JP2022042320A - Opening/closing body controller - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an opening/closing body controller that even when neutral position detection means has failed at the time of starting up a battery power supply, is capable of restoring a sector gear to a neutral position without allowing an opening/closing body to become in an open state when a latch is in a locked state.SOLUTION: At the time of starting up a battery power supply, a controller performs neutral restoration operation of temporarily rotating a sector gear to a locking position and restoring the sector gear to a neutral position, when the sector gear is not positioned at the neutral position and a latch is engaged with a striker; when the sector gear has passed the neutral position in the neutral restoration operation, temporarily rotates the sector gear to an unlocking position and performs retry operation of rotating the sector gear from the unlocking position toward the locking position until a predetermined neutral restoration time passes; and makes a drive unit continue closing driving from timing of starting the neutral restoration operation after the sector gear reaching the locking position or an interval from the neutral restoration operation to completion of the retry operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an opening / closing body control device.

Conventionally, there has been known an opening / closing body control device that automatically "locks" and "unlocks" an opening / closing body composed of, for example, a back door or a sliding door of a vehicle.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a door opening / closing device (driving unit) that drives an opening / closing of a back door (opening / closing body) and a striker provided on the back door are mainly engaged to hold the back door in a closed state. It controls the operation of the door latch device (latch mechanism) that performs the locking operation and the unlocking operation that releases the engagement state with the striker to enable the opening / closing operation of the back door, and the operation of these door opening / closing devices and door latch devices. A door open / close control system (open / close body control device) including an electronic control device (control device) and the like is disclosed.

Here, the latch mechanism engages with a sector gear rotatably provided from a neutral position toward an opening direction (unlocking direction) and a closing direction (locking direction), and a striker by rotating the sector gear in the closing direction. A release lever (ratchet) that is provided so that a latch that rotates in the matching direction and the rotating latch can be locked, and that the sector gear rotates in the opening direction to release the locked state with the latch. , A latch drive motor (electric motor) that drives the sector gear in the open and closed directions, a neutral position detection SW (neutral position detecting means) that detects that the sector gear is located in the neutral position, and the latch are in a locked state. It is provided with a latch state detecting SW (neutral position detecting means) for detecting whether the state is (a state of being engaged with the striker) or an unlocked state (a state in which the striker can be detached from the latch).

Then, after the unlocking operation is completed, the latch mechanism rotates the sector gear that has reached the open end (unlocking position) toward the closed end (locking position) side until the neutral position detecting means detects the sector gear. Return to the neutral position.
Further, after the locking operation is completed, the latch mechanism rotates the sector gear that has reached the closed end toward the open end side until the neutral position detecting means detects it, and returns the sector gear to the neutral position.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-36598

By the way, for example, when the battery power supply that supplies power to the control device that applies voltage to these drive units or performs input processing from the latch mechanism, such as attaching / detaching when replacing the battery power supply mounted on the vehicle, is started up. If the sector gear is not in the neutral position, the controller immediately detects the state of the latch by the neutral position detecting means.
Then, when the latch is in the locked state, the control device once rotates the sector gear toward the closed end (locking position), and then moves from the closed end (locking position) to the open end (unlocking position) again. And rotate it to return to the neutral position. When the latch is in the unlocked state, the control device once rotates the sector gear toward the open end (unlocking position), and then moves from the open end (unlocking position) to the closed end (locking position) again. Rotate toward the neutral position to return to the neutral position.

Here, when the battery power supply is started up, if the sector gear is not in the neutral position and the latch is in the locked state, and if the neutral position detecting means is out of order, the sector gear goes to the closed end (locked position). When the sector gear once rotated is rotated from the closed end (locking position) to the open end (unlocking position) again, it passes through the neutral position and is further rotated toward the open end side. ..
As a result, the latch, which was locked before the battery power was turned on, suddenly became unlocked, and from the user's point of view, the opening and closing body was unexpectedly opened when the battery power was turned on. There was a risk of becoming.
Therefore, in order to reduce such a risk, for example, when the device is rotated from the closed end (locking position) to the open end (unlocking position) again, it takes time to reach the neutral position. It is known that if the neutral position is not reached at that time, the rotation operation of the sector gear is stopped by the passage of time.
However, the time to reach such an originally neutral position must be sufficient for reaching the neutral position at the time of setting because a large variation occurs due to individual differences in the drive voltage, temperature, and latch mechanism. In view of this, it is difficult to determine the time for the opening / closing body to be unintentionally not opened unexpectedly under any conditions and to always stop at the neutral position under any conditions.

An object of the present invention is that even if the neutral position detecting means for detecting the position of the sector gear in the neutral position has failed at the time of starting up the battery power supply, the latch mechanism is in the locked state. It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening / closing body control device capable of returning a sector gear to a neutral position without opening the opening / closing body.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and next, the means for solving this problem will be described.

That is, the opening / closing body control device according to the present invention engages with a drive unit for driving the opening / closing of the opening / closing body, a locking operation for holding the opening / closing body in the closed state, and opening / closing by the driving unit for opening the striker. An opening / closing body control device including a latch mechanism for unlocking operation that enables opening / closing drive of the body, a control device for controlling the operation of the drive unit and the latch mechanism, and a battery power supply for supplying power to the control device. The latch mechanism is provided with a latch rotatably provided between a latch position in which the striker is engaged and an unlatch position in which the striker can be disengaged, and the latch. The lock position is rotatably provided at the lock position held at the latch position, the unlock position at which the latch can be displaced to the unlatch position, and the neutral position between the lock position and the unlock position. The control device includes a sector gear that controls the rotational operation of the latch, a neutral position detecting means that detects that the sector gear is located at the neutral position, and a latch state detecting means that detects the state of the latch. At the time of starting up the battery power supply, the neutral position detecting means detects that the sector gear is not located in the neutral position, and the latch state detecting means engages the latch with the striker. When it is detected that the position is in the locked state, the sector gear is once rotated to the locked position, and then the sector gear that has reached the locked position is rotated to return to the neutral position. When the sector gear passes through the neutral position in the neutral return operation, the sector gear is once rotated to the unlock position, and then from the unlock position to the lock position until a predetermined neutral return time elapses. A retry operation is performed to rotate the sector gear toward the lock, and from the time when the sector gear reaches the locked position and the neutral return operation is started, or from the neutral return operation to the completion of the retry operation. It is characterized in that the closed drive of the drive unit is continued.

As the effect of the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.
That is, according to the open / close body control device according to the present invention, even if the neutral position detecting means for detecting the position of the sector gear in the neutral position is out of order when the battery power is turned on, the latch mechanism When is in the locked state, the sector gear can be returned to the neutral position without opening the opening / closing body.

It is a figure which showed the schematic structure of the vehicle provided with the opening / closing body control device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed the structure of the opening / closing body control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention by a block diagram. It is a figure which showed the whole structure of a latch mechanism. It is a figure which showed the internal structure of a latch mechanism. It is a diagram mainly showing the operation mode of the sector gear, (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the sector gear is located in the neutral position, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the sector gear has reached the locked position. Yes, (c) is a diagram showing a state in which the sector gear has reached the unlocked position. It is a diagram mainly showing the operation mode of the latch, in which (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the latch is located in the unlatch position, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the latch is located in the half-latch position. (C) is a diagram showing a state in which the latch is located at the full latch position. In the open / close body control device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sector gear when the latch is not in the neutral position and is in the locked state when the battery power is turned on and the neutral position detection SW is out of order. It is the figure which showed the neutral return operation by the timing chart. In the open / close body control device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sector gear when the latch is not in the neutral position and is in the locked state when the battery power is turned on and the neutral position detection SW is out of order. It is a figure for demonstrating a series of operations of.

Next, the opening / closing body control device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
For the sake of convenience, the following description will be described by defining the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction of the vehicle 100 or the latch mechanism 3 by the directions of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6.

