JP5694800B2 - Foreign object detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign object detection device applied to an automatic door set at, for example, a vehicle entrance / exit or a vehicle rear opening.

  For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below, an automatic sliding door device that opens and closes a doorway by sliding a door corresponding to a rear seat of a vehicle in the front-rear direction by a driving force of a motor includes: A pressure-sensitive sensor is provided at the end in the closing movement direction, and when the door is closed and moved to close the entrance / exit, foreign matter between the closing movement direction end of the door and the edge of the entrance / exit Is detected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-283459 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-271154

  The pressure-sensitive sensor applied to such an automatic sliding door device connects a plurality of lead wires drawn out from the main body of the pressure-sensitive sensor near the upper end or the lower end of the door, For example, a so-called dead zone is formed in the pressure sensor in the vicinity of the upper end and the lower end of the door.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a foreign object detection device that can prevent or reduce the occurrence of dead zones in a pressure sensor in the vicinity of an end of an opening that is opened and closed by a door in consideration of the above fact.

The foreign object detection device according to the present invention described in claim 1 is provided along one of an end portion of a vehicle door and an edge portion of the opening of the vehicle that is opened and closed by movement of the door, A sensor bending portion that bends to one of the one side is set at the end, and a long pressure-sensitive sensor that detects the foreign matter by elastically deforming due to pressure when the foreign matter comes in contact with the sensor, and the sensor Provided in one of the above corresponding to the curved portion, curved along the sensor curved portion, abutted on the inner side in the radius direction of curvature of the sensor curved portion, and part of the outer peripheral shape of the pressure-sensitive sensor Is formed in a concave shape that opens outward in the radius direction of curvature, is set so that the sensor bending portion enters inside the bending support portion, and the sensor bending portion can detect the foreign matter To support the sensor bending portion And a, a sensor support means having a track support.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foreign object detection device according to the present invention, wherein the sensor intermediate portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor is formed in an elongated shape and the edge of the vehicle door is opened and closed by movement of the door. It is provided along one of the sections. For example, if a foreign object exists between the edge of the opening of the vehicle and the end of the door and the foreign object comes into contact with the sensor middle part of the pressure sensor by closing and moving the door, the pressure sensor receives from the foreign object. When the pressing force or the pressure-sensitive sensor presses the foreign matter, the pressure-sensitive sensor is elastically deformed by a pressing reaction force that the pressure-sensitive sensor receives from the foreign matter. A foreign object is detected by the elastic deformation of the pressure sensor.

  On the other hand, a sensor bending portion is continuously set at the end of the pressure sensor. If the pressure sensor is provided along the end of the vehicle door, the sensor bending portion is curved toward the door end, and the pressure sensor is provided along the edge of the vehicle opening. If so, the sensor bending portion is bent toward the edge side of the opening.

  Here, in the foreign object detection device according to the present invention, sensor support means including a curved support portion is provided on the end of the door of the vehicle and the edge of the opening of the vehicle where the pressure sensitive sensor is provided. Provided. The bending support portion of the sensor support means supports the sensor bending portion in a state where foreign matter can be detected even in the sensor bending portion. For this reason, a dead zone is not formed in the pressure sensitive sensor in the sensor bending portion that is in the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the pressure sensitive sensor, or such a dead zone can be reduced.

Further , according to the foreign object detection device of the present invention, the curved support portion of the sensor support means is curved following the sensor curved portion, and abuts and supports the sensor curved portion from the inside in the radius direction of curvature of the sensor curved portion. ing. For this reason, when an external force from the outside in the radius direction of curvature in the sensor bending portion acts on the sensor bending portion, a portion to which the external force is applied in the sensor bending portion can be deformed inward in the radius direction of curvature. Thereby, a foreign substance can be detected also in a sensor bending part.

