Door latch device

Abstract

To provide a door latch device capable of releasing an unlatchable state with good operability even when the unlatchable state occurs.SOLUTION: The door latch device 1 includes a latch mechanism 20, an electric release mechanism 40, and a manual release mechanism 60. The electric release mechanism 40 has an electric release lever 44 operated by driving of a motor 41, and the electric release lever 44 has a first lever 51 and a second lever 52. The door latch device 1 further includes a cancellation mechanism 100 that is provided independently of the motor 41, releases the connection state between the first lever 51 and the second lever 52 by the operation force of the inner handle 3 transmitted via the inner lever 61 of the manual release mechanism 60, and allows the second lever 52 to retract from the operation position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a door latch device that is attached to a vehicle door. [Background technology]

[0002] Among door latch devices attached to vehicle doors, there is known an electric door latch device (also called an E-latch) that can release the engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker using the driving force of a motor.In addition to an electric engagement release mechanism, electric door latch devices are provided with a mechanical engagement release mechanism that can release the engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker by manually operating a handle or the like as a countermeasure in case the motor becomes inoperable due to a power outage or the like (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0003] In an electric door latch device, if the motor becomes inoperable while the electric disengagement mechanism has actuated the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state, the latch mechanism may remain in a state where it cannot engage with the striker (also known as an unlatched state), and the door may not be able to be closed.

[0004] The door lock device described in Patent Document 3 is provided with a cancel mechanism as a countermeasure in the event that the latch cannot be released. When the door inner handle is operated, the active lever rotates, and the connection between the release lever and the cancel lever, which are connected by a cancel pin, is released, allowing the door to change from an open state to a closed state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7385435 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4617588 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7035709 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In Patent Document 3, the active lever has a gear engagement hole, and a gear protrusion formed on a wheel gear of an electric operation mechanism is inserted into the gear engagement hole. The active lever moves between a locked position and an unlocked position by rotating the wheel gear, i.e., it also functions as a locking mechanism. If the inner door handle is operated while the motor is disabled, the active lever will operate while the gear protrusion of the stuck wheel gear and the gear engagement hole of the active lever remain in contact, resulting in large frictional resistance and posing a problem in terms of operability.

[0007] The present invention provides a door latch device that can easily release an unlatching state even when the unlatching state occurs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides A door latch device attached to a vehicle door, a latch mechanism having a latch engageable with a striker provided on a vehicle body, the latch engaging the striker to maintain the door closed relative to the vehicle body; an electric release mechanism that can release the latched state by driving a motor; a manual release mechanism that can release the latched state by manual operation, the electric release mechanism has an electric release lever that is actuated by driving the motor, The electric release lever is a first lever that is actuated by driving the motor; a second lever that operates in conjunction with the first lever and engages with the latch mechanism in a connected state to release the latched state, The manual release mechanism has an inner lever that is actuated by manually operating an in-vehicle operating unit provided in the vehicle compartment, The door latch device is The vehicle further includes a cancel mechanism that is provided independently of the motor and that releases the connection between the first lever and the second lever by the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit transmitted via the inner lever, thereby allowing the second lever to retract from a predetermined position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the door latch device is equipped with a cancel mechanism that is operated by manual operation of an in-vehicle operating unit. Therefore, even if the motor becomes inoperable due to a power outage or malfunction, leaving the unlatched state, the unlatched state can be released by manually operating the in-vehicle operating unit. This allows the door to be reliably closed even in an emergency, improving theft prevention and reliability of the door latch device. Furthermore, because the cancel mechanism is provided independently of the motor, it can operate without being affected by a stuck motor, allowing the unlatched state to be released with ease. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a right side view of a vehicle V to which a door latch device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a door latch device 1 as seen from the rear and inside of a vehicle. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of the door latch device 1 before the latch mechanism 20 is attached to the housing 11. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of an electrical component 80 mounted on the door latch device 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the latch mechanism 20. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism 20 (body 21 not shown) as seen from the front side. [Figure 7] 10 is a rear view of the pawl lever 34 and the outer lever 71. FIG. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is a view of the electric release mechanism 40, the manual release mechanism 60, and the cancellation mechanism 100 as seen from inside the vehicle. [Figure 9] 1 is an exploded perspective view of each element of an electric release mechanism 40, a manual release mechanism 60, and a cancellation mechanism 100. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram showing the electric release mechanism 40 (left view) and the latch mechanism 20 (right view) in the standby position. [Figure 11] 10 is a diagram showing the electric release mechanism 40 (left) and the latch mechanism 20 (right) actuated in the release direction. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a diagram showing the electric release mechanism 40 (left) and the latch mechanism 20 (right) actuated in the standby direction. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a view showing the manual release mechanism 60 (left) and the latch mechanism 20 (right) actuated in the release direction. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a diagram showing the manual release mechanism 60 (left) and the latch mechanism 20 (right) operated in the standby direction. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a diagram (part 1) showing the operation of the cancel mechanism 100 (left diagram) and the latch mechanism 20 (right diagram) when releasing the unlatching state. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a diagram (part 2) showing the operation of the cancel mechanism 100 (left diagram) and the latch mechanism 20 (right diagram) when releasing the unlatching state. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 3) showing the operation of the cancel mechanism 100 (left diagram) and the latch mechanism 20 (right diagram) when releasing the unlatching state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A door latch device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction indicated by the reference symbols. The door latch device illustrated here is a vehicle door latch device mounted on the left and right doors (including the front door and the rear door) of an automobile. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle is indicated as Fr, the rear as Rr, the upper side as U, and the lower side as D. The inside of the vehicle in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) is indicated as IN, and the outside of the vehicle as OUT. Note that the front, rear, inside of the vehicle, and outside of the vehicle in the description are directions based on the fully closed state in which the door is completely closed.

[0012] [Overall configuration of door latch device] Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle V to which a door latch device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached. The door latch device 1 is attached, for example, to the rear end of the interior of a right door D of the vehicle V. The door latch device 1 is an electric door latch device that can open the door D using a motor 41 (see Fig. 3, etc.) driven by operation of an interior switch 2 provided inside the vehicle compartment or an exterior switch 6 provided on an exterior handle 9 outside the vehicle compartment, and is also called an E-latch.

