Vehicle door unlock device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door unlock device capable of easily placing the door in an unlocked state during a vehicle collision etc., while ensuring excellent safety and cost efficiency.SOLUTION: A vehicle door unlock device 20 is a device configured to release locking of a door 12 by a door lock part 11, in response to a state of a vehicle 10. The vehicle door unlock device 20 includes a release operation part 21 and a module mechanism 22. The release operation part 21 is installed in the door 12, can be unlocked by a manual operation, and is mechanically connected to the door lock part 11. The module mechanism 22 is a unit that stores the release operation part 21 in the door 12 in a state allowing projection to the outside of the door 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door unlocking device. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical vehicle door is provided with an outside door handle and a locking mechanism. When an occupant opens a door from outside the vehicle, the occupant unlocks the locking mechanism and pulls the outside door handle toward the occupant. This releases the door's lock mechanism, allowing the door to be opened by rotating or sliding.

[0003] Recent vehicles are equipped with an electronically controlled release mechanism that replaces the release of the lock mechanism by pulling the outside door handle with an electric control. In such an electronically controlled release mechanism, when an occupant operates a sensor installed in the door, an actuator releases the lock mechanism based on the detection of the sensor. The occupant can then open the door.

[0004] Such electronically controlled release mechanisms have the advantage that occupants can easily release the door lock mechanism under normal circumstances, but they have the problem that the lock mechanism cannot be released by the actuator in the event of a vehicle collision or loss of power.

[0005] In order to address such issues, mechanisms have been invented that allow the doors to be manually unlocked in the event of a vehicle accident. Such mechanisms are described in Patent Documents 1 to 3. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6180080 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-110225 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6725146 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the inventions described in the above-mentioned patent documents leave room for improvement in terms of safety during unlocking, etc.

[0008] Specifically, in the inventions described in the above-mentioned patent documents, the door is unlocked by applying a pulling force or the like to a member or the like that is present outside the door, so there is a risk that a third party other than the passenger may be able to unlock the door by operating it from outside.

[0009] In addition, in the inventions described in the above-mentioned patent documents, if the door is mechanically unlocked in the event of a vehicle collision or power loss, it may not be easy to return it to its original state. Therefore, it is necessary to rely on a maintenance company or the like to return the unlocked door to its original state. In such cases, there is a problem that it takes time and cost to return the door to its original state.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door unlocking device that can easily unlock the doors in the event of a vehicle collision, etc., and that is also safe and cost-effective. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A vehicle door unlocking device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle door unlocking device configured to be able to unlock a door locked by a door lock unit depending on the state of the vehicle, and is characterized in that it comprises an unlocking operation unit that is arranged on the door, can be unlocked by manual operation, and is mechanically connected to the door lock unit, and a modular mechanism that stores the unlocking operation unit in the door in a state in which it can protrude to the outside of the door. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the embodiment of the present invention, depending on the state of the vehicle, for example, in the event of a collision or power loss, the release operation part protrudes to the outside of the door by the operation of the occupant, and the release operation part can be pulled. In this way, the door lock part mechanically connected to the release operation part becomes in an unlocked state, and the door can be opened. Therefore, in the event of a collision or power loss, the door can be opened from the outside, and the occupants in the vehicle can be smoothly rescued. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a vehicle equipped with a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2A] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention and its surroundings; [Figure 2B] 4 is a perspective view showing the vehicle door unlocking device according to the embodiment of the present invention and its vicinity from a different angle. FIG. [Figure 3A] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3B] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5A] 1 is a perspective view showing an operation of protruding a key cylinder to the outside in a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5B] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a key cylinder protrudes to the outside in a vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A vehicle door unlocking device 20 and a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions are used, and the left and right directions refer to the left and right directions when the vehicle 10 is viewed from the front. Furthermore, in the following description, the same members are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle 10 equipped with a vehicle door unlocking device 20. As shown in FIG.

[0016] The vehicle 10 is, for example, an engine vehicle, an EV (Electric Vehicle), an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or the like.

