JP4457470B2 - Vehicle door lock device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, for example, with the electronic control of a latch mechanism of a door lock device of a passenger car, there is a demand for establishment of fail-safe with respect to unlatching of the latch mechanism and eventually fail-safe with respect to opening of a passenger car door. In response to this, for example, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,777,395, an unlatch switch that interlocks with the operation of the inner handle and outer handle of the door and the operation when the door unlock condition is satisfied. By connecting the relay switch to the DC motor of the door lock device in series, the latch mechanism will not be unlatched unless the handle is operated or the door unlock condition is not satisfied. There is what I did.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the door lock device, the current path of the DC motor is provided with a double drive system fail-safe including both an unlatch switch and a relay switch, but this double drive system has a double failure (unlatch switch and relay). When a short circuit failure occurs in both switches, the latch mechanism can be unlatched when it should not be unlatched, resulting in a situation where the request to establish failsafe cannot be met.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to cope with the above, the present invention adopts a triple drive system in the current path of the electric motor that is the drive source in the vehicle door lock device, thereby making the latch mechanism fail safe against unlatching. The purpose is to further increase.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In solving the above problems, in the vehicle door lock device according to the invention of claim 1,
A door lock mechanism (L) including an electric motor (M) that is operated by power supply from a power source, and a latch mechanism that is driven by the electric motor to be in a latched state or an unlatched state;
A lock operating means (40) for operating when locking or unlocking the door;
Door handle (Ho, Hi) which is operated to the latch mechanism to the unlatched state switch operates in conjunction with, the unlatching switch for releasing the opening operation of the handle the switch actuation (10,2 0), the 1 and a second switching element (90, 100), and the first switching element, the second switching element, the electric motor, and the unlatch switch are connected in series,
Detecting means (51) for detecting a stop state of the vehicle;
Control means (210, 220, 222, which controls to turn on the first switching element based on the detection of the detection means and the unlocking operation of the locking operation means and to turn on the second switching element based on the switch operation of the unlatch switch. 231)
The door lock mechanism brings the latch mechanism into an unlatched state in accordance with the operation of the electric motor accompanying power supply from the power source to the electric motor under the control of the control means.
[0006]
As described above, the electric motor is connected in series with the first and second switching elements and the unlatch switch. Therefore, when the unlatch switch is operated while the first and second switching elements are on, the door lock mechanism is powered from the power source by the electric motor to bring the latch mechanism into the unlatched state.
[0007]
Therefore, in the state where the first and second switching elements are turned off and the unlatch switch is in the release of the switch operation, any two of the three elements of the first and second switching elements and the unlatch switch are short-circuited. However, if the remaining one element is normal, the latch mechanism will not enter the unlatched state.
[0008]
As described above, by adopting the triple drive system of the first and second switching elements and the unlatch switch in the current path of the electric motor, the fail-safe against the unlatching of the latch mechanism can be further enhanced.
[0009]
In the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1,
The second switching element and the motor are connected in series between the unlatch switch and the power source, the unlatch switch is grounded via the first switching element, and the control means is in a state where the motor is maintained in the non-operating state. A first drive means (81) for driving the second switching element intermittently for a short time, and a voltage generated between the second switching element, the motor and the unlatch switch is the first and second switching elements. And a second driving means (70, 82) for turning on the second switching element for a predetermined time when it is lowered by the switch operation of the unlatch switch in the ON state.
[0010]
As described above, when the voltage generated between the second switching element and the motor and the unlatching switch decreases with the switching operation of the unlatching switch in the intermittent ON state of the second switching element, the second switching element is turned on for a predetermined time. I tried to do it. Thereby, the effect of the invention of claim 1 can be achieved while ensuring the unlatched state of the latch mechanism.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the second driving means is connected to the monitoring means (70) for monitoring the voltage and the monitoring of the voltage drop by the monitoring means. And timer means (82) for turning on the two switching elements for a predetermined time. Thus, the function and effect of the second aspect of the invention can be achieved with a simple circuit configuration.
[0012]
In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a door lock device for a passenger car according to the present invention, and this door lock device includes a door lock mechanism L and a control device E.
[0014]
The door lock mechanism L is provided in the lower part of the door of the passenger car. The door lock mechanism L includes a striker fixed to the lower inner wall of the door, a latch detachable from the striker, and the latch. A locking plate that can be engaged and disengaged and an actuator that drives the locking plate are provided. The striker, the latch, and the locking plate constitute a latch mechanism of the door lock mechanism L.
