DEVICE AND METHOD FOR POWERED CLOSING OF CAR DOORS

• US 20180142511A1
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lombrozo, Peter Craig, Warburton, Andrew Paul, Ellis, Robert John
• Granted Patent: US 10,544,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0486 Special type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/38 Planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/234 direction dependent
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/608 Back-drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/662 Cable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/72 Planetary gearing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3014 Back driving the transmission or motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 : Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 : of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/336 : of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/337 : Encoder wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 : Doors

Abstract

The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.

Claims

1. A method of automatically closing a component of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices having one or more processors, information indicating that a component on the vehicle is not closed;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, in response to the received information indicating that the component is not closed, to send a triggering signal to close the component;

sending, by the one or more computing devices, the triggering signal to an actuator;

receiving, by the actuator, the triggering signal; and

in response to receiving the triggering signal, activating the actuator to close the component of the vehicle without user input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to determining to send the triggering signal, calculating a continuous amount of time the component is not closed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining to send the triggering signal when the time the component was open is greater than a threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to send the triggering signal when a remote triggering signal is received by the one or more computing devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a motor angle reading from one or more motor angle sensors;

based on the received motor angle reading, determining at least one of a speed the actuator should close the component, power needed to close the component, and amount of rotation needed to close the component; and

sending, by the one or more computing devices, a control signal to an actuator indicating at least one of the speed the actuator should close the component, the power needed to close the component, and the amount of rotation needed to close the component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more angle sensors monitor a position of a pulley in the actuator, and sends the information indicating that the component is not closed when the position of the pulley is associated with a component open position.

21. The method of claim 5, wherein the motor angle reading is provided by one or more motor angle sensors which track one or more magnets mounted to an output shaft within the actuator.

22. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more angle sensors monitor the position of the pulley by tracking a position of a magnet within the pulley.

23. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

monitoring, by one or more additional sensors, a position of a hinge attached to the vehicle'"'"'s component;

providing, by the one or more additional sensors, the position of the hinge to the one or more computing devices; and

determining, by the one or more computing devices, whether the position of the hinge indicates the component is open or the component is closed.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

verifying, by the one or more computing devices, the position of the pulley based on the position of the hinge.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicating that the component on the vehicle is not closed is received from one or more sensors.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a pulley and a first end of a cable is attached to the component and a second end of the cable is attached to the pulley.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein upon activating the actuator to close the component of the vehicle, the motor rotates the pulley such that the second end of the cable is pulled around the pulley thereby causing the first end of the cable to pull the component to into a closed state.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the first end of the cable is attached to a hinge of the component.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the hinge is a door check and the component is a door.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing or ceasing operation of the actuator upon one or more sensors detecting an object between the open component and the vehicle.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a motor.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

monitoring, using one or more sensors, a motor drive current; and

based upon the monitored motor drive current, determining by the one or more computing devices, whether an object is obstructing closure of the component.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

upon determining an object is obstructing closure of the component, ceasing or reversing operation of the actuator.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is one of a hood, a gas tank cover, or a trunk.

7-20. -20. (canceled)