Vehicle magnetic sensor-based magnetosensitive light-emitting scuff plate device

Abstract

Provided is a magnetic field sensing and light emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a Hall sensor. 【Solution means】The magnetic field sensing and light emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle includes a scuff plate main body attached to the side sill of the vehicle and a magnet module attached below the door of the vehicle. A circuit board 111 disposed inside the scuff plate main body is provided with a battery module 112, an LED drive circuit 113, an LED module 114, a logic circuit IC 115, and a plurality of Hall sensors 116 arranged in a matrix. When the door is opened to a certain extent and none of the Hall sensors can sense the magnetic field of the magnet module, the LED module is controlled to emit light. When the door is closed to a certain extent and any of the Hall sensors in the sensor zone senses the magnetic field of the magnet module, the LED module is controlled not to emit light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting scuff plate device attached to a vehicle, and particularly to a vehicle magnetic induction light-emitting scuff plate device that controls an LED module by a magnetic induction means with a special arrangement using a hall sensor, automatically lights up when the door opens, and automatically turns off when the door is about to close.

Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the vehicle industry, consumers' demands for the comfort and convenience of vehicles are increasing. Especially for high-body vehicles such as SUVs, passengers may feel inconvenient when getting on and off, and particularly at night or in dim environments, the position of the side sill is not clear, increasing the difficulty of getting on and off and the risk in terms of safety. To solve this problem, various scuff plate products (also known as "welcomes") are usually attached to the position of the side sill of the vehicle body to provide additional footstep support. Conventional welcome scuff plates mainly have the following problems and limitations.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] 1. Lack of lighting function: Many welcome scuff plates do not have a lighting function, which is inconvenient for use at night or in dim environments, and it is difficult for passengers to accurately find the position of the scuff plate.

[0004] 2. Complexity of installation: Some welcome scuff plates require a complex installation process, which may involve changes to the vehicle body structure, not only increasing the installation cost but also potentially affecting the maintenance and safety of the vehicle.

[0005] 3. Aesthetic problems: The designs of some welcome scuff plates are not beautiful enough, do not harmonize with the overall design style of the vehicle, and affect the appearance of the vehicle.

[0006] 4. Durability and Reliability: Since the welcome scuff plate is frequently used, it needs to withstand great pressure and wear. Some scuff plates have insufficient durability and reliability, resulting in a short lifespan.

[0007] Taiwan Utility Model No. M433989 provides an automotive wireless light-emitting scuff plate characterized by attaching a magnet to the door. When the door closes, the magnet generates induction corresponding to the controller provided in the light-emitting scuff plate to cut off the power supply, so that the light-emitting module in the light-emitting scuff plate does not emit light. When the door opens, the magnet no longer corresponds to the controller, and the power is turned on to make the light-emitting module emit light.

[0008] However, in order to surely generate induction between the magnet and the controller when the door closes, if the magnet and the controller are not accurately and properly installed, the induction sensitivity will decrease. Improving such a complex installation process may also involve changes in the vehicle body structure, increasing the installation cost and potentially affecting the vehicle maintenance and safety.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional wireless light-emitting scuff plate for vehicles.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] The present invention relates to a magnetically sensitive and light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using Hall Effect sensors. The scuff plate body is attached to the side sill of the vehicle. The scuff plate body is provided with a circuit board inside, and the circuit board is equipped with a battery module, an LED driving circuit, an LED module, a logic circuit IC (integrated circuit, chip), and a plurality of Hall Effect sensors. the plurality of Hall sensors are arranged in a matrix and electrically connected to the logic circuit IC, the logic circuit IC is electrically connected to the LED drive circuit, the LED drive circuit includes a scuff plate body electrically connected to the battery module and the LED module, and a magnet module to be attached below the door of the vehicle, an area surrounded by the plurality of Hall sensors arranged in a matrix forms a sensor zone, when the door is opened to a predetermined extent and none of the Hall sensors in the sensor zone can sense the magnetic field of the magnet module, the logic circuit IC sends a control signal to the LED drive circuit to drive the LED module to emit light, when the door is closed to a predetermined extent and any of the Hall sensors in the sensor zone senses the magnetic field of the magnet module, a sensor signal is sent to the logic circuit IC, the logic circuit IC sends a control signal to the LED drive circuit, and the LED drive circuit sends a signal to the LED module not to emit light.

[0011] Preferably, in the Hall sensors arranged in the matrix, the Hall sensors in two adjacent columns may be offset from each other, or the Hall sensors in two adjacent rows may be offset from each other, or the Hall sensors in two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows may be offset from each other.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet module includes a housing and a magnet disposed inside the housing, and an adhesive device can be installed on the outer surface of the housing to adhere to the bottom of the door.

[0013] The magnetically sensitive luminous scuff plate device for vehicles provided by this invention integrates a Hall sensor matrix and wireless magnetic sensing technology, which not only provides clear lighting guidance, but also simplifies the installation process and enhances the aesthetics, durability and reliability of the scuff plate.With wireless magnetic sensing technology, the luminous scuff plate with telescopic movement can be automatically controlled in synchronization with the opening and closing of the door, further improving the user experience.

[0014] Through circuit design, this invention arranges multiple Hall sensors at multiple locations on the circuit board to form a matrix network on a two-dimensional plane. Combined with the planar spatial dimensions specific to wireless magnetic scuff plates, this allows sensing to cover the entire dimensions of the scuff plate, greatly improving induction sensitivity and accuracy.

[0015] Compared with similar products on the market, this device has significantly improved induction sensitivity, requires less precision in positioning and installation, and consumes less power. When powered by the same battery specifications, this device has a longer standby time and reduces power decay after long-term use, increasing the operating range by approximately 35% compared to conventional products.

[0016] The present invention uses a matrix of Hall sensors arranged in a plane to capture signals, so after being installed in a vehicle, it can still maintain good sensitivity even when used for a long time under complex operating modes, and has a relatively high recognition rate for detecting door opening and closing operations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017]

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Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0018] To facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The accompanying drawings show a part of the embodiments of the present invention and do not show all the embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Rather, these embodiments are provided to more completely and comprehensively understand the disclosure content of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The terms used in the specification of the present invention are only used to explain the purpose of specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetically sensitive luminous scuff plate device 1 provided by the present invention includes a scuff plate main body 11 for mounting on the side sill 3 of a vehicle and a magnet module 12 for mounting below the door 2 of the vehicle. When the door 2 is opened, the scuff plate main body 11 is automatically controlled to be powered on and luminous, creating a visually dignified and welcoming image, and when the door 2 is closed, the scuff plate main body 11 is automatically controlled to be powered off and not luminous.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, a light-transmitting portion 110 is formed on the upper surface of the scuff plate main body 11, on which letters and figures indicating the automobile brand, as well as various other required designs and patterns, are designed. A circuit board 111 is provided inside the scuff plate main body 11. As shown in Fig. 3, a battery module 112, an LED drive circuit 113, an LED module 114, a logic circuit IC 115, and a plurality of Hall sensors 116 are electrically connected to the circuit provided on the circuit board 111.

[0022] The plurality of Hall sensors 116 are arranged in a matrix and electrically connected to a logic circuit IC 115, which is electrically connected to the LED driving circuit 113, which is electrically connected to the battery module 112 and the LED module 114. The matrix arrangement of the Hall sensors 116 may be such that each row and each column is linearly aligned, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 (the R direction in the figures represents "rows" and the C direction represents "columns").

[0023] Alternatively, two adjacent columns of Hall sensors 116 may be offset from each other (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6), or two adjacent rows of Hall sensors 116 may be offset from each other (as shown in FIG. 7), or two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows of Hall sensors 116 may be offset from each other (as shown in FIG. 8). The area surrounded by the plurality of Hall sensors 116 arranged in the matrix form constitutes a sensor zone S.

[0024] In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a matrix array is formed by the Hall sensors 116 including two columns and two rows. This form is suitable for attaching the scuff plate body 11 to a vehicle with a small side sill area. For a vehicle with a large side sill area, a scuff plate body with a larger area can be attached, so Hall sensors 116 with three columns and three or more rows can be arranged (as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8). The larger the number of matrix-arrayed Hall sensors 116, the larger the area of the sensor zone S formed by the surrounded region, and the more sensitive the magnetic field of the magnet module 12 can be sensed.

[0025] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the structure of the magnet module 12 of the present invention, which can include a housing 121 and a magnet 122. The housing 121 can be manufactured using a plastic material, and the magnet 122 is covered inside the housing 121. In order to adhere the magnet module 12 below the door, an adhesive device (such as a tape or film with sufficient adhesive force) may be installed on the outer surface of one side of the housing 121. The housing 121 can be manufactured by injection molding and the magnet 122 can be directly covered inside during the manufacturing process. Although not shown, the housing 121 can be separated into two members, the magnet 122 can be arranged between the two members, and then the two members can be joined and fixed. Various means such as ultrasonic welding, screw locking, rivet fixing, adhesive adhesion, and fixture fixing can be adopted for the joining and fixing.

[0026] The LED module 114 is generally a light-emitting device including a light guide plate provided at a position corresponding to the light transmission portion 110 inside the scuff plate body 11 and a light source (i.e., an LED, not shown) provided on the side surface of the light guide plate. When the LED module 114 is energized and emits light, the light rays are incident on the light guide plate and conducted, and finally emitted from the light guide plate to form a light-emitting effect. The light rays emitted from the light guide plate pass through the light transmission portion 110 on the upper surface of the scuff plate body 11 to cause the light transmission portion 110 to emit light. Since the LED module is a conventional light-emitting device and not the focus of the appeal of the present invention, more detailed illustrations and descriptions of the structure are omitted.

[0027] The battery module 112 may include a battery holder, a battery cover, and a battery. The battery holder is installed on the circuit board 111. After the battery is installed in the battery holder, it is electrically connected to the circuit on the circuit board 111 to supply current. The battery cover covers the battery holder to protect the battery and the circuit inside the battery holder. Similarly, the battery module 112 is also a conventional technology and not the focus of the appeal of the present invention, so more detailed illustrations and structural descriptions are omitted.

[0028] The LED driving circuit 113 is a chip (IC) for driving the LED module 114 to emit light. The logic circuit IC115 is a chip for receiving the signal from the hall sensor 116 and then transmitting a control signal to the LED driving circuit 113. When the LED driving circuit 113 receives the control signal, it drives the LED module 114 to conduct electricity and emit light. Conversely, when the transmission of the control signal is stopped, the power supply is interrupted and the LED module 114 does not emit light.

[0029] The installation and usage method of the magnetic-sensing light-emitting scuff plate device of the present invention are as follows: Attach the scuff plate body 11 to the vehicle side sill 3, fix the scuff plate body 11 to the side sill 3 by, for example, adhesive means, and attach the magnet module 12 below the door 2. Thereby, when the door opens to a certain extent and none of the hall sensors 116 in the sensor zone S can sense the magnetic field of the magnet module 12, the logic circuit IC115 transmits a control signal to the LED driving circuit 113 to drive the LED module 114 to emit light. When the door closes to a certain extent and any of the hall sensors 116 in the sensor zone S senses the magnetic field of the magnet module 12, it transmits a sensor signal to the logic circuit IC115. The logic circuit IC115 transmits a control signal to the LED driving circuit 113, and the LED driving circuit 113 transmits a signal to the LED module 114 so that it does not emit light.

[0030] The magnetic-sensing light-emitting scuff plate device of the present invention has the following advantages compared with commercially available products of the same type.

[0031] 1. It is easy to install, does not affect the maintenance and safety of the vehicle regardless of changes in the vehicle body structure, does not affect the aesthetics of the vehicle, and has a low installation cost.

[0032] 2. By arranging a plurality of Hall sensors in a matrix, the area of the sensor zone of the induction magnetic field can be expanded, so that the reduction of installation accuracy and the improvement of induction sensitivity can be achieved.

[0033] 3. Due to its simple structure, it has high durability and reliability and a long service life.

[0034] The above embodiments only represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as limiting the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, within the scope of not departing from the gist of the present invention, some changes and improvements can be made, and all of these belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0035] 1 Magnetic Sensing Luminescent Scuff Plate Device 11 Scuff Plate Body 110 Light Transmission Part 111 Circuit Board 112 Battery Module 113 LED Drive Circuit 114 LED Module 115 Logic Circuit IC 116 Hall Sensor 12 Magnet Module 121 Housing 122 Magnet S Sensor Zone

Claims

1. A magneto-sensitive light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a hall sensor, comprising: A scuff plate body for attaching to the side sill of a vehicle, wherein a circuit board is provided inside the scuff plate body, and a battery module, an LED driving circuit, an LED module, a logic circuit IC, and a plurality of hall sensors are provided on the circuit board. The plurality of hall sensors are arranged in a matrix and are electrically connected to the logic circuit IC. The logic circuit IC is electrically connected to the LED driving circuit, and the LED driving circuit is electrically connected to the battery module and the LED module. A scuff plate body; A magnet module for attaching below the door of the vehicle; A region surrounded by the plurality of hall sensors arranged in the matrix constitutes a sensor zone; When the door is opened to a predetermined degree and none of the hall sensors in the sensor zone can sense the magnetic field of the magnet module, the logic circuit IC transmits a control signal to the LED driving circuit to drive the LED module to emit light; When the door is closed to a predetermined degree and any of the hall sensors in the sensor zone senses the magnetic field of the magnet module and transmits a sensor signal to the logic circuit IC, the logic circuit IC transmits a control signal to the LED driving circuit, and the LED driving circuit transmits a signal to the LED module so as not to emit light. A magneto-sensitive light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a hall sensor, characterized by the above.

2. The magneto-sensitive light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a hall sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hall sensors arranged in a matrix are such that two adjacent columns of the hall sensors are offset from each other.

3. The magneto-sensitive light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a hall sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hall sensors arranged in a matrix are such that two adjacent rows of the hall sensors are offset from each other.

4. The magneto-sensitive light-emitting scuff plate device for a vehicle using a hall sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hall sensors arranged in a matrix are such that two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows of the hall sensors are offset from each other.

5. The magnet module includes a housing and a magnet provided inside the housing, and the vehicle magnetic sensing light-emitting scuff plate device using the Hall sensor according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

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