Step device for vehicle

Abstract

To make it possible to provide a clean step plate when getting on and off vehicle.SOLUTION: A washer nozzle 40 is configured so that an injection tip 42 is directed to a tread 12A of a step plate 12 which is in storage position. A step ECU 80 which is a control part determines whether or not cleaning liquid is injected. The determination is based on at least one side of the road surface conditions on the basis of operation setting of a wiper and an on-vehicle camera 66. Furthermore, the step ECU 80 injects the cleaning liquid from the washer nozzle 40 toward the tread 12A of the step plate 12 which is in storage position when it is determined that injection of the cleaning liquid is necessary and moreover, when it is determined that parking position is selected as shift position of a vehicle. The step ECU 80 moves the step plate 12 from the storage position to deployment position by driving an actuator 30 when a vehicle door in closed state is opened.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a step device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to improve the ease of getting in and out of a vehicle, a step plate may be provided below the vehicle door. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sliding step device. In this device, the step plate can be displaced between an expanded state in which it protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and a stored state in which it is stored under the floor of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-119525 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the step board is disposed outside the vehicle. In addition, the step board is disposed in a location close to the road surface. In other words, the step board is placed in an environment where water, snow, etc. splashed up from the road surface are likely to adhere to the step board. If the step board is dirty when getting on and off the vehicle, the user may feel uncomfortable.

[0005] Therefore, this specification discloses a vehicle step device that can provide a clean step board when getting on and off the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This specification discloses a step device for a vehicle. The device includes a step plate, an actuator, a washer nozzle, and a control unit. The actuator can move the step plate between a stored position and an extended position. The stored position is under the vehicle door. The extended position is a position that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle door. The washer nozzle is connected to a cleaning fluid tank. The washer nozzle has a jet nozzle directed toward the step surface of the step plate in the stored position. The control unit controls the actuator and the washer nozzle. The control unit determines whether or not the spray of the cleaning fluid is necessary. This determination is based on at least one of the operation setting of the wiper and the road surface condition based on the vehicle-mounted camera. Furthermore, when it is determined that the spray of the cleaning fluid is necessary and when the parking position is selected as the shift position of the vehicle, the control unit causes the washer nozzle to spray the cleaning fluid toward the step surface of the step plate in the stored position. When the vehicle door in a closed state is opened, the control unit drives the actuator to move the step plate from the stored position to the extended position.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the road surface conditions around the vehicle are acquired by the wiper operation settings and the on-board camera. Furthermore, depending on the acquired road surface conditions, it is determined whether or not the step plate needs to be washed. If it is determined that washing is necessary, the step plate tread is washed when the parking position is set. Thereafter, when the vehicle door is opened, a clean tread is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The vehicle step device disclosed in this specification can provide a clean step board when getting on and off the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lower portion of a vehicle on which a vehicle step device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a vehicle step device; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a control system for a vehicle step device. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a setting flow of a cleaning flag for a step plate. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning flow for a step plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A vehicle step device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The shapes, materials, numbers, and values ​​described below are examples for the purpose of explanation and can be changed as appropriate according to the specifications of the vehicle step device. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for equivalent elements in all drawings below.

[0011] In addition, in Figures 1 to 3, an orthogonal coordinate system consisting of the FR axis, the RW axis, and the UP axis is used to indicate the position and direction of each component. The FR axis is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the front of the vehicle being the positive direction. The RW axis is the transverse axis of the vehicle, with the right side of the vehicle being the positive direction. The UP axis is the vertical axis of the vehicle, with the upward direction being the positive direction.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates the lower part of a vehicle 50. A step device 10 according to this embodiment is provided between a front wheel 60 and a rear wheel 62. From a different perspective, the step device 10 is provided below the vehicle doors, that is, a front door 52 and a rear door 54. In other words, the step device 10 is provided below the vehicle doors. Although only the right side of the vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the step device 10 according to this embodiment is also provided on the left side of the vehicle.

[0013] The step device 10 is a storage type, and the step plate 12 is movable between a storage position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) and an extended position (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2). As described later, the step device 10 according to this embodiment includes an electric step mechanism and a step plate cleaning mechanism. The step device 10 also includes a step ECU 80 (see FIG. 3) as a control unit that controls both mechanisms.