Furthermore, according to the foreign object detection device of the present invention, the curved support portion of the sensor support means is formed in a concave shape that opens outward in the radius direction of curvature of the sensor curved portion, following the outer peripheral shape of the sensor curved portion, The sensor bending portion is supported by the bending support portion in a state of entering the inside of the bending support portion. As described above, the sensor bending portion enters the inside of the bending support portion, so that inadvertent displacement of the sensor bending portion is suppressed, and the feeling when the sensor bending portion is attached to the edge of the vehicle door or the opening of the vehicle. Occurrence of displacement of the pressure sensor can be prevented or suppressed.

Foreign matter detecting apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the sensor including the terminal supporting portion for supporting the end portion of the pressure sensitive sensor which is continuous to the sensor curved portion It constitutes a support means.

In the foreign object detection device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor that is continuous with the sensor bending portion is supported by the terminal support portion that constitutes the sensor support means together with the bending support portion. Since the end portion of the pressure sensor and the vicinity thereof are supported by the terminal support portion, the end portion of the pressure sensor and the vicinity thereof can be prevented or suppressed from inadvertently moving. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress inadvertent elastic deformation in the sensor bending portion caused by inadvertent movement of the end portion of the pressure sensor and the vicinity thereof, and improve the reliability of foreign object detection in the sensor bending portion. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the foreign object detection device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal support portion includes a cover that covers at least a part of the terminal portion.

In the foreign object detection device according to the third aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the terminal portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor is covered with a cover constituting the terminal support portion. Thereby, the lead wire for processing the terminal portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor from an external load or water such as rainwater, or the connection portion between such a lead wire and the pressure-sensitive sensor can be protected.

A foreign object detection device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the pressure sensor according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the foreign matter detection apparatus is formed continuously with the curved support portion. The sensor support means includes an intermediate support portion that supports a part of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction in a state along any one of the above.

Foreign matter detection device according to the present invention described in claim 4, the sensor support means is constituted by including an intermediate support portion which is continuous from the curved support. A part of the longitudinal direction middle part of the pressure sensor is provided with the pressure sensor of the end of the vehicle door and the edge of the opening of the vehicle that is opened and closed by the movement of the door (whichever) It is supported in a state along one of the above.

  In this way, a part of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the pressure sensor is supported by the sensor support means together with the sensor bending portion, so that the sensor support means can be attached to the edge of the vehicle door or the edge of the vehicle opening. In addition to the sensor bending portion, the longitudinal intermediate portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor can be attached along the edge of the vehicle door or the edge of the vehicle opening.

A foreign object detection device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the foreign object detection device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the pressure-sensitive sensor is bonded to the sensor support means. The pressure sensitive sensor is set to be supported by the sensor support means.

In the foreign matter detection apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pressure-sensitive sensor is bonded to the sensor support means by an adhesive means such as an adhesive or a double-sided tape, whereby the pressure-sensitive sensor is supported by the sensor support means. . For this reason, the pressure-sensitive sensor can be easily attached to the sensor support means.

The foreign object detection device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the present invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the color of the sensor support means is a color corresponding to the interior of the vehicle. Yes.

In the foreign object detection device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 6 , the color of the sensor support means is the interior of the vehicle, for example, the color of the interior of the vehicle near the end of the door, or the vicinity of the edge of the opening that is opened and closed by the door The color according to the vehicle interior. For this reason, a sensor support means is not conspicuous from the passenger | crew of a vehicle, and appearance improves.

It is the disassembled perspective view which expanded the principal part of the foreign material detection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view of a sensor support means. It is an enlarged side view of a sensor support means. It is an enlarged front view of a sensor support means. It is an enlarged bottom view of a sensor support means. It is an expansion perspective view of the sensor support means provided in another site. It is an expansion perspective view of a pressure sensor. It is the perspective view which looked at the vehicle to which the foreign material detection apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention is applied from the back. It is a figure which shows schematically the circuit structure of the foreign material detection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion disassembled perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the modification of the foreign material detection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

<Configuration of the present embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure sensor 12 of the foreign object detection device 10 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 includes an outer skin part 14. The outer skin part 14 is formed in a long shape by an elastic material having an insulating property such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin material. The outer skin portion 14 is formed with a cross hole 16 having a cross-shaped cross section. The cross hole 16 is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the outer skin portion 14, and is gradually displaced around the center of the outer skin portion 14 along the direction of the outer skin portion 14.

