JP5672987B2 - Vehicle door system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle door system that performs opening / closing control of a vehicle door.

  Conventionally, a door check device described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 is known as this type of vehicle door system. The thing of patent document 1 hold | maintains a door to predetermined opening degree by engaging the pin provided in the vehicle body with the ratchet gear provided in the edge part of the door. In Patent Document 2, the door is held at a predetermined opening degree through meshing of a face gear-like meshing portion formed on a contact surface of a door hinge and a rotation regulating member elastically pressed against the door hinge. .

JP-A-7-276888 JP 2008-223247 A

  Conventional general door check devices including those of Patent Documents 1 and 2 merely hold the opening position of the door opened and closed by the user. In recent years, there is still a trend toward multi-functionality and high functionality of vehicles. From this point of view, it has been desired to add some added value to the door check device.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door system that can add value.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle door system, the second state that regulates the state of the check bar interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the vehicle door in the same manner as the first state that allows the movement of the check bar. A detection unit that detects a displacement state of the check bar, and a state of the check bar through the control of the drive unit based on a detection result of the detection unit. A control unit that performs opening / closing control of the door by switching between, and the driving unit is a rolling member that rolls on the check rod, and a clamping member that sandwiches the rolling member between the check rod And a piezoelectric actuator provided so as to be able to transmit motion to the clamping member, and holding or releasing the clamping state of the rolling element through displacement due to voltage application. The rotor serves also as the detection unit, and the vibration generated in the rolling element with the movement of the check rod is applied as a mechanical external force to the piezoelectric actuator through the clamping member. The gist is to generate an electrical signal .

  According to the present invention, the displacement state of the check bar interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the door is positively detected through the detection unit. Based on the detection result, the state of the check bar is switched between the first and second states. For this reason, for example, not only holding the door opening position according to the opening / closing operation of the door by the user, but also controlling the drive unit according to the displacement state of the check rod, Switching between the first state and the second state, and thus active door opening / closing control can be executed. According to the present invention, such added value can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle door system according to the first aspect, the detection unit detects at least one of a position, a speed, and an acceleration of the check bar as a displacement state of the check bar. Is the gist.

  According to the present invention, door opening / closing control can be executed based on at least one of the position, speed, and acceleration of the check bar. Control such as decelerating the opening / closing speed of the check bar and thus the door can be performed based on the detected displacement state such as the displacement position, moving speed, or acceleration.

The invention according to claim 3, in the vehicle door system according to claim 1 or claim 2, the side surface of the rolling element side of the front Symbol check rod, undulating along the moving direction of the check rod irregularities The gist is that the surface is formed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular door system according to the third aspect, the undulation interval of the concavo-convex surface is gradually increased toward the moving direction of the check bar accompanying the operation in the closing direction of the door. The gist is that it is set to be wide.
According to the present invention, the generation interval of the electric signal varies depending on the displacement position of the check rod. For this reason, it becomes easy to detect the displacement position of the check rod. In addition, it is possible to easily detect the displacement direction of the check bar, and thus the opening / closing direction of the door. If the generation interval of the electric signal is shortened, it can be estimated that the door is displaced in the closing direction, and conversely if the interval is longer, the door is displaced in the opening direction.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle door system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an arbitrary position between the fully closed position and the fully open position of the door is defined as the position of the door. A switch for setting as a stop position, and the control unit detects an opening position of the door based on the electrical signal, and determines that the detected opening position at that time has reached the stop position. The gist of the invention is to stop the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator as the door opening / closing control.

According to the present invention, the door can be automatically stopped at an arbitrary stop position set through the switch regardless of whether the user operates the door .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a higher added value can be given with respect to the vehicle door system.

