Strut position sensor

• US 20090206826A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Inventors: Booth, Thomas Lawson, Kuhlman, Howard Warren
• Granted Patent: US 8,008,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.200
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/636 Universal or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/176 on different wing types, weights or sizes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A power actuator system for a movable vehicle panel such as a lift gate assembly includes a position sensor that detects the pivotal movement of a strut mechanism of the power lift gate assembly relative to the host vehicle. A rotary sensor is coupled directly to an end component of the strut mechanism and provides signals that indicate the total amount of pivotal or rotary movement of the strut mechanism and the lift gate during the opening and closing of the lift gate. The signals provide information to determine the absolute position of the strut and the lift gate for processing in the vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit.

Claims

1. A actuator system for a vehicle comprising:

an elongated strut having a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle and an opposed second end pivotally connected to a movable panel carried on the vehicle; and

a position sensor including a first portion supported on the vehicle or movable panel adjacent an associated end of the strut, and a second portion carried for displacement with the strut, said position sensor operative to detect relative movement of the strut during translational movement of the panel and generating an output signal as a function thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle computer processor that processes the position sensor signal and determines the location of the movable panel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the strut comprises an end connector at the first end, said end connector including a ball stud secured to the vehicle and a socket body configured for receiving the ball stud therein secured to the strut.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second portion of said position sensor comprises a rotary member that rotates with respect to said first portion in response to movement of the strut.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said position sensor is mounted on the socket body.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the strut comprises a second end connector at the second end, said second end connector including a second ball stud secured to the lift gate and second socket body receiving the second ball stud therein secured to the strut.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the position sensor comprises a rotary potentiometer connected to the vehicle body and wherein the socket body rotates the potentiometer as the strut moves between limits of travel.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the position sensor comprises a rotary position integrated circuit (IC) sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the rotary position IC sensor is operative to detect the position of the movable panel using a Hall Effect integrated circuit and a magnet.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the strut comprises a jackscrew operative to drivingly displace said movable panel reciprocally between an open position and a closed position.

11. An actuator system for a vehicle comprising:

an elongated strut having a first end and an opposed second end;

a first joint assembly adapted for pivotally interconnecting the first end of said strut to a relatively fixed mounting location on said vehicle;

a second joint assembly adapted for pivotally interconnecting the second end of said strut to a movable panel carried on the vehicle,

wherein at least one of said joint assemblies includes a ball stud operatively engaging a ball socket for at least limited relative freedom of rotation therebetween about at least one axis; and

a position sensor including a stator portion affixed to said ball stud and a rotor portion affixed to said ball socket for relative rotation about said axis, one of said sensor portions carrying a galvanomagnetic sensing element and the other of said sensor portions carrying a magnet juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with the galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith, said galvanomagnetic sensing element operative to produce a sensor output signal indicative of the relative angular position of said ball stud and ball socket.

12. The actuator system of claim 11, further comprising a controller operative to receive said sensor output signal and generate a panel position signal as a function thereof.

13. The actuator system of claim 11, wherein said ball stud and stator portion form cooperating engagement features enabling selective positioning thereof about said axis.

14. The actuator system of claim 13, wherein said cooperating engagement features comprise a plurality of discrete radially outwardly facing surfaces formed on said ball stud and a plurality if discrete radially inwardly facing surfaces formed in a through passage in said sensor stator portion.

15. The actuator system of claim 11, further comprising means operative to increase angular displacement of said magnet.

16. The actuator system of claim 15, wherein said means operative to increase angular displacement of said magnet comprises a gear set interconnecting the rotor portion and said magnet.

17. A position sensor for application in a vehicle based actuator system of the type including an elongated strut having a first end connector pivotally affixed to the vehicle and a second end connector pivotally affixed to a movable panel carried on the vehicle, wherein at least one of said strut connectors includes a fixed portion attached to said vehicle and a movable portion attached to said strut, the position sensor comprising:

a stator portion adapted for affixation to said fixed connector portion and a rotor portion adapted for affixation to said movable connector portion for relative rotation about an axis, one of said sensor portions carrying a galvanomagnetic sensing element and the other of said sensor portions carrying a magnet juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with the galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith, said galvanomagnetic sensing element operative to produce a sensor output signal indicative of the relative angular position of said movable and fixed connector portions.