Patent Publication Number: US-11028634-B2

Title: Manipulation detecting device for vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a manipulation detecting device for a vehicle. 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-213206 describes a vehicle window sensor including a sensor electrode and a capacitive sensor. The sensor electrode is disposed in a window glass of a vehicle. The capacitive sensor detects the capacitance between the sensor electrode and the body of the vehicle. The vehicle window sensor detects the proximity of the user to the vehicle based on a change in the capacitance and then permits automatic unlocking and opening of the door. 
     However, the capacitance, which is detected by the vehicle window sensor, may also change when the user, for example, leans on the window glass. This may cause the vehicle window sensor to open the door when undesired. 
     The problem is not limited to the vehicle window sensor, which operates the door in response to the proximity of the user to the vehicle, but is generally common in manipulation detecting devices for vehicles as well. A manipulation detecting device is manipulated by the user to operate an opening-closing body of a vehicle. 
     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a manipulation detecting device for a vehicle capable of preventing an opening-closing body from being operated due to a false detection of a user manipulation. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a manipulation detecting device for a vehicle is provided. The manipulating detecting device includes a sensor electrode that is configured to have a capacitance that increases as a detection target approaches the sensor electrode and circuitry that is configured to selectively open and close an opening-closing body of a vehicle by controlling an actuator. A determination value that is used to determine proximity of the detection target to the sensor electrode is a first proximity determination value. A determination value greater than the first proximity determination value is a second proximity determination value. The circuitry is configured to selectively open and close the opening-closing body when the opening-closing body is in a stopped state and the capacitance of the sensor electrode is greater than or equal to the first proximity determination value and smaller than the second proximity determination value. 
     If the user manipulates the manipulation detecting device for a vehicle normally, the user can maintain a predetermined distance between a part of his or her body and the manipulation detecting device. However, when the manipulation detecting device is not manipulated normally as in a case in which the user leans on the manipulation detecting device, the user may not be able to maintain the predetermined distance between a part of his or her body and the manipulation detecting device. Specifically, the distance between a part of his or her body and the manipulation detecting device tends to be shorter than the aforementioned predetermined distance. 
     Thus, the manipulation detecting device selectively opens and closes the opening-closing body when the capacitance of the sensor electrode is greater than or equal to the first proximity determination value and smaller than the second proximity determination value. In other words, when the detection target is excessively close to the main electrode, that is, when the capacitance of the sensor electrode is greater than or equal to the second proximity determination value, the manipulation detecting device for a vehicle restricts operation of the opening-closing body. Thus, the manipulation detecting device can prevent the opening-closing body from being operated when the manipulation detecting device is not manipulated normally. That is, the manipulation detecting device prevents the opening-closing body from being operated due to a false detection of a user manipulation. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure may be understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle including a manipulation detecting device for a vehicle according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a vehicle door of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the manipulation detecting device for a vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart representing a procedure executed by a control circuit to selectively open and close a vehicle door; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart representing a procedure executed by the control circuit to stop the vehicle door; 
         FIG. 6  is a timing diagram representing changes in capacitance caused by the user manipulating the manipulation detecting device for a vehicle to open the vehicle door; and 
         FIG. 7  is a timing diagram representing changes in capacitance caused by the user manipulating the manipulation detecting device for a vehicle to stop the vehicle door. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A manipulation detecting device for a vehicle (hereinafter, also referred to as a detecting device) according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an opening  2   a  is provided in a side section of a body  2  of a vehicle  1  such as an automobile. A sliding vehicle door  3  is mounted in the side section of the body  2  as an example of an opening-closing body and selectively opens and closes the opening  2   a  by moving in the vehicle front-rear direction. The vehicle door  3  has a substantially bag-like door body  4  and a window glass  5 . The door body  4  configures a lower section of the vehicle door  3 . The window glass  5  selectively proceeds and retreats from the door body  4  in the up-down direction. A door lock  6  is installed in the door body  4  to selectively lock and unlock the vehicle door  3  when the vehicle door  3  is closed. 