The perspective view which shows the attachment state of the door check apparatus with respect to the door of a vehicle. The block diagram which similarly shows the electrical structure of a stopper mechanism. (A) is a front sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the door check device according to the present embodiment, and (b) is a waveform diagram of an electric signal generated in the piezoelectric element with the displacement of the check rod. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control which concerns on a stopper mechanism. (A), (b) is a front view of the check stick | rod in other embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which a vehicle door system according to the present invention is embodied in a vehicle door check device will be described below with reference to FIGS. The device suppresses inadvertent opening and closing of the door by maintaining the open state of the side door.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 12 for getting on and off is formed on a side portion of the vehicle body 11, and a pair of upper and lower door hinges 13 and 13 are provided on an edge portion 12 a on the vehicle front side of the opening 12. The door 14 is rotatably supported. A door check device 15 is provided inside the door 14 as shown in FIG.

  The door check device 15 includes a check bar 21 provided on the vehicle body 11 and a stopper mechanism 22 provided on the door 14. The base end portion of the check bar 21 is connected to the edge portion 12a so as to be rotatable in the opening / closing direction of the door 14. Further, the movement of the check bar 21 in the direction intersecting the opening / closing direction of the door 14 is restricted. The tip of the check bar 21 is penetrated by the door 14 and further the stopper mechanism 22. The check bar 21 moves relative to the stopper mechanism 22 along the longitudinal direction while swinging about the base end portion in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the door 14. By restricting the movement of the check bar 21 through the operation of the stopper mechanism 22, the opening degree of the door 14 is maintained.

<Stopper mechanism>
Next, the stopper mechanism will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3A, the stopper mechanism 22 has a case 23 through which the check bar 21 is passed. A piezoelectric actuator 29 is supported on a central upper portion inside the case 23 via a support structure (not shown). The piezoelectric actuator 29 has a rod shape in which a large number of piezoelectric bodies (electrostrictive bodies) are stacked. The piezoelectric actuator 29 expands and contracts depending on whether a voltage is applied to an electrode (not shown). The piezoelectric actuator 29 expands when a DC voltage is applied to the electrode, and contracts when the application of the DC voltage is canceled. In this example, the piezoelectric actuator 29 expands and contracts along the moving direction of the check bar 21.

  In addition, two clamping members 30 and 30 are provided inside the case 23. These clamping members 30 and 30 are the same product, and the directions in the moving direction of the check bar 21 are reversed with respect to each other. These clamping members 30 are arranged on both sides of the piezoelectric actuator 29 in the moving direction of the check bar 21.

  The clamping member 30 is formed by plastic deformation of a single metal plate material. The clamping member 30 includes a vertical wall 31 extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the check bar 21 and a pressing wall 32 that is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the check bar 21. The pressing wall 32 is connected to the end of the vertical wall 31 opposite to the check bar 21 and is inclined so as to be separated from the check bar 21 toward the center of the case 23. The ends of the two pressing walls 32 opposite to the vertical walls 31 are maintained in a state where they are in contact with both ends of the piezoelectric actuator 29 obliquely. The ends of the two vertical walls 31, 31 on the check bar 21 side are fixed to the case 23 via two fixed fulcrums 31a, 31b, respectively. In the case 23, two wedge-shaped spaces are formed between the two clamping members 30, 30 and the check rod 21. These wedge-shaped spaces become narrower as they move away from the center of the case 23 in the moving direction of the check bar 21.

  In addition, two rolling elements 33 and 33 are accommodated in the case 23. These rolling elements 33 and 33 are formed in a spherical shape. The rolling element 33 is normally held in a state of being sandwiched between the check bar 21 and the clamping member 30 (more precisely, the pressing wall 32). A compression coil spring 34 is interposed between the two rolling elements 33 and 33. The two rolling elements 33, 33 are always attached to the narrow side of the wedge-shaped space formed between the two clamping members 30, 30 and the check bar 21 in a direction away from each other by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 34. Be forced.

  When the two rolling elements 33 and 33 are maintained in a normal state in which they are sandwiched between the two pressing walls 32 and 32 and the check bar 21, the relative movement of the check bar 21 with respect to the case 23 is restricted. .

