Automatic opening and closing device for rear gate of vehicle with occupant guidance function

Abstract

To improve an automatic opening and closing device for a rear gate of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An automatic opening and closing device for a rear gate which has a control unit for automatically opening and closing the rear gate of a vehicle, comprises: an imaging device that images the rear side of the vehicle body; an output device that outputs light or sound toward the rear side of the vehicle body; and a vehicle height adjustment device. The control unit outputs, from the output device, guidance light or sound to prompt an occupant to retreat from the rear gate to a stop position before automatically opening the rear gate. In a state where the rear gate is automatically opened, the control unit determines the position of luggage relative to the occupant on the basis of an image from the imaging device and adjusts the vehicle height accordingly. During the vehicle height adjustment, the control unit outputs light or sound indicating that height adjustment is in progress, and after the height adjustment, switches the output light or sound to guidance toward the area beneath the rear gate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic opening / closing device for a rear gate of a vehicle, which has a passenger guiding function. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose automatic opening and closing devices for rear gates. By automatically opening and closing the rear gate of a vehicle, passengers do not have to manually open or close the rear gate while carrying luggage, for example. This is convenient. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-089612 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-135962 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-080505 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if a vehicle's rear gate only opens and closes automatically, there is a possibility that the rear gate may come into close contact with passengers or luggage waiting behind the rear gate. For example, if the rear gate approaches and is about to hit a passenger or luggage while opening or closing, the passenger may take evasive action to avoid contact with the rear gate. As a result, the passenger may fall to the ground while still carrying heavy luggage. The passenger may also drop the luggage they are carrying. To avoid contact with the rear gate, occupants are required to wait at a distance from the vehicle with the rear gate closed in advance. However, it is difficult for occupants to accurately determine how far away from the vehicle they should wait. In particular, when large luggage makes it difficult to see ahead, it is not easy to wait at an appropriate distance. Even if the occupant waits at a distance they have decided to wait at, if the distance is insufficient, the rear gate will come into contact with the vehicle. In particular, if the occupant is carrying luggage, the possibility of the occupant making an incorrect decision increases depending on the size of the luggage.

[0005] Furthermore, even if the vehicle's rear gate opens automatically, passengers may still need to lift or lower their belongings in order to place them in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Therefore, simply opening and closing the rear gate automatically is not necessarily a convenient feature for passengers.

[0006] As such, there is room for improvement in the automatic opening and closing device for the rear gate of a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An automatic opening / closing device for a rear gate of a vehicle having an occupant guiding function according to one embodiment of the present invention has a control unit for automatically opening and closing the rear gate at the rear of the vehicle body, and is an automatic opening / closing device for a rear gate of a vehicle having an occupant guiding function, and includes an imaging device capable of imaging occupants and luggage at the rear of the vehicle body, an output device that outputs light or sound toward the rear side of the vehicle body, and a vehicle height adjustment device that adjusts the height of the vehicle body, and the control unit is connected to the imaging device, the output device, and the vehicle height adjustment device, and before automatically opening the rear gate, outputs from the output device to guide at least occupants from the rear gate. and outputs light or sound to guide the occupant to a stopping position where he or she will not come into contact with the rear gate, and when the rear gate is in an automatically opened state, determines the position of luggage relative to the occupant at the rear of the vehicle body based on the image from the imaging device, and adjusts the height of the vehicle body using the vehicle height adjustment device according to the determined position of the luggage relative to the occupant, and when adjusting the height of the vehicle body, outputs light or sound from the output device to indicate that the height is being adjusted, and after the height of the vehicle body has been adjusted, switches the light or sound output from the output device to an output for guiding the occupant under the open rear gate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In this invention, before automatically opening the rear gate, the control unit of the automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle rear gate outputs light or sound from the output device to guide at least an occupant back away from the rear gate to a stopping position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate. This allows the occupant, even if approaching the rear gate of the vehicle, to back away from the rear gate and stop at a stopping position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate. Because this stopping position is based on the guidance of the vehicle, it is not excessively far from the vehicle, as would be the case if the occupant were to decide it themselves. The stopping position based on the guidance of the vehicle is not only free from contact with the rear gate, but is also not excessively far from the vehicle, and is expected to be a good position for waiting for the automatic opening / closing of the rear gate. The occupant can wait for the rear gate to open automatically at a position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate, without having to decide a position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate by themselves.

[0009] In addition, in the present invention, the control unit further determines the position of luggage relative to the occupant at the rear of the vehicle body based on the image from the imaging device when the rear gate is automatically opened. The control unit also adjusts the height of the vehicle body using the vehicle height adjustment device according to the determined position of the luggage relative to the occupant. This reduces the need for the occupant to lift or lower the luggage significantly in order to place it in the luggage compartment of the vehicle body. Furthermore, in the present invention, when adjusting the height of the vehicle body, the control unit outputs a light or sound from the output device to indicate that the height adjustment is in progress. After completing the adjustment of the vehicle body height, the control unit switches the light or sound output from the output device to an output for guiding the occupant under the open tailgate. This allows the occupant to know that the height of the vehicle body has been adjusted according to the position of the luggage relative to the occupant, and to load luggage onto the adjusted vehicle body. At this time, because the height of the vehicle body has been adjusted in advance according to the position of the luggage relative to the occupant, the occupant does not need to lift or lower the luggage significantly. In this way, the automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle rear gate according to the present invention switches between outputting different lights or sounds for each stage of opening / closing the rear gate and adjusting the vehicle height, eliminating the need for occupants to manually open or close the rear gate while carrying luggage, or to lift or lower luggage.