     A door driving unit  11  is installed in the door body  4 , for example, of the vehicle door  3 . The door driving unit  11  is configured mainly by an electric drive source such as an electric motor and mechanically linked with the body  2  through a non-illustrated door driving mechanism to selectively open and close the vehicle door  3 . In the present embodiment, the door driving unit  11  corresponds to an example of an actuator for selectively opening and closing the vehicle door  3 . 
     The vehicle door  3  also has a door lock driving unit  12 , for example, adjacently to the door lock  6 . The door lock driving unit  12  is configured mainly by an electric drive source such as an electric motor. The door lock driving unit  12  is mechanically linked with the door lock  6  through any suitable lock driving mechanism to selectively lock and unlock the door lock  6 . 
     The door driving unit  11  and the door lock driving unit  12  are both electrically connected to a door ECU  10 . The door ECU  10  is configured by a microcomputer or the like and controls the door driving unit  11  and the door lock driving unit  12  independently from each other. When the door ECU  10  receives an opening command signal from an electronic key (a portable device) and a detecting device  30 , as will be described later, the door ECU  10  drives the door driving unit  11  to open the vehicle door  3 . If the door ECU  10  receives a closing command signal from the electronic key and the detecting device  30 , the door ECU  10  drives the door driving unit  11  to close the vehicle door  3 . If the door ECU  10  receives a stopping command signal from the electronic key and the detecting device  30 , the door ECU  10  stops the door driving unit  11  to stop the vehicle door  3  as the vehicle door  3  is opening or closing. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , substantially plate-like outer door panel  21  and inner door panel  22  are each formed by, for example, a metal plate. An open end of the outer door panel  21  and an open end of the inner door panel  22  are joined to each other such that the door body  4  is molded substantially in a bag-like shape. A door trim  23  is attached to the inner door panel  22  as a decoration in the passenger compartment of the vehicle  1 . The detecting device  30  is disposed above the door trim  23  and detects the manipulation by the user from outside the vehicle. 
     The detecting device  30  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the detecting device  30  includes a sensor electrode  31 , a detection circuit  34 , a control circuit  35 , a substrate  36 , and a casing  37 . The sensor electrode  31  extends in the opening-closing direction D of the vehicle door  3 . The detection circuit  34  is electrically connected to the sensor electrode  31 . The control circuit  35  outputs a control signal to the door ECU  10 . The sensor electrode  31 , the detection circuit  34 , and the control circuit  35  are mounted on the substrate  36 . The casing  37  accommodates the components of the detecting device  30 . The longitudinal direction of the sensor electrode  31  coincides with the opening-closing direction D of the vehicle door  3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the detecting device  30  (the casing  37 ) has an elongated and substantially parallelepiped shape. The longitudinal dimension of the casing  37  is smaller than the front-rear dimension of the window glass  5  of the vehicle door  3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the sensor electrode  31  has a substantially rectangular plate-like shape. It is preferable that the sensor electrode  31  have a dimension in the opening-closing direction D that corresponds to the dimension of the hand of the user (for example, several centimeters to several tens of centimeters). 
     The sensor electrode  31  configures, together with a detection target close to the sensor electrode  31 , a capacitor temporarily. The capacitance of the sensor electrode  31  varies depending on the position of the sensor electrode  31  relative to the detection target. The closer to the sensor electrode  31  the detection target, the greater the capacitance becomes. Also, the sensor electrode  31  is arranged such that the detection range enlarges to the outer side of the vehicle, so that, as the detection target approaches the sensor electrode  31  from outside the vehicle, the capacitance increases. Hereinafter, the capacitance, which varies depending on the position of the sensor electrode  31  and the position of the detection target relative to each other, will be referred to as the capacitance Cv of the sensor electrode  31  or the capacitance Cv. 
     In the present embodiment, a proximity determination value Cth 1  and a contact determination value Cth 2  are set for the detecting device  30 . The proximity determination value Cth 1  is an example of the first proximity determination value, with reference to which a determination that the detection target is in proximity of the sensor electrode  31  is made. The contact determination value Cth 2  is an example of the second proximity determination value, which is greater than the proximity determination value Cth 1 . 