  For example, when the check rod 21 is about to move in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3A, the rolling element 33 and the check rod 21 are in the same direction through frictional engagement between the rolling element 33 and the check rod 21. Try to move to. However, the rolling element 33 bites into the narrow side of the wedge-shaped space existing in the direction of the arrow A and has a so-called wedge action. That is, the rolling element 33 is squeezed by the pressing wall 32 and the check rod 21 by the amount of biting into the wedge-shaped space, that is, the frictional force between the rolling element 33 and the pressing wall 32 and the rolling element 33 and the check. The frictional force with the rod 21 is increased. Due to these frictional forces, the movement of the check bar 21 in the direction of the arrow A is firmly restricted. Note that the lock state is similarly maintained when the check bar 21 is about to move in the direction indicated by the arrow B, which is the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A.

  This locked state is released by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric actuator 29. That is, with the extension of the piezoelectric actuator 29, the two pressing walls 32, 32 are elastically displaced in directions away from each other around the two fixed fulcrums 31a, 31b. As a result, the angle formed by the check bar 21 and the two pressing walls 32, 32 becomes larger than normal, and the sandwiched state of the two rolling elements 33, 33 is released. As a result, the check bar 21 can freely move in the directions of arrow A and arrow B in the figure. This is because the frictional force between the rolling element 33 and the pressing wall 32 and the frictional force between the rolling element 33 and the check bar 21 are remarkably reduced by the amount that the sandwiched state of the rolling element 33 is released. It is.

  At this time, the two rolling elements 33 and 33 try to move toward the two vertical walls 31 and 31 by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 34, respectively. It is not sandwiched between the bars 21. This is because the angle formed by the vertical wall 31 and the pressing wall 32 is not an angle at which the rolling element 33 can be sandwiched. Therefore, when the check rod 21 is about to move in the unlocked state where the pinched state of the rolling element 33 is released, the rolling element 33 does not bite between the pressing wall 32 and the checking rod 21, Sliding occurs between the rolling elements 33 and between the rolling elements 33 and the check rod 21. That is, since the wedge action does not occur, the unlocked state is maintained.

  In this unlocked state, when the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29 is released, the pressing wall 32 is elastically returned to the original position, and the rolling element 33 can be sandwiched between the check rod 21 again. That is, when the check bar 21 is about to move, the rolling element 33 moves in the same direction as the check bar 21 through frictional engagement with the check bar 21. Accordingly, the rolling element 33 is gradually sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 present in the moving direction and the check bar 21.

<Conditions for pinching>
Here, in order for the rolling element 33 to be sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 and the check bar 21 following the movement of the check bar 21, the following conditions must be satisfied. That is, a force for displacing the check bar 21 is transmitted to the pressing wall 32 via the rolling element 33, and the parallel component of the force along the pressing wall 32 acts on the side opposite to the parallel component. When the frictional force is greater than the frictional force (the force acting in the direction of preventing the rolling element 33 from biting), the rolling element 33 is sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 and the check bar 21. From this, the relationship represented by the following formula (A) is derived. Incidentally, the frictional force acting on the side opposite to the parallel component is the product of the vertical component of the force to displace the check rod 21 with respect to the pressing wall 32 and the frictional force between the pressing wall 32 and the rolling element 33. Is required.

cos θ / sin θ> μ (A)
Here, θ is an angle formed by the pressing wall 32 and the check rod 21, and μ is a coefficient of friction between the pressing wall 32 and the rolling element 33.

  In this example, the angle formed between the pressing wall 32 and the check bar 21 and the friction coefficient between the pressing wall 32 and the rolling element 33 are adjusted so as to satisfy the formula (A). Therefore, as the check bar 21 moves, the rolling elements 33 bite into a wedge-shaped space formed between the pressing wall 32 existing in the movement direction and the check bar 21. The same applies to the space between the rolling element 33 and the check rod 21. The mass and size of the rolling element 33 or the friction coefficient between the rolling element 33 and the check rod 21 are appropriately adjusted.

