APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPENING-AND-CLOSING MEMBER FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110016794A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamiya, Noriyuki, Nishikibe, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/359
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/68 by sensing the position of the detent
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an opening-and-closing member for a vehicle includes: a latch mechanism; a driving lever; a neutral position detecting portion detecting that the driving lever is in a predetermined neutral position; and a controlling portion performing a close movement, a release movement, and a returning movement after the close movement or the release movement, the controlling portion including a stress relaxing portion executing a driving of the driving lever in a reverse direction toward the neutral position after the close movement in a case of a detection failure, a prohibiting portion executing a prohibition of the driving of the driving lever after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction, and a cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the driving lever in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than a predetermined plural number of times.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an opening-and-closing member for a vehicle comprising:

a latch mechanism;

a driving lever provided to be interlocked with the latch mechanism;

a neutral position detecting portion detecting that the driving lever is in a predetermined neutral position for releasing the latch mechanism; and

a controlling portion performing a close movement, in which the driving lever is driven in one direction from the neutral position so as to hold the opening-and-closing member by means of the latch mechanism, a release movement, in which the driving lever is driven in the other direction from the neutral position in response to a detection of a request for a movement of the opening-and-closing member so as to release the holding of the opening-and-closing member by means of the latch mechanism, and a returning movement, in which the driving lever is driven in a reverse direction so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position after the close movement or the release movement, the controlling portion including

a stress relaxing portion executing a driving of the driving lever in a reverse direction toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the close movement, in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position,

a prohibiting portion executing a prohibition of the driving of the driving lever after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction by means of the stress relaxing portion, in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, and

a cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the driving lever by means of the prohibiting portion in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than a predetermined plural number of times.

2. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined plural number of times is set to be the number of times of continuous detection failures where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, or the accumulated number of times of detection failures within a predetermined time where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position.

3. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 1 further including:

a latch detecting portion for detecting an unlatched state where the latch mechanism releases the holding of the opening-and-closing member, wherein

in a case where the driving lever is in the neutral position, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state after the driving lever is driven in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a first predetermined time, within which the release movement is estimated to be completed, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started, and wherein

in a state where the driving lever is in a position after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction by means of the stress relaxing portion, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state after the driving lever is driven in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a second predetermined time, which is set to be longer than the first predetermined time, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started.

4. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 2 further including:

a latch detecting portion for detecting an unlatched state where the latch mechanism releases the holding of the opening-and-closing member, wherein

in a case where the driving lever is in the neutral position, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state after the driving lever is driven in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a first predetermined time, within which the release movement is estimated to be completed, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started, and wherein

in a state where the driving lever is in a position after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction by means of the stress relaxing portion, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state after the driving lever is driven in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a second predetermined time, which is set to be longer than the first predetermined time, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started.

5. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the controlling portion includes a memorizing portion for memorizing whether the driving lever is in the neutral position or in the position after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction by means of the stress relaxing portion, the memorizing portion being reset when a power supply to the controlling portion is stopped, and wherein

in a case where the power is re-supplied to the controlling portion, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a second predetermined time, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started.

6. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the controlling portion includes a memorizing portion for memorizing whether the driving lever is in the neutral position or in the position after the driving of the driving lever in the reverse direction by means of the stress relaxing portion, the memorizing portion being reset when a power supply to the controlling portion is stopped, and wherein

in a case where the power is re-supplied to the controlling portion, the controlling portion completes the release movement when the latch detecting portion detects that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched state in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the opening-and-closing member, or when a time, being longer than a second predetermined time, has elapsed after the driving of the driving lever has started.

7. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 1 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

8. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 2 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

9. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 3 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

10. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 4 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

11. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 5 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

12. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle according to claim 6 further including

a latch detecting portion for detecting a state of the latch mechanism,

a portion for detecting the request for the movement for detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of a vehicle door, wherein

the latch mechanism is configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and the unlatched state for releasing the vehicle door,

when the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, the controlling portion executes a driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executes a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.

13. The apparatus for controlling the opening-and-closing member for the vehicle comprising:

a latch mechanism configured to be switched to a fully-latched state for holding the vehicle door, a half-latched state for half-holding the vehicle door, and an unlatched state for releasing a vehicle door;

a driving lever configured to be interlocked with the latch mechanism, and driven to pivot by a power source;

a neutral position detecting portion detecting that the driving lever is in a predetermined neutral position where the interlocking between the latch mechanism and the driving lever is released;

a latch detecting portion detecting a state of the latch mechanism;

a portion for detecting a request for a movement detecting the request for an opening movement or a closing movement of the vehicle door, and

the controlling portion executing a driving of the power source so as to drive the driving lever in one direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the half-latched state to the fully-latched state, after the driving lever is switched from unlatched state to the half-latched state according to the closing movement or the opening movement of the vehicle door, wherein

when the request for the opening movement or the closing movement of the vehicle door is detected, the controlling portion executes the driving of a power source so as to drive the driving lever in the other direction from the neutral position in order to switch the latch mechanism from the fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state,

after the driving lever is switched to the fully-latched state or the unlatched state the controlling portion executes the driving of the power source so as to return the driving lever to the neutral position,

in a case of a detection failure where the neutral position detecting portion does not detect that the driving lever is in the neutral position, the stress relaxing portion executing a stress relaxing movement for the latch mechanism and the driving lever, in which the power source is driven in the reverse direction so as to pivot the driving lever toward the neutral position for a predetermined time or by a predetermined amount after the latch mechanism is switched from half-latched state to the fully-latched state,

after the stress relaxing movement by means of the stress relaxing portion, the prohibiting portion prohibiting the driving of the power source in response to the detection of the request for the movement of the vehicle door, and wherein

in a case where the number of times of the detection failures is less than the predetermined plural number of times, the cancelling portion cancelling the prohibition of the driving of the power source by means of the prohibiting portion and switching the latch mechanism from fully-latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state.