[0010] In this way, the automatic opening / closing device for a vehicle rear gate according to the present invention guides the occupant to a position that will prevent contact with the rear gate, adjusts the height of the vehicle body according to the occupant's luggage, and further guides the occupant by changing the light or sound according to the level of height adjustment. Even if the occupant has large luggage that makes it difficult to see ahead, the occupant can wait at a position at an appropriate distance. This allows the present invention to provide high convenience for the occupant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the rear gate of the automobile of FIG. 1 is fully opened. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automatic opening / closing device for an automobile rear gate that can be applied to the automobile of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first half of the passenger guidance control by the control unit of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamp is lit in a first pattern flowing from the outside to the center to guide the occupants near the rear gate. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamp is illuminated in the seventh pattern of full illumination and short-cycle flashing to guide occupants approaching the rear gate to decelerate. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamps are lit in the second pattern with a long full-on period to guide occupants approaching the rear gate to stop. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the high-mounted stop lamps are illuminated in a third pattern flowing from the center to the outside to guide an occupant stopped near the rear gate to back up. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamps are illuminated in a fourth pattern with a long full-on period to guide an occupant backing out of the rear gate to stop outside the opening / closing trajectory area. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the latter half of the occupant guidance control of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a fifth pattern that indicates that the vehicle body height is being adjusted, and is displayed on the screen member by lighting up the high mount stop lamp during vehicle height adjustment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of another pattern that indicates that the vehicle body height is being adjusted, and that is displayed on the screen member when the high mount stop lamp is turned on during vehicle height adjustment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth pattern of the entry permission display, which is displayed on the screen member by lighting the high-mounted stop lamp after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, to guide the occupants under the open rear gate. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the vehicle height adjustment table stored in the memory of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an image captured by the DMS camera of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of another example of an image captured by the DMS camera of FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle height adjustment state of the automobile when a passenger at the rear of the tailgate is carrying luggage on his shoulder. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of another example of an image captured by the DMS camera of FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle height adjustment state of the automobile when a passenger at the rear of the tailgate is holding a baggage hanging from his / her hand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a passenger is standing at the rear of a body 2 of an automobile 1, holding luggage in both hands. In this state, if the rear gate 3 provided on the body 2 of the automobile 1 automatically opens, the opening rear gate 3 will come into contact with the luggage carried by the occupant. If the rear gate 3 approaches during the opening or closing operation and is about to hit the occupant or luggage, the occupant will take evasive action to avoid contact with the rear gate 3. As a result, the occupant may fall to the ground while still carrying heavy luggage. There is also a possibility that the occupant may drop the luggage they are carrying.

[0014] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 of Fig. 1 is fully open. In Fig. 2, the passenger is holding a large baggage in both hands, as in Fig. 1. In FIG. 2, the passengers are located far enough behind the rear gate 3 that the rear gate 3 does not come into contact with the passengers or luggage as it opens. In order to avoid contact with the rear gate 3 as shown in Figure 1, passengers are required to wait in advance at a distance from the vehicle 1 with the rear gate 3 closed. However, it is difficult for passengers to accurately judge how far away they should wait from the vehicle 1. In particular, when passengers are carrying large luggage that makes it difficult to see ahead, it is not easy to wait at an appropriate distance. Even if the occupant waits at a distance they have determined, if the distance is insufficient, they will come into contact with the rear gate 3 as shown in Figure 1. In particular, if the occupant is carrying luggage, there is a high possibility that the occupant will make an error in their judgment depending on the size of the luggage.

[0015] Furthermore, even if the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 opens automatically, the passengers must lift or lower their luggage to place it on the loading platform 4 of the vehicle body 2 in order to place it in the luggage compartment of the vehicle body 2. Therefore, simply having the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 open and close automatically is not truly convenient for the passengers.

[0016] As described above, there is a demand for an automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 to be improved by adding a passenger guidance function. 1 and 2, the luggage is carried by the occupant. Alternatively, for example, a person accompanying the occupant may carry the luggage. In the following description, the term "occupant" also includes such a person accompanying the occupant.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 that can be applied to the automobile 1 of FIG. The automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 in Figure 3 includes a rear gate actuator 21, a key detection device 22, an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) sensor 23, a DMS (Driver Simulation System) camera 24, a memory 26, a high-mounted stop lamp 27, a screen member 30, an exterior speaker 28, a vehicle height adjustment device 29, and a control unit 25 to which these are connected. The automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 has a function of automatically opening and closing the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1, as well as a function of guiding the passengers according to the opening and closing stages of the rear gate 3. The automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 may be incorporated into the control system of the automobile 1.

[0018] The rear gate actuator 21 is a driving member that automatically opens and closes the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1. The rear gate actuator 21 may be provided on the vehicle body 2 near the hinge of the rear gate 3, for example, as shown in FIG.

[0019] The key detection device 22 detects a key device (not shown) carried by an occupant of the automobile 1. The key detection device 22 is provided at any location on the vehicle body 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The key detection device 22 may detect a key device in the vicinity outside the automobile 1 by repeatedly outputting a detection signal to a predetermined range outside the automobile 1 and receiving a response signal to the detection signal from the key device. The key detection device 22 can function as a proximity sensor that detects an occupant's approach to the vehicle body 2 by newly detecting an undetected key device.

[0020] The ADAS sensor 23 is a sensor that detects the environment around the automobile 1. The ADAS sensor 23 may be, for example, an exterior camera or Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging). The exterior camera can capture images of other automobiles, people, and other objects outside the automobile 1 around the automobile. The exterior camera may be a monocular camera, a compound camera, or a 360-degree camera. Based on the imaged portion of an object, such as an obstacle or a person, captured by the exterior camera's imaging pixels, information on the distance and direction from the vehicle body 2 on which the exterior camera is installed to the object can be obtained. Lidar scans and irradiates laser light around the automobile 1 and detects the reflected light to detect surrounding objects, such as other automobiles, obstacles, and people, outside the automobile 1. Lidar generates information on the distance and direction from the vehicle body 2 on which the exterior camera is installed to the surrounding objects based on the TOF (Time Of Flight) of the reflected light. In this embodiment, the ADAS sensor 23 may be provided facing rearward on the vehicle body 2 below the rear gate 3, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to detect occupants behind the rear gate 3 and obstacles to the opening and closing of the rear gate 3. The ADAS sensor 23 provided in this manner can function as an obstacle sensor that detects obstacles to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate 3.

[0021] The DMS camera 24 is a camera that captures images of passengers, such as the driver, of the automobile 1. For this reason, the DMS camera 24 is provided facing rearward at the front of the body 2 of the automobile 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The DMS camera 24 thus provided facing rearward at the front of the automobile 1 can function as an imaging device that captures images of passengers and luggage at the rear of the automobile 1 through the rear window 7 of the tailgate 3, or when the tailgate 3 is open. As with the exterior camera, the DMS camera 24 can also obtain information on the distance and direction from the vehicle body 2 on which the DMS camera 24 is provided to the occupant based on the imaged part of the occupant captured by the imaging pixels.

[0022] The high-mounted stop lamp 27 is a lighting device provided on the upper rear surface of the vehicle body 2 in order to improve the visibility of the braking state of the automobile 1 from following vehicles. In this embodiment, the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the upper edge of the rear gate 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rear window 7 is located below the high-mounted stop lamp 27. In this embodiment, the high-mounted stop lamp 27 may be a planar arrangement of multiple LED elements. The LED elements may be capable of emitting light in multiple colors. When braking the vehicle 1, the high-mounted stop lamp 27 can emit red light, just like a normal lamp. The high-mounted stop lamp 27 functions as an output device that outputs light toward the rear side of the vehicle body 2.