  Four electrode wires 18, 20, 22, 24 are provided inside the cross hole 16. Each of these electrode wires 18 to 24 is formed by covering the outer periphery of a flexible core wire with conductive rubber or the like by twisting together conductive thin wires such as copper wires. It is formed in a shape. These electrode wires 18 to 24 are fixed to the end portions of the cross hole 16 in a spiral manner along each end portion of the cross-shaped cross hole 16, whereby the electrode lines 18 to 24 are voids. The cross holes 16 are spaced apart from each other via the central portion. For this reason, when the outer skin portion 14 is elastically deformed, the electrode wires 18 to 24 bend, and in particular, if the outer skin portion 14 is elastically deformed to the extent that the cross hole 16 is crushed, the electrode wire 18 or the electrode wire 22 becomes the electrode wire 20 or Conducts in contact with the electrode wire 24. Further, when the outer skin part 14 is restored, the electrode wires 18 to 24 are also restored.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a protector 30 is provided at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12. As shown in FIG. 7, the protector 30 includes a cylindrical portion 32. The cylinder part 32 is made into a tube (cylinder) shape as a whole. The inner circumferential shape of the cylindrical portion 32 has a circular cross-section whose inner diameter dimension is substantially equal to the outer diameter dimension of the outer skin portion 14 (pressure-sensitive sensor 12), or the radial dimension at the shortest portion is substantially equal to the outer diameter dimension of the outer skin portion 14. The shape is substantially elliptical (in this embodiment, the inner peripheral shape of the cylindrical portion 32 is circular). The pressure-sensitive sensor 12 is configured so that at least a part of the outer peripheral portion at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction (almost all of the outer peripheral portion in the present embodiment) is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 32. Is housed in. A mounting portion 34 is formed on the side of the cylindrical portion 32 so as to be continuous with the cylindrical portion 32. A mounting groove 36 is formed in the mounting portion 34 so as to open toward the side opposite to the cylindrical portion 32.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a support bracket 46 is provided on the door 44 constituting the automatic sliding door device 42 of the vehicle 40 to which the pressure sensor 12 of the foreign object detection device 10 is attached. The support bracket 46 is formed by bending a metal flat plate whose longitudinal direction is along the vertical direction of the door 44 in a substantially L shape around an axis having the longitudinal direction as an axial direction at an intermediate portion in the width direction. One end of the support bracket 46 in the width direction is a fixed portion 48 with respect to the bent portion. The fixed portion 48 is an end portion on the closing movement direction side that is a moving direction when the door 44 closes the entrance / exit 50 (see FIG. 8) (more specifically, the hem vehicle on the closing movement direction side of the door 44). It is fixed to the inner panel 52 of the door 44 by any means such as fastening means such as bolts, adhesive means such as adhesive, and welding.