     Specifically, the detecting device  30  determines that the detection target is in proximity of the sensor electrode  31  if the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1  and that the detection target is not in proximity of the sensor electrode  31  if the capacitance Cv is smaller than the proximity determination value Cth 1 . Also, the detecting device  30  determines that the detection target is closest to the sensor electrode  31  if the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2 . In the present embodiment, the detecting device  30  is arranged to the inner side of the window glass  5 . Therefore, when a determination that the detection target is closest to the sensor electrode  31  is made, the detection target is in proximity of the sensor electrode  31  while contacting the window glass  5 . Specifically, it is preferable to determine the proximity determination value Cth 1  and the contact determination value Cth 2  with the sensitivity of the detecting device  30  taken into consideration. 
     The detection circuit  34  outputs an oscillation signal to the sensor electrode  31 , thus causing the sensor electrode  31  to output a signal corresponding to the capacitance Cv. The signal output from the sensor electrode  31  is then AD converted (analog-digital converted) by the detection circuit  34 . The detection circuit  34  then outputs the signal to the control circuit  35 . 
     The control circuit  35  performs various types of calculation procedures based on the signal output from the detection circuit  34  and outputs a control signal corresponding to the result of the calculation procedures to the door ECU  10 . Specifically, in correspondence with the capacitance Cv, the control circuit  35  outputs an opening command signal for opening the vehicle door  3 , a closing command signal for closing the vehicle door  3 , and a stopping command signal for stopping the vehicle door  3  to the door ECU  10 . In this regard, the control circuit  35  of the present embodiment corresponds to an example of a control section for selectively opening and closing the opening-closing body. 
     When manipulation by the user changes the capacitance Cv in a manner satisfying specific conditions, the control circuit  35  of the detecting device  30  outputs the opening command signal, the closing command signal, or the stopping command signal to the door ECU  10 . 
     The conditions for outputting the opening command signal, the closing command signal, and the stopping command signal from the control circuit  35  to the door ECU  10  will hereafter be described. 
     In the present embodiment, the detecting device  30  is disposed at the window glass  5  of the vehicle door  3 . In this case, the capacitance Cv may change if the user leans on the vehicle door  3 . In a detecting device of a comparative example, an opening command signal or a closing command signal is output if the condition that the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1  is satisfied. This may erroneously open or close the vehicle door  3  when the user leans on the vehicle door  3 . However, if the user elaborately brings his or her hand close to the detecting device  30  (the sensor electrode  31 ), he or she can do so without contacting the window glass  5 . 
     Therefore, the control circuit  35  outputs the opening command signal or the closing command signal when the condition that the hand of the user, for example, remains close to the sensor electrode  31  continuously for a certain amount of time is satisfied. Specifically, the control circuit  35  outputs the opening command signal or the closing command signal if the three conditions described below remain satisfied continuously for a first determination time Tth 1 . The three conditions include first, second, and third conditions. The first condition is that the vehicle door  3  is in a stopped state. The second condition is that the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1 . The third condition is that the capacitance Cv is smaller than the contact determination value Cth 2 . The first determination time Tth 1  may be determined as needed with the manipulability for the user taken into consideration and thus be approximately one second, by way of example. 
     On the other hand, if the vehicle door  3  is opening or closing and the capacitance Cv remains greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  continuously for a second determination time Tth 2 , the detecting device  30  outputs the stopping command signal. In other words, the detecting device  30  stops the vehicle door  3  if the hand of the user contacts the window glass  5  continuously and remains close to the sensor electrode  31 . The second determination time Tth 2  is shorter than the first determination time Tth 1  and may be, by way of example, approximately 0.5 seconds. 
     Next, with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 4 , the procedure executed by the control circuit  35  to selectively open and close the vehicle door  3  will be described. The procedure is carried out at predetermined control cycles when the vehicle door  3  is located at a full-open position or a full-closed position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the control circuit  35  obtains the capacitance Cv (Step S 11 ). The control circuit  35  then determines whether the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1  (Step S 12 ). If the capacitance Cv is smaller than the proximity determination value Cth 1  (Step S 12 : NO), that is, the hand of the user is not in proximity of the sensor electrode  31 , the control circuit  35  ends the procedure. 
