Motor speed-based anti-pinch control apparatus and method

A powered movable panel control apparatus for a panel movable between first and second positions by an electric motor having an armature coupled to panel, magnet means coupled to the armature and having a plurality of poles, and a sensor detecting passage of each of the plurality of poles of the magnet means and generating an output signal for each pole passage, the control apparatus comprising:

• means for determining deceleration of the motor armature;
• means for classifying a degree of relative deceleration with respect to a threshold defining a potential obstacle in the path of movement of a panel driven by the motor;
• means for assigning a weighted value to the relative deceleration of the motor armature;
• means for accumulating successive weighted values as a total cumulative weight value;
• means for comparing the total cumulative weighted value with a total cumulative weight defining an obstacle in the path of movement of the panel;
• and
• means for generating a signal to reverse the direction of panel movement when the total cumulative weighted value equals or exceeds a total cumulative weight defining an obstacle present.

A method for controlling panel movement employing an electric motor controlled by a control, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining the deceleration of the 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;
• and
• upon detecting a deceleration greater than or equal to the threshold, generating a signal to reverse the direction of movement of the panel.