  On the other hand, the other end in the width direction than the bent portion of the support bracket 46 is a sandwiched portion 54. The sandwiched portion 54 extends from the bent portion of the support bracket 46 to the front side of the vehicle 40, that is, toward the closing movement direction of the door 44. The protector 30 is attached to the door 44 via the support bracket 46 when the clamped portion 54 enters the inside of the mounting groove 36 and the mount 34 clamps the clamped portion 54.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a sensor guide 70 as sensor support means is provided on the side of the upper end of the protector 30 in the longitudinal direction. The sensor guide 70 is formed of a rubber material or a synthetic resin material that is harder than the outer skin portion 14 as a whole. Further, in the present embodiment, the color of the sensor guide 70 is the color inside the vehicle 40, particularly the color inside the vehicle compartment near the end in the closing direction of the door 44 where the sensor guide 70 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor guide 70 includes a base portion 72 that is disposed so as to face the inner panel 52 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 40 on the vehicle interior side of the hem of the door 44. The base portion 72 is formed with a groove portion 74 that is open toward the inner panel 52 while facing the inner panel 52. When the sensor guide 70 is attached to the inner panel 52, the groove portion 74 has the above-described groove portion 74. The inner panel 52 enters.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a fitting protrusion 76 is formed on the side of the groove 74 so as to protrude from the surface of the base 72 on the inner panel 52 side. The fitting protrusion 76 can be elastically deformed in a direction intersecting with the protruding direction from the base portion 72, and is elastically deformed in a reduced diameter direction intersecting with the protruding direction from the base portion 72, whereby the fitting protrusion 76. Can pass through a through-hole 78 formed in the inner panel 52. The head of the fitting protrusion 76 that has passed through the through hole 78 is restored, so that the passage of the through hole 78 is restricted, and the sensor guide 70 is attached to the inner panel 52.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor support portion 80 as an intermediate support portion and a curved support portion is formed on the side of the base portion 72 (outside in the vehicle width direction). In the sensor support portion 80, a sensor holding groove 82 constituted by a central portion side groove portion 84 and a curved portion side groove portion 86 is formed. As shown in each of FIGS. 3 to 5, the central portion side groove portion 84 of the sensor holding groove 82 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape in which the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral shape is substantially equal to the radial dimension of the outer skin portion 14. It opens toward the front side of the vehicle 40, that is, toward the closing movement direction side of the door 44.

  The curved portion side groove portion 86 of the sensor holding groove 82 is continuous from the upper end of the central portion side groove portion 84. Similar to the central portion side groove portion 84, the curved portion side groove portion 86 has a substantially semicircular shape in which the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral shape is substantially equal to the radial dimension of the outer skin portion 14. Further, unlike the central portion side groove portion 84, the curved portion side groove portion 86 is generally curved with a predetermined position behind the central portion side groove portion 84 and below the upper end of the sensor support portion 80 as the center of curvature, The curved portion side groove portion 86 is opened outward in the curvature radius direction of the curvature.

  The pressure-sensitive sensor 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) extending from the upper end of the protector 30 is guided above the door 44 while being partially accommodated in the central portion side groove 84 of the sensor holding groove 82. Furthermore, it is curved toward the inner panel 52 in a state where it is partially accommodated in the curved portion side groove portion 86 (hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the portion accommodated in the curved portion side groove portion 86 of the pressure sensor 12 is referred to as “sensor Also referred to as “curved portion 12A.” The center in the longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 relative to the sensor curved portion 12A is referred to as “sensor intermediate portion 12B”, and the sensor intermediate portion 12B extends from the end of the protector 30. This portion is referred to as “sensor exposed portion 12C”).

  Here, the curvature radius of curvature of the portion where the curved portion side groove portion 86 is set in the sensor support portion 80 (not the curvature radius of the inner peripheral portion of the curved portion side groove portion 86 but the curvature radius of the sensor support portion 80) is curved. The pressure sensitive sensor 12 is set to be bent to such an extent that the electrode wires 18 to 24 are not in contact with each other in a state where the sensor bending portion 12 </ b> A enters the partial side groove 86.

  In addition, an adhesive is applied to the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82, and the portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 accommodated in the sensor holding groove 82 has an outer skin portion 14 of the sensor holding groove 82 formed by the adhesive. The inner peripheral portion, that is, the sensor support portion 80 is integrally fixed. The adhesive application range in the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82 may be the entire inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82 or a part of the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82. . Further, the fixing means for fixing the outer skin portion 14 of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 to the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82 is not limited to an adhesive, and a double-sided tape may be used.