[0017] A door 12 is attached to a vehicle body 13 of the vehicle 10. The door 12 is disposed in a front portion of the vehicle body 13 and closes a side opening of the vehicle body 13 in an openable and closable manner. For example, the front end portion of the door 12 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body 13 and is rotatable about the connection portion. The door 12 may be of a so-called sliding type.

[0018] The door lock unit 11 is configured to perform locking and unlocking operations of the door 12 by electrical control. The door lock unit 11 is disposed at the rear of the door 12. The door lock unit 11 has a striker unit (not shown) attached to a pillar of the vehicle body 13, and a latch unit (not shown) attached to the rear end of the door 12. When the door lock unit 11 is in a locked state, the latch unit latches the striker unit, and the door 12 is in a closed state. When the door lock unit 11 is in an unlocked state, the latch unit does not latch the striker unit, and an occupant or a third party can open the door 12.

[0019] The opening / closing operation unit 14 is a portion that is operated to open the door 12 when an occupant or the like gets into the vehicle 10. As described below, the opening / closing operation unit 14 opens the door lock unit 11 when the occupant operates a touch-type or push-type mechanism or the like. The opening / closing operation unit 14 also closes the door lock unit 11 when the occupant again operates the touch-type or push-type mechanism.

[0020] The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment does not have a conventional outdoor handle near the opening / closing operation unit 14. This improves the external design of the door 12 and the vehicle 10, and also reduces air resistance when the vehicle is traveling.

[0021] The vehicle 10 has a vehicle door unlocking device 20. The vehicle door unlocking device 20 is configured to be able to unlock the door 12 by the door lock unit 11 depending on the state of the vehicle 10, for example, in an emergency such as when the vehicle 10 loses power or when a collision accident occurs. The vehicle door unlocking device 20 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3A etc.

[0022] Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the vehicle door unlocking device 20 and its vicinity as viewed from below on the right side, and Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the vehicle door unlocking device 20 and its vicinity as viewed from above on the left side.

[0023] 2A and 2B, the opening / closing operation portion 14 mainly includes a recessed portion 15 and a lock operation portion 16. The opening / closing operation portion 14 is a portion that is manually operated by an occupant or the like when opening or closing the door 12.

[0024] The recessed portion 15 is a portion of the outer panel that constitutes the outer surface of the door 12 that is recessed toward the left, i.e., inward in the width direction. For example, the recessed portion 15 is a recessed area having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The recessed portion 15 has a shape and size that allows, for example, an occupant to insert the tip of his / her hand.

[0025] The lock operation unit 16 is, for example, a touch switch or a push switch. The switch portion of the lock operation unit 16 is exposed downward from the top surface of the recessed portion 15. When an occupant touches or presses the bottom surface of the lock operation unit 16, an electric signal is transmitted from the lock operation unit 16 to a calculation control unit 24 described later.

[0026] The vehicle door unlocking device 20 is a device configured to be able to unlock the door 12 locked by the door lock unit 11 depending on the state of the vehicle 10. Here, the state of the vehicle 10 is, for example, a state in which the power supply has been lost or a state in which a collision accident has occurred, which will be described later.

[0027] Specifically, the vehicle door unlocking device 20 mainly includes a release operation unit 21 and a module mechanism 22. Here, the release operation unit 21 and the module mechanism 22 are disposed on the rear side of the opening / closing operation unit 14.

[0028] The release operation unit 21 is a device that is disposed in the door 12 and can be unlocked by manual operation. The release operation unit 21 is, for example, a key cylinder 211 that is rotated by a key (not shown). The key cylinder 211 is mechanically connected to the latch part of the door lock unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 via a wire 17 shown in FIG. 2B. That is, a first end of the wire 17 is connected to the key cylinder 211, and a second end of the wire 17 is connected to the latch part of the door lock unit 11 described above. As will be described later, when an occupant, a rescuer, or the like pulls the key cylinder 211, the pulling force is transmitted to the latch part of the door lock unit 11 via the wire 17, whereby the latch part is released and the door lock unit 11 is put into an unlocked state.

[0029] The module mechanism 22 is a device that stores the key cylinder 211 in the door 12 in a state in which the key cylinder 211 can protrude to the outside of the door 12. Details of the module mechanism 22 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3A etc.

