DRIVE MOTOR FOR AN OPENING AND CLOSING BODY

Abstract

Drive motor (11) of an opening / closing body configured to open and close an opening / closing body (WG) of a vehicle in a predetermined movable area, wherein the drive motor (11) of an opening / closing body comprises: a motor body (12); and a controller (14) that controls an operating mode of the opening / closing body (WG) via the motor body (12) by varying a voltage applied to the motor, which is applied to the motor body (12), based on position information of the opening / closing body (WG), wherein when the opening / closing body (WG) is actuated towards an end position (Px) of the movable area, a section in which the voltage applied to the motor is set to a fixed value (Vb) defines a first section (A4), a section set between the first section (A4) and the end position (Px), defines a second section (A2, A3), the control (14) is configured to perform a speed reduction control and a stop control in the second section (A2, A3), The speed reduction control gradually reduces the voltage applied to the motor from the fixed value (Vb). The stop control stops a drive of the motor body (12) when a rotational speed of the motor body (12) is less than or equal to a first threshold value (St1), and at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body (12) in the first section (A4) or the second section (A2, A3) becomes less than or equal to a second threshold (St2) that is greater than the first threshold (St1), the control (14) is configured to adjust the voltage applied to the motor from that time until the opening / closing body (WG) reaches the end position (Px), and the stop control is executed at a voltage value that is greater than or equal to the voltage applied to the motor at that time.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive motor of an opening / closing body that automatically opens and closes, such as a power window or a sunroof included in a vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A drive motor of an opening / closing body that opens and closes, such as a power window regulator, includes a motor body and a controller. The motor body is configured to open and close a window glass between a fully closed position and a fully opened position. The controller controls an operating mode of the window glass via the motor body by varying an applied voltage applied to the motor body based on position information of the window glass.A controller of such a drive motor of an opening / closing body may perform so-called slow start control that operates opening of the window glass at a low speed when starting movement from the fully closed position, or may perform so-called slow stop control that gradually slows down the operated window glass before the window glass reaches an end position (fully closed position as well as fully opened position) of its movable range (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication JP 2007 - 63889 A).When a controller performs such low-speed operation control (slow start / slow stop control) near the fully closed position, the voltage applied to the motor is controlled based on the position information of the window glass, so that in one section from the fully closed position to a predetermined position, the window glass is operated at an operating speed lower than in other sections (normal speed). This limits the generation of noise in a drive system such as a window regulator or a speed reduction mechanism when the window glass reaches the end position or when the window glass starts to move from the fully closed position.Furthermore, JP 2002-327574 A discloses a control method for determining whether a foreign object or the like is caught in an opening / closing body when the opening / closing body is driven to close by a motor, the control method for determining whether a foreign object or the like is caught in an opening / closing body being characterized in that the motor speed is reduced in a predetermined range shortly before the opening / closing body is fully closed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be solved by the invention

[0003] In a drive motor of an opening / closing body such as the one described above, the rotational speed of the motor body fluctuates according to loads during window glass operation. When the rotational speed of the motor body is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the window glass has reached the end position (fully closed position or fully opened position), and the drive of the motor is stopped. However, during window glass operation, the loads (e.g., sliding load between the window glass and a hinge fitting of the vehicle door) fluctuate depending on the usage environment.In an environment where loads are increased beyond the acceptable limit, even if the window glass has not reached the end position during low-speed operation (under slow-stop control), the motor body speed may be reduced to the threshold or below, and the motor drive may be stopped. This is particularly undesirable because the window glass cannot be fully closed (the window glass cannot be actuated to the fully closed position).

[0004] In addition, there are recent demands for improving the airtightness of the vehicle interior and reducing the weight of doors to improve fuel efficiency. However, in a vehicle with a highly airtight interior or a vehicle with lightweight doors, when a door is closed, the air pressure of the vehicle interior hinders the door from closing (the door tends to remain open a crack). As a solution, a known drive motor of an opening / closing body actuates a window glass, when it is at or near the fully closed position, to open a predetermined width based on detecting that the vehicle door is open (the opening operation occurs regardless of an operation of an open / close switch).The open window glass provides an escape path for air in the vehicle interior and allows the vehicle door to be easily closed (the door tends not to remain ajar). Additionally, after the vehicle door is closed, the window glass is actuated to close based on detection that the vehicle door is closed (the closing operation occurs regardless of operation of an open / close switch).

[0005] When the function of such automatic operation control of the window glass is performed when only door opening and closing is combined with the function of the above-mentioned low-speed operation control performed near the fully closed position, the operation speed of the window glass under the automatic operation control performed when the door is opened and closed is low, corresponding to the operation speed of the window glass under the low-speed operation control. This lengthens the operation time of the window glass during the automatic operation control performed when the door is opened and closed, and may cause inconvenience to the user.

[0006] It is a first object of the present invention to provide a drive motor of an opening / closing body having a slow stop function that prevents an unintentional stop of an opening / closing body before the opening / closing body reaches an end position of a movable range.