<Check bar>
Here, the check bar 21 will be described in detail. In this example, the check bar 21 is configured as follows from the viewpoint of further increasing the added value of the door check device. In this example, the check bar 21 is relative to the case 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing when the door 14 is moved in the opening direction, and in the direction indicated by the arrow B when the door 14 is moved in the closing direction. Move on.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of protrusions 35 are formed on the side surface (upper surface in the drawing) of the check rod 21 on the clamping member 30 side. These protrusions 35 are provided at intervals along the moving direction of the check bar 21. The interval between the protrusions 35 is set so as to gradually increase from the fully closed end (left end in the figure) of the check rod 21 toward the fully open end (right end in the figure). Has been. Further, the protruding heights of the protruding portions 35 with respect to the check rod 21 are all the same. The protrusion height is set such that the end of the vertical wall 31 on the check rod 21 side does not contact when the check rod 21 moves.

  When the check bar 21 moves, the rolling element 33 sequentially gets over the plurality of protrusions 35. The rolling element 33 pushes up the pressing wall 32 against its elastic force when riding on the protrusion 35. When the rolling element 33 descends from the protrusion 35, the pressing wall 32 returns to the original position by its own elastic force. This operation is repeated every time the rolling element 33 gets over the protrusion 35. In this way, the rolling element 33 vibrates as the protrusion 35 gets on and off, and the vibration is transmitted to the piezoelectric actuator 29 via the pressing wall 32 as a mechanical external force (pressure). The piezoelectric actuator 29 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the vibration by the piezoelectric effect. The electric signal has a pulse shape as shown in FIG.

  Note that the timing of vibration of the two rolling elements 33 and 33 differs from each other depending on the distance between them. The vibrations of the two rolling elements 33 and 33 are transmitted to both ends of the piezoelectric actuator 29, respectively. The piezoelectric actuator 29 generates an electrical signal corresponding to a combination of vibrations applied to both ends of the piezoelectric actuator 29.

<Electrical configuration>
Next, the electrical configuration of the door check device will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 41 of the door check device is connected to a power supply 43 via a power supply circuit 42. The power source 43 is a battery (for example, 12V or 24V) mounted on the vehicle. The DC voltage from the power supply 43 is adjusted to a specified voltage level (for example, 5V) through the power supply circuit 42. This adjusted voltage is supplied as an operating power source for the control circuit 41. The power supply circuit 42 also functions as a protection circuit that suppresses application of overvoltage to the control circuit 41.

  In addition, a door handle switch 44 and an opening setting switch 45 are connected to the control circuit 41. The door handle switch 44 detects whether a door handle (not shown) provided inside or outside each door 14 is operated. The opening setting switch 45 is provided, for example, in a portion of the door 14 on the vehicle interior side, and is operated when setting an opening position (stop position) for automatically stopping the door 14.

  When the operation of the door handle is detected through the door handle switch 44, the control circuit 41 applies a predetermined DC voltage between the electrodes of the piezoelectric actuator 29. When the operation of the door handle through the door handle switch 44 is not detected, the control circuit 41 stops the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29.

  The memory 41a of the control circuit 41 stores various control programs. When the stop position of the door 14 is set through the opening setting switch 45, the control circuit 41 calculates the opening position of the door 14 based on the electrical signal generated in the piezoelectric actuator 29 as the check rod 21 moves. . For example, the control circuit 41 can calculate the displacement position of the check bar 21 based on the generation interval of the detected electrical signal. In this example, it is assumed that the acceleration of the door 14, that is, the check bar 21, is constant. Further, when it is detected that the opening position of the door 14 has reached the stop position set through the opening setting switch 45, the control circuit 41 stops the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29.

<Operation of door check device>
Next, the operation of the door check device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart is executed based on a control program stored in the memory 41a of the control circuit 41 when the door is unlocked, for example. In the door check device, it is assumed that the rolling element 33 is held in a locked state in which the rolling member 33 is sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 of the sandwiching member 30 and the check rod 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when it is detected that the door handle is operated through the door handle switch 44 (step S101), the control circuit 41 applies a DC voltage to the piezoelectric actuator 29 (step S102). Thereby, the sandwiched state of the rolling element 33 by the pressing wall 32 is released. In other words, the unlocking state in which the smooth movement of the check bar 21 accompanying the opening and closing of the door 14 is allowed. In this state, the door 14 can be freely opened and closed with a light force.