[0030] Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing the vehicle door unlocking device 20. Fig. 3B is an exploded perspective view showing the module main body 221, the module mechanism 22, and the like.

[0031] 3A, the module mechanism 22 of the vehicle door unlocking device 20 has a module main body portion 221 and a spring 231 which is the biasing portion 23. As shown in FIG.

[0032] The module body 221 is, for example, a motor, and is configured to be able to rotate the key cylinder 211 in an emergency. Specifically, the module body 221, which is a motor, has a rotating shaft at the front end. A motor-side gear (not shown) is fixed to the rotating shaft. Meanwhile, a cylinder-side gear (not shown) is disposed at the rear of the key cylinder 211. The motor-side gear and the cylinder-side gear are in mesh with each other. With this configuration, in an emergency, the key cylinder 211 can be rotated by the module body 221, causing the module body 221 to protrude outside the vehicle. The operation of the module mechanism 22 in an emergency will be described later with reference to FIG. 5A etc.

[0033] Spring 231 is, for example, a coil spring, and is disposed so as to be in contact with module main body 221. Spring 231 is normally compressed in the front-rear direction, and urges key cylinder 211 forward. As will be described later, spring 231 has the function of pushing key cylinder 211 outward from the vehicle in an emergency.

[0034] Locking portion 212 is a part of key cylinder 211, and is a portion of the front end of key cylinder 211 that protrudes radially outward. Here, part of the front end of key cylinder 211 protrudes to the right. Under normal conditions, locking portion 212 abuts against the rear side surface of recessed portion 15 from behind, as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0035] 3B, a mounting hole 27 and a through hole 28 are formed in the rear side surface of the recessed portion 15. The mounting hole 27 and the through hole 28 are continuous openings formed in the rear side surface of the recessed portion 15.

[0036] The mounting hole 27 is an opening having a substantially circular shape. The size of the mounting hole 27 is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the front end portion of the key cylinder 211.

[0037] The through hole 28 is an opening that continues to the mounting hole 27. Here, the through hole 28 is a substantially rectangular opening that continues upward from the upper end of the mounting hole 27. The size of the through hole 28 is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the lock portion 212 described above.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of the vehicle 10 including the vehicle door unlocking device 20. As shown in FIG.

[0039] The arithmetic control unit 24 is composed of a semiconductor element such as a CPU (Central processing unit). The arithmetic control unit 24 may include a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read only memory) as a storage unit. Such a storage unit stores programs, parameters, etc. The arithmetic control unit 24 executes functions and methods described below based on the programs, parameters, etc. read from the storage unit.

[0040] A terminal portion of the arithmetic and control unit 24 is connected to a collision detection unit 25, a lock operation unit 16, a door lock unit 11, an airbag 26, and a module main body 221.

[0041] The lock operation unit 16 has the same configuration as described above. The lock operation unit 16 transmits a signal indicating that the lock operation unit 16 has been operated by the occupant to the arithmetic and control unit 24.

[0042] The collision detection unit 25 is, for example, an acceleration sensor or a pressure sensor, and transmits a signal indicating that a collision accident has occurred on the vehicle 10 to the calculation control unit 24.

[0043] The door lock unit 11 has the same configuration as described above. The door lock unit 11 is set to a locked state or an unlocked state based on an instruction from the arithmetic and control unit 24 in response to an operation of the lock operation unit 16.

[0044] The airbag 26 is a bag-shaped shock-absorbing device disposed near an occupant, for example, in the front or side, in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10. When a collision accident occurs in the vehicle 10, the airbag 26 is deployed and inflated by a command from the calculation control unit 24 based on the detection result of the collision detection unit 25.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3A, the module main body 221 is a device having a motor, and rotates the key cylinder 211 shown in FIG. 3A based on instructions from the arithmetic and control unit 24.

