Door handle device for vehicle

Abstract

To improve visualization of a door handle and easily have open the door when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle by exposing the door handle stored in the vehicle door to the outside of the vehicle so that opening operation is possible in the event of abnormality in the vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle door handle device is arranged on the vehicle door, and can be shifted between a retracted state in which it is retracted within the vehicle door and an exposed state in which it is exposed through a surface opening of the vehicle door, and includes a door handle permitted to be opened to unlatch the vehicle door in an exposed state, a door handle actuator that shifts the door handle between a retracted state and an exposed state, an anomaly detection part that detects an anomaly of the vehicle, and a control part that controls the door handle actuator so that the door handle shifts from the retracted state to the exposed state when an abnormality is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle device to be mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, so-called pop-up door handles for vehicles have become widespread in order to improve the design and aerodynamics of the vehicle. The door handle can be moved between a stored state in which it is stored in the vehicle door and an exposed state in which it is exposed from a surface opening of the vehicle door and protrudes to the outside of the vehicle. When the door handle is in the exposed state, it can be opened by an operator to release the latch of the vehicle door.

[0003] For example, in the vehicle door handle device described in Patent Document 1, when the door handle is pushed toward the inside of the vehicle in a stored state, the door handle jumps outward and moves to an exposed state. When the door handle is pulled toward the outside of the vehicle in the exposed state, the latch of the vehicle door is released and the vehicle door is opened. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-66605 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when the door handle is in the stored state, the door handle remains stored in the vehicle door and does not pop out to the outside of the vehicle, so a person who is not familiar with the structure of the vehicle may not be able to immediately find the door handle or may not be able to recognize how to operate the door handle, i.e., how to open the vehicle door. For this reason, for example, when the vehicle has an accident, rescuers may have difficulty opening the vehicle door, which may delay rescue of the passengers in the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a vehicle door handle device that exposes the door handle stored in the vehicle door to the outside of the vehicle so that it can be opened when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, making it easier to find the door handle and open the vehicle door when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle door handle device comprising: a door handle that is arranged on a vehicle door, is capable of transitioning between a stored state in which it is stored within the vehicle door and an exposed state in which it is exposed from a surface opening of the vehicle door, and in which an opening operation to release the latch of the vehicle door is permitted in the exposed state; a door handle actuator that transitions the door handle between the stored state and the exposed state; an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the vehicle; and a control unit that controls the door handle actuator so that the door handle transitions from the stored state to the exposed state when the abnormality is detected.

[0008] According to this configuration, when a vehicle abnormality is detected, the door handle transitions from a stored state to an exposed state. Therefore, the door handle stored in the vehicle door can be exposed to the outside of the vehicle so that it can be opened when a vehicle abnormality occurs. This makes it easier to find the door handle and open the vehicle door when a vehicle abnormality occurs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a door handle included in a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment in a stored state; [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view of a door handle included in a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment in an exposed state; [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed in the vehicle door handle device of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a vehicle door handle device according to the present invention will be described. The vehicle door handle device 1 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle, and is a device for operating a door handle provided on a vehicle door 2.

[0011] The vehicle door 2 is an entry / exit door through which vehicle occupants get in and out of the vehicle, and can be opened and closed relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle door 2 can be locked by a locking device 3 when closed relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle door 2 can be opened relative to the vehicle body when unlocked by the locking device 3.

[0012] The locking device 3 transitions the vehicle door 2 from a locked state to an unlocked state, for example, when wireless communication with a portable key carried by a legitimate vehicle user is established outside the vehicle and a predetermined unlocking operation is performed, when a legitimate vehicle user performs an unlocking operation by wireless communication outside the vehicle, when an interior door handle is operated to open, when a predetermined time (e.g., several tens of seconds or several minutes) has passed since the occurrence of an abnormality such as a vehicle accident, which will be described later, etc. Also, the locking device 3 transitions the vehicle door 2 from an unlocked state to a locked state, for example, when an interior lock handle is operated to lock, when the vehicle starts to travel and reaches a predetermined speed (e.g., 20 km / h), when wireless communication with a portable key carried by a legitimate vehicle user is established outside the vehicle and a predetermined locking operation is performed, when a legitimate vehicle user performs a locking operation by wireless communication outside the vehicle, when an abnormality in the vehicle, which will be described later, is occurred, etc.

[0013] The vehicle door 2 on which the door handle is provided may be a rear door instead of the above-mentioned getting-into / out door, or may be a door cover for closing a bonnet, a fuel filler port, or a charging port.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle door handle device 1 includes a door handle 10, a door handle actuator 20, a control device 30, a main power supply 40, and an auxiliary power supply 50.

[0015] The door handle 10 is an operating part that is operated by a person to open the vehicle door 2. When the door handle 10 is opened, the latched state of the vehicle door 2 relative to the vehicle body is released, and the vehicle door 2 is opened. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the door handle 10 is formed in a handle shape so as to extend in the horizontal direction. The opening operation performed by a person on the door handle 10 may be, for example, an operation of pulling a lid portion 11 (described later) of the door handle 10 toward the outside of the vehicle with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force relative to a support portion 12, or may be a contact operation or a non-contact operation that can be detected by a touch sensor or the like arranged on the back side of the lid portion 11 of the door handle 10.

[0016] The vehicle door 2 has a space 2a capable of accommodating a door handle 10, and a surface opening 2b that opens the space 2a to the outside of the vehicle. The door handle 10 is disposed on the vehicle door 2. The door handle 10 is attached so as to fit into the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2, and is movable between the space 2a inside the vehicle and the outside of the vehicle through the surface opening 2b. The door handle 10 may be moved, for example, such that the entire door handle 10 moves in the vehicle interior / exterior direction, or such that the other end of the door handle 10 moves in the vehicle interior / exterior direction with one end of the door handle 10 as a fulcrum.

[0017] The door handle 10 can be shifted between a stored state and an exposed state. The stored state is a state in which the door handle 10 is stored in the vehicle door 2, i.e., in the space 2a, and specifically, a state in which a lid portion 11 described later closes a surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2 and is flush with the surface of the vehicle door 2. The exposed state is a state in which the door handle 10 is exposed from the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2, and specifically, a state in which the lid portion 11 protrudes from the surface of the vehicle door 2 to the outside of the vehicle.

[0018] When the door handle 10 is in the stored state, a person cannot open the door handle 10 and cannot open the vehicle door 2 from outside the vehicle. On the other hand, when the door handle 10 is in the exposed state, a person can open the door handle 10 and can open the vehicle door 2 from outside the vehicle.

[0019] The door handle 10 has a lid portion 11 and a support portion 12. The lid portion 11 is a lid that closes the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2 when the door handle 10 is in the stored state. The lid portion 11 is formed in a shape that matches the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2. The support portion 12 is a rod-shaped portion that supports the lid portion 11. The support portion 12 is supported so as to be movable forward and backward in the vehicle interior and exterior directions relative to the vehicle door 2.

[0020] The door handle 10 has a so-called pop-up mechanism. That is, when the lid portion 11 of the door handle 10 is in the stored state, it mechanically moves forward toward the outside of the vehicle and transitions to the exposed state when it is pressed from the outside of the vehicle toward the inside of the vehicle. When the lid portion 11 of the door handle 10 is in the exposed state, it mechanically moves backward toward the inside of the vehicle and transitions to the stored state when it is pulled toward the outside of the vehicle with a force less than a predetermined value.

[0021] The door handle actuator 20 is an actuator that transitions the door handle 10 between the stored state and the exposed state. The door handle actuator 20 is an electric actuator such as a motor that is operated by power supply. As described in detail later, the door handle actuator 20 transitions the door handle 10 between the stored state and the exposed state by receiving power supply in accordance with a command from the control device 30.

[0022] The control device 30 is a device that controls the transition of the door handle 10 between the stored state and the exposed state. The control device 30 is mainly composed of a microcomputer. The control device 30 has sensors 31, an abnormality detection unit 32, a control unit 33, a drive unit 34, a main power supply determination unit 35, an auxiliary power supply start-up unit 36, and a human detection sensor 37.

