JP4341486B2 - Electric steering lock device and electric steering lock method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric steering lock device and an electric steering lock method for performing steering lock by fitting a locking rod to a steering column.

  Conventionally, in an electric steering lock device that locks a steering wheel by fitting a locking rod to a steering column, a locking limit switch that is turned on when the locking rod reaches the locking stop position, and a locking rod that reaches the unlocking stop position There is known an unlocking limit switch that is turned on and an ESCL state switch that detects a locked / unlocked state of the steering (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-252174 A

  In the conventional electric steering lock device described above, after a locking rod unlocking command is issued, switch failure diagnosis can be performed based on the relationship between the lock limit switch state and the ESCL state switch state. . However, in the case of a conventional electric steering lock device, for example, when a certain level of force is applied to the locking rod, such as when the front wheel tire of the vehicle is fitted in a side groove, the locking rod cannot be removed from the steering column. There is a case. In this case, the locking limit switch is turned from on to off based on the unlocking command, but the ESCL state switch indicates the locked state, so that the state of both switches does not match and an abnormality has occurred in the switch. There is a problem that the steering lock cannot be unlocked after being misjudged.

  In the electric steering lock device and the electric steering lock method according to the present invention, when the locking rod is unlocked from the locked state, the locking limit switch failure diagnosis is performed after the locking rod unlocking command is issued. It is characterized by not performing.

  According to the electric steering lock device and the electric steering lock method of the present invention, after the locking rod unlocking command is issued, the locking limit switch failure diagnosis is not performed, and therefore the locking rod cannot be unlocked after the unlocking command. Even in such a case, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination that a failure has occurred in the lock limit switch that has not failed.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration in an embodiment of an electric steering lock device according to the present invention. The electric steering lock device according to one embodiment includes a steering lock system 10, an electric steering control unit 20, and a battery 30. The steering lock system 10 includes a motor 1, a locking rod 2, a steering column 3, a lock limit switch 4, an unlock limit switch 5, an ESCL state switch 6, and a solenoid 7.

  The rocking rod 2 is provided with a plurality of teeth and can mesh with the output gear 1a of the motor 1 to reciprocate. When the steering lock is activated, the locking rod 2 moves in the direction of the steering column 3 by rotating the motor 1, and the tip of the locking rod 2 is engaged with the groove 3 a of the steering column 3. When the locking rod 2 is fitted to the steering column 3, the steering column 3 cannot be rotated. As a result, the steering (not shown) cannot rotate (locked state). Conversely, when the motor 1 rotates in the reverse direction and the locking rod 2 is pulled out of the groove 3a of the steering column 3, the steering column 3 becomes rotatable (unlocked).

  The ESCL state switch 6 includes a locking state switch 6a and an unlocking state switch 6b, and detects the lock / unlock state of the steering based on the relationship between the locking rod 2 and the lever 7a of the solenoid 7. . That is, the locking rod 2 is provided with a groove 2a, and the lever 7a is inserted into the groove 2a of the locking rod 2 when the locking rod 2 is removed from the steering column 3 (unlocked state). Yes.

  Therefore, when the lever 7a is inserted into the groove 2a, the unlocking state switch 6b is turned on and the locking state switch 6a is turned off. By inserting the lever 7a into the groove 2a, it is possible to prevent the locking rod 2 in the unlocked state from being carelessly locked. When the lever 7a inserted into the groove 2a is pulled out by the locking command of the locking rod 2, the locking state switch 6a is turned on and the unlocking state switch 6b is turned off. The ON / OFF relationship of the lock state switch 6a and the unlock state switch 6b is summarized in FIG.

  The locking limit switch 4 is a switch that detects the locking stop position of the locking rod 2 and is turned on when the locking rod 2 reaches the locking stop position. On the other hand, the unlocking limit switch 5 is a switch that detects the unlocking stop position of the locking rod 2 and is turned on when the locking rod 2 reaches the unlocking stop position.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state of the locking rod 2 and the on / off relationship of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5. When the locking rod 2 is engaged with the steering column 3, the locking limit switch 4 is on and the unlocking limit switch 5 is off. Here, when an unlocking command is output from the electric steering control unit 20 to be described later, the locking rod 2 in the locked state shifts to the unlocked state, so that the locking limit switch 4 is turned off from on. In this case, the unlocking limit switch 5 remains off.

  In the unlocked state in which the locking rod 2 is completely removed from the groove 3a of the steering column 3, the lock limit switch 4 is off and the unlock limit switch 5 is on. In this state, when a locking command is output from the electric steering control unit 20 described later, the unlocking limit switch 5 is turned off from on because the locking rod 2 in the unlocked state shifts to the locked state. In this case, the lock limit switch 4 remains off. Thereafter, when the locking rod 2 is fitted to the steering column 3, the lock limit switch 4 is turned on from off.

  The electric steering control unit 20 is connected to the steering lock system 10 via the communication line 40, and outputs a locking command and an unlocking command to the steering lock system 10. The motor 10 in the steering lock system 10 rotates in accordance with the direction of the current and drives the rocking rod 2 because a current in a direction corresponding to a command from the electric steering control unit 20 flows from the battery 30.

  The electric steering control unit 20 also performs failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5. A method of failure diagnosis will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing performed by the electric steering control unit 20 when the locking rod 2 is unlocked from the locked state. In step S10, based on the switch state of the ESCL state switch 6, it is determined whether or not the locking rod 2 is locked. If the lock state switch 6a is on and the unlock state switch 6b is off, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is locked, and the process proceeds to step S20, where the lock state switch 6a is off and the unlocked state. When the switch 6b is on, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is unlocked, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S20, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the lock limit switch 4 is on and the unlock limit switch 5 is off. If it is determined that the locking limit switch 4 is ON and the unlocking limit switch 5 is OFF, it is determined that no failure has occurred in the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5, and the process proceeds to step S30. In other cases, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, it is determined that at least one of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 has failed, the failure information of the limit switches 4 and 5 is stored in a memory (not shown), and FIG. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S30, a command to unlock the steering lock is output to the steering lock system 10. As a result, a current flows from the battery 30 to the motor 1 to drive the motor 1, and the locking rod 2 is extracted from the groove 3 a of the steering column 3. When a command to release the steering lock is output, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50, based on the switch state of the ESCL state switch 6, it is determined whether or not the locking rod 2 is unlocked. If the lock state switch 6a is off and the unlock state switch 6b is on, the process proceeds to step S60. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S60, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is unlocked as instructed, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. On the other hand, in step S70, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is not unlocked, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing performed by the electric steering control unit 20 when the locking rod 2 is locked from the unlocked state. In step S100, it is determined based on the switch state of the ESCL state switch 6 whether or not the locking rod 2 is unlocked. If the locking state switch 6a is off and the unlocking state switch 6b is on, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is unlocked, and the process proceeds to step S110. Otherwise, the locking rod 2 is It determines with having not been unlocked, and complete | finishes the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S110, it is determined whether failure information of limit switches 4 and 5 is stored in a memory (not shown). This failure information is stored in a memory (not shown) in step S40, which proceeds after negating the determination in step S20 of the flowchart shown in FIG. If it is determined that the failure information of the limit switches 4 and 5 is not stored in a memory (not shown), the process proceeds to step S120. If it is determined that the failure information is stored, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when failure information is stored, locking of the locking rod 2 is prohibited.

  In step S120, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the lock limit switch 4 is off and the unlock limit switch 5 is on. If it is determined that the locking limit switch 4 is OFF and the unlocking limit switch 5 is ON, it is determined that no failure has occurred in the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5, and the process proceeds to step S130. In other cases, the process proceeds to step S190.

  In step S190, it is determined that at least one of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 has failed, the failure information of the limit switches 4 and 5 is stored in a memory (not shown), and FIG. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. Also in this case, locking of the locking rod 2 is prohibited and the unlocked state is maintained.

  In step S130, a command for locking the steering lock is output to the steering lock system 10. As a result, a current flows from the battery 30 to the motor 1 to drive the motor 1, and the locking rod 2 is driven in a direction in which the locking rod 2 is fitted in the groove 3 a of the steering column 3. When a command to lock the steering lock is output, the process proceeds to step S140.

