Power door tip to close
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsThiago Laserra Lima, Sitaram Emani, Carlos S. Jabbour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered door system for a vehicle includes a system controller that is adapted to detect when an operator initiates closing of a door that is being maintained in an open position, a motor in communication with the system controller and adapted to move the door from the open position to a closed position, the system controller further adapted to, upon detection that an operator has initiated closing of the door, maintain a powered closing speed of the door from the open position to a pinch point, slow the closing speed of the door when the door reaches the pinch point, and allow the door to freely move to a closed position.
Claims20
A method of controlling a powered door closing in a vehicle, comprising:
- maintaining a door of a vehicle in an open position;
- detecting, with a controller, initiation of closing of the door by an operator;
- maintaining, with the controller, a powered closing speed of the door from the open position to a pinch point, including:
- monitoring, with the controller via communication with an accelerometer, an acceleration of the door;
- monitoring, with the controller via communication with a hall sensor, a position of the door;
- calculating, based on feedback from the accelerometer and the hall sensor a closing speed at which the operator is moving the door from the open position toward the closed position;
- actuating, with the controller, a motor adapted to move the door from the open position to the closed position;
- moving, with the motor, the door from the open position to the closed position at the calculated closing speed;
- continuously updating the calculated closing speed throughout movement of the door from the open position to the closed position;
- and
- stopping, with the controller, powered movement of the door with the motor when the controller, via feedback from the accelerometer, detects that the door has hit an obstacle between the open position and the pinch point;
- slowing the closing speed of the door when the door reaches the pinch point;
- and
- allowing the door to freely move to a closed position.
A powered door system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a controller that is adapted to detect when an operator initiates closing of a door that is being maintained in an open position;
- a motor in communication with the controller and adapted to move the door from the open position to a closed position;
- the controller further adapted to, upon detection that an operator has initiated closing of the door:
- maintain a powered closing speed of the door from the open position to a pinch point, wherein the controller is further configured to:
- calculate, based on feedback from an accelerometer and a hall sensor in communication with the controller, a closing speed at which the operator is moving the door from the open position toward the closed position;
- actuate the motor to move the door from the open position to the closed position;
- move, with the motor, the door from the open position to the closed position at the calculated closing speed;
- continuously update the calculated closing speed throughout movement of the door from the open position to the pinch point;
- and
- stop powered movement of the door with the motor when the controller, via feedback from the accelerometer, detects that the door has hit an obstacle between the open position and the pinch point;
- slow the closing speed of the door when the door reaches the pinch point;
- and
- allow the door to freely move to a closed position.
A vehicle including a powered door system, the powered door system comprising:
- a controller that is adapted to one of:
- detect when an operator initiates closing of a door that is being maintained in an open position by:
- monitoring acceleration of the door with an accelerometer;
- monitoring a position of the door with a hall sensor;
- and
- determining that closing of the door has been initiated based on feedback from the accelerometer and the hall sensor that a pre-determined holding force of a passive holding mechanism has been overcome and the door has moved from the open position;
- or
- detect when an operator initiates closing of a door that is being maintained in an open position by:
- monitoring, via communication with a torque sensor, a force applied by an operator to move the door from the open position toward the closed position;
- determining that closing of the door has been initiated based on feedback, from the torque sensor, that a pre-determined holding force has been overcome;
- and
- deactivating a braking mechanism adapted to actively hold the door in the open position;
- a motor in communication with the controller and adapted to move the door from the open position to a closed position;
- the controller further adapted to, upon detection that an operator has initiated closing of the door:
- calculate, based on feedback from the accelerometer and the hall sensor, a closing speed at which the operator is moving the door from the open position toward the closed position;
- actuate the motor to move the door from the open position to the closed position;
- move, with the motor, the door from the open position to the closed position at the calculated closing speed;
- continuously update the calculated closing speed throughout movement of the door from the open position to the closed position;
- stop powered movement of the door with the motor when the controller, via feedback from the accelerometer, detects that the door has hit an obstacle between the open position and the closed position;
- slow the closing speed of the door when the door reaches a pinch point;
- and
- determine, based on feedback from the hall sensor, when the door reaches a pinch point;
- and
- at least one of:
- brake movement of the door to slow the closing speed of the door by reversing the motor;
- and
- brake movement of the door to slow the closing speed of the door by actuating a braking mechanism;
- detect, via communication with the hall sensor, when the door reaches a closing position;
- and
- when the door reaches the closing position, deactivate the braking of the door and allow the door to freely move to a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.