Control apparatus for a compartment panel pull down mechanism

• US 4,823,059 A
• Filed: 01/14/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Chapman, Walter C., Pyszel, Ronald J., Compeau, David E., Rogers, Lloyd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/143,780
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 318/452, 318/453, 318/454, 318/455, 318/466, 318/469, 318/476, 49/280, 70/240, 70/241, 70/279, 292/201, 292/341.16, 292/DIG. 43, 307/9, 307/10 R, 296/76
• US Class Current: 318/454
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/022 movable, resilient or yieldable adjustable into different discrete positions E05B15/024; yieldable striker for emergency opening E05B65/1026
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/22 by movement of the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

A control for a motorized deck lid pull down mechanism which does not require the use of mechanically activated limit switches for detecting deck lid positions or the presence of closing or sealing obstructions. Detection of specified pull down conditions as well as the presence of deck lid obstructions is achieved by monitoring the magnitude of motor current in relation to various predefined motor current thresholds. Engagement of the deck lid with obstructions during the pull down sequence will cause the motor current to exceed the closing and sealing thresholds, terminating or reversing the respective function.

Claims

1. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, a latch mechanism including a first element fixedly mounted on one of said panels and a second element retractably mounted on the other panel, and a pull down mechanism including an electric motor adapted to sequentially (1) move the compartment panel to a partially closed position for mechanically coupling the first and second elements of said latch mechanism, and (2) retracting the second element of said latch mechanism in the direction of such compartment panel movement to complete the closure of said panel, motor control apparatus, comprising:

switch means activated by a vehicle operator to generate a panel closure command;

first control means effective in response to the generation of said panel closure command by said switch means for supplying current to said motor in a direction which moves said compartment panel toward said partially closed position; and

second control means effective when the motor current supplied by said first control means exceeds a closing reference indicative of successful coupling of said latch mechanism elements for interrupting the supply of current by said first control means, and thereafter, supplying current to said motor in a direction to retract the second element of said latch mechanism until such current exceeds a sealing reference indicative of complete closure of said panel, thereby to sequentially control the operation of said motor without the use of mechanically activated limit switches.

2. The apparatus set forth in Claim 1, further comprising:

means for disabling the interruption of motor current by said second control means for a predetermined interval following the generation of said panel closure command by said switch means, thereby to prevent such interruption of motor current in response to an inrush of motor current at the initiation of the current supply.

3. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, a latch mechanism including a first element fixedly mounted on one of said panels and a second element retractably mounted on the other panel, and a pull down mechanism including an electric motor adapted to sequentially (1) move the compartment panel to a partially closed position for mechanically coupling the first and second elements of said latch mechanism, and (2) retracting the second element of said latch mechanism in the direction of such compartment panel movement to complete the closure of said panel, motor control apparatus, comprising:

switch means activated by a vehicle operator to generate a panel closure command;

first control means effective in response to the generation of said panel closure command by said switch means for supplying current to said motor in a direction which moves said panel toward said partially closed position;

motor current limit detection means including means defining a first reference representative of a motor current which will occur upon mechanical coupling of said latch mechanism elements, means defining a second reference representative of a motor current which will occur upon complete closure of said compartment panel, means for generating a first limit signal when the actual motor current exceeds said first reference, and means for generating a second limit signal when the actual motor current exceeds said second reference; and

second control means triggered in response to the generation of said first limit signal by said motor current limit detection means for interrupting the supply of current by said first control means, and supplying current to said motor in a direction to retract the second element of said latch mechanism until the generation of said second limit signal by said motor current limit detection means, whereafter all motor current is interrupted.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein the first reference is greater than the second reference, and the first control means includes override means for disabling the generation of said second limit signal during the supply of current by said first control means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the override means includes means for increasing the first reference above the second reference during the supply of current by said first control means.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

means defining a relatively long time interval beginning with the generation of the panel closure command by said switch means; and

means effective if said first limit signal is not generated within said relatively long time interval for independently triggering said second control means to interrupt the supply of current by the first control means.

7. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, a latch mechanism including a first element fixedly mounted on one of said panels and a second element retractably mounted on the other panel, and a pull down mechanism including an electric motor adapted to sequentially (1) move the compartment panel to a partially closed position for mechanically coupling the first and second elements of said latch mechanism, and (2) retracting the second element of said latch mechanism in the direction of such compartment panel movement to complete the closure of said panel, motor control apparatus, comprising:

motor energization control means including a source of direct current having two terminals of opposite polarity, first and second switch means independently controllable to connect first and second terminals of said motor to either terminal of said source;

first control means effective when it is desired to close said compartment panel for controlling said first and second switch means to connect the first and second motor terminals to the opposite polarity terminals of said source such that the current thereby supplied to said motor produces motor rotation in a direction which moves said compartment panel toward said partially closed position; and

second control means effective when the motor current supplied by said first control means exceeds a closing reference indicative of successful coupling of said latch mechanism elements for sequentially controlling said first and second switch means to connect the first and second motor terminals (1) to the same terminal of said source to thereby interrupt the supply of current established by said first control means, and following a predetermined delay, (2) to opposite polarity terminals of said source such that the current thereby supplied to said motor produces motor rotation in a direction which retracts the second element of said latch mechanism, and once such current exceeds a sealing reference indicative of complete closure of said compartment panel, (3) to the same terminal of said source to thereby interrupt the supply of such current, whereby the operation of said motor is controlled without the use of mechanically activated limit switches.

8. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, a latch mechanism including a first element fixedly mounted on one of said panels and a second element retractably mounted on the other panel, and a pull down mechanism including an electric motor adapted to sequentially (1) move the compartment panel to a partially closed position for mechanically coupling the first and second elements of said latch mechanism, and (2) retracting the second element of said latch mechanism in the direction of such compartment panel movement to complete the closure of said compartment panel, a method of operating said electric motor in response to a commanded closing of said compartment panel, such method comprising the steps of:

energizing said motor with current in a direction to move said compartment panel toward said partially closed position for coupling the first and second elements of said latch mechanism;

monitoring such current, at least during a steady state phase of said energization following the initial inrush of current to said motor;

interrupting the energization of said motor when the monitored current exceeds a closing reference defined in relation to the magnitude of current typically drawn by the motor following the coupling of said first and second elements of said latch mechanism;

energizing said motor with current in a direction to retract the second element of said latch mechanism for moving said compartment panel toward said fully closed position;

monitoring such current, at least during a steady state phase of said energization following the initial inrush of current to said motor; and

interrupting the energization of said motor when the monitored current exceeds a sealing reference defined in relation to the magnitude of current typically drawn by the motor after the compartment panel has attained its fully closed position.