DOOR LATCHING DEVICE AND MOVING BODY MOUNTED WITH SAME

• US 20160153216A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Funahashi, Osamu, HIRAGI, HISAO
• Granted Patent: US 10,480,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/12 Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/80 characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation

Abstract

A door latching device includes a latch motor connection switch, a converter line which includes a converter power supply, a latch motor and a latch. The latch motor connection switch has an input side connected with the converter line, and an output side connected with the latch motor. The latch is caused to perform an opening operation when the latch motor is driven. Based on an instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, the latch motor connection switch is closed, and the converter power supply is activated to step up an input voltage to the converter power supply and output the input voltage to the latch motor connection switch.

Claims

1. A door latching device comprising:

a latch motor connection switch;

a converter line including a converter power supply connected to an input side of the latch motor connection switch;

a latch motor connected to an output side of the latch motor connection switch, and driven when the latch motor connection switch is closed;

a latch caused to perform an opening operation when the latch motor is driven;

a power supply line connected to the input side of the latch motor connection switch and connected in parallel to the converter line; and

a controller configured to detect a voltage of the power supply line so as to activate the converter power supply,

wherein, based on an instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, the latch motor connection switch is closed, the converter power supply is activated so as to step up an input voltage to the converter power supply and output the input voltage to the latch motor connection switch.

2. The door latching device according to claim 1, wherein the converter power supply supplies power to the latch motor in a shorter period than a period in which the instruction for opening the latch is received.

3. The door latching device according to claim 1, wherein

the converter power supply includes functions of a step-up operating and a step-down operating,

when the input voltage to the converter power supply is a threshold or greater, the converter power supply performs the step-down operation, and

when the input voltage to the converter power supply is lower than the threshold, the converter power supply performs the step-up operation.

5. The door latching device according to claim 1, wherein, when an instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation is given in a state where a voltage of the power supply line is lower than a threshold,

the latch motor connection switch is closed based on the instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, and

the converter power supply is activated based on an instruction of the controller.

6. The door latching device according to claim 1, wherein

the converter power supply includes an electricity storage function,

when a power supply instruction to the converter power supply is turned to an ON state, the converter power supply starts charging itself,

when a voltage of the power supply line is a threshold or greater in a state where the power supply instruction to the converter power supply is in the ON state on, the converter power supply operates continuously, and the power supply line supplies power to the latch motor connection switch, and

when the voltage of the power supply line is less than the threshold in a state where the power supply instruction to the converter power supply is in the ON state, the converter power supply stops operating and then receives the instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, the latch motor connection switch is closed, the converter power supply shifts its operation from a stop to an action and the converter power supply steps up power charged to the converter power supply so as to supply the power to the latch motor.

7. The door latching device according to claim 6, wherein the converter power supply includes:

a discharging circuit connected to the latch motor connection switch,

a charging circuit connected in series to the discharging circuit, and

an electricity storage element having one end connected to a connection point between the charging circuit and the discharging circuit.

8. The door latching device according to claim 6, wherein, the vehicle is stopped when the power supply instruction to the converter power supply is turned to an OFF state while the input voltage normally supplies power to the converter power supply, the discharging circuit continues to operate during a predetermined period even after the vehicle is stopped.

9. The door latching device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply line connected to the input side of the latch motor connection switch and connected in parallel to the converter line; and

a controller configured to detect a voltage of the input side of the latch motor connection switch and to activate the converter power supply.

10. The door latching device according to claim 9, wherein, when an instruction for causing the latch to perform the operation is given in a state where the voltage of the input side of the latch motor connection switch is lower than a threshold,

the latch motor connection switch is closed based on the instruction for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, and

the converter power supply is activated based on an instruction of the controller.

4. (canceled)

11. A movable body comprising:

a main body;

a door provided to the main body;

a door opening/closing instructor disposed at the door;

a battery provided to the main body;

a latch motor connection switch;

a converter line including a converter power supply configured to connect the battery and an input side of the latch motor connection switch;

a latch motor connected to an output side of the latch motor connection switch, and driven when the latch motor connection switch is closed;

a latch caused to perform an opening operation when the latch motor is driven;

a power supply line connected to the input side of the latch motor connection switch and connected in parallel to the converter line; and

a controller configured to detect a voltage of the power supply line so as to activate the converter power supply,

wherein, based on an instruction, from the door opening/closing instructor, for causing the latch to perform the opening operation, the latch motor connection switch is closed, and the converter power supply is activated so as to step up an input voltage from the battery to the converter power supply.

12. A movable body comprising:

a main body;

a door provided to the main body;

a door opening/closing instructor disposed at the door;

a battery provided to the main body;

an engine switch provided to the main body;

a latch motor connection switch;

a converter line including a converter power supply which includes an electricity storage element, and configured to connect the battery and an input side of the latch motor connection switch;

a power supply line connecting the battery and the input side of the latch motor connection switch, and connected in parallel to the converter line;

a latch motor connected to an output side of the latch motor connection switch, and driven when the latch motor connection switch is closed;

a latch caused to perform an opening operation when the latch motor is driven; and

a controller configured to detect a voltage of the power supply line and control the converter power supply,

wherein

when the engine switch is turned to an ON state, the converter power supply starts charging the electricity storage element,

subsequently, when the voltage of the power supply is a threshold or greater in a state where the engine switch is in the ON states

the controller causes the converter power supply to continuously operate, and the power supply line supplies power to the latch motor connection switch, and

when the voltage of the power supply line is less than the threshold in a state where the engine switch is in the ON state, the controller stops operating the converter power supply, then closes the latch motor connection switch based on an instruction from the door opening/closing instructor, and causes the converter power supply to shift its operation from a stop to an action, and converter power supply steps up power charged to the converter power supply so as to supply the power to the latch motor.