back door 5. When the opening / closing switch 20 is opened or closed, the operation signal is output to the ECU 60.

  The open / close sensor 25 is provided at the rear part of the vehicle body 2. The open / close sensor 25 detects that the back door 5 is fully closed and that the back door 5 is fully opened. When the open / close sensor 25 detects the fully closed state or the fully open state, the open / close sensor 25 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the state to the ECU 60.

  The opening / closing mechanism 30 is a mechanism for opening and closing the back door 5. The opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided at the left and right side end portions 5c and 5d of the back door 5, respectively. The opening / closing mechanism 30 is mainly composed of a shaft body 31, a drive motor 32, and an urging means (not shown).

  The shaft body 31 is configured to be extendable and contracted, and is provided between the vehicle body 2 and the back door 5. The drive motor 32 is a power source for the shaft body 31 to expand and contract, and is provided in the vehicle body 2. The back door 5 moves in the opening direction by driving the drive motor 32 in the normal direction to extend the shaft length of the shaft body 31. The back door 5 moves in the closing direction by driving the drive motor 32 in the reverse direction to shorten the shaft length of the shaft body 31. The drive state of the drive motor 32 is controlled by the ECU 60. Further, the urging means is constituted by a spring or the like, and is provided on the shaft body 31. By maintaining the shaft length (extension / contraction length) of the shaft body 31 by the urging force of the urging means, the back door 5 can be held in the fully open state.

  The pinching detection device 50 is a device that detects pinching of an obstacle (for example, a human body) by the back door 5 that opens and closes the door opening 3 of the vehicle body 2. Details of the pinch detection device 50 will be described later.

  The ECU 60 is a control unit that controls the opening / closing system 10. As the ECU 60, a microcomputer mainly composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O interface can be used. In relation to the present embodiment, the ECU 60 controls the drive state of the drive motor 32 to control the opening / closing of the back door 5. Further, the ECU 60 outputs necessary signals to the pinching detection device 50 and controls the operation state of the pinching detection device 50. When the ECU 60 closes the back door 5 and determines that the obstacle is caught based on the detection result by the pinch detection device 50, the ECU 60 performs control to switch the back door 5 to the opening operation.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of the pinch detection device 50 applied to the opening / closing system 10. The pinch detection device 50 includes a sensor electrode 51, a position detection electrode 52, and a detection unit 53.

  The sensor electrode 51 is provided on each of the left and right side end portions 5c and 5d of the back door 5 from the upper end portion 5a side to the lower end portion 5b side (see FIG. 1). The first pulse signal P1 is input to the sensor electrode 51 from the ECU 60 via the input terminal Vins. Through this first pulse signal P1, a predetermined level of voltage (sensor voltage) is periodically applied to the sensor electrode 51. In the figure, “Ca” is a capacitance Ca (grounding capacitance) formed on the sensor electrode 51. “Cs” is a capacitance (hereinafter referred to as “reference capacitance”) formed on the sensor electrode 51 in a state where the back door 5 is fully opened and there is no obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2. ). “Cp” is a capacitance that increases due to an obstacle that exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2 in the capacitance Ca formed in the sensor electrode 51. Further, “Cb” is a capacitance that increases as the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) approaches the vehicle body 2 among the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51. The electrostatic capacity Cb has a relationship that increases as the distance between the sensor electrode 51 and the vehicle body 2 decreases.

  The position detection electrodes 52 are respectively provided on the left and right edges 4b and 4c in the width direction of the peripheral edge 4 of the door opening 3 (see FIG. 1). For this reason, the position detection electrode 52 faces the sensor electrode 51 in a state where the back door 5 is closed. Moreover, the position detection electrode 52 is provided in the position close | similar to the hinge component 6, ie, the upper edge part side 4a, among right-and-left edge parts 4b and 4c. The position detection electrode 52 has a relationship that the distance from the sensor electrode 51 decreases as the back door 5 is closed toward the vehicle body 2.

