JP6533152B2 - Steering lock device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering lock device for locking a steering when the vehicle is parked.

  In recent years, vehicles have been provided with a steering lock device for locking the steering when parking for the purpose of preventing theft. In a vehicle equipped with this steering lock device, in order to unlock the steering, first, ID authentication is performed. Then, in this ID authentication, when the ID code of the portable device possessed by the occupant matches the registration code set in advance, the steering lock is released and the engine start is permitted (for example, , Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, the steering lock device includes an operation knob that can rotate between a travel prohibited position and a travel permitted position, and a steering wheel by engaging and disengaging with the steering shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the operation knob. A lock shaft that locks / unlocks rotation, a lock member that operates in conjunction with the operation knob, and an electromagnetic solenoid that locks / unlocks rotation of the operation knob by engaging / disengaging with the lock member. There is. Here, the electromagnetic solenoid engages with the lock member at the time of non-energization to block the rotation of the operation knob at the travel prohibiting position, and disengages the lock member at the time of power supply from the operation knob at the operation prohibition position. Has a function to allow rotation of the

  By the way, in recent years, in order to improve the operability of the occupant, for example, when the door open signal is output in response to the occupant opening the door of the vehicle, the electromagnetic solenoid is energized before the occupant operates the operation knob. It is desirable to unlock the operation knob to enable its turning operation. In this case, since it is necessary to energize the electromagnetic solenoid until the occupant gets into the vehicle and actually operates the operation knob, the energization time becomes long, which causes a problem that the electromagnetic solenoid generates heat.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to duty-control the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid to suppress the power consumption low to suppress the heat generation of the electromagnetic solenoid.

Patent No. 4031714

  By the way, even while the occupant carries out duty control of energization to the electromagnetic solenoid according to the opening of the door of the vehicle, in order to confirm that the occupant has got into the vehicle, It is necessary to communicate between each other to perform ID authentication.

  However, there is a possibility that the noise generated during duty control of the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid may interfere with communication with the portable device at the time of ID authentication, and ID authentication may not be performed reliably. There's a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering lock device capable of reliably performing ID authentication while suppressing heat generation of an electromagnetic solenoid and eliminating communication failure at the time of ID authentication. To provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is
An operation knob capable of rotating between a travel prohibited position and a travel permitted position;
A lock shaft that locks / unlocks the rotation of the steering wheel by engaging and disengaging with the steering shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the operation knob;
A driving member that operates in conjunction with the operation knob;
When not energized, the drive member is engaged with the drive member to prevent rotation of the operation knob in the travel prohibited position, and when electricity is applied, engagement with the drive member is released and rotation of the operation knob in the operation prohibited position And an electromagnetic solenoid,
An energization control unit configured to control the electromagnetic solenoid to be energized when the operation knob is turned from the traveling prohibition position to the traveling permission position;
In the steering lock device provided with
An ID collating unit including a transmitting / receiving unit that communicates with a portable device carried by a passenger;
A vehicle state detection unit that detects a state of the vehicle;
Provide
When the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle is in a predetermined state, the energization control unit starts energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the ID collating unit during energization control by the duty control When performing communication with the portable device, switching control based on duty control is switched to control based on direct current control.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the conduction control unit is an authentication status signal indicating a state in which the ID collation unit receives a response signal from the portable device and starts ID authentication. While receiving, it is characterized in that the energization control by the duty control is switched to the energization control by the DC control.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the operation knob is turned from the traveling prohibition position to the traveling permission position, the conduction control unit controls the conduction of the electromagnetic solenoid. After that, the electromagnetic solenoid is characterized by mechanically maintaining the non-energized state.

  According to the present invention, when the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle is in a predetermined state (for example, the state in which the door is opened), the energization control by the duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid is started. The power is kept low and the heat generation of the electromagnetic solenoid is suppressed. Then, while the ID authentication is started during the duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the ID verification unit receives the response signal from the portable device and receives the authentication status signal indicating the state where the ID authentication has been started, the duty control is performed Since the energization control according to is switched to the energization control by DC control, the risk of communication failure due to noise can be eliminated at the time of ID authentication, and ID authentication can be performed reliably. Therefore, the steering wheel can be unlocked at an early stage by the operation knob, and the operability of the occupant can be enhanced while maintaining the safety.