[0023] The sensors 31 are sensors that output signals indicating various states in the vehicle. Examples of the sensors 31 include an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, an airbag control device that outputs a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of an airbag being deployed, a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to whether or not a fire has occurred in the vehicle, a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to whether or not the vehicle has been submerged in water, an in-vehicle camera that outputs image data of the interior of the vehicle (particularly the face of the vehicle driver), and a voltage sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the voltage across the main power supply 40. The sensors 31 are not limited to one sensor, and may be composed of multiple sensors. The output signal of the sensors 31 is supplied to the abnormality detection unit 32.

[0024] The abnormality detection unit 32 is a part that detects abnormalities in the vehicle. The abnormality detection unit 32 detects abnormalities occurring in the vehicle based on signals from the sensors 31. The abnormality in the vehicle refers to an emergency state such as a vehicle accident that may make it difficult for vehicle occupants, including the vehicle driver, to get out of the vehicle, such as a collision of the vehicle, deployment of an in-vehicle airbag, loss of consciousness of the vehicle driver, or a drop in the power supply voltage of the main power supply 40 below a specified value. The detection result of the abnormality detection unit 32 is supplied to the control unit 33 and also to the auxiliary power supply start-up unit 36.

[0025] The control unit 33 is a part that controls the door handle actuator 20. The control unit 33 controls the door handle actuator 20 based on the locking / unlocking of the vehicle door 2 by the lock device 3 and the detection result of the abnormality detection unit 32. In particular, when the abnormality detection unit 32 detects an abnormality in the vehicle, the control unit 33 controls the door handle actuator 20 so that the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state.

[0026] The drive unit 34 is a part that drives the door handle actuator 20. The control unit 33 supplies a drive signal to the drive unit 34 to control the door handle actuator 20. The drive unit 34 drives the door handle actuator 20 in accordance with the drive signal from the control unit 33.

[0027] The main power supply 40 is a power supply that supplies driving power to the door handle actuator 20. The main power supply 40 is a main battery mounted on the vehicle, and is capable of supplying power to lamps and the like other than the door handle actuator 20. The main power supply 40 is connected to the drive unit 34. The door handle actuator 20 is driven by power supplied from the main power supply 40 through the drive unit 34.

[0028] The auxiliary power supply 50 is a power supply that supplies driving power to the door handle actuator 20. The auxiliary power supply 50 only needs to have a capacity that allows the door handle actuator 20 to transition the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state at least once. The auxiliary power supply 50 is, for example, a small lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, an all-solid-state battery, a capacitor, a manganese battery, or the like.

[0029] The auxiliary power supply 50 is connected to the drive unit 34 via a switch 51. The switch 51 is turned on / off depending on whether or not a condition for supplying drive power from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20 is satisfied. When the switch 51 is turned on as a result of the satisfaction of the condition, the auxiliary power supply 50 supplies drive power to the door handle actuator 20. The door handle actuator 20 is driven by power supplied from the auxiliary power supply 50 when the above condition is satisfied.

[0030] The main power supply determination unit 35 is a unit that determines whether the main power supply 40 can normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20. The main power supply determination unit 35 determines whether the main power supply 40 is normal or not based on, for example, whether the power supply voltage of the main power supply 40 has dropped below a predetermined specified value or whether the system of the main power supply 40 has been disconnected. The determination result of the main power supply determination unit 35 is supplied to the auxiliary power supply start-up unit 36.

[0031] The auxiliary power supply starting unit 36 ​​is a part that electrically connects the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20 and supplies driving power from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20. The auxiliary power supply starting unit 36 ​​controls the on / off of the switch 51 based on the detection result of the abnormality detection unit 32 and the discrimination result of the main power supply discrimination unit 35. Specifically, when the abnormality detection unit 32 detects an abnormality in the vehicle and the main power supply discrimination unit 35 determines that the main power supply 40 cannot normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator 20, the auxiliary power supply starting unit 36 ​​turns on the switch 51 so that electricity is supplied from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20.

