JP4516517B2 - Open / close drive device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a closing drive device including an object detection sensor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a vehicle including a so-called slide door in which a door panel provided to open and close the entrance is slid in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In recent years, an increasing number of devices are provided with an opening / closing drive device for driving the door panel by a motor or the like.

  By the way, in the so-called electric slide door that opens and closes the door panel using such a motor as a drive source, the foreign object is caught during the closing operation, that is, the foreign object is caught between the door panel and the periphery of the vehicle body opening. . For this reason, in such an electric sliding door, it is common to install an object detection sensor for detecting the inclusion of the foreign substance at one end (or the periphery of the opening of the vehicle body) of the door panel.

For example, the object detection sensor described in Patent Document 1 includes a long ground electrode, a piezoelectric layer that covers the ground electrode, a detection electrode that is provided so as to cover the outside of the piezoelectric layer, A cable-shaped sensor head including an outer skin covering the detection electrode is provided. By installing this sensor head along one end of the door panel (or the periphery of the opening of the vehicle body), it is possible to detect the proximity and pinching of foreign matter to the door panel during the door panel closing operation.
JP 2004-257788 A

  However, in the configuration of the conventional example, it is difficult to mix the piezoelectric material with the resin material that is the base material of the piezoelectric layer. Since the proximity to the sensor head is detected individually by different methods based on the change in capacitance and the contact (pressure sensitivity) based on the change in current (resistance), the configuration of the detection unit is complicated. There is a problem that it will be.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an open / close drive device including an object detection sensor that is easy to form and has a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes an opening / closing member capable of opening and closing an opening by movement, and a driving means for driving the opening / closing member, and the object detection sensor allows the opening / closing to be performed. An opening / closing drive device for detecting the proximity and pinching of a foreign object to a member, wherein the object detection sensor is formed of an elongated first electrode and an elastically deformable insulator and covers the first electrode A sensor body comprising a layer, a second electrode arranged outside the intermediate coating layer, and a skin covering the second electrode and the intermediate coating layer, and the sensor based on a change in capacitance of the sensor body e Bei and detection means for detecting proximity and contact of an object to the body, the sensor body is provided in the closing direction side end portion of the closing member, said detecting means, when the closing of the closing member, the detection Capacitance By determining whether the set threshold in accordance with the opening and closing position of the closing member, detecting proximity and contact of foreign matter into the opening and closing member, and the gist.

According to the configuration of the object detection sensor, since the proximity and contact of the object to the sensor main body are detected based only on the capacitance change in the sensor main body, the configuration of the detection means becomes simple. Since the piezoelectric body is not used, it is easy to form the intermediate coating layer, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the cost.
In addition, according to the configuration of the opening / closing drive device, it is possible to accurately detect the proximity and pinching of foreign matter with a simple configuration. Further, it is possible to detect the proximity and contact of the foreign matter to the opening / closing member with high accuracy by eliminating the influence of the periphery of the opening.

The gist of the invention described in claim 2 is that the second electrode is formed in a linear shape and is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer.
According to the above configuration, since the second linear electrode is wound around the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer, it is compared with a film-like or mesh-like electrode that covers the entire outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer. It can be formed easily and at low cost. And since the second electrode is spirally wound, the distance from the object close to the second electrode always changes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second electrode. Therefore, it is possible to perform proximity detection with higher accuracy.

The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that the sensor body is formed so that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is circular.
According to the said structure, since the directivity with respect to a detection target object is not ask | required, the installation becomes easy.

The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that the detecting means detects at least one of the proximity and the contact based on the rate of change of the capacitance.
In other words, since the capacitance changes depending on the humidity, the detection accuracy is likely to vary due to fluctuations in humidity. Therefore, according to the above configuration, by taking the rate of change of the capacitance, that is, the differential value, it is possible to catch a sudden change in the capacitance, thereby eliminating the influence of the humidity change and improving the accuracy. Detection can be performed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the opening / closing drive device provided with the object detection sensor with easy formation and a simple structure can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the door panel 4 that opens and closes the entrance / exit 3 on the side surface of the vehicle body 2 is provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction along the side surface of the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the door panel 4 is driven to open and close by an electric slide door device as an opening / closing member driving device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electric slide door device 5 of the present embodiment includes a slide actuator 6 that slides the door panel 4, a closer actuator 7 that moves the door panel 4 moved to the half latch position to the fully closed position, A control circuit device 8 that controls the operation of the slide actuator 6 and the closer actuator 7 is provided.