[0013] The door latch device 1 can open the door D not only by an electrical opening operation using the motor 41 but also by a manual operation by the user U. Specifically, the door D can be opened by a physical operation such as operating an inner handle 3 (an example of an internal operation unit) provided inside the vehicle compartment or operating a mechanical key 7 on a key cylinder 5 (an example of an external operation unit) provided outside the vehicle compartment. Note that the opening operation of the door D using the inner handle 3 or the mechanical key 7 is basically performed in an emergency such as when there is a power outage or when the motor 41 breaks down, and the normal opening operation of the door D is performed electrically using the internal switch 2 or the external switch 6.

[0014] 2 and 3, the door latch device 1 includes a housing 11 made of synthetic resin or the like, a latch mechanism 20 that maintains the door D closed relative to the vehicle body, an electric release mechanism 40 that electrically opens the door D by driving a motor 41, and a manual release mechanism 60 that mechanically opens the door D by manual operation from inside or outside the vehicle compartment. The electric release mechanism 40 and the manual release mechanism 60 are disposed in a space S1 provided on the vehicle interior side of the housing 11, and are accommodated in the housing 11 by being covered with a first cover 17 attached from inside the vehicle. The latch mechanism 20 is assembled in a space S2 provided on the rear side of the housing 11.

[0015] 3 and 4, the door latch device 1 further includes an electrical component 80 that activates the electric release mechanism 40. The electrical component 80 includes, for example, a circuit board 81, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 82 mounted on the circuit board 81 and that controls the drive of the motor 41, and a storage device 83 such as a capacitor that stores power to be supplied to the motor 41 and the ECU 82. The electrical component 80 is disposed in a space S3 provided above the housing 11 and outside the vehicle, and is accommodated in the housing 11 by being covered with a second cover 18 attached from above and a third cover (not shown) attached from outside the vehicle.

[0016] The motor 41, ECU 82, and capacitor 83 are arranged in the upper part of the door latch device 1, specifically above the striker entry groove 27 described below, thereby preventing them from being exposed to liquids such as rainwater that seep in through the striker entry groove 27.

[0017] [Latch mechanism] Fig. 5 is a rear view of the latch mechanism 20, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism 20 (body 21 is not shown) as seen from the front. Figs. 5 and 6 show the state in which the latch mechanism 20 is engaged with a striker S provided on the vehicle body.

[0018] The latch mechanism 20 includes a body 21 made of synthetic resin or the like, a metal cover plate 22 arranged on the rear side of the body 21, a metal back plate 23 arranged on the front side of the body 21, a latch 24 that is rotatable about a latch shaft 24a and can engage with a striker S provided on the vehicle body when the door D is closed, and a pole mechanism 30 that has a pole 32 that can engage with the latch 24. The latch 24 and the pole mechanism 30 are supported by the body 21, the cover plate 22, and the back plate 23.

[0019] A recessed housing portion 26 that houses the latch 24 and part of the pawl mechanism 30 is provided on the rear side of the body 21. The cover plate 22 is fixed to the inside of the door D with bolts (not shown) and is disposed so as to cover the housing portion 26 of the body 21. The back plate 23 supports the latch 24, the pawl mechanism 30, and an outer lever 71 (described later) from the front side of the body 21.

[0020] A striker entrance groove 27 is provided in the body 21 and the cover plate 22 at approximately the center in the up-down direction. The striker entrance groove 27 is a portion into which the striker S enters when closing the door D, and extends in the vehicle width direction and opens to the inside of the vehicle. The latch 24 is provided above the striker entrance groove 27, and the pawl mechanism 30 is provided below the striker entrance groove 27.

[0021] The latch 24 has an accommodating groove 25 that is recessed from the outer circumferential surface toward the latch shaft 24a and is capable of accommodating the striker S. A coil spring 24s is wound around the latch shaft 24a, and the latch 24 is urged by the urging force of the coil spring 24s in a direction that disengages with the striker S and opens the door D, specifically in the clockwise direction in FIG.

[0022] The latch 24 has a full latch engagement portion 24b and a half latch engagement portion 24c on its outer circumferential surface. When the pawl 32 engages with the full latch engagement portion 24b, the latch 24 is in a fully latched state (see FIG. 5) corresponding to a state in which the door D is fully closed. When the pawl 32 engages with the half latch engagement portion 24c, the latch 24 is in a half latched state (not shown) corresponding to a half-door state. The full latched state and half latched state are states in which the latch 24 is engaged with the striker S by the pawl 32, and these states are collectively referred to as the latched state. When the latch 24 is not engaged with the striker S and the pawl 32 is not engaged with the striker S, the latch 24 is in an unlatched state (see FIG. 12, etc.) corresponding to a fully open state in which the door D is completely open.

[0023] When the latch 24 engages with the striker S, the pawl mechanism 30 maintains the latched state in which the latch 24 is engaged with the striker S. The pawl mechanism 30 includes a ratchet 31 rotatable about a ratchet shaft 31a, a pawl 32 provided at the end of the ratchet 31 and engageable with the latch 24, a hold-down lever 33 rotatable about a lever shaft 33a, and a pawl lever 34 that transmits the driving force of a motor 41 or a manual operating force to the pawl 32 to release the latched state. Note that, hereinafter, when describing the direction of operation of each element of the pawl mechanism 30, the direction in which the pawl 32 operates to engage with the latch 24 will also be referred to as the "engagement direction," and the direction in which the pawl 32 operates to disengage from the latch 24 will also be referred to as the "release direction."

[0024] The ratchet 31 , the pawl 32 , and the holding lever 33 are housed in the housing 26 of the body 21 , and the pawl lever 34 is disposed on the front surface of the back plate 23 .

[0025] The ratchet 31 is supported rotatably around a ratchet shaft 31a. The ratchet 31 is biased in the engagement direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 5) by the biasing force of a coil spring 31s wound around the ratchet shaft 31a. The ratchet 31 also has an input portion 31b that extends in the front-to-rear direction and can be engaged with a pawl lever 34 from below. The input portion 31b receives the driving force of the motor 41 and the operating force due to manual operation via the pawl lever 34.

[0026] The pawl 32 is provided rotatably around a pawl shaft 32a that is inserted into a shaft hole provided at the end of the ratchet 31. The pawl 32 is biased in an engagement direction in which it engages with the latch 24, specifically in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5, by the biasing force of a coil spring (not shown) hooked to the ratchet 31, and normally abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the latch 24. When the ratchet 31 rotates in the release direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 5), the pawl 32 rotates together with the ratchet 31 in the release direction against the biasing force of the coil spring.

[0027] The presser lever 33 is provided below the ratchet 31 and is rotatable around a lever shaft 33a. The presser lever 33 is provided to be engageable with a pole lever 34 and has an input portion 33b that receives input of the driving force of the motor 41 or an operating force by manual operation via the pole lever 34, and a presser portion 33c that abuts against the ratchet 31 from below and prevents the ratchet 31 from rotating in the release direction. The presser lever 33 is biased in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 5) in which the presser portion 33c engages with the ratchet 31 by the biasing force of a coil spring 33s wound around the lever shaft 33a. Under normal conditions, the presser lever 33 abuts against the ratchet 31 from below and prevents the ratchet 31 from rotating in the release direction. On the other hand, when the hold-down lever 33 rotates in the release direction (clockwise in FIG. 5) due to the input received by the input portion 33b, it disengages from the ratchet 31, allowing the ratchet 31 to rotate in the release direction.

[0028] The pole lever 34 is provided so as to be engageable with the electric release mechanism 40 and the manual release mechanism 60, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a lever shaft 34a. The pole lever 34 is biased in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 by the biasing force of a coil spring 34s wound around the lever shaft 34a.

[0029] 7, the pawl lever 34 has a first input portion 34b that receives input of the driving force of the motor 41 and the operating force of the inner handle 3, a second input portion 34c that receives input of the operating force of the key cylinder 5 provided outside the vehicle, a presser lever operating portion 34d that is provided to be engageable with the input portion 33b of the presser lever 33 and rotates the presser lever 33, and a ratchet operating portion 34e that is provided to be engageable with the input portion 31b of the ratchet 31 and rotates the ratchet 31. The first input portion 34b is provided on the vehicle inner side relative to the lever shaft 34a, and the second input portion 34c is provided on the vehicle outer side relative to the lever shaft 34a.

[0030] Additionally, the first input portion 34b of the pole lever 34 includes an electric-side engaging portion 34b1 that engages with the electric release mechanism 40 and receives the input of the driving force of the motor 41, and a manual-side engaging portion 34b2 that engages with the manual release mechanism 60 and receives the input of the operating force of the inner handle 3. The electric-side engaging portion 34b1 and the manual-side engaging portion 34b2 are provided in different positions.

[0031] When the latch 24 is in the latched state and the driving force of the motor 41 or the operating force of the inner handle 3 is applied, the first input portion 34b is pushed up by the electric release mechanism 40 or the manual release mechanism 60, causing the pawl lever 34 to rotate around the lever shaft 34a. As a result, the retaining lever operating portion 34d engages with the input portion 33b of the retaining lever 33, rotating the retaining lever 33 in the release direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 33s. Next, the ratchet operating portion 34e engages with the input portion 31b of the ratchet 31, rotating the ratchet 31 in the release direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 31s, and also rotating the pawl 32 provided on the ratchet 31 in the release direction. As a result, the pawl 32 is disengaged from the latch 24 (disengaged state), the latched state is released, and the door D opens.

[0032] The latch mechanism 20 also has an outer lever 71 supported by the back plate 23 at a lower position outside the vehicle. The outer lever 71 is provided rotatably around a lever shaft 71a. The outer lever 71 is biased in a direction away from the second input portion 34c of the pawl lever 34, specifically in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7, by the biasing force of a coil spring (not shown) wound around the lever shaft 71a.

[0033] The outer lever 71 is connected to the key cylinder 5 via the cable 8 and has an input portion 72 that receives the operating force of the key cylinder 5, and an operating portion 73 that is provided so as to be engageable with the second input portion 34c of the pole lever 34 and rotates the pole lever 34. The operating portion 73 is provided on the opposite side of the lever shaft 71a from the input portion 72.

[0034] When the key cylinder 5 is operated while the latch 24 is in the latched state, the input portion 72 of the outer lever 71 is pulled upward by the cable 8, causing the outer lever 71 to rotate about the lever shaft 71a. The operating portion 73 of the outer lever 71 engages with the second input portion 34c of the pawl lever 34 and pushes down the second input portion 34c. This causes the pawl lever 34 to rotate about the lever shaft 34a, and the presser lever operating portion 34d engages with the input portion 33b of the presser lever 33, rotating the presser lever 33 in the release direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 33s. Next, the ratchet operating portion 34e engages with the input portion 31b of the ratchet 31, rotating the ratchet 31 in the release direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 31s, and also rotating the pawl 32 provided on the ratchet 31 in the release direction. As a result, the pole 32 is separated from the latch 24 and is in a non-engaged state (non-contact state), the latch state is released, and the door D opens.

[0035] [Electric release mechanism] 8 and 9, the electric release mechanism 40 includes a motor 41, a worm gear 42 provided on the drive shaft of the motor 41, a cam wheel 43 that meshes with the worm gear 42 via teeth formed on its outer circumferential surface and has a cam portion 43a, and an electric release lever 44 that operates when it comes into contact with the cam portion 43a. The electric release mechanism 40 transmits the driving force of the motor 41 to the pawl lever 34 of the latch mechanism 20 via the worm gear 42, the cam wheel 43, and the electric release lever 44, thereby releasing the latched state. Note that each element of the electric release mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 8 is positioned in a standby position.