[0007] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a drive motor of an opening / closing body having a function of automatic operation control of a window glass performed when opening and closing of a door is performed, and a function of low-speed operation control performed near a fully closed position and shortening an operation time of the window glass in the automatic operation control.

[0008] The above objects are achieved according to the invention by a drive motor according to claim 1 or a drive motor according to claim 5. Further features and advantageous developments are shown in the subclaims. Means of solving the problem

[0009] To achieve the above-described first object, one aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor of an opening / closing body configured to open and close an opening / closing body of a vehicle within a predetermined movable range. The drive motor of an opening / closing body includes a motor body and a controller that controls an operation mode of the opening / closing body via the motor body by varying a voltage applied to the motor body based on position information of the opening / closing body. When the opening / closing body is operated toward an end position of the movable range, a section where the voltage applied to the motor is set to a predetermined value defines a first section.A section set between the first section and the end position defines a second section. The controller is configured to execute a speed reduction control and a stop control in the second section. The speed reduction control gradually reduces the voltage applied to the motor from the set value. The stop control stops driving the motor body when the speed of the motor body is less than or equal to a first threshold.At a time when the rotational speed of the motor becomes less than or equal to a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value in the first section or the second section, the controller is configured to adjust the voltage applied to the motor from that time until the opening / closing body reaches the end position, and the stop control is executed to a voltage value greater than or equal to the voltage applied to the motor at that time.

[0010] To achieve the second object described above, another aspect of the present invention provides an opening / closing body drive motor configured to open and close an opening / closing body included in a vehicle door between a fully closed position and a fully opened position. The opening / closing body drive motor includes a motor body and a controller that operates the opening / closing body via the motor body to open and close based on an operation of an open / close switch. A set position is set between the fully closed position and the fully opened position. A section from the set position to the fully closed position defines a first section.A section closer to the fully open position than the first section defines a second section. The controller is configured to perform low-speed operation control and automatic operation control. The low-speed operation control sets an operation speed of an opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body based on an operation of the open / close switch to be lower in the first section than in the second section. The automatic operation control operates the opening / closing body to open when the opening / closing body is in the first section based on detection that the vehicle door is open, and operates the opening / closing body to close based on subsequent detection that the vehicle door is closed.In the opening operation and / or the closing operation of the opening / closing body based on a control of the controller, the operation speed of the opening / closing body under the automatic operation control is set to be higher than the operation speed of the opening / closing body under the low-speed operation control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system including a first embodiment of an electric window motor according to the present invention. The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are graphics that show operations of the Fig. 1 shown engine. The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are graphs showing operations in a modified example. The Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B are graphs showing operations in a modified example. Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system including a second embodiment of an electric window motor according to the present invention. The Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B are graphics showing operations of the Fig. 5 shown engine. EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Now, a first embodiment of a power window system corresponding to an opening / closing body drive system comprising an opening / closing body drive motor will be described.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle-installed power window system 10 includes a window motor 11 and an electric control unit (ECU) of a body 21 connected to communicate with the window motor 11. The window motor 11 corresponds to a drive motor of an opening / closing body installed in a vehicle door DR for automatically opening and closing a window glass WG corresponding to an opening / closing body of the vehicle door DR.

[0013] The power window motor 11 includes a motor body 12, a drive circuit 13, and a power window ECU 14 (P / W-ECU) which are integrally coupled to each other.

[0014] The motor body 12 is driven to rotate based on the supply of drive power from the drive circuit 13, and operates the window glass WG to open and close vertically via a window regulator (not shown).

[0015] The drive circuit 13 includes a relay circuit 13a and a field-effect transistor (FET) 13b. The relay circuit 13a, which receives power from an on-board battery BT, supplies the drive power to the motor body 12 for forward / reverse drive or cuts off the supply. The FET 13b, which is a semiconductor switching element, is subjected to pulse-width modulation (PWM) control to adjust the drive power output from the relay circuit 13a. Specifically, the relay circuit 13a drives the motor body 12 forward or backward, and stops the drive, that is, operates the window glass WG in an opening / closing direction, or stops the operation. The FET 13b changes the rotational speed of the motor body 12, that is, the operation speed of the window glass WG. The relay circuit 13a and the FET 13b are controlled by the P / W-ECU 14.

[0016] The P / W ECU 14 includes a PWM controller 14a, a position speed detection section 14b, and a pinch processing section 14c. The P / W ECU 14 uses the PWM controller 14a, the position speed detection section 14b, the pinch processing section 14c, and the like to perform various types of controls regarding the opening / closing operation of the window glass WG. When performing various types of controls, the P / W ECU 14 receives a rotation pulse signal synchronous with a rotation of the motor body 12 from a rotation sensor 15. The P / W ECU 14 also receives an opening or closing instruction signal from an opening / closing switch 20, which is arranged, for example, on the vehicle door DR.

