Apparatus and method for protecting vehicle door systems from back electromotive force (EMF) voltage
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsJames Jang, Kyle Lobo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for protecting a door system from damage by a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage generated when a door coupled to a door actuator is manually closed. The door system may include a driver configured to drive the door actuator to move the door, and a back EMF protection circuit. The back EMF protection circuit detects a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved, and determines whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold. In response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, the back EMF protection circuit causes the driver to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a first driver configured to drive a door actuator to open a door;
- a second driver configured to drive the door actuator to close the door;
- a door controller configured to:
- cause the first driver to open the door, and
- cause the second driver to close the door;
- and
- a back electromotive force (EMF) protection circuit configured to:
- while the door controller is not enabled:
- detect a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved;
- determine whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold;
- and
- in response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, transition an inhibit (INH) pin of each of the first driver and second driver to cause each of the first and second drivers to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.
A method comprising:
- while a door controller, configured to cause a first driver to open a vehicle door and configured to cause a second driver to close the vehicle door, is not enabled:
- detecting, by a back electromotive force (EMF) protection circuit, a back EMF voltage generated by movement of a door actuator, wherein the door actuator is coupled to the vehicle door;
- determining whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold;
- and
- in response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, transitioning an inhibit (INH) pin of each of the first driver and the second driver, each associated with the door actuator, causing a transition of each of the first and second drivers from a disabled state to an enabled state, wherein the enabled state of each of the first and second drivers causes the back EMF voltage to short to ground.
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body comprising an enclosure;
- a door coupled to the vehicle body and configured to provide access to the enclosure;
- a first driver configured to drive a door actuator to open the door;
- a second driver configured to drive the door actuator to close the door;
- a door controller configured to:
- cause the first driver to open the door, and
- cause the second driver to close the door;
- and
- a back electromotive force (EMF) protection circuit configured to:
- while the door controller is not enabled:
- detect a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved;
- determine whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold;
- and
- in response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, transition an inhibit (INH) pin of each of the first driver and second driver to cause each of the first and second drivers to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.