Vehicle door control device and vehicle door control method

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle door control device and a vehicle door control method that can open the door at the optimal timing according to the user's request. [Solution] When the processor 10 of the vehicle door control device 100 receives an open request from an electronic terminal 2 held by user U to open a predetermined target door 21 of the vehicle 1, it determines whether the open request is a reserved open request to open the target door 21 according to the state of user U, or a remote open request to open the target door 21 from a distance in the vehicle 1. If the open request is a reserved open request, it adjusts the timing at which the opening operation of the target door 21 is started. If the open request is a remote open request, it starts the opening operation of the target door 21 and adjusts the opening speed of the target door 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door control device and a vehicle door control method.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology for detecting a user and controlling an opening / closing body, there is known a technology for slowing down the opening / closing speed of an opening / closing body in order to suppress contact between the user and the opening / closing body when the distance between the user and the opening / closing body is within a predetermined range (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, since the opening / closing speed of the opening / closing body is controlled to be slowed down according to the distance between the user and the opening / closing body, there is a problem that the opening / closing speed of the opening / closing body cannot be controlled so that the opening / closing body is in an open state at an optimal timing according to the user's request.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle door control device and a vehicle door control method capable of opening the door at an optimal timing according to the user's request.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by adjusting the timing at which the target door opens when an open request for opening a target door received from an electronic terminal owned by the user is a reserved open request, and by initiating the opening operation of the target door and adjusting the opening speed of the target door when it is a remote open request. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the door can be opened at the optimal time for the user, according to the user's request. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle door control device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates a scenario where a user submits an open request for a target door. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the scenario in which the opening operation of the target door is initiated in response to a reserved open request. Figure 3A shows a scenario in which the user's approach speed is equal to or greater than the first speed within the first range, and Figure 3B shows a scenario in which the opening operation of the target door is initiated when the approach speed is equal to or greater than the first speed. [Figure 4] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the scenario in which the target door is opened in response to a reserved open request. Figure 4A shows the scenario in which the user's approach speed is less than the first speed within the first range, and Figure 4B shows the scenario in which the target door is opened when the approach speed is less than the first speed. [Figure 5] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the process of opening a target door in response to a remote open request. Figure 5A shows the moment when the door opening process begins, and Figure 5B shows the moment when the door opening speed is increased. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure for a vehicle door control method. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 has a vehicle door control device 100, a plurality of doors 20, and a detection device 30. The vehicle door control device 100 controls the opening and closing of a predetermined target door 21 among the plurality of doors 20. Note that "controlling the opening and closing of the doors 20" includes, but is not limited to, controlling the locking and unlocking of each door 20 and automatically opening and closing each door 20, and the vehicle door control device 100 may control only locking and unlocking without automatically opening and closing the doors 20. The detection device 30 is an in-vehicle camera (e.g., surround camera) that images the area around the vehicle 1 and / or a radar (e.g., rear radar, side radar, sonar, LiDAR) that detects objects (pedestrians, etc.) around the vehicle 1.

[0011] The vehicle door control device 100 has a processor 10 that controls the opening and closing of the door 20 of the vehicle 1. The processor 10 has a communication unit 11, an open request determination unit 12, a first proximity determination unit 13, a first proximity speed determination unit 14, a second proximity determination unit 15, a second proximity speed determination unit 16, and a door control unit 17.

[0012] The communication unit 11 can communicate with the electronic terminal 2 via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication and UWB (Ultra-Wide Band) communication. The electronic terminal 2 is a mobile device such as a smartphone owned by user U.

[0013] The open request determination unit 12 determines whether the processor 10 has received an open request via the communication unit 11 to open the target door 21. The open request determination unit 12 also determines whether the open request is a reserved open request to open the target door 21 according to the user U's state, or a remote open request to open the target door 21 remotely. The open request is transmitted from the user U's electronic terminal 2, as shown in Figure 2.

[0014] As shown in Figures 3A and 4A, the first proximity determination unit 13 determines whether user U has entered a first range A1 within a predetermined distance from the target door 21, based on the detection result of the detection device 30. The first range A1 is the range in which the communication unit 11 and the electronic terminal 2 can communicate.

[0015] The first approach speed determination unit 14 determines, based on the detection result of the detection device 30, whether the first approach speed of user U to the target door 21 is equal to or greater than a predetermined first speed when the open request is a reserved open request and user U enters the first range A1. The first speed can be set arbitrarily and is not particularly limited, but it may be the speed at which user U approaches the vehicle 1 in a hurry. For example, the first speed may be the speed at which a person walks at high speed, or the speed at which a person runs.

[0016] The second proximity determination unit 15 determines whether user U has entered the second range A2, as shown in Figure 4B, if the open request is a reserved open request and user U's approach speed is less than the first speed. The second range A2 is a predetermined range around vehicle 1 that is narrower than the first range A1 and is included in the first range A1. The second range A2 is a predetermined range that is shorter in distance from the target door 21 than the first range A1 and is located inside the first range A1.

[0017] When the open request is a remote open request, the second approach speed determination unit 16 determines whether the second approach speed of the user U with respect to the target door 21 is equal to or higher than a predetermined second speed based on the detection result of the detection device 30. The second speed may be arbitrarily set and is not particularly limited, but may be the speed when the user U approaches the vehicle 1 in a hurry. For example, the second speed may be the speed when a person walks at a high speed or the speed when a person runs.

[0018] When the open request is a reservation open request, the door control unit 17 adjusts the timing to start the opening operation of the target door 21 according to the state of the user U. Specifically, when the open request is a reservation open request, the door control unit 17 starts the opening operation of the target door 21 as shown in FIG. 3B when the first approach speed of the user U in the first range A1 is equal to or higher than the first speed. Further, when the open request is a reservation open request, the first approach speed of the user U in the first range A1 is less than the first speed, and the user U enters the second range A2, the door control unit 17 starts the opening operation of the target door 21 as shown in FIG. 4B. Note that "starting the opening operation of the target door 21" means that the door control unit 17 automatically releases the lock mechanism of the target door 21 and starts the opening operation of the target door 21. When no open request for the target door 21 is received, the door control unit 17 maintains the closed state of the door 20 even if the user U approaches any of the doors 20.

[0019] When the open request is a remote open request, as shown in FIG. 5A, the door control unit 17 starts the opening operation of the target door 21 and adjusts the opening operation speed of the target door 21 according to the second approach speed of the user U with respect to the target door 21. Specifically, when the open request is a remote open request and the second approach speed of the user U is equal to or higher than the second speed, the door control unit 17 controls the target door 21 so that the opening operation speed of the target door 21 increases as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0020] Note that FIGS. 3A to 5B show an aspect of opening the side door of the vehicle 1 as the target door 21, but the target of the target door 21 is not particularly limited to this, and any door 20 provided in the vehicle 1 may be the target.

[0021] Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the procedure of the vehicle door control method executed by the processor 10 of the vehicle door control device 100 will be described.

[0022] First, as shown in FIG. 2, the user U uses the electronic terminal 2 to transmit an open request for opening the target door 21 to the vehicle 1. In step S1, the open request determination unit 12 determines whether the processor 10 has received an open request via the communication unit 11.

[0023] Next, in step S2, the open request determination unit 12 determines whether the open request is a reservation open request or a remote open request.

[0024] If it is determined in step S2 that the open request is a reservation open request, the processor advances the control to step S3. In step S3, the first approach determination unit 13 determines whether the user U has entered the first range A1.

[0025] Next, in step S4, the first approach speed determination unit 14 determines whether the first approach speed of the user U with respect to the target door 21 is equal to or higher than the first speed.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3A, if it is determined in step S4 that the first approach speed of the user U is equal to or higher than the first speed, the processor 10 advances the control to step S6, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the door control unit 17 starts the opening operation of the target door 21. The processor 10 determines in step S7 whether the target door 21 has been fully opened, and ends the control when it has been fully opened.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4A, if in step S4 it is determined that the user's first approach speed is less than the first speed, the processor 10 proceeds to step S5 to determine whether or not the user U has entered the second range A2.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4B, if it is determined in step S5 that user U has entered the second range A2, the processor 10 proceeds to step S6, and the door control unit 17 starts opening the target door 21. In step S7, the processor 10 determines whether the target door 21 is fully open, and terminates the control if it is fully open.

[0029] In step S2, if it is determined that the open quest is a remote open request, the processor 10 proceeds to step S8. In step S8, as shown in Figure 5A, the processor 10 initiates the opening operation of the target door 21 via the door control unit 17.

[0030] Next, in step S9, the second approach speed determination unit 16 determines whether the second approach speed of user U to the target door 21 is equal to or greater than the second speed. As shown in Figure 5B, if it is determined that the second approach speed of user U is equal to or greater than the second speed, the processor 10 proceeds to step S10 and increases the opening speed of the target door 21. There is no particular limit to how much the opening speed of the target door 21 is increased. For example, it is preferable to increase the opening speed to such an extent that the opening operation of the target door 21 can be completed before the time it takes for user U to move to the target door 21, calculated from the second approach speed of user U and the distance between user U and the target door 21, has elapsed. If it is determined in step S9 that the second approach speed of user U is less than the second speed, the processor 10 proceeds to step S11.

