Automotive convertible top system

• US 6,246,199 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Helms, James M., Berland, Kerry S., Porter, Michael A., DiCesare, Samuel, Kruse, Richard H., Alderton, George A. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US09/634,436
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 318/265, 318/280, 318/434, 318/466, 318/467, 296/107.01, 296/110, 296/112, 296/115
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1265 characterised by kinematic movements, e.g. using parallelogram linkages B60J7/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and controlling the operation of a motorized convertible top such that it may be extended and retracted automatically. The system and method of the present invention monitors the movement of the various components to provide fluid, simultaneous motion. It further detects and corrects improper alignments that may result in damage to the top due to overlapping elements or binding elements, and stores error information useful in diagnosing and repairing unrecoverable errors.

Claims

1. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover, said motor mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover to open and close said automotive convertible top;

a first position sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second position sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover;

a controller operable to actuate said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first position sensor and said second position sensor; and

at least one window automatically lowered in response to a signal from said controller when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

2. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one window includes a pair of forward side windows.

3. The automobile as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least one window further includes a pair of rear quarter windows.

4. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is further operable to monitor a rear deck lid of said automobile and inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if said rear deck lid is open.

5. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is further operable to monitor automobile speed to determine if the automobile is moving above a predetermined limit and further operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if the automobile is moving above said predetermined limit.

6. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

7. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor mechanism includes a first motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and a second motor mechanism associated with said tonneau cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

8. The automobile as defined in claim 7 wherein said DC motor can be manually back driven in an event of an electrical system failure.

9. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said first position sensor is a first potentiometer and said second position sensor is a second potentiometer, said first potentiometer being positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

10. The automobile convertible top system as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller employs a current wetting scheme during power up of said controller, said current wetting scheme providing a short burst of electrical current through said motor mechanism to insure that connectors and relay contact points of said motor mechanism do not become corroded.

11. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller interprets sensed positions of said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover and commands said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in accordance with predetermined movements based upon said interpreted sensed positions.

12. The automobile as defined in claim 11 wherein said controller is operable for logging errors whenever said automotive convertible top or said tonneau cover do not move in accordance with said predetermined movements.

13. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 12 wherein said predetermined movement comprises a series of sequential movements, wherein each movement of said series of movements is adapted to prevent said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover from colliding with one another, and when said interpreted sensed positions indicate a collision is eminent, said controller commands said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover to corrective positions where no collision is possible.

14. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover are simultaneously moved by said motor mechanism as said controller monitors the instantaneous position of said moveable member and said tonneau cover with said first position sensor and said second position sensor.

15. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller operably measures torque loading of said motor mechanism, and commands said motor mechanism to cease movement of said automotive convertible top when said sensed position indicates said automotive convertible top is in a fully extended first or second position when said controller is moving said automotive convertible top to said first or second position and said measured torque exceeds a predetermined torque for a predetermined length of time, and wherein said controller commands said motor mechanism to cease movement of said tonneau cover when said sensed position indicates said tonneau cover is in a fully extended third or fourth position when said controller is moving said tonneau cover to said third or fourth position and said measured torque exceeds a predetermined torque for a predetermined length of time.

16. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover, said motor mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover to open and close said automotive convertible top;

a first position sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second position sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover;

a controller operable to actuate said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first position sensor and said second position sensor; and

a rear deck lid, wherein said controller is operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if said rear deck lid is open.

17. The automobile as defined in claim 16 wherein said rear deck lid is a trunk lid of said automobile.

18. The automobile as defined in claim 17 wherein said controller is further operable to monitor automobile speed to determine if the automobile is moving above a predetermined limit and further operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if the automobile is moving above said predetermined limit.

19. The automobile as defined in claim 16 wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

20. The automobile as defined in claim 16 wherein said motor mechanism includes a first motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and a second motor mechanism associated with said tonneau cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

21. An automotive convertible top system for an automobile, said automotive convertible top system comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover, said motor mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover to open and close said automotive convertible top;

a first position sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second position sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover; and

a controller operable to actuate said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first position sensor and said second position sensor, wherein said controller is further operable to monitor automobile speed to determine if the automobile is moving above a predetermined limit and further operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if the automobile is moving above said predetermined limit.

22. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said predetermined limit is about zero.

23. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said controller automatically lowers a pair of forward side windows and rear quarter windows when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

24. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said controller is further operable to monitor a rear deck lid of said automobile and inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if said rear deck lid is open.

25. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said motor mechanism includes a first motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and a second motor mechanism associated with said tonneau cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

26. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said first position sensor is a first potentiometer and said second position sensor is a second potentiometer, said first potentiometer being positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

27. An automotive convertible top system for an automobile, said automotive convertible top system comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a motor mechanism connected to said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover, said motor mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover to open and close said automotive convertible top;

a first position sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second position sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover; and

a controller operable to actuate said motor mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first position sensor and said second position sensor, wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

28. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 27 wherein said motor mechanism includes a first motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and a second motor mechanism associated with said tonneau cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

29. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 27 wherein said first position sensor is a first potentiometer and said second position sensor is a second potentiometer, said first potentiometer being positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

30. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a first mechanism connected to said automotive convertible top, said first mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top;

a second mechanism connected to said tonneau cover, said second mechanism operable to move said tonneau cover;

a first variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover;

a controller operable to control said first mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said second mechanism to move said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first variable resistance sensor and said second variable resistance sensor; and

at least one window automatically lowered when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

31. The automobile as defined in claim 30 wherein said at least one window includes a pair of forward side windows and a pair of rear quarter windows.

32. The automobile as defined in claim 30 wherein said first mechanism is a hydraulic system and said second mechanism is a DC motor.

33. The automobile as defined in claim 30 wherein said first variable resistance sensor is positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

34. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a first mechanism connected to said automotive convertible top, said first mechanism operable to move said first convertible top member;

a second mechanism connected to said tonneau cover, said second mechanism operable to move said tonneau cover;

a first variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover;

a controller operable to control said first mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said second mechanism to move said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first variable resistance sensor and said second variable resistance sensor; and

a rear deck lid, wherein said controller is operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if said rear deck lid is open.

35. The automobile as defined in claim 34 wherein said rear deck lid is a trunk lid.

36. The automobile as defined in claim 34 wherein said first mechanism is a hydraulic system and said second mechanism is a DC motor.

37. The automobile as defined in claim 34 wherein said first variable resistance sensor is positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

38. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a first mechanism connected to said automotive convertible top, said first mechanism operable to move said first convertible top member;

a second mechanism connected to said tonneau cover, said second mechanism operable to move said tonneau cover;

a first variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover; and

a controller operable to control said first mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said second mechanism to move said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first variable resistance sensor and said second variable resistance sensor, wherein said controller is further operable to monitor automobile speed to determine if the automobile is moving above a predetermined limit and further operable to inhibit movement of said automotive convertible top if the automobile is moving above said predetermined limit.

39. The automobile as defined in claim 38 wherein said predetermined limit is about zero.

40. The automobile as defined in claim 38 wherein said first mechanism is a hydraulic system and said second mechanism is a DC motor.

41. The automobile as defined in claim 38 wherein said first variable resistance sensor is positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

42. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a first mechanism connected to said automotive convertible top, said first mechanism operable to move said first convertible top member;

a second mechanism connected to said tonneau cover, said second mechanism operable to move said tonneau cover;

a first variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second variable resistance sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover; and

a controller operable to control said first mechanism to move said automotive convertible top and said second mechanism to move said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first variable resistance sensor and said second variable resistance sensor, wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

43. The automobile as defined in claim 42 wherein said first mechanism is a hydraulic system and said second mechanism is a DC motor.

44. The automobile as defined in claim 42 wherein said first variable resistance sensor is positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

45. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a tonneau cover;

a hydraulic system associated with said automotive convertible top, said hydraulic system operable to move said automotive convertible top;

a DC motor associated with said tonneau cover, said DC motor operable to move said tonneau cover;

a first potentiometer operable to sense movement of said moveable member substantially throughout a range of motion of said moveable member;

a second potentiometer operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover;

a controller operable to control said hydraulic system and said DC motor to move said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover in response to inputs from said first and second potentiometers; and

at least one window automatically lowered when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

46. A method for operating an automotive convertible top and a tonneau cover, said method comprising:

sensing a command, issued by an automobile user, to retract or extend the automotive convertible top;

initiating movement of the automotive convertible top and the tonneau cover in response to the sensed command;

sensing movement of a moveable member associated with the automotive convertible top substantially throughout a range of motion of the moveable member;

sensing movement of the tonneau cover substantially through a range of motion of the tonneau cover; and

controlling the movement of the automotive convertible top and the tonneau cover in response to the sensed position of the moveable member and the tonneau cover.

47. The method as defined in claim 46 further comprising transmitting an alarm signal indicating whether the automotive convertible top is up or down.

48. The method as defined in claim 46 further comprising automatically lowering at least one window of the automobile when the automotive convertible top is set in motion.

49. The method as defined in claim 46 further comprising monitoring a rear deck lid of the automobile and inhibiting movement of the automotive convertible top if the rear deck lid is open.

50. The method as defined in claim 46 further comprising monitoring automobile speed to determine if the automobile is moving above a predetermined limit and inhibiting movement of the automotive convertible top if the automobile is moving above the predetermined limit.