Systems and methods for regulating electrical adjusting mechanisms in motor vehicles

• US 20070145921A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Baur, Richard, Urbahn, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/293
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash

Abstract

Driver-related electrical adjusting components in motor vehicles are regulated. An operator signal is generated based on a user actuating operator elements, to affect a desired movement of a vehicle component. The operator signal is processed in a control unit. An effect of the operator signal on movement of the vehicle component is regulated as a function of vehicle operating state signals so as to prevent the vehicle component from moving into a safety-critical position.

Claims

1. A method for regulating a driver-related electrical adjusting mechanism in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving an operator signal that is generated based on a user actuating an operating element of the adjusting mechanism to affect movement of a vehicle component; and

processing the operator signal in a control unit, wherein an effect of the operator signal on movement of the vehicle component is regulated as a function of vehicle operating state signals so as to prevent the vehicle component from moving into a safety-critical position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises:

allowing a movement of the vehicle component that is perceptible to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises:

regulating the effect of the operator signal on movement of the vehicle component as a function of the vehicle state signals and occupant parameters so as to maintain a function of passive safety devices of the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein movement of the vehicle component is carried out within a defined time interval after a beginning of an actuation of the operating element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the time interval is decreased in accordance with a monotonic correlation, as vehicle speed increases.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a speed of the vehicle component movement is limited.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a maximum movement speed of the vehicle component is decreased in accordance with a monotonic correlation, as vehicle speed increases.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises:

limiting an amount of movement of the vehicle component to a reduced value range that is less than or equal to a mechanically possible value range.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reduced value range includes a position of the vehicle component at an initialization time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the initialization time includes at least one of:

a time at which a battery voltage is applied to a vehicle terminal;

a time at which a motor of the motor vehicle starts;

a time at which a relative or absolute vehicle speed threshold is exceeded;

a time at which a relative or absolute vehicle speed threshold is not reached; and

a time at which a time interval expires.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the value range is decreased in accordance with a monotonic correlation, as vehicle speed increases.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing feedback to the user as a reaction to an actuation of the operator elements.

13. A control system in a motor vehicle, the control system comprising:

an input for receiving an operator signal, wherein the operator signal is generated based on a user actuating an operator element of an adjusting mechanism to affect a desired movement of a vehicle component; and

a processing module for regulating behavior of the adjusting mechanism so as to prevent the desired movement when a vehicle state signal indicates that the desired movement is safety-critical.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module allows a movement of the vehicle component that is perceptible to the user.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module regulates an effect of the operator signal on movement of the vehicle component as a function of the vehicle state signal and occupant parameters so as to maintain a function of passive safety devices of the motor vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module allows movement of the vehicle component within a defined time interval after a beginning of an actuation of the operating element.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module limits a speed of the vehicle component movement.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module limits an amount of movement of the vehicle component to a reduced value range that is less than or equal to a mechanically possible value range.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing module provides feedback to the user as a reaction to an actuation of the operator elements.

20. A system in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an electrical adjusting mechanism for adjusting a vehicle component, the electrical adjusting mechanism including an operator element; and

a control unit, comprising;

an input for receiving a signal that is generated based on a user actuating the operator element to affect a desired movement of the vehicle component; and

logic for regulating behavior of the adjusting mechanism so as to prevent the desired movement when a vehicle state signal indicates that the desired movement is safety-critical.

21. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system on a motor vehicle to perform a method, the system having a processor for executing the instructions, the method comprising:

receiving an operator signal that is generated based on a user actuating an input element to affect a desired movement of a vehicle component; and

regulating movement of the vehicle component so as to prevent the desired movement when a vehicle state signal indicates that the desired movement is safety-critical.