[0015]
The actuator moves the locking plate in the releasing direction in accordance with the rotation of the DC motor M, thereby releasing the engagement between the latch and the striker (unlatching of the latch mechanism). When the locking plate is in its non-released state, the locking plate and the striker are brought into an engaged state (a latched state of the latch mechanism).
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the control device E includes an outer unlatch switch 10 and an inner unlatch switch 20 that are operatively connected to the outer handle Ho and the inner handle Hi of the door, respectively.
[0017]
The outer unlatch switch 10 is turned on in accordance with the operation of the outer handle Ho, and is turned off when the outer handle Ho is returned to the original position when the operation of the outer handle Ho is released. The inner unlatch switch 20 is turned on according to the operation of the inner handle Hi, and is turned off when the inner handle Hi is returned to the original position when the inner handle Hi is opened. Both unlatch switches 10 and 20 are connected in parallel to each other and connected in series with the DC motor M.
[0018]
The control device E includes a full latch switch 30 and a self-seat door lock switch 40 in the passenger car. The full latch switch 30 is turned on only when the latch is in an unlatched state as the DC motor M rotates. The self-seat door lock switch 40 is a switch that is locked when it is desired to lock the door corresponding to the self-seat among the doors of the passenger car, and is unlocked when the door is desired to be unlocked.
[0019]
The control device E includes signal processing circuits 50, 60, and 70. The signal processing circuit 50 signals a detected vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor 51 of an electronic control unit 50a (hereinafter referred to as ECU 50a) mounted on the passenger car. Process and output to microcomputer 80. Further, the signal processing circuit 50 performs signal processing on a door lock or unlock instruction from the ECU 50 b and outputs the signal to the microcomputer 80.
[0020]
The vehicle speed sensor 51 detects the vehicle speed of the passenger car. The signal processing circuit 60 processes the output of the full latch switch 30 and the output of the self-seat door lock switch 40 and outputs them to the microcomputer 80. The signal processing circuit 70 processes the voltage generated at the common terminal between the unlatch switches and the DC motor M when either of the unlatch switches 10 and 20 is turned on, and outputs the processed voltage to the microcomputer 80.
[0021]
The microcomputer 80 executes the computer program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and during this execution, the Hi side drive is passed through the OR gate 80b based on the output of each signal processing circuit 50, 60, 70 and the data stored in the EEPROM 80a. The element 90 is controlled, the Lo side drive element 100 is controlled, and the light emitting diode 120 (hereinafter referred to as the LED 120) is controlled via the drive circuit 110. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 80.
[0022]
The EEPROM 80a stores either the door lock state or the unlock state as data in accordance with the processing of the microcomputer 80. The OR gate 80 b outputs at least one of the output of the clock 81 built in the microcomputer 80 and the output of the timer 82 to the Hi side drive element 90. The clock 81 generates clock pulses at a predetermined frequency. The timer 82 is reset and started based on the output of the signal processing circuit 70 (corresponding to either of the unlatch switches 10 and 20 being turned on when the Lo side drive element 100 is turned on), and a predetermined time T (see FIG. 2). Keep time.
[0023]
The Hi side drive element 90 is composed of a MOS field effect transistor. The Hi side drive element 90 is connected at its source to the positive terminal + B of the battery, and at its drain via the DC motor M. The DC motor M and both unlatch switches 10 and 20 are connected to a common terminal. The Hi side drive element 90 is connected at its gate to the output terminal of the OR gate 80b.
[0024]
Thus, the Hi side drive element 90 is repeatedly turned on instantaneously by sequentially receiving clock pulses from the OR gate 80b, and is turned on for a predetermined time T by receiving the output of the timer 82 from the OR gate 80b. . It should be noted that the frequency of the clock pulse is set so that a current that does not rotate the DC motor M flows even when the Hi side drive element 90 is turned on by the clock pulse from the OR gate 80b.
[0025]
The Lo side drive element 100 is composed of a MOS field effect transistor, and the Lo side drive element 100 is connected at its source to a common terminal with the DC motor M of these unlatch switches via both unlatch switches 10 and 20. ing. This means that the Lo side drive element 100, the two unlatch switches 10, 20, the DC motor M and the Hi side drive element 90 are connected in series with each other. The Lo side drive element 100 is grounded at its drain, and the gate of the Lo side drive element 100 is connected to the microcomputer 80. As a result, the Lo side drive element 100 is turned on to ground both unlatch switches 10 and 20 under the control of the microcomputer 80, and the grounding of both unlatch switches 10 and 20 is released when turned off.
