Apparatus for automatically opening and closing pop-up door of a vehicle

• US 5,986,420 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kato, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/941,071
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 318/1, 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/280, 318/283, 318/286, 318/446, 318/461, 318/463, 318/272, 318/467, 318/468, 49/29, 49/30, 49/32, 49/139
• US Class Current: 318/272
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/724 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3015 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/337 Encoder wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/454 in or on the motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

One end of a toothed cable is connected to a rear door of a vehicle. The toothed cable moves forward and backward, thus opening and closing the rear door. A drive motor imparts a moving force to the toothed cable. An electromagnetic clutch connects the drive motor to the toothed cable and disconnects the drive motor from the toothed cable. A speed sensor detects the movement of the toothed cable when the electromagnetic clutch is set to a disconnected state. A control unit sets the electromagnetic clutch to a connected state when the movement of the toothed cable is detected and actuates the drive motor to allow the toothed cable to move in the same direction at that in which the toothed cable is moving. When the completely opened or closed rear door is moved to some extent in a closing direction or an opening direction by an operator'"'"'s hands, the rear door is automatically closed or opened by the drive motor.

Claims

1. An automatic opening and closing apparatus of a pop-up door comprising:

operation means, one end of which is connected to a pop-up door urged in an opening direction, for moving in a forward direction to open the door and a backward direction to close the door;

drive means, provided at an opposite end of the operation means from the pop-up door, for applying a moving force to the operation means;

clutch means for selectively connecting the drive means to the operation means and disconnecting the drive means from the operation means;

detection means for detecting a movement of the operation means when the clutch means is in a disconnected state; and

control means for setting the clutch means to a connected state when movement of the operation means is detected and actuating the drive means to move the operation means in the same direction as that in which the operation means is moving,

wherein the operation means comprises a toothed cable which engages a drive gear rotated by the drive means, thus receiving a moving force.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the clutch means comprises an electromagnetic clutch having an input shaft connected to an output shaft of a drive motor serving as the drive means and an output shaft connected to the drive gear; and

the input shaft and the output shaft are connected to each other when a coil accommodated in the electromagnetic clutch is energized.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detection means is for detecting a rotation of the output shaft of the electromagnetic clutch.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the detection means comprising:

a sensor plate formed on a periphery of the output shaft of the electromagnetic clutch and having through-holes formed on a periphery thereof at regular intervals; and

a sensor detecting passage of the through-holes.