Lid opening / closing system

Abstract

To quickly release locking of a lid supported on a vehicle body so as to be freely opened and closed, while suppressing generation of abnormal noise.SOLUTION: A lid opening / closing system opens / closes a lid supported on a vehicle body and also locks the lid. The system comprises: a lock device that places the lid in a locked state, a half-locked state, or a lock-release state; an open / close driving device that opens / closes the lid; and a control device that controls the lock device so as to transition the lid from the locked state via the half-locked state to the lock-release state in correspondence with an open command of the lid, and controls the open / close driving device so as to pull in the lid toward a closing side while the lock device transitions the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a lid supported on a vehicle body. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a control device that controls an actuator for unlocking a sliding door, which is a vehicle opening and closing mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When unlocking the sliding door, this control device controls a drive device separate from the actuator to forcibly move the sliding door from the fully closed position to an over-stroke position on the closing side. The control device then controls the actuator to unlock the sliding door after detecting that the sliding door has reached the over-stroke position. This reduces the reaction force acting on the sliding door from the seal member of the opening closed by the sliding door, thereby suppressing the generation of collision noises and rubbing noises between members and reducing the force required to unlock the door. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-68182 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the above-described conventional technology is applied to a trunk lid or hood mounted on a vehicle and the lid is moved to the closing side before the actuator that releases the lock is activated, the time from when a command to open the lid is issued until the lock is released becomes long. Furthermore, with regard to trunk lids and the like mounted on vehicles, it is necessary to suppress the generation of abnormal noises, such as the sound of parts colliding with each other, when the first stage of locking is released.

[0005] Therefore, a main object of the present disclosure is to quickly unlock a lid that is supported on a vehicle body so as to be able to be opened and closed freely while suppressing the generation of abnormal noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The lid opening / closing system of the present disclosure is a lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a lid supported on the body of a vehicle, and includes a locking device that places the lid in one of a locked state, a half-locked state, and an unlocked state, an opening / closing drive device that opens and closes the lid, and a control device that controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state in response to a lid opening command, and controls the opening / closing drive device to pull the lid toward the closing side while the locking device is activated to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state.

[0007] The control device of the lid opening / closing system of the present disclosure controls the locking device to transition the lid from a locked state to a half-locked state and then to an unlocked state in response to a lid opening command. Furthermore, the control device controls the opening / closing drive device to retract the lid toward the closing side while the locking device is activated to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state. This suppresses an increase in the amount of retraction and acceleration of the lid toward the closing side, compared to when the lid is retracted toward the closing side before the locking device begins to release the lock, and prevents a prolonged time from when the lid opening command is issued until the lock is released. Furthermore, by using the opening / closing drive device to retract the lid toward the closing side, the force applied to the lid by an elastic body or the like disposed between the lid and the vehicle body is reduced, thereby suppressing the generation of abnormal noise, such as the sound of components colliding with each other. As a result, the lid opening / closing system of the present disclosure makes it possible to quickly unlock a lid supported on the vehicle body in an openable and closable manner while suppressing the generation of abnormal noise.

[0008] Another lid opening / closing system of the present disclosure is a lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a lid supported on the body of a vehicle, and includes a locking device that places the lid in one of a locked state, a half-locked state, and an unlocked state, an opening / closing drive device that opens and closes the lid, and a control device that controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state in response to a lid opening command, and controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state when the lid returns to the locked state after the locking device has transitioned the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state, and controls the opening / closing drive device to move the lid to the opening side.