[0017] The P / W ECU 14 switches the relay circuit 13a to an energizable state (ON), for example, in a feed direction that rotates the motor body 12 forward when an open instruction signal is input, and in a feed direction that rotates the motor body 12 reversely when a close instruction signal is input. Additionally, in this case, the PWM controller 14a of the P / W ECU 14 transmits a PWM control signal to a control terminal of the FET 13b to switch the FET 13b between a fixed-on drive (100% mode) and an on-off drive at a predetermined frequency (variable mode). When there is no input of opening and closing instruction signals, the P / W ECU 14 switches the relay circuit 13a to stop (OFF) the supply of power to the motor body 12, and the PWM controller 14a turns off the FET 13b using the PWM control signal.

[0018] The position speed detecting section 14b detects the rotational position of the motor body 12, that is, the position of the window glass WG, based on the rotational pulse signal synchronous with the rotation of the motor body 12, specifically, a count of edges of the pulse signal. The position information of the window glass WG is stored each time in a memory (not shown) of the P / W-ECU 14. In addition, the position speed detecting section 14b detects the rotational speed of the motor body 12 (operating speed of the window glass WG) in the same way based on the rotational pulse signal, specifically, the length of one cycle of the pulse signal. As the rotational speed of the motor body 12 decreases, one cycle of the pulse signal becomes longer.

[0019] When the motor body 12 closes the window glass WG and the rotational speed of the motor body 12 is reduced to a reference speed or lower, the jamming processing section 14c determines that a jamming has occurred between the window glass WG during the closing operation and the vehicle door DR. In this case, if the operating speed of the window glass WG changes according to, for example, the position of the window glass WG during the operation, the reference rotational speed for jamming determination is changed accordingly. When it is determined that a jamming has occurred, the jamming processing section 14c controls the relay circuit 13a and the FET 13b so that the window glass WG is operated, for example, to open by a predetermined amount to enable the jammed object to be released.Furthermore, the jamming processing section 14c can determine the occurrence of an object being jammed between the window glass WG during an opening operation and the vehicle door DR. In this case, the jamming processing section 14c controls the relay circuit 13a and the FET 13b so that the window glass WG is actuated, for example, to close by a predetermined amount to allow the jammed object to be released.

[0020] The P / W ECU 14 is connected to the body ECU 21, which is an output ECU, to perform communication via a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system is, for example, a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) communication or a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication. The P / W ECU 14 obtains various types of required vehicle information from the body ECU 21.

[0021] Now, the operation (effect) of the power window system 10 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0022] The P / W-ECU 14 detects the opening / closing position of the window glass WG with the position speed detection section 14b, and adjusts a drive power (voltage applied to the motor) supplied from the drive circuit 10 to the motor body 12 via PWM control of the FET 13b to control the speed of an opening / closing operation of the window glass WG. As shown in the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B is indicated by solid lines (position of the window glass WG is referred to as window position), when the window glass WG is operated to close and reaches a position near the fully closed position, the P / W-ECU 14 executes a slow stop control that decelerates the window glass WG from the normal speed in a predetermined mode. For example, in the entire process of closing the window glass WG, a section located near the fully closed position, including a fully closed position Px corresponding to an end position, is set to a slow stop section A1. The slow stop section A1 is a section from a slow start position P0, where slow stopping begins, to the fully closed position Px. In addition, a first position P1 is set at an intermediate position of the slow stop section A1.

[0023] The window glass WG is actuated to close at the normal speed before the slow stop section A1. When the window glass WG reaches the slow start position P0, a speed reduction section A2 (second section) is set until the first position P1 is reached, and the operating speed of the window glass WG is gradually reduced from the normal speed to a predetermined low speed. Then, when the window glass WG reaches the first position P1, a fixed low-speed section A3 is set until the fully closed position Px is reached, and the operating speed of the window glass WG is fixed at a predetermined low speed.

[0024] To perform speed control of the mode described above, as indicated by the solid line in Fig. 2B, when the window glass WG is actuated to close at the normal speed in a specified normal speed section A4 (first section, or section toward the fully open position from the slow start position P) before the slow stop section A1, the PWM controller 14a keeps the FET 13b turned on (100% operation mode). Specifically, the PWM controller 14a sets a voltage of the motor body 12 applied to the motor to a battery voltage Vb.

[0025] To reduce the operating speed from the normal speed in the slow-stop section A1, the PWM controller 14a adjusts the operating mode below 100% to drive the FET 13b on and off. In the speed reduction section A2, from the slow-start position P0 to the first position P1, the PWM controller 14a gradually reduces the voltage applied to the motor from the battery voltage Vb (100% operating mode) to a low-speed drive voltage Va. Then, in the fixed low-speed section A3, from the first position P1 to the fully closed position Px, the PWM controller 14a fixes the voltage applied to the motor at the low-speed drive voltage Va.

[0026] When the slow stop section A1 is set in the window glass WG as described above, the fully closed position Px also serves as a mechanical locking position. Therefore, the window glass WG is closed at a lower speed than the normal speed in a section near the fully closed position including the fully closed position Px, in order to reduce the noise and impact generated when the window glass WG is mechanically locked in the fully closed position Px. In addition, when the window glass WG closes, an object may be caught between the window glass WG and the vehicle door DR. Therefore, the slow stop section A1 is provided to reduce the speed of the closing operation of the window glass WG so that the object is less likely to be caught.

[0027] As in the Fig. 2A and Fig. As shown in Fig. 2B, when the position speed detecting section 14B detects that the rotational speed (motor speed) of the motor body 12 is less than or equal to a first threshold value St1, the P / W ECU 14 stops the driving of the motor body 12, that is, executes stop control that stops the supply of the motor-applied voltage from the battery BT to the motor body 12 via the relay circuit 13a. Therefore, when the window glass WG reaches the fully closed position Px, which is the mechanical lock position, the driving of the motor body 12 is stopped.

[0028] Now, a case where during an operation of the window glass WG loads (e.g., a sliding load between the window glass WG and a belt fitting (not shown) of the vehicle door DR) increase beyond the assumption, for example, depending on the usage environment, is considered according to the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B. In this case, the rotational speed of the motor body 12 is reduced by the loads in the fixed normal speed section A4 and the slow stop section A1.

[0029] In the speed reduction section A2, the P / W ECU 14 compares the rotational speed of the motor body 12 with a second threshold value St2 which is greater than the first threshold value St1. At a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2, the PWM controller 14a sets a subsequent voltage applied to the motor to a voltage value Vc of the voltage applied to the motor that is applied at the time (time when the window glass WG reaches the position P2 in the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B). As a result, during the closing operation of the window glass WG from the position P2 to the fully closed position Px, the motor body 12 is driven at a rotational speed based on the voltage field Vc. When the window glass WG reaches the fully closed position Px and the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the first threshold value St1, the drive of the motor body 12 is stopped.

[0030] Now, the advantageous effects of the first embodiment will be described below. (1) When the window glass WG is operated toward the fully closed position Px (end position of the movable range), the P / W ECU 14 (PWM controller 14a) executes speed reduction control in the speed reduction section A2 (second section) located between the fixed normal speed section A4 (first section), where the voltage applied to the motor is set to the fixed value, and the fully closed position Px, which gradually reduces the voltage applied to the motor from a fixed value. If the rotational speed of the motor body 12 is not less than the first threshold value St1, the P / W ECU 14 continues the speed reduction control. In addition, when the rotational speed of the engine body 12 is less than or equal to the first threshold St1, the P / W-ECU 14 executes a stop control that stops the driving of the engine body 12.At a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2, which is greater than the first threshold value St1, in the speed reduction section A2, the PWM controller 14a sets a voltage applied to the motor from that time until the window glass WG reaches the fully closed position Px, and the stop control is executed with respect to the voltage value Vc applied to the motor at that time.

[0031] In this configuration, in the speed reduction section A2, in which the voltage applied to the motor is gradually reduced from the fixed value used in the fixed normal speed section A4, at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2, which is greater than the first threshold value St1 serving as the threshold for stopping the drive of the motor, the lower limit is set to the voltage applied to the motor (voltage value Vc) that is applied at that time. As a result, even if the load is greater than the assumption during an operation of the window glass WG, the rotational speed of the motor body 12 does not become less than or equal to the first threshold value St1, and therefore the drive of the motor body 12 is not stopped before the window glass WG reaches the fully closed position Px.This limits the occurrence of a malfunction, such as the window glass WG not being able to be closed.

[0032] The first embodiment can be modified as follows.

[0033] In the first embodiment, the control mode performed during a closing operation of the window glass WG (operation toward the fully closed position Px) is described as an example. However, the first embodiment can be applied to an opening operation of the window glass WG (operation toward the fully opened position).

[0034] In the first embodiment, at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2 in the speed reduction section A2, the PWM controller 14a sets a subsequent voltage applied to the motor to the voltage value Vc of the voltage applied to the motor at that time. However, this is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in Fig. 3A, at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2 in the speed reduction section A2, a voltage applied to the motor after this time (time when the window glass WG reaches the position P2 in the Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B) to the battery voltage Vb as shown in Fig. 3B. In this configuration, during the closing operation of the window glass WG from the position P2 to the fully closed position Px, the motor body 12 is driven at a speed equivalent to that of the fixed normal speed section A4 (see Fig. 3A). Therefore, as described in the first embodiment, even if the load is larger than the assumption during operation of the window glass WG, the rotational speed of the motor body 12 does not become less than or equal to the first threshold value St1 in the speed reduction section A2, and therefore, the driving of the motor body 12 is not stopped.

[0035] In the first embodiment, the P / W ECU 14 compares the rotational speed of the engine body 12 with the second threshold value St2 in the speed reduction section A2. However, this is not limited to such a configuration. As shown in Fig. 4A, the rotational speed of the motor body 12 can be compared with the second threshold value St2 in the fixed normal speed section A4. Likewise, in this case, at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the second threshold value St2 in the fixed normal speed section A4, the PWM controller 14a sets a subsequent voltage applied to the motor to the voltage applied to the motor (in the present example, the battery voltage Vb) present at that time (see Fig. 4B). Specifically, when the load is greater than the assumption during operation of the window glass WG, and the rotational speed of the motor body 12 is less than or equal to the second threshold St2 in the fixed normal speed section A4, the PWM controller 14a controls the FET 13b so that the voltage applied to the motor (rotational speed of the motor body 12) is not lowered even in the slow stop section A1. Such control also reduces situations in which the rotational speed of the motor body 12 becomes less than or equal to the first threshold St1, and the driving of the motor body 12 is stopped before the window glass WG reaches the fully closed position Px.

[0036] The speed reduction mode in the slow stop section A1 is not limited to the method described in the first embodiment and can be appropriately changed. For example, if the fixed low-speed section A3 is not provided before the fully closed position Px, the operating speed of the window glass WG can be reduced from the slow start position P0 to the fully closed position Px (i.e., the speed reduction section A2 can be provided from the slow start position P0 to the fully closed position Px).

[0037] In the first embodiment, the PWM controller 14a leaves the FET 13b in the fixed normal speed section A4 turned on (100% operating mode). Instead, the FET 13b in the fixed normal speed section A4 can be controlled on and off, so that the operating mode is fixed to a value lower than 100%.

[0038] The drive circuit 13 includes the relay circuit 13a and the FET 13b. However, the configuration of the drive circuit is not limited to this. For example, a full-bridge drive circuit with four semiconductor switching elements such as FETs or a half-bridge drive circuit with two semiconductor switching elements can be used.

[0039] The subject being opened and closed is the window glass WG, and the present invention is applied to the window lift motor 11 (power window system 10) that opens and closes the window glass WG. However, the present invention can be applied to a different drive motor of an opening / closing body (opening / closing body drive system) of a vehicle, for example, a motor (system) that drives a sunroof.

[0040] A second embodiment of a window regulator system corresponding to an opening / closing body drive system having an opening / closing body drive motor will now be described. The same configuration as the first embodiment will not be described in detail.

[0041] As in Fig. As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle-installed power window system 10 includes the power window motor 11, which corresponds to a drive motor of an opening / closing body installed in the vehicle door DR for opening and closing the window glass WG according to an opening / closing body of the vehicle door DR, and the open-close switch 20 that controls the power window motor 11. In addition, the power window system 10 includes the body electric control unit (ECU) 21, which is connected for communication with the power window motor 11.

[0042] The P / W-ECU 14 detects the opening-closing position of the window glass WG with the position speed detecting section 14b, and adjusts the drive power (voltage applied to the motor) supplied from the drive circuit 10 to the motor body 12 through PWM control of the FET 13b to control the speed of an opening-closing operation of the window glass WG. Specifically, the P / W-ECU 14 controls the speed of the opening-closing operation of the window glass WG using a PWM command value map stored in advance in a memory (not shown). The PWM command value map sets changes in a PWM command value (voltage command value) according to the position of the window glass WG. In the present embodiment, the PWM command value map is provided separately for an opening operation and a closing operation.The P / W ECU 14 refers to the PWM instruction value map based on the position information of the window glass WG detected by the position speed detecting section 14b to determine the voltage applied to the motor, which is adjusted in the PWM control of the FET 13b.

[0043] The operation (effect) of the power window system 10 of the second embodiment will now be described.

[0044] When the open-close switch 20 is operated, the P / W-ECU 14 performs operation control of the window glass WG based on the opening or closing instruction signal output from the open-close switch 20, and operation control of the window glass WG based on a detection signal from a door opening-closing detecting section 22 that detects an open / closed state of the vehicle door DR, such as a room light switch.

[0045] The operation control (hereinafter referred to as normal operation control) of the window glass WG executed by the P / W-ECU 14 based on an operation of the open-close switch 20 (open or close instruction signal) will now be described.

[0046] As shown by the solid line in Fig. 6A, when the window glass WG is actuated to open based on an open instruction signal, the P / W-ECU 14 executes a slow start control that operates the window glass WG at a low speed when starting a movement from the fully closed position Px (or a position close to the fully closed position Px). In addition, the P / W-ECU 14 executes a slow stop control that reduces the operating speed of the window glass WG before reaching the fully open position Py. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B, the position of the window glass WG is referred to as a window position.

[0047] Predetermined positions located between the fully closed position Px and the fully opened position Py of the window glass WG are set as a first set position P11 and a second set position P12. One of the two set positions closer to the fully closed position Px is called the first set position P11, and one of the two set positions closer to the fully opened position Py is called the second set position P12.A section from the fully closed position Px to the first set position P11 is referred to as a first section A11, a section from the first set position P11 to the second set position P12 is referred to as a second section A12, and a section from the second set position P12 to the fully opened position Py is referred to as a third section A13.

[0048] The P / W ECU 14 gradually increases the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG to a normal speed Sn in the first section A11 and causes the window glass WG to perform the opening operation at the normal speed Sn in the second section A12. In the present embodiment, when the window glass WG is operated at the normal speed Sn, the PWM controller 14a keeps the FET 13b turned on (100% operation mode). Specifically, the PWM controller 14a sets the voltage applied to the motor body 12 to the battery voltage. In the third section A13, the P / W ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open at speeds lower than the normal speed Sn.In the present embodiment, from the second set position P12 to an intermediate position of the third section A13, the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG is gradually reduced from the normal speed Sn to a predetermined low speed (low speed Sa), and from the intermediate position to the fully opened position Py, the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG is fixed at the low speed Sa.

[0049] In the same way as indicated by the solid line in Fig. As shown in Fig. 6B, when the window glass WG is operated to close based on a close instruction signal, the P / W-ECU 14 executes slow start control that operates the window glass WG at a low speed when starting movement from the fully open position Py (or a position close to the fully open position Py). In addition, the P / W-ECU 14 executes slow stop control that reduces the operation speed of the window glass WG before reaching the fully closed position Px.

[0050] Specifically, the P / W-ECU 14 gradually increases the closing operation speed of the window glass WG to the normal speed Sn in the third section A13 and causes the window glass WG to perform the closing operation at the normal speed Sn in the second section A12. In the first section A11, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to close at speeds lower than the normal speed Sn. In the present embodiment, from the first set position P11 to an intermediate position of the first section A11, the closing operation speed of the window glass WG is gradually reduced from the normal speed Sn to the low speed Sa, and from the intermediate position to the fully closed position Px, the closing operation speed of the window glass WG is fixed at the low speed Sa.

[0051] As described above, in the normal operation control executed based on an operation of the open / close switch 20, the P / W-ECU 14 executes the low-speed operation control (slow start / slow stop control) at and near the fully closed position Px.

[0052] The operation control of the window glass WG executed by the P / W-ECU 14 based on a detection signal from the door opening / closing detecting section 22 (hereinafter referred to as an automatic operation control during door opening / closing) will now be described.

[0053] At a time when a detection signal indicating that the vehicle door DR is open is received from the door opening-closing detection section 22 via the body ECU 21, the P / W-ECU 14 refers to the position of the window glass WG at that time (hereinafter referred to as position Ps). The P / W-ECU 14 stores the position Ps of the window glass WG in the memory. When the position Ps of the window glass WG is in one section (fourth section A14) from the fully closed position Px to a third set position P13, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open to the third set position P13. The third set position P13 is set such that the opening amount of the window glass WG (area of ​​an opening formed when the window glass WG is opened) is appropriate for releasing the air from the vehicle interior when the vehicle door DR is closed.In the present embodiment, the third set position P13 is set to be closer to the fully closed position Px than the first set position P11. In other words, the fourth section A14 is set to be included in the first section A11. Preferably, the third set position P13 is set to a position offset from the fully closed position Px toward the fully opened position Py by approximately 10 mm to 40 mm.

[0054] During the opening operation of the window glass WG under automatic operation control, the P / W ECU 14 controls the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG using the PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control stored in advance in the memory (not shown). Specifically, as indicated by the double-dashed line in Fig. 6A, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open at the normal speed Sn until the window glass WG reaches the third set position P13 from the position Ps.

[0055] When the position Ps is at the fully closed position Px, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open at the low speed Sa only in a small section from the fully closed position Px (section of approximately 1 mm from the fully closed position Px) and then at the normal speed Sn until the window glass WG reaches the third set position P13.Therefore, the average speed of the opening operation in the fourth section A14 under the automatic operation control (average value of the fourth section A14 set in the PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control) is set to be higher than the average speed of the opening operation in the fourth section A14 under the normal operation control (slow start control) (average value of the fourth section A14 set in the PWM instruction value map for normal operation control).

[0056] As described above, based on the detection signal indicating that the vehicle door DR is open, the P / W ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open from the position Ps to the third set position P13 at the normal speed Sn, and stops the window glass WG at the third set position P13. This ensures a sufficient opening amount of the window glass WG and reduces situations in which the vehicle door DR is open a little when it is closed.

[0057] When the vehicle door DR is closed, the P / W ECU 14 receives a detection signal indicating that the vehicle door DR is closed from the door opening / closing detection section 22 via the body ECU 21, and operates the window glass WG to close from the third set position P13 to the position Ps. At this time, the P / W ECU 14 controls the speed of the closing operation of the window glass WG using the PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control stored in advance in the memory (not shown). The PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control is provided separately for an opening operation and a closing operation.

[0058] During the closing operation of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control, as shown by the double-dashed line in Fig.6B, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to close from the third set position P13 to the position Ps at the normal speed Sn. When the position Ps is at the fully closed position Px, the P / W-ECU 14 sets the speed of the closing operation of the window glass WG to the low speed Sa in a section immediately before the fully closed position Px (section approximately 1 mm immediately before the fully closed position Px).Therefore, the average speed of the closing operation in the fourth section A14 under the automatic operation control (average value of the fourth section A14 set in the PWM instruction value map for the automatic operation control) is set to be higher than the average speed of the closing operation in the fourth section A14 under the normal operation control (slow stop control) (average value of the fourth section A14 set in the PWM instruction value map for the normal operation control).