  Next, the control circuit 41 determines whether or not a stop position is set by the opening setting switch 45 (step S103). When the control circuit 41 determines that the stop position is not set (NO in step S103), the control circuit 41 determines whether or not the door handle is operated through the door handle switch 44 (step S104). When the control circuit 41 determines that the operation of the door handle is continued (step S104), the control circuit 41 proceeds to the previous step S102 to maintain the unlocked state. On the other hand, when the control circuit 41 determines that the operation of the door handle is released (NO in step S104), the control circuit 41 stops the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29 (step S105) and performs the processing. finish.

  In the previous step S103, when the control circuit 41 determines that the stop position has been set (YES in step S103), the displacement position corresponding to the stop position of the door 14 where the current check bar 21 position is set. Is determined (step S106). When it is determined that the current position of the check bar 21 has not reached the set stop position (NO in step S106), the control circuit 41 determines whether or not the door handle is operated (step S107). When the control circuit 41 determines that the operation of the door handle is continued (YES in step S107), the control circuit 41 proceeds to the previous step S106. On the other hand, when the control circuit 41 determines that the operation of the door handle is released (NO in step S107), the control circuit 41 proceeds to the previous step S105. That is, the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29 is stopped and the process is terminated.

  In the previous step S106, when the control circuit 41 determines that the current position of the check bar 21 has reached the set stop position (YES in step S106), the process proceeds to the previous step S105. That is, the control circuit 41 stops the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29 and ends the process regardless of whether or not the operation of the door handle is continued. Thereafter, the control circuit 41 repeats the processes of the previous steps S101 to S107 each time an operation of the door handle is detected.

  Incidentally, when the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29 is stopped, the rolling element 33 can be sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 and the check rod 21. That is, at this time, the rolling element 33 may not be sufficiently sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 of the clamping member 30 and the check rod 21. It is also assumed that the rolling element 33 is still maintained in a free state.

  However, when the door 14 is about to move, the rolling element 33 moves following the check bar 21 in the same direction through frictional engagement with the check bar 21 that moves accordingly. Accordingly, the rolling element 33 is gradually sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 existing in the moving direction of the check bar 21 and the check bar 21. That is, the rolling element 33 gradually bites into the narrow side of the wedge-shaped space, and performs a so-called wedge action. Therefore, the rolling element 33 is in a holding state in which the free rotation is restricted, and is in a state in which the pressing wall 32 and the check bar 21 are fixedly connected by a frictional force. By maintaining this state, the movement of the check bar 21 and consequently the door 14 is maintained in a restricted state. Therefore, the door 14 is held at an arbitrary opening position at that time.

<Effect of Embodiment>
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) As the check rod 21 moves, the rolling element 33 vibrates according to the unevenness of the uneven surface of the check rod 21. This vibration is transmitted as a mechanical external force to the piezoelectric actuator 29 via the clamping member 30 that is in contact with the rolling element 33. As a result, the piezoelectric actuator 29 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the transmitted vibration (piezoelectric effect). Since the vibration is due to the undulation of the uneven surface of the check rod 21, the electric signal generated in the piezoelectric actuator 29 also corresponds to the uneven surface. For this reason, it becomes possible to detect the displacement position of the check bar 21 and thus the opening position of the door 14 based on the electric signal. That is, not only the opening position of the door but also the added value that the state of the check bar 21 and the state of the door 14 at that time can be detected can be obtained.

  (2) The state where the check rod 21 and the door 14 are close to an appropriate position in a stepless manner through the formation and release of the pinched state of the rolling element 33 by the pressing wall 32 of the check rod 21 and the clamping member (leaf spring) 30. Can be held in.

