JP6905404B2 - Pinching detection device and opening / closing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pinch detection device and an opening / closing system.

Conventionally, a vehicle equipped with an opening / closing system that automatically opens / closes by driving an opening / closing body such as a back door with an actuator has been known. In this type of opening / closing system, a pinching detection device that detects the pinching of an obstacle is installed so that an obstacle is not pinched between the opening / closing body and the vehicle body when the opening / closing body is closed.

As a pinch detection device, a method of detecting an obstacle by utilizing a change in capacitance formed on a sensor electrode is known. By the way, in this pinch detection device, the sensor electrode approaches the vehicle body while the opening / closing body is in the fully closed state. Therefore, the sensor electrode and the vehicle body are capacitively coupled, and the capacitance formed in the sensor electrode changes. As a result, there is a risk of erroneously detecting pinching even though there are no obstacles.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of covering the sensor electrode and the opening member side portion located in the capacitance sensing direction with a shielding electrode. A voltage whose potential is the same as that of the sensor electrode is applied to this shielding electrode, and the opening member side portion is electrostatically blocked from the sensor electrode, whereby the opening member side portion interferes with detection. It suppresses becoming.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-240428

However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the entire range of the vehicle body surface facing the sensor electrode must be covered with a shielding electrode over a wide range. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the cost increases and the shape of the shielding electrode must be developed for each vehicle body shape. Further, when an obstacle touches the shielding electrode, or when an obstacle exists in the immediate vicinity of the shielding electrode, there is a problem that the obstacle cannot be detected due to the influence of the shielding electrode.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pinch detection device and an opening / closing system capable of accurately detecting pinch with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

In order to solve such a problem, the first invention provides a pinch detection device that detects the pinch of an obstacle by an opening / closing body that opens / closes an opening of a vehicle body. The pinch detection device is provided on one peripheral portion and the opening and closing of the opening, and the sensor electrode sensor voltage Ru is applied, it is provided on the other peripheral edge and the opening and closing of the opening, closing body is directed to the vehicle body the distance between the more sensor electrodes closed Te Ri is small, and the position detection electrode detects the voltage of the high potential Ru is applied than the sensor voltage, in order to detect the jamming of an obstacle, electrostatic formed on the sensor electrode It has a detection unit that detects a change in capacitance, and the position detection electrode charges the electrostatic capacitance formed in the sensor electrode with a charge amount that increases as the distance from the sensor electrode decreases.

Here, in the first invention, it is preferable that the sensor voltage is periodically applied to the sensor electrode, and the detection voltage having the same phase as that of the sensor electrode is applied to the position detection electrode.

Further, in the first invention, it is preferable that the opening / closing body is opened / closed by attaching the base end portion to the vehicle body via the hinge component and swinging the open end portion side. In this case, the sensor electrodes are provided at the side ends on both sides of the opening / closing body from the base end side to the open end side, and the position detection electrodes are provided in a state where the opening / closing body is closed in the peripheral edge of the opening. It is desirable that the sensors are provided so as to face the sensor electrodes and close to the hinge components.

A second invention comprises an opening / closing mechanism that automatically opens / closes an opening / closing body provided at an opening of a vehicle body, and a pinching detection device according to the first invention that detects the pinching of an obstacle by the opening / closing body. To provide an opening / closing system having.

According to the present invention, pinching can be detected accurately with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

Explanatory drawing schematically showing a back door of an automobile to which the opening / closing system according to this embodiment is applied. Block diagram showing the configuration of the opening / closing system according to the present embodiment Explanatory drawing schematically showing the configuration of the pinch detection device applied to the opening / closing system. Explanatory drawing which shows the concept of pinch detection processing by a pinch detection device Flow chart showing the opening and closing operation of the back door by the opening and closing system

Hereinafter, the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described by applying it to the back door 5 of the automobile 1. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a back door 5 of an automobile 1 to which the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

The back door 5 is a door provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 and opens / closes the door opening 3 provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 2. The back door 5 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body 2 via a hinge component 6. In the present embodiment, the hinge component 6 is provided on the peripheral edge portion 4 of the door opening 3, that is, the upper edge portion 4a of the peripheral edge portion 4 on the vehicle body 2 side surrounding the door opening 3. The back door 5 is a flip-up type door in which an upper end portion (base end portion) 5a is attached to the vehicle body 2 via a hinge component 6 and the lower end portion (open end portion) 5b side is swung to open and close. be.

