Priority driven power side door open/close operations

• US 10,227,810 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Linden, H. Paul Tsvi, Eddy, III, John, Radjewski, Christopher Matthew, Hicks, Spencer, Ricks, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/227,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 49276, 49277, 49364, 49 28, 49275
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/08 arranged at vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/047 characterised by the opening or closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/043 Door edge guards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/75 responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows

Abstract

A vehicle door system includes a frameless door glass system, a powered latch, electrically-powered door presenter, powered door opening mechanism, and a powered door protector including a protective member that is movably mounted to the door structure. A controller selectively actuates the frameless door glass system, powered latch, powered door presenter, powered door opening mechanism, and powered door protector according to predefined criteria to coordinate the powered door functions and provide seamless powered operation.

Claims

1. A vehicle door system, comprising:

a door structure that is movable between a closed position and a fully open position;

a frameless door glass system including a first electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to move a glass window between open and closed positions;

a powered latch including a second electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to unlatch the powered latch;

a powered door presenter having a third electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to extend a push member to shift the door structure from the closed position to a partially opened position that is between the closed position and the fully open position;

a powered door opening mechanism having a fourth electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to shift the door structure to a fully open position from the partially open position;

a powered door protector including a protective member that is movably mounted to the door structure, and a fifth electrically powered actuator that can be actuated to shift the protective member from a retracted position to a deployed position relative to the door structure upon opening the door structure to thereby protect at least a portion of the door; and

;

a controller operably connected to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth electrically-powered actuators, wherein the controller is configured to;

actuate the first electrically-powered actuator to shift the glass window away from the closed position when a door release request is received by the controller;

actuate the second electrically-powered actuator to unlatch the powered latch;

actuate the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the door structure from the closed position to the partially open position after actuating the first and second electrically-powered actuators;

actuate the fourth electrically-powered actuator after actuating the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the door structure from the partially open position to the fully open position; and

actuate the fifth electrically-powered actuator after actuating the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the protective member from the retracted position to the deployed position.

2. The vehicle door system of claim 1, including:

a powered door cinching mechanism including a sixth electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to shift the door structure to a fully closed position from a partially closed position that is between the closed portion and the fully open position.

3. The vehicle door system of claim 1, wherein:

the powered latch defines a locked state such that the powered latch does not unlatch if a when a door release request is received by the controller when the powered latch is in a locked state; and

the controller is configured to lock the powered latch when the controller receives a buckled signal indicating that seat belts have been buckled and also receives a fully closed signal indicating that the door structure is in a fully closed position.

4. The vehicle door system of claim 1, including:

a vehicle seat including a sensor that generates a light weight signal indicating that a seat of the vehicle is occupied by a light weight occupant having a weight below a predefined maximum, and generating a heavier weight signal indicating that a seat of the vehicle is occupied by a heavier weight occupant having a weight above the predefined maximum; and

wherein

when a light weight signal is received by the controller, the controller does not actuate the second electrically powered actuator unless at least two unlatch requests are received within a predefined time period and the vehicle is traveling at below a predefined speed.

5. The vehicle door system of claim 4, wherein:

when the controller receives a heavier weight signal and a single unlatch request, the controller actuates the second electrically powered actuator only when the vehicle is traveling below the predefined speed.

6. The vehicle door system of claim 4, wherein:

when the controller receives a heavier weight signal and two unlatch requests within the predefined time period the controller actuates the second electrically powered actuator even when the vehicle is traveling above the predefined speed.

7. The vehicle door system of claim 4, wherein:

the predefined time period is three seconds, and the predefined speed is three kph.

8. The vehicle door system of claim 4, wherein:

the predefined maximum weight is in the range of 40-80 lbs.

9. The vehicle door system of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to actuate the third electrically-powered actuator to initially move the door structure, and the controller is configured to actuate the forth electrically-powered actuator while the door structure is moving due to actuation of the third electrically-powered actuator such that the door moves continuously from the closed position to the fully open position.

10. The vehicle door system of claim 1, including:

a sensor configured to determine when a user is in the path of the door when the door is open; and

wherein the controller does not actuate the fourth electrically-powered actuator to close the door structure when a user is in the path of the door.

11. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to actuate the first electrically-powered actuator to move the glass window away from the closed position when the fourth electrically-powered actuator is actuated to close the door structure.

12. The vehicle door of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to actuate the third electrically-powered actuator to retract the push member when the fourth electrically-powered actuator is actuated to close the door structure.

13. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the powered door opening mechanism comprises a powered door check that selectively retains the door structure at one or more check positions between the closed and fully open positions.

14. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a smartphone, and wherein the smartphone is programmed to generate control inputs to the controller requesting actuation of at least one of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth electrically-powered actuators.

15. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the door structure defines an outer edge, and wherein the protective member comprises a movable edge protector that shifts outwardly away from the outer edge upon actuation of the fifth electrically-powered actuator.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a body structure having a door opening;

a door structure that is movable between a closed position closing off the door opening, and a fully open position;

a frameless door glass system including a first electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to move a glass window between open and closed positions;

a powered latch including a second electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to unlatch the powered latch;

a powered door presenter having a third electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to extend a push member to shift the door structure from the closed position to a partially opened position that is between the closed position and the fully open position; and

a controller disposed in the door and operably connected to the first, second, and third electrically-powered actuators, wherein the controller is configured to;

actuate the first electrically-powered actuator to shift the glass window away from the closed position when a door release request is received by the controller;

actuate the second electrically-powered actuator to unlatch the powered latch; and

actuate the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the door structure from the closed position to the partially open position after actuating the first and second electrically-powered actuators.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, including:

a powered door opening mechanism having a fourth electrically-powered actuator that can be actuated to shift the door structure to a fully open position from the partially open position; and

wherein;

the controller actuates the fourth electrically-powered actuator after actuating the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the door structure from the partially open position to the fully open position.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, including:

a powered door protector including a protective member that is movably mounted to the door structure, and a fifth electrically powered actuator that can be actuated to shift the protective member from a retracted position to a deployed position relative to the door structure upon opening the door structure to thereby protect at least a portion of the door; and

wherein;

the controller actuates the fifth electrically-powered actuator after actuating the third electrically-powered actuator to shift the protective member from the retracted position to the deployed position.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a movable door including;

a powered frameless door glass system;

a powered latch;

a powered door presenter;

a powered door opening mechanism;

a powered door protector; and

a controller configured to actuate, in chronological order, the frameless door glass system to disengage a window from an edge of a door opening in the body, the latch, the door presenter, the door opening mechanism, and the door protector.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:

the powered frameless door glass system, the powered latch, the powered door presenter, the powered door opening mechanism, and the powered door protector each include electrically-powered actuators that are actuated by the controller.