  Further, a cover 92 as a terminal support portion is formed on the sensor guide 70 on the side opposite to the central portion side groove portion 84 of the curved portion side groove portion 86. The cover 92 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose axial direction is substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 40, that is, the closing movement direction of the door 44 and the opposite direction thereof (particularly, the rear end side is cylindrical in the axial direction intermediate portion). The rear end is closed by the bottom 94. Inside the cover 92 is accommodated a terminal portion 96 including a portion obtained by processing the upper end portion of the outer skin portion 14 in the longitudinal direction and the end portions of the electrode wires 18 to 24 drawn from the upper end portion of the outer skin portion 14.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the terminal portion 96, the upper end of the electrode line 18 and the upper end of the electrode line 22 are connected on a substrate (not shown). For example, the upper end of the electrode line 18 and the upper end of the electrode line 22 on the substrate The upper end of the electrode wire 20 and the upper end of the electrode wire 24 are connected on the side opposite to the connecting portion. The terminal portion 96 may be separately accommodated in a cylindrical case and accommodated inside the cover 92, or the terminal portion 96 may be molded with a synthetic resin material or the like and accommodated in the cover 92.

  Thus, the inner panel 52 is formed with a circular hole 98 corresponding to the cover 92 in which the terminal portion 96 is accommodated, and the cover 92 passes through the circular hole 98 on the rear end side in the axial direction, and the inside of the door 44. I'm stuck in.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a sensor guide 110 as a sensor support means formed entirely of a rubber material or a synthetic resin material that is harder than the outer skin portion 14 on the side of the lower end in the longitudinal direction of the protector 30. Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the sensor guide 110 has a structure that is upside down with respect to the sensor guide 70, the bottom portion 94 is not formed on the cover 92, and both ends in the axial direction of the cover 92 are Since the configuration is basically the same as that of the sensor guide 70 except for the opening, the same reference numerals are given to corresponding portions, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The sensor holding groove 82 of the sensor guide 110 is guided below the door 44 with the outer skin portion 14 extending from the lower end of the protector 30 being partially accommodated, and is further curved toward the inner panel 52 side. . Further, the cover 92 of the sensor guide 110 accommodates a terminal portion 112 including a portion obtained by processing the end portions of the electrode wires 18 to 24 drawn from the lower end portion of the outer skin portion 14.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the terminal portion 112, the lower end of the electrode line 20 and the lower end of the electrode line 22 are connected via a resistor 114 on a substrate (not shown). The lower end of the electrode wire 18 is connected to one end of the lead wire 116 on the side opposite to the connection portion with the lower end of the electrode wire 22, and the lower end of the electrode wire 24 is connected to one end of the lead wire 118. The lead wires 116 and 118 pass through the cover 92 of the sensor guide 110 and are drawn into the door 44. The other end of the lead wire 116 is connected to the battery 120 mounted on the vehicle 40, and the other end of the lead wire 118. Is grounded via a current sensor 122.

  The current sensor 122 detects a current flowing through a circuit including the electrode wires 18 to 24 and outputs a signal corresponding to the magnitude. When the outer skin portion 14 is elastically deformed and the electrode wire 18 or the electrode wire 20 contacts the electrode wire 22 or the electrode wire 24 and a current flows without passing through the resistor 114, the value of the current flowing through the circuit increases. In response, when an electric signal output from the current sensor 122 is input to an ECU (control means) that controls the motor of the automatic sliding door device 42, the ECU stops the motor or closes the door 44 and moves. The motor is driven in reverse so as to move the door 44 in the opposite direction, that is, in the opening movement direction that is the movement direction of the door 44 when the entrance 50 is opened.

<Operation and effect of the present embodiment>
Next, the operation and effect of the foreign object detection device 10 will be described.

  In the present embodiment, when the motor of the automatic sliding door device 42 is driven with the door 44 opening the entrance 50 and the door 44 is slid toward the front side of the vehicle 40, the entrance 50 is closed by the door 44. Is done. When foreign matter exists on the slide track of the door 44 when the door 44 slides forward and fully closes the entrance / exit 50 in this way, the end (front end) in the closing movement direction of the door 44 comes into contact with the foreign matter. Press the foreign object. When the protector 30 and the outer skin part 14 are elastically deformed by the pressing reaction force from the foreign matter at this time, the electrode wire 18 or the electrode wire 22 in the outer skin part 14 comes into contact with the electrode wire 20 or the electrode wire 24 and is short-circuited. .

