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

• US 20010022049A1
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry Charles Jr. Buchanan, James A. Jackson Jr, Marian E. Clark
• Original Assignee: Harry Charles Jr. Buchanan, James A. Jackson Jr, Marian E. Clark
• Inventors: Buchanan, Harry Charles Jr., Jackson, James A. Jr., Clark, Marian E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/360
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/22 by movement of the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2015/1055 with slanted or curved track sections or cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/638 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3016 Overriding existing wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/336 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/458 in or on a transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/02 actuated entirely mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/16 with clutching members having interengaging parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/18 with friction clutching members
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/24 controlled by acceleration or deceleration of angular speed

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling movement comprising:

a moveable member for movement along a fixed path of travel between first and second end limits of movement;

first means including a reversible electric motor for selectively driving the moveable member in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction along the fixed path of travel;

at least one sensor disposed between the first means and the moveable member for generating at least one input signal corresponding to motion of the moveable member along the fixed path of travel; and

control means responsive to said at least one input signal for selectively actuating said first means in accordance with a control program.

2. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

said at least one sensor positioned with respect to the moveable member for generating said at least one input signal, said at least one input signal including a position input signal to the control means representative of a first end limit of movement position and a second end limit of movement position of the moveable member.

3. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

a control signal generator for generating said at least one input signal, said at least one input signal including an operator input signal to the control means in response to operator input.

4. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

said at least one sensor for generating said at least one input signal, said at least one input signal including an actual position input signal to the control means representative of an actual position of the moveable member along a fixed path of travel between a first end limit of movement position and a second end limit of movement position.

5. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

second means including a second electric motor for selectively driving a member-engaging part between a first position to engage the moveable member with a frame and a second position where the moveable member is disengaged with respect to the frame; and

said at least one sensor positioned with respect to the second means for generating said at least one input signal, said at least one input signal including an engaged-disengaged input signal to the control means representative of the first position and the second position of the member-engaging part.

6. The apparatus of

claim 5

further comprising:

said at least one sensor positioned with respect to the frame and the moveable member for generating said at least one input signal, said at least one input signal including an ajar input signal to the control means representative of a moveable member ajar condition.

7. The apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the control means further comprises:

a central processing unit for receiving said at least one input signal and for generating at least one output signal in accordance with the control program.

8. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

a clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable closure;

a motion sensor mounted to a portion of the clutch for sensing movement of the clutch when the moveable member moves along the fixed path; and

the control means including means for controlling a speed of the moveable member while moving between a first position and a second position along the fixed path in response to said motion sensor mounted to the portion of the clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member.

9. The apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising:

a clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member;

a motion sensor mounted to a portion of the clutch for sensing movement of the clutch when the moveable member moves along the fixed path; and

the control means including means for detecting an obstruction along the fixed path of the moveable member while the moveable member is moving between a first position and a second position in response to said motion sensor connected to the portion of the clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member.

10. An apparatus for controlling movement comprising:

a moveable member for movement along a fixed path of travel between a first end limit of movement and a second end limit of movement;

a reversible translator for selectively driving the moveable member in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction along the fixed path of travel;

at least one sensor disposed between the translator and the moveable member for generating at least one input signal corresponding to motion of the moveable member along the fixed path of travel; and

a programmable controller responsive to said at least one input signal for selectively regulating speed of the translator in accordance with a control program.

11. The apparatus of

claim 10

further comprising:

said translator including a reversible electric motor;

a clutch disposed between said motor and said moveable member;

said at least one sensor including a motion sensor operably positioned with respect to said clutch for sensing movement of the clutch in response to movement of the moveable member; and

means for detecting an obstruction along a fixed path of the moveable member while the moveable member is moving between the first and second end limits of movement in response to said motion sensor operably positioned with respect to the clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member.

12. The apparatus of

claim 10

further comprising:

a striker movable between a first position and a second position, the striker operably engagable with the moveable member when the moveable member is in proximity with the first end limit of movement along the fixed path;

a second translator for selectively driving the striker between the first position to engage the moveable member with a frame and the second position where the moveable member is disengaged with respect to the frame; and

said at least one sensor including a position sensor disposed with respect to the second translator for generating at least one input position signal, said at least one input position signal including an engaged-disengaged input signal to the controller representative of the first position and the second position.

13. The apparatus of

claim 12

further comprising:

the position sensor disposed with respect to the frame and the moveable member for generating said at least one input position signal, said at least one input position signal including an ajar input signal to the controller representative of a moveable member ajar condition.

14. An apparatus for controlling movement comprising:

a moveable closure for movement along a fixed non-linear path of travel between first and second end limits of movement to open and close a portal through a barrier;

a reversible electric motor for selectively driving the moveable closure in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction along the fixed path of travel;

at least one sensor disposed between the motor and the moveable closure for generating at least one input signal corresponding to motion of the moveable closure along the fixed path of travel; and

control means, responsive to said at least one input signal, for selectively actuating said motor in accordance with a control program.

15. The apparatus of

claim 14

further comprising:

a clutch disposed between the motor and the moveable closure;

a motion sensor mounted to a portion of the clutch for sensing movement of the clutch when the moveable closure moves along the fixed path; and

the control means including means for controlling a speed of the moveable closure while moving between the first end limit of movement and the second end limit of movement in response to said motion sensor mounted to the portion of the clutch disposed between the motor and the moveable closure.

16. The apparatus of

claim 14

further comprising:

a clutch disposed between the motor and the moveable closure;

a obstruction sensor mounted to a portion of the clutch for sensing movement of the clutch when the moveable closure moves along the fixed path; and

the control means including means for detecting an obstruction along the fixed path of the moveable closure while the moveable closure is moving between the first end limit of movement and the second end limit of movement in response to said obstruction sensor connected to the portion of the clutch disposed between the motor and the moveable closure.

17. The apparatus of

claim 14

further comprising:

said at least one sensor including a current sensor for sensing an amount of current supplied to the motor and for generating a sensed current signal; and

means for controlling speed of the moveable closure between a predetermined minimum speed and a predetermined maximum speed while moving between the first and second end limits of movement along the fixed path in response to the sensed current signal from the current sensor.

18. The apparatus of

claim 14

further comprising:

said at least one sensor including a current sensor for sensing an amount of current supplied to the motor and for generating a sensed current signal; and

means for detecting an obstruction in response to the sensed current signal from the current sensor.

19. The apparatus of

claim 14

further comprising:

said at least one sensor including a position sensor for sensing a parameter corresponding to an actual position of the moveable closure anywhere along the fixed path and for generating an input signal to the control means representative of an actual position of the moveable closure along the fixed path as the moveable closure is moved between the first and second end limits of movement.

20. A method for controlling movement of a moveable member, the method comprising the steps of:

selectively driving the moveable member in a first direction and in a second direction opposite from the first direction with first means including a reversible electric motor;

generating at least one input signal corresponding to motion of the moveable member along the fixed path of travel with at least one sensor positioned between the first means and the moveable member; and

selectively actuating said first means with control means responsive to at least one input signal in accordance with a control program.

21. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of:

generating said input signal with at least one sensor positioned with respect to the moveable member, said input signal including an input signal to the control means representative of a first position and a second position of the moveable member.

22. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of:

generating said input signal with a control signal generator, said input signal including an input signal to the control means in response to operator input.

23. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of:

generating said input signal with at least one sensor positioned between the moveable member and the first means, said input signal including an input signal to the control means representative of movement of the moveable member along a fixed path of travel.

24. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of:

generating said input signal with at least one sensor, said input signal including an input signal to the control means representative of an actual position of the moveable member along a fixed path of travel between a first position and a second position.

25. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of:

selectively driving a member-engaging member between a first position to engage the moveable member with a frame and a second position where the moveable member is disengaged with respect to the frame with second means including a second electric motor; and

generating said input signal with at least one sensor positioned with respect to the second means, said input signal including an input signal to the control means representative of the first position and the second position.

26. The method of

claim 25

further comprising the step of:

generating said input signal with at least one sensor positioned with respect to the frame and the moveable member, said input signal including an input signal to the control means representative of a moveable member ajar condition.

27. The method of

claim 20

wherein the control means further comprises the steps of:

receiving said at least one input signal with a central processing unit; and

generating at least one output signal in accordance with the control program stored in memory.

28. The method of

claim 20

wherein the control means further comprises the step of:

controlling a speed of the moveable member while moving between a first position and a second position in response to said input signal from the first means, wherein the first means includes a sensor mounted to a portion of a clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member.

29. The method of

claim 20

wherein the control means further comprises the step of:

detecting an obstruction along a fixed path of the moveable member while the moveable member is moving between an first position and a second position in response to said input signal from the first means, wherein the first means includes a sensor connected to a portion of a clutch disposed between the reversible electric motor and the moveable member.