[0032] The human detection sensor 37 is a sensor that outputs a signal according to whether or not there is a person around the vehicle. The human detection sensor 37 is, for example, an exterior camera that outputs image data capturing an image of the outside of the vehicle. The human detection sensor 37 is disposed near the vehicle door 2, and is provided in order to detect a person approaching the vehicle door 2 in particular. An output signal from the human detection sensor 37 is supplied to the control unit 33. The control unit 33 controls the door handle actuator 20 based on the signal from the human detection sensor 37, as described below.

[0033] The operation of the vehicle door handle device 1 will now be described. First, a normal operation of the vehicle door handle device 1 will be described. When the vehicle door 2 is closed relative to the vehicle body and in a locked state, the door handle 10 is usually in a stored state. If there is no passenger in the vehicle, the locked state of the vehicle door 2 is maintained until a proper unlocking operation is performed outside the vehicle. In this locked state, when a person presses the lid portion 11 of the door handle 10 from the outside to the inside of the vehicle, the door handle 10 transitions to an exposed state by the pop-up mechanism. However, when a proper unlocking operation is not performed, the vehicle door 2 is maintained in a locked state by the lock device 3, so that even if the door handle 10 is operated to open in the exposed state, the vehicle door 2 is not opened. Therefore, even if the door handle 10 transitions to the exposed state by a person other than a proper vehicle user, the vehicle door 2 is prevented from being opened. In addition, in the above-mentioned locked state, when a person pulls the lid portion 11 of the door handle 10 toward the outside of the vehicle, the door handle 10 returns to the stored state.

[0034] On the other hand, in the above-mentioned locked state, when an authorized vehicle user performs an unlocking operation outside the vehicle while holding a portable key, the locking device 3 unlocks the vehicle door 2, and the control unit 33 controls the door handle actuator 20 to transition the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state. When this process is performed, the door handle 10 becomes exposed. When the door handle 10 is opened, the latched state of the vehicle door 2 is released and the vehicle door 2 is opened. Note that the unlocking of the vehicle door 2 by the locking device 3 in this case may be performed before the latched state is released when the door handle 10 is opened after transitioning to the exposed state.

[0035] Therefore, when the vehicle door 2 is closed and locked relative to the vehicle body, the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state when the vehicle door 2 is unlocked by an unlocking operation by an authorized vehicle user. Therefore, the authorized vehicle user can open the vehicle door 2 by operating the door handle 10 to open it immediately before getting into the vehicle.

[0036] Next, an emergency operation of the vehicle door handle device 1 will be described. In the stored state of the door handle 10, the door handle 10 is stored in the vehicle door 2 and is flush with the surface of the vehicle door 2, and does not protrude to the outside of the vehicle. For this reason, in the event of a vehicle abnormality such as a vehicle accident, a rescuer may not be able to immediately find the door handle 10, or may not be able to recognize how to open the door handle 10 to open the vehicle door.

[0037] Therefore, in this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, the door handle 10 is exposed so as to be operable to open, thereby making it easier to find the door handle 10 and to open the vehicle door 2.

[0038] That is, in the control device 30, the sensors 31 output signals indicating various states in the vehicle. The abnormality detection unit 32 detects an abnormality in the vehicle based on the signals from the sensors 31. Specifically, the control device 30 uses the abnormality detection unit 32 to determine whether or not the airbag has been deployed (step S100 in the routine shown in FIG. 4), and also determines whether or not the vehicle driver is in a dangerous state, such as being unconscious (step S110).

[0039] If it is determined in step S100 that the airbag has been deployed or if it is determined in step S110 that the vehicle driver is in a dangerous condition, the control device 30 then determines in the main power supply determination unit 35 whether the main power supply 40 can normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator 20 (step S120).

[0040] If it is determined in step S120 that the main power supply 40 can normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator 20, the control device 30 then uses the human detection sensor 37 to determine whether or not a person is present around the vehicle (step S130). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S120 that the main power supply 40 cannot normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator 20, the control device 30 then turns on the switch 51 so that the auxiliary power supply starting unit 36 ​​applies electricity from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20 (step S140).

