VEHICLE PANEL CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions;
a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; and
a switch configured to transmit a command signal upon being activated by an operator;
wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal;
wherein the controller and the switch are further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module and with one another over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN);
wherein the controller is further configured to receive the command signal from the switch over the LAN and to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel in accordance with the command signal;
wherein the switch is further configured to transmit upon being activated by an operator a second command signal over the LAN for receipt by a second controller configured to control movement of a second movable panel in accordance with the second command signal.
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Abstract
A system includes a controller and a sensor. The controller is configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions. The sensor is configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel. Upon receipt of the object signal, the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object. The controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; and a switch configured to transmit a command signal upon being activated by an operator; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the controller and the switch are further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module and with one another over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the controller is further configured to receive the command signal from the switch over the LAN and to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel in accordance with the command signal; wherein the switch is further configured to transmit upon being activated by an operator a second command signal over the LAN for receipt by a second controller configured to control movement of a second movable panel in accordance with the second command signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; and a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module including a switch over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the controller is further configured to receive a command signal from the switch over the LAN upon the switch being activated by an operator and to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel in accordance with the command signal; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel to the closed position upon receiving an express close panel command signal from the switch over the LAN; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel to the opened position upon receiving an express open panel command signal from the switch over the LAN; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the closed position while receiving a manual close panel command signal from the switch over the LAN; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position while receiving a manual open panel command signal from the switch over the LAN. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; and a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module including an interior temperature sensor and an exterior temperature sensor over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the controller is further configured to receive an internal temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the vehicle interior from the interior temperature sensor over the LAN and to receive an external temperature signal indicative of the temperature outside of the vehicle from the external temperature sensor over the LAN; wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether vehicle venting is desired based on a comparison of the temperature signals and to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to vent the vehicle if vehicle venting is desired. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; and a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the controller is further configured to store the position of the panel along the path prior to the vehicle being turned off and to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel from the closed position to a stored opened position stored upon receiving a preset panel open command. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; and a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel after the vehicle has been turned off.
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19. A system comprising:
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a first controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a first movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; a sensor configured to detect for an object in the path of the first panel and to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the first panel; and a second controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to move a second movable panel of the vehicle along a path; wherein the first controller is further configured to communicate with the second controller and at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN); wherein the first controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the first panel towards the opened position in order to prevent the first panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal; wherein the second controller is further configured to receive a command signal from the first controller over the LAN and to transmit a panel control signal to move the second panel in accordance with the command signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification