KR102420074B1 - Tailgate anti-pinch sensor with contactless sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

A tailgate anti-pinch sensor using a non-contact sensor is provided. According to the present invention, the case is arranged to extend up and down on the side of the tailgate, part or all of which is formed of an elastic material; and a control unit receiving a signal generated from the case to control opening and closing of the tailgate, wherein the case includes a first electrode disposed on one side of the inside of the case and the case to face the first electrode a second electrode disposed on the other side of the inner side; and a hollow part that is a space provided between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Description

Tailgate anti-pinch sensor using non-contact sensor {TAILGATE ANTI-PINCH SENSOR WITH CONTACTLESS SENSOR}

The present invention relates to a tailgate anti-pinch sensor using a non-contact sensor.

When the tailgate of a vehicle is opened and closed, a problem of injury and/or damage to the tailgate may occur as a part of the user's body or objects are caught. Therefore, in order to prevent such an accident, a safety sensor capable of stopping the operation of the tailgate by detecting a body or an object being caught by the sensor is installed. Such a safety sensor is called an anti-pinch sensor.

Meanwhile, in recent tailgates, a power tailgate system capable of automatically opening and closing the tailgate by wire or wirelessly is installed and used. That is, the anti-pinch sensor performs a sensor function of stopping or reversing the operation of the power tailgate system by detecting the jamming of an obstacle while the power tailgate system is operating. The anti-pinch sensor is mounted on both inner sides of the tailgate as shown in FIG. 1 .

The conventional anti-pinch sensor is a pair of sensors that detect the pinching of an obstacle by recognizing a change in resistance value, and is mounted on both sides of the inner side of the tailgate in the vertical direction. The inside of the anti-pinch sensor is arranged in the form of energized rubber with a built-in wire facing each other. A hollow is formed between the energized rubber with a built-in pair of wires. When the tailgate is opened and closed, if an obstacle or the like is caught, a pair of facing wires come into contact with each other. That is, a pair of wires through which current is flowing is brought into contact, a change in resistance value is generated, and the anti-pinch sensor generates a signal.

In this way, when the anti-pinch sensor detects jamming of an obstacle through a change in the resistance value and transmits a signal to the controller, the controller transmits a stop signal to the driver of the power tailgate. The driving unit that receives the stop signal stops or reverses the opening/closing operation of the power tailgate, thereby preventing damage caused by injury due to a part of the user's body or from being caught by an obstacle.

Such a contact anti-pinch sensor has a problem in that the tailgate is stopped or reversed only when a direct contact is made, and thus there is a problem of lowering the marketability due to inducing discomfort to the user.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a tailgate anti-pinch sensor using a non-contact sensor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the case is arranged to extend up and down on the side of the tailgate, some or all of which is formed of an elastic material; and a control unit receiving the signal generated from the case and controlling the opening and closing of the tailgate, wherein the case includes a first electrode disposed on one side inside the case and the case to face the first electrode a second electrode disposed on the other side of the inner side; and a hollow part that is a space provided between the first electrode and the second electrode.

The tailgate anti-pinch sensor according to embodiments of the present invention recognizes an obstacle in a non-contact manner in the case of a conductor, such as a user's body, so that the tailgate can be stopped or reversed before being contacted. In addition, in the case of an insulator such as an object, it is possible to stop or reverse the tailgate by recognizing an obstacle by contact. That is, by including a contact and non-contact sensor at the same time, conductive and non-conductive obstacles can be recognized, and in particular, in the case of a conductor, there is an advantage in that the tailgate is stopped or reversed before contact. On the other hand, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor can recognize obstacles even when there is water around.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle in which a tailgate anti-pinch sensor is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tailgate anti-pinch sensor shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor taken along line AA shown in FIG. 2 .
FIG. 4 is an operational state diagram of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor shown in FIG. 1 .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the following examples are provided to help the understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples. The following embodiments are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those with average knowledge in the relevant technical field, and detailed description of known configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the technical gist of the present invention to be omitted.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle in which a tailgate anti-pinch sensor is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tailgate anti-pinch sensor shown in FIG. 1 .

1 to 2 , the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 of the present embodiment may be mounted on the tailgate 20, which is a tailgate of a pickup truck, SUV, or the like. The tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 may respond such as stopping or reversing the tailgate 20 in response to an obstacle, such as a user's body or an object, when the tailgate 20 is opened and closed.

The tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 of the present embodiment may include a case 110 . A pair of cases 110 is disposed on both sides of the tailgate 20 and may be disposed in a shape extending vertically. Preferably, all or part of the case 110 may be formed of an elastic material. Accordingly, the case 110 can be elastically contracted and relaxed when external pressure is applied. Meanwhile, in the case 110 , a first electrode 111 and a second electrode 112 to be described later are disposed therein to transmit a signal to the controller 130 to be described later in response to the approach of the obstacle.