  (3) The displacement position of the check bar 21 is detected as follows. That is, a large number of protrusions 35 are provided on the side surface of the check rod 21 on the rolling element 33 side. For this reason, the rolling element 33 vibrates each time the rolling element 33 gets over each protrusion 35 as the check bar 21 moves. This vibration is transmitted to the piezoelectric actuator 29 via the clamping member 30. The piezoelectric actuator 29 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the transmitted vibration. The control circuit 41 calculates the displacement position of the check bar 21 based on the electric signal generated in the piezoelectric actuator 29. As described above, the simple configuration in which the protrusion 35 is provided on the check bar 21 makes it possible to detect the displacement position of the check bar 21 and thus the opening position of the door 14.

  (4) The stop position of the door 14 can be set through the opening setting switch 45. In this case, the opening position of the door 14 is monitored based on the displacement of the check bar 21, and when the opening position reaches the set stop position, the check bar 21 is stopped by stopping the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 29. Movement is restricted. As described above, when a specific condition is satisfied, an added value of positively regulating the opening / closing operation of the door 14 can be obtained regardless of whether or not the door handle is operated.

  (5) When the stop position of the door 14 set through the opening setting switch 45 is set to the fully closed position, it also functions as a child lock. In this case, no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 29 even when the door handle outside the vehicle interior is operated, and the door check device is kept in the locked state.

  (6) The interval between the protrusions 35 is set so as to gradually increase in the moving direction of the check bar 21 accompanying the operation in the closing direction of the door 14. For this reason, it becomes easy to determine the opening position of the door 14. In addition, it is possible to easily determine the opening / closing direction of the door 14. It can be estimated that the door 14 is displaced in the closing direction when the generation interval of the electrical signal is shortened, and conversely that the door 14 is displaced in the opening direction when it is longer. Furthermore, since the generation interval of the electrical signal becomes shorter as the door 14 approaches the fully closed position, the opening position of the door 14 near the fully closed position can be detected more finely.

  (7) Based on the electrical signal generated in the piezoelectric actuator 29, it is possible to calculate the moving speed of the check bar 21, and thus the opening / closing speed of the door 14. In this case, the following control can be executed. That is, when it is determined that the opening / closing speed of the door 14 exceeds the threshold value, the door 14 is forcibly decelerated. That is, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 29. When the rolling element 33 is sandwiched between the pressing wall 32 and the check bar 21, the displacement of the check bar 21 can be suppressed. The acceleration of the check bar 21 can also be detected. Various opening / closing controls of the door 14 can be executed by appropriately combining the detection results of the displacement position, speed, and acceleration of the check bar 21.

  (8) The generation timings of the vibrations of the two rolling elements 33 and 33 are different. For this reason, it is also possible to calculate the displacement position or the displacement speed of the check rod 21 based on the difference between the electric signals generated according to the vibrations of the two rolling elements 33 and 33.

  (9) The door 14 can be unlocked or the stop position of the door 14 can be set by applying a specific vibration to the door 14. That is, the occurrence of specific vibration can be detected through the piezoelectric actuator 29, and the detection can be triggered by the start of various vehicle controls.

  (10) When vibration is detected through the piezoelectric actuator 29 with the door 14 closed, it is possible to notify that an abnormality has occurred. As a cause of occurrence of suspicious vibration, an attempt to enter the vehicle interior by a third party or glass breakage is assumed.

  (11) When the operation of the door handle is detected through the door handle switch 44, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 29, and the door check device is in the unlocked state, that is, the state in which the rolling element 33 is released. Become. For this reason, when the door 14 is actually opened and closed, the door check device is already in the unlocked state, so that the door 14 can be opened and closed smoothly with a smaller force. Note that switching between locking and unlocking the door check device does not depend on the user's door opening / closing operation itself.

  (12) The door check device is switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by turning on or off the door handle switch 44. The switching is performed in the normal opening / closing operation of the door 14. For this reason, when the door check device is switched between the locked state and the unlocked state, it is not necessary to perform an operation unrelated to the opening / closing operation of the door 14 such as a button operation. Therefore, user convenience can be ensured.