[0036] The motor 41 is disposed so that its drive shaft, on which the worm gear 42 is mounted, faces forward and downward. The motor 41 is driven based on the operation of the interior switch 2 or the exterior switch 6. For example, when the speed of the vehicle V is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, the ECU 82 controls the motor 41 so that it is not driven even if the interior switch 2 or the exterior switch 6 is operated.

[0037] The cam wheel 43 is rotatable about an axis extending in the vehicle width direction and is disposed below the motor 41 and the worm gear 42. The cam portion 43a is provided on the vehicle inner surface of the cam wheel 43 and protrudes toward the inside of the vehicle. The cam portion 43a is formed so that the distance from the center of the cam wheel 43 increases when the cam wheel 43 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8. In the following description, clockwise rotation of the cam wheel 43 in FIG. 8 is also referred to as forward rotation, and counterclockwise rotation is also referred to as reverse rotation. Furthermore, the direction in which the electric release lever 44 operates when the cam wheel 43 rotates forward from the standby position is also referred to as the release direction, and the direction in which the electric release lever 44 operates when the cam wheel 43 rotates reversely toward the standby position is also referred to as the standby direction.

[0038] The electric release lever 44 has a first lever 51 that is actuated by the drive of the motor 41, and a second lever 52 that engages with the latch mechanism 20 in a connected state that operates in conjunction with the first lever 51. As will be described in detail later, the second lever 52 is provided so as to be able to transition between a connected state that operates in conjunction with the first lever 51 and a non-connected state that operates independently of the first lever 51.

[0039] The first lever 51 is provided rotatably around a lever shaft 53 provided below the cam wheel 43. The first lever 51 has a cam abutment portion 51a that can abut against the cam portion 43a, and a connecting portion 51b that connects to the second lever 52. The cam abutment portion 51a and the connecting portion 51b are provided on opposite sides of the lever shaft 53. The first lever 51 is arranged such that at least the cam abutment portion 51a overlaps the cam wheel 43 when viewed from the axial direction of the lever shaft 53. The first lever 51 is biased in a direction that abuts against the cam portion 43a, specifically, in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8, by the biasing force of a coil spring 51s provided in the housing 11.

[0040] The second lever 52 is provided rotatably around the lever shaft 53, i.e., rotatably coaxially with the first lever 51. The second lever 52 is arranged so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the first lever 51 when viewed from the axial direction of the lever shaft 53. The second lever 52 is also arranged at a position where it does not overlap the cam wheel 43 when viewed from the axial direction of the lever shaft 53, and does not directly engage with the cam wheel 43. The second lever 52 is arranged at a position closer to the pole lever 34 of the latch mechanism 20 than the first lever 51, and has an operating portion 52a at its rear end that engages with the first input portion 34b (electric side engaging portion 34b1) of the pole lever 34 to operate the pole lever 34.

[0041] The second lever 52 is biased in a direction away from the pole lever 34 of the latch mechanism 20, specifically in the clockwise direction in Fig. 8, by the biasing force of a coil spring 52s provided in the housing 11. When the first lever 51 and the second lever 52 are in a coupled state, when the motor 41 rotates forward, the second lever 52 rotates counterclockwise around the lever shaft 53 against the biasing force of the coil spring 52s, and the operating portion 52a engages with the first input portion 34b (electric side engaging portion 34b1) of the pole lever 34 from below, pushing up the first input portion 34b.

[0042] The second lever 52 is connected to the first lever 51 via a connecting pin 55 and is capable of transitioning between a connected state in which it operates in conjunction with the first lever 51, and a non-connected state in which it is disconnected via the connecting pin 55 and operates independently of the first lever 51. Here, the connected state will first be described in detail, and the non-connected state will be described together with the canceling mechanism 100 described later.

[0043] The second lever 52 has a through-hole 105 formed therein that penetrates in the axial direction of the lever shaft 53 and through which the connecting pin 55 is inserted. The through-hole 105 is divided into a connecting region 105A that is slightly larger in diameter than the connecting pin 55, and a non-connecting region 105B that is continuous with the connecting region 105A and is larger than the connecting region 105A. When the connecting pin 55 is located in the connecting region 105A, the second lever 52 is in a connected state, and when the connecting pin 55 is located in the non-connecting region 105B, the second lever 52 is in a non-connecting state. The connecting region 105A is located farther from the lever shaft 53 than the non-connecting region 105B and is located on the clockwise side in the rotational direction. The connecting portion 51b of the first lever 51 has a generally U-shaped notch formed therein that the connecting pin 55 can enter. When the connecting pin 55 is positioned in the connecting region 105A, the connecting portion 51b rotates the second lever 52 together with the connecting pin 55 in the release direction (counterclockwise direction) when the first lever 51 rotates around the lever shaft 53 in the release direction.

[0044] 10 to 12 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the electric release mechanism 40 (left diagram) and the operation of the latch mechanism 20 (right diagram) when the door D is opened by the electric release mechanism 40. The thick arrows in Figs. 11 and 12 indicate the operating direction of each element.

[0045] When the cam wheel 43 rotates forward from the standby position and the first lever 51 rotates in the release direction, the connecting portion 51b of the first lever 51 pushes up the connecting pin 55, causing the second lever 52, which is in the connected state, to rotate in the release direction. Then, the operating portion 52a of the second lever 52 pushes up the first input portion 34b (electric side engaging portion 34b1) of the pole lever 34. When the first input portion 34b is pushed up, as described above, the pole 32 enters a non-contact state in which it is separated from the latch 24, the latch state is released, and the door D opens.

[0046] After the door D is opened, when the cam wheel 43 rotates in the reverse direction and returns to the standby position, the first lever 51 and the second lever 52 rotate around the lever shaft 53 in the standby direction due to the biasing force of their respective coil springs 51s, 52s, and return to the standby position. At this time, the operating portion 52a of the second lever 52 moves downward, so that the state in which the operating portion 52a has pushed up the first input portion 34b (electric side engaging portion 34b1) of the pawl lever 34 is released. Therefore, the biasing force of the coil spring causes the pawl 32 to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the latch 24, and the pawl 32 becomes able to engage with the latch 24 when the door D is closed.

