Control apparatus and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025333992-A1
Application number	US-202519185460-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 22, 2025
Priority date	Apr 25, 2024
Publication date	Oct 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

If it is detected that a passenger is present in the predetermined area set near the door inside the vehicle while the door is in open state, the control apparatus prohibits door closing control. Further, the control apparatus executes the door closing control when first operation is performed by the driver while the door closing control is prohibited, the first operation being an operation in which a close button is pressed after a release switch is turned on. Further, the control apparatus executes the door closing control also when second operation is performed by the driver while the door closing control is prohibited under a state where the number of standing passengers in the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the second operation being an operation in which the close button is pressed twice in a row.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control apparatus that controls a door of a vehicle on which a plurality of passengers are on board, wherein
a predetermined area, where door closing control is prohibited when it is detected that a passenger is present in the area, is set near the door inside the vehicle, a close button and a release switch, which are operated by a driver of the vehicle, are provided in the vehicle, the close button being a button that is pressed when a driver executes the door closing control, and the release switch being a switch that is turned on when the driver cancels the door closing control, and the control apparatus having a controller configured to:
prohibit the door closing control when it is detected that the passenger is present in the predetermined area while the door is in open state,
execute the door closing control when first operation is performed by the driver while the door closing control is prohibited, the first operation being an operation in which the close button is pressed after the release switch is turned on, and
execute the door closing control also when second operation is performed by the driver while the door closing control is prohibited under a state where the number of standing passengers in the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the second operation being an operation in which the close button is pressed twice in a row.

2 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the number of standing passengers in the vehicle is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the controller reduces the predetermined area in the vehicle compared to when the number of standing passengers in the vehicle is less than the predetermined threshold.

3 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the controller executes the door closing control because the first operation or the second operation is performed by the driver while the door closing control is prohibited, the controller sets a closing speed of the door to be smaller than when the controller executes the door closing control while no passenger is present in the predetermined area.

4 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in the vehicle, a floor surface inside the vehicle including the predetermined area is substantially flat, and
the door is a sliding door.

5 . A vehicle comprising the control apparatus according to claim 1 .

6 . A vehicle comprising the control apparatus according to claim 2 .

7 . A vehicle comprising the control apparatus according to claim 3 .

8 . A vehicle comprising the control apparatus according to claim 4 .

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Miura Mitsuhiro
• Tomatsu Yoshiaki

Classifications

• E05F15/695 Primary

  Control circuits therefor · CPC title

• E05F15/40 Primary

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title

• E05F15/632

  for horizontally-sliding wings · CPC title

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05F15/73 Primary

  responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects · CPC title