[0009] A control device of another lid opening / closing system disclosed herein controls the locking device to transition the lid from a locked state to a half-locked state and then to an unlocked state in response to a lid opening command. Furthermore, when the locking device transitions the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then returns to the locked state, the control device controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state, and controls the opening / closing drive device to move the lid toward the open side. This makes it possible to quickly transition the lid to the half-locked state using the opening / closing drive device when the lid cannot be transitioned to the half-locked state due to loads applied to the lid from accumulated snow or luggage placed on the lid. Furthermore, by using the opening / closing drive device to move the lid toward the open side, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noises, such as the sound of components colliding with each other due to loads from accumulated snow, etc. As a result, another lid opening / closing system disclosed herein also makes it possible to quickly unlock a lid supported on a vehicle body in an openable and closable manner while suppressing the generation of abnormal noises. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a vehicle to which a lid opening and closing system according to the present disclosure is applied; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a lid opening and closing system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view showing a latch included in a locking device of a lid opening and closing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view showing a pole included in a locking device of a lid opening and closing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state of the latch and the pawl in the unlocked state. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state of the latch and the pawl in a half-locked state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state of the latch and the pawl in the locked state. [Figure 8] 3 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by a control device of the lid opening and closing system of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 9 is a time chart showing an example of states of the first, second and third switches, the closer motor and the opening / closing drive device while the routine of FIG. 8 is being executed. [Figure 10] 10 is a time chart showing another example of the states of the first, second and third switches, the closer motor and the opening / closing drive device while the routine of FIG. 8 is being executed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Next, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 1 to which a lid opening / closing system 10 according to the present disclosure is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the lid opening / closing system 10. The vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a front trunk (frunk) 3 installed on a vehicle body 2 and a lid (frunk hood) 4 that covers the opening of the front trunk 3. The lid 4 has a striker 5 fixed to the inner surface of its front end, and is rotatably supported by the vehicle body 2 via a pair of hinges 6 and a pair of telescopic support members 7 so that the front end opens and closes up and down. However, the lid 4 may also be rotatably supported by the vehicle body 2 so that the rear end opens and closes up and down. In addition, a weatherstrip (sealing member) 8 made of an elastic material such as rubber or resin is attached to the vehicle body 2 along the opening of the front trunk 3 so as to abut against the inner surface of the lid 4.

[0013] 2, the lid opening / closing system 10 includes a locking device 20 that locks the closed lid 4, an opening / closing drive device 30 that opens and closes the lid 4, and a control device 40 that controls the locking device 20 and the opening / closing drive device 30. The locking device 20 is installed in the vehicle body 2 so as to be engageable with the striker 5 of the closed lid 4. The opening / closing drive device 30 includes an electric motor and the like (not shown), and is installed in the vehicle body 2 so as to extend and retract a pair of support members 7 to open and close the lid 4.

[0014] 2, the locking device 20 includes a latch 21, a pole 22, a closer motor 23, a drive mechanism 25, a first switch SW1, a second switch SW2, and a third switch SW3. The latch 21 is rotatable around a rotation shaft 21a fixed to a base member (not shown) (vehicle body 2) of the locking device 20 that is attached to the vehicle body 2, and includes a notch 210 that can engage with the striker 5 of the lid 4, and first and second claws 211, 212 that define the notch 210, as shown in FIG.

[0015] An open engagement surface 212a, a half-lock engagement surface (half-lock engagement portion) 212b, and a full-lock engagement surface (full-lock engagement portion) 212c are formed on the second claw portion 212 of the latch 21. The open engagement surface 212a, the half-lock engagement surface 212b, and the full-lock engagement surface 212c are formed on the outer periphery of the second claw portion 212 so as to be aligned in this order in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. The open engagement surface 212a is a cylindrical surface centered on the central axis O of the rotation shaft 21a. The half-lock engagement surface 212b and the full-lock engagement surface 212c are flat surfaces extending in the radial direction of the latch 21. 3, the distance ra from the central axis O of the rotation shaft 21a to the open engagement surface 212a is longer than the distance rb from the central axis O to the end of the half-lock engagement surface 212b on the rotation shaft 21a side, and the distance rb is longer than the distance rc from the central axis O to the end of the full-lock engagement surface 212c on the rotation shaft 21a side. The latch 21 is biased by a latch spring (not shown) in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) that releases the striker 5 around the rotation shaft 21a relative to the base member.

[0016] The pawl 22 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 22a fixed to the base member so as to extend parallel to the rotation shaft 21a of the latch 21, and includes an engagement portion 220 as shown in Fig. 4. The engagement portion 220 extends in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 22a so as to be selectively engageable with the open engagement surface 212a, the half-lock engagement surface 212b, and the full-lock engagement surface 212c of the latch 21. Furthermore, the pawl 22 is biased clockwise in Fig. 3 around the rotation shaft 22a relative to the base member by a pole spring (not shown).