[0047] [Manual release mechanism] Returning to Figures 8 and 9, the manual release mechanism 60 has an inner lever 61 that is activated by manually operating the inner handle 3, a link member 65 that is connected to the inner lever 61 and can engage with the pole lever 34, and an outer lever 71 (see Figure 7, etc.) that is activated by manually operating the key cylinder 5 that is provided outside the vehicle compartment.

[0048] The inner lever 61 is disposed below and to the rear of the electric release mechanism 40. The inner lever 61 is supported by the housing 11 so as to be rotatable around a lever shaft 61a provided at the upper part of the inner lever 61. The inner lever 61 is biased in a direction toward the standby position (counterclockwise in FIG. 8) by the biasing force of a coil spring 61s provided in the housing 11.

[0049] The inner lever 61 is connected to the inner handle 3 via the cable 4 (see FIG. 3), and has an input portion 61b that receives an input of an operating force from the inner handle 3, and an unlatching portion 61c that transmits the operating force of the inner handle 3 to the pawl lever 34 via a link member 65 to release the latched state. The input portion 61b is provided at the lower end of the inner lever 61, and receives the input of the operating force of the inner handle 3. The unlatching portion 61c is provided between the lever shaft 61a and the input portion 61b, and the link member 65 is connected to the unlatching portion 61c.

[0050] The link member 65 extends in the vertical direction, and its lower end is connected to the latch release portion 61c of the inner lever 61. The link member 65 has an operating portion 66 that engages with the first input portion 34b (manual side engaging portion 34b2) of the pole lever 34 to operate the pole lever 34.

[0051] 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the manual release mechanism 60 (left diagram) and the operation of the latch mechanism 20 (right diagram) when the door D is opened by the manual release mechanism 60. The thick arrows in Figs. 13 and 14 indicate the direction of operation of each element.

[0052] When the operating force of the inner handle 3 is input to the input portion 61b, the inner lever 61 rotates around the lever shaft 61a in the release direction (clockwise direction) against the biasing force of the coil spring 61s. The link member 65 operates upward in conjunction with the inner lever 61, and the operating portion 66 of the link member 65 engages with the first input portion 34b (manual-side engagement portion 34b2) of the pawl lever 34, pushing up the first input portion 34b. When the first input portion 34b is pushed up, as described above, the pawl 32 enters a non-contact state away from the latch 24, the latch state is released, and the door D opens.

[0053] After the door D is opened, when the operating force of the inner handle 3 is released, the inner lever 61 returns to the standby position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 61s. At this time, the operating portion 66 of the link member 65 moves downward, so the first input portion 34b (manual-side engaging portion 34b2) of the pawl lever 34 is released from the pushed-up state by the operating portion 66. Therefore, the biasing force of the coil spring causes the pawl 32 to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the latch 24, and the pawl 32 becomes able to engage with the latch 24 when the door D is closed.

[0054] Here, the operation of the connecting pin 55 when the latched state is released by operating the inner handle 3 will be described. When the inner lever 61 rotates in the release direction, the cancel lever 101 also rotates counterclockwise, moving the connecting pin 55. At this time, the connecting pin 55 temporarily moves from the connecting region 105A to the non-connecting region 105B. When the inner lever 61 returns to the standby position, the cancel lever 101 also returns to the standby position in conjunction with the cancel lever 101, and the connecting pin 55 moves from the non-connecting region 105B to the connecting region 105A.

[0055] [Cancellation mechanism] When the latched state is released by the operation of the electric release mechanism 40, the operating portion 52a of the second lever 52 pushes up the first input portion 34b (electric-side engaging portion 34b1) of the pawl lever 34, as shown in Figure 11. The position of each element of the electric release mechanism 40 in this state is also referred to as the operating position in the following description. If the motor 41 becomes stuck (unable to be driven) due to a power shortage or malfunction while each element of the electric release mechanism 40 is in the operating position, the pawl 32 will remain out of contact with the latch 24. If this state is maintained, the latch 24 will be unable to engage with the striker S (hereinafter also referred to as the unlatched state) even if the door D is moved in the closing direction, and the door D will not be able to close.

[0056] Therefore, the door latch device 1 further includes a cancel mechanism 100 that is engageable with the inner lever 61 and that, when the unlatching state is maintained, releases the unlatching state by manually operating the inner handle 3.

[0057] 15 to 17, the cancel mechanism 100 releases the connection between the first lever 51 and the second lever 52 by the operating force of the inner handle 3 transmitted via the inner lever 61, and allows the second lever 52 to retract from the actuated position. As the second lever 52 retracts, the engagement between the operating portion 52a and the first input portion 34b (electric side engaging portion 34b1) of the pole lever 34 is released, and the unlatching state is released.

[0058] In this way, the cancel mechanism 100 releases the unlatching state by manually operating the second lever 52, which is stuck in the operating position, with the inner handle 3. Therefore, even if the unlatching state occurs due to a power outage or a malfunction, the door D can be reliably closed by manual operation from inside the vehicle, improving theft prevention and improving the reliability of the door latch device 1.

[0059] Furthermore, the cancel mechanism 100 is provided independently of the motor 41. Specifically, the cancel mechanism 100 is not actuated by the drive of the motor 41, and is provided independently of the motor 41 and the cam wheel 43, and therefore is not affected by the motor 41 when it is actuated by the operating force of the inner handle 3. Therefore, even if each element of the electric release mechanism 40, including the motor 41, becomes stuck in the actuated position, the cancel mechanism 100 does not experience large frictional resistance due to sticking when it is actuated by the operating force of the inner handle 3, and therefore the unlatching state can be released with good operability.

[0060] Next, the specific configuration of the cancel mechanism 100 will be described in detail together with the configurations of the inner lever 61 and the electric release lever 44.

[0061] 8 and 9, the inner lever 61 has, in addition to the aforementioned latch release portion 61c, a cancel operation portion 61d that activates the cancel mechanism 100. The cancel operation portion 61d is provided between the input portion 61b and the latch release portion 61c, and transmits the operating force of the inner handle 3 to the cancel mechanism 100 to activate the cancel mechanism 100. Because the inner lever 61 has the latch release portion 61c and the cancel operation portion 61d, the latch state can be released and the cancel mechanism 100 can be activated using the common inner lever 61. This allows the number of parts in the door latch device 1 to be reduced.

[0062] The cancel mechanism 100 has a cancel lever 101 that is activated when pressed against a cancel operation portion 61d of the inner lever 61. The cancel lever 101 is provided between the inner lever 61 and the electric release lever 44. The cancel lever 101 is provided rotatably around a lever shaft 101a provided below the electric release lever 44, and is arranged so that at least a portion of the cancel lever 101 overlaps with the electric release lever 44 when viewed in the axial direction. The cancel lever 101 is biased in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8 by the biasing force of a coil spring 101s provided in the housing 11.

[0063] The cancel lever 101 is provided so as to be engageable with the cancel operation portion 61d of the inner lever 61, and has an input portion 102 that receives input of the operating force of the inner handle 3 via the inner lever 61, and a pin holding portion 103 that holds the connecting pin 55. When the inner lever 61 rotates clockwise by manually operating the inner handle 3, the input portion 102 is pressed against the cancel operation portion 61d of the inner lever 61, and the cancel lever 101 is actuated and rotates counterclockwise against the biasing force of the coil spring 101s.

[0064] The cancel lever 101 is not normally actuated by the driving of the motor 41. More specifically, the pin holding portion 103 is formed with an elongated hole 103a that allows movement of the connecting pin 55. The elongated hole 103a is formed along the rotation direction of the first lever 51, and when the cancel lever 101 is in the standby position, the movement trajectory of the connecting pin 55 caused by the driving of the motor 41 coincides with the elongated hole 103a. Therefore, even when the motor 41 is driven, only the connecting pin 55 moves within the elongated hole 103a, and the cancel lever 101 does not actuate.

[0065] The cancel lever 101 moves the connecting pin 55 to release the connected state of the second lever 52, transitioning it to a non-connected state, and allowing the second lever 52 to retreat from the operating position.

[0066] 15 to 17, when the cancel lever 101 is pressed against the inner lever 61 and activated, the connecting pin 55 moves from a connecting region 105A formed in the second lever 52 to a non-connecting region 105B (see FIG. 15). When the connecting pin 55 moves to the non-connecting region 105B, the second lever 52 transitions to a non-connecting state in which it is not linked to the first lever 51, and becomes operable independently of the first lever 51.

[0067] The second lever 52 rotates clockwise toward the standby position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 52s, and the engagement between the operating portion 52a and the first input portion 34b (electric-side engagement portion 34b1) of the pawl lever 34 is released (see FIG. 16 ). At this time, the operation of the inner lever 61 causes the operating portion 66 of the link member 65 to move upward from the standby position and approach the first input portion 34b (manual-side engagement portion 34b2) of the pawl lever 34. Therefore, the manual-side engagement portion 34b2 of the pawl lever 34 is received by the operating portion 66 of the link member 65 at a position close to the position where the engagement between the operating portion 52a and the electric-side engagement portion 34b1 of the pawl lever 34 is released. In this way, even after the engagement between the operating portion 52a of the second lever 52 and the operating portion 52a is released, the pawl lever 34 is prevented from rotating forcefully to the standby position, thereby suppressing the impact applied to the pawl lever 34 and the generation of impact noise.

[0068] The first input portion 34b (manual side engagement portion 34b2) of the pawl lever 34 received by the operating portion 66 of the link member 65 moves downward and returns to the standby position as the inner lever 61 returns to the standby position by operation of the inner handle 3 (see FIG. 17). As a result, the pawl 32 transitions to a state in which it abuts against the latch 24, and the unlatchable state is released.

[0069] As described above, the cancel mechanism 100 includes the cancel lever 101, the connecting pin 55, and the through-hole 105 formed in the second lever 52, and allows the second lever 52 to swing freely relative to the first lever 51 when the inner handle 3 is operated. The cancel lever 101 can transition the first lever 51 and the second lever 52 from a connected state to a disconnected state simply by moving the connecting pin 55, so the unlatching state can be released reliably with good operability. Furthermore, because the connecting pin 55 is positioned within the projected area of ​​the first lever 51 and the second lever 52, the cancel mechanism 100 can be formed to release the unlatching state within a limited range within the housing 11, thereby simplifying the door latch device 1.

[0070] Furthermore, as described above, the cancel lever 101 has the pin holding portion 103 that holds the connecting pin 55, so when the cancel lever 101 is operated, the connecting pin 55 moves integrally with the cancel lever 101. This improves the responsiveness of the operation to release the unlatching state.

[0071] Furthermore, the first input portion 34b of the pole lever 34 is provided such that the electric-side engaging portion 34b1 with which the electric release mechanism 40 engages and the manual-side engaging portion 34b2 with which the manual release mechanism 60 engages are located at different positions. With this configuration, the electric release mechanism 40 does not affect the transmission path of the operating force of the inner handle 3 from the manual release mechanism 60 to the pole lever 34. Therefore, even if the motor 41 continues to not be driven after the unlatching state is released, the latched state can always be released manually from within the vehicle interior, thereby improving the reliability of the door latch device 1.

[0072] The door latch device 1 described above is configured without a locking mechanism that can disable the release of the latched state by the manual release mechanism 60. Because it does not have a locking mechanism, the number of parts of the door latch device 1 can be reduced, leading to simplification.

[0073] A door latch device 1 that does not include a locking mechanism must ensure sufficient anti-theft performance, particularly against manual operation from outside the vehicle. As described above, operating the outer lever 71 of the manual release mechanism 60 of the door latch device 1 requires physical operation using the mechanical key 7. Therefore, the door latch device 1 can ensure sufficient anti-theft performance even without a locking mechanism. Furthermore, even if the power release mechanism 40 does not operate due to a malfunction of the motor 41 or the like, the latched state can be released by manual operation using the mechanical key 7 from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the reliability of the door latch device 1. As described above, the door latch device 1 of this embodiment can ensure anti-theft performance and reliability while simplifying the structure by not including a locking mechanism.

