Control function-power operated lift gate

• US 5,563,483 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bernier, David R., Moore, Thomas S., Kowall, David J., DeRees, Delbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David S.
• Application Number:
  US08/383,640
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280-286, 318/255-256, 318/264-268, 318/445-446, 318/466-470, 49/26, 49/139-140, 49/279-280, 49/501-502
• US Class Current: 318/283
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0083 Sound emitting devices, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A lift type tailgate on a passenger van type vehicle body is operated by an electric motor powered actuator with an electronic control circuit utilizing a microprocessor operating under program control to respond to user-initiated opening and closing signals to move the tailgate in the selected direction. In the control circuit, feedback information to the microprocessor indicative of tailgate position is provided by a potentiometer coupled with the actuator motor and the microprocessor is programmed to operate with this information to stop the tailgate at a wide open position, a partially closed position and a fully closed position. Obstruction detection is performed by the microprocessor using an obstruction detection circuit and additionally by monitoring the position signal input from the potentiometer to stop the tailgate on encountering an obstacle. Activation of a tailgate latching mechanism is performed under the control of the microprocessor using a solenoid drive circuit and warning or alerting sounds indicating tailgate closure operation including tailgate stoppage at the partially closed position are provided in accordance with audio data received from the microprocessor.

Claims

1. In combination, a motor vehicle body having a rear opening, a tailgate mounted for swinging movement on said vehicle body about an upper edge of said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, latch means operable to latch said tailgate to said vehicle body when said tailgate is swung to a fully closed position, said latch means including solenoid means operable on energization to unlatch said tailgate, a tailgate power actuator mechanism operable to swing said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, said tailgate power actuator mechanism including a reversible electric motor operable on energization in an opening mode to swing said tailgate to a fully open position and operable on energization in a closing mode to swing said tailgate to said fully closed position, an alarm device operable on energization in one sound mode to emit one kind of warning sound and on energization in another sound mode to emit another kind of warning sound, an electronic control system including a microprocessor controller operable to control energization of said solenoid means and said motor and said alarm device, manually controlled switch means operable to provide an opening signal and a closing signal to said controller, said controller responsive to said opening signal to energize said solenoid means to unlatch said tailgate and to energize said motor in said opening mode to move said tailgate toward said fully open position, said controller responsive to said closing signal to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate toward said fully closed position, obstruction signaling means operable to provide an obstruction signal to said controller in response to said tailgate contacting an obstacle during either opening or closing movement, said controller responsive to said obstruction signal to cease energization of said motor to stop said tailgate, tailgate position signaling means operable to provide a position signal indicative of tailgate position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said opening mode and said tailgate moves into said fully opened position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said closing mode and said tailgate moves into either said fully closed position or a predetermined partially closed position, said controller responsive to a repeated closing signal from said manually controlled switch means to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate from said partially closed position to said fully closed position, and said controller responsive to said position signal and said closing signal to energize said alarm device to emit said one kind of warning sound when said tailgate is moving between said fully opened position and said partially closed position and to emit said other kind of warning sound when said tailgate is moving between said partially closed position and said fully closed position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said position signaling means includes a potentiometer coupled to said motor to provide said position signal.

3. In combination, a motor vehicle body having a rear opening, a tailgate mounted for swinging movement on said vehicle body about an upper edge of said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, latch means operable to latch said tailgate to said vehicle body when said tailgate is swung to a fully closed position, said latch means including solenoid means operable on energization to unlatch said tailgate, a tailgate power actuator mechanism operable to swing said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, said tailgate power actuator mechanism including a reversible electric motor operable on energization in an opening mode to swing said tailgate to a fully open position and operable on energization in a closing mode to swing said tailgate to said fully closed position, an electronic control system including a microprocessor controller operable to control energization of said solenoid means and said motor, manually controlled switch means operable to provide an opening signal and a closing signal to said controller, said controller responsive to said opening signal to energize said solenoid means to unlatch said tailgate and to energize said motor in said opening mode to move said tailgate toward said fully open position, said controller responsive to said closing signal to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate toward said fully closed position, obstruction signaling means operable to provide an obstruction signal to said controller in response to said tailgate contacting an obstacle during either opening or closing movement, said controller responsive to said obstruction signal to cease energization of said motor to stop said tailgate, tailgate position signaling means coupled to said motor operable to provide a position signal indicative of tailgate position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said opening mode and said tailgate moves into said fully opened position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said closing mode and said tailgate moves into either said fully closed position or a predetermined partially closed position, and said controller responsive to a repeated closing signal from said manually controlled switch means to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate from said partially closed position to said fully closed position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said position signaling means includes a potentiometer having a wiper arm coupled to said motor to provide said position signal.

5. In combination, a motor vehicle body having a rear opening, a tailgate mounted for swinging movement on said vehicle body about an upper edge of said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, a tailgate power actuator mechanism operable to swing said tailgate to open and close said rear opening, said tailgate power actuator mechanism including a reversible electric motor operable on energization in an opening mode to swing said tailgate to a fully open position and operable on energization in a closing mode to swing said tailgate to said fully closed position, an electronic control system including a microprocessor controller operable to control energization of said motor, manually controlled switch means operable to provide an opening signal and a closing signal to said controller, said controller responsive to said opening signal to energize said motor in said opening mode to move said tailgate toward said fully open position, said controller responsive to said closing signal to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate to a predetermined partially closed position, obstruction signaling means operable to provide an obstruction signal to said controller in response to said tailgate contacting an obstacle during either opening or closing movement, said controller responsive to said obstruction signal to cease energization of said motor to stop said tailgate, tailgate position signaling means operable to provide a position signal indicative of tailgate position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said opening mode and said tailgate moves into said fully opened position, said controller responsive to said position signal to cease energization of said motor when said motor is in said closing mode and said tailgate moves into either a fully closed position or said predetermined partially closed position, and said controller responsive to a repeated closing signal from said manually controlled switch means to energize said motor in said closing mode to move said tailgate from said partially closed position to said fully closed position.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said position signaling means includes a potentiometer having a wiper arm coupled to said motor to provide said position signal.