[0026]
The drive circuit 110 is composed of a transistor, and the drive circuit 110 causes the LED 120 to emit light when turned on and stops the light emission of the LED 120 when turned off under the control of the microcomputer 80.
[0027]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the passenger vehicle is in a running state and the microcomputer 80 starts executing the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in step 200, output processing of the clock 81 is performed. Along with this, the clock 81 sequentially outputs clock pulses to the gate of the Hi side drive element 90 through the OR gate 80b.
[0028]
As a result, the Hi side drive element 90 is repeatedly turned on instantaneously (see FIG. 3). If both the unlatch switches 10 and 20 are turned off, the common terminal of the DC motor M and both the unlatch switches 10 and 20 is connected to the internal circuit of the DC motor M every time the Hi side drive element 90 is turned on instantaneously. It conducts with the positive terminal + B of the battery through the Hi side drive element 90. Thereby, the voltage of the common terminal becomes approximately the voltage of the positive terminal + B of the battery every time the Hi side drive element 90 is instantaneously turned on. For this reason, the timer 82 does not start timing by the output of the signal processing circuit 70.
[0029]
Next, in step 201, data stored in the EEPROM 80a is read. As a result, the microcomputer 80 recognizes whether the content of the data stored in the previous EEPROM 80a is locked or unlocked. Note that the data stored in the EEPROM 80a is read only when the power is turned on.
[0030]
Next, at step 210, it is determined based on the output of the signal processing circuit 60 whether the door is locked or unlocked at the present stage. If the operation has been performed, the determination in step 210 is YES, and in step 211, the door lock state and the unlock state corresponding to the operation are transferred, and in step 212, data is stored and updated in the EEPROM 80a. The
[0031]
If the determination in step 210 is NO, or if the process in step 212 is performed, in step 213, the LED 120 emits light or is stopped. Specifically, in the unlocked state, the light emission process of the LED 120 is performed. Accordingly, the drive circuit 110 causes the LED 120 to emit light. On the other hand, if it is in the locked state, the light emission stop processing of the LED 120 is performed. Along with this, the drive circuit 110 stops the light emission of the LED 120.
[0032]
Thereafter, in step 220, it is determined based on the outputs of both signal processing circuits 50, 60 whether or not the unlocked state, the stopped state, and the full latch switch 30 are all off. Here, the output of the signal processing circuit 50 does not correspond to the stop state of the passenger car (the detection output of the vehicle speed sensor 51 corresponds to zero vehicle speed), or the output of the signal processing circuit 60 is off of the full latch switch 30 or the self-seat door. If it does not correspond to the unlocking operation of the lock switch 40, the determination in step 220 is NO, and in step 221, the Lo-side drive element 100 is turned off. For this reason, since the Lo side drive element 100 is not turned on, the timer 82 counts by the output of the signal processing circuit 70 even if either of the unlatch switches 10 and 20 is turned on by operating either of the handles Ho or Hi. Never start. Thereby, the unlatch prohibited state can be maintained.
[0033]
On the other hand, if the determination in step 220 is YES, in step 222, the Lo side drive element 100 is turned on. Accordingly, the Lo side drive element 100 is turned on by the microcomputer 80. Accordingly, the unlatch switches 10 and 20 are grounded by the Lo side drive element 100 at the terminal on the Lo side drive element 100 side.
[0034]
In such a state, when one of the two unlatch switches 10 and 20 is turned on by one operation of both the handles Ho and Hi, the common terminal of both the unlatch switches 10 and 20 and the DC motor M is connected to the Lo side drive. It is grounded through the element 100. For this reason, the output of the signal output circuit 70 becomes a low level. This low level output is input from the signal output circuit 70 to the microcomputer 80 in step 223.
[0035]
Next, in step 230, it is determined whether or not the unlatch switch is on. As described above, the fact that the output of the signal output circuit 70 is at the low level indicates that the unlatch switch is on, so that a determination of YES is made at step 230. In step 231, a timer 82 reset start process is performed. Accordingly, the timer 82 starts measuring the predetermined time T and simultaneously generates a timer signal at a high level and inputs it to the gate of the Hi side drive element 90 through the OR gate 80b (see FIG. 3). As a result, the Hi side drive element 90 is turned on.
[0036]
As described above, when one of the two unlatch switches 10 and 20 is turned on and both the Lo side drive element 100 and the Hi side drive element 90 are turned on, the battery current is supplied to the Hi side drive element 90, the DC motor M, and both the unlatch switches. 10 and 20 flows through the unlatched switch and the Lo side drive element 100 which are turned on (see FIG. 3). For this reason, the door lock mechanism L brings the latch into an unlatched state in accordance with the rotation of the DC motor M.