It is a perspective view of a steering lock device concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the division of the travel prohibition position of the operation knob in the steering lock device which concerns on this invention, and a travel permission position. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows the engagement / disengagement relationship of the drive member of the steering lock apparatus which concerns on this invention, and an electromagnetic solenoid. It is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the steering lock device concerning the present invention. It is a time chart which shows the processing procedure to engine starting in the steering lock device concerning the present invention. It is a flow chart which shows a processing procedure to engine starting in a steering lock device concerning the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the attached drawings.

(Configuration of steering lock device)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering lock device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a division of a travel prohibited position and a travel permitted position of an operation knob in the steering lock device, and FIG. It is a figure which shows engagement / disengagement relationship with a solenoid.

  The steering lock device 1 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a housing 2 made of a nonmagnetic metal (for example, magnesium alloy), and one end of the housing 2 in the longitudinal direction is an operation knob 3 is provided so as to be rotatable. Here, the operation knob 3 can be rotated to each position of “LOCK (OFF)”, “ACC”, “ON”, and “START” shown in FIG. 2, and the “LOCK (OFF)” position is The steering lock device 1 is in the steering lock state at the travel prohibited position where the travel of the vehicle is prohibited and at the travel prohibited position as described later. On the other hand, each position of "ACC", "ON" and "START" is a travel permission position for permitting the travel of the vehicle, and the steering lock device 1 is unlocked at the travel permission position as described later. In the state.

  A semicircular recess 2a is formed in the longitudinal middle of the housing 2, and a lock shaft 4 accommodated inside the housing 2 faces the recess 2a so as to be able to protrude and retract. Although not shown, a column tube is fitted into the recess 2 a of the housing 2, and the column tube is fixed to the housing 2 by a half ring bracket attached to the housing 2. A steering shaft is rotatably inserted into the column tube. A steering wheel is attached to an upper end of the steering shaft, and a lower end of the steering shaft is connected to a steering gear box. Then, when the driver rotates the steering wheel, the rotation is transmitted to the steering gear box via the steering shaft to drive the steering mechanism, and the steering mechanism is steered by the steering mechanism, and the required front wheels of the vehicle are steered. Steering is done.

  By the way, the drive member 5 (see FIG. 3) that operates in conjunction with the rotation of the operation knob 3 is accommodated in the housing 2, and an electromagnetic solenoid is provided in the vicinity of the operation knob 3 at one end of the housing 2 in the longitudinal direction. 6 is attached. Here, when the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is de-energized (OFF), as shown in FIG. 3A, the lock member 6a is engaged with the drive member 5 and is in the travel inhibition position ("LOCK (OFF)" position) When turning on the operation knob 3 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the power is turned on (ON), the engagement between the lock member 6a and the drive member 5 is released, and the operation knob 3 is in the operation prohibited position. It allows rotation.

  The driving member 5 is, for example, a projection provided on a cam shaft (not shown) connected to the operation knob 3, and a cam shaft (not shown) extends in the longitudinal direction in the housing 2 and a lock shaft described later A cam portion for driving 4 and the like are formed. The lock member 5 may be a movable iron core (plunger) itself provided in the electromagnetic solenoid 6 or may be another member such as a lever driven by the plunger.

  Since the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is not energized when the operation knob 3 is in the "LOCK (OFF)" position shown in FIG. 2, the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is turned off as shown in FIG. 3 (a). In the state, the lock member 6a is prevented from pivoting as described above by the biasing force of the return spring (not shown) as described above. At this time, the lock shaft 4 is moved from the recess 2a of the housing 2 to FIG. As shown, since it protrudes and engages with the engaging groove of the steering shaft (not shown), the rotation of the steering shaft (steering wheel) is blocked, thereby disabling the steering operation and preventing the theft of the parked vehicle. Be

  By the way, in the present embodiment, when the occupant approaches the parked vehicle, ID authentication (i.e., external ID authentication) as to whether or not the ID code of the portable device possessed by the occupant matches the pre-registered ID code. When the two ID codes match, for example, the occupant touches the doorknob, the door is unlocked. Then, when the occupant opens the door from this state, this is detected and energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is started, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is turned on and the lock member 6a is an electromagnetic coil. Since the engagement between the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 and the drive member 5 is released, the turning operation of the operation knob 3 is permitted.