  (13) The piezoelectric actuator 29 is employed as an actuator for releasing the rolling element 33 from being caught. A piezoelectric body requires less power to maintain its state once it is applied and then stretched. For this reason, power consumption can be suppressed.

  (14) Due to the elastic force of the compression coil spring 34, the rolling element 33 is always kept in contact with the pressing wall 32. For this reason, the rolling element 33 does not rattle inside the case 23. Generation of sound due to rattling is suppressed.

<Other embodiments>
The embodiment described above may be modified as follows.
In this example, the rolling elements 33 are caused to vibrate by forming a large number of protrusions 35 on the check bar 21, but the following may be employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the side surface of the check rod 21 on the rolling element 33 side may be a wave surface 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, each protrusion 35 in this example may be replaced with a recess 52. Even in these cases, irregularities can be formed on the side surface of the check rod 21 on the rolling element 33 side. When the check bar 21 moves, the rolling element 33 vibrates according to the unevenness.

  -In this example, although the rolling element 33 was made spherical, it is good also as another shape. For example, a cylindrical shape may be used. By setting the height of the cylinder to be smaller than the diameter of the spherical rolling element, the door check device can be downsized.

  In this example, the materials of the clamping member 30, the rolling element 33, and the check rod 21 may be appropriately selected according to product specifications and the like. Any material can be used as long as the required wedge action is obtained between the check bar 21 and the clamping member. Any of metal, synthetic resin material, rubber and the like may be used.

In this example, the clamping member 30 is integrally formed by plastic deformation of a single metal plate material, but may be configured by connecting a plurality of members.
In this example, the arrangement interval of the protrusions 35 is set so as to gradually increase from the fully closed end of the check bar 21 toward the fully open end, but may be equally spaced. Even in this way, the displacement position and the displacement speed of the check rod 21 can be obtained.

In this example, the check rod 21 is provided on the vehicle body 11 and the stopper mechanism 22 is provided on the door 14. However, the stopper mechanism 22 may be provided on the vehicle body 11 and the check rod 21 may be provided on the door 14.
In this example, the two sets of the pressing walls 32 and the rolling elements 33 are accommodated in the single case 23. However, each set may be accommodated in a separate case and configured as a divided body. In this case, the piezoelectric actuator 29 is also accommodated in each case. To obtain the same effect as this example, two divided bodies are required.

  In this example, the following two functions are realized by the single piezoelectric actuator 29. That is, a function as a drive unit that switches the state of the check bar 21 interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the door 14 between the first state that allows the movement of the check bar 21 and the second state that restricts the same (the first state) And a function (second function) as a detection unit for detecting the displacement state of the check bar 21. However, both functions need not be realized by the single piezoelectric actuator 29. For example, a piezoelectric body (piezoelectric actuator) that realizes a function as a drive unit and a piezoelectric body that functions as a detection unit may be provided separately.

Further, a device other than the piezoelectric body or the piezoelectric actuator may be employed as a device that realizes the functions as the driving unit and the detecting unit.
What is adopted in order to realize the function as the drive unit is not limited as long as the rolling member 33 can be held or released by the clamping member 30 (pressing wall 32) through electric control. For example, a solenoid that converts electric energy into a linear movement of the plunger can be employed. An actuator using a motor or a shape memory alloy can also be used.

  In addition, as a device employed to realize the function as the detection unit, the vibration of the clamping member 30 or the rolling element 33 that occurs with the movement of the check rod 21 is detected, and an electrical signal corresponding to the detected vibration. As long as it generates Furthermore, what is adopted to realize the function as the detection unit may not be one that converts vibration into an electrical signal. For example, a displacement state such as a displacement position of the check bar 21 may be detected using a displacement sensor or a position sensor such as an optical type, a magnetic type, or a laser type. In this case, the uneven surface (projection 35) of the check bar 21 can be omitted.

  In this example, the stopper mechanism 22 is configured such that the rolling element 33 is sandwiched between the check rod 21 by the clamping member 30 (pressing wall 32). However, the configuration of the stopper mechanism 22 may be changed as appropriate. . That is, it is only necessary that the movement of the check bar 21 can be restricted or released through electrical control.