3 is an enlarged view of a cross section of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , a first electrode 111 and a second electrode 112 may be included in the case 110 of the present embodiment. The first electrode 111 may be formed to extend from one end to the other end along the vertical direction of the case 110 on the inner upper side of the case 110 . Preferably, the first electrode 111 may be in the shape of a wire having a circular cross-section.

The second electrode 112 may be formed on the inner lower side of the case 110 to extend from one end to the other end in the vertical direction of the case. Preferably, the second electrode 112 may be disposed at a position facing the first electrode 111 . For example, the second electrode 112 may have a plate shape having a rectangular cross section.

An electric field is formed between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112, and when the conductor approaches the vicinity, a part of the electric field moves to the conductor and detects a change in capacitance to be described later by the control unit 130 will send a signal to

The inside of the case 110 of this embodiment may include a hollow part 113 . A hollow part 113 having a predetermined space may be provided between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 . The hollow part 113 is a spaced apart space between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112, and when the case 110 is contracted by external pressure, the first electrode 111 and the second electrode ( As the 112 is abutted, the area of the hollow part 113 may be reduced.

A sensor seating unit 114 may be provided at a lower portion of the case 110 of the present embodiment. The sensor seat 114 may be provided between the lower portion of the case 110 and the tailgate 20 . The sensor seating part 114 is integrally formed with the case 110 to extend in the vertical direction, so that the case 110 can be attached and fixed to the tailgate 20 .

Meanwhile, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 of the present embodiment may include a connection line 120 . The connection line 120 is a passage for transmitting a signal generated by being connected to the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 . The connection line 120 may extend from one end of the case 110 to the outside. The connection line 120 may serve as a passage through which signals generated from the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are transmitted to the controller 130 to be described later. That is, one end of the connection line 120 may be connected from the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 to extend to the outside of the case, and the other end may be connected to a control unit 130 to be described later.

The connection line 120 of this embodiment may include a sealing part 121 . The sealing part 121 may serve to seal a hole through which the connection line 120 is inserted into the tailgate 20 . Preferably, the sealing part 121 may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone. As such, the sealing part 121 may serve to prevent foreign substances such as external dust and water from penetrating into the tailgate 20 .

Meanwhile, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 of the present embodiment may include a controller 130 . The control unit 130 may be provided at an end of the connection line 120 . The other end of the control unit 130 is connected to a power tailgate system (not shown) and receives signals generated from the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 transmitted through the connection line 120 to receive the power tailgate system (not shown). It may serve to transfer to a gate system (not shown).

FIG. 4 is an operational state diagram of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor shown in FIG. 1 . Figure 4 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 when there is no foreign matter around the case 110, Figure 4 (b) is water (W) around the case 110 It is a cross-sectional view of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 in the present case.

The operation of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 when an obstacle, which is a conductor, approaches with reference to FIG. 4 is as follows.

First, referring to FIG. 4 (a) where there are no foreign substances around, a radial electric field E spreading outwardly around the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 is formed. When there is no foreign material around the case 110 , the impedance value is formed low, the second electrode 112 is relatively activated, and the electric field E is formed in a wide radial shape around the case 110 . can

At this time, when the hand, which is a conductor, approaches the periphery of the case 110 as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the hand absorbs a part of the electric field E. Accordingly, the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 detect a change in capacitance to generate a signal, and the generated signal is a connection line connected to the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 . It moves to the control unit 130 along 120 . As a result, a signal is generated and transmitted without direct contact with the case 110 so that the opening/closing operation of the tailgate 20 is stopped or reversed.

Referring to (b) of Figure 4, the case 110 is exemplified the shape of the water (W) is attached to the periphery. When water W is attached to the periphery of the case 110 , an impedance value is formed to be high, and the electric field E around the case 110 is weakened. At this time, the electric field E of the first electrode 111 is relatively activated, resulting in a state as shown in (b) of FIG. 4 . Thereafter, when the hand, which is a conductor, approaches the periphery of the case 110 , the operation is performed as in the above-described operation example, and the opening/closing operation of the tailgate 20 is stopped or reversed.

That is, by the interaction between the two electrodes of the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 , it is possible to cope with the approach of an obstacle even when there is no foreign material in the periphery of the case 110 . In a low impedance state where there are no foreign substances in the periphery of the case 110 , the second electrode 112 is relatively activated to form an electric field E around the case 110 . In a high impedance state where there is a foreign material such as water in the periphery of the case 110 , the first electrode is relatively activated to form an electric field E around the case 110 . Accordingly, even if there is a foreign material such as water around the case 110 , the operation of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 is not affected.

