The present invention relates to an opening/closing body controller that controls movement of an opening/closing body.
A known power window device includes an entrapment prevention device that includes a capacitive electrostatic sensor on a window glass and detects an object entrapped by the window glass based on an output from the sensor electrode (refer to patent document 1). When an object approaches or contacts the sensor electrode, the capacitance of a sensor electrode increases. When the capacitance of the sensor electrode becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value while the window glass rises, the entrapment prevention device lowers the window glass to prevent object entrapment.
The sensor electrode of the power window device needs to detect entrapment of an object by the window glass and is thus usually arranged at the upper end of the window glass. For example, when the window glass reaches the fully-closed position, that is, when the window glass contacts a door frame, impact is applied to the sensor electrode. Further, vibration of a vehicle body is applied to the sensor electrode when the vehicle is traveling. The accumulation of damage resulting from such impact and vibration may break the sensor electrode.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening/closing body controller that detects a break in a sensor electrode.
One aspect of the present invention is an opening/closing body controller that compares an entrapment determination threshold value with a detection signal output from a capacitive sensor electrode arranged on an end of an opening/closing body to determine entrapment of an object by the opening/closing body that is moving and reverse or stop movement of the opening/closing body when entrapment is detected. The opening/closing body controller includes a position detector that detects a position of the opening/closing body, a break threshold value used to determine occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode, and a break determination unit that determines the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode based on the detection signal of the sensor electrode and the break threshold value. When the opening/closing body is located in a region where entrapment determination is not performed, the break determination unit determines the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode using the break threshold value.
In this configuration, the opening/closing body controller includes the break threshold value used to determine a break in the sensor electrode from the capacitance of the sensor electrode. Thus, the break determination unit monitors a break in the sensor electrode by comparing the capacitance of the sensor electrode with the break threshold value. This allows for detection of a break in the sensor electrode. Further, this configuration performs disconnection determination in the region where entrapment determination is not performed. Thus, the determination of whether to perform entrapment determination or break determination can be switched in accordance with the position of the opening/closing body.
It is preferred that the opening/closing body be moved to close an opening of a metal frame and that the region where the entrapment determination is not performed correspond to a region where the metal frame covers the sensor electrode. In this configuration, when the metal door frame covers the sensor electrode, the metal door frame affects and greatly changes the capacitance of the sensor electrode. In the present embodiment, by performing break determination in the region where the metal door frame covers the sensor electrode, a break in the sensor electrode can be detected when the capacitance is less than the break threshold value without depending on changes in the capacitance that would result from the influence of the door frame. This is advantageous for detecting a break in the sensor electrode with further accuracy.
It is preferred that the region where the entrapment determination is not performed be proximate to where the opening/closing body becomes closed. In this configuration, the region proximate to where the opening/closing body becomes closed is easily affected by the metal door frame. Thus, when the capacitance of the sensor electrode is less than the break threshold value in the region, the sensor electrode is highly likely to have been broken. This is advantageous for detecting a break in the sensor electrode with further accuracy.
It is preferred that the break threshold value be set to be less than a capacitance that is output from the sensor electrode under a situation in which an object is not being detected when the opening/closing body is located in the region where the entrapment determination is not performed. In this configuration, the value of the break threshold value is set to be a suitable value that is necessary for performing break determination.
It is preferred that the break determination unit determine a position where the break has occurred from a value of a capacitance that is output from the sensor electrode. In this configuration, when a break occurs in the sensor electrode, the position where the sensor electrode is broken can be determined.
Some aspects of the present invention detect a break in the sensor electrode. Other embodiments and advantages of the present invention are understood from the following description together with the drawings that illustrate the examples of technical ideas of the present invention.
One embodiment of an opening/closing body controller will now be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The controller 9 is directly or indirectly connected to a position detector 14 that detects the current position of the window glass 3 (for example, current height of upper end 3a of window glass 3). The controller 9 estimates the current position of the window glass 3 based on a position signal Sp provided from the position detector 14. It is preferred that the position detector 14 be, for example, a pulse sensor.
The power window device 1 includes an opening/closing body controller 17 having an entrapment prevention function to prevent entrapment of an object (for example, human body) by the window glass 3. The opening/closing body controller 17 of the present embodiment determines entrapment of an object by the window glass 3 based on a detection signal Sv output from a capacitive sensor electrode 18, which is arranged at an end of the window glass 3, and reverses or stops movement of the window glass 3 when detecting entrapment.
In the present embodiment, the sensor electrode 18 is arranged at the end of the window glass 3 in a closing direction of the window glass 3. In the illustrated example, the sensor electrode 18 is arranged at the upper end of the window glass 3 (entire upper end surface 3a). The sensor electrode 18 detects a capacitance that changes in accordance with the approach of or contact with an object. That is, the sensor electrode 18 can detect an approaching object as well as contact with an object. When an object does not exist nearby, the sensor electrode 18 detects a capacitance having a low value. When an object approaches or contacts the sensor electrode 18, the capacitance becomes high.
The opening/closing body controller 17 includes an entrapment control unit 19 assigned with the entrapment prevention function. The entrapment control unit 19 is arranged in the controller 9. Further, the opening/closing body controller 17 includes an entrapment determination threshold value C1 for an entrapment determination. The entrapment determination threshold value C1 is stored in, for example, a memory (not shown) of the controller 9. The entrapment control unit 19 compares the entrapment determination threshold value C1 with the capacitance (detection signal Sv) that is output from the sensor electrode 18 when the window glass 3 rises. When the capacitance becomes greater than or equal to the entrapment determination threshold value C1, the entrapment control unit 19 determines that entrapment has occurred in the window glass 3 and downwardly reverses the movement direction of the window glass 3 or stops moving the window glass 3 in place.
As shown in
Returning to
The opening/closing body controller 17 includes a break threshold value C2 used to determine that the sensor electrode 18 is broken. It is preferred that the break threshold value C2 be stored in, for example, a memory (not shown) of the controller 9.
The opening/closing body controller 17 includes a break determination unit 21 that determines the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode using the break threshold value C2. The break determination unit 21 is arranged in the controller 9. When the capacitance (detection signal Sv) of the sensor electrode 18 is less than the break threshold value C2, the break determination unit 21 determines that the sensor electrode 18 is broken. Further, when the window glass 3 is located in region E2 where entrapment is not determined, the break determination unit 21 of the present embodiment determines the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode using the break threshold value C2. It is preferred that region E2 where entrapment is not determined, that is, the region where a break in the sensor electrode is detected, be a region where the metal door frame 5 covers the window glass 3, in other words, a region proximate to where the window glass 3 is closed.
The operation of the power window device 1 (entrapment prevention function and break detection function) will now be described with reference to
As shown in
When the window glass 3 moves in the opening direction from the fully-closed position FC, as long as an object does not approach or contact the sensor electrode 18, the output (capacitance) of the sensor electrode 18 gradually decreases. That is, as the window glass 3 opens, the sensor electrode 18 gradually moves away from the metal door frame 5. Thus, the capacitance decreases as the distance increases between the sensor electrode 18 and the door frame 5.
When an open window glass 3 starts to move (rise) in the closing direction and an object approaches or contacts the sensor electrode 18 (upper end 3a of window glass 3), the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 increases to “Cx.” For example, when part of a human body approaches or contacts the sensor electrode 18, the output of the sensor electrode 18 is affected and increased by the human body. When the window glass 3 rises and the entrapment control unit 19 determines that the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 has become greater than or equal to the entrapment determination threshold value C1, the entrapment control unit 19 reverses or stops movement of the window glass 3. This restricts situations in which a finger or the like of a user is entrapped by the window glass 3 when the window glass 3 rises.
In
When the conductive sensor electrode 18 breaks, the sensor electrode 18 opens. Thus, the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 takes a value “Ck,” which is less than value “C0” when an object does not approach or contact the sensor electrode 18. For example, the full length of the sensor electrode 18 energized by the controller 9 is shortened by the break. This lowers the output of the sensor electrode 18. When determining that the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 has become less than the break threshold value C2, the break determination unit 21 determines that the sensor electrode 18 is broken. It is preferred that when detecting a break in the sensor electrode 18, the break determination unit 21 use a notification unit (not shown) arranged in the vehicle to notify the user of the break.
Thus, the present embodiment sets the break threshold value C2 to determine the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode 18. Thus, even if the sensor electrode 18 breaks, the break can be detected. Further, when the window glass 3 is fully closed, the sensor electrode 18 is proximate to the metal door frame 5. This limits the influence of external noise on the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18. For example, when the window glass 3 is fully closed, the capacitance varies slightly. Thus, break monitoring in the proximity of the fully-closed position is advantageous for detecting a break in the sensor electrode 18 in a stable manner.
The present embodiment has the advantages described below.
(1) The power window device 1, which determines entrapment using the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 arranged in the window glass 3, includes the break threshold value C2 that determines the occurrence of a break from the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 and monitors the sensor electrode 18 for a break by comparing the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 with the break threshold value C2. Thus, a break in the sensor electrode 18 is detected in the power window device 1 that determines entrapment from the sensor electrode 18. Accordingly, when a break in the sensor electrode is detected, suitable actions can be taken, such as notification of the break and prohibition of the automatic up operation of the window glass 3.
(2) When the window glass 3 is located in region E2 where entrapment is not determined, the break determination unit 21 determines the occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode using the break threshold value C2. Thus, the determination of whether to perform entrapment determination or break determination can be switched properly in accordance with the position (open/closed position) of the window glass 3.
(3) Region E2 where entrapment is not determined, that is, the region where break determination is performed, corresponds to a region where the metal door frame 5 can cover the sensor electrode 18. When the metal door frame 5 covers the sensor electrode 18, the metal door frame 5 affects and greatly changes the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18. In the present embodiment, by performing break determination in the region where the metal door frame 5 covers the sensor electrode 18, a break in the sensor electrode can be detected when the capacitance is less than the break threshold value C2 without depending on changes in the capacitance that would result from the influence of the door frame 5. This is advantageous for detecting a break in the sensor electrode with further accuracy.
(4) Region E2 where entrapment is not determined, that is, the region where break determination is performed, is a region proximate to where the window glass 3 becomes closed. The region proximate to where the window glass 3 becomes closed is easily affected by the metal door frame 5. Thus, when the capacitance of the sensor electrode 18 is less than the break threshold value C2 in region E2, the sensor electrode 18 is highly likely to have been broken. This is advantageous for detecting a break in the sensor electrode with further accuracy.
(5) The break threshold value C2 is set to be less than the capacitance that is output from the sensor electrode 18 under a situation in which an object has not been detected when the window glass 3 is located in region E2. Thus, the value of the break threshold value C2 is set to be a suitable value that is necessary for performing break determination.
(6) The opening/closing body is the window glass 3 of the vehicle door 2. Thus, when entrapment by the window glass 3 is determined from the output of the sensor electrode 18 arranged in the window glass 3, a break in the sensor electrode 18 can be detected.
The embodiment is not limited to the above structure and may be modified as described below.
As shown in
Region E2 where break determination is performed does not have to be limited to the proximity of the fully-closed position FC of the window glass 3 or to the region where the metal door frame 5 covers the sensor electrode 18 and may be changed to another region.
The break threshold value C2 does not have to be fixed and may be variable. In this case, it is preferred that the entrapment determination threshold value C1 be set in accordance with the current value of a capacitance or the surrounding environment when, for example, the power supply of a vehicle goes on.
Further, the entrapment determination threshold value C1 does not have to be fixed and may be variable.
The sensor electrode 18 may be located at any position on the window glass 3. Further, the length of the window glass 3 may be changed.
The opening/closing body is not limited to the window glass 3 and may be changed to various types of moving opening/closing bodies other than the window glass 3.
The entrapment prevention function of the present embodiment does not have to be applied to a vehicle and is applicable to other devices or equipment such as the door of a building.
The break threshold value C2 may be greater than the capacitance Ck of the sensor electrode 18 taken at any position on the window glass 3 when a break in the sensor electrode occurs but entrapment of foreign matter does not occur. In the illustrated example, the break threshold value C2 may be greater than the capacitance C0 of the sensor electrode 18 when the window glass 3 is located at the fully-open position FO and less than the entrapment determination threshold value C1 when there is no break and no entrapment of foreign matter.
The entrapment determination threshold value C1 and the break threshold value C2 may be stored in different memories of the controller 9 or stored in the same memory of the controller 9. The entrapment control unit 19 and the break determination unit 21 may be allocated to different processors of the controller 9 or allocated to the same processor of the controller 9. For example, the same processor of the controller 9 may function as the break determination unit 21 only when the window glass 3 is located in the break determination region E2 and function as the entrapment control unit 19 only when the window glass 3 is located in the entrapment determination region E1 that differs from the break determination region E2, and the threshold value of the processor may switch between the break threshold value C2 and the entrapment determination threshold value C1 in accordance with the position signal Sp of the position detector 14.
Accordingly, some implementations of the present disclosure provide a controller (9) for use with a capacitive entrapment sensor electrode (18) fixedly attached to an opening/closing body (3), a motor (4) that moves the opening/closing body (3), and a position detector (14) that generates a position signal in accordance with a position of the opening/closing body (3). The controller (9) may include one or more processors (19, 21) and one or more memories accessible by the one or more processors. The one or more memories store a first threshold value (C1), a second threshold value (C2) that differs from the first threshold value (C1), a predetermined boundary position (PD) between a fully-open position (FO) and a fully-closed position (FC) of the opening/closing body (3), and a software program executed by the one or more processors. When executing the software program, the one or more processors (19, 21) are configured to determine entrapment of foreign matter by comparing the first threshold value (C1) with the capacitance of the entrapment sensor electrode (18) included in a detection signal (Sv) output from the entrapment sensor electrode (18) when the opening/closing body (3) is located in an entrapment determination region (E1) between the fully-open position (FO) and the boundary position (PD) while the opening/closing body (3) is closing, determine occurrence of a break in the sensor electrode (18) by comparing the second threshold value (C2) with the capacitance of the entrapment sensor electrode (18) when the opening/closing body (3) is located in a break determination region (E2) between the boundary position (PD) and the fully-closed position (FC) while the opening/closing body (3) is closing, and suspend determination of entrapment of foreign matter when the opening/closing body (3) is located in the break determination region (E2). In some implementations, the one or more processors use the first threshold value (C1) and not the second threshold value (C2) when the opening/closing body (3) is located between the fully-open position (FO) and the boundary position (PD), and the one or more processors use the second threshold value (C2) and not the first threshold value (C1) when the opening/closing body (3) is located between the boundary position (PD) and the fully-closed position (FC). In some implementations, when the opening/closing body (3) is located at the fully-closed position (FC), an upper end (3a) of the opening/closing body (3) directly contacts a frame (5) or indirectly contacts the frame (5) by means of an elastic seal element, and the boundary position (PD) is a position immediately preceding the fully-closed position (FC). In some implementations, the second threshold value (C2) is less than the first threshold value (C1).
The subject matter of the present invention may exist in fewer features than all the features of the particular embodiments and modified examples. The scope of the present invention should be determined with all the scopes of the claims and equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-174057 | Sep 2015 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2016/073942 | 8/16/2016 | WO | 00 |