  In the above state, when the occupant rotates the operation knob 3 from the "LOCK (OFF)" position to any one of "ACC", "ON" and "START" positions, it is interlocked with this operation. The driving member 5 moves as shown in FIG. 3C, but when the operation knob 3 is turned to the "ACC" position, the accessories are energized and turned to the "ON" position. Power is supplied to various devices. Then, when the operation knob 3 is turned to the “START” position, a starter (not shown) is activated to start the engine. After that, even when the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is interrupted and the solenoid 6 is turned off, as shown in FIG. 3D, the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 abuts on the drive member 5 Is prevented from being projected, and in the “ACC” position, “ON” position, and “START” position, since the engagement with the drive member 5 in the rotational direction is released, the turning operation of the operation knob 3 Is possible. Since the lock shaft 4 is sunk in the housing 2 in conjunction with a cam shaft (not shown) in conjunction with the turning operation of the operation knob 3, the engagement between the lock shaft 4 and the engagement groove of the steering shaft is released As a result, the steering is released from the locked state and becomes the unlocked state (see FIG. 2), and the steering operation becomes possible in this unlocked state.

  When the vehicle is traveling, as shown in FIG. 3D, the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is in the OFF state, and the engagement between the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 and the drive member 5 is released. When the vehicle is stopped and the operation knob 3 is turned from the "ON" position back to the "LOCK (OFF)" position, the drive member 5 is interlocked with the return rotation operation of the operation knob 3 as shown in FIG. Move as shown in 3 (e). As described above, when the lock member 5 moves to the “LOCK (OFF)” position, the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is already cut off. Therefore, the biasing force of a return spring (not shown) built in the electromagnetic solenoid 6 or the like Since the lock member 6a is mechanically returned to the projecting position in the state shown in FIG. 3A, as shown in FIG. 3E, the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is "LOCK (OFF)" of the drive member. By engaging in the rotational path from the position to the "ACC" position, the turning operation of the operating knob 3 is blocked. When the operation knob 3 is thus turned from the travel permitted position such as the "ON" position to the "LOCK (OFF)" position which is the travel prohibited position, the lock shaft 4 is not interlocked with this. As shown in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the illustrated cam shaft, it projects from the recess 2a of the housing 2 and engages with the engagement groove of the steering shaft, so the steering is locked and the steering operation is prohibited (FIG. 2) reference).

(System configuration of steering lock device)
Next, the system configuration of the steering lock device 1 according to the present invention will be described below based on FIG.

  That is, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the steering lock device according to the present invention, and as shown in the figure, the ECU 10 as control means is provided on the steering lock device 1 side, and on the vehicle body side. Similarly, a host ECU 20 as a control means is mounted.

  A battery (BATT) 30 serving as a power supply is connected to the CPU 11 provided in the ECU 10 via the power supply input circuit 12, and is supplied to the CPU 11 from the battery 30 via the solenoid drive circuit 13 to the electromagnetic solenoid 6. An energization control unit 14 is provided to control ON / OFF (energization / non-energization) of the current. As described later, the energization control unit 14 controls the electromagnetic solenoid 6 to be in the energized state when the operation knob 3 is rotated from the traveling inhibition position to the traveling permission position.

  Here, the power supply from the battery 30 to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is monitored by the power supply monitoring circuit 15, the driving condition of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is monitored by the solenoid drive monitor 16, and the information thereof is outputted to the CPU 11, respectively. Ru. Then, between the CPU 11 and the host ECU 20, information such as a lock command signal, an unlock command signal, and a failure state is transmitted and received via the LIN communication circuit 17 by LIN communication. A reset circuit 18 is connected to the CPU 11.

  On the other hand, a battery (BATT) 30 which is a power supply is connected to the host ECU 20, and the host ECU 20 is provided with an ID collating unit 22 having a transmitting / receiving unit 21 for communicating with a portable device (not shown) possessed by a passenger. Is built-in. Further, the host ECU 20 is connected to a vehicle state detection unit 23 that detects the state of the vehicle (in the present embodiment, opening and closing of the door and the lock). Door lock switches 25 are respectively connected.

(Processing procedure up to engine start in steering lock device)
Next, the processing procedure until the engine start in the steering lock device 1 of the present invention will be described below based on the time chart shown in FIG. 5 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the passenger gets into the parked vehicle and starts the engine, the operation knob 3 of the steering lock device 1 is in the "LOCK (OFF)" position, which is the travel prohibited position, and as shown in FIG. As described above, the steering shaft is in the locked state because it is in the OFF (non-energized) state. In this state, when the passenger (driver) carrying the portable device approaches the vehicle, the portable device and the ID collating unit 22 of the host ECU 20 start communication, and ID authentication (ID authentication outside the vehicle) is performed (FIG. 6) Step S1). In this ID authentication, it is determined whether the ID code of the portable device and the ID code registered in advance in the ID collating unit 22 match (ID authentication OK?) (Step S2).