[0041] Then, when it is detected in step S130 that there is a person around the vehicle or when the switch 51 is turned on in step S140, the control device 30 next determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the abnormality detection unit 32 detected the abnormality of the vehicle (step S150). Note that the above-mentioned predetermined time is a period during which the lock device 3 does not transition the vehicle door 2 from the locked state to the unlocked state or the door handle actuator 20 does not transition the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state immediately after the occurrence of the abnormality of the vehicle, and is set to, for example, several tens of seconds or several minutes.

[0042] If it is determined in step S150 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the vehicle abnormality, then the lock device 3 unlocks the vehicle door 2 (step S160), and the control unit 33 controls the door handle actuator 20 to transition the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state (step S170).

[0043] In this way, in the vehicle door handle device 1, when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, such as an airbag deployment or the driver being unconscious, the vehicle door 2 can be unlocked and the door handle 10 can be transitioned from the stored state to the exposed state.

[0044] When the door handle 10 is in the exposed state, it is easier for even a person who is unfamiliar with the structure of the door handle 10 to find the door handle 10 compared to when the door handle 10 is in the stored state. Also, in order to transition the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state, it is not necessary for a person outside the vehicle to press the door handle 10 toward the inside of the vehicle. Therefore, even a person who does not recognize how to operate the door handle 10 in the stored state to transition to the exposed state can visually recognize the door handle 10 in the exposed state without pressing the door handle 10 toward the inside of the vehicle.

[0045] When the vehicle door 2 is unlocked and the door handle 10 is exposed, it becomes easier for people outside the vehicle to understand how to open the vehicle door 2, and they are prompted to open the door handle 10 that protrudes from the surface of the vehicle door 2 to the outside of the vehicle, which releases the latched state of the vehicle door 2 and opens the vehicle door 2. This makes it easier to open the vehicle door 2.

[0046] Therefore, according to the vehicle door handle device 1, the door handle 10 stored in the vehicle door 2 can be exposed to the outside of the vehicle so as to be operable to open when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, thereby making it easier for a person to find the door handle 10 and open the vehicle door 2 when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle. In this regard, when a vehicle occupant including the vehicle driver loses consciousness and needs rescue from the outside, it becomes easier for the rescuer to find the door handle 10 and open the vehicle door 2, so that the time from when the rescuer reaches the vehicle to when the vehicle occupant is rescued can be shortened.

[0047] Furthermore, as described above, when the door handle 10 is exposed outside the vehicle so that it can be opened when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, in order to make it easier for people to recognize the state of the door handle 10, a light may be turned on to make the door handle 10 visually prominent, or a sound may be output from a speaker or the like to allow the state of the door handle 10 to be audibly recognized.

[0048] Furthermore, in the vehicle door handle device 1, when a vehicle abnormality occurs and the main power supply 40 can normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, drive power is supplied from the main power supply 40 to the door handle actuator 20, and the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state. On the other hand, when a vehicle abnormality occurs and the main power supply 40 cannot normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, the auxiliary power supply 50 is connected to the door handle actuator 20 and drive power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20, and the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state.

[0049] Therefore, even if the main power supply 40 fails or there is a disconnection in the system of the main power supply 40 due to, for example, a vehicle accident, the door handle actuator 20 can be driven using the auxiliary power supply 50, thereby ensuring the transition of the door handle 10 from the stored state to the exposed state and the opening of the vehicle door 2.

[0050] Furthermore, when a vehicle abnormality occurs and the main power supply 40 can normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, after it is detected that a person is around the vehicle, drive power is supplied from the main power supply 40 to the door handle actuator 20, and the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state. In this configuration, when a vehicle abnormality occurs, even if the main power supply 40 can normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, the door handle 10 is maintained in the stored state until it is detected that a person is around the vehicle.

[0051] Therefore, if the main power supply 40 is normal after the occurrence of a vehicle abnormality, the door handle 10 can be prevented from transitioning to the exposed state when no one is around the vehicle, so that the door handle 10 can transition from the stored state to the exposed state only at the necessary timing when a person outside the vehicle can open the door.