The opening / closing system 10 is a system called a power back door that automatically opens / closes the back door 5. The opening / closing system 10 is mainly composed of an opening / closing switch 20, an opening / closing sensor 25, an opening / closing mechanism 30, a pinch detection device 50, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 60.

The open / close switch 20 is an operation member that receives an open / close operation of the back door 5 from an occupant. The open / close switch 20 includes a driver's seat of the automobile 1, a switch provided on the back door 5, a switch mounted on an electronic key, and the like. By operating the open / close switch 20, it is possible to instruct the ECU 60 to open / close the back door 5. When the open / close switch 20 is opened or closed, the operation signal is output to the ECU 60.

The open / close sensor 25 is provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The open / close sensor 25 detects that the back door 5 is fully closed and that the back door 5 is fully opened. When the open / close sensor 25 detects a fully closed state or a fully open state, the open / close sensor 25 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the state to the ECU 60.

The opening / closing mechanism 30 is a mechanism for opening / closing the back door 5. The opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided at the left and right side ends 5c and 5d of the back door 5, respectively. The opening / closing mechanism 30 is mainly composed of a shaft body 31, a drive motor 32, and an urging means (not shown).

The shaft body 31 is configured to be expandable and contractible, and is provided between the vehicle body 2 and the back door 5. The drive motor 32 serves as a power source for the shaft body 31 to expand and contract, and is provided on the vehicle body 2. The back door 5 moves in the opening direction by driving the drive motor 32 in the forward direction to extend the shaft length of the shaft body 31. The back door 5 moves in the closing direction by reversely driving the drive motor 32 to shorten the shaft length of the shaft body 31. The drive state of the drive motor 32 is controlled by the ECU 60. Further, the urging means is composed of a spring or the like, and is provided on the shaft body 31. By maintaining the shaft length (expansion / contraction length) of the shaft body 31 by the urging force of the urging means, the back door 5 can be held in the fully opened state.

The pinch detection device 50 is a device that detects the pinch of an obstacle (for example, a human body) by the back door 5 that opens and closes the door opening 3 of the vehicle body 2. Details of the pinch detection device 50 will be described later.

The ECU 60 is a control unit that controls the opening / closing system 10. As the ECU 60, a microcomputer mainly composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O interface can be used. In relation to the present embodiment, the ECU 60 controls the drive state of the drive motor 32 to control the opening and closing of the back door 5. Further, the ECU 60 outputs a necessary signal to the pinch detection device 50 and controls the operating state of the pinch detection device 50. Then, when the back door 5 is closed, the ECU 60 controls to switch the back door 5 to the open operation when it determines that an obstacle is pinched based on the detection result by the pinch detection device 50.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the pinch detection device 50 applied to the opening / closing system 10. The pinch detection device 50 includes a sensor electrode 51, a position detection electrode 52, and a detection unit 53.

The sensor electrodes 51 are provided at the left and right side end portions 5c and 5d of the back door 5 from the upper end portion 5a side to the lower end portion 5b side of the back door 5, respectively (see FIG. 1). The first pulse signal P1 is input from the ECU 60 to the sensor electrode 51 via the input terminal Vins. A predetermined level voltage (sensor voltage) is periodically applied to the sensor electrode 51 through the first pulse signal P1. In the figure, “Ca” is a capacitance Ca (counter-ground capacitance) formed on the sensor electrode 51. “Cs” refers to the capacitance formed in the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 is fully open and there is no obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2 (hereinafter referred to as “reference capacitance”). ). Further, "Cp" is a capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51, which is increased by an obstacle existing between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2. Further, “Cb” is a capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51, which increases as the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) approaches the vehicle body 2. The capacitance Cb increases as the distance between the sensor electrode 51 and the vehicle body 2 decreases.

The position detection electrodes 52 are provided on the left and right edge portions 4b and 4c in the width direction of the peripheral edge portion 4 of the door opening 3, respectively (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the position detection electrode 52 faces the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 is closed. Further, the position detection electrode 52 is provided at a position closer to the hinge component 6, that is, the upper edge portion side 4a, among the left and right edge portions 4b and 4c. The position detection electrode 52 has a relationship in which the distance from the sensor electrode 51 becomes smaller as the back door 5 is closed toward the vehicle body 2.

The second pulse signal P2 is input from the ECU 60 to the position detection electrode 52 via the input terminal Vinp. Through the second pulse signal P2, a voltage having a higher potential than that of the sensor electrode 51 and having the same phase as the sensor voltage is applied to the position detection electrode 52. In the figure, “Cc” indicates the capacitance formed between the sensor electrode 51 and the position detection electrode 52. This capacitance Cc is capacitively coupled when the sensor electrode 51 (back door 5) approaches the position detection electrode 52, and the smaller the distance between the sensor electrode 51 (back door 5) and the position detection electrode 52, the smaller the capacitance Cc. growing. The position detection electrode 52 is set so that its capacitance Cc matches or is substantially the same as the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 described above.

The detection unit 53 detects a change in the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 in order to detect the pinching of an obstacle. The detection unit 53 is composed of a reference capacitor C1 connected between the sensor electrode 51 and the ground. A diode D1 is connected between the reference capacitor C1 and the sensor electrode 51. The connection point T1 between the diode D1 and the reference capacitor C1 is connected to the ECU 60.

In the detection unit 53, the change in the capacitance Ca formed in the sensor electrode 51 is detected as the change in the voltage at the connection point T1. The detection result in the detection unit 53, that is, the voltage at the connection point T1, is input to the ECU 60.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of the pinch detection process by the pinch detection device 50. The pinch detection process is a process for detecting an obstacle pinched between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2 when the back door 5 is operated in the closing direction.

First, when the pinch detection process is started, the first pulse signal P1 is input to the sensor electrode 51 and the second pulse signal P2 is input to the position detection electrode 52.

In the process of closing the back door 5 from the fully open state, if there is no obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 becomes the reference capacitance Cs. Therefore, the voltage of the sensor electrode 51, that is, the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 is higher than the predetermined determination voltage (FIG. 4A).

On the other hand, when an obstacle exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 includes the reference capacitance Cs and the capacitance Cp caused by the obstacle. Is also included. That is, when an obstacle exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the capacitance formed in the sensor electrode 51 is higher than that when there is no obstacle between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2. The capacity Ca will increase. Therefore, the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 is equal to or lower than the determination voltage (FIG. 4B). Therefore, by comparing the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage, it is possible to detect the pinching of an obstacle.

By the way, while the back door 5 is in the fully closed state, the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2. In this case, the sensor electrode 51 and the vehicle body 2 are capacitively coupled. Therefore, in the absence of obstacles, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 includes the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 in addition to the reference capacitance Cs. Therefore, the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 becomes equal to or lower than the determination voltage (see the broken line in FIG. 4C), and there is a possibility that pinching may be detected even though there are no obstacles.

In this respect, the pinch detection device 50 according to the present embodiment is provided with the position detection electrode 52. The position detection electrode 52 is provided so as to approach the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 is closed. Therefore, the position detection electrode 52 is capacitively coupled with the sensor electrode 51 on the way to the fully closed state of the back door 5. As a result, electric charge transfer occurs, and the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 is charged.

In this case, the capacitance Cc of the position detection electrode 52 and the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 are assumed to correspond to the distance between the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) and the vehicle body 2 (position detection electrode 52). , Each corresponds. Therefore, the above-mentioned charging cancels the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 in the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51. In other words, the position detection electrode 52 charges the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 with a charge amount corresponding to the distance from the sensor electrode 51. As a result, even when the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Cb is canceled, so that the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 is maintained at a level higher than the determination voltage ( FIG. 4 (c).

In this situation, when an obstacle exists between the back door 5 and the vehicle body 2, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 increases by the capacitance Cp caused by the obstacle. As a result, the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 becomes equal to or lower than the determination voltage (FIG. 4D). Therefore, by comparing the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage, it is possible to detect the pinching of an obstacle.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an opening / closing operation of the back door 5 by the opening / closing system 10. The process shown in this flowchart is executed by the ECU 60 triggered by the operation of the open / close switch 20.

