Method and apparatus of active dampening a powered closure system
AssigneeStrattec Power Access LLC
InventorsJohn Sohn, Gary Bree, Paul Crociata
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator for moving a closure between an open and a closed position. The actuator having a first mode, where the closure is free to move with respect to a closure frame, and a second mode where the actuator resists movement between the closure and the closure frame.
Claims18
An actuator extending between a closure and a closure frame, where the actuator is operable to move the closure between an open and a closed position, the actuator comprising:
- a base member couplable to one of the closure and the closure frame;
- and
- a drive member coupled to and moveable with respect to the base member and couplable to the other of the closure and the closure frame,
- wherein the actuator is operable in a first mode, where the actuator moves the closure between the open and closed positions, a second mode, where the actuator provides a first, non-zero, level of resistance to movement between the closure and the closure frame, and a third mode, where the actuator provides a second, non-zero, level of resistance, different from the first level of resistance, to movement of the closure with respect to the closure frame.
An actuator extending between a closure and a closure frame of a motor vehicle, the actuator comprising:
- a base member couplable to one of the closure and the closure frame;
- and
- a drive member coupled to and moveable with respect to the base member and couplable to the other of the closure and the closure frame,
- wherein the actuator is operable in a first mode, where the actuator displaces the drive member with respect to the base member, a second mode, where the drive member is free to move with respect to the base member, and a third mode, where the actuator resists motion between the drive member and the base member.
A method of dampening the movement of a closure with respect to a closure frame, the closure being moveable with respect to the closure frame between an open and a closed position, the method comprising:
- providing an actuator extending between the closure and the closure frame;
- providing a sensor operable to detect the relative position of the closure with respect to the closure frame;
- recording successive readings of the closure position;
- calculating the direction and speed of the closure from the successive readings of the closure position;
- comparing the closure speed to a target speed;
- comparing the closure position to a target range of closure positions;
- switching the actuator from a first mode, where the closure is free to move with respect to the closure frame, to a second mode, where the actuator resists motion between the closure and the closure frame based at least in part upon the closure speed and the direction of the closure, and the closure position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.