[0023] The screen member 30 is a reflective member that reflects light from the high-mounted stop lamp 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the screen member 30 may be provided in the trim portion of the upper edge of the rear glass 7 of the rear gate 3. The screen member 30 may be a separate member from the rear gate 3, or may be formed integrally with the rear gate 3 by surface-treating the rear gate 3 itself. By mirror-finishing the trim portion of the rear gate 3 itself, the screen member 30 can be formed integrally with the rear gate 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the screen member 30 reflects light from the high-mounted stop lamp 27 toward the rear of the vehicle body 2 when the rear gate 3 is open.

[0024] The exterior speaker 28 is an output device that outputs sound to the outside of the automobile 1. The exterior speaker 28 may be provided on the vehicle body 2 below the rear gate 3, for example, as shown in FIG.

[0025] The vehicle height adjustment device 29 adjusts the height of the body 2 of the automobile 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a suspension device 6 is provided between the body 2 of the automobile 1 and the tires 5. The suspension device 6 reduces the input of impact to the automobile 1 by expanding and contracting. The vehicle height adjustment device 29 may adjust the height of the body 2 of the automobile 1 by changing the initial length of the suspension device 6 using hydraulic pressure or the like.

[0026] The memory 26 stores the programs executed by the control unit 25 and data used for control.

[0027] The control unit 25 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The CPU reads and executes a program recorded in the memory 26. In this way, the CPU functions as the control unit 25. The control unit 25 controls the operation of the automatic opening / closing device 20 of the rear gate 3 . The control unit 25 controls the automatic opening and closing operation of the rear gate 3 provided at the rear of the body 2 of the automobile 1. Furthermore, when the control unit 25 automatically opens or closes the rear gate 3, it also executes control to guide the passengers in accordance with the stage.

[0028] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the first half of the passenger guiding control by the control unit 25 of Fig. 3. The second half of the passenger guiding control will be described with reference to Fig. 10. The control unit 25 repeatedly executes the occupant guidance control shown in FIGS. In the passenger guidance control, the control unit 25 guides a passenger approaching the automobile 1 to a stopping position behind the rear gate 3 and automatically opens the closed rear gate 3. The control unit 25 also guides the passenger to wait at the stopping position while the rear gate 3 is open. After the rear gate 3 is fully opened, the control unit 25 guides the passenger to under the open rear gate 3. This encourages passengers carrying luggage to first move to the stopping position behind the rear gate 3 and stop there, and then approach the rear gate 3 to load the luggage onto the loading platform 4 once the rear gate 3 opens.

[0029] 4, the control unit 25 determines whether or not a key device carried by an occupant approaching the vehicle body 2 has been detected by the key detection device 22. If a key device has not been detected by the key detection device 22, the control unit 25 repeats this process. If a key device is detected by the key detection device 22, the control unit 25 proceeds to step ST2.

[0030] In step ST2, the control unit 25 determines whether or not there is an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate 3. The control unit 25 acquires the detection result of the ADAS sensor 23 and determines whether or not there is an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate 3. Then, for example, if there is an obstacle or a person protruding from the road surface within the opening / closing trajectory area shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 25 may determine that there is an obstacle to the automatic opening / closing of the rear gate 3. In this case, the control unit 25 returns the processing to step ST1. In this way, if there is an obstacle to the automatic opening / closing, the control unit 25 can prohibit the automatic opening operation of the rear gate 3 until the obstacle to the automatic opening / closing is removed. On the other hand, if there are no obstacles or people protruding from the road surface within the opening / closing track area shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 25 determines that there are no obstacles to automatic opening / closing, and proceeds to step ST3.

[0031] In step ST3, the control unit 25 starts a control to guide the occupant carrying the key device detected in step ST1 to a stopping position behind the rear gate 3. The control unit 25 lights up the high mount stop lamp 27 in a first pattern that flows from the outside to the center of the high mount stop lamp 27. Furthermore, the control unit 25 outputs a sound corresponding to the first pattern from the exterior speaker 28. The sound corresponding to the first pattern may be a short beep sound that is repeated intermittently.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is lit in a first pattern flowing from the outside to the center to guide the occupants to the vicinity of the rear gate 3. In FIG. In FIG. 5, a white circle 31 typically indicates a lighted state, and a black circle 32 typically indicates a lighted state. The control unit 25 controls the lighting of the high mount stop lamp 27 so that the white circle 31 moves from the left and right outer sides of the high mount stop lamp 27 toward the center of the high mount stop lamp 27. As a result, it is expected that the occupants who see the high-mounted stop lamp 27 illuminated will move toward the rear gate 3.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is lit in the seventh pattern of full lighting and short-cycle flashing to guide occupants approaching the rear gate 3 to decelerate. In FIG. 6, a circle 33 that is lightly shaded with thin diagonal lines schematically indicates a blinking state.

[0034] During the illumination period of the first pattern in Fig. 5, the control unit 25 may monitor the speed of the occupant approaching the rear gate 3 based on the image captured by the DMS camera 24 and the detection results of the ADAS sensor 23. If the speed of the occupant approaching the rear gate 3 is faster than a predetermined speed, the control unit 25 may temporarily change the illumination state to the seventh pattern in Fig. 6 during the illumination period of the first pattern in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the control unit 25 outputs a sound corresponding to a seventh pattern from the exterior speaker 28. The sound corresponding to the seventh pattern may be a long beep. As a result, a passenger moving at high speed toward the rear gate 3 can visually see that the illumination state of the high mounted stop lamps 27 has changed from the first pattern to the seventh pattern, which flashes overall at short intervals. Based on this, the passenger can be expected to slow down his / her speed.

[0035] 5 in accordance with the remaining distance to the rear gate 3. For example, the control unit 25 may change the movement speed of the white circle 31 so that the shorter the remaining distance to the rear gate 3, the slower the movement speed of the white circle 31. As a result, passengers moving towards the rear gate 3 can be guided to slow down their movement speed in accordance with the decrease in the movement speed of the white circle 31.

[0036] In step ST4, the control unit 25 determines whether the occupant approaching the rear gate 3 is within the opening / closing trajectory area shown in FIG. 2 through which the rear gate 3 passes when opening or closing. The control unit 25 may determine whether the occupant is within the opening / closing trajectory area based on the image captured by the DMS camera 24, the detection results of the ADAS sensor 23, etc. In this case, the control unit 25 may generate and use the distance from the rear gate 3 of the vehicle body 2 to the occupant based on the imaged part of the occupant in the captured image and information on the distance detected by the ADAS sensor 23.