[0014] <Electric step mechanism> FIG. 2 illustrates the step device 10 according to this embodiment. In this figure, the surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is shown as the main surface. The step device 10 includes a step plate 12, a bracket 20, an actuator 30, a holder 31, and arms 34, 35, and 36 as an electric step mechanism. The step device 10 is driven and controlled by a step control unit 80C (see FIG. 3).

[0015] The step plate 12 has a tread surface 12A on its upper surface. With reference to FIG. 1, the step plate 12 extends over the entire length of the lower ends 52A, 54A of the front door 52 and the rear door 54. The width W1 of the step plate 12 is set to, for example, 10 cm or more and 40 cm or less. The tread surface 12A of the step plate 12 has, for example, grooves formed thereon for preventing slipping. The tread surface 12A is also covered with a resin coating.

[0016] 2, an arm 36 extends from an inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the step plate 12. The arm 36 extends inward in the vehicle width direction. An outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the arm 36 is fixed to the step plate 12.

[0017] The arms 34, 35 are connected to the arm 36. The arms 34, 35 are long plate-like and arranged in the vehicle width direction. One end of the arms 34, 35 is pivotally attached to the arm 36. The other end of the arms 34, 35 is pivotally attached to the rotor plate 33.

[0018] The rotor plate 33 is rotated by the actuator 30. The actuator 30 may be, for example, a servo motor. The actuator 30 has a rotation axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In other words, the rotor plate 33 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0019] The step plate 12 is movable between a stored position (shown in solid lines) and an extended position (shown in dashed lines). When the step plate 12 is in the stored position, the arms 34, 35, and 36 are folded.

[0020] When the actuator 30 is rotationally driven, the rotor plate 33 is rotated. The arms 34, 35 are deployed in response to the rotation of the rotor plate 33. The arm 36 moves outward in the vehicle width direction in response to the deployment of the arms 34, 35. Furthermore, the step plate 12 connected to the arm 36 also moves outward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the step plate 12 moves to the deployed position.

[0021] 1, three arms 36 are attached to the step device 10. One of the arms 36 may be provided with the actuator 30. The other two arms 36 may be idle arms that follow the rotation of the actuator 30.

[0022] A holder 31 is provided on the outer side of the actuator 30 in the vehicle width direction. This holder 31 is fixed to a bracket 20. The length of the bracket 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction is set to, for example, the same length as the step plate 12. The bracket 20 is fastened to a rocker (not shown), which is a frame component of the vehicle. An inner surface 21 of the bracket is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 23A into which bolts are inserted. Around the bolt holes 23A, recesses 23 are formed to accommodate the bolt heads. The bracket 20 is fastened to the side of the rocker by these bolts. In addition, a rocker panel 56, which is an exterior component, is attached to an outer surface 22 of the bracket.

[0023] A rib 24 protrudes from the inner surface 21 of the bracket 20. The length of the rib 24 in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle is set to the same length as the step plate 12. The rib 24 extends inward in the vehicle width direction. Bolt holes 24A are drilled in the rib 24 in the thickness direction (up-down direction). A plurality of bolt holes 24A are provided at intervals along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. Bolts are inserted through the bolt holes 24A. The bolts fasten the rib 24 to the underside of the rocker.

[0024] Further, the groove 32 of the holder 31 is inserted into the rib 24. Furthermore, the holder 31 is fixed to the rib 24 by fastening parts such as bolts. In other words, the step plate 12 is supported by the rocker via the bracket 20.

[0025] When a vehicle door (front door 52 or rear door 54) in a closed state is opened, an opening signal is sent from a door sensor (not shown) to the step control unit 80C (see FIG. 3). In response to this, the step control unit 80C drives the actuator 30. This drive moves the step plate 12 from the stored position to the open position.

[0026] Furthermore, when an open vehicle door (front door 52 or rear door 54) is closed, a door sensor (not shown) transmits a closing signal to the step control unit 80C. When the step control unit 80C receives closing signals from all of the door sensors, it drives the actuator 30 to rotate in the reverse direction. This drive moves the step plate 12 from the open position to the stored position.

[0027] <Step plate cleaning mechanism> The step plate cleaning mechanism includes a washer nozzle 40 and a cleaning liquid tank 44 (see FIG. 3). The cleaning liquid tank 44 is fluidly connected to the washer nozzle 40. The cleaning liquid tank 44 may be a window washer tank. That is, the cleaning liquid for cleaning the windshield glass 64 is also used as the cleaning liquid for the step plate 12.

