Control apparatus for powered vehicle door systems
First Claim
1. A control system for a sliding power-operated member mounted to a body portion of a self-propelled motor vehicle, the control system comprising:
- first wireless communications means, mounted on the body portion of the vehicle, for transmitting, regardless of relative positioning of the sliding member and the body portion, to the sliding member a first communications signal containing information related to at least a first control signal for controlling a power locking function associated with the sliding member;
second wireless communications means, mounted on the sliding member, for receiving, regardless of relative positioning of the sliding member and the body portion, the first communications signal and obtaining therefrom the first control signal;
means, mounted on the sliding member, for performing the power locking function in response to the obtained first control signal;
third wireless communications means, mounted on the sliding member, for transmitting to the body portion of the vehicle a second communications signal containing information related to at least a second control signal for controlling a power closure function associated with the sliding member;
fourth wireless communications means, mounted on the body portion of the vehicle, for receiving the second communications signal and obtaining therefrom the second control signal; and
means, mounted on the body portion, for performing the power closure function in response to the obtained second control signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Control systems including control circuitry and optional communications systems for operating a slding power-operated member of an automotive vehicle. A powered sliding door in an automotive vehicle, such as a van, moves along a predetermined path of travel between a closed position and a fully open position relative to the body of the vehicle. Such a sliding door may be provided with one or more electrically-operated actuators for performing functions associated with the door, such as power opening and closing the door, power unlatching the door, power locking and unlocking the door, and power clamping, and unclamping the door in a soft or low-momentum manner. The invention is directed toward improved control systems and circuitry for operating such power-sliding door systems. One such control system employs a wireless communications link between the door and body, which is preferably implemented using radio frequency communication signals containing digitally encoded control signals. Control circuitry is preferably provided in the body and the door of the vehicle for supervising and carrying out the foregoing functions in an orderly manner in response to requests generated locally at the door or remotely by the driver from the console of the vehicle. A second, simpler, control system provides electrically-actuated mechanisms for unlatching the door and operating the door lock without the use of either a wireless communication system or a retractable electrical cable interconnecting the sliding door to the vehicle body.
140 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control system for a sliding power-operated member mounted to a body portion of a self-propelled motor vehicle, the control system comprising:
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first wireless communications means, mounted on the body portion of the vehicle, for transmitting, regardless of relative positioning of the sliding member and the body portion, to the sliding member a first communications signal containing information related to at least a first control signal for controlling a power locking function associated with the sliding member; second wireless communications means, mounted on the sliding member, for receiving, regardless of relative positioning of the sliding member and the body portion, the first communications signal and obtaining therefrom the first control signal; means, mounted on the sliding member, for performing the power locking function in response to the obtained first control signal; third wireless communications means, mounted on the sliding member, for transmitting to the body portion of the vehicle a second communications signal containing information related to at least a second control signal for controlling a power closure function associated with the sliding member; fourth wireless communications means, mounted on the body portion of the vehicle, for receiving the second communications signal and obtaining therefrom the second control signal; and means, mounted on the body portion, for performing the power closure function in response to the obtained second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification