JP4166070B2 - Electric door latch device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric door latch device, and more particularly, to an electric door latch device applied to a vehicle such as an automobile having front and rear doors on side portions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electric door latch device applied to a vehicle such as an automobile having front and rear doors on the side, as shown in FIG. 8, when the front and rear doors 104 and 106 are closed, the actuator 102 of the connecting means 100 is operated. By this, it is locked at the front and back. That is, the first connecting member 108 on the front side door 104 side includes a base portion 108A and a connecting pin 108B extending from the base portion 108A to the rear side of the vehicle. It is configured to be slidable in the direction. The second connecting member 110 on the rear side door 106 side has a connecting hole 110A into which the connecting pin 108B is fitted, and is fixed to the side impact bar 112 and the vertical reinforcing member 114.
[0003]
The actuator 102 is electrically connected to a door handle switch provided on each door handle of the front and rear doors via a relay 116. When the handle of each door handle is pulled forward, the first connecting member 108 is moved forward. And the engagement state of the connection pin 108B and the connection hole 110A is released, and when the front and rear doors are closed, the first connection member 108 slides rearward so that the connection pin 108B engages with the connection hole 110A. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-280744 A (paragraph [0084], paragraph [0085], FIGS. 15 and 16)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this electric door latch device, unless the front side door and the rear side door are not securely closed, the latch (connection pin 108B) is not actuated by the actuator 102, but the courtesy switch or the rear side door of the front side door is not activated. If the detection of the front side door or the rear side door is not normally detected due to a malfunction of the courtesy switch, etc., the latch is activated and the latch protrudes while the front side door or the rear side door is open. End up. As a result, if the front side door or the rear side door is closed as it is, the latch may be damaged.
[0006]
In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric door latch device that can prevent breakage of a latch when detection of opening of a front side door or a rear side door is not normally performed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention described in claim 1 is a front side door operation detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of the front door,
Rear side door operation detecting means for detecting opening and closing operation of the rear door;
Front side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the front door;
Rear side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the rear door;
An electric door latch device for connecting the front and rear doors in the vehicle side portion including:
Although the front side door opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means is in a door closed state, the front side door operation detection means or the rear side door operation detection means detects the door opening operation, When the door opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means does not open the door, the door opening / closing detection means has a control means for holding it in an unlatched state.
[0008]
Accordingly, the front side door is detected by the control means even though the front side door opening / closing detecting means or the rear side door opening / closing detecting means is in the closed state and the front side door operation detecting means or the rear handle switch detects the door opening operation. When the opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means does not open the door, it is held in an unlatched state. As a result, when the front side door opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means is defective, it is held in an unlatched state. Therefore, even if the front side door or the rear side door is closed as it is when the detection of the opening of the front side door or the rear side door is not normally performed, the latch provided on one of the front side door or the rear side door It does not interfere with the striker provided on the other side, and the latch is not damaged.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an electric door latch device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0010]
In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width inside direction.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is a center pillarless vehicle without a center pillar, and of the front and rear doors on the side of the vehicle, the front side door 12 is a swing door and the rear side door 14 is It consists of a sliding door.
[0012]
The front side door 12 has a front end portion 12A attached to a front pillar 18 by a pair of upper and lower known hinges 15 and 16, and can swing between a closed position and an open position. When the front side door 12 is opened from the closed position shown in FIG. 2, the front side door 12 rotates about the hinges 15 and 16 outward in the vehicle width direction (in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 2).
[0013]
On the other hand, the rear side door 14 is provided with rollers (not shown) as well-known slide mechanisms, and these rollers and rails (not shown) as well-known slide mechanisms provided on the vehicle body 10 side, It can slide between the closed position and the open position. When the rear side door 14 is opened from the closed position shown in FIG. 2, first, the rear side door 14 is moved obliquely rearward and outward (in the direction of arrow S in FIG. 2).
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, a courtesy switch 19 as a front side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the front side door 12 is disposed on the rear end upper portion 12B of the front side door 12. The front side door 12 is turned on from the off state by the opening operation, and is turned off from the on state by the closing operation.
[0015]
Further, the front side door 12 is provided with a handle switch 23 as a front side door operation detecting means which is turned on from an off state by opening the front side door handle 27.
[0016]
The controller 24 is interposed between the outside handle and the inside handle in the front side door handle 27 and the door lock devices 20 and 26, and when in the locked state, the outside handle in the front side door handle 27 When the operation of the inside handle is operated, the door does not open or is invalidated, and when it is unlocked, the door opens when the operation of the outside handle and the inside handle in the front side door handle 27 is operated. , To come into effect.
[0017]
The door lock device 20 is disposed on the rear end upper portion 12B of the front side door 12, and the door lock device 26 is disposed on the rear end lower portion 12C of the front side door 12.
[0018]
On the other hand, a courtesy switch 29 serving as a rear side door opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the rear side door 14 is disposed at the center portion 14A in the vertical direction at the rear end portion of the rear side door 14. It is turned on from off by an opening operation 14 and turned off from on by a closing operation.
[0019]
The controller 30 is interposed between the outside handle and the inside handle in the rear side door handle 32 and the door lock device 28, and when locked, the outside handle and the inside handle in the rear side door handle 32. The door is not opened or invalidated even if it is operated, and when unlocked, the operation of the outside handle and inside handle in the rear side door handle 32 is activated. It is supposed to be.
[0020]
The door lock device 28 is disposed at the center portion 14 </ b> A in the vertical direction at the rear end portion of the rear side door 14. Further, the controller 30 is provided with a handle switch 34 as a rear side door operation detecting means which is turned on from an off state by an opening operation of the rear side door handle 32.
[0021]
The controller 24 of the front side door 12 and the controller 30 of the rear side door 14 are connected to an ECU 33 as control means provided in the instrument panel, and the ECU 33 is connected to the courtesy switches 19, 29, Signals from the handle switches 23 and 34 are received, and operations of a close actuator 58 and a release actuator 64 described later are controlled based on these signals.
[0022]
Further, a door connecting device 40 is disposed at the vertical intermediate portion 12D at the rear end portion of the front side door 12, and a striker 41 is disposed at the vertical intermediate portion 14B at the front end portion of the rear side door 14. Has been.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the pawl 48 of the door coupling device 40 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 46, and rotates together with the rotating shaft 46 upward and downward. The lever 42 fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft 46 is connected to the front side door handle 27 via a link mechanism 44. Accordingly, when the front side door handle 27 is operated (pulling), the rod 44A of the link mechanism 44 is pulled upward (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4), and the pawl 48 rotates upward.
[0024]
The latch 50 of the door connecting device 40 is rotatable in the vehicle width direction around the rotating shaft 52, and rotates when the striker 41 of the rear side door 14 enters the door connecting device 40 of the front side door 12. By moving, it is connected to the latch 50 of the door connecting device 40. Further, the latch 50 of the door connecting device 40 is always urged by a spring in the opening direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4), and is rotated in the connecting direction by a closing actuator 58 described later against the urging force at the time of connection. It has come to be.
[0025]
The pawl 48 engages with the latch 50 after the latch 50 of the door coupling device 40 is coupled with the striker 41, and regulates the rotation of the latch 50 in the opening direction. Further, the pawl 48 is always urged by a spring in the engaging direction, and when releasing the connection between the latch 50 and the striker 41, the release actuator 64 performs the disengagement operation against the urging force. It has come to be.
[0026]
The rotary shaft 52 is provided with a rotary switch 54 that is turned on / off by the rotation of the latch 50.
[0027]
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the pawl 48 rotates upward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) while the latch 50 and the striker 41 are connected, the latch between the pawl 48 and the latch 50 is released. 50 rotates from the connection state with the striker 41 indicated by the solid line inward in the vehicle width direction (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3), and moves to the connection release state indicated by the two-dot chain line.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 4, an arc-shaped long hole 56 centering on the rotation shaft 52 is formed in the lower part 50 </ b> A of the latch 50 of the door connecting device 40, and the end of the rod 60 is formed in the long hole 56. The part 60A is engaged. The rod 60 is connected to an arm 58A of a close actuator 58 as a latch operating means.