  In step S140, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed again. That is, it is determined whether or not the lock limit switch 4 is on and the unlock limit switch 5 is off. If it is determined that the locking limit switch 4 is ON and the unlocking limit switch 5 is OFF, it is determined that no failure has occurred in the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5, and the process proceeds to step S160. In other cases, the process proceeds to step S150. In step S150, it is determined that at least one of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 has failed, the failure information of the limit switches 4 and 5 is stored in a memory (not shown), and step S160. Proceed to

  In step S160, based on the switch state of the ESCL state switch 6, it is determined whether or not the locking rod 2 is locked. If the lock state switch 6a is on and the unlock state switch 6b is off, the process proceeds to step S170. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S180.

  In step S170, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is locked as instructed, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. On the other hand, in step S180, it is determined that the locking rod 2 is not locked, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  According to the electric steering lock device in one embodiment, when the locking rod 2 is unlocked from the locked state, after the unlocking command for the locking rod 2 is issued, the failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 is performed. Do not do. As a result, when the unlocking command for the locking rod 2 is given, a certain level of force is applied to the locking rod 2 such as when the front wheel tire of the vehicle is fitted in the side groove, and the locking rod 2 cannot be pulled out of the steering column 3. Even in this case, since it is not diagnosed that a failure has occurred in the unlocking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 that have not failed, the locking rod 2 can be unlocked thereafter. Since the locking rod 2 can be unlocked, it can be pulled by a tow truck or the like even when the vehicle fails. In the push-type engine start system, the steering lock can be unlocked, so that the engine can be started thereafter.

  On the other hand, in the method of performing failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 after the unlocking command of the locking rod 2, a certain level of force is applied to the locking rod 2, and the locking rod 2 is connected to the steering column 3 If it is impossible to remove the steering lock, it is determined that at least one of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 has failed, and the steering lock cannot be unlocked thereafter.

  Further, according to the electric steering lock device in one embodiment, when the locking rod 2 is locked from the unlocked state, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed. Failure diagnosis of the lock limit switch 4 and the lock limit switch 5 can be performed at least once in one operation cycle of locking → unlocking → locking at the time of use.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. FIG. 6 is another flowchart showing the contents of the processing performed by the electric steering control unit 20 when the locking rod 2 is unlocked from the locked state. In the process according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6, the processes in steps S <b> 20 and S <b> 40 are omitted as compared with the process according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4. That is, the failure diagnosis of the lock limit switch 4 and the unlock limit switch 5 is not performed before the steering lock unlock command is issued. Also in this case, even if a situation occurs in which the locking rod 2 cannot be removed from the groove 3a of the steering column 3 after the unlocking command for the locking rod 2, the limit switches 4 and 5 that have not failed are not failed. .

  FIG. 7 is still another flowchart showing the contents of the processing performed by the electric steering control unit 20 when the locking rod 2 is unlocked from the locked state. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, after the locking of the locking rod 2 is confirmed (step S10), the locking limit switch 4 is turned on until the steering lock unlocking command is output (step S30). And the failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 was performed by determining whether the unlocking limit switch 5 is OFF. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, only failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 is performed by determining whether or not the locking limit switch 4 is ON in step S200 following step S10.

  FIG. 8 is still another flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by the electric steering control unit 20 when the locking rod 2 is unlocked from the locked state. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, only failure diagnosis of the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed by determining whether or not the unlocking limit switch 5 is OFF in step S300 following step S10.

  In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, at the time of unlocking the locking rod 2, the failure diagnosis of at least one of the lock limit switch 4 and the unlock limit switch 5 is not performed. When the locking rod 2 is locked, failure diagnosis of both limit switches 4 and 5 is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch 4 and the unlocking limit switch 5 is performed at least once in one operation cycle of locking → unlocking → locking when the vehicle is used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ESCL state switch 6 includes the lock state switch 6a and the unlock state switch 6b in order to detect the lock / unlock state of the steering wheel. The steering lock / unlock state may be detected by turning off / off.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the embodiment is as follows. That is, the electric steering control unit 20 constitutes control means and failure diagnosis means, the locking limit switch 4 constitutes a locking limit switch, the unlocking limit switch 5 constitutes an unlocking limit switch, and the ESCL state switch 6 constitutes state detecting means. . In addition, as long as the characteristic function of this invention is not impaired, each component is not limited to the said structure.

