Door opening/closing apparatus

#This application is based on Japanese patent application no. 2010-182452, filed Aug. 17, 2010, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a door opening/closing apparatus that automatically opens and closes a door of a vehicle by an electric actuator.

#FIG. 1 is a conceptual side view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a door opening/closing apparatus that opens and closes a back door as a door opening/closing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a link member provided with an electric actuator of the door opening/closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an opening degree of the back door in a state where the back door shown in FIG. 1 is partially opened between its fully opened state and its fully closed state;

#Exemplary embodiments of a door opening/closing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a conceptual side view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a door opening/closing apparatus that opens and closes a back door as a door opening/closing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a link member provided with an electric actuator of the door opening/closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an opening degree of the back door in a state where the back door shown in FIG. 1 is partially opened between its fully opened state and its fully closed state.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the door opening/closing apparatus 1 is provided on one side of a vehicle body (a frame) B of the vehicle between the vehicle body B and a lift-gate type back door BD. The back door BD is supported on a rear portion of the vehicle body B such that the back door BD can open and close in a vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body B. The door opening/closing apparatus 1 automatically opens and closes the back door BD. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door opening/closing apparatus 1 includes link members 2 and 5 that are connected with each other through connection shaft 4, an opening degree detector 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a door opening/closing switch 14. The door opening/closing switch 14 is provided on an instrument panel of the vehicle body B or on a remote control key or the like, and a signal for instructing opening and closing operations of the back door BD is input through the door opening/closing switch 14. Both sides of the back door BD are supported by the vehicle body B through hinges Hj, and the back door BD is held in its closed state by a latch mechanism.