Intelligent side step apparatus for vehicle

• US 9,174,580 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Cha, Dong Eun
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEEKS, MARTIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/716,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 280/163
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence

Abstract

An intelligent side step apparatus for a vehicle includes a step panel (13) that protrudes and expands to a side of a vehicle body (16) when a getting-off mode signal of a passenger is generated. The step panel (13) moves down to a side of the vehicle body when a getting-on mode signal of a passenger is generated. A step lamp (14) mounted on the step panel (13) is turned on when a night mode signal is generated.

Claims

1. An intelligent side step apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

fixing rails, which are fixed with opposing ends positioned in a left-right direction of the vehicle, in which a door of the vehicle is positioned;

a movable rail disposed along the fixing rails and slidable along the fixing rails in an axial direction of the fixing rails;

a rotary link module that is combined with the movable rail and can adjust a height by rotation thereof;

a step panel integrally combined with the rotary link module, wherein the step panel moves to the left and right of the vehicle together with the movable rail in the axial direction of the fixing rails, and adjusts a vertical height of the rotary link module;

a rail actuator that provides power to slide the movable rail;

a link actuator that provides power to rotate the rotary link module;

a control unit that is configured to control operation of the rail actuator and the link actuator in response to a getting-on mode signal and a getting off mode signal of a passenger;

a lower bracket fixed to the moveable rail;

a pair of rotary links rotatably coupled to the lower end of the lower bracket; and

an upper bracket rotatably coupled to the upper ends of the rotary links to connect the pair of rotary links and fixes the step panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a step lamp mounted on the step panel and turned on a dark day or in a night mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an illuminance sensor that detects brightness around the vehicle and a night mode wherein the control unit controls the operation of a step lamp in response to a signal from the illuminance sensor, only when a getting-on mode signal or a getting-off mode signal of a passenger is generated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rail actuator comprises:

a gear box and a stopper bracket which are fixed with the movable rail at opposing internal ends of the movable rail;

a lead screw that has one end connected to the gear box to transmit power and another end rotatably coupled to the stopper bracket; and

a rail motor disposed in the gear box to transmit power and provides rotational power to the lead screw through the gear box; and

a lead nut that the lead screw passes through and is coupled to the fixing rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link actuator comprises:

a link spring wound on a rotary shaft of the rotary link passing through the lower bracket, with one end supported by the lower bracket and another end supported by the rotary shaft, and provides an elastic force to the rotary link to allow the rotary link standing up with respect to the lower bracket to be rotated and laid down; and

a locking pin that has one end that can moves into and out of a locking hole formed at the rotary link, through the lower bracket, and restricts rotation of the rotary link by the link spring, when inserted in the locking hole.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link actuator further includes a coil disposed in a pin hole that the locking pin passes through, at the lower bracket, and when a current is applied to the coil by adjusting the control unit, the locking pin moves into/out of the locking hole.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein link actuator includes a link motor that transmits power with the rotary shaft of the rotary link passing through the lower bracket and is operated by adjusting the control unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a getting-off mode signal of a passenger includes a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) signal that provides vehicle speed information about stop and traveling status and a junction box signal that provides information about opening/closing of a door.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a getting-on mode signal of a passenger includes a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) signal that provides vehicle speed information about stop and traveling statuses and a smart key signal that provides information about a passenger to get in the vehicle and the distance between the passenger and the vehicle.