[0029]
The close actuator 58 is operated to rotate the latch 50 in the connecting direction, and is operated based on a signal from the ECU 33.
[0030]
Accordingly, when the close actuator 58 is actuated, the arm 58A rotates downward (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4) about the shaft 58B, and the rod 60 moves downward, so that the latch 50 of the door connecting device 40 is moved in the vehicle width direction. It rotates outward (in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4) and returns to the connected state.
[0031]
When the latch 50 is completely moved to the connected state, the rotary switch 54 is turned on and the energization to the close actuator 58 is stopped.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 4, the arm 42 </ b> A of the release actuator 64 is engaged with the lever 42.
[0033]
The release actuator 64 is activated when the pawl 48 is disengaged from the latch 50. A signal of the handle switch 34 is transmitted to the ECU 33, and the signal is transmitted from the ECU 33 based on this signal. It is like that.
[0034]
Accordingly, when the release actuator 64 is actuated, the arm 64A rotates downward (in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 4) around the shaft 64B, and the pole 48 rotates upward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4) together with the lever 42. The engagement between the pawl 48 and the latch 50 is released.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 2, the striker 41 is formed of a round bar bent in a U-shape with the opening facing the rear of the vehicle in a plan view, and an inclined portion 41A is formed at an outer corner in the vehicle width direction. Has been. The inclined portion 41A is inclined from the vehicle front inner side toward the vehicle rear outer side. The movement of the latch 50 in the releasing direction is performed by the urging force of the spring. When the inner peripheral portion of the inclined portion 41A comes into contact with the latch 50, a component force F1 of the force F received by the latch 50 from the striker 41 is obtained. This is an auxiliary force for moving the latch 50 inward in the vehicle width direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2).
[0036]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0037]
In the present embodiment, when the front side door handle 27 is opened, the latch 50 of the door coupling device 40 is mechanically unlatched by the operation of the link mechanism 44. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, when the ECU 33 detects a change from OFF to ON of the handle switch 23 of the front side door handle 27 in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 200, It is determined whether or not the side door courtesy switch 19 has changed from OFF to ON.
[0038]
If it is determined in S202 that the front side door courtesy switch 19 has not changed from OFF to ON, that is, if the front side door courtesy switch 19 is defective, in S204, after the front side door handle 27 is opened. It is determined whether or not the time T has passed a predetermined time T1.
[0039]
If it is determined in S204 that the predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the front side door handle 27 was opened, in S206, an operation prohibition flag for the latch 50 due to an abnormality in the front side door courtesy switch 19 is set and the unlatched state is set. Hold.
[0040]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S202 that the front side door courtesy switch 19 has changed from OFF to ON, in S208, if the latch 50 operation prohibition flag is set due to an abnormality in the front side door courtesy switch 19, this is set. To release.
[0041]
In this embodiment, when the rear side door handle 32 is opened, the latch 50 is unlatched by the release actuator 64. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, when the ECU 33 detects a change from OFF to ON of the handle switch 34 of the rear side door handle 32 in S210, the release actuator 64 is turned on in S211. It is determined whether or not the rear side door courtesy switch 29 has changed from OFF to ON.
[0042]
If it is determined in S212 that the rear side door courtesy switch 29 has not changed from OFF to ON, it is determined in S214 whether or not the time T from when the rear side door handle 32 is opened has exceeded a predetermined time T1. To do.
[0043]
If it is determined in S214 that the predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the rear side door handle 32 was opened, in S216, an operation prohibition flag for the latch 50 due to an abnormality in the rear side door courtesy switch 19 is set and held in an unlatched state. .
[0044]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S212 that the rear side door courtesy switch 29 has changed from OFF to ON, if the operation prohibition flag for the latch 50 is raised due to an abnormality in the rear side door courtesy switch 19 in S218, this is canceled. .
[0045]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, even when it is determined in S310 that both the front side door courtesy switch 19 and the rear side door courtesy switch 29 are off, the operation prohibition flag of the latch 50 is set in S311. It is determined whether or not the vehicle is standing. If it is determined that the vehicle is not standing, the close actuator 58 activates the latch 50 in S312.