  More specifically, the control circuit device 8 is provided in the middle of the power supply path between the battery 11 and the slide motor 9 that is the drive source of the slide actuator 6 and the closer motor 10 that is the drive source of the closer actuator 7. The control circuit device 8 is connected to an operation switch 12 provided in the vehicle compartment and a position detection device 13 for detecting the opening / closing position of the door panel 4. In the present embodiment, the position detection device 13 counts a pulse signal output by a rotation sensor (not shown) provided in the slide actuator 6 according to the operation of the slide actuator 6, thereby opening and closing the door panel 4. It is configured to detect the position. Then, the control circuit device 8 supplies drive power to the slide motor 9 and the closer actuator 7 based on the operation state of the operation switch 12 and the detected opening / closing position of the door panel 4, so that the rotation, that is, the slide actuator 6. And the operation of the closer actuator 7 is controlled, and thereby the opening / closing operation of the door panel 4 is controlled.

  In addition, the electric sliding door device 5 of the present embodiment has a foreign object detection sensor 14 as an object detection sensor for detecting the proximity of a foreign object to the door panel 4 and its pinching. It is connected to the control circuit device 8. The control circuit device 8 stops the closing operation of the door panel 4 and executes the reversing operation based on the foreign matter detection signal output from the foreign matter detection sensor 14.

  More specifically, the foreign object detection sensor 14 of the present embodiment detects a sensor main body 15 (see FIG. 1) provided at the end 4a in the closing direction of the door panel 4, and the proximity and contact of the foreign object to the sensor main body 15. And a detection unit 16 as detection means.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, in this embodiment, the sensor body 15 includes a first electrode 21 formed in a long shape and an intermediate coating that covers the outer periphery of the first electrode 21. A layer 22, a second electrode 23 disposed outside the intermediate covering layer 22, and an outer cover 24 covering the intermediate covering layer 22 and the second electrode 23 are formed in a cable shape. And the sensor main body 15 is installed in the closing direction side edge part 4a of the door panel 4 along the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the front direction of the vehicle body 2 is the closing direction side end 4a.

  More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first electrode 21 is grounded to the vehicle body 2, and the second electrode 23 is formed in a linear shape having a flat cross section and is an intermediate covering the first electrode 21. The outer periphery of the coating layer 22 is spirally wound with a predetermined pitch.

  In the present embodiment, the first electrode 21 is formed by bundling a plurality (three) of wires, and the sensor body 15 (specifically, the intermediate coating layer 22) has a circular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Is formed. In the present embodiment, the intermediate coating layer 22 and the outer skin 24 interposed between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 23 are formed of an elastically deformable insulator (rubber or the like) having resilience. ing. The second electrode 23 is wound around the intermediate coating layer 22 in a state of being substantially buried in the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the detection unit 16 includes an oscillation circuit 25, a capacitance detection circuit 26, and a foreign object detection circuit 27, and the detection unit 16 uses the AC voltage generated in the oscillation circuit 25. Applied to the second electrode 23 of the sensor body 15. Then, the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit 26 detects the electrostatic capacitance in the sensor main body 15 based on the waveform change, and the foreign matter detection circuit 27 detects the proximity of the foreign matter to the sensor main body 15 based on the capacitance change and It is configured to perform contact detection.

  That is, the capacitance C detected by the capacitance detection circuit 26 is determined by the capacitance Ca of the capacitor 30 formed by the second electrode 23 and the foreign matter M, and the second electrode 23 and the first electrode 21. This is a composite value with the capacitance Cb of the capacitor 31 to be formed (see FIG. 2).

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the foreign substance M approaches the sensor body 15 and the capacitance Ca of the capacitor 30 formed by the second electrode 23 and the foreign substance M increases, thereby detecting the capacitance. The capacitance C detected in the circuit 26 also becomes large. And the value becomes so large that the distance L1 between the 2nd electrode 23 and the foreign material M is small.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the foreign substance M comes into contact with the sensor main body 15, the sensor main body 15, specifically, the outer skin 24 and the intermediate coating layer 22 are elastically deformed. The interval between the second electrode 23 and the first electrode 21 thus made becomes narrow. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the capacitance Cb of the capacitor 31 formed by the second electrode 23 and the first electrode 21 increases, whereby the capacitance C detected by the capacitance detection circuit 26. Will also be great. The value becomes larger as the distance between the second electrode 23 and the foreign matter M is narrower, that is, as the pressure contact distance L2 of the foreign matter M to the sensor body 15 is larger, and the increase width G2 is the increase width at the time of the proximity. It becomes larger than G1 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, it is possible to detect the proximity and contact of the foreign matter M to the sensor body 15, that is, the closing direction side end 4 a of the door panel 4, based on the change in the capacitance C.

