VEHICLE DOOR

• US 20150188345A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Inventors: Sohn, John M., Crociata, Paul S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,337,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/13 a single actuator for driving a lock and additional vehicle components, e.g. window wipers or window lifters
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/62 for opening or closing of a circuit depending on electrical parameters, e.g. increase of motor current
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/68 by sensing the position of the detent
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/80 characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/632 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/659 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A power system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and door includes a first battery disposed on the vehicle body, a second, rechargeable battery disposed on the door, a first electrical contact disposed on the vehicle body, and a second electrical contact disposed on the vehicle door. The first and second electrical contacts are coupled to the first and second batteries such that when the door is in a fully closed position relative to the vehicle body the first and second batteries are electrically coupled to one another and the second battery is charged by the first battery, and when the door is not in a fully closed position the first and second batteries are electrically de-coupled from one another.

Claims

1. A power system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and door, the power system comprising:

a first battery disposed on the vehicle body;

a second, rechargeable battery disposed on the door;

a first electrical contact disposed on the vehicle body; and

a second electrical contact disposed on the vehicle door, the first and second electrical contacts coupled to the first and second batteries such that when the door is in a fully closed position relative to the vehicle body the first and second batteries are electrically coupled to one another and the second battery is charged by the first battery, and when the door is not in a fully closed position the first and second batteries are electrically de-coupled from one another.

2. The power system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical component disposed on the vehicle door, the electrical component coupled to the second battery.

3. The power system of claim 2, wherein the electrical component is selected from a group consisting of a cinching latch and a door window motor.

4. The power system of claim 2, wherein when the door is not in a fully closed position, the second battery is the sole source of electrical power for the electrical component.

5. The power system of claim 1, further comprising a first wireless controller area network interface disposed on the vehicle body, and a second wireless controller area network interface disposed on the door, wherein the first wireless controller area network and the second wireless controller area network are configured to communicate wirelessly with one another.

6. The power system of claim 5, further comprising a vehicle controller area network disposed on the vehicle body, wherein the first wireless controller area network interface is coupled to the vehicle controller area network.

7. The power system of claim 6, further comprising a power sliding door module disposed in the vehicle body, wherein the first wireless controller area network is coupled to the power sliding door module.

8. The power system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle controller area network and the power sliding door module are both configured to provide one or more signals to the first wireless controller area network interface, such that the signals are relayed wireless via the first wireless controller area network interface to the second wireless controller area network interface.

9. The power system of claim 5, further comprising a door control module disposed in the door, and an electrical component disposed on the door and controlled by the door control module, wherein the door control module is coupled to the second wireless controller area network interface, the electrical component, and the second battery.

10. The power system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a minivan, and wherein the door is a sliding door, and wherein the first electrical contact is selected from a group consisting of a pad and a plunger.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending a signal from a first wireless controller area network interface disposed on the vehicle body to a second wireless controller area network interface disposed on the door to control the electrical component.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical component is in a sleep or stand-by mode until the signal is sent from the first wireless controller area network interface to the second wireless controller area network interface.

11. A method of operating a power system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and door, the method comprising:

engaging a first electrical contact on the vehicle body with a second electrical contact on the vehicle door by closing the vehicle door, the first electrical contact coupled to a first battery disposed in the vehicle body and the second electrical contact coupled to a second, rechargeable battery disposed in the door;

charging the second battery with the first battery after the first and second electrical contacts have been engaged;

opening the door to disengage the first and second electrical contacts; and

powering an electrical component disposed in the door with the second battery.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein after opening the door, the second battery is the sole source of electrical power for the electrical component.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of powering the electrical component includes powering a motor for a window on the door.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of powering the electrical component includes powering a cinching latch on the door.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the door is open.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the door is determined to be open, a door control module disposed in the door deactivates the electrical component.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the door is open is based on signals received from sensors disposed on the vehicle body and door.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the door is open includes determining whether the door has been open for a predetermined period of time, and wherein a door control module in the door deactivates the electrical component only if the door has been open for the predetermined period of time.