[0046]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S311 that the operation prohibition flag of the latch 50 is set, it is determined in S314 whether the vehicle speed V is a predetermined speed V1, for example, 5 km / h or more, and in S314, the vehicle speed V Is determined not to be a predetermined speed V1, for example, 5 km / h or more, the latch is not operated in S316.
[0047]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the front side door handle switch 19 or the rear side door handle switch 29 is turned off by the ECU 33 and the front side door handle switch 23 or the rear side door handle switch 32 is turned on. When the door courtesy switch 19 or the rear side door courtesy switch 29 is not turned on, that is, when the front side door courtesy switch 19 or the rear side door courtesy switch 29 is fixed due to freezing or the like, or when an electrical failure such as disconnection occurs, Hold in an unlatched state.
[0048]
As a result, in this embodiment, when the detection of the opening of the front side door 12 or the rear side door 14 is not normally performed, even if the front side door 12 or the rear side door 14 is closed as it is, the latch 50 and the striker 41 does not interfere, the latch 50 is not damaged.
[0049]
In this embodiment, when it is determined in S314 that the vehicle speed is a predetermined speed, for example, 5 km / h or more, even if the operation prohibition flag of the latch 50 is set in S312, the latch 50 is set by the close actuator 58. Operate. As a result, occupant protection can be performed reliably.
[0050]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in the above embodiment, the latch 50 provided on the front side door 12 and the striker 41 provided on the rear side door 14 are connected, but instead, the latch provided on the rear side door 14 and the front side door are provided. The connection structure with the striker provided in 12 may be sufficient.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the linkage 50 releases the connection between the latch 50 and the striker 41 from the front side door 12, but instead, the connection between the latch 50 and the striker 41 from the front side door 12. The release may be configured to electrically operate the release actuator 64 in the same manner as the release of the connection between the latch 50 and the striker 41 from the rear side door 14.
[0052]
In the present embodiment, the front side door 12 is a swing door and the rear side door 14 is a slide door. Alternatively, the rear side door 14 may be a swing door and the front side door 12 may be a slide door.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
The first aspect of the present invention is a front side door operation detecting means for detecting opening / closing operation of the front door, a rear side door operation detecting means for detecting opening / closing operation of the rear door, and detection of opening / closing of the front door. An electric door latch device for connecting front and rear doors in a vehicle side portion, comprising: a front side door opening / closing detection means for detecting and a rear side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of a rear door; Even if the detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means is in the closed state, the front side door operation detection means or the rear side door operation detection means detects the door opening operation, but the front side door opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection is detected. When the means does not open the door, it has a control means for holding it in an unlatched state. If the Dodoa or rear side door of the door opening detection is not performed normally, it has an excellent effect that breakage of the latching can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle to which an electric door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a latch of the electric door latch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an essential part of the electric door latch device according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the obliquely forward outer side of the vehicle body.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control of the electric door latch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control of the electric door latch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control of the electric door latch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional electric door latch device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 12 Front side door 14 Rear side door 19 Courtesy switch (front side door opening / closing detection means)
23 Handle switch (front side door operation detection means)
24 controller 27 front side door handle 29 courtesy switch (rear side door open / close detection means)
30 Controller 32 Rear side door handle 33 ECU (control means)
34 Handle switch (rear side door operation detection means)
40 door coupling device 41 striker 50 latch 58 close actuator 64 release actuator

Claims (1)

Front side door handle operation detecting means for detecting opening operation of the front door handle;
A rear side door handle operation detecting means for detecting an opening operation of the rear door handle;
Front side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the front door;
Rear side door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the rear door;
An electric door latch device for connecting the front and rear doors in a vehicle side portion comprising:
Although the front side door opening / closing detection means or the rear side door opening / closing detection means is in a door closed state, the front side door operation detection means or the rear side door operation detection means detects the door opening operation, An electric door latch device comprising a control means for holding the door open / close detecting means or the rear side door open / close detecting means in an unlatched state when the door does not open.

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