  A second pulse signal P2 is input to the position detection electrode 52 from the ECU 60 via the input terminal Vinp. Through this second pulse signal P2, a voltage having a higher potential than the sensor electrode 51 and having the same phase as the sensor voltage is applied to the position detection electrode 52. In the drawing, “Cc” indicates a capacitance formed between the sensor electrode 51 and the position detection electrode 52. The capacitance Cc is capacitively coupled by the sensor electrode 51 (back door 5) approaching the position detection electrode 52, and the smaller the distance between the sensor electrode 51 (back door 5) and the position detection electrode 52, the smaller the capacitance Cc. growing. The position detection electrode 52 is set so that its electrostatic capacity Cc is equal to or substantially the same as the electrostatic capacity Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 described above.

  The detection unit 53 detects a change in the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 in order to detect an obstacle being caught. The detecting unit 53 is configured by a reference capacitor C1 connected between the sensor electrode 51 and the ground. A diode D1 is connected between the reference capacitor C1 and the sensor electrode 51. A connection point T1 between the diode D1 and the reference capacitor C1 is connected to the ECU 60.

  In the detection unit 53, a change in the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 is detected as a change in voltage at the connection point T1. The detection result in the detection unit 53, that is, the voltage at the connection point T1 is input to the ECU 60.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the concept of the pinching detection process performed by the pinching detection device 50. The pinching detection process is a process of detecting an obstacle pinched between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2 when the back door 5 is operated in the closing direction.

  First, when the pinching detection process is started, the first pulse signal P1 is input to the sensor electrode 51, and the second pulse signal P2 is input to the position detection electrode 52.

  In the process in which the back door 5 is closed from the fully open state, when there is no obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the electrostatic capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 becomes the reference electrostatic capacitance Cs. Therefore, the voltage of the sensor electrode 51, that is, the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 is higher than the predetermined determination voltage (FIG. 4A).

  On the other hand, when an obstacle exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 includes the capacitance Cp caused by the obstacle in addition to the reference capacitance Cs. Is also included. That is, when there is an obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, compared to the case where no obstacle exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the electrostatic capacitance formed on the sensor electrode 51. The capacity Ca increases. For this reason, the voltage detected in the detection part 53 becomes below a determination voltage (FIG.4 (b)). Therefore, it is possible to detect the obstacle being caught by comparing the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage.

  Meanwhile, the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2 in the middle of the back door 5 reaching the fully closed state. In this case, the sensor electrode 51 and the vehicle body 2 are capacitively coupled. Therefore, in a state where no obstacle exists, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 includes the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 in addition to the reference capacitance Cs. For this reason, the voltage detected in the detection part 53 becomes below a determination voltage (refer broken line of FIG.4 (c)), and there exists a possibility that pinching may be detected although an obstruction does not exist.

  In this regard, the pinch detection device 50 according to the present embodiment is provided with a position detection electrode 52. The position detection electrode 52 is provided so as to approach the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 is closed. Therefore, the position detection electrode 52 is capacitively coupled to the sensor electrode 51 in the middle of the back door 5 reaching the fully closed state. As a result, charge movement occurs, and the electrostatic capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 is charged.

  In this case, the electrostatic capacitance Cc of the position detection electrode 52 and the electrostatic capacitance Cb due to the vehicle body 2 correspond to the distance between the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) and the vehicle body 2 (position detection electrode 52). , Respectively. Therefore, the electrostatic capacity Cb due to the vehicle body 2 out of the electrostatic capacity Ca formed in the sensor electrode 51 is canceled by the above-described charging. In other words, the position detection electrode 52 charges the electrostatic capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 with a charge amount corresponding to the distance from the sensor electrode 51. As a result, even when the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Cb is cancelled, so that the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 is maintained at a level higher than the determination voltage ( FIG. 4 (c)).

  In this situation, when there is an obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the electrostatic capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 increases by the electrostatic capacitance Cp caused by the obstacle. Thereby, the voltage detected in the detection part 53 becomes below a determination voltage (FIG.4 (d)). Therefore, it is possible to detect the obstacle being caught by comparing the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the opening / closing operation of the back door 5 by the opening / closing system 10. The process shown in this flowchart is executed by the ECU 60 triggered by the operation of the opening / closing switch 20.