[0017] As shown in Fig. 5, when the end of the engaging portion 220 of the pole 22 abuts against the open engaging surface 212a of the latch 21, the striker 5 is disengaged from the notch 210 of the latch 21, and the lid 4 is maintained in an unlocked state. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, when the engaging portion 220 of the pole 22 is engaged with the half-lock engaging surface 212b of the latch 21 to form a half-latched state, the lid 4 is maintained in a half-locked state in which the striker 5 is retracted by the first claw 211 of the latch 21 and is slightly open. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, when the engaging portion 220 of the pole 22 is engaged with the full-lock engaging surface 212c of the latch 21 to form a full-latched state, the lid 4 is maintained in a locked state (fully closed state) in which the striker 5 is fully retracted downward in the figure by the first claw 211 of the latch 21.

[0018] The closer motor 23 is, for example, a DC brushless motor. The drive mechanism 25 includes a speed reduction mechanism connected to the closer motor 23, a sector gear rotated by the closer motor 23 via the speed reduction mechanism, and multiple links that selectively rotate one of the latch 21 and the pawl 22 in conjunction with the rotation of the sector gear. In this embodiment, when the sector gear is rotated in one direction by a predetermined angle by the closer motor 23 in a fully latched state in which the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 is engaged with the full-lock engagement surface 212c of the latch 21, the drive mechanism 25 rotates the pawl 22 counterclockwise in FIGS. 5 to 7 about the pivot shaft 22a so that the engagement portion 220 engages with the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21, which is biased counterclockwise in FIGS. 5 to 7 about the pivot shaft 21a by the latch spring.

[0019] In addition, when the sector gear is returned to its initial position (origin position) by the closer motor 23 in a half-latch state in which the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22 is engaged with the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 and then rotated again by a predetermined angle in the above-mentioned direction, the drive mechanism 25 rotates the latch 21 counterclockwise around the pivot shaft 21a in Figures 5 to 7 so as to release the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22, which is urged clockwise in Figures 5 to 7 around the pivot shaft 22a by the pole spring. Furthermore, when the sector gear is rotated by a predetermined angle in the one direction by the closer motor 23 with the striker 5 disengaged from the notch 210 of the latch 21, the drive mechanism 25 rotates the latch 21 clockwise around the pivot shaft 21a in Figures 5 to 7 so that the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 engages with the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22 and then the full-lock engagement surface 212c engages with the engagement portion 220.

[0020] Furthermore, after a command to open the lid 4 is issued, the first switch SW1 of the locking device 20 outputs a low-level OFF signal when it detects the formation of a fully latched state in which the full-lock engagement surface 212c of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 are engaged, based on the position of the link that moves in response to the rotation of the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25, and outputs a high-level ON signal when it detects the release of the fully latched state. Furthermore, after the full latched state is released and the sector gear is returned to its initial position, the first switch SW1 outputs a low-level OFF signal when it detects the formation of a half-latched state in which the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 are engaged, based on the position of the link that moves in response to the rotation of the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25, and outputs a high-level ON signal when it detects the release of the half-latched state.

[0021] The second switch SW2 outputs a low-level OFF signal when the fully latched state is formed based on the position of the pole 22, and when it detects a transition from the fully latched state to a half-latched state in which the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22 engage, it continues to output a high-level ON signal thereafter. Furthermore, when the second switch SW2 detects a transition from the half-latched state to the fully latched state after the half-latched state is formed, it continues to output a low-level OFF signal thereafter. The third switch SW3 outputs a low-level OFF signal when the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 is in the initial position (origin), and outputs a high-level ON signal when the sector gear is not in the initial position.

[0022] The control device 40 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., a motor drive circuit, a communication module, a storage device, etc. (all not shown). The control device 40 is also connected to the above-mentioned first, second, and third switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, rotation sensors (not shown) for the closer motor 23 and the electric motor of the opening / closing drive device 30, a lid opening / closing switch 41 installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, an emergency switch (not shown) installed in the front trunk 3, etc. The control device 40 can also receive signals transmitted from a wireless remote control key (smart key) 45, which includes an open switch, a close switch, a lock switch, and an unlock switch for opening and closing the lid 4. When the user operates the remote control key 45, etc., the control device 40 controls the closer motor 23 of the lock device 20, the electric motor of the opening / closing drive device 30, etc., to open or close the lid 4 based on the detection values ​​of various sensors.