[Overall configuration of open / close control device 1]
First, the overall configuration of the open / close body control device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment is a device that opens / closes by moving the opening / closing body, which is an object, in a predetermined direction by a drive unit including a drive motor.
As an example of such an opening / closing body control device 1, for example, in the vehicle body 101 of a vehicle 100 as shown in FIG. 1, a back door 102 that opens / closes an opening 101a on the rear back surface is used as an opening / closing body, and the back door 102 is moved up and down. An example is a back door opening / closing device that moves (rotates) in a direction.

The configuration of the switchgear control device 1 is not limited to the back door switchgear as in the present embodiment, and is, for example, a slide door provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the vehicle body 101. It can also be used as a sliding door opening / closing device that opens and closes.
Further, the switchgear control device 1 has, for example, a shutter, a sliding door, a hinged door installed in a structure such as a store or a garage, or a foldable eaves arranged above an opening in front of the structure. It can also be used as an opening / closing device.
That is, the switchgear control device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the backdoor opening / closing device that opens / closes the backdoor 102 as described above, and moves an article or a structure that is a moving object up and down. It can be applied to various devices that move directionally, horizontally, or diagonally.

The opening / closing body control device 1 mainly opens the back door 102 and the back door 102, which are examples of the opening / closing body, in the opening direction (direction of arrow Du in FIG. 1) and the closing direction (direction of arrow Dd in FIG. 1). To the drive unit 2 that moves (opens and closes) to, the latch mechanism 3 that locks the back door 102 so that it can be unlocked, the control device 4 that controls the operation of these drive units 2 and the latch mechanism 3, and the control device 4. A battery power source 5 (see FIG. 2) for supplying power is provided, and the power of the battery power source 5 is supplied to the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3 via the control device 4.

The power source for supplying power to the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a dedicated power supply is provided separately from the battery power supply 5, and the control device 4 is used. The electric power may be directly supplied from the dedicated power source without going through.

The back door 102 is provided on both the left and right sides of the upper end portion so as to be movable (rotatable) in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body 101 via a hinge 103 or the like.
On the other hand, the drive unit 2 is a ceiling portion of the vehicle body 101, is provided in the vicinity of the hinge 103, and is connected to the back door 102 via a link mechanism composed of a swivel arm 21, a link arm 22, and the like. Has been done.

The drive unit 2 includes a PBD (Power Back Door) motor 23 that is a drive source, and the swivel arm 21 is rotated by the PBD motor 23 to open and close the bag door 102 via the link arm 22. The action is performed.

The structure, shape, arrangement position, and the like of the drive unit 2 are not particularly limited to the present embodiment as long as the back door 102 can be opened and closed.
For example, as another embodiment of the drive unit 2, it is composed of a drive main body unit arranged on one side in the axial direction, an advancing / retreating unit arranged on the other side in the axial direction, and being provided so as to be able to appear and disappear from the drive main body unit. Further, a stretchable rod-shaped actuator or the like may be adopted.
Further, the two drive units 2 may be arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body 101 and in the vicinity of the hinge 103, or either one of the two drive units 2 may be replaced by a damper mechanism or the like. You may do it.

The latch mechanism 3 is arranged at the lower end of the front side surface of the back door 102 (that is, the inner surface of the vehicle body 101), and by closing the back door 102, the opening 101a in the vehicle body 101 is opened. The striker 104 provided near the lower part is received and engaged, and the back door 102 is held in the closed state.
Further, the latch mechanism 3 includes a latch drive motor 34 (see FIG. 3), and the latch 31 (see FIG. 4) is displaced by the latch drive motor 34 to release the engagement state with the striker 104. , The back door 102 is in a state where it can be opened.
That is, the latch mechanism 3 engages with the striker 104 to hold the back door 102 in the closed state, and the striker 104 is released to open and close the back door 102 by the drive unit 2. I do.

The details of the configuration of the latch mechanism 3 will be described later.

The control device 4 is composed of, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls each part of the vehicle 100, and controls and monitors each part of the opening / closing body control device 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 4 is electrically connected to the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3 via wiring or the like, and is arranged inside the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle body 101 (see FIG. 1), for example. Will be done.
Further, the control device 4 is electrically connected to the open operation unit 6 and the closed operation unit 7 via wiring or the like.

Here, the opening operation unit 6 and the closing operation unit 7 are operation means for operating the opening / closing operation of the back door 102 (see FIG. 1), and are, for example, by an operation unit including an operation button or an operation switch. Each of them is configured and arranged in the vehicle of the vehicle 100 or in the handle portion of the back door 102.

Then, the opening operation unit 6 transmits an instruction signal instructing the execution of the opening operation of the back door 102 to the control device 4 in response to the user's operation.
As a result, the control device 4 that has received the instruction signal from the opening operation unit 6 transmits an electric signal to the driving unit 2 to drive the PBD motor 23 and move (rotate) the back door 102 in the opening direction.

Further, the closing operation unit 7 transmits an instruction signal instructing the execution of the closing operation of the back door 102 to the control device 4 in response to the user's operation.
As a result, the control device 4 that has received the closing operation signal from the closing operation unit 7 transmits an electric signal to the driving unit 2 to drive the PBD motor 23 and move (rotate) the back door 102 in the closing direction. ..

The control device 4 includes an arithmetic processing unit 41 that executes various processes necessary for opening / closing control of the back door 102, a storage unit 42 that stores various information such as reference values used when executing the various processes, and the like. ..
Further, the arithmetic processing unit 41 includes a determination processing unit 41a that executes various determination processes, a drive control unit 41b that executes each drive control of the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3, and the like.

Then, the control device 4 receives a detection signal from each detection switch (neutral position detection SW61, half latch detection 62, full latch position detection SW63, and ratchet detection SW64) of the latch mechanism 3 described later.
Further, the control device 4 receives an instruction signal for opening / closing the back door 102 from the opening operation unit 6 or the closing operation unit 7.
As a result, the control device 4 appropriately controls the PBD motor 23 and the latch drive motor 34 based on each of these received signals, and controls the opening / closing operation of the back door 102.

The battery power supply 5 is electrically connected to, for example, a voltage detection circuit unit 43 built in the control device 4, and the drive unit 2, the latch mechanism 3, the open operation unit 6, and the closing operation are operated via the control device 4. While supplying power to the unit 7, it is connected to an ignition SW (not shown).
Here, the control device 4 executes feedback control with respect to the opening / closing speed when the back door 102 is opened / closed.

As the battery power source 5, a known power source can be used, and a DC voltage (current) is typically output, but the battery power source 5 is not limited to this.
For example, the battery power supply 5 may output a pulse voltage (current) that is pulse width modulated (PWM), or a voltage (current) that changes with time, such as an AC voltage (current).

[Structure of latch mechanism 3]
Next, the configuration of the latch mechanism 3 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6.
As shown in FIG. 3, the latch mechanism 3 mainly includes a latch 31, a ratchet 32 (see FIG. 4), a sector gear 33, a latch drive motor 34 as a drive source, and these latch 31, ratchet 32, and sector gear 33. It has a detection switch group 60 and the like for detecting each of the states.

The latch 31 engages the striker 104 provided on the vehicle body 101 (see FIG. 1) side.
As shown in FIG. 4, the latch 31 is, for example, a latch main body 31A and a latch main body 31A made of a substantially “C” -shaped plate-shaped member provided with a concave engaging groove 31A1 in a part of the outer peripheral portion. On the plane surface of the latch shaft portion 31B and the latch main body portion 31A that are penetrated in the orthogonal direction in the central portion of the plane of the above, and on the side facing the engagement groove 31A1 side with respect to the latch shaft portion 31B, the latch main body portion. It is composed of a latch cam portion 31C or the like projecting along the outer edge of 31A.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a half latch hooking portion 31A2 and a full latch hooking portion 31A3 that can be engaged with the hooking portion 32C of the ratchet 32, which will be described later, are engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the latch main body portion 31A. It is provided at a position approaching the groove 31A1 in order.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a latch lever 35 extending in a direction orthogonal to the latch shaft portion 31B is provided at the tip end portion of the latch shaft portion 31B, and the extending end portion of the latch lever 35 is provided. Is provided with a latch pin 36 that is parallel to the latch shaft portion 31B and extends to the side opposite to the latch main body portion 31A side.

The latch 31 is arranged on the upper surface of the lower cover 50 as a base so that the latch cam portion 31C and the latch pin 36 project upward while the axial direction of the latch shaft portion 31B is in the vertical direction. It is rotatably provided around the portion 31B.

Further, on the upper surface of the lower cover 50, a striker guide groove 50b extending from the striker entrance 50a provided at one side end portion toward the center portion of the plane is formed, and the latch 31 is a latch in a plan view. The engaging groove 31A1 of the main body 31A is arranged so as to overlap the striker guide groove 50b.

Further, a first torsion coil spring 51 is coaxially provided on the outer diameter side of the latch shaft portion 31B, and the latch 31 causes the latch shaft portion 31B to be connected by the first torsion coil spring 51. As the center, the engagement groove 31A1 rotates in the direction toward the striker entrance 50a (that is, in the counterclockwise direction around the latch shaft portion 31B in a plan view, hereinafter referred to as "opening direction"). Always being urged to do so.

With such a configuration, the latch 31 welcomes the striker 104 (see FIG. 6) that passes through the striker entrance 50a and is guided into the striker guide groove 50b into the engagement groove 31A1.

Then, the latch pin 36 is placed on the opposite side of the latch shaft portion 31B from the engagement groove 31A1 side (that is, the right side in FIG. 4) against the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51. When pressed, the latch 31 is oriented in a direction in which the engaging groove 31A1 faces the plane center portion side of the lower cover 50 with the latch shaft portion 31B as the center (that is, in a clockwise direction centered on the latch shaft portion 31B in a plan view). It is rotated in the "engagement direction").
As a result, the striker guide groove 50b of the lower cover 50 is isolated by the engaging groove 31A1 of the latch 31, and the striker 104 is engaged by the latch 31 in the engaging groove 31A1.

The ratchet 32 engages the latch 31 that has been rotated to a predetermined position.
The ratchet 32 is, for example, one end of a ratchet main body 32A made of a substantially “L” -shaped plate member, a ratchet shaft 32B penetrating in a orthogonal direction in a plane center portion of the ratchet main body 32A, and one end of the ratchet main body 32A. It is composed of a hooking portion 32C provided on the portion, a protruding portion 32D protruding in parallel with the ratchet shaft portion 32B at the other end of the ratchet main body portion 32A, and the like.
Further, the ratchet 32 is arranged adjacent to the latch 31 on the upper surface of the lower cover 50 with the striker guide groove 50b interposed therebetween, and the latch portion 32C is arranged with the axial direction of the ratchet shaft portion 32B in the vertical direction. Is rotatably provided around the ratchet shaft portion 32B in a state where the ratchet portion 32D is directed toward the latch 31 side and the protrusion portion 32D is projected upward.

Here, a second torsion coil spring 52 is coaxially provided on the outer diameter side of the ratchet shaft portion 32B, and the second torsion coil spring 52 causes the ratchet 32 to the ratchet shaft portion 32B. The direction in which the hooking portion 32C abuts on the latch 31 and is hooked (that is, the clockwise direction around the ratchet shaft portion 32B in a plan view; hereinafter, referred to as the “hooking direction”). It is always urged to rotate to.

Then, as will be described later, in a state where the latch 31 is rotated to the half latch position Pb2 (see FIG. 6B), the ratchet 32 is engaged with the half latch of the latch main body 31A via the hooking portion 32C. It engages with the stop portion 31A2 and limits the rotational operation of the latch 31 (rotating operation in the counterclockwise direction in a plan view) due to the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51.
Further, in a state where the latch 31 is rotated to the full latch position Pb3 (see FIG. 6C), the ratchet 32 engages with the full latch hooking portion 31A3 of the latch main body 31A via the hooking portion 32C. Similar to the above, the rotational operation of the latch 31 by the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51 is limited.

On the other hand, at one end of the ratchet main body portion 32A, a lever portion 32E extending in a direction orthogonal to the ratchet shaft portion 32B is further provided, and the lever portion 32E is further provided to resist the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52. When the lever portion 32E is pushed to the side separated from the latch 31 (that is, the left side in FIG. 4), the ratchet 32 has the ratchet shaft portion 32B as the center, and the hooking portion 32C has the latch main body portion 31A. It is rotated in a direction away from each other (that is, a counterclockwise direction centered on the ratchet shaft portion 32B in a plan view, hereinafter referred to as a "release direction").
As a result, the engaged state between the latch 31 and the ratchet 32 as described above is released, and the latch 31 becomes rotatable about the latch shaft portion 31B.

The sector gear 33 rotates the latch 31 and the ratchet 32 in predetermined directions, respectively. That is, the sector gear 33 controls the rotational operation of the latch 31 and the ratchet 32.
The sector gear 33 includes, for example, a sector gear main body 33A made of a substantially fan-shaped plate-shaped member, a sector gear shaft portion 33B penetrating in the vicinity of a central angle portion in a orthogonal direction in a flat surface portion of the sector gear main body 33A, and an arc. It is composed of a sector cam portion 33C or the like provided so as to project in the vicinity of the portion.

Further, in the flat surface portion of the sector gear main body portion 33A, a sector pin 37 which is one side in the orthogonal direction and extends to the side where the sector cam portion 33C is provided is further provided in the vicinity of the arc portion.

The sector gear 33 is above the latch 31 and the ratchet 32, and the axial direction of the sector gear shaft portion 33B is latched between the two members 31 and 32 while the arc portion of the sector gear main body portion 33A is directed upward. The direction is orthogonal to the shaft portion 31B and the ratchet shaft portion 32B, and the sector pin 37 is rotatably provided around the sector gear shaft portion 33B in a state where the extending direction of the sector pin 37 is directed to both the members 31 and 32.

By having such a configuration, the sector gear 33 rotates around the sector gear shaft portion 33B toward the latch 31 side (right side in FIG. 4), thereby pressing the sector pin 37 against the latch pin 36 and pressing the latch 31 against the latch pin 36 as described above. Rotate in the engagement direction.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, a release lever 38 is rotatably provided between the sector gear 33 and the ratchet 32 about the lever shaft portion 38A, and the sector gear 33 is centered on the sector gear shaft portion 33B. By rotating to the ratchet 32 side (left side in FIG. 4), the sector pin 37 is pressed against the release lever 38, and the release lever 38 is rotated.
As a result, the rotated release lever 38 rotates the ratchet 32 in the above-mentioned release direction via the lever portion 32E.

By the way, a tooth profile portion 33A1 is formed along an outer edge in the arc portion of the sector gear main body portion 33A, and the sector gear 33 uses the pinion gear 39 of the latch drive motor 34 (see FIG. 3) via the tooth profile portion 33A1. ) Is engaged.

Then, as will be described later, in response to the instruction signal from the control device 4 (see FIG. 2), the latch drive motor 34 rotationally drives the pinion gear 39 to one side or the other side in response to the instruction signal. The sector gear 33 is also rotated in a predetermined direction, and the latch 31 and the ratchet 32 are rotated respectively.

The detection switch group 60 mainly includes a neutral position detection SW61 for detecting the state of the sector gear 33, a half latch position detection SW62 and a full latch position detection SW63 for detecting the state of the latch 31, and a ratchet detection SW64 for detecting the state of the ratchet 32. It is composed of such things.

The neutral position detection SW 61 is an example of a neutral position detecting means for detecting that the rotatable sector gear 33 has reached a predetermined neutral position Pa1 (see FIG. 5A), and the sector gear 33 is in the neutral position. It is a detection means for detecting whether or not the state is located at Pa1.
Here, the "neutral position Pa1" is a rotation position of the sector gear 33 located between the locking position Pa2 and the unlocking position Pa3, which will be described later, and the sector gear 33 determines which of the latch 31 and the ratchet 32. Also means a standby position that does not rotate.

The neutral position detection SW61 is composed of a push button type detector, and is in the "OFF" state when the push button is pressed by the sector cam portion 33C of the sector gear 33, and is released from the pressed state by the sector cam portion 33C. It is set to function as a so-called "b contact switch" that is in the "ON" state.

The neutral position detection SW 61 may be capable of detecting whether or not the sector gear 33 is located at the neutral position Pa1, and its detection method and ON-OFF switching format are limited to this embodiment. It's not a thing.

The half-latch position detection SW62 is an example of a latch state detecting means for detecting that the latch 31 has reached the half-latch position Pb2 (see FIG. 6B), and the latch 31 is located at the half-latch position Pb2. It is a detection means for detecting whether or not the state has been reached.
Here, the "half-latch position Pb2" is a stage before the back door 102 (see FIG. 1) is completely closed, and the striker 104 can be engaged by the latch 31 (so-called half-door). It means the rotation position to be the state).

The half-latch position detection SW62 is composed of a push button type detector, and is turned “ON” when the push button is pressed by the latch cam portion 31C of the latch 31, and is released from the pressed state by the latch cam portion 31C. It is set to function as a so-called "a contact switch" that is in the "OFF" state.

The half-latch position detection SW62 may be limited to the present embodiment as long as it can detect whether or not the latch 31 has reached the half-latch position Pb2, and its detection method and ON-OFF switching format are limited to this embodiment. is not it.

The full latch position detection SW63 is an example of a latch state detecting means for detecting that the latch 31 has reached the full latch position Pb3 (see FIG. 6C), and is in a state where the latch 31 is located at the full latch position Pb3. It is a detection means for detecting the presence or absence.
Here, the "full latch position Pb3" is a stage in which the back door 102 is in a completely closed state, and the rotation passes through the half latch position Pb2 so that the striker 104 can be engaged by the latch 31. Means position.

The full latch position detection SW63 includes a push button type detector, and like the above half latch position detection SW62, the push button is pressed by the latch cam portion 31C of the latch 31 to turn it into an “ON” state, and the latch cam It is set to function as a so-called "a contact switch", which is in an "OFF" state when released from the pressed state by the unit 31C.

The full latch position detection SW63 may be capable of detecting whether or not the latch 31 has reached the full latch position Pb3, and the detection method and the ON-OFF switching format are not limited to this embodiment. ..

The ratchet detection SW64 is a detection means for detecting whether or not the ratchet 32 is in a state of being engaged with the latch 31.
Specifically, the ratchet detection SW64 is a detection means for detecting whether or not the ratchet 32 is in a state in which the latch 31 that has reached the half latch position Pb2 or the full latch position Pb3 is engaged.

The ratchet detection SW64 is composed of a push button type detector, and is in an "OFF" state when the push button is pressed by the protrusion 32D of the ratchet 32, and is released from the pressed state by the protrusion 32D. It is set to function as a so-called "b contact switch" that is in the "ON" state.

The ratchet detection SW64 may be capable of detecting whether or not the ratchet 32 is engaged with the latch 31, and the detection method and the ON-OFF switching format are not limited to the present embodiment.

[Operation procedure of latch mechanism 3]
Next, the operation procedure of the latch mechanism 3 when opening and closing the back door 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
First, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, in the initial state in which the latch drive motor 34 (see FIG. 3) has not yet received the instruction signal from the control device 4 (see FIG. 2). , The sector gear 33 is normally stopped at the neutral position Pa1.
In this state, the sector pin 37 is located between the latch pin 36 and the release lever 38, and is not in contact with any of these members 36 and 37.

The neutral position detection SW61 is pressed by the sector cam portion 33C and is in the OFF state.

When the back door 102 (see FIG. 1) is closed, as shown in FIG. 6A, the latch 31 is in a state of being stopped at the unlatch position Pb1 as an initial state, and the engagement groove 31A1 is in a state of being stopped. However, it is in a state of communicating with the striker guide groove 50b toward the striker entrance 50a side.
Here, the "unlatch position Pb1" means the rotation position of the latch 31 so that the striker 104 can be detached from the striker guide groove 50b.

Further, the ratchet 32 is rotated in the hooking direction by the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52 (see FIG. 4), and the hooking portion 32C abuts on the outer edge portion of the latch main body portion 31A. It is in a state of being.

In the above state, both the half latch position detection SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63 are pressed by the latch cam portion 31C and are in the ON state.
Further, the ratchet detection SW64 is in a state of being released from the pressed state by the protrusion 32D, and is in an ON state.

Then, when the closing operation unit 7 (see FIG. 2) described above is operated or the back door 102 is moved in the closing direction by the user's hand, the striker 104 enters the striker guide groove 50b and the latch 31 It comes into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the engaging groove 31A1 of.

Then, as the movement of the back door 102 progresses, the latch 31 is gradually rotated in the engaging direction by the striker 104 against the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51 (see FIG. 4). At the same time, the ratchet 32 resists the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52 while sliding the hooking portion 32C along the first curved portion 31A4 formed on the outer edge portion of the latch main body portion 31A. Is gradually rotated in the release direction.

By rotating the ratchet 32 in the release direction, the ratchet detection SW64 is pressed by the protrusion 32D and switched to the OFF state.

When the rotation operation of the latch 31 further progresses and the engaging portion 32C of the ratchet 32 passes through the first curved portion 31A4, the ratchet 32 immediately rotates in the engaging direction by the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the hooking portion 32C engages with the half-latch hooking portion 31A2 of the latch main body portion 31A.
As a result, the latch 31 is stopped at the half latch position Pb2 which is the first engaged state engaged with the striker 104, and the ratchet 32 regulates the rotational operation in the opening direction.
As a result, the back door 102 is held in a so-called half-door state, which is a stage before the completely closed state.

When the latch 31 reaches the half latch position Pb2 and stops, the half latch position detection SW62 is released from the pressed state by the latch cam portion 31C (in other words, the latch cam portion 31C is disengaged from the half latch position detection SW62). Switch to the OFF state.
Further, when the ratchet 32 engages with the half-latch hooking portion 31A2 of the latch main body 31A via the hooking portion 32C, the ratchet detection SW64 is released again from the pressed state by the protrusion 32D and switched to the ON state. To.

The control device 4 that has grasped that the latch 31 has reached the half latch position Pb2 and stopped by the signal from each detection switch (half latch position detection SW62, full latch position detection SW63, and ratchet detection SW64) waits for a predetermined time. After the lapse of time (time lag), the locking operation by the latch mechanism 3 is started immediately.
Specifically, in FIG. 5A, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 (see FIG. 3), and the pinion gear 39 is described as a predetermined side (hereinafter referred to as “normal rotation side”). The sector gear 33 is rotationally driven toward the latch 31 side (hereinafter, referred to as “locking side”).

Since the sector cam portion 33C is disengaged from the neutral position detection SW61 as the sector gear 33 rotates, the neutral position detection SW61 is released from the pressed state by the sector cam portion 33C and is switched to the ON state.

As the rotation of the sector gear 33 progresses, the sector pin 37 comes into contact with the latch pin 36 of the latch 31.
After that, when the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 further progresses, the latch 31 gradually moves in the engaging direction again against the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51 while the latch pin 36 is pushed by the sector pin 37. While being rotated, the ratchet 32 slides the hooking portion 32C along the second curved portion 31A5 formed on the outer edge portion of the latch main body portion 31A (see FIG. 6B). It is gradually rotated in the release direction again against the urging force of the two-twisting coil spring 52.

By rotating the ratchet 32 in the release direction, the ratchet detection SW64 is pressed by the protrusion 32D and switched to the OFF state again.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the hooking portion 32C of the ratchet 32 passes through the second curved portion 31A5, the ratchet 32 immediately moves in the hooking direction by the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52. It is rotated and the hooking portion 32C engages with the full latch hooking portion 31A3 of the latch main body portion 31A.
As a result, the latch 31 is stopped at the full latch position Pb3 which is in the second engaged state engaged with the striker 104, and the ratchet 32 regulates the rotational operation in the opening direction.
As a result, the back door 102 is locked in a completely closed state.

When the latch 31 reaches the full latch position Pb3 and stops, the full latch position detection SW63 is released from the pressed state by the latch cam portion 31C (in other words, the latch cam portion 31C is released from the full latch position detection SW63) and is turned off. Switch.
Further, when the ratchet 32 engages with the full latch hooking portion 31A3 of the latch main body 31A via the hooking portion 32C, the ratchet detection SW64 is released again from the pressed state by the protrusion 32D and switched to the ON state. ..

On the other hand, when the latch 31 reaches the full latch position Pb3 and stops, the control device 4 immediately stops the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34, and stops the rotational drive of the pinion gear 39 by the latch drive motor 34. ..
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the sector gear 33 is in a stopped state at the locking position Pa2.
Here, the “locking position Pa2” means the rotation position of the sector gear 33 in which the latch 31 is held at the latch position (more specifically, the full latch position Pb3).

The control device 4 in which the sector gear 33 is stopped at the locked position Pa2 then starts the operation of returning to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33.
Specifically, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 again, and causes the pinion gear 39 to be rotationally driven to the side opposite to the normal rotation side (hereinafter, referred to as “reverse rotation side”). , The sector gear 33 is rotated toward the ratchet 32 side (hereinafter, referred to as "unlocking side").

Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, the neutral position detection SW61 is pressed by the sector cam portion 33C, and the neutral position detection SW61 is turned off again, so that the control device 4 sets the sector gear 33 to the neutral position Pa1. It is determined that the vehicle has been reached, the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 is stopped, and the operation of returning to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33 is completed.
As a result, the locking operation by the latch mechanism 3 is completed, and the closing operation of the back door 102 is completed.

The closing operation of the back door 102 is executed according to the procedure shown above, while the opening operation of the back door 102 is executed according to the following procedure.
That is, when the back door 102 is opened, as shown in FIG. 6C, the latch 31 is in a state of being stopped at the full latch position Pb3 as an initial state, and the striker 104 is caused by the engaging groove 31A1. It is in an engaged state.

Further, the ratchet 32 is rotated in the hooking direction by the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52, and the hooking portion 32C is in a state of being engaged with the full latch hooking portion 31A3 of the latch 31.
That is, the latch 31 is in a state in which the rotation operation in the opening direction is restricted by the ratchet 32.

In the above state, both the half-latch position detection SW62 and the full-latch position detection SW63 are in a state of being released from the pressed state by the latch cam portion 31C of the latch 31, and are in the OFF state.
Further, the ratchet detection SW64 is in a state of being released from the pressed state by the protrusion 32D of the ratchet 32, and is in the ON state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the initial state, the sector gear 33 is normally stopped at the neutral position Pa1 as in the case of closing the back door 102 described above.

The neutral position detection SW61 is pressed by the sector cam portion 33C and is in the OFF state.

Then, by operating the opening operation unit 6 (see FIG. 2) described above, the control device 4 starts the unlocking operation by the latch mechanism 3.
Specifically, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34, drives the pinion gear 39 to rotate on the reverse side, and rotates the sector gear 33 toward the unlock side.

Since the sector cam portion 33C is disengaged from the neutral position detection SW61 as the sector gear 33 rotates, the neutral position detection SW61 is released from the pressed state by the sector cam portion 33C and is switched to the ON state.

As the rotation of the sector gear 33 progresses, the sector pin 37 comes into contact with the release lever 38.
After that, when the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 further progresses, the release lever 38 is rotated to a predetermined side about the lever shaft portion 38A while being pushed by the sector pin 37.
As a result, the ratchet 32 is gradually rotated in the release direction against the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52 while the lever portion 32E is pushed by the lower end portion of the release lever 38.

By rotating the ratchet 32 in the release direction, the ratchet detection SW64 is pressed by the protrusion 32D and switched to the OFF state.

Then, when the latch portion 32C of the ratchet 32 is disengaged from the full latch hook portion 31A3 of the latch 31 and the restriction on the rotation operation of the latch 31 in the opening direction by the ratchet 32 is released, the latch 31 is engaged. With the striker 104 engaged in the groove 31A1, the striker 104 is immediately rotated in the opening direction by the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 51, and reaches the unlatch position Pb1 as shown in FIG. 6A. And stop.
Further, with the rotation operation of the latch 31, the full latch position detection SW63 and the half latch position detection SW62 are sequentially pressed by the latch cam portion 31C to switch to the ON state.
As a result, the striker 104 is in a state where it can be detached from the striker guide groove 50b, the locked state of the striker 104 by the latch mechanism 3 is released, and the back door 102 is unlocked so as to be able to open and close.

Further, the control device 4 immediately stops the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 at the timing when the full latch position detection SW 63 is switched to the ON state, and stops the rotation drive of the pinion gear 39 by the latch drive motor 34. Let me.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5C, the sector gear 33 is in a stopped state at the unlocking position Pa3.
Here, the "unlocking position Pa3" means the rotation position of the sector gear 33 in which the latch 31 is released from the restriction of the rotation operation by the ratchet 32 and the latch 31 can be displaced to the unlatch position Pb1. do.

After that, for example, when the back door 102 is moved in the opening direction by the user's hand and the striker 104 is completely separated from the striker guide groove 50b, the control device 4 starts the operation of returning to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33.
Specifically, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 again, drives the pinion gear 39 to rotate in the forward rotation side, and rotates the sector gear 33 toward the locking side.

When the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 progressed, the release lever 38 was rotated around the lever shaft portion 38A in a state of being in contact with the sector pin 37, and was pushed in the release direction by the lower end portion of the release lever 38. The ratchet 32 is gradually rotated in the engaging direction by the urging force of the second torsion coil spring 52.

After that, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the latch portion 32C of the ratchet 32 comes into contact with the outer edge portion of the latch main body portion 31A, the release lever 38 separates from the ratchet 32 and stops the rotational operation. ..
Further, when the rotation operation of the release lever 38 is stopped, the sector gear 33 separates the sector pin 37 from the release lever 38 and further rotates toward the locking side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, the neutral position detection SW61 is pressed by the sector cam portion 33C, and the neutral position detection SW61 is turned off again, so that the control device 4 sets the sector gear 33 to the neutral position Pa1. It is determined that the vehicle has been reached, the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 is stopped, and the operation of returning to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33 is completed.
As a result, the unlocking operation by the latch mechanism 3 is completed, and the opening operation of the back door 102 is completed.

By the way, during the opening / closing operation of the back door 102, for example, the wiring of the battery power source 5 is unexpectedly disconnected, or the life of the battery power source 5 is exhausted, so that the battery power source 5 needs to be replaced. , The opening / closing operation of the back door 102 is temporarily interrupted, and then these factors are improved, the battery power supply 5 is turned on again, and power is supplied to the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3 via the control device 4. If the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1, the control device 4 immediately returns the sector gear 33 to the neutral position Pa1.

Specifically, when it is detected that the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 at the time of starting up the battery power supply 5, that is, the neutral position detection SW61 is in the ON state, the control device 4 has a half latch. The state of the latch 31 is immediately detected by the latch state detecting means including the position detection SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63.

Then, as a result of detection by the latch state detecting means (half latch position detection SW62 and full latch position detection SW63), "the latch 31 is located at the full latch position Pb3 and is engaged with the locked state (that is, the striker 104). If it is determined to be in the state), the control device 4 once rotates the sector gear 33 to the locking position Pa2, and then moves toward the unlocking side until the neutral position detection SW61 switches from the ON state to the OFF state. By rotating the sector gear 33, a neutral return operation for returning the sector gear 33 to the neutral position Pa1 is executed.
Further, even when the latch 31 is located at the half latch position Pb2 as a result of the detection by the latch state detecting means (half latch position detection SW62 and full latch position detection SW63), "the latch 31 is in the locked state (that is, the striker 104). It is determined that the engine is engaged with the other (engaged state), and the neutral return operation of the sector gear 33 as described above is executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined as a result of detection by the latch state detecting means (half latch position detection SW62 and full latch position detection SW63) that "the latch 31 is located at the unlatch position Pb1 and is in the unlocked state", control is performed. The device 4 once rotates the sector gear 33 to the unlocking position Pa3, and then rotates the sector gear 33 toward the locking side until the neutral position detection SW61 switches from the ON state to the OFF state, whereby the sector gear 33 is rotated to the neutral position. The neutral return operation for returning to Pa1 is executed.

Here, in the opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment, in the neutral return operation to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33 when the latch 31 is locked when the battery power supply 5 is started up, the neutral position is reached. A control measure against the failure of the detection SW61 is provided.

That is, although the details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 and the latch 31 is engaged with the striker 104 when the battery power supply 5 is started up. If the neutral position detection SW61 is out of order when the control device 4 detects this, the control device 4 rotates the sector gear 33 to the lock position Pa2 and then locks the lock position Pa2 to the unlock position Pa3. After that, the sector gear 33 is rotated to the lock side for a predetermined time (“neutral return time T” described later) derived by a preset calculation program to reach the neutral position Pa1. By executing the retry operation, the sector gear 33 is made to reach the neutral position Pa1.

Further, in the present embodiment, after reaching the locking position Pa2, the retry operation is completed from the time when the sector gear 33 rotates toward the unlocking side (neutral return operation) or from the neutral return operation. Until then, the drive unit 2 continues to drive the back door 102 to close.

The above calculation program is preset with respect to the actual elapsed time required for the sector gear 33 to rotate from the lock position Pa2 to the unlock position Pa3 (“actual rotation time Ta” described later). A predetermined time (neutral return time T) is calculated by multiplying by a predetermined ratio α.

By providing such a control measure, the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 and the latch 31 is in an engaged state engaged with the striker 104 when the battery power supply 5 is started up. When the latch mechanism 3 is in the locked state, even if the neutral position detection SW61 is out of order, according to the opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment, the back door 102 is unexpectedly opened by the user. The sector gear 33 can be more reliably returned to the neutral position Pa1 without opening.

[Procedure for neutral return operation of sector gear 33 at startup of battery power supply 5 when neutral position detection SW61 is out of order]
Next, in a situation where the neutral position detection SW 61 is out of order, when the battery power supply 5 is started up, the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 and the latch 31 is engaged with the striker 104. (That is, when the latch mechanism 3 is in the engaged state engaged with the striker 104), the procedure for the neutral return operation of the sector gear 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

First of all, for example, the battery power supply 5 is in the process of being replaced, and is in an OFF state in which power is not supplied to the latch mechanism 3 and the drive unit 2 via the control device 4 (see FIG. 2).
Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the latch 31 is stopped at the full latch position Pb3, and the latch portion 32C of the ratchet 32 is in a state of being engaged with the full latch hook portion 31A3 of the latch main body portion 31A. ing.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1, and is in a state of being stopped at an arbitrary position between the neutral position Pa1 and the locking position Pa2.

Under such circumstances, as shown in FIG. 7, when the replacement work of the battery power source 5 is completed and the battery power source 5 is started up at the timing of time t1, the detection switch group 60 provided in the latch mechanism 3 is described below. It becomes a state like.

That is, when the battery power supply 5 is turned on, the neutral position detection SW61 is turned on because the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1.
However, in the present embodiment, the neutral position detection SW61 is out of order and is not involved in the position where the sector gear 33 is stopped or each operation of the latch mechanism 3 described later (events E01 to E06 described later). It will be in the ON state.
The failure status of the neutral position detection SW61 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a battery power source 5 that normally functions and is in the ON state when the battery power supply 5 is started up suddenly fails. , It may be the case that it is always in the OFF state.

Further, since the latch 31 is located at the full latch position Pb3, both the half latch position detection SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63 constituting the latch state detecting means are turned off.

Further, the ratchet detection SW 64 is turned on because the ratchet 32 is in a state of being engaged with the full latch engaging portion 31A3 of the latch 31.

Then, based on the state of the detection switch group 60, the control device 4 immediately executes the event E01 and temporarily rotates the sector gear 33 toward the lock position Pa2.

Specifically, the control device 4 detects that the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 by the ON state of the neutral position detection SW 61 when the battery power supply 5 is started up.
Further, the control device 4 is in an engaged state in which the latch 31 is engaged with the striker 104 at the full latch position Pb3 depending on the state of the latch state detecting means (both the half latch position detection SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63 are in the OFF state). Detect that.

When the control device 4 detects the state of the sector gear 33 and the latch 31, the control device 4 immediately transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 to rotate the sector gear 33 toward the locking side (see FIG. 8). Let me.
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 is a closed state (CLOSE state) for locking the back door 102 by fitting the latch mechanism 3 and the striker 104.

The position of the latch 31 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be located at the half latch position Pb2.
In this case, the half-latch position detection SW62 and the full-latch position detection SW63 are in the OFF state and the ON state, respectively, and the control device 4 uses the half-latch position detection SW62 and the full-latch position detection SW63 constituting the latch state detection means to cause the latch 31 to be in the OFF state and the ON state, respectively. It is detected that the striker 104 is engaged with the striker 104 at the half latch position Pb2.

The control device 4 stops transmitting the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 at the timing of the time t2 when the sector gear 33 rotated toward the lock side reaches the lock position Pa2 again, and locks the sector gear 33. Stop at Pa2 (see FIG. 8).
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 is the stopped state (OFF state).
As a result, the event E01 ends, and then the event E03 is executed at the timing of the time t3 when the event E02, which is a predetermined waiting time (time lag), has elapsed.

The timing of the time t2, that is, the control method for determining that the sector gear 33 has reached the lock position Pa2, is, for example, the movement time of the sector gear 33 (more specifically) until immediately before the replacement work of the battery power source 5. The time taken for the sector gear 33 rotating toward the neutral position Pa1 to move from the locking position Pa2 to the position immediately before the replacement work of the battery power source 5) is stored in advance, and the above-mentioned A control method for determining that the sector gear 33 has reached the lock position Pa2 can be used when the movement time has elapsed from the time t1.
Alternatively, at the voltage value applied to the latch drive motor 34 at that time, the time to reach the lock position Pa2 (specifically, from Pa3 to Pa2) no matter what position the sector gear 33 starts rotating to the lock side. The maximum time) may be set uniformly in consideration of fluttering and the like.

When the event E03 is executed, the control device 4 rotates the sector gear 33 that has reached the lock position Pa2 toward the unlock side (see FIG. 8) to return to the neutral position Pa1. To start.
Specifically, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 at the timing of time t3, and rotates the sector gear 33 toward the unlocking side.
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 is an open state (OPEN state) for unlocking the back door 102 by unlocking the latch mechanism 3.

Here, the arithmetic processing unit 41 (see FIG. 2) of the control device 4 stores an abnormality determination program for determining the presence or absence of a failure of the neutral position detection SW61, and the abnormality determination program is from the locking position Pa2. Even if a predetermined time (abnormality determination time) in which the sector gear 33 can sufficiently reach the neutral position Pa1 has elapsed, the neutral position detection SW61 does not switch from the ON state to the OFF state (that is, the sector gear 33 is not detected). It is determined that the neutral position detection SW61 is in an abnormal state and is out of order.

Then, the control device 4 executes the above-mentioned abnormality determination program at the same time as the start of the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 to the unlocking side, and performs the neutral return operation to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33.

Even if the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 progresses and the sector gear 33 reaches the neutral position Pa1 (see FIG. 8), as described above, in the present embodiment, the neutral position detection SW61 has failed and is turned on. It does not switch from the state to the OFF state.
Therefore, in the neutral return operation, the sector gear 33 passes through the neutral position Pa1 toward the unlocking side without stopping the rotation operation at the neutral position Pa1.

In this way, when the sector gear 33 passes through the neutral position Pa1, the control device 4 determines that the neutral position detection SW 61 is in an abnormal state depending on the timing of the time t4 when the predetermined time (abnormality determination time) in the abnormality determination program has elapsed. There is (it is out of order) ".
Then, when the control device 4 determines that the neutral position detection SW61 is in an abnormal state, the control device 4 continuously executes the event E04 without stopping the rotation operation of the sector gear 33, and continues the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 (the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 is continued). That is, a "retry operation" is started in which the operation of returning to the neutral position Pa1 of the sector gear 33 is tried again).

The predetermined time (abnormality determination time) in the above abnormality determination program is the longest considering all possible effects such as fluctuations in the applied voltage of the latch drive motor 34, changes in the ambient temperature, and individual variations in the latch mechanism 3. When the time is set, the sector gear 33 rotates to the unlocking position Pa3 before the time t4 elapses depending on these conditions during operation. That is, the event E04 is completed first.
In such a case, even before the time t4 elapses (before the event E03 is completed), the neutral position detection SW61 is passed even though the neutral position Pa1 is passed and as a result, the unlocking position Pa3 is reached. However, even if the event E03 is not completed, even if the event E03 is not completed, "the neutral position detection SW61 is in an abnormal state (failed)" when the event E04 is completed, assuming that the ON state is not switched to the OFF state. to decide.

Further, when the neutral position detection SW61 is in the normal state and the sector gear 33 rotated from the lock position Pa2 reaches the neutral position Pa1, the neutral position detection SW61 detects the sector gear 33 and changes from the ON state to the OFF state. When the switch is made, the control device 4 stops the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 at the timing detected by the neutral position detection SW61, stops the rotational operation of the sector gear 33, and stops the rotation operation of the sector gear 33. The return operation to the neutral position Pa1 (neutral return operation) is terminated.

On the other hand, the control device 4 immediately transmits an instruction signal to the PBD motor 23 (see FIG. 2) at the timing of the time t3, and moves (rotates) the back door 102 in the closing direction.
That is, the operating state of the PBD motor 23 is a closed state (CLOSE state) for closing the back door 102.
As a result, the latch 31 is held in the full latch position Pb3 via the striker 104, and both the half latch position detection SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63 are held in the OFF state.

The timing of moving (rotating) the back door 102 in the closing direction is not limited to the time t3 as in the present embodiment, that is, the above-mentioned "when the neutral return operation is started", for example. , A predetermined time (t3 + Δt) slightly delayed from the time t3, that is, “during the neutral return operation” may be performed.
Further, as described above, the PBD motor 23 may be rotated to the closed state from the timing of the time t3 or the predetermined time (t3 + Δt) at all times, and only when the above-mentioned abnormality determination program continues the determination of the abnormality state. , The PBD motor 23 may be rotated in the closed state.

By executing the event E04, the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 progresses, and when the sector gear 33 is rotated to the unlocking side with respect to the neutral position Pa1, the release lever 38 is rotated by the sector pin 37, and the ratchet 32 is used. Is rotated in the release direction.
As a result, the ratchet detection SW64 is switched to the OFF state.

Then, the control device 4 determines that the sector gear 33 has reached the unlocking position Pa3 at the timing of the time t5 when the ratchet detection SW64 is switched to the OFF state, and stops transmitting the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34. , The rotation operation of the sector gear 33 is stopped.
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 is the stopped state (OFF state).
As a result, the event E04 ends, and then the event E06 is executed at the timing of the time t6 when the event E05, which is a predetermined waiting time (time lag), has elapsed.

By the way, in a normal case, when the ratchet 32 is rotated in the release direction by the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 and the ratchet detection SW64 is switched to the OFF state, the latch 31 is released from the restriction of the rotation operation by the ratchet 32. For example, the reaction force of the weather strip (not shown) interposed along the circumference of the opening 101a (or the back door 102) between the opening 101a of the vehicle body 101 and the back door 102. Under the influence of such factors, the latch 31 is immediately rotated in the opening direction, and the full latch position detection SW63 and the half latch position detection SW62 are immediately switched to the ON state in order.

However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the closing operation of the back door 102 by the PBD motor 23, which is started at the timing of time t3, is still in a continuous state, and therefore, in the event E03 and the event E04. While the sector gear 33 is rotated from the locking position Pa2 to the unlocking position Pa3, the latch 31 is held at the full latch position Pb3 via the striker 104 of the back door 102.
Therefore, in the event E04, the sector gear 33 is rotated from the lock position Pa2 to the unlock position Pa3, so that the back door 102 does not unintentionally open.

The reason why the sector gear 33 is determined to have reached the predetermined unlocking position Pa3 at the timing when the ratchet detection SW64 is switched to the OFF state is as follows.
That is, even if the ratchet 32 is rotated in the release direction by the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 and the latch 31 is released from the restriction of the rotation operation by the ratchet 32, as described above, the PBD motor 23 Since the closing operation of the back door 102 is still continued, the latch 31 continues to receive a relative force in the closing direction due to the pushing force from the striker 104, and does not rotate in the opening direction. Therefore, unlike the normal case, the full latch position detection SW63 and the half latch position detection SW62 remain in the OFF state.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, when the above retry operation is performed from the timing of the time t4 when the abnormal state of the neutral position detection SW61 is confirmed, the control device 4 performs the event E03 and the event E04. , The sector gear 33 that has reached the locking position Pa2 is preset to acquire the actual rotation time ta (= t3 to t5) until it rotates to the unlocking position Pa3, and the acquired actual rotation time ta is set in advance. Information is temporarily stored in the storage unit 42 (see FIG. 2).

Then, the control device 4 reads the information of the actual rotation time ta from the storage unit 42, and the sector gear 33 immediately moves from the unlocking position Pa3 to the neutral position Pa1 by the arithmetic processing unit 41 (see FIG. 2). The neutral return time T, which is the time required for rotation, is preset to be calculated by multiplying the actual rotation time ta by a predetermined ratio α (T = ta × α), and the calculated neutral return is performed. The information at time T is temporarily stored in the storage unit 42.
The neutral return time T is the retry time used when executing the retry operation by the event E06 described later.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the event E06 is executed, the control device 4 transmits an instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34 and rotates the sector gear 33 toward the locking side again.
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 becomes the closed state (CLOSE state) again.

As the rotation operation of the sector gear 33 progresses, the sector pin 37 is separated from the release lever 38, and the ratchet 32 is rotated in the hooking direction.
As a result, the ratchet detection SW64 is switched to the ON state.

Then, at the timing of the time t7 when the predetermined neutral return time (retry time) T has elapsed from the time t6, the control device 4 stops the transmission of the instruction signal to the latch drive motor 34, and the sector gear 33 rotates. Stop the operation.
That is, the operating state of the latch drive motor 34 is the stopped state (OFF state).

Further, the control device 4 immediately stops the transmission of the instruction signal to the PBD motor 23 at the timing of the time t7, and stops the closing operation of the back door 102.
That is, the operating state of the PBD motor 23 is a stopped state (OFF state).

In this way, the operating states of the latch drive motor 34 and the PBD motor 23 are both stopped (OFF), the event E06 ends, the "retry operation" is completed, and the position of the sector gear 33 becomes the neutral position Pa1. Return.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the position of the sector gear 33 is not returned to the neutral position Pa1 by the normal "neutral return operation" by the event E03, the subsequent events E04 to 06 " By performing the "retry operation", the position of the sector gear 33 can be returned to the neutral position Pa1.
Specifically, the sector gear 33 that has passed through the neutral position Pa1 is once rotated to the unlocking position Pa3 (event E04), and then unlocked until a predetermined neutral return time (retry time) T elapses. A retry operation is performed by rotating the lock position Pa3 from the position Pa3 (event E06).
Further, the retry operation (event) is performed from the time when the sector gear 33 reaches the lock position Pa2 and starts the normal neutral return operation (event E03) (time t3), or from the neutral return operation (predetermined time (t3 + Δt)). Until the completion of E04 to E06) (time t7), the closed drive of the drive unit 2 (PBD motor 23) is continued.

Therefore, according to the opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment, even if the neutral position detection SW 61 has failed at the time of starting up the battery power supply 5, if the latch 31 is in the locked state, The sector gear 33 can be returned to the neutral position without the back door 102 being opened.

