Control system for an automotive vehicle multi-functional apparatus

An automotive vehicle control system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door, said automotive vehicle control system comprising:

• a rear window wiper shaft;
• an electromagnetic device drivably coupled to said rear window wiper shaft;
• an electronic control unit mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle, said electronic control unit being electrically connected to and selectively controlling energization of said eletromagnetic device, said electronic control unit being operable to function as a multiplexed rear node for the automotive vehicle;
• a plurality of devices mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle being operably controlled by said electronic control unit;
• a rotatable member selectively driven by said electromagnetic device, said wiper shaft being rotatable in response to selective rotation of said rotatable member;
• and
• feedback means for determining a rotated position of said rotatable member;
• a first intermittent motion mechanism selectively engagable with said rotatable member.

An automotive vehicle control system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door, said automotive vehicle control system comprising:

• a rear window wiper shaft;
• an electromagnetic device drivably coupled to said rear window wiper shaft;
• an electronic control unit mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle, said electronic control unit being electrically connected to and selectively controlling energization of said electromagnetic device, said electronic control unit being operable to function as a multiplexed rear node for the automotive vehicle;
• a plurality of devices mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle being operably controlled by said electronic control unit;
• a main gear rotatably driven by said electromagnetic device, said electromagnetic device being further defined to include a fractional horsepower electric motor;
• mechanical means for disengagably coupling said wiper shaft from said main gear;
• and
• circuit means for selectively reversing energization to said electric motor.

An automotive vehicle control system comprising:

• an electronic control unit;
• a fractional horsepower electric motor electrically connected to said electronic control unit, said motor further including a rotatable armature shaft;
• and
• said electronic control unit selectively energizing said motor to cause said armature shaft to move a first amount of rotations for actuating a first device coupled thereto, said electronic control unit selectively energizing said motor to move said armature shaft a second amount of rotations for actuating a second device coupled thereto.

An automotive vehicle control system comprising:

• a fractional horsepower, dc, electric motor;
• a main gear rotatably driven by said electric motor;
• circuit means for selectively reversing energization to said electric motor;
• an electronic control unit employing first software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear in a cyclical manner within a window wiping positional range;
• said electronic control unit further employing second software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear to a depressed wiper arm parking position;
• and
• said electronic control unit employing third software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear within a first lock positional range.

A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;
• (b) energizing an electric motor;
• (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor;
• (d) receiving a second multiplexed signal by said rear node electronic control unit from said main body electronic control unit;
• and
• (e) energizing an illumination device in response to step (d).

A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;
• (b) energizing an electric motor;
• (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor;
• and
• (d) determining if an ajar input signal is being received by said rear node electronic control unit.

A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;
• (b) energizing an electric motor;
• (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor;
• and
• (d) receiving a second multiplexed signal by said rear node electronic control unit from said main body electronic control unit;
• (e) energizing said motor in response to step (d);
• and
• (f) moving a lock coupling in response to step (e) but not in response to said receiving a first multiplexed signal step.

A method of operating an automotive vehicle control system employing a microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) checking for a liftgate ajar signal from a first switch indicating that a liftgate is ajar;
• (b) checking for a liftgate window ajar signal from a second switch indicating that a liftgate window is ajar;
• (c) allowing for energization of a fractional horsepower electric motor if either of said steps of (a) and (b) detect said ajar signals;
• (d) moving a portion of said motor to a window wiper park position in response to step (c);
• (e) checking for a lock movement input signal from a switch indicating that movement of a lock is desired;
• (f) allowing for energization of said motor if said checking step of (e) detects said lock movement input signal;
• and
• (g) moving said portion of said motor to a lock movement position in response to step (f).

A method of operating an automotive vehicle control system comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining if a lock movement input signal has been received;
• (b) energizing an electric motor if said determining step of (a) detects said lock movement input signal;
• (c) unlocking a lock mechanism in response to step (b);
• (d) determining if a window wiper actuation input signal has been received;
• (e) energizing said motor if said determining step of (d) detects said wiper actuation input signal;
• and
• (f) moving a window wiper shaft throughout a wiping positional range in response to step (e).