First, in step 1 (S1), the ECU 60 determines whether or not the operation of the open / close switch 20 is an open operation. When the operation of the open / close switch 20 is an open operation, an affirmative determination is made in step 1 and the process proceeds to step 2 (S2). On the other hand, when the operation of the open / close switch 20 is a closing operation, a negative determination is made in step 1, and the process proceeds to step 5 (S5) described later.

In step 2, the ECU 60 drives the drive motor 32 in the forward rotation. When the drive motor 32 is driven in the forward rotation, the shaft body 31 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 is extended, whereby the back door 5 moves in the opening direction.

In step 3 (S3), the ECU 60 refers to the detection signal of the open / close sensor 25 and determines whether or not the back door 5 has reached the fully opened state. When the back door 5 reaches the fully opened state, an affirmative determination is made in step 3, and the process proceeds to step 4 (S4). If the back door 5 has not reached the fully opened state, a negative determination is made in step 3 and the process returns to step 3.

In step 4, the ECU 60 performs the termination process. Specifically, the ECU 60 stops the forward rotation drive of the drive motor 32.

On the other hand, in step 5, the ECU 60 starts the pinch detection process by the pinch detection device 50. Specifically, the ECU 60 outputs the first pulse signal P1 to the input terminal Vins and outputs the second pulse signal P2 to the input terminal Vinp.

In step 6 (S6), the ECU 60 reversely drives the drive motor 32. When the drive motor 32 is driven in reverse, the shaft body 31 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 contracts, whereby the back door 5 moves in the closing direction.

In step 7 (S7), the ECU 60 compares the voltage detected by the detection unit 53 with the determination voltage, and determines whether or not the pinch detection device 50 has detected the pinch of an obstacle. When the pinch detection device 50 detects the pinch of an obstacle, the voltage of the detection unit 53 becomes equal to or lower than the determination voltage. Therefore, when the voltage of the detection unit 53 is equal to or lower than the determination voltage, an affirmative determination is made in step 7 and the process proceeds to step 2. As a result, the back door 5 is switched from the closing direction to the opening direction. On the other hand, if the voltage of the detection unit 53 is larger than the determination voltage, that is, if the pinch detection device 50 does not detect the pinch of an obstacle, a negative determination is made in step 7 and the process proceeds to step 8 (S8).

In step 8, the ECU 60 refers to the detection signal of the open / close sensor 25 and determines whether or not the back door 5 has reached the fully closed state. When the back door 5 reaches the fully closed state, an affirmative determination is made in step 8 and the process proceeds to step 9 (S9). On the other hand, if the back door 5 has not reached the fully closed state, a negative determination is made in step 8 and the process returns to step 7.

In step 9, the ECU 60 performs the termination process. Specifically, the ECU 60 stops the reverse drive of the drive motor 32. Further, the ECU 60 stops the output of the first pulse signal P1 and the second pulse signal P2.

As described above, the opening / closing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes the pinch detection device 50. The pinch detection device 50 includes a position detection electrode 52 whose distance from the sensor electrode 51 decreases as the back door 5 is closed toward the vehicle body 2. The position detection electrode 52 is capacitively coupled to the sensor electrode 51 when the back door 5 (sensor electrode 51) approaches the vehicle body 2. Therefore, the position detection electrode 52 charges the capacitance Ca formed in the sensor electrode 51 with a charge amount corresponding to the distance from the sensor electrode 51. As a result, of the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51, the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 is canceled. As a result, the vehicle body 2 and the obstacle can be appropriately separated, so that the pinching of the obstacle can be effectively detected.

Further, according to the position detection electrode 52 of the present embodiment, since the vehicle body 2 is not electrostatically shielded, it is not necessary to provide the electrode over the entire area of the sensor electrode 51. Therefore, it is only necessary to arrange the position detection electrodes 52 on a part of the left and right edge portions 4b and 4c of the door opening 3. As a result, it is possible to accurately detect pinching with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sensor voltage is periodically applied to the sensor electrode 51, and the position detection electrode 52 is applied with a detection voltage having a higher potential than that of the sensor electrode 51 and having the same phase as the sensor voltage.

