Patent ID: 12209442

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of a vehicle door handle device according to the present invention will be described.

A vehicle door handle device1of the present embodiment is mounted to a vehicle and is a device for actuating a door handle Provided to a vehicle door2.

The vehicle door2is a riding door through which a vehicle occupant gets in/off, and is openable/closable with respect to uhe vehicle body. The vehicle door2is allowed to be locked by a lock devce3, in a state of being closed with respect to uhe vehicle body. In addition, the vehicle door2is allowed to be opened with respect to the vehicle body, in a state of being unlocked by the lock device3.

The lock device3switches the vehicle door2from a locked state to an unlocked state, for example, in a case where, outside the vehicle, radio communication with a portable key carried by a proper vehicle user is established and a predetermined unlock operation is performed, a case where the proper vehicle user performs an unlock operation via wireless communication outside the vehicle, a case where an opening operation is performed on a door knob inside the vehicle, or a case where a predetermined period (e.g., several tens of seconds or several minutes) has elapsed since occurrence of abnormality such as a vehicle accident described later. In addition, the lock device3switches the vehicle door2from the unlocked state to the locked state, for example, in a case where a lock operation is performed on a lock knob inside the vehicle, a case where the vehicle starts to travel and reaches a predetermined speed (e.g., 20 km/h), a case where, outside the vehicle, radic communication with the portable key carried by the proper vehicle user is established and a predetermined lock operation is performed, a case where a lock operation is performed via wireless communication outside the vehicle, or a case where abnormality of the vehicle described later has occurred.

The vehicle door2to which the door handle is provided may be a rear door, a hood, a door lid for closing a fuel port or a charge port, or the like, instead of the above riding door.

As shown inFIG.1, the vehicle door handle device1includes a door handle10, a door handle actuator20, a control device30, a main power supply40, and an auxiliary power supply50.

The door handle10is an operation portion for performing an opening operation when a person opens the vehicle door2. When an opening operation is performed on the door handle10, the latch state of the vehicle door2with respect to the vehicle body is released so that the vehicle door2is opened. As shown inFIG.2andFIG.3, the door handle10is formed in a handle shape extending in the horizontal direction. The opening operation performed on the door handle10by the person may be, for example, an operation of pulling a later-described lid portion11of the door handle10toward outside of the vehicle with respect to a support portion12by a predetermined force or greater, or a contact operation or a noncontact operation detectable by a touch sensor or the like provided on the back side of the lid portion11of the door handle10.

The vehicle door2has a space2athat accommodates the door handle10, and a surface opening2bthrough which the space2ais opened to outside of the vehicle. The door handle10is provided to the vehicle door2. The door handle10is attached so as to be fitted into the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2, and advances/retracts through the surface opening2bbetween the vehicle-inside space2aand outside of the vehicle. Regarding the advancing/retracting of the door handle10, for example, the entire door handle10may advance/retract in the vehicle-inside/outside direction, or one longitudinal-direction end side of the door handle10may advance/retract in the vehicle-inside/outside direction with the other longitudinal-direction end side thereof as a fulcrum.

The door handle10is shiftable between a stored state and an exposed state. The stored state is a state in which the door handle10is stored in the vehicle door2, i.e., in the space2a, and specifically, a state in which the lid portion11described later closes the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2and thus is flush with the surface of the vehicle door2. The exposed state is a state in which the door handle10is exposed from the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2, and specifically, a state in which the lid portion11pops out from the surface of the vehicle door2toward outside of the vehicle.

In the stored state of the door handle10, a person is not allowed to perform an opening operation on the door handle10and thus is not allowed to open the vehicle door2from outside of the vehicle. On the other hand, in the exposed state of the door handle10, a person is allowed to perform an opening operation on the door handle10and thus is allowed to open the vehicle door2from outside of the vehicle.

The door handle10includes the lid portion11and the support portion12. The lid portion11is a lid for closing the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2in the stored state of the door handle10. The lid portion11is formed in a shape corresponding to the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2. The support portion12is a bar-shaped part supporting the lid portion11. The support portion12is supported so as to advance/retract in the vehicle-inside/outside direction with respect to the vehicle door2.

The door handle10has a so-called pop-up mechanism. That is, in the stored state of the door handle10, when the lid portion11is pressed from outside to inside of the vehicle, the door handle10mechanically advances toward outside of the vehicle so as to shift to the exposed state. On the other hand, in the exposed state of the door handle10, when the lid portion11is pulled toward outside of the vehicle by less than a predetermined force, the door handle10mechanically retracts toward inside of the vehicle so as to shift to the stored state.

The door handle actuator20is an actuator for shifting the door handle10between the stored state and the exposed state. The door handle actuator20is an electric actuator such as a motor actuated by supply of power. The door handle actuator20shifts the door handle10between the stored state and the exposed state by being supplied with power in accordance with a command from the control device30, as described in detail later.

The control device30is a device for controlling shifting of the door handle10between the stored state and the exposed state. The control device30is composed of a microcomputer as a main component. The control device30includes sensor equipment31, an abnormality detection unit32, a control unit33, a drive unit34, a main power supply determination unit35, art auxiliary power supply starting unit36, and a human detection sensor37.

The sensor equipment31includes sensors for outputting signals indicating various states about the vehicle. Examples of the sensor equipment31are an acceleration sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with a forward/backward acceleration of the vehicle, an airbag control device for outputting a signal in accordance with whether or not an airbag is inflated, a sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with whether or not fire has occurred on the vehicle, a sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with whether or not the vehicle is submerged, a vehicle-interior camera for outputting image data taken by imaging inside of the vehicle (in particular, the face of a vehicle driver), and a voltage sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with the voltage across the main power supply40. The sensor equipment31is not limited to one sensor but may include a plurality of sensors. An output signal from the sensor equipment31is supplied to the abnormality detection unit32.

The abnormality detection unit32is a unit for detecting abnormality of the vehicle. The abnormality detection unit32detects abnormality occurring on the vehicle on the basis of a signal from the sensor equipment31. Here, the abnormality of the vehicle refers to an emergency state such as a vehicle accident where a vehicle occupant, including the vehicle driver, is likely to have difficulty in getting off from inside of the vehicle, and examples thereof are a case where the vehicle collides, a case where an in-vehicle airbag is inflated, a case where the vehicle driver loses consciousness, and a case where the power supply voltage of the main power supply40is lowered to less than a prescribed value A detection result of the abnormality detection unit32is supplied to the control unit33, and is also supplied to the auxiliary power supply starting unit36.

The control unit33is a part for controlling the door handle actuator20. The control unit33controls the door handle actuator20on the basis of locking/unlocking of the vehicle door2by the lock device a detection result of the abnormality detection unit32, and the like. In particular, when abnormality of the vehicle is detected by the abnormality detection unit32, the control unit33controls the door handle actuator20so that the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state.

The drive unit34is a part for driving the door handle actuator20. The control unit33supplies a drive signal to the drive unit34so as to control the door handle actuator20. The drive unit34drives the door handle actuator20in accordance with the drive signal from the control unit33.

The main power supply40is a power supply for supplying drive power to the door handle actuator20. The main power supply40is a main battery mounted to the vehicle and also supplies power to lamp equipment and the like other than the door handle actuator20. The main power supply40is connected to the drive unit34. The door handle actuator20is driven by power supplied through the drive unit34from the main power supply40.

The auxiliary power supply50is a power supply for supplying drive power to the door handle actuator20. The auxiliary power supply50has a capacity enough to perform, at least once, shifting of the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state by the door handle actuator20. The auxiliary power supply50is, for example, a small-size lithium ion battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, an ail-solid-state battery, a capacitor, or a manganese battery.

The auxiliary power supply50is connected to the drive unit34via a switch51. The switch51is turned on/off in accordance with whether or not a condition that supply of drive power from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20is to be executed is satisfied. When the condition is satisfied and thus the switch51is turned on, the auxiliary power supply50supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20. The door handle actuator20is driven by power supplied from the auxiliary power supply50under the above condition being satisfied.

The main power supply determination unit35is a part for determining whether or not the main power supply40normally supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20. The main power supply determination unit35determines whether or not the main power supply40is normal, on the basis of, for example, whether or not the power supply voltage of the main power supply40is lowered to less than a predetermined prescribed value or whether or not the system of the main power supply40is disconnected. The determination result of the main power supply determination unit35is supplied to the auxiliary power supply starting unit36.

The auxiliary power supply starting unit36is a part for electrically connecting the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20so as to supply drive power from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20. The auxiliary power supply starting unit36controls on/off of the switch51on the basis of the detection result of the abnormality detection unit32and the determination result of the main power supply determination unit35. Specifically, if abnormality of the vehicle is detected by the abnormality detection unit32and the main power supply40is determined not to normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20by the main power supply determination unit35, the auxiliary power supply starting unit36turns on the switch51so as to execute supply of power from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20.

The human detection sensor37is a sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with whether or not there is a person around the vehicle. The human detection sensor37is, for example, a vehicle-exterior camera for outputting image data taken by imaging outside of the vehicle. The human detection sensor37is located in the vicinity of the vehicle door2, and is provided for detecting, in particular, a person approaching the vehicle door2. An output signal from the human detection sensor37is supplied to the control unit33. The control unit33controls the door handle actuator20on the basis of the signal from the human detection sensor37, as described later.

Hereinafter, operation of the vehicle door handle device1will be described.

First, normal operation of the vehicle door handle device1will be described.

When the vehicle door2is closed with respect to the vehicle body and is in the locked state, normally, the door handle10is in the stored state. The locked state of the vehicle door2is kept until a proper unlock operation is performed outside the vehicle, if no occupant is present in the vehicle. In this locked state, if a person presses the lid portion11of the door handle10from outside of the vehicle toward inside of the vehicle, the door handle10shifts to the exposed state by the pop-up mechanism. However, if a proper unlock operation is not performed, the vehicle door2is kept in the locked state by the lock device3, and therefore the vehicle door2is not opened even when an opening operation is performed on the door handle10in the exposed state. Thus, even if the door handle10is shifted to the exposed state by a person other than the proper vehicle user, the vehicle door is prevented from being opened. In addition, in the above locked state, if the person pulls the lid portion11of the door handle10toward outside of the vehicle, the door handle10returns to the stored state.

On the other hand, in the above locked state, if the proper vehicle user having the portable key performs an unlock operation outside the vehicle, the lock device3unlocks the vehicle door2, and the control unit33controls the door handle actuator20so as to shift the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state. As a result of this processing, the door handle10comes into the exposed state. Then, if an opening operation is performed on the door handle10, the latch state of the vehicle door2is released so that the vehicle door2is opened. The unlocking of the vehicle door2by the lock device3in this case may be performed, before execution of release of the latch state, when an opening operation is performed after the door handle10shifts to the exposed state.

Accordingly, when the vehicle door2is closed with respect to the vehicle body and is in the locked state, if the proper vehicle user unlocks the vehicle door2though an unlock operation, the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state. This allows the proper vehicle user to open the vehicle door2by performing an opening operation on the door handle10just before getting in the vehicle.

Next, emergency operation of the vehicle door handle device1will be described.

In the stored state of the door handle10, the door handle10is stored in the vehicle door2and is flush with the surface of the vehicle door2, without popping out toward outside of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, in a case where vehicle abnormality such as a vehicle accident has occurred, a rescuer may be unable to find the door handle10immediately or to recognize how to perform an opening operation on the door handle10and enable the vehicle door to be opened.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, the door handle10is shifted to the exposed state so as to allow an opening operation, so that the door handle10is readily found and the vehicle door2is readily opened.

That is, in the control device30, the sensor equipment31outputs signals indicating various states about the vehicle. The abnormality detection unit32detects abnormality of the vehicle on the basis of the signals from the sensor equipment31. Specifically, by the abnormality detection unit32, the control device30determines whether or not the airbag is inflated (step S100in a routine shown inFIG.4) and determines whether or not the vehicle driver is in danger, e.g., loses consciousness (step S110).

If the airbag is determined to be inflated in step3100or the vehicle driver is determined to be in danger in step3110, next, the control device30determines whether or not the main power supply40normally supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20, by the main power supply determination unit35(step S120).

If she main power supply40is determined to normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20in step S120, next, the control device30determines whether or not there is a person around the vehicle, using the human detection sensor37(step S130). On the other hand, if the main power supply40is determined not to normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20in step S120, next, the control device30turns on the switch51so as to execute supply of power from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20, by the auxiliary power supply starting unit36(step S140).

If presence of a person around the vehicle is detected in step S130or if the switch51is turned on in step S140, next, the control device30determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed since detection of abnormality of the vehicle by the abnormality detection unit32(step S150). The above predetermined period is a period for preventing the lock device3from switching the vehicle door2from the locked state to the unlocked state or preventing the door handle actuator20from shifting the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state immediately after occurrence of abnormality of the vehicle, and is set to several tens of seconds or several minutes, for example.

If the predetermined period is determined to have elapsed since occurrence of vehicle abnormality in step S150, next, the lock device3unlocks the vehicle door2(step S160) and she control unit33controls the door handle actuator20so as so shift the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state (step S170).

In this way, in the vehicle door handle device1, in a case where abnormality has occurred on the vehicle, e.g., the airbag is inflated or the vehicle driver loses consciousness, the vehicle door2is unlocked and the door handle10is shifted from the stored state to the exposed state.

If the door handle10is in the exposed state, even a person who does not knows the structure of the door handle10is more likely to find the door handle10as compared to a case where the door handle10is in the stored state. In addition, for shifting the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state, a person outside the vehicle need not press the door handle10toward inside of the vehicle. Therefore, even a person who does not recognize how to operate the door handle10in the stored state so as to be shifted to the exposed state visually recognizes the door handle10in the exposed state without pressing the door handle10toward inside of the vehicle.

Further, if the vehicle door2is unlocked and the door handle10is in the exposed state, a person outside the vehicle easily understands how to perform an opening operation on the vehicle door2, so that the person outside the vehicle jg prompted to perform an opening operation on the door handle10popping up from the surface of the vehicle door2toward outside of the vehicle, and through the opening operation, the latch state of the vehicle door2is released and the vehicle door2is opened. Thus, the vehicle door2is readily opened.

Accordingly, with the vehicle door handle device1, the door handle10stored in the vehicle door2is exposed to outside of the vehicle so as to allow an opening operation, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred. This allows a person to readily find the door handle10and readily open the vehicle door2, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred. In this regard, in a case where a vehicle occupant, including the vehicle driver, loses consciousness and rescue is needed, a rescuer readily finds the door handle10and readily opens the vehicle door2, whereby a period until the vehicle occupant is rescued from when the rescuer arrives at the vehicle is shortened.

When the door handle10is exposed to outside of the vehicle so as to allow an opening operation at the time of occurrence of vehicle abnormality as described above, in order to allow a person to more readily recognize the state of the door handle10, a light may be turned on so as to make the door handle10visually conspicuous or a sound may be outputted from a speaker or the like so as to let the person aurally recognize the state of the door handle10.

In the vehicle door handle device1, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40normally supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20, drive power is supplied from the main power supply40to the door handle actuator20so that the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state. On the other hand, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40does not normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20, the auxiliary power supply50is connected to the door handle actuator20and drive power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20so that the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state.

Therefore, for example, even in a case where, due to a vehicle accident or the like, the main power supply40fails or the system of the main power supply40is disconnected, the door handle actuator20is driven using the auxiliary power supply50, thus ensuring that the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state and the vehicle door2is opened.

When abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40normally supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20, operation is performed such that, after presence or a person around the vehicle is detected, drive power is supplied from the main power supply40to the door handle actuator20so that the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state. In this configuration, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, even if the main power supply40normally supplies drive power to the door handle actuator20, the door handle10is kept in the stored state until presence of a person around the vehicle is detected.

Therefore, after abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40is normal, the door handle10is prevented from shifting to the exposed state when no person is present around the vehicle. Thus, shifting of the door handle10from the stored state to the exposed state is performed only at a necessary timing when there is a person outside the vehicle to perform an opening operation.

In a case where the main power supply40does not normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20, there is a possibility that the human detection sensor37does not normally operate due to failure of the main power supply40or the like. Accordingly, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40does not normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20, drive power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply50to the door handle actuator20irrespective of whether or not presence of a person around the vehicle is detected, and thus the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state.

Therefore, when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, if the main power supply40does not normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator20, the door handle10is immediately shifted from the stored state to the exposed state, using the auxiliary power supply50. Thus, occurrence of an event where the door handle10is not shifted from the stored state to the exposed state because the human detection sensor37does not normally operate, is avoided.

Even when abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, the vehicle door2is locked and the door handle10is kept in the stored state, until the predetermined period has elapsed since the occurrence of abnormality. Then, after elapse of the predetermined period, the vehicle door2is unlocked and the door handle10shifts from the stored state to the exposed state. In this way, a phenomenon in which the vehicle door2is unlocked and the door handle10comes into the exposed state immediately after occurrence of abnormality of the vehicle, is avoided, thus preventing a situation in which, immediately after occurrence of abnormality as in a case where a traveling vehicle collides, for example, the vehicle door2becomes likely to be unintentionally opened due to the collision.

After abnormality of the vehicle has occurred, a person may be allowed to unlock the vehicle door2even before the predetermined period has elapsed. For this purpose, an emergency release button or the like operable by a person for unlocking the vehicle door2may be provided to the door handle10or the like.

In the above embodiment, the stored state of the door handle10is the state in which the door handle10is stored in the vehicle door2and also the lid portion11of the door handle10closes the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2and thus is flush with the surface of the vehicle door2. In addition, the exposed state of the door handle10is the state in which the lid portion11pops up from the surface of the vehicle door2toward outside of the vehicle so that the door handle10is exposed from the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The stored state of the door handle10may be any state in which the door handle10is stored in the vehicle door2so as not to allow a person to perform an opening operation, and the exposed state of the door handle10may be any state in which the door handle10is exposed from the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2so as to allow a person to perform an opening operation. For example, the door handle10may be provided in a fixed state on the back side relative to the surface opening2bof the vehicle door2, and a lid for opening/closing the surface opening2bmay be provided. Then, a state in which the lid closes the surface opening2bmay be defined as the stored state of the door handle10, and a state in which the lid is opened from the surface opening2bmay be defined as the exposed state of the door handle10.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment and the modifications described above, and various changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

This application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-140540 filed in Japan on Aug. 30, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.