[0023] Next, a procedure for opening the lid 4 in a locked state in response to the operation of the lid opening / closing switch 41 or the remote control key 45 by the user of the vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0024] 8 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by the control device 40 when an open command signal for the lid 4 is issued from the lid open / close switch 41 or the remote control key 45, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are time charts showing the states of the first, second, and third switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, the closer motor 23, and the opening / closing drive device 30 while the routine of FIG. 8 is being executed. When an open command signal for the lid 4 is issued from the lid open / close switch 41 or the like (time t0 in FIGS. 9 and 10), the control device 40 starts unlocking control of the closer motor 23 and retracting control of the opening / closing drive device 30 (step S100), and determines whether the lid 4 is in a half-locked state (step S110). Note that the retracting control of the opening / closing drive device 30 may be started with a slight delay from the start of unlocking control of the closer motor 23 (start of rotation of the closer motor 23).

[0025] The unlock control of the closer motor 23 in step S100 controls the closer motor 23 to rotate the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 by a predetermined angle in the above-mentioned direction. As a result, when the processing of step S100 is started, the closer motor 23 rotates the pawl 22 counterclockwise in FIGS. 5 to 7 around the rotation shaft 22a via the drive mechanism 25 by the closer motor 23. The retraction control of the open / close drive device 30 controls the electric motor of the open / close drive device 30 so as to retract the lid 4 in the closing direction simultaneously with or immediately after the start of operation of the closer motor 23. The retraction control may be a gradual voltage change process that gradually increases the voltage applied to the electric motor of the open / close drive device 30 over time from the start of the processing of step S100, or may be a process that stops the retraction of the lid 4 when the rotation amount of the electric motor reaches a predetermined value after the start of the processing of step S100.

[0026] In step S110, the control device 40 determines whether a predetermined first time tref1 has elapsed since the first switch SW1 detected the release of the fully latched state in which the full-lock engagement surface 212c of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 are engaged. Furthermore, in step S110, the control device 40 determines whether a predetermined second time tref2 has elapsed since the second switch SW2 detected the formation of a half-latched state in which the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 are engaged. Additionally, in step S110, the control device 40 determines whether the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pawl 22 has been released. In this embodiment, when the value of the current applied to the closer motor 23 becomes higher than a predetermined value, the control device 40 determines that the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 has reached the end in the one direction and the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pawl 22 has been released.

[0027] If the first time tref1 has not elapsed since the release of the full-latch state, the second time tref2 has not elapsed since the formation of the half-latch state, and the drive state of the closer motor 23 does not indicate that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pawl 22 has been released (step S110: NO), the control device 40 continues to execute the unlock control of the closer motor 23 and the retraction control of the opener drive device 30 in step S100. Also, if the first time tref1 has elapsed since the release of the full-latch state, or the second time tref2 has elapsed since the formation of the half-latch state, or the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pawl 22 has been released (step S110: YES), the control device 40 stops the closer motor 23 and the electric motor of the opener drive device 30 (step S120, time t10 in FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0028] When the closer motor 23 and the electric motor of the open-close drive device 30 are stopped, a half-latched state is formed in which the engaging portion 220 of the pawl 22, biased by the pawl spring, engages with the half-lock engaging surface 212b of the latch 21, biased by the latch spring. The lid 4 is maintained in a slightly open, half-locked state in which the striker 5 is retracted by the first claw portion 211 of the latch 21. Furthermore, once the half-latched state is formed, the second switch SW2 continues to output a high-level ON signal. After the processing of step S120, the control device 40 executes initial position return control to control the closer motor 23 to return the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 to its initial position (home position) (step S130). When the sector gear rotates and returns to its initial position, the first and third switches SW1 and SW3 each output OFF signals, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 .

[0029] After the initial position return control is completed, the control device 40 determines whether the lid 4 is in the fully locked state based on the signals from the first, second, and third switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 (step S140). In step S140, the control device 40 determines that the lid 4 is in the half locked state if the second switch SW2 outputs an ON signal, and determines that the lid 4 is in the fully locked state if all of the first, second, and third switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 output OFF signals. Here, if snow has accumulated on the lid 4 or if luggage is placed on it, even if the lid 4 has temporarily transitioned to the half locked state due to the unlocking control of the closer motor 23, the weight of the accumulated snow or luggage may cause the lid 4 to return to the locked state. Therefore, if it is determined that the lid 4 is in a locked state (step S140: YES, time t11 in Figure 10), the control device 40 starts unlocking control of the closer motor 23 and opening control of the opening / closing drive device 30 (step S150), and determines whether the lid 4 is in a half-locked state (step S160).