  More specifically, in the present embodiment, the opening / closing position S of the door panel 4 is input from the control circuit device 8 to the foreign object detection circuit 27, and the foreign object detection circuit 27 is operated when the door panel 4 is closed. Then, by determining whether or not the detected capacitance C exceeds a threshold set in accordance with the opening / closing position S, the proximity and contact of the foreign matter M to the sensor body 15 is detected.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, when the opening / closing position S of the door panel 4 is closer to the opening direction than the predetermined position S0 from the fully closed position, that is, the door panel provided with the sensor body 15. When the distance between the end 4a in the closing direction 4 and the peripheral edge 3a in the closing direction 3 (see FIG. 1) of the entrance / exit 3 exceeds the distance L0, the distance is equal to or less than the distance L0 (on the closing direction side). In some cases, two threshold values C1 and C2 are set. The foreign object detection circuit 27 applies the door panel 4 to the door panel 4 when the opening / closing position S of the door panel 4 is closer to the opening direction than the predetermined position S0 and the detected capacitance C is greater than or equal to the first threshold value C1. When it is determined that the foreign object M is in the close state, the position is closer to the closing direction than the predetermined position S0, and the detected capacitance C is equal to or greater than the second threshold value C2, pinching has occurred. Is determined.

  That is, when there is no foreign matter M between the closing direction side end 4a of the door panel 4 and the closing direction side peripheral edge 3a of the entrance / exit 3, the door panel 4 is closed as shown by the waveform α in FIG. When the closing direction side end 4a approaches the closing direction side peripheral edge 3a of the entrance / exit 3, the detected capacitance C gradually increases due to the influence of the closing direction side peripheral edge 3a. The value is equal to or greater than the first threshold C1 at the predetermined position S0.

  On the other hand, when the foreign matter M exists between the closing direction side end 4a of the door panel 4 and the closing direction side peripheral edge 3a of the entrance / exit 3, as shown by the waveform β in FIG. C increases under the influence of the foreign matter M in a state where the door panel 4 is on the opening direction side, and becomes C1 or more at the position S1 in the opening direction with respect to the predetermined position S0. Therefore, when the opening / closing position S of the door panel 4 is closer to the opening direction than the predetermined position S0 and the detected capacitance C is equal to or greater than the first threshold value C1, the foreign object M is close to the door panel 4. It can be determined that

  Then, the second threshold value C2 is determined from the maximum value of the capacitance C detected when there is no foreign matter M between the closing direction side end portion 4a of the door panel 4 and the closing direction side peripheral edge portion 3a of the entrance / exit 3. If the opening / closing position S of the door panel 4 is closer to the closing direction than the predetermined position S0 and the detected capacitance C is equal to or greater than the second threshold value C2, the pinch is not pinched. It can be determined that it has occurred.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The foreign matter detection sensor 14 includes a sensor main body 15 and a detection unit 16 that detects the proximity and contact of the foreign matter to the sensor main body 15. The sensor body 15 includes an elongated first electrode 21, an intermediate coating layer 22 that covers the outer periphery of the first electrode 21, a second electrode 23 that is disposed outside the intermediate coating layer 22, The intermediate covering layer 22 and the outer cover 24 covering the second electrode 23 are formed in a cable shape, and the intermediate covering layer 22 and the outer cover 24 are formed of an elastically deformable insulator. Then, the detection unit 16 detects the proximity and contact of a foreign object to the sensor body 15 based on the capacitance change of the sensor body 15.

  According to the above configuration, since the proximity and contact of the foreign matter to the sensor body 15 is detected based only on the capacitance change in the sensor body 15, the configuration of the detection unit 16 becomes simple. Since the piezoelectric body is not used, the intermediate coating layer 22 can be easily formed, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the cost.

(2) The second electrode 23 is formed in a linear shape, and is wound spirally around the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer 22 covering the first electrode 21 with a predetermined pitch.
According to the above configuration, since the linear second electrode 23 is wound around the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer 22, a film-like or mesh-like electrode that covers the entire outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer 22 is used. It can be formed easily and at low cost. Since the second electrode 23 is spirally wound, the distance from the foreign object adjacent to the second electrode 23 always changes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the second electrode 23. As a result, proximity detection with higher accuracy becomes possible.

(3) The sensor body 15, specifically the intermediate coating layer 22 thereof, has a circular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
According to the said structure, since the directivity with respect to a foreign material is not ask | required, the attachment to the close direction side edge part 4a of the door panel 4 becomes easy.

  (4) When the door panel 4 is closed, the foreign object detection circuit 27 determines whether or not the detected electrostatic capacitance C exceeds a threshold set according to the opening / closing position S, thereby detecting the sensor body 15. Detecting the proximity and contact of the foreign matter M to the

According to the above configuration, it is possible to detect the proximity and contact of foreign matter to the sensor main body 15 with high accuracy by eliminating the influence of the peripheral edge 3a on the closing direction side of the entrance 3.
In addition, you may change this embodiment as follows.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is embodied in the electric sliding door device 5 and the foreign object detection sensor 14 used therein, but may be embodied in the electric back door device, the other opening / closing member driving device, and the object detection sensor. Good.