[0046] The operation of the vehicle door unlocking device 20 having the above-mentioned configuration under normal circumstances will be described. When getting into the vehicle 10, the occupant operates the lock operation unit 16 provided in the opening / closing operation unit 14 shown in FIG. 2A. Then, based on the output of the lock operation unit 16, the calculation control unit 24 operates the actuator of the door lock unit 11 to change the door 12 from a locked state to an unlocked state. After that, the occupant places his / her hand on the recessed portion 15 to rotate the door 12 to an open state. Then, when the occupant gets into the vehicle 10 and starts driving the vehicle 10, the calculation control unit 24 operates the actuator of the door lock unit 11 to change the door 12 to a locked state.

[0047] The vehicle door unlocking device 20 can manually switch the door lock section 11 from a locked state to an unlocked state in an emergency such as when the power supply to the vehicle 10 is lost or when a collision accident occurs.

[0048] First, a method for unlocking the door lock section 11 by the vehicle door unlocking device 20 based on the operation of an occupant outside the vehicle when the power supply to the vehicle 10 has been lost will be described.

[0049] 1, when the vehicle 10 loses power due to discharge of a battery mounted thereon, power is not supplied to the lock operation unit 16 and the door lock unit 11. Therefore, even if an occupant operates the lock operation unit 16 to open the door 12 from the outside, the door lock unit 11 does not operate, and therefore the door lock unit 11 cannot be put into an unlocked state. Furthermore, as described above, the door 12 does not have an outdoor handle, and therefore the occupant cannot open the door 12 by operating the outdoor handle.

[0050] In this embodiment, the occupant manually unlocks the door lock unit 11 by operating the key cylinder 211 shown in Fig. 2A with the key that the occupant has. Specifically, the occupant inserts the key (not shown) into the key cylinder 211 through the keyhole 18 shown in Fig. 2A.

[0051] 5A, the occupant then rotates the key cylinder 211 via a key (not shown). As a result, when viewed from behind, the key cylinder 211 rotates clockwise. Together with the key cylinder 211, the lock portion 212 also rotates clockwise.

[0052] 5B, by doing so, the positions of the locking portion 212 and the through hole 28 match in the circumferential direction of the key cylinder 211, and the locking function of the locking portion 212 does not work. Therefore, the module main body 221 is released into the inside of the recessed portion 15, i.e., outside the vehicle, through the mounting hole 27 by the urging force of the spring 231. Next, the occupant pulls the module main body 221 by hand to apply a pulling force to the latch of the door locking portion 11 shown in FIG. 1 through the wire 17, thereby setting the door locking portion 11 in an unlocked state. After that, the occupant can open the door 12 and get into the vehicle 10. Also, with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the key cylinder 211 that has been pushed out to the outside can be stored inside the door 12 through the mounting hole 27 by the operation of the occupant or the work of an operator, and the original state can be restored by rotating the key cylinder 211 in the opposite direction to the above.

[0053] Next, a method for unlocking the door lock unit 11 by the vehicle door unlocking device 20 based on an instruction from the arithmetic and control unit 24 when a collision accident or the like occurs in the vehicle 10 will be described.

[0054] 4, if a collision accident or the like occurs while vehicle 10 is traveling, collision detection unit 25 transmits to arithmetic and control unit 24 information indicating that vehicle 10 has been subjected to an impact of a predetermined magnitude or greater.

[0055] The arithmetic and control unit 24 inflates and deploys the airbag 26 to protect the occupant based on the information input from the collision detection unit 25. At the same time, the arithmetic and control unit 24 transmits information to the module main body 221 to put the door 12 into an unlocked state.

[0056] 5A, the rotating shaft of the module body 221, which is a motor, rotates based on information input from the calculation control unit 24. As described above, the rotating shaft of the module body 221 and the module body 221 are meshed. Therefore, the module body 221 rotates the key cylinder 211 clockwise as viewed from the rear. When the locking portion 212 and the through hole 28 are aligned in the circumferential direction by this rotation, the locking by the locking portion 212 is released, and the key cylinder 211 is pushed forward by the biasing force of the spring 231. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the key cylinder 211 protrudes into the inside of the recessed portion 15 outside the vehicle. After that, when a rescuer or the like outside the vehicle grips the key cylinder 211 and pulls it toward himself, the door lock unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 becomes unlocked via the wire 17 connected to the key cylinder 211. When the door lock unit 11 is in the unlocked state, rescuers or the like can open the door 12 and rescue the occupants present inside the vehicle 10.