  As described above, since the current flowing through the electric circuit including the electrode lines 18 to 24 flows without passing through the resistor 114 at this time, for example, if the current is passed through the circuit at a constant voltage, the current value changes, The current sensor 122 detects a change in current value at this time. When the current sensor 122 detects a change in the current value, the ECU stops the motor of the automatic sliding door device 42 or reversely drives it. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from being caught by the door 44.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the curvature radius of the portion of the sensor support portion 80 where the curved portion side groove portion 86 is formed has the curvature radius of the electrode wires 18 to 18 in a state where the sensor bending portion 12A enters the curved portion side groove portion 86. The sensor bending portion 12A is set to be bent to such an extent that the 24 are not in contact with each other. The sensor guides 70 and 110 in which the curved portion side groove portion 86 in which the sensor bending portion 12A is accommodated are harder than the outer skin portion 14 of the pressure sensor 12.

  For this reason, when an external force acts on the sensor bending portion 12A from the side opposite to the sensor support portion 80, the outer skin portion 14 supported by the inner peripheral portion of the curved portion side groove portion 86 is elastically deformed, and the sensor bending portion 12A In addition, the electrode wire 18 or the electrode wire 22 in the outer skin portion 14 comes into contact with the electrode wire 20 or the electrode wire 24 to conduct a short circuit. As a result, the foreign object detection device 10 can detect the inclusion of the foreign object even in the vicinity of the upper end and the lower end of the door 44, and the dead zone of the pressure sensor 12 can be detected in the installation range of the pressure sensor 12 along the vertical direction of the door 44. Can be eliminated.

  Further, the sensor bending portion 12A is not covered with the protector 30, and the sensor exposed portion 12C of the sensor intermediate portion 12B is not covered with the protector 30. However, since the sensor bending portion 12A and the sensor exposure portion 12C are accommodated inside the sensor holding groove 82 (the central portion side groove portion 84 and the curved portion side groove portion 86), the sensor bending portion along the thickness direction of the door 44 is provided. Displacement of 12A and sensor exposure part 12C is prevented or suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent or suppress the occurrence of inadvertent deviation of the sensor bending portion 12A and the sensor exposure portion 12C, and to improve the reliability of foreign matter detection in the pressure sensor 12.

  Moreover, by fitting the sensor bending portion 12A and the sensor exposed portion 12C into the sensor holding groove 82, the sensor exposed portion 12C can be closed in the closing direction of the door 44 without applying an excessive load to the sensor bending portion 12A and the sensor exposed portion 12C. Since the sensor bending portion 12A can be appropriately bent along the side end portion, the work of assembling the pressure sensitive sensor 12 to the door 44 can be facilitated. In addition, the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 is assembled to the sensor guides 70 and 110 with the adhesive previously applied to the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82 and the sensor bending portion 12A and the sensor exposed portion 12C on the inner peripheral portion of the sensor holding groove 82. Can be easily fixed.

  Further, the terminal portions 96 and 112 on the opposite side of the sensor bending portion 12 </ b> A from the sensor exposure portion 12 </ b> C are accommodated inside the cover 92. For this reason, it can prevent or suppress that the terminal parts 96 and 112 move carelessly, and in the terminal parts 96 and 112, disconnection occurs in the connection part with the electrode wires 18 to 24, the resistor 114, the lead wires 116 and 118, and the like. In addition, it is possible to prevent or suppress the occurrence of inadvertent elastic deformation in the sensor bending portion 12A, and in this sense, the reliability of foreign matter detection in the pressure sensor 12 can be improved. In addition, since the terminal portions 96 and 112 are accommodated inside the cover 92, the terminal portions 96 and 112 can be prevented or suppressed from being exposed to rainwater or the like.

  The sensor guides 70 and 110 are colored in the interior of the vehicle 40, particularly in the vicinity of the end of the door 44 in the closing direction of the door 44 where the sensor guide 70 is provided. For this reason, the sensor guides 70 and 110 are not conspicuous, thereby improving the appearance.