-As an insulator which comprises the intermediate | middle coating layer 22, you may use sponge (foam) other than rubber | gum.
In the present embodiment, the second electrode 23 is wound around the intermediate coating layer 22 in a state of being substantially buried in the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer 22, but may not be in the buried state.

  -In this embodiment, the detection part 16 detects the electrostatic capacitance in the sensor main body 15 based on the waveform change by applying the alternating voltage produced | generated in the oscillation circuit 25 to the 2nd electrode 23 of the sensor main body 15. However, the capacitance detection method is not limited to this, and other methods such as a charge amplifier method may be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a capacitance change rate detection circuit 39 is provided in the detection unit 36 of the foreign object detection sensor 34, and based on the detected change rate ΔC of the capacitance C, It is good also as a structure which detects at least any one of the proximity | contact and contact of a foreign material.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, since the capacitance C changes depending on the humidity H, the detection accuracy is likely to vary due to fluctuations in the humidity H. Therefore, the capacitance change rate detection circuit 39 takes the rate of change ΔC of the capacitance C, that is, a differential value, and captures the sudden change in the capacitance C, thereby eliminating the influence of humidity change.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), when the detected capacitance C changes with time t, the rate of change ΔC rapidly changes at time t0 as shown in FIG. 12 (b). Will be. Incidentally, by providing the capacitance change rate detection circuit 39 with a waveform shaping function, the output waveform δ becomes clearer as shown in FIG. Then, when this value exceeds the threshold value ΔC0, it is determined that the proximity or contact of foreign matter to the sensor body 15 has occurred. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to perform the approach and contact of foreign matter with higher accuracy by eliminating the influence of humidity change.

The perspective view of the vehicle provided with the electric slide door apparatus. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of an electric slide door apparatus. The schematic block diagram of a sensor main body. (A) (b) Sectional drawing of a sensor main body. Explanatory drawing which shows the aspect of the proximity detection of a foreign material. The wave form diagram which shows the electrostatic capacitance change at the time of a foreign material proximity | contact. Explanatory drawing which shows the aspect of the contact detection of a foreign material. The wave form diagram which shows the electrostatic capacitance change at the time of a foreign material contact. Explanatory drawing which shows the aspect of the proximity | contact of a foreign material based on an electrostatic capacitance change, and contact detection. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electric sliding door apparatus of another example. The wave form diagram which shows the humidity dependence of an electrostatic capacitance. (A) Waveform diagram illustrating change with time of capacitance, (b) Waveform diagram illustrating change with time of change rate of capacitance, (c) Waveform diagram after shaping.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Entrance / exit, 3a ... Close direction side peripheral part, 4 ... Door panel, 4a ... Close direction side edge part, 5 ... Electric slide door, 13 ... Position detection apparatus, 14, 34 ... Foreign object detection sensor, 15 ... Sensor main body, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16, 36 ... Detection part, 21 ... 1st electrode, 22 ... Intermediate coating layer, 23 ... 2nd electrode, 24 ... Outer skin, 26 ... Capacitance detection circuit, 27 ... Foreign substance detection circuit, 39 ... Capacitance change rate Detection circuit, M ... foreign matter, C ... electrostatic capacity, C1, C2 ... threshold, [Delta] C ... change rate, C0 ... threshold, S ... open / close position.

Claims (4)

An opening / closing drive device comprising an opening / closing member capable of opening and closing an opening by movement and a driving means for driving the opening / closing member, and detecting proximity and pinching of foreign matter to the opening / closing member by an object detection sensor,
The object detection sensor is
A long first electrode, an intermediate coating layer formed of an elastically deformable insulator and covering the first electrode, a second electrode disposed outside the intermediate coating layer, and the second electrode and the intermediate A sensor body comprising an outer skin covering the coating layer;
E Bei and detection means for detecting an object near and contact to the sensor body of the electrostatic capacitance change the sensor body on the basis of,
The sensor body is provided at a closing direction side end of the opening and closing member,
The detecting means determines whether or not the detected electrostatic capacity exceeds a threshold set in accordance with an opening / closing position of the opening / closing member when the opening / closing member is closed, thereby determining the foreign matter on the opening / closing member. Detecting the proximity and contact of
Opening and closing drive device characterized by. The opening / closing drive device according to claim 1,
The opening / closing driving device characterized in that the second electrode is formed in a linear shape and is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the intermediate coating layer. In the opening-and-closing drive device according to claim 2,
The sensor body is formed so that a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is circular, and the opening / closing drive device is characterized in that: In the opening-closing drive device as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The open / close drive device , wherein the detection means detects at least one of the proximity and the contact based on a change rate of the capacitance.

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