[0059] The automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time is executed when the position Ps of the window glass WG is in the fourth section A14 at a time when the P / W ECU 14 receives a detection signal indicating that the vehicle door DR is open. In other words, when the position Ps is outside the fourth section A14 (i.e., the window glass WG is closer to the fully open position Py than the third set position P13), the window glass WG is sufficiently open. Therefore, the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time is not executed.

[0060] Now, the advantageous effects of the second embodiment will be described below.

[0061] (2) The speeds of the opening operation and closing operation of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time are respectively set to be higher than the speeds of the opening operation and closing operation of the window glass WG performed under the low-speed operation control (slow start / slow stop control in the normal operation control) in the fourth section A14 including the fully closed position Px. Therefore, while the function of automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time and the function of low-speed operation control (slow start / slow stop control) performed near the fully closed position Px are both provided, the operation time of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time is shortened.As a result, the operation of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time annoys the user less.

[0062] (3) In the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open at the low speed Sa in a small section when starting to move from the fully closed position Px. In addition, in the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time, the P / W-ECU 14 reduces the closing operation speed of the window glass WG from the normal speed Sn to the low speed Sa immediately before the fully closed position Px.Therefore, while the operation time of the window glass WG is shortened in the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time, the generation of noise in a drive system such as a window regulator and a speed reduction mechanism is minimized when the window glass WG starts to move from the fully closed position Px, which is the mechanical locking position, or reaches the fully closed position Px.

[0063] The second embodiment can be modified as follows.

[0064] In the second embodiment of the automatic operation control, at a door opening / closing time, the window glass WG is operated to close from the third set position P13 to the position Ps based on detection that the vehicle door DR is closed. Instead, the window glass WG may be operated to close from the third set position P13 to the fully closed position Px.

[0065] In the second embodiment, in the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time, the P / W-ECU 14 operates the window glass WG to open at the low speed Sa in a small section when a movement starts from the fully closed position Px. Instead, the window glass WG may be operated to open from the fully closed position Px at the normal speed Sn. In addition, in the second embodiment, in the automatic operation control at a door opening / closing time, the P / W-ECU 14 reduces the speed of the closing operation of the window glass WG from the normal speed Sn to the low speed Sa immediately before the fully closed position Px. Instead, the window glass WG may be operated to close to the fully closed position Px at the normal speed Sn.

[0066] The speed reduction mode and the speed increase mode in the first and second sections A11 and A13 in the normal operation control of the second embodiment can be changed as appropriate. For example, in a slow start control executed in the first section A11, the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG from the fully closed position Px to the intermediate position of the first section A11 may be fixed at the low speed Sa. For example, in a slow stop control executed in the first section A11, instead of providing the fixed speed section before the fully closed position Px, the operation speed of the window glass WG may be reduced until the fully closed position Px is reached.

[0067] In the second embodiment, in automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time, speed control is performed using the PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control. Instead, in automatic operation control, the operation mode of the PWM control may be fixed to a predetermined value (e.g., 100% operation mode). This eliminates the need for the PWM instruction value map for automatic operation control and reduces the amount of memory used. Furthermore, the FET 13b will not perform the operation mode adjustment in automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time. This simplifies the control.

[0068] In the second embodiment, the speeds of the opening operation and closing operation of the window glass WG and the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing timing are respectively set to the speeds of the opening operation and closing timing of the window glass WG performed in the fourth section A14 under the low-speed operation control (slow start / slow stop control in the normal operation control). However, this is not limited to such a configuration.

[0069] For example, in the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time, the speed of only the opening operation of the window glass WG may be set to be higher than the speed of the opening operation of the window glass WG performed in the fourth section A14 under the low-speed operation control. In this case, in the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time, it is preferable that the speed of the closing operation of the window glass WG is controlled, for example, based on the PWM instruction value map for the normal operation control (ie, low-speed operation).According to this configuration, since an object may be caught between the window glass WG and the vehicle door DR during the closing operation, the window glass WG is actuated to close at a low speed under automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time. Therefore, an object is not easily caught. Therefore, while the window glass WG is actuated appropriately with respect to an object being caught, the opening operation time of the window glass WG is shortened under automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time.

[0070] In the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time, when the speed of only one of the opening or closing operation of the window glass WG is set to be higher than the operation speed of the window glass WG in the fourth section A14 under the low-speed operation control, the opening / closing operation time (total time of an opening operation and a closing operation) of the window glass WG is longer than that of the second embodiment in the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time.Therefore, as described in the second embodiment, when the speeds of the opening operation and closing operation of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time are respectively set to be higher than the speeds of the opening operation and closing operation of the window glass WG performed in the fourth section A14 under the normal operation control, the operation time of the window glass WG in the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time is further shortened. As a result, the operation of the window glass WG under the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time is further less annoying to the user.

