Door-opening/closing device for use in vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9260901-B2
Application number	US-201214351896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2012
Priority date	Oct 25, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A door opening/closing device for use in a vehicle is provided with a driving member. The driving member has a permanent-magnet motor provided with two terminals and an output member, which is rotationally driven by the permanent-magnet motor. The driving member is mounted on either a vehicle body or a vehicle door and is coupled to the other via the output member. As the output member rotates, the vehicle door opens or closes. The door opening/closing device is also provided with a switching device configured to switch the permanent-magnet motor between an energizable state, in which the permanent-magnet motor can receive electricity through the two terminals, and a brake state, in which the terminals are short-circuited. The switching device switches the permanent-magnet motor into the brake state when the vehicle door is in any position other than the fully closed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle, comprising:
a driving member including a permanent magnet motor with two terminals and an output member rotationally driven by the permanent magnet motor, wherein the driving member is configured to be located on one of a vehicle body or a vehicle door and connected to the other one of the vehicle body or the vehicle door via the output member, so that the vehicle door is opened and closed in accordance with rotation of the output member; and
a switching unit configured to selectively switch the permanent magnet motor between an energizable state, in which the permanent magnet motor can receive electricity via the two terminals, and a brake state, in which the terminals are connected to each other so that the permanent magnet motor forms an electric closed-loop path and cannot receive electricity, wherein, when the vehicle door is at any operating position other than a fully closed position, the switching unit switches the permanent magnet motor into the brake state,
wherein the switching unit is configured to switch the permanent magnet motor into the brake state when the switching unit is energized, and maintain the permanent magnet motor in the energizable state when the switching unit is de-energized.

2. A door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle, comprising:
a driving member including a permanent magnet motor with two terminals and an output member rotationally driven by the permanent magnet motor, wherein the driving member is configured to be located on one of a vehicle body or a vehicle door and connected to the other one of the vehicle body or the vehicle door via the output member, so that the vehicle door is opened and closed in accordance with rotation of the output member;
a switching unit configured to selectively switch the permanent magnet motor between an energizable state, in which the permanent magnet motor can receive electricity via the two terminals, and a brake state, in which the terminals are connected to each other so that the permanent magnet motor forms an electric closed-loop path and cannot receive electricity, wherein, when the vehicle door is at any operating position other than a fully closed position, the switching unit switches the permanent magnet motor into the brake state; and
a processor configured to control a switching operation of the switching unit,
wherein the switching unit is configured to maintain the permanent magnet motor in the energizable state when the processor becomes unable to control the switching operation of the switching unit.

3. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a clutch located between the permanent magnet motor and the output member, wherein the clutch enables and disables transmission of rotation between the permanent magnet motor and the output member.

4. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the clutch is a mechanical clutch operated upon receipt of mechanical force.

5. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a speed reduction mechanism located between the permanent magnet motor and the output member, wherein the speed reduction mechanism reduces the speed of rotation of the permanent magnet motor and transmits the rotation to the output member.

6. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a clutch located between the permanent magnet motor and the output member, wherein the clutch enables and disables transmission of rotation between the permanent magnet motor and the output member.

7. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the clutch is a mechanical clutch operated upon receipt of mechanical force.

8. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a speed reduction mechanism located between the permanent magnet motor and the output member, wherein the speed reduction mechanism reduces the speed of rotation of the permanent magnet motor and transmits the rotation to the output member.

9. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle door is a slide door that moves in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle to open and close a door opening of the vehicle body.

10. The door opening and closing device for use in a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle door is a slide door that moves in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle to open and close a door opening of the vehicle body.

Assignees

• Ishida Toshihiko
• Otake Wataru
• Nishikibe Takeshi
• Aisin Seiki

Inventors

• Ishida Toshihiko
• Otake Wataru
• Nishikibe Takeshi

Classifications

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05Y2201/46

  Magnets · CPC title

• E05F15/632 Primary

  for horizontally-sliding wings · CPC title

• E05Y2201/434

  Electromotors; Details thereof · CPC title

• E05F15/60

  using electrical actuators · CPC title