[0037] If the occupant is not within the opening / closing locus area, the control unit 25 returns the process to step ST3. The control unit 25 repeats the processes from step ST3 to step ST4 until the occupant enters the opening / closing locus area. During this time, the control unit 25 continues to light the high mounted stop lamps 27 in the first pattern flowing from the outside to the center. When the occupant enters the opening / closing locus area, the control unit 25 advances the process to step ST5.

[0038] In step ST5, since the control unit 25 has determined in step ST4 that the occupant is in the opening / closing trajectory area, the control unit 25 switches on and off the illumination of the high mounted stop lamps 27. The control unit 25 changes the light output from the high mounted stop lamps 27 to a second pattern, which is different from the first pattern and flashes at a long interval with the lamps fully lit to guide the occupant to stop. Furthermore, the control unit 25 outputs a sound corresponding to a second pattern from the exterior speaker 28. The sound corresponding to the second pattern may be a short beep sound repeated continuously.

[0039] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the high-mounted stop lamps 27 are lit in the second pattern with a long full-on period to guide occupants approaching the rear gate 3 to stop. In FIG. 7, a circle 34 that is darkly colored with thick diagonal lines schematically indicates a blinking state. As a result, a passenger moving toward the rear gate 3 can visually see that the illumination state of the high-mounted stop lamps 27 has changed from the first pattern to the second pattern, which flashes slowly over a long period of time overall. Based on this, the passenger can expect to stop within the opening / closing trajectory area.

[0040] In step ST6, since it is expected that the occupant will be stopped within the opening / closing trajectory area in step ST5, the control unit 25 switches on and off the illumination of the high mounted stop lamps 27. The control unit 25 turns on the high mounted stop lamps 27 in a third pattern that is different from the second pattern and flows from the center to the outside to guide the occupant to reverse. Furthermore, the control unit 25 outputs a sound corresponding to a third pattern from the exterior speaker 28. The sound corresponding to the third pattern may be a plurality of short beeps repeated intermittently.

[0041] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is illuminated in a third pattern flowing from the center to the outside to guide an occupant stopped near the rear gate 3 to back up. In FIG. 8, a white circle 31 typically indicates a lighted state, and a black circle 32 typically indicates a lighted state. The control unit 25 controls the lighting of the high mount stop lamp 27 so that the outlined circle 31 moves from the center of the high mount stop lamp 27 toward both the left and right ends of the high mount stop lamp 27. As a result, it is expected that passengers who are stopped within the opening and closing trajectory area will move away from the rear gate 3. The control unit 25 may slow down the flow speed depending on the remaining distance to a stopping position outside the opening / closing trajectory area. As a result, it is expected that occupants stopped within the opening / closing trajectory area will move more slowly the further they are from the rear gate 3.

[0042] In step ST7, the control unit 25 determines whether the occupant is at a stopping position outside the opening / closing path area. Here, the stopping position may be a position that is at least a baggage margin corresponding to the size of the baggage from the boundary of the opening / closing path area of ​​the rear gate 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The baggage margin may be, for example, 1 m. The control unit 25 may determine whether or not the occupant is at a stop position based on the image captured by the DMS camera 24, the detection result of the ADAS sensor 23, and the like. If the occupant has not reached the stop position and is not at the stop position, the control unit 25 returns the process to step ST6. The control unit 25 repeats the processes from step ST6 to step ST7 until the occupant is at the stop position. During this time, the control unit 25 continues to light the high-mounted stop lamps 27 in the third pattern that flows from the center to the outside. When the occupant is in the stopped position, the control unit 25 advances the process to step ST8.

[0043] In step ST8, since it is expected that the occupant is in a stopped position in step ST7, the control unit 25 switches on and off the illumination of the high mounted stop lamps 27. The control unit 25 turns on the high mounted stop lamps 27 in a fourth pattern, which is different from the third pattern and in which the lamps are fully lit and flash at a long interval to guide the occupant to stop outside the opening / closing trajectory area. Furthermore, the control unit 25 outputs a sound corresponding to a fourth pattern from the exterior speaker 28. The sound corresponding to the fourth pattern may be a long beep.

[0044] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the high-mounted stop lamps 27 are illuminated in a fourth pattern with a long full-on period to guide occupants backing out of the rear gate 3 to stop outside the opening / closing trajectory area. In FIG. 9, a circle 34 that is darkly colored with thick diagonal lines schematically indicates a blinking state. As a result, an occupant moving away from the rear gate 3 can visually see that the illumination state of the high mounted stop lamps 27 has changed from the second pattern to the third pattern, which flashes slowly over a long period of time overall. Based on this, the occupant can expect to stop at a stopping position outside the opening / closing trajectory area.

[0045] In step ST9, the control unit 25 automatically opens the rear gate 3. The control unit 25 operates the rear gate actuator 21 to automatically open the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1. In this way, the control unit 25 guides the occupant to a stopping position where the occupant retreats from the rear gate 3, and then automatically opens the rear gate 3. The rear gate 3 is expected to open fully without hitting the occupant at the stopping position or the baggage that the occupant is holding.

[0046] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the latter half of the occupant guidance control of FIG. By the processing in the first half of FIG. 4, it is expected that the occupant will be in a stopping position to retreat from the rear gate 3.

[0047] In step ST10, the control unit 25 determines whether the rear gate 3 is fully open. The control unit 25 may determine whether the rear gate 3 is fully open or not based on the elapsed time from the start of the control in step ST9 and the image captured by the DMS camera 24. If the rear gate 3 is not fully open, the control unit 25 repeats this process. If the rear gate 3 is fully open, the control unit 25 advances the process to step ST11.

[0048] In step ST11, the control unit 25 lights up the high mount stop lamps 27 in a fifth pattern, which is different from the fourth pattern and indicates that the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted, in order to guide the occupant who is in the stopping position behind the rear gate 3 to stay in the stopping position and adjust the vehicle height. The light output from the high mount stop lamps 27 is reflected by the screen member 30 as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 2, and is visible to the occupant who is in the stopping position behind the rear gate 3. The control unit 25 may change the orientation of the high mount stop lamp 27 depending on the light distribution of the high mount stop lamp 27. Furthermore, the control unit 25 may output a sound corresponding to a fifth pattern from the exterior speaker 28.

[0049] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a fifth pattern that indicates that the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted, and is displayed on the screen member 30 by lighting up the high mount stop lamp 27 during vehicle height adjustment. In FIG. 11, the control unit 25 turns on the high-mounted stop lamp 27 and causes the screen member 30 to display an image of "No Entry" as the fifth pattern.

