Method and system for controlling vehicle door position having reduced power supply current requirements
First Claim
1. A vehicle door drive system comprising:
- a motor for opening or closing a vehicle door mechanically coupled to said motor;
an inverter having an output coupled to said motor for supplying electric power to said motor;
a converter for boosting an input voltage supplied from a DC power source, said converter having an output coupled to an input of the inverter;
a drive controller for controlling operations of inverter converter and the converter in response to a door open/close command, and wherein said inverter returns power stored as kinetic energy of said vehicle door from the motor to the inverter input, and wherein said converter returns power from said input of said inverter to said DC power source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling vehicle door position having reduced power supply current requirements reduces the cost and weight of a vehicle and further reduces power consumption. The vehicle door control system includes an inverter for converting a DC power source to an AC voltage for driving the motor. The inverter is preceded by a boost converter that maintains a constant voltage at the inverter input, and a capacitor is provided between the converter and inverter for energy storage. Kinetic energy is returned from the door and mechanical portions of the motor through the inverter and stored on the capacitor, reducing the power required from the power source. Operation of the inverter and converter are controlled by timers and detection mechanisms that cease operation of the inverter and converter when the door is held in a fully closed or open position for a predetermined interval.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle door drive system comprising:
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a motor for opening or closing a vehicle door mechanically coupled to said motor;
an inverter having an output coupled to said motor for supplying electric power to said motor;
a converter for boosting an input voltage supplied from a DC power source, said converter having an output coupled to an input of the inverter;
a drive controller for controlling operations of inverter converter and the converter in response to a door open/close command, and wherein said inverter returns power stored as kinetic energy of said vehicle door from the motor to the inverter input, and wherein said converter returns power from said input of said inverter to said DC power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling the position of a vehicle door via control of an electric motor mechanically coupled to said vehicle door, said method comprising:
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boost converting an input DC voltage from a DC power source to a second DC voltage;
inverting said second DC voltage to provide an AC power source for said motor;
returning kinetic energy stored in said door to said DC power source, whereby power required to position said vehicle door is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle door drive system comprising:
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a motor for opening or closing a vehicle door mechanically coupled to said motor;
a three-phase inverter having an output coupled to said motor for supplying three-phase AC power to said motor;
a capacitor coupled to an input of said three-phase inverter for storing energy;
a reversible-current boost converter for boosting an input voltage supplied from a DC power source, said converter having an output coupled to said input of the inverter and said capacitor;
a drive controller for controlling operations of inverter converter and the converter in response to a door open/close command, and wherein said inverter returns power stored as kinetic energy of said vehicle door from the motor to the inverter input, and wherein said converter returns power from said input of said inverter to said DC power source;
a locking device for mechanically securing said door in a terminal position; and
a door terminal position detector for detecting when said door is secured in said terminal position and coupled to said drive controller, and wherein said drive controller further determines a position of said door and in response to determining that said door is in a terminal position, the operation of the reversible-current boost converter and said three-phase inverter is stopped.
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Specification