[0071] In the second embodiment, the third set position P13 is set to be closer to the fully closed position Px than the first set position P11. Instead, the third set position P13 may be set to the same position as the first set position P11, or may be set to be closer to the fully opened position Py than the first set position P11.

[0072] In the second embodiment, in the normal operation control and the automatic operation control during a door opening / closing time, the P / W ECU 14 executes speed control (PWM control) of the opening / closing operation of the window glass WG using the PWM command value map. Instead of or in addition to a map, for example, operation expressions can be used to execute speed control (PWM control).

[0073] The drive circuit 13 includes the relay circuit 13a and the FET 13b. However, the configuration of the drive circuit is not limited to this. For example, a full-bridge drive circuit with four semiconductor switching elements such as FETs or a half-bridge drive circuit with two semiconductor switching elements can be used. In the second embodiment, the P / W ECU 14 adjusts the voltage applied to the motor using PWM control. However, this is not limited to such a specific configuration.

[0074] In the second embodiment, the power window motor 11 includes the motor body 12 and the P / W ECU 14, which are integrally coupled to each other. However, the P / W ECU 14 and the motor body 12 may be configured to be separated from each other.

[0075] The first and second embodiments and the modified examples can be combined.

Claims

[1] An opening / closing body drive motor (11) configured to open and close an opening / closing body (WG) of a vehicle in a predetermined movable range, the opening / closing body drive motor (11) comprising: a motor body (12); and a controller (14) that controls an operation mode of the opening / closing body (WG) via the motor body (12) by varying a voltage applied to the motor, which is applied to the motor body (12), based on position information of the opening / closing body (WG), wherein when the opening / closing body (WG) is actuated towards an end position (Px) of the movable range, a section in which the voltage applied to the motor is set to a fixed value (Vb) defines a first section (A4), a section set between the first section (A4) and the end position (Px) defines a second section (A2, A3), the controller (14) is configured to execute a speed reduction control and a stop control in the second section (A2, A3), the speed reduction control gradually reduces the voltage applied to the motor from the fixed value (Vb), the stop control stops a drive of the motor body (12) when a rotational speed of the motor body (12) is less than or equal to a first threshold value (St1), and at a time when the rotational speed of the motor body (12) in the first section (A4) or the second section (A2, A3) becomes less than or equal to a second threshold value (St2) which is greater than the first threshold value (St1), the controller (14) is configured to adjust the voltage applied to the motor from that time until the opening / closing body (WG) reaches the end position (Px), and the stop control is executed at a voltage value which is greater than or equal to the voltage applied to the motor at that time. [2] The drive motor (11) of an opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein the end position (Px) of the opening / closing body (WG) is a fully closed position (Px) of the opening / closing body (WG). [3] The opening / closing body driving motor (11) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening / closing body (WG) which is a subject opened and closed by the motor body (12) is a window glass (WG) included in a vehicle door (DR). [4] The drive motor (11) of an opening / closing body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller (14) is configured to continue the speed reduction control when the rotational speed of the motor body (12) is not less than the first threshold value (St1). [5] An opening / closing body drive motor (11) configured to open and close an opening / closing body (WG) contained in a vehicle door (DR) between a fully closed position (Px) and a fully opened position (Py), the opening / closing body drive motor (11) comprising: a motor body (12); and a controller (14) which operates the opening / closing body (WG) to open and close it via the motor body (12) based on an operation of an open-close switch (20), wherein a set position (P11) is set between the fully closed position (Px) and the fully open position (Py), a section from the set position (P11) to the fully closed position (Px) defines a first section (A11), a section located closer to the fully open position (Py) than the first section (A11) defines a second section (A12, A13), the controller (14) is configured to perform low-speed operation control and automatic operation control, the low-speed operation controller sets an operation speed of an opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body (WG) based on an operation of the opening-closing switch (20) to be lower in the first section (A11) than in the second section (A12, A13), the automatic operation controller operates the opening / closing body (WG) to open when the opening / closing body (WG) is located in the first section (A11) based on a detection that the vehicle door (DR) is open, and operates the opening / closing body (WG) to close based on a subsequent detection that the vehicle door (DR) is closed, and in the opening operation and / or the closing operation of the opening / closing body (WG) based on a control operation of the controller (14), the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the automatic operation control is set to be higher than the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the low-speed operation control. [6] The drive motor (11) of an opening / closing body according to claim 5, wherein in both the opening operation and the closing operation of the opening / closing body (WG) based on a control operation of the controller (14), the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the automatic operation control is set to be higher than the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the low-speed operation control. [7] The opening / closing body driving motor (11) according to claim 5, wherein in only the opening operation of the opening / closing body (WG) based on a control operation of the controller (14), the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the automatic operation control is set to be higher than the operation speed of the opening / closing body (WG) under the low-speed operation control.

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