[0037]
Based on the determination of NO in step 240 after the processing in step 231, it is determined in step 250 whether the full latch switch is on. When the determination in step 250 is YES, in step 251, the Lo side drive element 100 is turned off, and the Lo side drive element 100 is turned off.
[0038]
If the time measured by the timer 82 exceeds the predetermined time T under the determination of NO in step 250, the determination in step 240 is YES, and the timer 82 is stopped in step 241. Thereby, the timer 82 stops the output of the timer signal by the stop.
[0039]
Here, even if two of the three drive elements of the Hi side drive element 90, the unlatch switches 10 and 20, and the Lo side drive element 100 are short-circuited (double fault), the remaining drive elements If normal, the latch will not be unlatched.
[0040]
In other words, in the door lock device, by adopting a triple drive system comprising the Hi side drive element 90, the two unlatch switches 10, 20 and the Lo side drive element 100 in the current path of the DC motor M that is the drive source. The fail-safe from the unlatch caused by a short circuit failure of two or less drive elements of the triple drive system of the latch can be further enhanced.
[0041]
Further, as described above, the common terminal of the DC motor M and the unlatch switches 10 and 20 is connected to the positive terminal + B of the battery via the Hi side drive element 90, and the Hi side drive element 90 is connected to the micro side. Since the Hi side drive element 90 is used as a sampling power source for the signal processing circuit 70 by being turned on by a clock pulse of the clock 81 of the computer 80, unlatching in the door lock device is performed with good timing with a simple circuit configuration. It can be secured.
[0042]
In implementing the present invention, the Hi side drive element 90 is not limited to a MOS field effect transistor, and may be a bipolar transistor. The Lo side drive element 100 is not limited to a MOS field effect transistor, and a bipolar transistor or a relay may be employed. When a relay is used, both unlatch switches 10 and 20 are grounded via the relay switch.
[0043]
Further, in the implementation of the present invention, among the determination criteria in step 220, the stopping state is not limited to the vehicle speed, but the shift position of the transmission of the passenger car (for example, the parking position or the neutral position), the accelerator pedal opening position ( For example, the determination may be made with the accelerator pedal depression amount of zero) or a combination thereof.
[0044]
In implementing the present invention, the output of the clock 81 and / or the timer 82 may be output to the Hi side drive element 90 from the output port of the microcomputer 80 instead of the OR gate 80b.
[0045]
Further, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention may be applied not only to a passenger car door lock device but also to a truck or other various vehicle door lock devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of the main constituent elements of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
L ... Door lock mechanism, M ... DC motor, 10, 20 ... Unlatch switch,
40 ... lock switch, 51 ... vehicle speed sensor, 80 ... microcomputer,
81 ... clock, 82 ... timer, 90 ... Hi side drive element,
100: Lo side drive element.

Claims (3)

A door lock mechanism (L) including an electric motor (M) that is operated by power supply from a power source, and a latch mechanism that is driven by the electric motor to be in a latched state or an unlatched state;
A lock operating means (40) for operating when the door is locked or unlocked;
An unlatch switch (10, 20 ) that operates in conjunction with a handle (Ho, Hi) of the door that is operated when the latch mechanism is brought into an unlatched state, and releases the switch operation by releasing the operation of the handle. When,
First and second switching elements (90, 100),
The first switching element, the second switching element, the electric motor, and the unlatch switch are connected in series,
Detecting means (51) for detecting a stop state of the vehicle;
Control means (210, 210) for controlling to turn on the first switching element based on the detection of the detection means and the unlocking operation of the locking operation means, and to turn on the second switching element based on the switch operation of the unlatch switch. 220, 222, 231),
The door lock mechanism is a vehicle door lock device that brings the latch mechanism into an unlatched state in accordance with the operation of the electric motor accompanying power feeding from the power source to the electric motor under the control of the control means. The second switching element and the electric motor are connected in series between the unlatch switch and the power source, and the unlatch switch is grounded via the first switching element,
The control means includes
First driving means (81) for driving the second switching element intermittently for a short time in a state where the electric motor is maintained in a non-operating state; the second switching element; the electric motor; Second driving means (70) for turning on the second switching element for a predetermined time when the voltage generated between the unlatching switch decreases due to the switch operation of the unlatch switch in the ON state of the first and second switching elements. 82). The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, further comprising: The second driving means includes monitoring means (70) for monitoring the voltage, and timer means (82) for turning on the second switching element for the predetermined time in accordance with the monitoring of the voltage drop by the monitoring means. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 2, further comprising:

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