[0052] When the main power supply 40 cannot normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, there is a risk that the human detection sensor 37 will not operate normally due to a malfunction of the main power supply 40. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle and the main power supply 40 cannot normally supply drive power to the door handle actuator 20, drive power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply 50 to the door handle actuator 20, and the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state, regardless of whether or not the presence of a person around the vehicle is detected.

[0053] Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle and the main power supply 40 is unable to normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator 20, the door handle 10 is immediately transitioned from the stored state to the exposed state using the auxiliary power supply 50, thereby avoiding a situation in which the door handle 10 cannot be transitioned from the stored state to the exposed state due to the human detection sensor 37 not operating normally.

[0054] Even if a vehicle abnormality occurs, the vehicle door 2 is locked and the door handle 10 is maintained in the stored state until a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the abnormality, and after that time has elapsed, the vehicle door 2 is unlocked and the door handle 10 transitions from the stored state to the exposed state. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the vehicle door 2 from being unlocked and the door handle 10 from being in the exposed state immediately after the occurrence of a vehicle abnormality, it is possible to prevent the vehicle door 2 from being easily opened unexpectedly due to a collision immediately after the occurrence of an abnormality, such as when a vehicle collides while traveling.

[0055] In addition, an emergency release button that can be operated by a person to unlock the vehicle door 2 may be provided on the door handle 10 or the like so that the person can unlock the vehicle door 2 even before a predetermined time has elapsed after a vehicle abnormality occurs.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the stored state of the door handle 10 refers to a state in which the door handle 10 is stored in the vehicle door 2 and the cover portion 11 of the door handle 10 closes the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2 and is flush with the surface of the vehicle door 2. The exposed state of the door handle 10 refers to a state in which the cover portion 11 protrudes from the surface of the vehicle door 2 to the outside of the vehicle and the door handle 10 is exposed from the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2.

[0057] However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the stored state of the door handle 10 may be a state in which the door handle 10 is stored in the vehicle door 2 so that a person cannot open the door, and the exposed state of the door handle 10 may be a state in which the door handle 10 is exposed from the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2 so that a person can open the door. For example, the door handle 10 may be fixedly disposed on the back side of the surface opening 2b of the vehicle door 2, and a lid that can open and close the surface opening 2b may be provided, and the state in which the lid closes the surface opening 2b may be the stored state of the door handle 10, and the state in which the lid opens the surface opening 2b may be the exposed state of the door handle 10.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified forms, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1: vehicle door handle device, 2: vehicle door, 3: locking device, 10: door handle, 20: door handle actuator, 30: control device, 31: sensors, 32: abnormality detection unit, 33: control unit, 34: drive unit, 35: main power supply discrimination unit, 36: auxiliary power supply startup unit, 40: main power supply, 50: auxiliary power supply.

Claims

1. a door handle that is disposed on a vehicle door and is capable of transitioning between a stored state in which the door is stored in the vehicle door and an exposed state in which the door is exposed from a surface opening of the vehicle door, and in the exposed state, an opening operation for releasing a latch of the vehicle door is permitted; a door handle actuator for transitioning the door handle between the stowed position and the exposed position; A drive unit that drives the door handle actuator; a main power source connected to the driving unit and supplying driving power to the door handle actuator; an auxiliary power supply connected to the drive unit via a switch and different from the main power supply, capable of supplying drive power to the door handle actuator; an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in a vehicle; a control unit that controls the door handle actuator so that the door handle transitions from the stored state to the exposed state when the abnormality is detected; a main power supply determination unit that determines whether the main power supply can normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator; an auxiliary power supply starting unit that, when the abnormality is detected and it is determined that the main power supply cannot normally supply driving power to the door handle actuator, turns on the switch to connect the auxiliary power supply to the door handle actuator and supplies driving power from the auxiliary power supply to the door handle actuator; A vehicle door handle device comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives the door handle actuator to transition the door handle from the stored state to the exposed state when a predetermined time has elapsed since the abnormality was detected.

3. 3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 2, further comprising a lock device that locks the vehicle door when the abnormality is detected and unlocks the vehicle door when the predetermined time has elapsed.

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