[0031] Next, in step S11, the processor 10 determines whether the target door 21 is fully open or not, and terminates control if it is fully open.

[0032] As described above, the vehicle door control device 100 according to this embodiment determines whether the open request received from the electronic terminal 2 held by user U is a reserved open request to open the target door 21 according to the state of user U, or a remote open request to open the target door 21 remotely. If the open request is determined to be a reserved open request, the vehicle door control device 100 adjusts the timing at which the opening operation of the target door 21 is started. If the open request is determined to be a remote open request, the vehicle door control device 100 starts the opening operation of the target door 21 and adjusts the opening speed of the target door 21. Therefore, the vehicle door control device 100 can open the target door 21 at the optimal timing for user U, according to user U's request.

[0033] Furthermore, when the vehicle door control device 100 determines that an open request is a reserved open request, it determines whether the first approach speed of user U to the target door 21 is equal to or greater than the first speed when user U enters the first range A1. If the first approach speed is equal to or greater than the first speed, the vehicle door control device 100 starts opening the target door 21. If the first approach speed is less than the first speed, the vehicle door control device 100 determines whether user U has entered the second range A2, and if user U has entered the second range A2, it starts opening the target door 21. In other words, when user U's first approach speed is equal to or greater than the first speed, the opening of the target door 21 starts when user U enters a range further away from the target door 21 compared to when the first approach speed is less than the first speed. As a result, if user U is in a hurry, the opening of the target door 21 starts earlier than usual. Therefore, even if user U is in a hurry, the vehicle door control device 100 can open the target door 21 in time with user U's arrival at vehicle 1.

[0034] Furthermore, when the vehicle door control device 100 determines that the open request is a remote open request, it starts the opening operation of the target door 21 and determines whether the second approach speed of user U to the target door 21 is equal to or greater than the second speed. If the second approach speed is equal to or greater than the second speed, the vehicle door control device 100 increases the opening operation speed of the target door 21. In other words, when user U's second approach speed is equal to or greater than the second speed, the opening operation speed of the target door 21 is increased compared to when it is less than the second speed. As a result, if user U is in a hurry, the opening operation of the target door 21 is performed at a faster speed than usual. Therefore, even if user U is in a hurry, the vehicle door control device 100 can open the target door 21 in time with user U's arrival at vehicle 1.

[0035] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design modifications and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1…Vehicle 20...door 21…Target Door 2…Electronic terminals 100... Vehicle door control device 10… Processor A1…First range A2…Second range U... User

Claims

1. A vehicle door control device having a processor for controlling the opening and closing of vehicle doors, The aforementioned processor, When an open request is received from an electronic terminal held by the user to open a predetermined target door of the vehicle, it is determined whether the open request is a reserved open request to open the target door according to the user's status, or a remote open request to open the target door from a distance. If the open request is a reserved open request, the timing at which the opening operation of the target door begins is adjusted. A vehicle door control device that, when the open request is a remote open request, initiates the opening operation of the target door and adjusts the opening speed of the target door.

2. A vehicle door control device according to claim 1, The aforementioned processor, If the open request is a reserved open request, it is determined whether the user has entered a predetermined first range around the vehicle. When the user enters the first range, it is determined whether the user's first approach speed to the target door is equal to or greater than a predetermined first speed. When the first approach speed is equal to or greater than the first speed, the opening operation of the target door is initiated. A vehicle door control device that, when the first approach speed is less than the first speed, determines whether the user has entered a predetermined second range around the vehicle that is narrower than the first range but included within the first range, and adjusts the timing at which the target door opens by starting the opening operation of the target door when the user has entered the second range.

3. A vehicle door control device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned processor, If the open request is a remote open request, the opening operation of the target door is initiated, and it is determined whether the user's second approach speed to the target door is equal to or greater than a predetermined second speed. A vehicle door control device that adjusts the opening speed of a target door by increasing the opening speed of the target door when the second approach speed is equal to or greater than the second speed.

4. A vehicle door control method that controls the opening and closing of a vehicle door using a processor, The aforementioned processor, Determine whether or not an open request has been received from the user's electronic device to open a designated target door of the vehicle. When the aforementioned open request is received, it is determined whether the open request is a reserved open request to open the target door according to the user's status, or a remote open request to open the target door from a distance in the vehicle. If the open request is a reserved open request, the timing at which the opening operation of the target door begins is adjusted. A vehicle door control method that, when the open request is a remote open request, initiates the opening operation of the target door and adjusts the opening speed of the target door.

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