By the way, in the procedure of the neutral return operation of the sector gear 33 described above, the latch 31 is in the full latch position Pb3 as a situation in which the latch 31 is engaged with the striker 104 when the battery power supply 5 is started up. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the latch 31 is stopped at the half-latch position Pb2 and is engaged with the striker 104 at the half-latch position Pb2. It may be in a combined state.
Regarding the procedure for the neutral return operation of the sector gear 33 in this case, after the battery power supply 5 is started up, the sector gear 33 is rotated toward the locking position Pa3, and the above-mentioned events E01 to E06 are executed in order. ..

[effect]
As described above, the opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment engages with the drive unit 2 that drives the opening / closing of the back door (opening / closing body) 102 and the striker 104, and holds the back door 102 in the closed state. , And the latch mechanism 3 that opens the striker 104 and enables the drive unit 2 to open and close the back door 102, and the control device 4 that controls the operations of the drive unit 2 and the latch mechanism 3 to control. It includes a battery power source 5 that supplies power to the device 4.

Here, the latch mechanism 3 rotates between the latch position (half latch position Pb2 and full latch position Pb3) in which the striker 104 is engaged and the unlatch position Pb1 in which the striker 104 can be disengaged. A freely provided latch 31, a locking position Pa2 that holds the latch 31 in the latch position (half latch position Pb2 and a full latch position Pb3), an unlocking position Pa3 that allows the latch 31 to be displaced to the unlatch position Pb1, and locking. A sector gear 33 that is rotatably provided in the neutral position Pa1 between the position Pa2 and the unlocking position Pa3 and controls the rotational operation of the latch 31 and a neutral position that detects that the sector gear 33 is located in the neutral position Pa1. It has a detection SW (neutral position detecting means) 61 and a latch state detecting means (half-latch position detecting SW62 and full latch position detecting SW63Pb3) for detecting the state of the latch 31.

Then, when the battery power supply 5 is started up, the control device 4 detects that the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 by the neutral position detection SW 61, and the above-mentioned latch state detecting means (half latch position detection). When the latch 31 is detected to be engaged with the striker 104 by the SW62 and the full latch position detection SW63), the sector gear 33 is once rotated to the lock position Pa2 (event E01), and then the lock position is locked. The sector gear 33 that has reached Pa2 is rotated to return to the neutral position Pa1 (event E03), and a neutral return operation is performed.
At this time, when the sector gear 33 passes through the neutral position Pa1 in the neutral return operation, the control device 4 is once rotated to the unlock position Pa3 (event E04), and then until the predetermined neutral return time T elapses. During the period, the sector gear 33 is rotated from the unlocking position Pa3 to the locking position Pa2 (event E06), and a retry operation is performed, and when the sector gear 33 reaches the locking position Pa2 and the neutral return operation is started (time t3). ), Or from the neutral return operation (predetermined time (t3 + Δt)) to the completion of the retry operation (time t7), the drive unit 2 (PBD motor 23) is continuously closed. do.

As described above, in the opening / closing body control device 1 of the present embodiment, when the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 and the latch 31 is in the locked state when the battery power supply 5 is started up, the sector gear 33 is set. After rotating to the locking position Pa2 once, the neutral return operation is performed.

Then, when the neutral position return operation is performed, for example, when the sector gear 33 passes through the neutral position Pa1 due to a failure of the neutral position detection SW61, the sector gear 33 continues to rotate to the unlocking position Pa3, and a predetermined retry operation is performed. It is rotated from the unlocking position Pa3 to the locking position Pa2 until the neutral return time T elapses.
Further, from the time when the neutral return operation is started, or from the neutral return operation to the completion of the retry operation, the drive unit 2 keeps the back door 102 closed.

Therefore, according to the opening / closing body control device 1 in the present embodiment, even if the neutral position detection SW 61 has failed at the time of starting up the battery power supply 5, if the latch 31 is in the locked state, The sector gear 33 can be returned to the neutral position without the back door 102 being opened.

Further, in the opening / closing body control device 1 of the present embodiment, in the above retry operation, the control device 4 has an actual rotation time ta until the sector gear 33 that has reached the lock position Pa2 again rotates to the unlock position Pa3. Is obtained, and the neutral return time T is calculated (T = ta × α) by multiplying the actual rotation time ta by a predetermined ratio α.

Here, the rotation time when the sector gear 33 rotates from the unlocked position Pa3 to the neutral position Pa1 is, for example, a variation in the applied voltage of the latch drive motor 34 that rotates the sector gear 33, a change in the ambient temperature, and the like. The variation is large because it is affected by individual variations of the latch mechanism 3.
However, the ratio of the rotation time to the total rotation time when the sector gear 33 rotates between the lock position Pa2 and the unlock position Pa3 is the fluctuation of the applied voltage of the latch drive motor 34 and the surroundings. It is not easily affected by temperature changes and individual variations of the latch mechanism 3, and is substantially constant.

For this reason, in the opening / closing body control device 1 of the present embodiment, when the sector gear 33 is not located at the neutral position Pa1 and the latch 31 is in the locked state Pa2 when the battery power supply 5 is started up. In the neutral return operation, when the retry operation is performed, the neutral return time T is calculated by multiplying the actual rotation time ta when the sector gear 33 rotates from the lock position Pa2 to the unlock position Pa3 by a predetermined ratio α (T =). ta × α), when returning the sector gear 33 to the neutral position Pa1, the sector gear 33 is rotated from the unlocking position Pa3 to the locking position Pa2 until the neutral return time T elapses. There is.
Therefore, according to the open / close body control device 1 of the present embodiment, the sector gear 33 can be more accurately returned to the neutral position Pa1 by the retry operation.

1 Open / close body control device 2 Drive unit 3 Latch mechanism 4 Control device 5 Battery power supply 31 Latch 33 Sector gear 61 Neutral position detection SW (Neutral position detection means)
62 Half latch position detection SW (latch state detection means)
63 Full latch position detection SW (latch state detection means)
102 Back door (opening and closing body)
104 Striker Pa1 Neutral position Pa2 Locking position Pa3 Unlocking position Pb1 Unlatch position Pb2 Half-latch position (latch position)
Pb3 full latch position (latch position)
T Neutral return time Ta Actual rotation time α Predetermined ratio

Claims (2)

A drive unit that drives the opening and closing of the opening and closing body,
A latch mechanism that engages with the striker to hold the open / close body in the closed state, and releases the striker to unlock the open / close body by the drive unit.
A control device that controls the operation of the drive unit and the latch mechanism, and
An opening / closing body control device including a battery power source for supplying electric power to the control device.
The latch mechanism is
A latch provided so as to be rotatable between a latch position in which the striker is engaged and an unlatch position in which the striker can be disengaged.
It is rotatably provided at a locking position where the latch is held at the latch position, an unlocking position where the latch can be displaced to the unlatch position, and a neutral position between the locking position and the unlocking position. And the sector gear that controls the rotational operation of the latch,
A neutral position detecting means for detecting that the sector gear is located at the neutral position,
It has a latch state detecting means for detecting the state of the latch.
The control device is
At the time of starting up the battery power supply,
When the neutral position detecting means detects that the sector gear is not located in the neutral position, and the latch state detecting means detects that the latch is in an engaged state engaged with the striker.
After once rotating the sector gear to the locked position, the sector gear that has reached the locked position is rotated to perform a neutral return operation for returning to the neutral position.
When the sector gear passes through the neutral position in the neutral return operation,
A retry operation is performed in which the sector gear is rotated from the unlocked position toward the locked position until the predetermined neutral return time elapses after the rotation is once performed to the unlocked position.
From the time when the sector gear reaches the locked position and starts the neutral return operation, or from the neutral return operation to the completion of the retry operation, the closed drive of the drive unit is continued.
Open / close body control device. The control device is
In the retry operation,
The actual rotation time until the sector gear that has reached the lock position again rotates to the unlock position is acquired.
The neutral return time is calculated by multiplying the actual rotation time by a predetermined ratio.
The opening / closing body control device according to claim 1.

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