     In contrast, if the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1  (Step S 12 : YES), that is, the hand of the user is in proximity of the sensor electrode  31 , the control circuit  35  determines whether the capacitance Cv is smaller than the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 13 ). If the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 13 : NO), that is, the user leans on the window glass  5 , for example, the control circuit  35  ends the procedure. In contrast, if the capacitance Cv is smaller than the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 13 : YES), that is, the hand of the user does not contact the window glass  5 , the control circuit  35  obtains a first elapsed time Te 1  (Step S 14 ). The first elapsed time Te 1  is the time that has elapsed since an initial positive determination is made in Step S 13 . The first elapsed time Te 1  is thus updated each time Step S 14  is carried out until the procedure shown in  FIG. 4  is ended. 
     Subsequently, the control circuit  35  determines whether the first elapsed time Te 1  is longer than or equal to the first determination time Tth 1  (Step S 15 ). If the first elapsed time Te 1  is smaller than the first determination time Tth 1  (Step S 15 : NO), the control circuit  35  performs Step S 11 . In contrast, if the first elapsed time Te 1  is longer than or equal to the first determination time Tth 1  (Step S 15 : YES), the control circuit  35  determines whether the vehicle door  3  is located at the full-closed position (Step S 16 ). If the vehicle door  3  is located at the full-closed position (Step S 16 : YES), the control circuit  35  outputs the opening command signal to the door ECU  10  to open the vehicle door  3  (Step S 17 ). In contrast, when the vehicle door  3  is located at the full-open position (Step S 16 : NO), the control circuit  35  outputs the closing command signal to the door ECU  10  to close the vehicle door  3  (Step S 18 ). 
     Next, with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 5 , the procedure executed by the control circuit  35  to stop the vehicle door  3  while the vehicle door  3  is opening or closing will be described. The procedure is carried out at predetermined control cycles while the vehicle door  3  is opening or closing. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the control circuit  35  obtains the capacitance Cv (Step S 31 ). The control circuit  35  then determines whether the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 32 ). If the capacitance Cv is smaller than the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 32 : NO), the control circuit  35  ends the procedure. In contrast, if the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  (Step S 32 : YES), the control circuit  35  obtains a second elapsed time Te 2  (Step S 33 ). The second elapsed time Te 2  is the time that has elapsed since an initial positive determination is made in Step S 32 . The second elapsed time Te 2  is thus updated each time Step S 33  is carried out until the procedure of  FIG. 5  is ended. 
     Subsequently, the control circuit  35  determines whether the second elapsed time Te 2  is longer than or equal to a second determination time Tth 2  (Step S 34 ). If the second elapsed time Te 2  is smaller than the second determination time Tth 2  (Step S 34 : NO), the control circuit  35  carries out Step S 31 . In contrast, if the second elapsed time Te 2  is longer than or equal to the second determination time Tth 2  (Step S 34 : YES), the control circuit  35  outputs the stopping command signal to the door ECU  10  (Step S 35 ). Then, the control circuit  35  ends the procedure. 
     Operation of the present embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     First, with reference to  FIG. 6 , the case in which the vehicle door  3  is located at the full-closed position and the user manipulates the detecting device  30  to open the vehicle door  3  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , at a first point in time t 11 , the user starts to manipulate the detecting device  30  and the hand of the user enters the detection range of the sensor electrode  31 . Therefore, after the first point in time t 11 , the capacitance Cv gradually becomes greater. Then, at a second point in time t 12 , the hand of the user is approaching the sensor electrode  31  and the capacitance Cv becomes greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1 . Subsequently, at a third point in time t 13 , the approach of the user&#39;s hand comes to an end. After the third point in time t 13 , the capacitance Cv remains unchanged. At a fourth point in time t 14 , the time that has elapsed after the second point in time t 12  becomes equal to the first determination time Tth 1 . This satisfies the conditions for opening the vehicle door  3 . Specifically, the capacitance Cv remains greater than or equal to the proximity determination value Cth 1  and smaller than the contact determination value Cth 2  during the period from the second point in time t 12  to the fourth point in time t 14 . In other words, the conditions for opening the vehicle door  3  cannot be satisfied at the fourth point in time t 14  if even one of the above-described three conditions is not satisfied in the period from the second point in time t 12  to the fourth point in time t 14 . 