  In this embodiment, the protector 30 pulls out the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 from the longitudinal end of the cylindrical portion 32, and the sensor-exposed portion 12 </ b> C of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 and the sensor curve are inserted into the sensor holding groove 82 of the sensor support portion 80. The configuration was such that the portion 12A was supported. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the protector 30, only the cylindrical portion 32 in which the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 is accommodated is extended to the sensor guide 70, and the cylindrical portion 32 is held by the sensor together with the pressure-sensitive sensor 12. It is good also as a structure which fits in the groove | channel 82 and accommodates the terminal part 96 grade | etc., In the cover 92 at the front end side of the cylinder part 32. FIG.

  In this embodiment, the outer peripheral shape of the outer skin portion 14 of the pressure sensor 12 is circular, and the sensor holding groove 82 whose inner peripheral shape is substantially semicircular in the sensor support portion 80 according to the outer peripheral shape of the outer skin portion 14. Formed. However, the outer peripheral shape of the outer skin portion 14 may be other than a circular shape, and the sensor holding groove 82 may not be formed in the sensor support portion 80. That is, for example, the outer peripheral shape of the outer skin portion 14 is formed in a semicircular shape on the plane on the rear side of the vehicle, and the sensor support groove 80 is not formed on the surface of the sensor support portion 80 on the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 side. The surface of the 80 pressure sensor 12 side may be a flat surface or a curved surface corresponding to the sensor bending portion 12A.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 12 has a configuration in which four spiral electrode wires 18 to 24 are provided inside the outer skin portion 14. However, the configuration is limited to a specific mode of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 as long as the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 can be elastically deformed and detected by an external force from a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 12. It is not a thing.

  Furthermore, although the present embodiment is configured to attach the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 to the door 44, the pressure-sensitive sensor 12 may be configured to be provided on the inner periphery of the entrance 50. Further, in the present embodiment, the foreign object detection device 10 is applied for detecting foreign object pinching of the automatic sliding door device 42. However, the foreign object detection device 10 may be another automatic door device or the like, for example, a back provided at the rear part of the vehicle. The present invention can also be applied to detection of foreign object pinching in an automatic back door device that opens and closes a door by a driving force of a motor.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Foreign object detection apparatus, 12 ... Pressure sensor, 12A ... Sensor bending part, 12B ... Sensor intermediate part, 40 ... Vehicle, 44 ... Door, 70, 110 ... Sensor guide (sensor support means), 80... Sensor support (bending support, intermediate support), 92... Cover (terminal support), 96, 112.

Claims (6)

A sensor that is provided along one of an end of a vehicle door and an edge of an opening of the vehicle that is opened and closed by the movement of the door, and is curved toward one of the sides at the end. A long pressure-sensitive sensor that detects the foreign object by elastically deforming with a pressure when the curved part is set and the foreign object comes into contact;
It is provided on either one of the sensors corresponding to the sensor bending portion, and is curved along the sensor bending portion so that the inner side in the radius direction of curvature of the sensor bending portion is brought into contact with the outer peripheral shape of the pressure sensitive sensor. It is formed in a concave shape that opens outwardly in the radius direction of curvature following a part, and is set so that the sensor bending portion enters inside the bending support portion, and the sensor bending portion can detect the foreign matter Sensor support means having a bending support portion for supporting the sensor bending portion in a stable state;
A foreign object detection apparatus comprising: The foreign object detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor support means includes a terminal support portion that supports a terminal portion of the pressure sensor that is continuous with the sensor bending portion. The foreign object detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the terminal support portion includes a cover that covers at least a part of the terminal portion. The sensor support means includes an intermediate support portion that is formed continuously with the curved support portion and supports a part of a longitudinal intermediate portion of the pressure sensor in a state along any one of the above. The foreign object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Foreign substance detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor in a state where the pressure sensor is adhered to the sensor support means is supported by the sensor support means. Foreign substance detecting device according to any one of claims 5 colors of the sensor support means from claim 1 in which the color corresponding to interior of the vehicle.

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