[0050] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of another pattern that indicates that the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted, and that is displayed on the screen member 30 by lighting up the high mount stop lamp 27 during vehicle height adjustment. In FIG. 12, the control unit 25 turns on the high mount stop lamp 27 and causes the screen member 30 to display an image of an arrow indicating the vehicle height adjustment direction as the fifth pattern. The high-mounted stop lamp 27 is capable of emitting light in multiple colors, not just red, and therefore can display images on the screen member 30 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0051] In step ST12, the control unit 25 acquires an image captured by the DMS camera 24 in a state in which the rear gate 3 is automatically opened. Because the rear gate 3 is fully open, the captured image can capture an image of an occupant who is at a stop position on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 and luggage carried by the occupant through the opening of the rear gate 3.

[0052] In step ST13, the control unit 25 generates silhouette information of the occupant in the image captured in step ST11. The control unit 25 may process the captured image by edge processing or the like to extract contour information from the image, and generate silhouette information indicating the contour of the occupant by determining whether the extracted contour information matches the contour pattern of the human body. The contour pattern of the human body used here may be, for example, the contour pattern of a human body standing without carrying any luggage.

[0053] In step ST14, the control unit 25 generates silhouette information of the package in the image captured in step ST11. The control unit 25 may, for example, process the captured image using edge processing or the like to extract contour information from the image, and generate silhouette information showing the contour of the luggage, such as differential contour information that overlaps with the silhouette showing the contour of the occupant or contour information that is continuously close to the silhouette showing the contour of the occupant.

[0054] In step ST15, the control unit 25 determines the height position of the baggage carried by the occupant based on the positional relationship between the silhouette information of the occupant and the silhouette information of the baggage. Here, the control unit 25 may determine the height position of the luggage based on the head, shoulders, and upper body that can be identified in the silhouette information of the occupant. This allows the control unit 25 to determine the position of luggage relative to passengers at the rear of the vehicle body 2 based on the image from the DMS camera 24 when the rear gate 3 is automatically opened. The control unit 25 can determine the height position of the luggage relative to the occupant based on the positional relationship of the silhouette of the luggage relative to the silhouette of the occupant in the image from the DMS camera 24.

[0055] In step ST16, the control unit 25 selects the height of the vehicle body 2 to be adjusted. First, the control unit 25 selects the height to be adjusted for the vehicle body 2 so that the height of the loading platform 4 is the same as the height position of the luggage determined in step ST15. Details will be described later.

[0056] In step ST17, the control unit 25 executes the vehicle height adjustment control for adjusting the height of the vehicle body 2. For example, the control unit 25 may calculate the height of the loading platform 4 corresponding to the height position of the luggage. The control unit 25 may also calculate the height of the vehicle body 2 that corresponds to the calculated height of the loading platform 4. The control unit 25 outputs to the vehicle height adjusting device 29 a height signal instructing adjustment of the vehicle body 2 to the calculated height. The vehicle height adjustment device 29 adjusts the initial length of the suspension device 6 by expanding or contracting the suspension device 6 in accordance with the input height signal. This allows the height of the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 to be adjusted so that the height of the cargo bed 4 becomes the height instructed by the control unit 25. This allows the control unit 25 to adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 by the vehicle height adjusting device 29 in accordance with the determined position of the luggage relative to the occupant.

[0057] In step ST18, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the vehicle height adjustment in step ST17 is complete. If the vehicle height adjustment is not complete, the control unit 25 repeats this process. On the other hand, when the vehicle height adjustment is completed, the control unit 25 advances the process to step ST19. Here, after the processing of step ST11, the high mount stop lamp 27 continues to be illuminated in the fifth pattern indicating that the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted. When the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted, the high mount stop lamp 27 outputs light in the fifth pattern indicating that the height is being adjusted. Furthermore, if the exterior speaker 28 is outputting a sound in the processing of step ST11, it continues to output a sound corresponding to the fifth pattern after step ST11.

[0058] In step ST19, since the control unit 25 has determined in step ST18 that the vehicle height adjustment is complete, the control unit 25 switches on the illumination of the high mount stop lamps 27. The control unit 25 changes the light output from the high mount stop lamps 27 to a sixth pattern that is different from the fifth pattern and is used to guide the vehicle under the open rear gate 3. Furthermore, the control unit 25 may output a sound corresponding to a sixth pattern from the exterior speaker 28.

[0059] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth pattern of the entry permission display, which is displayed on the screen member 30 by lighting the high-mounted stop lamp 27 after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, to guide passengers under the open rear gate 3. 13, the control unit 25 turns on the high mount stop lamp 27 and displays an entry permission display image as a sixth pattern on the screen member 30. The entry permission display image in FIG. 15 is an image of the letters "GO!" encouraging approach.

[0060] Thereafter, the control unit 25 ends the occupant guidance control of FIGS.

[0061] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the vehicle height adjustment table 50 stored in the memory 26 of FIG. The vehicle height adjustment table 50 in FIG. 14 has setting information for the vehicle height adjustment position for each height position of luggage.

[0062] The first row of the vehicle height adjustment table 50 contains setting information for the upper position, which is the vehicle height adjustment position when luggage is above the occupant's shoulders. The upper position is the height when the occupant is supporting a large luggage on their shoulders. In this case, the height of the bottom of the luggage is assumed to be, for example, 1600 mm or more above the road surface. The second line contains setting information for the middle position as the vehicle height adjustment position when the luggage is in the range from the occupant's waist to shoulders. The middle position is the height when the occupant is supporting a box-shaped luggage with both hands and their waist and abdomen. In this case, the height of the bottom of the luggage is assumed to be 1000 mm or more and less than 1600 mm from the road surface. The third line contains information on the setting of the lower position, which is the vehicle height adjustment position when the luggage is lower than the passenger's waist. The lower position is the height when the passenger is holding a shopping bag in both hands. In this case, the height of the bottom of the luggage is assumed to be less than 1000 mm from the road surface. The vehicle height adjusting device 29 can adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 to at least an upper position, a middle position, and a lower position by expanding and contracting the suspension device 6.

[0063] Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an image 40 captured by the DMS camera 24 of Fig. 3. In the captured image 40 of Fig. 15, an occupant 41 at a stop position behind the tailgate 3 is holding a large piece of luggage 42 in both hands. The control unit 25 acquires the captured image 40 of FIG. 16 in step ST12, generates silhouette information of the occupant 41 in step ST13, and generates silhouette information of the baggage 42 that overlaps with the silhouette showing the outline of the occupant 41 in step ST14.

