Motor-vehicle sliding-door system with electronic controller

• US 5,836,639 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kiekert AG (Lingyun Industrial Corporation Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kiekert AG (Lingyun Industrial Corporation Limited)
• Inventors: Menke, Johannes-Theodor, Schonenberg, Thomas, Armbruster, Stefan, Labonde, Damien, Kleefeldt, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/831,974
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 296/155, 49/213, 49/360, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 296/155
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/22 by movement of the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/82 using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2015/1057 the carriage swinging or rotating in those track sections
• 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 15/638 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/616 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/656 by travelling contacts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 : by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 : in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 : Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 : against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 : Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 : Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

A motor vehicle has a body, a door movable on the body between a closed position and an open position, an electric power source mounted in the body, and a latch having interengageable parts on the vehicle body and on the door engageable in a latched position to retain the door in the closed position, and an electrical actuator energizable to put the latch in an unlatched position. A drive on the body connected to the door is energizable from the source for moving the door between the open and closed positions and a battery is provided in the door separate from the body-mounted power source. An electronic controller in the door powered by the battery is connected to the latch actuator for operating same to unlatch the door and to a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating the position of the door and of the latch. Another electronic controller in the body includes a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter in the door is connected to the drive and to the body power source for operating the drive in accordance with the signal received by the body receiver.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a body;

a door movable on the body between a closed position and an open position;

an electric power source mounted in the body;

a latch having

interengageable parts on the vehicle body and on the door engageable in a latched position to retain the door in the closed position, and

an electrical actuator energizable to put the latch in an unlatched position;

means including a drive on the body connected to the door and energizable from the source for moving the door between the open and closed positions;

a battery in the door separate from the body-mounted power source;

electronic control means in the door powered by the battery and including

a controller connected to the latch actuator for operating same to unlatch the door and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating the position of the door and of the latch; and

electronic control means in the body including

a receiver for receiving the signal from the transmitter in the door, and

a controller connected to the drive and to the body power source for operating the drive in accordance with the signal received by the body receiver.

2. The vehicle defined in claim 1, further comprising

a further manually operable transmitter, the receiver of the body control means being able to respond to signals from the further transmitter to unlatch the latch and open the door.

3. The vehicle defined in claim 1 further comprising

a set of manual contacts connected to the body and door control means and only connected together in the closed position of the door, whereby when the door is closed the transmitter and receiver are not needed.

4. The vehicle defined in claim 3 wherein the manual contacts form a multiplex data line as well as a charging line from the power source to the battery.

5. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the body is provided with end switches indicating the position of the door and connected to the body control means.

6. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the latch includes a manually operable handle and a switch connected to the body control means for reporting the condition of the handle to the body control means.

7. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein one of the control means includes means for disabling an inside door handle in a child-safety position and means for stopping movement of the door when the door is blocked.

8. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the body part of the latch includes means for pulling the door tightly against the vehicle in a closed position of the door.