US 5,979,114 A · Electronic control and method for power sliding van door with rear-center-mounted drive

Abstract

A power drive system is adapted for a sliding door mounted on at least one side of a vehicle for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle. The system includes a reversible motor. A bracket is guided within a guide along a fixed path between the opened and closed positions of the door. An elongated drive member is slidably disposed within the guide and connected to the bracket at one end for driving the bracket along the fixed path. A translator mechanism operably engages with the drive member for powering movement of the door. The translator mechanism can include a rotatable hub, operably engageable with the drive member, a gear transmission for driving the hub, and a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to the transmission. The translator mechanism preferably has sufficient power to pull the sliding door into a primary latch position with respect to the corresponding portions of a latch mechanism attached to the door and frame defining the door opening. A power striker moves the door into and out of sealing engagement with the frame. A lock mechanism selectively maintains the latch in a locked position. At least one sensor provides an input signal to a control system corresponding to movement of the door, position of the lock mechanism, and position of the power striker for controlling the door drive unit, power striker drive unit, and lock mechanism drive unit in accordance with a program stored in memory.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for opening and closing a sliding door relative to a door frame of a vehicle having a centerline, the sliding door being of a type providing for automatic and manual manipulation of the door with respect to the door frame and requiring nonlinear movement of the door between an opened position and a closed position including longitudinal movement along a first portion of a fixed path substantially parallel to the door frame and transverse movement along a second portion of the fixed path into sealing engagement with the door frame, the apparatus comprising:

first means including a reversible electric motor mounted adjacent a midway position along a rear pillar of the door frame defining an opening for selectively driving the door in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction;
second means including a second electric motor mounted adjacent the midway position along the rear pillar of the door frame for selectively driving a striker between an inboard position and an outboard position with respect to the centerline of the vehicle;
and
control means responsive to at least one input signal for selectively actuating said first and second means in accordance with a control program stored in memory.

1 more element

A method for opening and closing a sliding door relative to a door frame of a vehicle having a centerline, the sliding door being of a type providing for automatic and manual manipulation of the door with respect to the door frame and requiring nonlinear movement of the door between an opened position and a closed position including longitudinal movement along a first portion of a fixed path substantially parallel to the door frame and transverse movement along a second portion of the fixed path into sealing engagement with the door frame, the method comprising the steps of:

selectively driving the door in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction with first means including a reversible electric motor mounted adjacent a midway position along a rear pillar of the door frame defining an opening;
selectively driving a striker between an inboard position and an outboard position with respect to the centerline of the vehicle with second means including a second electric motor mounted adjacent the midway position along the rear pillar of the door frame;
and
selectively actuating said first and second means in accordance with a control program stored in memory with control means responsive to at least one input signal.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic control and method for power sliding van door with rear-center-mounted drive

Life of this patent

Electronic control and method for power sliding van door with rear-center-mounted drive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22