[0064] Then, in step ST15, the control unit 25 can determine that the luggage 42 is at a height ranging from the waist to the shoulders of the occupant 41 based on the height position relationship in which the height of the underside of the silhouette information of the luggage 42 in the captured image 40 overlaps with the abdomen of the upper body of the occupant 41. In this case, the control unit 25 determines that the height position of the luggage 42 is the middle position by referring to the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 stored in the memory 26. In step ST16, the control unit 25 may calculate the height of the cargo bed 4 corresponding to the middle position, and calculate the height of the vehicle body 2 that corresponds to the calculated height of the cargo bed 4. Note that the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 may also store information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6, in association with each height position of the luggage. In this case, the control unit 25 can obtain information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6 from the vehicle height adjustment table 50, using the positional relationship of the height of the luggage 42 determined in step ST15.

[0065] The control unit 25 outputs a signal to the vehicle height adjustment device 29 to adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 to correspond to the middle position. As a result, the height of the cargo bed 4 of the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 is adjusted to a height that corresponds well to the luggage 42 that the occupant 41 is holding with both hands, as shown in Fig. 2. The occupant 41 can step under the open rear gate 3 and easily load the large luggage 42 onto the cargo bed 4 without bending over. 2 may be set to the standard height of the vehicle 1, which does not require vehicle height adjustment. In this case, the control unit 25 does not need to output a signal to the vehicle height adjustment device 29 to adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 to correspond to the middle position.

[0066] Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the image 40 captured by the DMS camera 24 of Fig. 3. In Fig. 16, an occupant 41 at a stop position behind the tailgate 3 is carrying a baggage 42 on his shoulder. The control unit 25 acquires the captured image 40 of Figure 16 in step ST12, generates silhouette information of the occupant 41 in step ST13, and generates silhouette information of luggage 42 that is continuously adjacent to the silhouette showing the outline of the occupant 41 in step ST14.

[0067] Then, in step ST15, the control unit 25 can determine that the luggage 42 is at a height above the shoulders of the occupant 41 based on the height position relationship in which the height of the underside of the silhouette information of the luggage 42 in the captured image 40 is above the shoulder height of the occupant 41. In this case, the control unit 25 determines that the height position of the luggage 42 is the upper position by referring to the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 stored in the memory 26. In step ST16, the control unit 25 may calculate the height of the cargo bed 4 corresponding to the upper position, and calculate the height of the vehicle body 2 that corresponds to the calculated height of the cargo bed 4. Note that the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 may also store information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6, in association with each height position of the luggage. In this case, the control unit 25 can obtain information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6 from the vehicle height adjustment table 50, using the positional relationship of the height of the luggage 42 determined in step ST15.

[0068] The control unit 25 outputs a height signal to the vehicle height adjusting device 29 to adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 to correspond to the upper position.

[0069] 17 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle height adjustment state of the automobile 1 when a passenger at the rear of the tailgate 3 is carrying luggage on his shoulder. In this case, the height of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted to a higher position, as indicated by the arrow in the figure, which is higher than the middle position in FIG. 2. 17, the height of the luggage rack 4 of the body 2 of the automobile 1 is adjusted to a height that satisfies the luggage carried by the passenger above the shoulders. The passenger can step under the open rear gate 3 and easily place the luggage on the luggage rack 4 without bending over significantly.

[0070] Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the image 40 captured by the DMS camera 24 of Fig. 3. In Fig. 18, an occupant 41 at a stop position behind the tailgate 3 is holding a baggage 42 hanging from his hand. The control unit 25 acquires the captured image 40 of FIG. 16 in step ST12, generates silhouette information of the occupant 41 in step ST13, and generates silhouette information of baggage 42 that is continuously adjacent to the outline of the occupant 41 in step ST14.

[0071] Then, in step ST15, the control unit 25 can determine that the luggage 42 is at a height below the waist of the occupant 41 based on the height position relationship in which the height of the silhouette information of the luggage 42 in the captured image 40 is below the waist of the occupant 41. In this case, the control unit 25 determines that the height position of the luggage 42 is the lower position by referring to the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 stored in the memory 26. In step ST16, the control unit 25 may calculate the height of the cargo bed 4 corresponding to the lower position, and calculate the height of the vehicle body 2 that corresponds to the calculated height of the cargo bed 4. Note that the vehicle height adjustment table 50 of FIG. 14 may also store information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6, in association with each height position of the luggage. In this case, the control unit 25 can obtain information on the height of the cargo bed 4, the corresponding height of the cargo bed 4, or the corresponding initial length of the suspension unit 6 from the vehicle height adjustment table 50, using the positional relationship of the height of the luggage 42 determined in step ST15.

[0072] The control unit 25 outputs a signal to the vehicle height adjusting device 29 to adjust the height of the vehicle body 2 to correspond to the lower position.

[0073] 19 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle height adjustment state of the automobile 1 when a passenger at the rear of the tailgate 3 is holding luggage hanging from his / her hand. In this case, the height of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted to a lower position, as indicated by the arrow in the figure, which is lower than the middle position in FIG. 2. 19, the height of the luggage rack 4 of the body 2 of the automobile 1 is adjusted to a height that corresponds well to the luggage that the occupant is carrying in their hands. The occupant can step under the open rear gate 3 and easily place the luggage on the luggage rack 4 without having to lift it up significantly.

[0074] As described above, in this embodiment, before automatically opening the rear gate 3, the control unit 25 of the automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 of the vehicle 1 outputs light or sound from the high-mounted stop lamp 27 to guide at least the occupant back away from the rear gate 3 to a stopping position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate 3. This allows the occupant, even if approaching the rear gate 3 of the vehicle 1, to back away from the rear gate 3 and stop at a stopping position where they will not come into contact with the rear gate 3. Because the stopping position is determined based on the guidance of the vehicle 1, it is not excessively far from the vehicle 1, as would be the case if the occupant were to decide for themselves. The stopping position determined based on the guidance of the vehicle 1 not only avoids contact with the rear gate 3, but is also not excessively far from the vehicle 1, and is expected to be a good position for waiting for the automatic opening / closing of the rear gate 3. The occupant can wait for the rear gate 3 to open automatically at a position where they can avoid contact with the rear gate 3, without having to decide for themselves where they will not come into contact with the rear gate 3.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 25 further determines the position of luggage relative to the occupant at the rear of the vehicle body 2 based on the image from the DMS camera 24 when the rear gate 3 is automatically opened. The control unit 25 also adjusts the height of the vehicle body 2 using the vehicle height adjustment device 29 in accordance with the determined position of the luggage relative to the occupant. This reduces the need for the occupant to lift or lower the luggage significantly in order to place it in the luggage compartment of the vehicle body 2. Moreover, in this embodiment, when adjusting the height of the vehicle body 2, the control unit 25 causes the high-mounted stop lamp 27 to output a fifth pattern of light or sound indicating that the height is being adjusted. After that, when the height adjustment of the vehicle body 2 is completed, the control unit 25 switches the light or sound output from the high-mounted stop lamp 27 to output a sixth pattern of light or sound to guide the occupant to under the open rear gate 3. This allows the occupant to know that the height of the vehicle body 2 has been adjusted in accordance with the position of the luggage relative to the occupant, and to load luggage onto the adjusted vehicle body 2. At this time, because the height of the vehicle body 2 has been adjusted in advance in accordance with the position of the luggage relative to the occupant, the occupant does not need to lift or lower the luggage significantly. In this way, the automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 according to this embodiment switches and outputs different lights or sounds for each stage of opening / closing the rear gate 3 and adjusting the height of the automobile 1. As a result, the passengers are not required to open or close the rear gate 3 themselves while carrying luggage, or to lift or lower luggage in large amounts.

[0076] In this embodiment, the control unit 25 determines the height position of the luggage relative to the occupant based on the positional relationship of the luggage silhouette relative to the occupant silhouette in the image captured by the DMS camera 24. The control unit 25 can easily determine the height position of the luggage silhouette by using the silhouette of the person who is the occupant as a reference. The control unit 25 can easily determine, for example, whether the luggage silhouette is above the shoulders of the occupant silhouette, whether it overlaps with the area from the waist to the shoulders of the occupant silhouette, or whether it is below the waist of the occupant silhouette.

[0077] In this embodiment, when the silhouette of the luggage is higher than the shoulders of the silhouette of the occupant, the control unit 25 adjusts the height of the vehicle body 2 to a higher position using the vehicle height adjustment device 29. This allows the occupant to place the luggage that is being carried above the shoulders onto the vehicle body 2 without having to lower it significantly.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the silhouette of the luggage overlaps the silhouette of the occupant in the range from the waist to the shoulders, the control unit 25 adjusts the height of the vehicle body 2 to the middle position using the vehicle height adjustment device 29. This allows the occupant to place the luggage, which overlaps the range from the waist to the shoulders, on the vehicle body 2 without having to lift or lower the luggage significantly.

[0079] In this embodiment, when the silhouette of the luggage is lower than the waist of the silhouette of the occupant, the control unit 25 adjusts the height of the vehicle body 2 to a lower position using the vehicle height adjustment device 29. This allows the occupant to place luggage that is being carried below the waist onto the vehicle body 2 without having to lift it up significantly.

[0080] In this embodiment, when the key detection device 22 detects an occupant approaching the vehicle body 2, the control unit 25 determines whether or not there is an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate 3 based on the detection of the ADAS sensor 23. If there is an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing, the control unit 25 prohibits the automatic opening operation of the rear gate 3 until the obstacle is removed. As a result, the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 will not open automatically if there is an obstacle. In this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rear gate 3 from interfering with the obstacle. On the other hand, if there is no obstacle to automatic opening and closing, the control unit 25 automatically opens the rear gate 3. At that time, the control unit 25 turns on the high-mounted stop lamp 27 to guide the occupant to a good position with respect to the rear gate 3. Specifically, to begin guiding an occupant approaching the vehicle body 2 to the rear gate 3, the control unit 25 first starts outputting light from the high-mounted stop lamps 27 in a first pattern that flows from the outside to the center to guide the occupant toward the rear gate 3. When the occupant approaching the rear gate 3 subsequently enters an opening / closing trajectory area through which the rear gate 3 passes when opening or closing, the control unit 25, based on an image from the DMS camera 24 or detection by the ADAS sensor 23, changes the light output from the high-mounted stop lamps 27 to a second pattern that is different from the first pattern and has a long cycle of full illumination to guide the occupant to stop. The control unit 25 further changes the light to a third pattern that is different from the second pattern and flows from the center to the outside to guide the occupant to reverse. When the occupant, backing away from the rear gate 3, subsequently reaches a stopping position outside the opening / closing trajectory area, the control unit 25, based on the image from the DMS camera 24 or the detection by the ADAS sensor 23, changes the light output from the high-mounted stop lamps 27 to a fourth pattern, different from the third pattern, with a long period of full illumination to guide the occupant to stop outside the opening / closing trajectory area. This allows the occupant to approach the rear gate 3, then back away from the rear gate 3 and wait for the rear gate 3 to automatically open at a stopping position. Here, the stopping position is not determined by the occupant's own judgment, but is a position preset in the vehicle 1 that is at least approximately 1 meter away from the boundary of the opening / closing trajectory area of ​​the rear gate 3, corresponding to the distance for large luggage. As a result, the occupant and luggage are less likely to come into contact with the automatically opening and closing rear gate 3. This may prevent the occupant from taking action to avoid the automatically opening rear gate 3 approaching.

[0081] In this embodiment, the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is provided to protrude from the outer surface of the upper edge of the rear gate 3, above the rear glass 7. The high-mounted stop lamp 27 is configured with a planar arrangement of LED elements capable of emitting multiple colors, and can be illuminated in a variety of colors and patterns. The rear gate 3 is provided with a screen member 30 in the trim portion of the upper edge of the rear glass 7, which reflects light from the high-mounted stop lamp 27 toward the rear of the vehicle body 2 when the rear gate 3 is open. As a result, the light emitted by the high-mounted stop lamp 27 is reflected by the screen member 30 of the open rear gate 3, and can be seen by occupants who are stopped behind the open rear gate 3. Moreover, in this embodiment, when the height of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted by the vehicle height adjustment device 29 with the rear gate 3 automatically open, the control unit 25 causes occupants at a stop position behind the open rear gate 3 to see a fifth pattern of light indicating that the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted. In contrast, after adjusting the height of the vehicle body 2, the control unit 25 causes occupants at a stop position behind the open rear gate 3 to see a sixth pattern of light, which is different from the fifth pattern and indicates entry permission and guides them to move under the open rear gate 3. In this way, occupants waiting at a stop position behind the open rear gate 3 can recognize the stage of the height adjustment of the vehicle body 2 by the pattern they see changing depending on the stage of the height adjustment of the vehicle body 2. In this way, an occupant waiting at a stop position behind the open rear gate 3 can visually recognize the fifth pattern while the height of the vehicle body 2 is being adjusted, and can stop and wait without approaching the vehicle 1. After that, the visual pattern changes from the fifth pattern to the sixth pattern, allowing the waiting occupant to recognize that the height adjustment of the vehicle body 2 has been completed, and can approach the vehicle body 2 whose height adjustment has been completed and easily load luggage.