  As a result of the above determination, when the two ID codes match (step S2: Yes), the door lock is released (step S3), and the vehicle state is determined by the signal from the door switch 24 whether the door is opened by the occupant. It is detected by the detection unit 23 (see FIG. 4) (step S4). If the two ID codes do not match (step S2: No), the process ends (step S9).

  When the door is opened by the occupant after the door lock is released (step S4: Yes), as shown in FIG. 5, the host ECU 20 outputs an unlock request signal to the CPU 11 of the ECU 10, and this unlock request The energization control unit 14 of the CPU 11 having received the signal drives the solenoid drive circuit 13 to start energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 to turn on the electromagnetic solenoid 6 as shown in FIG. Step S5). As described above, when the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is energized and the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is turned on, the engagement between the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 and the drive member 5 is released (see FIG. 3B). Since the user can turn the operation knob 3 in the "LOCK (OFF)" position to the travel permission position ("ACC", "ON", "START" position), the occupant can turn the operation knob 3 It is determined whether or not it has been operated (step S6).

  In the present embodiment, the energization control by the duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is performed under the condition that the door switch 24 detects opening of the door after the outside ID authentication is normally performed and the door lock is released. Although the electromagnetic solenoid is turned on, the electromagnetic solenoid 6 may be turned on on condition that release of the door lock is detected by the door lock switch 25 after ID authentication outside the vehicle is normally performed.

  Thus, when the operation knob 3 is turned by the occupant (step S6: Yes), the engagement between the lock shaft 4 (see FIG. 1) and the engagement groove of the steering shaft (not shown) takes place as described above. Because the steering wheel is released, the steering wheel is unlocked (see FIG. 5). Then, when the occupant turns the operation knob 3 to the "START" position, a starter (not shown) is activated to start the engine (step S7). As described above, when the engine is started, the energization control unit 14 of the ECU 10 stops driving the solenoid drive circuit 13 to stop energization of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 and turns off the electromagnetic solenoid 6 (step S8). , And the process ends (step S9). Incidentally, even if the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is stopped after the engine is started and the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is turned off, the engagement between the lock member 6a of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 and the drive member 5 in the rotational direction is released as described above. (See Fig. 3 (d)), the return rotation operation of the operation knob 3 (for example, to stop the engine, the operation knob 3 is at the "LOCK (OFF)" position from the travel permitted position such as the "ON" position) Operation) is possible.

  On the other hand, when the occupant does not turn the operation knob 3 after starting energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 (step S6: No), in order to determine whether the occupant has entered the car or not The host ECU 20 starts in-vehicle ID authentication (step S10). When the host ECU 20 tries to start this in-vehicle ID authentication, it transmits an authentication status signal to the ECU 10, and the energization control unit 14 of the ECU 10 interrupts the energization control by the duty control in response to the reception of the authentication start signal. As shown in 5, the energization control by the duty control is switched to the energization control by the DC control, and the authentication is started (step S11). The energization control by the direct current control of the portable device and the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is performed while the authentication state signal indicating the state in which the ID collating unit 22 of the host ECU 20 is performing the ID authentication is received (steps S12 to S11). .

  In the present embodiment, the period of energization control by direct current control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is set while the ID collating unit 22 of the host ECU 20 receives an authentication state signal indicating a state in which ID authentication is started. This authentication status signal is opened when the door is opened, and the transmitting / receiving unit 21 tries to start transmitting a request signal into the vehicle interior for in-vehicle ID authentication (for example, according to the cycle setting in which in-vehicle ID authentication is performed every 5 seconds) The host ECU 20 starts transmission to the ECU 10) and transmits a request signal to perform ID authentication even if the ID collating unit 22 does not receive the ID signal from the portable device. During the in-vehicle ID authentication period, energization control by DC control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is performed. Here, the present invention is not limited to performing DC control continuously during the in-vehicle ID authentication period, but receives a response signal from the portable device, and the DC current of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 from the time when the ID collating unit 22 starts ID authentication. The control may be switched only during a part of the in-vehicle ID authentication period so as to perform energization control by control.

  By the way, as described above, the risk that noise generated during duty control of the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 becomes an obstacle to communication with the portable device at the time of in-vehicle ID authentication is as described above. In the mode, since the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is switched from the duty control to the direct current control at the time of in-vehicle ID authentication, the communication failure at the time of in-vehicle ID authentication is eliminated, and the in-vehicle ID authentication is surely performed.

  Thus, when the ID code of the portable device and the ID code registered in advance coincide with each other by the in-vehicle ID authentication performed during the energization control by the DC control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 (step S13: Yes), the occupant gets into the vehicle. It is confirmed that the process proceeds to step S5, the energization control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is returned from the direct current control to the duty control, and the process after step S6 is continued.

  On the other hand, if the in-vehicle ID authentication is not normally performed because the occupant is not in the vehicle (step S13: No), has a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapsed since the start of the in-vehicle ID authentication? It is judged (step S14) whether or not the predetermined time has passed (step S14: Yes), the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is turned off (step S8), and the process is ended (step S9). And when predetermined time has not passed (step S14: No), in-vehicle ID authentication (processing of step S10-step S13) is repeated until predetermined time passes.

  In the above, the processing procedure until the engine start in the steering lock device 1 has been described, but in order to stop the engine, the operation knob 3 is at the travel permitted position "ON" position from the travel permitted position "LOCK (OFF) When the engine is stopped, the lock shaft 4 (see FIG. 1) projects from the recess 2a of the housing 2 and engages with the engagement groove of the steering shaft, and the steering wheel is locked. Because the rotation is locked and the steering operation becomes impossible, theft of the vehicle is prevented.

  As apparent from the above description, according to the steering lock device 1 according to the present invention, the vehicle state detection unit 23 indicates that the vehicle is in a predetermined state (in the present embodiment, the door is open). When it detects, since the energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is started, the power consumption is suppressed low and the heat generation of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is suppressed. Then, when the host ECU 20 tries to start in-vehicle ID authentication, the control is switched from energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid 6 to energization control by DC control, and the ID collating unit 22 receives a response signal from the portable device Since the energization control by duty control is switched to the energization control by DC control while receiving the ID authentication status signal indicating the state where the authentication is started, the risk of communication failure due to noise at the time of in-vehicle ID authentication may be eliminated. It is possible to perform in-vehicle ID authentication reliably. For this reason, the steering wheel can be unlocked at an early stage by the operation knob 3, and the effect of being able to improve the operability of the occupant while maintaining the safety can be obtained.

Reference Signs List 1 steering lock device 2 housing 2a recessed portion of housing 3 operation knob 4 lock shaft 5 drive member 6 electromagnetic solenoid 6a lock member 10 ECU
11 CPU
12 power supply input circuit 13 solenoid drive circuit 14 communication control unit 15 power supply monitor circuit 16 solenoid drive monitor 17 LIN communication circuit 18 reset circuit 20 host ECU
21 Transmission / reception unit 22 ID collation unit 23 Vehicle condition detection unit 24 Door switch 25 Door lock switch 30 Battery

Claims (3)

An operation knob capable of rotating between a travel prohibited position and a travel permitted position;
A lock shaft that locks / unlocks the rotation of the steering wheel by engaging and disengaging with the steering shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the operation knob;
A driving member that operates in conjunction with the operation knob;
When not energized, the drive member is engaged with the drive member to prevent rotation of the operation knob in the travel prohibited position, and when electricity is applied, engagement with the drive member is released and rotation of the operation knob in the operation prohibited position And an electromagnetic solenoid,
An energization control unit configured to control the electromagnetic solenoid to be energized when the operation knob is turned from the traveling prohibition position to the traveling permission position;
In the steering lock device provided with
An ID collating unit including a transmitting / receiving unit that communicates with a portable device carried by a passenger;
A vehicle state detection unit that detects a state of the vehicle;
Provide
When the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle is in a predetermined state, the energization control unit starts energization control by duty control of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the ID collating unit during energization control by the duty control A steering lock device characterized in that, when performing communication with the portable device, the energization control by duty control is switched to the energization control by direct current control.   The energization control unit performs direct current control of energization control by duty control while receiving an authentication status signal indicating a state in which the ID verification unit receives a response signal from the portable device and starts ID authentication. The steering lock device according to claim 1, wherein switching to energization control is performed. When the operation knob is turned from the travel prohibition position to the travel permission position, the energization control unit discontinues the energization control of the electromagnetic solenoid, and thereafter, the electromagnetic solenoid performs mechanical state at the time of deenergization. The steering lock device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steering lock device is maintained.

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