The figure which shows the structure in one Embodiment of the electric steering lock apparatus by this invention. The figure which shows the relationship of ON / OFF of a locking state switch and an unlocking state switch The figure which shows the state of the rocking rod and the on / off relation of the lock limit switch and the unlock limit switch The flowchart which shows the processing content performed by the electric steering control unit when the locking rod is unlocked from the locked state The flowchart which shows the processing content performed by the electric steering control unit when the locking rod is locked from the unlocked state. The flowchart which shows the other processing content performed by the electric steering control unit when the locking rod is unlocked from the locked state The flowchart which shows the further another processing content performed by an electric steric control unit, when a locking rod is unlocked from the locked state. The flowchart which shows the other processing content performed by the electric steering control unit when the locking rod is unlocked from the locked state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Motor, 1a ... Output gear, 2 ... Locking rod, 3 ... Steering column, 4 ... Locking limit switch, 5 ... Unlocking limit switch, 6 ... ESCL state switch, 6a ... Locking state switch, 6b ... Unlocking state switch , 7 ... Solenoid, 7a ... Lever, 10 ... Steering lock system, 20 ... Electric steering control unit, 30 ... Battery, 40 ... Communication line

Claims (8)

In the electric steering lock device that locks the steering by fitting the locking rod to the steering column,
Control means for outputting a drive command to the drive means for driving the locking rod;
Locking limit switch that is turned on when the locking rod reaches the locking stop position and turned off when the unlocking command for the locking rod is output from the control means,
An unlocking limit switch that turns on when the locking rod reaches the unlocking stop position, and that turns off when a locking command for the locking rod is output from the control means;
State detecting means for detecting a locked state and an unlocked state of the steering lock;
A failure diagnosing means for diagnosing a failure of the locking limit switch based on an on / off state of the locking limit switch and a steering lock state detected by the state detecting means;
The failure diagnosing means does not perform a failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch after an unlocking command for the locking rod is issued from the control means when unlocking from a state where the locking rod is locked. An electric steering lock device. In the electric steering lock device according to claim 1,
The failure diagnosis means performs failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch after the locking state of the steering lock is detected by the state detection means and before an unlocking command for the locking rod is issued. Electric steering lock device. In the electric steering lock device according to claim 1,
The failure diagnosis means performs a failure diagnosis of the unlocking limit switch before the unlocking command for the locking rod is issued after the state detection means detects the locked state of the steering lock. Electric steering lock device. In the electric steering lock device according to claim 1,
The failure diagnosing means performs failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch and the unlocking limit switch before the locking rod unlocking command is issued after the state detecting means detects the locked state of the steering lock. An electric steering lock device characterized in that: In the electric steering lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The electric steering lock device, wherein the failure diagnosis means diagnoses a failure of the locking limit switch and the unlocking limit switch when the locking rod is locked from the unlocked state. In the electric steering lock device according to claim 5,
The failure diagnosis means performs failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch and the unlocking limit switch before the locking rod locking command is issued after the state detection means detects the unlocked state of the steering lock. An electric steering lock device characterized in that: In the electric steering lock device according to claim 5 or 6,
The electric steering lock device according to claim 1, wherein the failure diagnosis means performs failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch and the unlocking limit switch when a locking command for the locking rod is output from the control means. In the steering lock method of the electric steering lock device that performs the steering lock by fitting the locking rod to the steering column,
The electric steering lock device is turned on when a control means for outputting a drive command to the drive means for driving the locking rod, and when the locking rod reaches the locking stop position, and the control means releases the locking rod. A locking limit switch that is turned off when a locking command is output, and an unlocking limit switch that is turned on when the locking rod reaches the unlocking stop position and is turned off when a locking command for the locking rod is output from the control means; The locking limit based on the state detecting means for detecting the locked state and the unlocking state of the steering lock, the on / off state of the locking limit switch, and the state of the steering lock detected by the state detecting means. Fault diagnosis means for fault diagnosis of switches ,
The electric steering lock method, wherein after the unlocking command for the locking rod is issued from the control means, failure diagnosis of the locking limit switch by the failure diagnosis means is not performed.

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