[0028] 2, the washer nozzle 40 is disposed on the underside of the rib 24. A plurality of washer nozzles 40 are provided at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the rib 24. The jet port 42 of the washer nozzle 40 is directed toward the tread surface 12A of the step plate 12 in the stored position. For example, the washer nozzle 40 is disposed above the step plate 12 in the stored position. The jet port 42 is directed downward.

[0029] The spray ranges of the washer nozzles 40 are illustrated by dashed circles. The spacing between the washer nozzles 40 is determined based on the spray ranges. For example, the spacing is determined so that the spray ranges of adjacent washer nozzles 40 slightly overlap each other.

[0030] <Control system> 3, the operation of the electric step mechanism and the step plate washing mechanism is controlled by the step ECU 80. As described later, the step ECU 80, which is a control unit, determines whether or not the washer nozzle 40 needs to spray the washer fluid based on at least one of the wiper operation settings and the road surface conditions based on the vehicle-mounted camera 66.

[0031] The step ECU 80 is configured by, for example, a computer. For example, the step ECU 80 includes hardware devices such as an input / output controller, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a storage device. These devices can communicate with each other via an internal bus.

[0032] The CPU executes a control program stored in the storage or ROM of the step ECU 80, whereby functional blocks are constructed in the step ECU 80. These functional blocks are illustrated in Fig. 3. That is, the step ECU 80 includes a wash button determination unit 80A, a shift position determination unit 80B, a step control unit 80C, a wiper determination unit 80D, a road surface condition estimation unit 80E, a washer nozzle control unit 80F, and a wash flag storage unit 80G.

[0033] The cleaning button determination unit 80A receives a button operation signal from the step cleaning button 76. That is, the cleaning button determination unit 80A determines the on / off state of the step cleaning button 76. The step cleaning button 76 is provided, for example, on the instrument panel. For example, the step cleaning button 76 is located in front of the steering wheel 70 and can be operated by the driver.

[0034] For example, the step cleaning button 76 is in the on state when pressed down. When in the on state, the step plate 12 is cleaned regardless of the dirt state of the step plate 12. When the step cleaning button 76 is in the off state when pulled up, the step plate 12 is cleaned when it is determined that the step plate 12 is dirty in the cleaning flag setting flow in FIG. 4.

[0035] Also, a step button 74 is provided on the instrument panel adjacent to the step wash button 76. For example, the step button 74 is in an on state when pressed down. In the on state, movement of the step plate 12 by the actuator 30 is permitted. In an off state where the step button 74 is pulled up, movement of the step plate 12 is prohibited. For example, the step plate 12 is maintained in the stored position. The step control unit 80C receives an operation signal from the step button 74 and determines the on / off state of the button. Also, the step control unit 80C controls the operation of the actuator 30 as described above.

[0036] The wiper determination unit 80D receives an operation signal from the wiper switch 72. For example, the wiper switch 72 can be switched among four stages: OFF, INT, LO, and HI. The position to which the wiper switch 72 is set, that is, the wiper operation setting, is transmitted to the wiper determination unit 80D.

[0037] Furthermore, if the vehicle is provided with a so-called automatic wiper function, the wiper determination unit 80D receives a signal from the rain sensor 68. The rain sensor 68 includes a light-emitting element 68A and a light-receiving element 68B. The light-emitting element 68A and the light-receiving element 68B are attached to the surface of the windshield glass 64 facing the passenger compartment.

[0038] When infrared light is emitted from the light-emitting element 68A, the infrared light is reflected by the surface of the windshield glass 64 facing the vehicle exterior and received by the light-receiving element 68B. When raindrops adhere to the windshield glass 64, the infrared light passes through the raindrops, and the amount of light received by the light-receiving element 68B decreases. The wiper determination unit 80D sets the operation of the wipers based on the amount of light received by the light-receiving element 68B.

[0039] For example, when four operation settings of the wiper are defined, namely, OFF, INT, LO, and HI, a threshold value of the amount of received light corresponding to each operation setting is set. The wiper determination unit 80D determines which of the areas separated by these threshold values ​​the amount of received light acquired from the light receiving element 68B falls into. Furthermore, based on the determined area, the wiper determination unit 80D determines the operation setting for the wiper.

[0040] The shift position determination unit 80B receives a signal from the shift panel 78 indicating the currently selected shift position.

[0041] The road surface condition estimation unit 80E is capable of communicating with the vehicle-mounted camera 66. For example, the camera 66 is disposed on the surface of the windshield glass 64 facing the passenger compartment. The camera 66 captures an image of the area ahead of the vehicle. The road surface condition estimation unit 80E acquires an image captured by the camera 66.