<Other technical ideas>
Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be added below.
(A) The door check device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the uneven surface is provided by forming a plurality of protrusions on the check rod. According to this configuration, a suitable vibration can be obtained when the rolling element gets over the protrusion as the check rod is displaced.

  (B) a stopper mechanism provided on the vehicle body or the door, and a check rod that is rotatably connected to the door or the vehicle body and is relatively displaced with respect to the stopper mechanism when the door is opened and closed. In the door check device that holds the opening position of the door by restricting the relative displacement between the stopper mechanism and the check rod by the function of the mechanism, the stopper mechanism includes a rolling element that rolls on the check rod. A clamping member that has an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the displacement direction of the check rod, and that elastically sandwiches the rolling element with the check rod by the inclined portion; and directly with respect to the clamping member And a piezoelectric actuator provided so as to be able to transmit motion and releasing the pinching state of the rolling element through displacement due to voltage application. The side surface of the body side, the door check device irregular surface undulating along the displacement direction of the check rod is formed.

  According to this configuration, the rolling element vibrates according to the undulations of the concavo-convex surface as the check rod is displaced. This vibration is transmitted as a mechanical external force to the piezoelectric actuator via the clamping member that is in contact with the rolling element. As a result, the piezoelectric actuator generates an electrical signal corresponding to the transmitted vibration (piezoelectric effect). Since the vibration is due to the unevenness of the uneven surface of the check rod, the electric signal generated in the piezoelectric actuator also corresponds to the uneven surface. For this reason, it becomes possible to detect the displacement position of the check rod, and thus the opening position of the door, based on the electric signal. That is, it is possible to obtain an added value such as not only holding the opening position of the door but also detecting the check bar and the state of the door at that time. Note that the manner of holding and releasing the check rod, and thus the door, is the same as that of the vehicle door system according to claim 3.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Vehicle body, 14 ... Door, 15 ... Door check apparatus (door system for vehicles), 22 ... Stopper mechanism (drive part), 21 ... Check rod, 33 ... Rolling element, 32 ... Pressing wall (inclined part), 29 ... Piezoelectric actuators constituting a drive unit and a detection unit, 30... Sandwiching member, 35... Projection (uneven surface), 41... Control circuit (control unit), 45.

Claims (5)

A drive unit that switches between a first state that allows the movement of the check bar and a second state that regulates the check bar linked to the opening and closing operation of the vehicle door;
A detection unit for detecting a displacement state of the check bar;
A control unit that performs opening / closing control of the door by switching the state of the check rod between the first and second states through the control of the driving unit based on the detection result of the detection unit ,
The drive unit is provided with a rolling element that rolls on the check rod, a clamping member that sandwiches the rolling element between the check rod, and a displacement that is applied to the clamping member so as to transmit motion. A piezoelectric actuator that holds or releases the sandwiched state of the rolling element through,
The piezoelectric actuator also serves as the detection unit, and vibration generated in the rolling element as the check rod moves is applied to the piezoelectric actuator as a mechanical external force through the clamping member. A vehicle door system that generates electrical signals in response . The vehicle door system according to claim 1,
The detection unit is a vehicle door system that detects at least one of a position, a speed, and an acceleration of the check bar as a displacement state of the check bar. The vehicle door system according to claim 1 or 2,
The side surface of the rolling element side of the front Symbol check rod, vehicle door system irregular surface undulating along the moving direction of the check rod is formed. The vehicle door system according to claim 3 ,
The vehicular door system in which the undulation interval of the concavo-convex surface is set so as to gradually become wider in the moving direction of the check bar accompanying the operation in the closing direction of the door. In the vehicle door system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A switch for setting an arbitrary position between the fully closed position and the fully open position of the door as a stop position of the door;
The controller detects the opening position of the door based on the electrical signal, and when it is determined that the detected opening position has reached the stop position, the door opening / closing control is performed. A vehicle door system for stopping voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator.

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