     Subsequently, with reference to  FIG. 7 , the case in which the vehicle door  3  is opening or closing and the user manipulates the detecting device  30  to stop the vehicle door  3  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , at a first point in time t 21 , the user starts to manipulate the detecting device  30  and the hand of the user enters the detection range of the sensor electrode  31 . Therefore, after the first point in time t 21 , the capacitance Cv gradually becomes greater. Then, at a second point in time t 22 , the hand of the user is approaching the sensor electrode  31  and the capacitance Cv becomes greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2 . Subsequently, at a third point in time t 23 , the time that has elapsed after the second point in time t 22  becomes equal to the second determination time Tth 2 . This satisfies the condition for stopping the vehicle door  3 . Specifically, the capacitance Cv remains greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  during the period from the second point in time t 22  to the third point in time t 23 . 
     The present embodiment has the following advantages. 
     (1) If the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2 , which is greater than the proximity determination value Cth 1 , the detecting device  30  restricts the output of the opening command signal or the closing command signal. This allows the detecting device  30  to prohibit the opening and closing of the vehicle door  3  when the user inadvertently touches the window glass  5  by hand or if the vehicle is being washed and the water hits the window glass  5 . 
     (2) The detecting device  30  is allowed to selectively facilitate and hamper the opening and closing of the vehicle door  3  depending on the setting of the first determination time Tth 1 . That is, the first determination time Tth 1  may be set in a manner changing the accuracy of detecting manipulation by the user. 
     (3) When the capacitance Cv remains greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2  continuously for the second determination time Tth 2  or longer, the detecting device  30  outputs the stopping command signal to the vehicle door  3 . The second determination time Tth 2  is shorter than the first determination time Tth 1 . This allows the detecting device  30  to stop the vehicle door  3  quickly if the user intends to stop the opening or closing of the vehicle door  3 . Also, the detecting device  30  does not output the stopping command signal simply because the capacitance Cv is greater than or equal to the contact determination value Cth 2 . Therefore, when the user inadvertently brings his or her hand close to the detecting device  30 , the stopping of the vehicle door  3  is avoided. 
     The present embodiment may be modified as follows. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other. 
     In Step S 32  in  FIG. 5 , the contact determination value Cth 2 , to which the capacitance Cv is compared, may be replaced by the proximity determination value Cth 1 . Also, in Step S 34  in  FIG. 5 , the second determination time Tth 2 , to which the second elapsed time Te 2  is compared, may be replaced by the first determination time Tth 1 . 
     The first determination time Tth 1  and the second determination time Tth 2  may both be set to an appropriate value according to preference of the user. 
     The user may manipulate the detecting device  30  not only by hand but also using any part of his or her body, such as the arm or shoulder. The user may also use an object that he or she carries by hand to manipulate the detecting device  30 . 
     The detecting device  30  does not necessarily have to be disposed in the vehicle door  3 . The detecting device  30  may be arranged in, for example, the body  2  of the vehicle  1 . 
     The opening-closing body may be a swing door or a back door, each as an example of the vehicle door  3 . Alternatively, the opening-closing body may be the window glass  5 , which is driven and selectively opened and closed by an actuator. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the sensor electrode  31  in a manner aligned with the opening-closing body in the opening-closing direction D of the opening-closing body. 
     The control circuit  35  may be circuitry including 1) one or more processors that execute at least part of various processes according to a computer program (software), 2) one or more dedicated hardware circuits such application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) that execute at least part of various processes, or 3) a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memories store program codes or commands configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory, or storage medium, includes any type of medium that is accessible by general-purpose computers and dedicated computers.