According to this configuration, the capacitance Ca formed on the sensor electrode 51 can be appropriately charged. However, if the capacitance Ca formed in the sensor electrode 51 can be charged so that the capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 is canceled, it does not have to be in phase with the sensor voltage. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, the position detection electrode 52 is provided at a position facing the sensor electrode 51 and close to the hinge component 6 in a state where the back door 5 is closed in the peripheral edge portion 4 of the door opening 3. ing.

Even if the opening angle of the back door 5 is the same, the position closer to the hinge component 6, that is, the upper end portion 5a side of the back door 5 is closer to the sensor electrode 51 than the lower end portion 5b side of the back door 5. Becomes closer. Since the upper end portion 5a side of the back door 5 is relatively closer to the sensor electrode 51 than the lower end portion 5b side of the back door 5, the sensor electrode 51 is located even if the opening angle of the back door 5 is large. And tend to be capacitively coupled. As a result, when the sensor electrode 51 approaches the vehicle body 2, the increase in capacitance Cb caused by the vehicle body 2 can be appropriately canceled. As a result, it is possible to appropriately detect the pinching of obstacles.

In the present embodiment, when the pinch is detected, the back door 5 is moved in the opening direction, but the back door 5 may be stopped.

Further, in the present embodiment, the detection unit 53 included in the pinch detection device 50 detects a change in the capacitance formed in the sensor electrode 51. However, the detection unit 53 may further include a function executed by the ECU 60 in the present embodiment, that is, a function of determining whether or not an obstacle is sandwiched based on a change in capacitance.

Although the opening / closing system according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing system has been described, but the pinch detection device itself applied to the opening / closing system also functions as a part of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the method of detecting the pinching of an obstacle by the back door has been described, but it can be applied not only to the back door but also to various opening / closing bodies that open / close the opening of the vehicle body. For example, it may be a trunk lid, a side door, or the like. Further, the opening / closing body may have a structure that swings around the hinge component as well as a structure that slides. Further, the opening / closing body is not limited to the door, and may be a door window, a sunroof, or the like. Further, the pinch detection device may be applied not only to the opening / closing system having an automatic opening / closing function but also to the opening / closing system having an assist function for assisting the operating force on the opening / closing body.

1 Automobile 2 Body 3 Door opening 4 Peripheral part 5 Back door (opening and closing body)
6 Hinge parts 10 Open / close system 20 Open / close switch 30 Open / close mechanism 31 Shaft body 32 Drive motor 50 Pinching detection device 51 Sensor electrode 52 Position detection electrode 53 Detection unit 60 ECU

Claims (4)

In the pinch detection device that detects the pinch of obstacles by the opening and closing body that opens and closes the opening of the car body
Provided on one of the peripheral portion and the closing member of the opening, and the sensor electrode sensor voltage Ru is applied,
Provided on the other periphery and the closing member of the opening, the opening and closing body Ri is small distance between the sensor electrode as closed toward the vehicle body, the detection voltage of the high potential than the sensor voltage a position sensing electrode Ru been applied,
It has a detection unit that detects a change in capacitance formed on the sensor electrode in order to detect the pinching of the obstacle.
The position detection electrode is a pinch detection device that charges the capacitance formed in the sensor electrode with a charge amount that increases as the distance from the sensor electrode decreases. To the sensor electrode, the sensor voltage is periodically applied,
Wherein the position sensing electrodes, pinch detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection voltage of the sensor electrode and the same phase are applied. The opening / closing body is opened / closed by attaching a base end portion to the vehicle body via a hinge component and swinging the open end portion side.
The sensor electrodes are provided at the side ends on both sides of the opening / closing body from the base end side to the open end side, respectively.
The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the position detection electrode faces the sensor electrode in a state where the opening / closing body is closed in the peripheral edge of the opening, and is provided at a position close to the hinge component, respectively. Pinching detection device. An opening and closing mechanism that automatically opens and closes the opening and closing body provided at the opening of the car body,
The pinch detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which detects the pinch of an obstacle by the opening / closing body.
Opening and closing system with.

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