[0042] When the vehicle 50 is traveling on a wet road surface, the front wheels 60 may splash up water on the road, which may dirty the step plate 12. The road surface condition estimation unit 80E judges whether the road surface is wet or not based on the captured image. For example, a neural network for image recognition is implemented in the road surface condition estimation unit 80E. This neural network has learned images of dry road surfaces and images of wet road surfaces as teacher data. By inputting the captured image acquired from the camera 66 into the neural network, it is determined whether the road surface in front of the vehicle is dry or wet.

[0043] Furthermore, the road surface condition estimation unit 80E judges whether there is a puddle on the road surface. For example, when a dry road surface has a depression and a puddle is present there, the road surface may be judged to be dry. However, if the vehicle 50 passes through a puddle, the step plate 12 may become dirty. Therefore, the presence or absence of a puddle on the road surface is judged independently of the process of judging the dryness or wetness of the road surface.

[0044] The road surface condition estimation unit 80E is equipped with an image recognition neural network for determining the presence or absence of a puddle. For example, this neural network has already learned images of a road surface with a puddle as teacher data. Furthermore, for example, this neural network has only one output node. The output node outputs the accuracy of the determination that there is a puddle. If this accuracy is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the road surface condition estimation unit 80E determines that there is a puddle ahead of the vehicle.

[0045] The cleaning flag storage unit 80G stores the value of the step cleaning flag that is set in the cleaning flag setting flow shown in Fig. 4. The details of this flow will be described later.

[0046] The washer nozzle control unit 80F executes a step washing flow exemplified in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the washer nozzle control unit 80F controls the spraying of the washer nozzle 40 based on the execution result of the step washing flow. The step washing flow will be described in detail later.

[0047] <Washing flag setting flow> FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a cleaning flag setting flow. In this flow, it is determined whether or not the step plate 12 needs to be cleaned. The step plate 12 is exposed to the outside of the vehicle. The step plate 12 is also installed in a location close to the road surface. Therefore, when the road surface is wet, there is a risk that dirt will adhere to the step plate 12. Therefore, in the cleaning flag setting flow, it is determined whether or not the step plate 12 needs to be cleaned by directly or indirectly determining the road surface conditions.

[0048] The cleaning flag setting flow is repeatedly executed, for example, when the ignition of the vehicle 50 is on. Ignition on refers to a state in which, for example, the power switch of the vehicle 50 is pressed and the drive system of the vehicle is in a state in which it can run.

[0049] The step cleaning flag is a binary counter that takes on two values, 0 and 1. If it is determined that cleaning of the step plate 12 is not necessary, the step cleaning flag is set to 0. If it is determined that cleaning of the step plate 12 is necessary, the step cleaning flag is set to 1.

[0050] Each step of the cleaning flag setting flow is executed by a functional block of the step ECU 80. First, the cleaning button determination unit 80A determines whether the step cleaning button 76 is on or not (S10). If the step cleaning button 76 is on (depressed), the cleaning button determination unit 80A sets the step cleaning flag to 1 (S18).

[0051] When the step wash button 76 is in the OFF state, the wiper determination unit 80D determines the operation setting of the wipers. That is, the wiper determination unit 80D determines whether the wiper switch 72 is set to HI or not (S12). That is, in this step, it is determined whether it is heavy rain outside the vehicle. As described above, instead of checking the setting of the wiper switch 72, the operation setting of the wipers may be determined based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element 68B of the rain sensor 68. When the wiper switch 72 is set to HI or when the amount of light received by the light receiving element 68B is less than a predetermined heavy rain threshold, the wiper determination unit 80D sets the step wash flag to 1 (S18).

[0052] In step S12, if the wiper switch 72 is set to a position other than HI, or if the amount of light received by the light receiving element 68B is equal to or greater than a predetermined heavy rain threshold, the road surface condition estimating unit 80E determines whether the road surface is wet (S14). In making this determination, the road surface condition estimating unit 80E acquires an image of the road surface ahead of the vehicle from the camera 66. If it is determined by image recognition that the road surface is wet, the road surface condition estimating unit 80E sets the step wash flag to 1 (S18).

[0053] If it is determined in step S14 that the road surface is not wet (dry), the road surface condition estimation unit 80E determines whether the vehicle 50 has passed through a puddle (S16). As described above, the road surface condition estimation unit 80E is equipped with a neural network that determines whether a puddle exists. An image captured by the camera 66 is input to this neural network. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a puddle is determined based on the accuracy output from the output node of the neural network.

[0054] When the road surface condition estimating unit 80E determines that there is no puddle in the image recognition after determining that there is a puddle, it determines that the vehicle 50 has passed through the puddle. In this case, the road surface condition estimating unit 80E sets the step wash flag to 1 (S18).

[0055] If the determination that there is no puddle continues, or if there is no consecutive determination that there is no puddle after it has been determined that there is a puddle, the road surface condition estimation unit 80E determines that the vehicle 50 has not passed through a puddle. After a further certain waiting time, the flow starts from S10.

[0056] <Step cleaning flow> A step washing flow is illustrated in Fig. 5. This flow is started when the shift lever of the vehicle 50 is set to the P position from a position other than the P position. In other words, the flow is started when the parking position is selected as the vehicle's shift position from another position.

[0057] This flow is also executed by the function blocks of the step ECU 80. The step control unit 80C judges whether the step button 74 is set to OFF (S20). If the step button 74 is set to OFF, the step plate 12 is not used, and therefore cleaning is not performed regardless of the dirt state of the step plate 12.

[0058] When the step button 74 is in the on state, the washer nozzle control unit 80F refers to the setting value of the step cleaning flag from the cleaning flag storage unit 80G. Furthermore, the washer nozzle control unit 80F determines whether the step cleaning flag is set to 1 (S22).

[0059] 5 ends. On the other hand, when the step washing flag is set to 1, that is, when it is determined that spraying of washing liquid is necessary, the washer nozzle control unit 80F causes the washer nozzle 40 to spray the washing liquid toward the tread surface 12A of the step plate 12 (S24). For example, the washer nozzle control unit 80F causes the washer nozzle 40 to spray the washing liquid for a predetermined spraying time (for example, 5 seconds).

[0060] After the spraying of the cleaning liquid, the washer nozzle control unit 80F sets the step cleaning flag to 0 (S26). This value is stored in the cleaning flag storage unit 80G. Then, the flow ends.

[0061] After the flow ends, the front door 52 or the rear door 54, which is in a closed state, is opened. In response to this opening, the step control section 80C controls the drive of the actuator 30. As a result, the step plate 12, which was in the stored position, is moved to the deployed position.

[0062] In this way, the cleaning process of the step plate 12 is performed when the shift position is switched to the parking shift. In other words, the step plate 12 is cleaned just before the front door 52 and the rear door 54 are opened. Therefore, a clean step plate 12 can be provided when the driver gets off the vehicle 50.

[0063] In addition, while the vehicle 50 is stopped, the front wheel 60 does not splash up water on the road, so the step plate 12 is kept clean when the person gets off the vehicle. Therefore, a clean step plate 12 can be provided even when the person gets on the vehicle 50. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10 step device, 12 step plate, 12A tread, 20 bracket, 30 actuator, 34, 35, 36 arm, 40 washer nozzle, 42 jet nozzle, 44 cleaning fluid tank, 50 vehicle, 52 front door, 54 rear door, 66 in-vehicle camera, 68 rain sensor, 72 wiper switch, 74 step button, 76 step cleaning button, 78 shift panel, 80 step ECU (control unit), 80A cleaning button determination unit, 80B shift position determination unit, 80C step control unit, 80D wiper determination unit, 80E road surface condition estimation unit, 80F washer nozzle control unit, 80G cleaning flag memory unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] Step board and an actuator that can move the step plate between a stored position under the vehicle door and a deployed position in which the step plate protrudes outward in a vehicle width direction beyond the vehicle door; a washer nozzle connected to a cleaning fluid tank and having a jet nozzle directed toward the step surface of the step plate in the stored position; A control unit that controls the actuator and the washer nozzle; Equipped with The control unit determines whether or not a cleaning fluid needs to be sprayed based on at least one of an operation setting of the wipers and a road surface condition based on an in-vehicle camera, Furthermore, when it is determined that the spraying of the cleaning liquid is necessary and when a parking position is selected as a shift position of the vehicle, the control unit sprays the cleaning liquid from the washer nozzle toward the tread surface of the step plate in the stored position, When the vehicle door is opened, the control unit drives the actuator to move the step plate from the stored position to the deployed position. A step device for a vehicle.

Images