JP5496059B2 - Electric steering lock control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric steering lock control device that locks / unlocks electric steering with a motor, and more particularly, to a countermeasure when a lock is abnormal.

  Conventionally, in a vehicle that employs electric steering (EPS), the lock control device generally locks / drivers get on (or approach for boarding) when the engine is stopped and the driver gets off. Based on the unlock control when the engine is started by operating the portable device, the steering lock motor is rotated in the forward and reverse directions to rotate the lock bar (lock bolt) in the forward and reverse directions. The steering is locked / unlocked by changing the linear movement to a concave slot of the steering shaft by changing the movement of the lock bar into the concave slot of the steering shaft. Patent Document 1 (see paragraph [0092], FIG. 1 and the like).

JP 2003-252174 A

  In the conventional electric steering lock control device as described in Patent Document 1, if any abnormality occurs during electric steering lock control, the electric steering is not accidentally locked during traveling. Therefore, it is considered that the engine start is unconditionally prohibited during the subsequent unlock control so that the engine is not started.

  However, if the engine start is prohibited when any abnormality occurs, the vehicle cannot be moved after that and cannot be transported by itself to a repair shop. Therefore, the driver (user) This is extremely inconvenient for the driver and may place a heavy burden on the driver depending on the location of the abnormality and the season.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of a driver (user) by enabling the engine to be started if the electric steering is not locked even if some abnormality occurs during the lock control of the electric steering. And

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the electric steering lock control device according to the present invention switches the energization polarity of the motor by switching the contact between the lock relay and the unlock relay to lock or unlock the electric steering, An electric steering lock control device for prohibiting engine start by detecting an abnormality, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in unlocking that does not turn on the lock relay during lock control, and an abnormality detecting means that detects abnormality in the unlocking fixation And a start permission means for permitting the engine start without being prohibited on the condition that the unlocking can be performed at the time of the unlock control in the state where the engine is detected (Claim 1).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality in the unlocking of the electric steering where the lock relay is not turned on is detected by the abnormality detecting means during the lock control of the electric steering where the engine is stopped and the driver (user) gets off the vehicle. Next, when the driver (user) gets on the vehicle and starts the engine, the start permission means permits the engine start without being prohibited by the condition that the unlocking can be performed.

  That is, when the abnormality that has occurred is an abnormality that the lock relay does not turn on, the electric steering is very unlikely to be locked after the engine is started, and the condition that the unlocking can be normally performed by the unlock control is satisfied. Only when the engine is not prohibited.

  Accordingly, if any abnormality occurs during the electric steering lock control, if the lock relay is not turned on (the electric steering is not locked), the engine can be started during the electric steering unlock control, and the driver ( User's convenience can be improved. And since an electric steering is not locked during driving | running | working and a vehicle can carry out self-propelled conveyance to a repair shop etc., there also exists an advantage which service property improves.

It is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electric steering lock control device of the present invention. It is typical explanatory drawing of an example of the electric steering lock mechanism which operate | moves with the motor of FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation during lock control in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation during unlock control of FIG. 1.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an electric steering lock control device mounted on a vehicle 1 having a so-called smart entry function that can open and close a door and start an engine by wireless communication between a portable device and an in-vehicle device. In the figure, 2 is a DC motor for electric steering (EPS) locking, 3 is a computer-configured drive control unit for drive control of the motor 2, and comprises a computer-configured ECU. Reference numerals 4 and 5 are lock relays and unlock relays whose operation is switched by the drive control unit 3 to switch the energization polarity of the motor 3, and the switching pieces sw of the contact portions 42 and 52 are respectively connected to the power source side by the relay coils 41 and 51. The contact b is switched to the ground contact e. Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote lock sensors and unlock sensors for detecting the lock / unlock state of the electric steering lock mechanism, which will be described later. The sensor includes, for example, a hall sensor, and detects logic 1 by detecting the lock and unlock states. The signal is output to the drive control unit 3.

  In the lock relay 4 and the unlock relay 5, the positive voltage power source + B of the in-vehicle battery is supplied to the power source side contact b through the power source switch 8, and the ground side contact e is grounded. Furthermore, one power supply terminal of the motor 2 is connected to a terminal of the switching piece sw of the lock relay 4 and a terminal of the switching piece sw of the unlock relay 5.

  When the driver stops the engine and gets off, information such as engine stop or door opening / closing is input to the drive control unit 3 from the in-vehicle communication network 9 such as LIN, so that the drive control unit 3 is electrically operated. The steering lock control is executed. If no abnormality has occurred during the lock control in which the lock control is executed, the drive control unit 3 energizes the coil 41 of the lock relay 4 until the lock sensor 6 detects the locked state of the electric steering. At this time, the lock relay 4 is turned on when the switching piece sw of the contact portion 42 is connected to the power source side contact b, and the unlock relay 5 is turned off when the switching piece sw of the contact portion 52 is connected to the ground side contact e. A drive current (motor current) based on the power supply + B via the power open / close switch 8 flows with a polarity from the lock relay 4 toward the motor 2, and the motor 2 rotates in a direction to lock the electric steering.

