Door Lock Control System

Abstract

To provide a door lock control system capable of improving safety.SOLUTION: A door lock control system 100 comprises: a motor 1 which operates a door lock; a power supply 2 which supplies electric power to the motor 1; relays 31 and 32 which are arranged in series between the motor 1 and the power supply 2; a switch 34 operated by a user; a body ECU 4 which turns ON the relay 32 for a predetermined time when the switch 34 is operated; and a timer IC 35 which turns ON the relay 31 for a predetermined time when the switch 34 is operated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a door lock control system. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a door lock control system that electrically controls a door lock is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The door lock control system of Patent Document 1 includes a motor that operates the door lock, a power supply that supplies power to the motor, a relay arranged between the motor and the power supply, and a body ECU that controls the relay. The body ECU is configured to lock and unlock the door lock by controlling the motor using the relay. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-114040 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, when the door locks are electrically controlled by the body ECU as described above, if the body ECU fails, there is a risk that the door locks will be activated unexpectedly, and there is room for improvement in terms of improving safety.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door lock control system that can improve safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The door lock control system according to the present invention includes a motor for operating the door lock, a power supply for supplying power to the motor, a first relay and a second relay arranged in series between the motor and the power supply, a switch operated by a user, a body ECU that turns on the first relay for a predetermined time when the switch is operated, and a timer IC that turns on the second relay for a predetermined time when the switch is operated.

[0008] In this way, by providing a first relay controlled by the body ECU and a second relay controlled by the timer IC, even if the body ECU fails and the first relay is turned on, the second relay will remain off unless the switch is operated, and the door lock will not be activated unexpectedly, thereby improving safety. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the door lock control system of the present invention, safety can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram for explaining a door lock control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0012] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of a door lock control system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0013] The door lock control system 100 is configured to electrically control a door lock (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the door lock control system 100 includes a motor 1, a power supply 2, a switch board 3, and a body ECU 4.

[0014] The motor 1 is a power source for operating the door lock and is configured to be able to switch the door lock from a locked state to an unlocked state. The power supply 2 is provided to drive the motor 1 and to supply power to the motor 1.

[0015] The switch board 3 is provided with relays 31, 32, a diode 33, a switch 34, and a timer IC 35. The relays 31 and 32 are examples of the "second relay" and the "first relay" of the present invention, respectively.

[0016] Relays 31, 32 and diode 33 are arranged in series between motor 1 and power supply 2. Relays 31 and 32 are, for example, semiconductor relays, and are provided to connect or disconnect motor 1 and power supply 2. Relay 31 is arranged between motor 1 and relay 32, and is configured to be controlled by timer IC 35. Relay 32 is arranged between relay 31 and diode 33, and is configured to be controlled by body ECU 4. Diode 33 has an anode connected to power supply 2 and a cathode connected to relay 32.

[0017] The switch 34 is operated by the user to unlock the door, and is provided, for example, on the steering wheel. When operated by the user, the switch 34 is configured to output an ON signal to the timer IC 35 and the body ECU 4. The timer IC 35 is provided to control the relay 31. Specifically, when the timer IC 35 detects an ON signal from the switch 34, it is configured to keep the relay 31 in an ON state for a predetermined time.

[0018] The body ECU 4 is connected to an in-vehicle network (not shown) and is configured to be able to acquire information related to the vehicle. The body ECU 4 is able to determine the vehicle state based on the acquired information related to the vehicle. The body ECU 4 also has a function to control the relay 32. Specifically, when the body ECU 4 detects an on signal from the switch 34, and the vehicle state allows the doors to be unlocked, the body ECU 4 is configured to keep the relay 32 in an on state for a predetermined time.

[0019] [Door lock release operation] Next, a door unlocking operation in the door lock control system 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Before starting this door unlocking operation, the door is locked and the relays 31 and 32 are turned off.

[0020] First, when a user operates the switch 34, an ON signal from the switch 34 is input to the timer IC 35 and the body ECU 4. When the timer IC 35 detects the ON signal from the switch 34, the timer IC 35 turns on the relay 31. When the body ECU 4 detects the ON signal from the switch 34, if the vehicle state allows unlocking of the doors, the body ECU 4 turns on the relay 32. In this way, when the relays 31 and 32 are turned on, electrical continuity between the motor 1 and the power source 2 is established, enabling power to be supplied from the power source 2 to the motor 1. Then, when the motor 1 is driven by power from the power source 2, the door lock is switched from a locked state to an unlocked state. When a predetermined time has elapsed since the relays 31 and 32 were turned on, the relays 31 and 32 are returned to an OFF state, thereby disconnecting the motor 1 from the power source 2. The predetermined time is a preset time, such as the time required for the door unlocking operation. If the vehicle is in a state in which unlocking of the doors is prohibited, the relay 32 remains in the OFF state and the doors are not unlocked.

[0021] [When the body ECU fails] In the door lock control system 100 of this embodiment, if the body ECU 4 fails, it is possible that the body ECU 4 will turn on the relay 32 even though the switch 34 has not been operated. In this way, even if the relay 32 is turned on due to a failure of the body ECU 4, the relay 31 will remain off unless the switch 34 is operated. Therefore, the motor 1 and the power supply 2 are cut off, and the door lock will not be released unexpectedly even if the body ECU 4 fails.

[0022] -effect- In this embodiment, as described above, by providing the relay 32 controlled by the body ECU 4 and the relay 31 controlled by the timer IC 35, even if the body ECU 4 fails and the relay 32 is turned on, the relay 31 remains off unless the switch 34 is operated, and the door lock is not released unexpectedly, thereby improving safety. In other words, by assigning the function of controlling the relay 32 to the body ECU 4 and the function of controlling the relay 31 to the timer IC 35, it is possible to comply with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262.

[0023] Furthermore, in order to comply with functional safety standards, it is conceivable to add a door lock ECU (not shown) that controls the door locks and have the door lock ECU and body ECU 4 monitor each other, but adding a door lock ECU would increase costs and could extend the development schedule. Therefore, in this embodiment, by controlling the relay 31 using the timer IC 35, it is possible to reduce costs and shorten the development schedule.

[0024] -Other embodiments- It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0025] The present invention can be used in a door lock control system that electrically controls a door lock. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1 motor 2 power supply 4 Body ECU 31 Relay (2nd Relay) 32 Relay (1st Relay) 34 Switch 35 Timer IC 100 Door Lock Control System

Claims

[Claim 1] a motor for operating the door lock; a power source for supplying power to the motor, a first relay and a second relay arranged in series between the motor and the power supply; a switch operated by a user; a body ECU that turns on the first relay for a predetermined time when the switch is operated; a timer IC that keeps the second relay in an on state for a predetermined time when the switch is operated.

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