  First, in step 1 (S1), the ECU 60 determines whether or not the operation of the open / close switch 20 is an open operation. If the operation of the open / close switch 20 is an open operation, an affirmative determination is made in step 1 and the process proceeds to step 2 (S2). On the other hand, if the operation of the open / close switch 20 is a closing operation, a negative determination is made in step 1, and the process proceeds to step 5 (S5) described later.

  In step 2, the ECU 60 drives the drive motor 32 to rotate forward. When the drive motor 32 is driven to rotate forward, the shaft body 31 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 extends, whereby the back door 5 moves in the opening direction.

  In step 3 (S3), the ECU 60 refers to the detection signal of the open / close sensor 25 and determines whether or not the back door 5 has reached the fully open state. When the back door 5 reaches the fully open state, an affirmative determination is made in step 3, and the process proceeds to step 4 (S4). If the back door 5 has not reached the fully open state, a negative determination is made in step 3, and the process returns to step 3.

  In step 4, the ECU 60 performs an end process. Specifically, the ECU 60 stops the forward rotation drive of the drive motor 32.

  On the other hand, in step 5, the ECU 60 starts pinching detection processing by the pinching detection device 50. Specifically, the ECU 60 outputs the first pulse signal P1 to the input terminal Vins and outputs the second pulse signal P2 to the input terminal Vinp.

  In step 6 (S6), the ECU 60 drives the drive motor 32 in the reverse direction. When the drive motor 32 is driven in reverse, the shaft body 31 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 is contracted, thereby moving the back door 5 in the closing direction.

  In step 7 (S7), the ECU 60 compares the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage, and determines whether or not the jamming detection device 50 has detected the jamming of the obstacle. When the pinching detection device 50 detects the pinching of the obstacle, the voltage of the detection unit 53 is equal to or lower than the determination voltage. Therefore, when the voltage of the detection unit 53 is equal to or lower than the determination voltage, an affirmative determination is made in step 7 and the process proceeds to step 2. Thereby, the back door 5 is switched from the closing direction to the movement in the opening direction. On the other hand, when the voltage of the detection unit 53 is larger than the determination voltage, that is, when the pinching detection device 50 does not detect the pinching of the obstacle, a negative determination is made in step 7 and the process proceeds to step 8 (S8).

  In step 8, the ECU 60 refers to the detection signal of the open / close sensor 25 and determines whether or not the back door 5 has reached the fully closed state. When the back door 5 reaches the fully closed state, an affirmative determination is made in step 8 and the process proceeds to step 9 (S9). On the other hand, if the back door 5 has not reached the fully closed state, a negative determination is made in step 8, and the process returns to step 7.

  In step 9, the ECU 60 performs an end process. Specifically, the ECU 60 stops the reverse drive of the drive motor 32. Further, the ECU 60 stops outputting the first pulse signal P1 and the second pulse signal P2.

  As described above, the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes the pinching detection device 50. The pinching detection device 50 includes a position detection electrode 52 whose distance from the sensor electrode 51 decreases as the back door 5 is closed toward the vehicle body 2. The position detection electrode 52 is capacitively coupled to the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) approaches the vehicle body 2. Therefore, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 is charged by the position detection electrode 52 with a charge amount corresponding to the distance from the sensor electrode 51. As a result, of the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51, the capacitance Cb due to the vehicle body 2 is canceled. As a result, the vehicle body 2 and the obstacle can be appropriately separated, so that it is possible to effectively detect the obstacle being caught.

  Further, according to the position detection electrode 52 of the present embodiment, since the vehicle body 2 is not electrostatically shielded, it is not necessary to provide an electrode over the entire area of the sensor electrode 51. Therefore, it is only necessary to arrange the position detection electrode 52 on a part of the left and right edge portions 4b, 4c of the door opening 3. Thereby, pinching can be accurately detected with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  In the present embodiment, a sensor voltage is periodically applied to the sensor electrode 51, and a detection voltage having a higher potential than the sensor electrode 51 and having the same phase as the sensor voltage is applied to the position detection electrode 52.

  According to this configuration, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 can be appropriately charged. However, as long as the electrostatic capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 can be charged so that the electrostatic capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 is cancelled, it may not be in phase with the sensor voltage. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the position detection electrode 52 is provided at a position close to the hinge part 6 while facing the sensor electrode 51 in the state where the back door 5 is closed in the peripheral edge portion 4 of the door opening 3. ing.

  Even if the opening angle of the back door 5 is the same, the position closer to the hinge part 6, that is, the upper end portion 5 a side of the back door 5 is closer to the sensor electrode 51 than the lower end portion 5 b side of the back door 5. Is close. Since the upper end portion 5a side of the back door 5 is relatively close to the sensor electrode 51 as compared with the lower end portion 5b side of the back door 5, the sensor electrode 51 even if the opening angle of the back door 5 is large. It tends to be capacitively coupled. Thereby, when the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2, the increase in the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 can be canceled appropriately. As a result, it is possible to appropriately detect the obstacle being caught.

  In the present embodiment, when pinching is detected, the back door 5 is moved in the opening direction, but the back door 5 may be stopped.

  In the present embodiment, the detection unit 53 provided in the pinching detection device 50 detects a change in capacitance formed in the sensor electrode 51. However, the detection unit 53 may further include a function executed by the ECU 60 in this embodiment, that is, a function of determining whether an obstacle is caught based on a change in capacitance.

  Although the opening / closing system according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. In the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing system has been described. However, the pinch detection device itself applied to the opening / closing system also functions as part of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a method for detecting the obstacles caught by the back door has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the back door and can be applied to various opening / closing bodies that open and close the opening of the vehicle body. For example, a trunk lid or a side door may be used. In addition, the opening / closing body may be configured to slide as well as to swing around the hinge part. The opening / closing body is not limited to a door, and may be a door window, a sunroof, or the like. Furthermore, the pinch detection device may be applied not only to an opening / closing system with an automatic opening / closing function, but also to an opening / closing system with an assist function for assisting an operating force with respect to the opening / closing body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car 2 Car body 3 Door opening part 4 Peripheral part 5 Back door (opening-closing body)
6 hinge parts 10 opening / closing system 20 opening / closing switch 30 opening / closing mechanism 31 shaft body 32 drive motor 50 pinching detection device 51 sensor electrode 52 position detection electrode 53 detection unit 60 ECU

Claims (4)

In the pinching detection device that detects pinching of an obstacle by an opening / closing body that opens and closes an opening of a vehicle body,
A sensor electrode provided on one of the peripheral edge of the opening and the opening / closing body;
A position detection electrode provided on the other peripheral edge of the opening and the opening / closing body, and the distance from the sensor electrode decreases as the opening / closing body is closed toward the vehicle body;
A detection unit for detecting a change in capacitance formed on the sensor electrode in order to detect the sandwiching of the obstacle;
The pinch detection device, wherein the position detection electrode charges a capacitance formed on the sensor electrode with a charge amount corresponding to a distance from the sensor electrode. A sensor voltage is periodically applied to the sensor electrode,
The pinching detection device according to claim 1, wherein a detection voltage having a higher potential and the same phase as that of the sensor electrode is applied to the position detection electrode. The opening and closing body is opened and closed by swinging the open end side, the base end is attached to the vehicle body via a hinge part,
The sensor electrodes are respectively provided at side end portions on both sides of the opening / closing body from the base end portion side to the open end portion side,
The said position detection electrode is provided in the position which opposes the said sensor electrode in the state in which the said opening-and-closing body was closed among the peripheral parts of the said opening part, and is close to the said hinge components, respectively. Pinch detection device. An opening and closing mechanism that automatically opens and closes the opening and closing body provided in the opening of the vehicle body;
The pinching detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which detects pinching of an obstacle by the opening and closing body,
Opening and closing system.

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