  In addition, when the driver gets on and presses a start switch (not shown) to automatically start the engine, the drive control unit 3 executes unlock control of the electric steering. If no abnormality has occurred during the unlock control in which the unlock control is executed, the drive control unit 3 energizes the coil 51 of the unlock relay 5 until the unlock sensor 6 detects the unlocked state of the electric steering. To do. At this time, the unlock relay 5 is turned on when the switching piece sw of the contact portion 52 is connected to the power source side contact b, and the lock relay 4 is turned off when the switching piece sw of the contact portion 42 is connected to the ground side contact e. A drive current (motor current) based on the power supply + B via the power open / close switch 8 flows in a polarity from the unlock relay 5 toward the motor 2, and the motor 2 rotates in a direction to unlock the electric steering.

  The drive control unit 3 monitors the voltage on the load side of the power open / close switch 8 through which the positive voltage power source + B of the in-vehicle battery passes, and whether there is a power supply abnormality, that is, whether the on / off operation of the power open / close switch 8 is normal. (Especially whether or not the power supply on / off switch 8 is turned off and the power supply on the load side can be cut off) Further, the drive control unit 3 monitors the voltages on both terminal sides of the motor 2 by the voltage sensor 10 on the lock relay 4 side and the voltage sensor 11 on the unlock relay 5 side. Based on the coil energization control of the lock relay 4 and the unlock relay 5 and the monitoring results of the voltage sensors 10 and 11, the lock relay 4 and the unlock relay 5 are locked and unlocked and monitored and detected. It is determined whether or not there is an off failure in which the lock relay 4 and the unlock relay 5 are not turned on. Further, if there is no abnormality in the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7, the detection signals of both the sensors 6 and 7 do not become logic 1 at the same time. At the same time, whether or not the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7 are abnormal is determined based on whether or not the logic 1 is obtained.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the electric steering lock mechanism. When the motor 2 is locked and unlocked, the motor shaft rotates in the forward and reverse directions, and this rotation is caused by the lock bar 13 via the screw mechanism 12. It is transmitted to. The lock bar 13 moves so as to protrude from the screw mechanism portion 12 by rotation at the time of lock control, and the tip is fitted into a recess (slot) 16 formed in the shaft 15 of the handle 14, whereby the electric steering is locked. Is done. Further, the lock bar 13 moves so as to be pulled into the screw mechanism portion 12 by the rotation at the time of unlock control, and the tip is pulled out from the concave portion 16 of the shaft 15 of the handle 14, and the electric steering is freely rotated by the handle 14. Will be unlocked.

  By the way, for example, the contact portion 42 of the lock relay 4 is fixed to the power supply side contact b for some reason, and the lock relay 4 is not switched from the contact b to the contact e, and the drive path of the motor 2 is held in a state of locking the electric steering. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in locking the lock relay 4 (on failure), it is necessary to ensure that the engine is not started in order to hinder the traveling of the vehicle 1.

  On the other hand, for example, the contact portion 42 of the lock relay 4 is fixed to the ground side contact e, and the lock relay 4 is not switched from the contact e to the contact b. When an abnormality (off-fault) occurs, the electric steering lock control cannot be performed, but there is no problem in the running of the vehicle 1, so the engine is started and repaired under the condition that the unlock can be performed normally. If the vehicle 1 can be transported while traveling to a factory or the like, the convenience of the driver (user) is improved.

  Therefore, the drive control unit 3 has the abnormality detection means and the start permission means of the present invention formed by software processing, and when detecting the unlocking abnormality from the state detection at the time of locking and the next unlocking. In the unlock control, the engine start is permitted without being prohibited on the condition that the unlock can be performed.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure of the abnormality detection means at the time of lock control of the electric steering. When the driver stops the engine and gets off, the drive control unit 3 executes the lock control, and the abnormality detection means is operated by the lock relay 4. In order to determine whether or not it is operating normally, it is determined whether or not the coil 41 of the lock relay 4 is energized by lock control, and the contact portion 42 of the lock relay 4 is determined from the voltage of the voltage sensors 10 and 11. It is determined whether or not the power supply side contact b is switched.

  If the coil 41 of the lock relay 4 is energized and the contact portion 42 of the lock relay 4 is switched to the power supply side contact b, and the lock relay 4 is normal, the detection ends (YES in step S1).

  On the other hand, when the coil 41 of the lock relay 4 is energized, the contact portion 42 of the lock relay 4 is held by the ground contact e, and the lock relay 4 is in an abnormal state of being unlocked. (NO in step S1), it is determined in step S2 whether or not the sensors 6 and 7 are normal based on whether or not the detection signals of the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7 are simultaneously logic 1.

  If the sensors 6 and 7 are abnormal, normal locking control and unlocking control of the electric steering cannot be performed (NO in step S2), so that the prohibition of engine start is output to the in-vehicle communication network 9 in step S3. To the engine control unit 17 and the like.

  If the sensors 6 and 7 are normal, the electric steering can be normally unlocked (YES in step S2), so an abnormality in unlocking is detected, and the detection result is held and the process ends (step S4).

  FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the start permission means at the time of unlocking control of the electric steering. This processing procedure is started when a start switch for starting the engine is pressed with the brake pedal depressed. First, it is assumed that an abnormality (abnormality of unlocking fixation) is detected at the time of locking, and if not detected, the process is terminated (NO in step Q1).

  If an abnormality is detected at the time of locking (YES in step Q1), whether or not the coil 51 of the unlocking relay 5 is energized by the unlocking control in order to determine whether or not the unlocking relay 5 is operating normally. It is determined whether or not the contact point 52 of the unlock relay 5 is switched to the power source side contact b based on the voltage detection of the voltage sensors 10 and 11 (step Q2).

  And if the coil 51 of the unlocking relay 5 is energized and the contact portion 52 of the unlocking relay 5 is switched to the power source side contact b, and the unlocking relay 5 is normal, the unlocking can be performed, and Since the electric steering is switched to unlock (YES in step Q2), the process proceeds to step Q3, and it is determined whether the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7 are normal in the same manner as in step S2 in FIG.

  If the sensors 6 and 7 are normal, the electric steering can be normally unlocked (YES in Step Q3). Next, whether or not the power supply is normal, specifically, the power open / close switch 8 is normal and locked. After the completion of the control and unlock control, it is determined whether or not power supply to the motor 2 can be cut off by turning off the power switch 8 (step Q4). This determination is made, for example, by detecting whether or not a specified power supply voltage is generated on the load side of the power supply open / close switch 8 by open / close control of the power supply open / close switch 8 (actually close control). If the power open / close switch 8 is turned off after the lock control and unlock control are finished to cut off the power supply to the motor 2, the motor 2 is not driven when the engine is started, and the electric steering is not locked. is there.

  If the power supply is normal (YES in step Q4), the unlock control is performed by switching the unlock relay 5 even if the unlocking abnormality (OFF failure) of the lock relay 4 has occurred. After the steering is fixed in the unlocked state, the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7 can normally detect the lock / unlock state of the electric steering, and there is no power failure, and after the unlock control is finished. Can turn off the power switch 8 to stop the power supply of the motor 2, and it is possible to stop the engine starting on the condition that the electric steering is not inadvertently locked after the engine is started. Permit (step Q5), and the process ends. When the electric steering is not switched to unlock (NO in step Q2), when the lock sensor 6 and the unlock sensor 7 are not normal, or when the power supply is not normal (NO in step Q4), the electric steering is locked. Therefore, the engine start is prohibited (step Q6). In order to reliably detect whether or not the lock relay 4 is unlocked and not locked, the lock relay 4 may be turned on and off a plurality of times (for example, twice).

  Therefore, the abnormality that has occurred is an abnormality in unlocking that does not turn on the lock relay 4, and there is very little possibility that the electric steering is locked even if the engine is started, and the unlocking is normal by the unlocking control. Even after the engine is started, the engine start can be permitted without prohibiting only when the condition that the electric steering can be locked immediately is satisfied even if the electric steering is locked.

  As described above, when the driver gets on and presses the start switch (not shown), the engine is automatically started based on the permission even if the unlocking abnormality occurs.

  By the way, just by starting the engine normally, the driver does not notice the occurrence of an abnormality.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of operations of the push button of the start switch necessary for starting the engine is increased, for example, by one according to the number of engine starts after the occurrence of abnormality is detected.

  That is, when the engine start is permitted without being prohibited, the notification of the in-vehicle communication network 9 is taken into the engine control unit 17, and the engine control unit 17 then operates the push button necessary for starting the engine. The number of times is increased by one each time the engine is started until the abnormality is repaired and reset at a repair shop or the like.

  Therefore, when the engine is started despite the occurrence of the above-mentioned abnormality, the number of operations of the push button increases, so that the driver or the like knows the occurrence of the abnormality and promptly repairs the vehicle 1 or the like. It can be transported by itself and serviceability is improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit thereof, for example, means for notifying the driver or the like of the occurrence of an abnormality Is not limited to the number of operations of the push button, and may be, for example, a warning display on a meter panel of a dashboard, a notification of a buzzer or a voice message, or the like.

  Next, the configuration and processing procedure of the drive control unit 3 are not limited to those of the above embodiment. Further, the configuration of the electric steering lock mechanism is not limited to that of the above embodiment. Furthermore, the content of the abnormality permitted without prohibiting the engine start and the accompanying conditions are not limited to those of the above embodiment.

  The present invention can of course be applied to a vehicle that does not have a smart entry function, and can also be applied to various vehicles that have an electric steering.

1 Vehicle 2 Motor 3 Drive Control Unit 4 Lock Relay 5 Unlock Relay

Claims (1)

An electric steering lock control device that switches the energization polarity of the motor by switching the contact of the lock relay and the unlock relay, locks or unlocks the electric steering, and prohibits engine start by detecting an abnormality,
An abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of unlocking fixation in which the lock relay is not turned on during lock control;
Start permission means for permitting the engine start without prohibiting the engine on the condition that unlocking can be performed at the time of unlocking control in a state where the abnormality detecting means detects the unlocking abnormality. Electric steering lock control device.

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