DOOR AND RAMP INTERFACE SYSTEM

• US 20080044268A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun Corporation
• Original Assignee: Braun Corporation
• Inventors: Heigl, Keith D., Gilmore, Justin C., Henseleit, Andrew L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/462
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/43 using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle loading ramps per se B65G69/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/4471 General means for controlling movements of the loading platform, e.g. hydraulic systems

Abstract

An access system for a vehicle includes a gateway module that connects to the vehicle data bus, and an interface system coupled to the gateway module via a gateway bus. The interface system is also coupled to a ramp control subsystem that operates to stow and deploy a ramp for providing wheelchair access to the vehicle. A door control subsystem is coupled to the vehicle data bus and operates in response to data signals sent over the vehicle data bus. The gateway module is configured to relay signals relating to the status of the ramp from the gateway bus to the vehicle data bus to coordinate operation of the door and the ramp.

Claims

1. An access system for a vehicle having a door control system that opens and closes a vehicle door, the door control system coupled to a vehicle data bus, the access system comprising:

a ramp control system including a ramp that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;

an interface system coupled to and communicating with the ramp control system to initiate movement of the ramp between the stowed and deployed positions, and to receive ramp status signals indicating whether the ramp is stowed or deployed;

a gateway module coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereon; and

a gateway bus coupled to the gateway module and the interface system for carrying data signals therebetween, wherein the interface system relays the ramp status signals to the gateway module via the gateway bus, and wherein the gateway module relays the ramp status signals to the door control system via the vehicle data bus.

2. The access system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data bus carries data in a first format and the gateway bus carries data in a second format, and wherein the gateway module translates data from the first format to the second format for relaying data from the vehicle data bus to the gateway bus, and from the second format to the first format for relaying data from the gateway bus to the vehicle data bus.

3. The access system of claim 1, wherein the gateway module is configured to relay data signals relating to whether the door is opened or closed from the vehicle data bus to the gateway bus, and not to relay data signals relating to requests to open or close the door from the vehicle data bus to the gateway bus.

4. The access system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes at least one activation indicator that operates in response to a request to open or close the door, and wherein the interface system is coupled to the activation indicator to detect operation thereof in response to a request to open or close the door.

5. The access system of claim 4, wherein when the door is closed and the ramp is stowed, the interface system initializes upon detecting operation of the activation indicator and monitors the gateway bus for a data signal indicating that the door is fully open.

6. The access system of claim 5, wherein when the interface system receives the data signal indicating that the door is fully open, the interface system communicates with the ramp control system to initiate deployment of the ramp.

7. The access system of claim 4, wherein when the door is open and the ramp is deployed, the interface system communicates with the ramp control system to initiate stowing of the ramp upon detecting operation of the activation indicator.

8. The access system of claim 7, wherein when the interface system receives the ramp status signal indicating that the ramp is stowed from the ramp control system, the interface system sends a ramp stowed data signal to the gateway module via the gateway bus, and wherein the gateway module relays the ramp stowed data signal from the interface system to the door control system via the vehicle data bus.

9. The access system of claim 8, wherein when the door control system receives the ramp stowed data signal from the gateway module, the door control system closes the door.

10. The access system of claim 4, wherein the activation indicator includes a light, and wherein operation of the activation indicator includes flashing of the light.

11. The access system of claim 3, further comprising at least one door operation indicator that initiates a request to open or close the door, and wherein the interface system is coupled to the door operation indicator to determine when a request to open or close the door has been made.

12. The access system of claim 11, wherein the door operation indicator includes a manually-operable button that sends a ground signal to a body control subsystem of the vehicle, and wherein the interface system is coupled to the button to detect the ground signal.

13. The access system of claim 1, wherein the gateway module is a one-way module configured to relay data signals from the gateway bus to the vehicle data bus and not to relay signals from the vehicle data bus to the gateway bus.

14. The access system of claim 13, further comprising at least one door status indicator that detects when the door is fully open, and wherein the door status indicator is coupled to the interface system and sends a signal to the interface system to indicate that the door is fully open.

15. The access system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle includes at least one activation indicator that operates in response to a request to open or close the door, and wherein the interface system is coupled to the activation indicator to detect operation thereof in response to a request to open or close the door.

16. The access system of claim 15, wherein when the door is closed and the ramp is stowed, the interface system initializes upon detecting operation of the activation indicator and monitors the door status indicator for the signal indicating that the door is fully open.

17. The access system of claim 16, wherein when the interface system receives the signal indicating that the door is fully open, the interface system communicates with the ramp control system to initiate deployment of the ramp.

18. The access system of claim 15, wherein when the door is open and the ramp is deployed, the interface system communicates with the ramp control system to initiate stowing of the ramp upon detecting operation of the activation indicator.

19. The access system of claim 18, wherein when the interface system receives from the ramp control system the ramp status signal indicating that the ramp is stowed, the interface system sends a ramp stowed data signal to the gateway module via the gateway bus, and wherein the gateway module relays the ramp stowed data signal from the interface system to the door control system via the vehicle data bus.

20. The access system of claim 13, further comprising at least one door operation indicator that initiates a request to open or close the door, and wherein the interface system is coupled to the door operation indicator to determine when a request to open or close the door has been made.

21. A method for coordinating the operation of a vehicle power door with a ramp of an access system that provides wheelchair access to the vehicle when the door is open and the ramp is deployed, the vehicle including a vehicle data bus that carries data signals to control operation of the door, the method comprising:

coupling a gateway module to the vehicle data bus for communication on the vehicle data bus;

coupling an interface system to the gateway module via a gateway bus;

coupling the interface system to a ramp control subsystem that operates to stow and deploy the ramp and that sends a signal to the interface system indicating when the ramp is stowed;

locating an activation indicator in the vehicle that operates in response to a request to open or close the door;

coupling the interface system to an activation indicator to detect operation of the activation indicator; and

moving the ramp in response to detecting operation of the activation indicator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the ramp includes deploying the ramp, the method further comprising:

coupling the interface system to a door status indicator that sends a signal to the interface system indicating when the door is fully open; and

waiting to move the ramp until the interface system receives the signal indicating that the door is fully open.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the ramp includes stowing the ramp, the method further comprising:

stowing the ramp in response to detecting operation of the activation indicator;

sending a data signal from the interface system to the gateway module via the gateway bus when the ramp is fully stowed;

echoing the data signal over the vehicle data bus; and

closing the door in response to the echoed data signal on the vehicle data bus.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein echoing the data signal includes translating the data signal from a first data format to a second data format.