[0030] The unlock control in step S150, similar to step S100, controls the closer motor 23 to rotate the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 by a predetermined angle in the above-mentioned direction. As a result, when the processing of step S150 is started, the closer motor 23 rotates the pawl 22 counterclockwise in FIGS. 5 to 7 around the rotation shaft 22a via the drive mechanism 25 by means of the drive mechanism 25. The opening control of the open-close drive device 30 controls the electric motor of the open-close drive device 30 to move the lid 4 toward the opening side. This opening control may be a gradual voltage change process that gradually increases the voltage applied to the electric motor of the open-close drive device 30 over time from the start of the processing of step S100, or may be a process that stops the movement of the lid 4 toward the opening side when the rotation amount of the electric motor reaches a predetermined amount after the processing of step S150 is started.

[0031] Furthermore, in step S160, the control device 40 executes a determination process similar to that in step S110, and if the first time tref1 has not elapsed since the release of the full-latch state, the second time tref2 has not elapsed since the formation of the half-latch state, and the drive state of the closer motor 23 does not indicate that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pole 22 has been released (step S160: NO), the control device 40 continues to execute the unlock control of the closer motor 23 and the open control of the opener drive device 30 in step S150. Then, if the first time tref1 has elapsed since the release of the full-latch state, the second time tref2 has elapsed since the formation of the half-latch state, or the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pole 22 has been released (step S160: YES), the control device 40 stops the closer motor 23 and the electric motor of the opener drive device 30 (step S170, time t15 in FIG. 10).

[0032] When the closer motor 23 and the electric motor of the open-close drive device 30 are stopped in step S170, the engaging portion 220 of the pawl 22, biased by the pawl spring, engages with the half-lock engaging surface 212b of the latch 21, biased by the latch spring, and the lid 4 is maintained in a half-locked state in which the striker 5 is retracted by the first claw portion 211 of the latch 21 and is slightly open. Furthermore, once the half-latched state is established, the second switch SW2 continues to output a high-level ON signal. After the processing of step S170, the control device 40 executes initial position return control to control the closer motor 23 to return the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 to its initial position (home position) (step S180), and determines whether the lid 4 is in the half-locked state by the same processing as steps S110 and S160 (step S190). If the lid 4 is not in the half-locked state (step S190), the control device 40 executes the processing from step S150 onwards again.

[0033] If the lid 4 is in a half-locked state after the initial position return control of step S130 or S180 is executed (step S140: NO, time t20 in Figure 9, step S180: YES, time t20' in Figure 10), the control device 40 starts unlocking control of the closer motor 23 (step S200) and determines whether the lid 4 is in an unlocked state (step S210).

[0034] The unlock control of the closer motor 23 in step S200 also controls the closer motor 23 to rotate the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 by a predetermined angle in the above-mentioned direction. At the start of the processing in step S200, the sector gear is returned to its initial position (home position) by the closer motor 23 in a half-latched state in which the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22 is engaged with the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21. As a result, when the unlock control in step S200 is started, the latch 21 is rotated counterclockwise in FIGS. 5-7 around the rotation shaft 21a via the drive mechanism 25 by the closer motor 23, and the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the engagement portion 220 of the pawl 22, which is biased clockwise in FIGS. 5-7 around the rotation shaft 22a by the pole spring, is released. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first switch SW1 outputs a high-level ON signal when it detects that the half-latched state has been released in response to the rotation of the latch 21.

[0035] Furthermore, in step S210, the control device 40 determines whether or not a predetermined third time tref3 has elapsed since the first switch SW1 detected the release of the half-latched state. Furthermore, in step S110, the control device 40 determines whether or not the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the pawl 22 has been released. In this embodiment, when the value of the current applied to the closer motor 23 becomes higher than a predetermined value, the control device 40 determines that the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 has reached the end in the one direction and the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the pawl 22 has been released.

[0036] If the third time tref3 has not elapsed since the half-latched state was released and the drive state of the closer motor 23 does not indicate that the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the pawl 22 has been released (step S210: NO), the control device 40 continues to execute the unlock control of the closer motor 23 in step S200. Also, if the third time tref3 has elapsed since the half-latched state was released or the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the pawl 22 has been released (step S210: YES), the control device 40 stops the closer motor 23 and starts opening control of the opening / closing drive device 30 (electric motor) to open the lid 4 (step S220, time t30 in FIG. 9, time t30′ in FIG. 10).

[0037] Furthermore, the control device 40 determines whether the lid 4 is in a fully open state in response to the execution of the opening control of the open-close drive device 30 (step S230). If the lid 4 is not in a fully open state (step S230: NO), the control device 40 continues to execute the opening control of the open-close drive device 30 in step S220. Furthermore, when the lid 4 is fully open, the control device 40 stops the electric motor of the open-close drive device 30 and starts the initial position return control of the closer motor 23 to return the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 to its initial position (origin position) (step S240, time t40 in FIG. 9). Then, when the sector gear of the drive mechanism 25 returns to its initial position (origin position), the control device 40 stops the closer motor 23 and completes the series of processes in FIG. 8.

[0038] As described above, the control device 40 of the lid opening / closing system 10 controls the closer motor 23 of the locking device 20 to transition the lid 4 from a locked state to a half-locked state and then to an unlocked state in response to an opening command for the lid 4 (steps S100-S210). Furthermore, the control device 40 controls the electric motor of the opening / closing drive device 30 to retract the lid 4 toward the closing side while the locking device 20 is activated to transition the lid 4 from the locked state to the half-locked state (step S100). This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the amount of retraction and acceleration of the lid 4 toward the closing side and to prevent a prolongation of the time from issuance of an opening command for the lid 4 until the lock is released, compared to when the lid 4 is retracted toward the closing side before the locking device 20 starts to release the lock. Furthermore, by having the opening / closing drive device 30 retract the lid 4 toward the closing side, the force applied to the lid 4 by the weatherstrip (elastic body) 8 and latch spring disposed between the lid 4 and the vehicle body 2 is reduced, thereby suppressing the generation of abnormal noise, such as the sound of components colliding with each other. As a result, the lid opening / closing system 10 makes it possible to quickly unlock the lid 4 supported in an openable and closable manner at the front of the vehicle body 2 while suppressing the generation of abnormal noise.

[0039] The locking device 20 also includes a latch 21 that is rotatable relative to the vehicle body 2, is engageable with a striker 5 fixed to the lid 4, and has a full-lock engagement surface 212c and a half-lock engagement surface 212b, a pawl 22 that is rotatable relative to the vehicle body 2 and selectively engages with the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 to restrict the rotation of the latch 21, a closer motor 23, a drive mechanism 25 connected to the closer motor 23, and first and second switches SW1, SW2. In response to rotation of the closer motor 23, the drive mechanism 25 rotates the pawl 22 so that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pawl 22 is released, and rotates the latch 21 so that the engagement between the half-lock engagement surface 212b and the pawl 22 is released. The first switch SW1 detects that the fully latched state in which the full-lock engagement surface 212c of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22 are engaged has been released after an open command has been issued. The second switch SW2 detects that the half-latched state in which the half-lock engagement surface 212b of the latch 21 and the engagement portion 220 of the pole 22 are engaged has been established after an open command has been issued.

[0040] Furthermore, the control device 40 controls the electric motor to rotate the pole 22 in response to a command to open the lid 4 and controls the opening / closing drive device 30 to retract the lid 4 toward the closing side (step S100), and stops the closer motor 23 and the opening / closing drive device 30 (electric motor) at the earliest timing of when a predetermined first time tref1 has elapsed since the first switch SW1 detected the release of the fully latched state, when a predetermined second time tref2 has elapsed since the second switch SW2 detected the formation of the half-latched state, or when the drive state of the closer motor 23 indicates that the engagement between the full-lock engagement surface 212c and the pole 22 has been released (step S110: YES, step S120). This shortens the time required to transition the lid 4 from the locked state to the half-locked state and enables the retraction of the lid 4 toward the closing side to be completed at an appropriate timing.

[0041] Furthermore, after the first switch SW1 detects the release of the full-latched state and the second switch SW2 detects the formation of the half-latched state (step S110: YES), when the first switch SW1 no longer detects the release of the full-latched state and the second switch SW2 no longer detects the formation of the half-latched state (S140: YES), the control device 40 controls the closer motor 23 to rotate the pawl 22 and controls the opening / closing drive device 30 (electric motor) to move the lid 4 to the open side (step S150). This makes it possible to quickly transition the lid 4 to the half-locked state using the opening / closing drive device 30 when the lid 4 cannot be transitioned to the half-locked state due to loads applied to the lid 4 from accumulated snow or luggage placed on the lid 4. Furthermore, by using the opening / closing drive device 30 to move the lid 4 to the open side, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noises, such as collision sounds between components, caused by loads from accumulated snow, etc.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the striker 5 is provided on the lid 4 and the locking device 20 is provided on the vehicle body 2, but this is not limiting. That is, the striker 5 may be provided on the vehicle body 2 and the locking device 20 may be provided on the lid 4, and the latch 21 and the pole 22 may be rotatable relative to the lid 4. It goes without saying that the lid opening / closing system 10 can also be applied to an engine hood (bonnet) other than the lid 4 of the front trunk 3. Furthermore, the locking device 20 may include an electric motor that rotates the latch 21 and an electric motor that rotates the pole 22, and may include multiple switches that perform the function of the first switch SW1. In addition, the initial position return control in step S240 of FIG. 8 may be executed in parallel with the opening control of the lid 4 in step S220 after it is determined in step S210 that the lid 4 is in the half-locked state. 8, when an emergency switch installed in the front trunk 3 is operated, the execution of the retraction control of the opening / closing drive device 30 may be omitted, or the execution of the retraction control of the opening / closing drive device 30 may be omitted at all times in step S100. Also, it goes without saying that the presently disclosed invention can be applied to a lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a rear trunk lid, a rear hatch gate, or the like supported on the rear part of the vehicle body.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The invention of the present disclosure can be used in the vehicle manufacturing industry and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 vehicle, 2 vehicle body, 3 front trunk, 4 lid, 5 striker, 10 lid opening / closing system, 20 locking device, 21 latch, 212b half lock engagement surface, 212c full lock engagement surface, 22 pole, 23 closer motor, 25 drive mechanism, 30 opening / closing drive device, 40 control device, SW1 first switch, SW2 second switch.

Claims

1. A lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a lid supported on a vehicle body, comprising: a locking device that places the lid in one of a locked state, a half-locked state, and an unlocked state; an opening / closing drive device that opens and closes the lid; a control device that controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state in response to an opening command for the lid, and controls the opening / closing drive device to pull the lid toward the closing side while the locking device is operating to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state; A lid opening and closing system comprising:

2. The lid opening and closing system according to claim 1, The locking device is a latch that is rotatable relative to one of the lid and the vehicle body and that is engageable with a striker fixed to the other of the lid and the vehicle body, the latch having a full-lock engaging portion and a half-lock engaging portion; a pawl that is rotatable relative to one of the lid and the vehicle body and selectively engages with the full-lock engaging portion and the half-lock engaging portion of the latch to restrict rotation of the latch; A motor; a drive mechanism connected to the motor, which, in response to rotation of the motor, rotates the pole so that the engagement between the full-lock engagement portion and the pole is released, and rotates the latch so that the engagement between the half-lock engagement portion and the pole is released; a first switch that detects that a full-latched state in which the full-lock engaging portion of the latch and the pawl are engaged with each other after the open command is issued has been released; a second switch that detects that a half-latched state in which the half-lock engaging portion of the latch and the pawl are engaged with each other has been formed after the open command is issued, The control device controls the motor to rotate the pole in response to the open command and controls the opening / closing drive device to pull the lid toward the closing side, and stops the motor and the opening / closing drive device at any one of the following times: when a predetermined first time has elapsed since the first switch detected the release of the full latch state, when a predetermined second time has elapsed since the second switch detected the formation of the half latch state, and when the drive state of the motor indicates that the engagement between the full lock engagement portion and the pole has been released. This is a lid opening / closing system.

3. The lid opening and closing system according to claim 2, The control device controls the motor to rotate the pole and controls the opening / closing drive device to move the lid to the opening side when, after the first switch detects the release of the full-latched state and the second switch detects the formation of the half-latched state, the first switch no longer detects the release of the full-latched state and the second switch no longer detects the formation of the half-latched state.

4. A lid opening / closing system that opens, closes, and locks a lid supported on a vehicle body, comprising: a locking device that places the lid in one of a locked state, a half-locked state, and an unlocked state; an opening / closing drive device that opens and closes the lid; a control device that controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state in response to an opening command for the lid, and that controls the locking device to transition the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state and then to the unlocked state when the lid returns to the locked state after the locking device has transitioned the lid from the locked state to the half-locked state, and that controls the opening / closing drive device to move the lid to the opening side; A lid opening and closing system comprising:

Images