Meanwhile, the operation of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 when a non-conductive obstacle approaches is as follows. When the non-conductive obstacle approaches, there is no change in the electric field E around the case 110 . Therefore, in the case of an insulator, the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 detect a change in capacitance when the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are in contact with the case 110 by direct pressure. send this signal. The generated signal is transmitted to the control unit 130 along the connection line 120 to stop or reverse the opening/closing operation of the tailgate 20 .

As described above, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 according to the present embodiment recognizes an obstacle as a non-contact in the case of a conductor, so that the tailgate 20 can be stopped or reversed before contact is made. As in the prior art, when the tailgate is stopped or reversed after contacting the tailgate anti-pinch sensor, the user may feel discomfort. However, in the case of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 according to the present embodiment, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 is sensed to be located near the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 before a person's body comes into contact, and the tailgate 20 is stopped or reversed. This makes it more comfortable for users to use.

In addition, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 according to the present embodiment recognizes an obstacle through contact even in the case of an insulator, so that the tailgate 20 can be stopped or reversed. In the case of an insulator such as an object, it is possible to stop or reverse the tailgate 20 by detecting a change in capacitance by direct contact.

In addition, the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 according to the present embodiment is capable of recognizing an obstacle even in an environment with water around it. Inside the case 110 of the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100, the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are disposed to face each other, and the environment in which there is water due to the interaction between the two electrodes It is also possible to recognize conductive obstacles. In an environment where there is no foreign material around, the second electrode 112 is relatively more activated, and in an environment where there is a foreign material such as water around, the first electrode 111 is relatively more activated to generate an electric field (E) around it. to form Thus, water does not affect the perception of obstacles.

That is, in the tailgate anti-pinch sensor 100 of the present embodiment, a sensor operation through a contact and a sensor operation through a non-contact are performed. Therefore, the safety can be further strengthened than the conventional anti-pinch sensor by contact.

In the above, although embodiments of the present invention have been described, those of ordinary skill in the art can add, change, delete or add components within the scope that does not depart from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims. The present invention may be variously modified and changed by, etc., and this will also be included within the scope of the present invention.

10: body 20: tailgate
100: tailgate anti-pinch sensor 110: case
111: first electrode 112: second electrode
113: hollow part 114: sensor seating part
120: connection line 121: sealing part
130: control unit E: electric field
W: water

Claims (4)

a case 110 disposed to extend up and down on the side of the tailgate 20 and partially or entirely formed of an elastic material; and
a control unit 130 receiving a signal generated from the case 110 and controlling the opening and closing of the tailgate 20;
The case 110,
a first electrode 111 disposed on one side of the inner side of the case 110 and extending from one end of the case 110 to the other end of the case 110 along the longitudinal direction of the case 110;
It is disposed on the other inner side of the case 110 so as to face the first electrode 111 , from one end of the case 110 to the other end of the case 110 along the longitudinal direction of the case 110 . a second electrode 112 formed to extend to; and
and a hollow part 113 which is a space provided between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112;
The first electrode 111 is formed to extend on the inner upper end of the case 110 in a wire shape having a circular cross section,
The second electrode 112 is formed to extend in a plate-like shape having a rectangular cross-section, has a larger cross-sectional area than the first electrode 111, and is disposed at an inner lower end of the case 110,
The first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 capable of contact and non-contact sensing,
When an obstacle, which is a conductor, approaches, a change in capacitance is detected and a signal is generated and transmitted to the control unit 130 so that the tailgate 20 can be stopped or reversed,
When a non-conductive obstacle comes into contact, the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 come into contact to sense a change in capacitance, generate a signal, and transmit it to the controller 130 so that the tailgate 20 is can be stopped or reversed,
It is connected from the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 and extends to the outside of the case 110 , and transmits signals generated from the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 . A connection line 120 that further includes;
The connection line 120 is
The connection line 120 can seal the opening into which the vehicle body 10 is inserted, and the sealing part 121, all or part of which is formed of an elastic material; further comprising,
It further includes; a sensor seating part 114 that is integrally formed with the case 110 and mounts the case 110 to the tailgate 20;
When there is no water W around the case 110 , the second electrode 112 is more activated relative to the first electrode 111 , and the electric field E around the case 110 is ) to form,
When there is water (W) around the case 110, the first electrode 111 is more activated relative to the second electrode 112, and the electric field ( E) forming a tailgate anti-pinch sensor. delete delete delete

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