# US 2019/0169914 A1 · Vehicle system with self-adjusting variable speed closure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169914 A1 - Document ID: US20190169914A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/833,664 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Greg Conner; Donald E. Walsh, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169914A1 ## CPC - E05F 15/70: with automatic actuation - B60J 5/101: {for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans} - E05B 77/54: Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold (triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12) - E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) - E05B 83/18: for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments - E05B 83/16: Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets - E05B 85/045: {for bifurcated bolts} - E05B 85/243: {with a bifurcated bolt} - E05F 15/40: Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions - E05F 15/611: for swinging wings - E05Y 2201/22: Locks - E05Y 2201/434: Electromotors; Details thereof - E05Y 2400/20: of brakes, disengaging means, holders or stops - E05Y 2400/36: Speed control, detection or monitoring - E05Y 2900/532: Back doors or end doors - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A vehicle system includes a closure panel, one or more panel actuators operable to move the closure panel during opening and closing and to move the closure panel at a closing speed during closing, a latch operable to lock the closure panel, and a controller electrically connected with the panel actuator. The controller is configured to selectively adjust the closing speed of the panel actuator(s) on the next closing, based on past opening and closing of the closure panel. Loss of speed and higher current draws are equated to mechanical interferences in the closing and opening of the closure panel. The speed, voltages, dynamic braking, target speed, and obstacle thresholds can be adjusted in way that facilitates closing the closure panel without the need for servicing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle system comprising: a closure panel; at least one panel actuator operable to move the closure panel during opening and closing, and to move the closure panel at a closing speed during closing; a latch operable to lock the closure panel; and a controller electrically connected with the panel actuator, the controller configured to selectively adjust the closing speed of the next closing based on past opening and closing of the closure panel. ### Claim 2 The vehicle system as recited in clam 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the closing speed of the next closing based on opening and closing forces of past opening and closing events of the closure panel. ### Claim 3 The vehicle system as recited in clam 2, wherein the opening and closing forces are represented by current draw of the panel actuator, and the controller is configured to adjust the closing speed of the next closing when the current draw of the past opening is greater than the current draw of the past closing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle system as recited in claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the closing speed of the next closing based on the current draw of the past opening plus a predetermined percentage of the current draw, or applied voltage, of the past opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch further comprises a latch actuator electrically connected with the controller and operable to move the latch during latching and unlatching, and to move the latch at a latching ratchet speed during the latching, and the controller is configured to selectively adjust the latching ratchet speed of the next latching based on past latching and unlatching of the latch. ### Claim 6 The vehicle system as recited in clam 5, wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the latch ratchet speed of the next latching based on latching and unlatching forces of past latching and unlatching of the latch. ### Claim 7 The vehicle system as recited in clam 6, wherein the latching and unlatching forces are represented by current draw of the latch actuator, and the controller is configured to adjust the latching ratchet speed of the next latching by adjusting voltage when the current draw of the past unlatching is greater than the current draw of the past latching. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle system as recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the latching ratchet speed of the next latching by adjusting voltage based on the current draw of the past unlatching plus a pre-calculated amount of the voltage of the past unlatching. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is additionally configured to adjust an obstacle threshold in response to adjusting the closing speed, by adjusting voltage and current draw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is additionally configured to adjust a dynamic braking of the closure panel in response to adjusting the closing speed, by adjusting voltage and current draw. ### Claim 11 A vehicle system comprising: a controller configured to selectively adjust a closing speed of a next closing of a closure panel of a vehicle based on opening and closing forces of past opening and closing of the closure panel. ### Claim 12 The vehicle system as recited in clam 11, wherein the opening and closing forces are represented by current draw of a panel actuator, and the controller is configured to adjust the closing speed of the next closing by adjusting voltage when the current draw of the past opening is greater than the current draw of the past closing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle system as recited in claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the closing speed of the next closing by adjusting voltage based on the current draw of the past opening plus a pre-calculated amount of the voltage or current draw of the past opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle system as recited in claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust a latching speed of a next latching event of a latch that is operable to lock the closure panel based on latching and unlatching forces of past latching and unlatching of the latch. ### Claim 15 The vehicle system as recited in clam 14, wherein the latching and unlatching forces are represented by current draw of a latch actuator, and the controller is configured to adjust the latching speed of the next latching when the current draw of the past unlatching is greater than the current draw of the past latching. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle system as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the latching speed of the next latching by adjusting voltage based on the current draw of the past unlatching plus a pre-calculated amount of the voltage of the past unlatching. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, wherein the controller is additionally configured to adjust an obstacle threshold in response to adjusting the closing speed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle system as recited in claim 17, wherein the controller is additionally configured to adjust a dynamic braking of the closure panel in response to adjusting the closing speed. ### Claim 19 A vehicle system comprising: a liftgate; a liftgate actuator operable to move the liftgate during opening and closing, and to move the liftgate at a closing speed during the closing; a latch operable to lock the liftgate, the latch including a latch actuator operable to move the latch during latching and unlatching events, and to move the latch at a latching ratchet speed during the latching; and a controller electrically connected with the liftgate actuator and the latch actuator, the controller configured to: selectively adjust the closing speed of the next closing based on opening and closing forces of past opening and closing of the liftgate, and selectively adjust the latching ratchet speed of the next latching based on latching and unlatching forces of past latching and unlatching of the latch.