[0074] Furthermore, in the door latch device 1 of this embodiment, the motor 41, the ECU 82, and the capacitor 83 are disposed above the striker entrance groove 27 and closer to the latch 24 than the pole 32. The manual release mechanism 60 and the cancel mechanism 100 are disposed below the striker entrance groove 27 and closer to the pole 32 than the latch 24. Because the manual release mechanism 60 and the cancel mechanism 100 are disposed close to the pole 32, the configuration for transmitting the operating force of the inner handle 3 to the pole 32 can be simplified. Furthermore, because the electrical components such as the motor 41, the ECU 82, and the capacitor 83 are disposed close to the latch 24, which is disposed above the pole 32, it is possible to prevent these electrical components from being exposed to liquids such as rainwater. In this way, the arrangement of each element of the door latch device 1 is optimized, allowing the door latch device 1 to be made more compact.

[0075] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiment may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0076] This specification describes at least the following: In parentheses, components corresponding to those in the above-described embodiments are shown as examples, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0077] (1) A door latch device (door latch device 1) attached to a door (door D) of a vehicle (vehicle V), a latch mechanism (latch mechanism 20) that has a latch (latch 24) that can engage with a striker (striker S) provided on a vehicle body, and that maintains the door closed relative to the vehicle body by engaging the latch with the striker in a latched state; an electric release mechanism (electric release mechanism 40) that can release the latched state by driving a motor (motor 41); a manual release mechanism (manual release mechanism 60) that can be manually operated to release the latched state, The electric release mechanism has an electric release lever (electric release lever 44) that is actuated by driving the motor, The electric release lever is a first lever (first lever 51) that is actuated by driving the motor; a second lever (second lever 52) that operates in conjunction with the first lever and engages with the latch mechanism in a connected state to release the latched state, The manual release mechanism has an inner lever (inner lever 61) that is actuated by manually operating an in-vehicle operating unit (inner handle 3) provided in the vehicle compartment, The door latch device is The vehicle further includes a cancel mechanism (cancel mechanism 100) that is provided independently of the motor and that releases the connection between the first lever and the second lever by the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit transmitted via the inner lever, thereby allowing the second lever to retract from a predetermined position. Door latch device.

[0078] According to (1), the door latch device is equipped with a cancel mechanism that is operated by manual operation of an in-vehicle operating unit. Therefore, even if the motor becomes inoperable due to a power outage or malfunction, and the unlatching state remains, the unlatching state can be released by manually operating the in-vehicle operating unit. This allows the door to be reliably closed even in an emergency, improving theft prevention and reliability of the door latch device. Furthermore, because the cancel mechanism is provided independently of the motor, it can operate without being affected by a stuck motor, allowing the unlatching state to be released with ease.

[0079] (2) The door latch device according to (1), The inner lever of the manual release mechanism is an unlatching unit (unlatching unit 61c) that transmits the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit to the latch mechanism to release the latched state; and a cancel operation unit (cancel operation unit 61d) that transmits the operating force of the in-vehicle operation unit to the cancel mechanism to activate the cancel mechanism. Door latch device.

[0080] According to (2), the inner lever has a latch release portion that releases the latched state and a cancel operation portion that activates the cancel mechanism, so that the latched state can be released and the cancel mechanism can be activated using a common inner lever, thereby reducing the number of parts.

[0081] (3) The door latch device according to (2), The second lever of the electric release lever is connected to the first lever via a connecting pin (connecting pin 55) and is provided so as to be able to transition between the connected state in which it operates in conjunction with the first lever and a non-connected state in which it is disconnected from the connection via the connecting pin and can operate independently of the first lever, The cancel mechanism has a cancel lever (cancel lever 101) that is actuated by being pressed against the cancel operation portion of the inner lever, The cancel lever moves the connecting pin to release the connected state of the electric release lever and transition it to the unconnected state, thereby allowing the second lever to retreat from the predetermined position. Door latch device.

[0082] According to (3), the cancel lever can transition the first and second levers from a connected state to a disconnected state by moving the connecting pin, thereby releasing the unlatching state with good operability. In addition, since the connecting pin is positioned within the projected area of ​​the first and second levers, the cancel mechanism can be established within a limited range, thereby simplifying the door latch device.

[0083] (4) The door latch device according to (3), The cancel lever has a pin holding portion (pin holding portion 103) that holds the connecting pin. Door latch device.

[0084] According to (4), the cancel lever holds the connecting pin, so when the cancel lever is operated, the connecting pin moves together with the cancel lever, resulting in quick response to the operation to release the unlatched state.

[0085] (5) A door latch device according to any one of (1) to (4), The latch mechanism includes: a pole (pole 32) that is biased in a direction to contact the outer circumferential surface of the latch and is engageable with the latch; a pole lever (pole lever 34) that is provided so as to be engageable with the manual release mechanism and the electric release mechanism and that releases the engagement between the pole and the latch by the manual release mechanism or the electric release mechanism; The pole lever has an engaging portion with the manual release mechanism (manual side engaging portion 34b2) and an engaging portion with the electric release mechanism (electric side engaging portion 34b1) provided at different positions. Door latch device.

[0086] According to (5), the engaging portion of the pole lever with the manual release mechanism and the engaging portion with the electric release mechanism are located in different positions, so the electric release mechanism does not affect the transmission path of the operating force of the operating portion inside the vehicle from the manual release mechanism to the pole lever. Therefore, even if the electric release mechanism continues to be inoperative due to a lack of power, the latched state can always be released manually from inside the vehicle, improving the reliability of the door latch device.

[0087] (6) The door latch device according to (5), The manual release mechanism further includes a link member (link member 65) that is coupled to the inner lever and is engageable with the pawl lever, the link member is actuated to approach the engaging portion of the pole lever when the in-vehicle operating portion is manually operated, When the cancel mechanism is actuated by the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit and the second lever is retracted from the predetermined position, the link member receives the pawl lever that has been released from engagement with the second lever. Door latch device.

[0088] According to (6), when the unlatching state is released, the link member that moves closer to the pole lever receives the pole lever, preventing the pole lever from rotating forcefully to the standby position, thereby reducing the impact on the pole lever and suppressing the generation of impact noise.

[0089] (7) A door latch device according to any one of (1) to (6), The manual release mechanism further includes an outer lever (outer lever 71) that is operated by manually operating an external operation unit (key cylinder 5) provided outside the vehicle compartment using a tool (mechanical key 7), The outer lever is actuated by manually operating the exterior operation unit, and engages with the latch mechanism to release the latched state. Door latch device.

[0090] When a door latch device is configured simply without a locking mechanism, it is necessary to ensure sufficient anti-theft performance against manual operation from outside the vehicle. According to (7), a tool (e.g., a mechanical key) is required to manually release the latched state from outside the vehicle, so anti-theft performance can be ensured even with a configuration that does not include a locking mechanism. Furthermore, even if the power release mechanism does not operate due to a lack of power, the latched state can be released manually from outside the vehicle using a tool, improving the reliability of the door latch device. Thus, by not providing a locking mechanism, it is possible to simplify the door latch device while ensuring anti-theft performance and reliability.

[0091] (8) A door latch device according to any one of (1) to (7), a control device (ECU 82) that controls the motor; a capacitor (capacitor 83) that stores power that can be supplied to the motor and the control device, The latch mechanism further includes a pole (pole 32) that is disposed below the latch and is engageable with the latch; the motor, the control device, and the capacitor are disposed closer to the latch than the pole; The manual release mechanism and the cancel mechanism are disposed closer to the pole than the latch. Door latch device.

[0092] According to (8), since the manual release mechanism and the cancel mechanism are positioned close to the pole, the structure for transmitting the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit to the pole can be simplified. Also, since the electrical components such as the motor, the control device, and the capacitor are positioned close to the latch, which is positioned above the pole, it is possible to prevent these electrical components from being exposed to liquids such as rainwater. In this way, the placement of each element of the door latch device is optimized, and the door latch device can be made smaller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1 Door latch device 3 Inner handle (in-car operation part) 5 Key cylinder (external operation part) 7 Mechanical Key (Tool) 20 Latch mechanism 24 Latch 32 Paul 34 Pole lever 34b1 Electric side engaging part (engaging part) 34b2 Manual side engaging part (engaging part) 40 Electric release mechanism 41 Motor 44 Electric release lever 51 First Lever 52 Second Lever 55 connecting pin 60 Manual release mechanism 61 Inner lever 61c Latch release part 61d Cancel operation section 65 Link member 71 Outer lever 82 ECU (control unit) 83 Capacitor 100 Cancellation mechanism 101 Cancel lever 103 Pin holder D-door S Striker

Claims

1. A door latch device attached to a vehicle door, a latch mechanism that has a latch that can be engaged with a striker provided on a vehicle body, and that maintains the door closed relative to the vehicle body by engaging the latch with the striker in a latched state; an electric release mechanism that can release the latched state by driving a motor; a manual release mechanism that can release the latched state by manual operation, the electric release mechanism has an electric release lever that is actuated by driving the motor, The electric release lever is a first lever that is actuated by driving the motor; a second lever that operates in conjunction with the first lever and engages with the latch mechanism in a connected state to release the latched state, The manual release mechanism has an inner lever that is actuated by manually operating an in-vehicle operating unit provided in the vehicle compartment, The door latch device is a cancel mechanism that is provided independently of the motor and that releases the connection between the first lever and the second lever in response to the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit transmitted via the inner lever, thereby allowing the second lever to retract from a predetermined position; Door latch device.

2. 2. The door latch device according to claim 1, The inner lever of the manual release mechanism is an unlatching unit that transmits an operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit to the latch mechanism to release the latched state; a cancel operation unit that transmits an operating force of the in-vehicle operation unit to the cancel mechanism to activate the cancel mechanism, Door latch device.

3. 3. The door latch device according to claim 2, the second lever of the electric release lever is connected to the first lever via a connecting pin and is provided so as to be transitionable between a connected state in which the second lever operates in conjunction with the first lever and a non-connected state in which the connection via the connecting pin is released and the second lever can operate independently of the first lever, the cancel mechanism has a cancel lever that is actuated by being pressed against the cancel operation portion of the inner lever, The cancel lever moves the connecting pin to release the connected state of the electric release lever and transition it to the unconnected state, thereby allowing the second lever to retract from the predetermined position. Door latch device.

4. 4. The door latch device according to claim 3, The cancel lever has a pin holding portion that holds the connecting pin. Door latch device.

5. 5. The door latch device according to claim 1, The latch mechanism includes: a pawl that is biased in a direction to contact the outer circumferential surface of the latch and is engageable with the latch; a pawl lever that is engageable with the manual release mechanism and the electric release mechanism and that releases the engagement between the pawl and the latch by the manual release mechanism or the electric release mechanism, The pawl lever has an engaging portion with the manual release mechanism and an engaging portion with the electric release mechanism provided at different positions. Door latch device.

6. 6. The door latch device according to claim 5, the manual release mechanism further includes a link member coupled to the inner lever and engageable with the pawl lever; the link member is actuated to approach the engaging portion of the pole lever when the in-vehicle operating portion is manually operated, When the cancel mechanism is actuated by the operating force of the in-vehicle operating unit and the second lever is retracted from the predetermined position, the link member receives the pawl lever that has been released from engagement with the second lever. Door latch device.

7. 5. The door latch device according to claim 1, The manual release mechanism further includes an outer lever that is actuated by manually operating an external operation unit provided outside the vehicle compartment with a tool, The outer lever is actuated by manually operating the exterior operation unit, and engages with the latch mechanism to release the latched state. Door latch device.

8. 5. The door latch device according to claim 1, a control device for controlling the motor; a capacitor that stores power that can be supplied to the motor and the control device, the latch mechanism further includes a pole that is disposed below the latch and is engageable with the latch; the motor, the control device, and the capacitor are disposed closer to the latch than the pole; The manual release mechanism and the cancel mechanism are disposed closer to the pole than the latch. Door latch device.

Images