[0082] In this way, the automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 of the automobile 1 in this embodiment guides the occupant to a position where they can avoid contact with the rear gate 3, adjusts the height of the vehicle body 2 according to the occupant's luggage, and further guides the occupant by changing the light or sound according to the level of height adjustment. In particular, in this embodiment, the occupant is first guided close to the rear gate and then guided to the stopping position. In this case, the distance from the rear gate to the occupant waiting at the stopping position can be set to the minimum distance necessary to avoid contact with the automatically opening rear gate. Even if the luggage is large and it is difficult to see ahead, the passenger does not need to wait too far away from the rear gate, but can wait at an appropriate distance, and can immediately place the luggage on the luggage rack 4 after the rear gate opens. As a result, this embodiment can provide high convenience and safety for the occupants.

[0083] The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the invention.

[0084] In the embodiment described above, the control unit 25 of the automatic opening / closing device 20 for the rear gate 3 first allows the passenger to approach the rear gate 3, and then guides the passenger to a stopping position. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 25 may simply guide the occupant to a stopping position.

[0085] In the embodiment described above, the control unit 25 adjusts the height of the body 2 to one of three height positions: upper position, middle position, or lower position, depending on the height position of the luggage. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 25 may adjust the height of the body 2 to two or four or more heights depending on the height position of the luggage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1...Automobile (vehicle), 2...Vehicle body, 3...Tailgate, 4...Loading bed, 5...Tire, 6...Suspension device, 7...Rear window, 20...Automatic opening / closing device, 21...Tailgate actuator, 22...Key detection device, 23...Sensor, 23...ADAS sensor, 24...Camera, 24...DMS camera, 25...Control unit, 26...Memory, 27...High-mounted stop lamp, 28...External speaker, 29...Vehicle height adjustment device, 30...Screen member, 40...Captured image, 41...Occupant, 42...Luggage, 50...Vehicle height adjustment table

Claims

1. An automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle rear gate having a control unit for automatically opening and closing a rear gate at the rear of a vehicle body and having an occupant guidance function, an imaging device capable of imaging passengers and luggage at the rear of the vehicle body; an output device that outputs light or sound toward the rear side of the vehicle body; a vehicle height adjusting device for adjusting the height of the vehicle body; and The control unit a vehicle height adjusting device connected to the imaging device, the output device, and the vehicle height adjusting device; before automatically opening the rear gate, outputting light or sound from the output device to guide at least an occupant back from the rear gate to a stopping position where the occupant will not come into contact with the rear gate; With the rear gate automatically opened, a position of luggage relative to an occupant at the rear of the vehicle body is determined based on the image of the imaging device, and the height of the vehicle body is adjusted by the vehicle height adjustment device in accordance with the determined position of the luggage relative to the occupant; When adjusting the height of the vehicle body, the output device outputs light or sound indicating that the height is being adjusted; After the height of the vehicle body is adjusted, the light or sound output from the output device is switched to an output for guiding the occupant to under the open tailgate. An automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle's rear gate that has a passenger guidance function.

2. The control unit determining a height position of the luggage relative to the occupant based on a positional relationship of a silhouette of the luggage relative to the silhouette of the occupant in the image captured by the imaging device; 2. The automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle rear gate having a passenger guiding function according to claim 1.

3. the vehicle height adjusting device is capable of adjusting the height of the vehicle body to at least an upper position, a middle position, and a lower position; The control unit When the silhouette of the luggage is higher than the shoulders of the silhouette of the occupant, the vehicle height adjusting device adjusts the height of the vehicle body to the upper position; When the silhouette of the luggage overlaps the silhouette of the occupant in the range from the waist to the shoulders, the vehicle height adjusting device adjusts the height of the vehicle body to the middle position, When the silhouette of the luggage is located below the waist of the silhouette of the occupant, the vehicle height adjusting device adjusts the height of the vehicle body to the lower position.

3. The automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle rear gate having a passenger guiding function according to claim 2.

4. an approach sensor that detects an approach of an occupant to the vehicle body and an obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate are connected to the control unit; the output device is a high-mounted stop lamp provided at an upper edge portion of the rear gate, The control unit When the approach sensor detects an occupant approaching the vehicle body, the presence or absence of an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate is determined based on the detection of the obstacle sensor; If there is an obstacle to the automatic opening and closing, the automatic opening operation of the rear gate is prohibited, When there is no obstacle to the automatic opening and closing of the rear gate, the high-mounted stop lamp starts to output light of a first pattern for guiding an occupant to approach the rear gate; When it is determined based on the image of the imaging device or the detection of the obstacle sensor that an occupant approaching the rear gate has entered an opening / closing locus area through which the rear gate passes when opening or closing, the light output from the high mounted stop lamp is changed to a second pattern different from the first pattern that guides the occupant to stop, and then further changed to a third pattern different from the second pattern that guides the occupant to reverse, When it is determined based on the image of the imaging device or the detection of the obstacle sensor that an occupant reversing away from the rear gate is outside the opening / closing locus area, the light output from the high-mounted stop lamp is changed to a fourth pattern different from the third pattern, which guides the occupant to stop outside the opening / closing locus area, and the rear gate is automatically opened.

4. The automatic opening / closing device for a rear gate of a vehicle having an occupant guiding function according to claim 1.

5. the high-mounted stop lamp is provided to protrude from the upper edge outer surface portion of the rear gate that is above the rear glass, a screen member that reflects light from the high-mounted stop lamp toward the rear side of the vehicle body when the rear gate is open, provided on a trim portion of an upper edge of the rear glass of the rear gate; The control unit When the height of the vehicle body is adjusted by the vehicle height adjustment device with the rear gate automatically opened, the light output from the high mount stop lamp is reflected by the screen member, and a fifth pattern of light indicating that the height of the vehicle body is being adjusted is made visible to an occupant at the stop position behind the rear gate, After adjusting the height of the vehicle body, the light output from the high-mounted stop lamp is reflected by the screen member, and a sixth pattern of light different from the fifth pattern is made visible to an occupant at the stop position behind the tailgate, for guiding the occupant to move under the open tailgate.

5. The automatic opening and closing device for a vehicle rear gate having an occupant guiding function according to claim 4.

Images