Automotive convertible top system

• US 6,288,511 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• 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:
  US09/802,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• Field of Search: 318/265, 318/282, 318/467, 318/466, 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 having a header, the automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a cover operable to cover at least a portion of said automotive convertible top when said automotive convertible top is in a stowed position;

at least one motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top and said cover, said motor mechanism operable to move said automotive convertible top and said 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 cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said cover;

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

at least one header latch operable to latch said automotive convertible top to the automobile header.

2. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one header latch is a manual latch having a sensor operable to sense whether said at least one header latch is in one of a latched and unlatched position.

3. The automobile as defined in claim 1 further comprising a header latch sensor wherein said controller is operable to monitor said header latch sensor to determine positional information of said at least one header latch.

4. The automobile as defined in claim 3 wherein said controller is operable to actuate said at least one header latch to unlatch and latch.

5. The automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one header latch is a J-hook header latch.

6. The automobile as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one window automatically lowered in response to a signal from said controller when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

7. The automobile as defined in claim 6 wherein said at least one window includes a pair of rear quarter windows.

8. The automobile as defined in claim 7 wherein said cover is a tonneau cover.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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 cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

13. The automobile as defined in claim 12 wherein said DC motor can be manually back driven in an event of an electrical system failure.

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

17. The automobile as defined in claim 16 wherein said controller is operable for logging errors whenever said automotive convertible top or said cover do not move in accordance with said predetermined movements.

18. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 17 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 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 cover to corrective positions where no collision is possible.

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

20. 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 cover when said sensed position indicates said cover is in a fully extended third or fourth position when said controller is moving said cover to said third or fourth position and said measured torque exceeds a predetermined torque for a predetermined length of time.

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 cover operable to cover at least a portion of said automotive convertible top when said automotive convertible top is in a stowed position;

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 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 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 cover in response to inputs from said first position sensor and said second position sensor, said controller 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; and

at least one header latch coupled to said automotive convertible top.

22. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one header latch is a manual latch having a sensor operable to sense whether said at least one header latch is in one of a latched and unlatched position.

23. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 further comprising a header latch sensor wherein said controller is operable to monitor said header latch sensor to determine positional information of said at least one header latch.

24. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 23 wherein said controller is operable to actuate said at least one header latch to unlatch and latch.

25. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one header latch is a J-hook header latch.

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

27. The automotive convertible top system as defined in claim 21 wherein said controller automatically lowers at least one window when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

28. 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.

29. 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 cover, said first and second motor mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

30. 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.

31. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a moveable member moveable with said automotive convertible top;

a cover operable to cover at least a portion of said automotive convertible top when said automotive convertible top is in a standard position;

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 cover, said second mechanism operable to move said 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 cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said cover;

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

at least one header latch coupled to said automotive convertible top.

32. The automobile as defined in claim 31 wherein said at least one header latch is a manual latch having a sensor operable to sense whether said at least one header latch is in one of a latched and unlatched position.

33. The automobile as defined in claim 31 further comprising a header latch sensor wherein said controller is operable to monitor said header latch sensor to determine positional information of said at least one header latch.

34. The automobile as defined in claim 33 wherein said controller is operable to actuate said at least one header latch to unlatch and latch.

35. The automobile as defined in claim 31 wherein said at least one header latch is a J-hook header latch.

36. The automobile as defined in claim 31 further comprising at least one window automatically lowered in response to a signal from said controller when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

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

38. The automobile as defined in claim 31 wherein said first variable resistance sensor is positioned at a pivot point associated with said moveable member.

39. The automobile as defined in claim 31 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.

40. The automobile as defined in claim 31 wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

41. An automobile comprising:

an automotive convertible top;

a first moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

a second moveable member associated with said automotive convertible top;

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

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

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

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

at least one header latch in communication with said controller.

42. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said at least one header latch is a manual latch having a sensor operable to sense whether said at least one header latch is in one of a latched and unlatched position.

43. The automobile as defined in claim 41 further comprising a header latch sensor wherein said controller is operable to monitor said header latch sensor to determine positional information of said at least one header latch.

44. The automobile as defined in claim 43 wherein said controller is operable to actuate said at least one header latch to unlatch and latch.

45. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said at least one header latch is a J-hook header latch.

46. The automobile as defined in claim 41 further comprising at least one window automatically lowered in response to a signal from said controller when said automotive convertible top is set in motion.

47. The automobile as defined in claim 46 wherein said at least one window further includes a pair of rear quarter windows.

48. The automobile as defined in claim 41 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.

49. The automobile as defined in claim 41 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.

50. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said controller is further operable to transmit an alarm signal indicating whether said automotive convertible top is up or down.

51. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said mechanism includes a motor mechanism associated with said automotive convertible top, said motor mechanism selected from a group consisting of a DC motor and a hydraulic system.

52. The automobile as defined in claim 51 wherein said DC motor can be manually back driven in an event of an electrical system failure.

53. The automobile as defined in claim 41 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 first moveable member.

54. The automobile as defined in claim 41 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 mechanism to insure that connectors and relay contact points of said mechanism do not become corroded.

55. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said controller interprets sensed positions of said automotive convertible top and commands said mechanism to move said automotive convertible top in accordance with predetermined movements based upon said interpreted sensed positions.

56. The automobile as defined in claim 55 wherein said controller is operable for logging errors whenever said automotive convertible top does not move in accordance with said predetermined movements.

57. The automobile as defined in claim 41 further comprising a tonneau cover and a third posterior sensor operable to sense movement of said tonneau cover substantially throughout a range of motion of said tonneau cover, said controller operable to actuate said mechanism to move said tonneau cover.

58. The automobile as defined in claim 57 wherein said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover are simultaneously moved by said mechanism as said controller monitors the instantaneous position of said automotive convertible top and said tonneau cover with said first position sensor, said second position sensor, and said third position sensor.

59. The automobile as defined in claim 41 wherein said controller operably measures torque loading of said mechanism, and commands said 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.

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

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

unlatching at least one header latch in response to the sensed command;

initiating movement of the automotive convertible top and the 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 cover substantially through a range of motion of the cover; and

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

61. The method as defined in claim 60 further comprising transmitting an alarm signal indicating whether the automotive convertible top is up or down.

62. The method as defined in claim 60 further comprising automatically lowering at least one window of the automobile when the automotive convertible top is set in motion.

63. The method as defined in claim 60 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.

64. The method as defined in claim 60 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.

65. A method for operating an automotive convertible top having a first moveable member and a second moveable member, said method comprising:

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

unlatching at least one header latch in response to the sensed command;

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

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

controlling the movement of the automotive convertible top in response to the sensed positions of the first moveable member and the second moveable member.

66. The method as defined in claim 65 further comprising transmitting an alarm signal indicating whether the automotive convertible top is up or down.

67. The method as defined in claim 65 further comprising automatically lowering at least one window of the automobile when the automotive convertible top is set in motion.

68. The method as defined in claim 65 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.

69. The method as defined in claim 65 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.