[0057] Here, in the event of a collision accident, the outward protrusion of key cylinder 211 may be caused by something other than the above-mentioned spring 231. For example, key cylinder 211 may be configured to jump out forward due to the impact energy at the time of a collision.

[0058] The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment will be described below together with their effects.

[0059] A vehicle door unlocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle door unlocking device configured to unlock a door by a door lock unit depending on the state of the vehicle, and is characterized by comprising: an unlocking operation unit that is disposed in the door, can be unlocked by manual operation, and is mechanically connected to the door lock unit; and a module mechanism that stores the unlocking operation unit in the door in a state in which it can protrude to the outside of the door. According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the present invention, depending on the state of the vehicle, for example, in the event of a collision or power loss, the unlocking operation unit protrudes to the outside by an operation by an occupant, and the unlocking operation unit can be pulled. In this way, the door lock unit mechanically connected to the unlocking operation unit is in an unlocked state, and the door can be in an open state. Therefore, in the event of a collision or power loss, the door can be opened from the outside, and the occupants in the vehicle can be smoothly rescued.

[0060] In addition, in the vehicle door unlocking device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the door lock unit is configured to perform an unlocking operation of the door by electrical control. According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the present invention, in a vehicle in which the unlocking operation of the door is performed by electrical control, a door handle may not be present on the outer surface of the door. Even in such a case, the door can be easily unlocked by pulling the release operation unit, since the release operation unit protrudes to the outside of the door in the event of a collision or power loss.

[0061] In addition, in the vehicle door unlocking device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the release operation unit is a key cylinder that is rotated. According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the present invention, in the event of a power loss or the like, the key cylinder can be inserted into the key cylinder and rotated to cause the key cylinder to protrude outside the door. The door can then be unlocked by manually pulling the key cylinder. The release operation unit being a key cylinder improves crime prevention.

[0062] In addition, in the vehicle door unlocking device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the release operation unit is configured to protrude outside the door when a collision accident of the vehicle occurs. According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the present invention, when a collision accident of the vehicle occurs, the release operation unit protrudes outside the door, so that a rescuer can pull the release operation unit to set the door lock unit to an unlocked state. Therefore, when a collision accident of the vehicle occurs, the door can be opened from outside the vehicle, and the occupants can be smoothly rescued.

[0063] In addition, the vehicle door unlocking device according to one embodiment of the present invention is further provided with a biasing portion, and when the collision accident occurs, the biasing portion causes the release operation portion to protrude to the outside of the door. According to the vehicle door unlocking device of the present invention, when a collision accident occurs, the release operation portion can be protruded to the outside by the biasing portion, which is, for example, a spring.

[0064] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 10 Vehicles 11 Door lock section 12 Doors 13 Body 14 Opening and closing operation section 15 Concave part 16 Lock operation section 17 Wire 18 Keyhole 20 Vehicle door unlocking device 21 Release operation section 211 Key cylinder 212 Rock Club 22 Modular Mechanism 221 Module body 23. Pressurizing section 231 Spring 24 Calculation control unit 25 Collision detection unit 26 Airbag 27 Mounting hole 28 Through Hole

Claims

1. A vehicle door unlocking device configured to be able to unlock a door by a door lock unit depending on the state of the vehicle, an unlocking operation unit that is disposed in the door, can be unlocked by a manual operation, and is mechanically connected to the door lock unit; a module mechanism for storing the release operation unit in the door in a state in which the release operation unit can protrude to the outside of the door.

2. 2. The vehicle door unlocking device according to claim 1, wherein the door lock unit is configured to perform an unlocking operation of the door through electrical control.

3. 2. The vehicle door unlocking device according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking operation portion is a key cylinder that is rotated.

4. 2. The vehicle door unlocking device according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking operation portion is configured to protrude outside the door when a collision accident of the vehicle occurs.

5. Further comprising a biasing portion, 5. The vehicle door unlocking device according to claim 4, wherein the biasing portion causes the unlocking operation portion to protrude outside the door when the collision accident occurs.

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