Automotive door power assist
First Claim
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1. An automated door system, comprising:
- a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body by at least one hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a fixed hinge portion; and
a power assist device coupled to the door and having a driveshaft and a motor, wherein the driveshaft is coupled to the fixed hinge portion, and wherein the motor drives the driveshaft to provide pivotal movement of the door along a hinge axis of the hinge assembly, further wherein the fixed hinge portion of the hinge assembly includes upper and lower mounting portions spaced-apart from one another, and further wherein the driveshaft is coupled to the lower mounting portion of the fixed hinge portion.
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Abstract
An automated door system includes a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge axis defined by at least one hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the hinge assembly and further coupled to the door. The power assist device is configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity, thereby providing a slow and controlled close when a user attempts to slam the door. The power assist device is further configured to power opening and closing movement of the door as initiated by a user.
111 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automated door system, comprising:
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a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body by at least one hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a fixed hinge portion; and a power assist device coupled to the door and having a driveshaft and a motor, wherein the driveshaft is coupled to the fixed hinge portion, and wherein the motor drives the driveshaft to provide pivotal movement of the door along a hinge axis of the hinge assembly, further wherein the fixed hinge portion of the hinge assembly includes upper and lower mounting portions spaced-apart from one another, and further wherein the driveshaft is coupled to the lower mounting portion of the fixed hinge portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automated door system, comprising:
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a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body along a hinge axis defined by a hinge assembly, wherein the fixed hinge portion of the hinge assembly includes upper and lower mounting portions spaced-apart from one another; and a power assist device coupled to the door and having a driveshaft coupled to the lower mounting portion of the fixed hinge portion of the hinge assembly, the power assist device configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial closing velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial closing velocity exceeds a threshold velocity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification