Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method with rough road condition detection and compensation
AssigneeValeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
InventorJoseph P. Whinnery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered panel control apparatus and method using an electric motor with a rotatable armature. The control generates time periods for a predetermined amount of angular rotation of the motor armature during one complete rotation. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. A threshold for normal noise variations is adjusted upon detection of a rough road condition to compensate for the effect of rough road conditions on the powered panel control apparatus.
Claims14
A powered movable panel control apparatus for a panel movable between first and second positions by an electric motor having an armature comprising:
- means for detecting deceleration of the motor armature;
- timer means, responsive to the deceleration detecting means, for generating consecutive time periods for rotation of the armature over a predetermined angular extent during at least a portion of one complete revolution of the armature;
- means, responsive to the timer means, for calculating an average time period over the predetermined number of time periods;
- means, responsive to the average time period, for calculating the deceleration of the motor armature between two time spaced points on the armature rotation;
- means for comparing the deceleration with a threshold defining normal motor decelerations resulting from motor armature load variations;
- means responsive to a comparison exceeding armature load threshold for classifying the deceleration as a relative deceleration with respect to the threshold;
- means for assigning a weighted value based on the relative deceleration with respect to the threshold;
- means for accumulating successive weighted values as a total cumulative weighted value;
- means for comparing the total cumulative value to a defined obstacle detection weighted value;
- means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a panel reverse direction signal when the total cumulative weighted value exceeds the defined obstacle detection weighted value;
- means for detecting rough road conditions;
- and
- means, responsive to the rough road condition detection means, for adjusting the threshold when rough road conditions are detected.
A method for controlling panel movement by an electric motor controlled by a control, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting deceleration of an electric motor armature;
- calculating an average time period over a predetermined number of time periods;
- determining the deceleration of the motor between two selected time periods based on changes in the average time period;
- comparing the deceleration with a threshold defining an obstacle in the path of movement of the panel;
- upon detecting a deceleration greater than or equal to the threshold, generating a panel reverse direction signal to reverse the direction of movement of the panel;
- detecting a rough road condition;
- and
- upon detecting a rough road condition, adjusting the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.