Electronic controller for vehicular wheelchair access

• US 6,825,628 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Braun Corporation
• Original Assignee: Braun Corporation
• Inventors: Sturm, Donald S., Heigl, Keith D., Goodrich, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAYALA, CHHAYA D
• Application Number:
  US10/142,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/286, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 414/462, 414/540, 414/541, 414/545, 414/921
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/061 using ramps
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/43 using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle loading ramps per se B65G69/28
• 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: E05Y 2400/52 Safety arrangements Safety means for manual wing operation E05Y2800/116
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/57 Disabling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/254 the elements not functioning in case of emergency
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/748 end
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0851 for motors actuating a movable member between two end positions, e.g. detecting an end position or obstruction by overload signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/134 Handicapped person handling

Abstract

A ramp deployment control system includes a controller, a kneeling motor operatively coupled to the controller and a ramp motor operatively coupled to the controller. The controller energizes the kneeling motor to kneel or stand a vehicle and energizes the ramp motor to deploy or stow a ramp. The controller is operatively coupled to a communication pathway, and a door control system is operatively coupled to the controller. The door control system is operable to monitor and control operation of a door. A standard control module is operatively coupled to the communication pathway and is operable to send door operation commands on the communication pathway. The controller selectively delays execution of the door operation commands by the door control system while operating the ramp motor to deploy or stow the ramp.

Claims

1. A wheelchair access system for a vehicle having a door and a ramp that provides wheelchair access to the vehicle, comprising:

a ramp motor operable to move the ramp;

a communication pathway;

a controller operatively coupled to said communication pathway, said controller being operatively coupled to said ramp motor;

a door control system operatively coupled to said controller, said door control system being operable to monitor and control operation of the door;

a standard control module operatively coupled to said communication pathway, said standard control module being operable to send door operation commands on said communication pathway; and

said controller being operable to selectively delay execution of said door operation commands by said door control system while operating said ramp motor to move the ramp.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power communication pathway operatively coupling said standard control module to said door control system; and

wherein said standard control module is operable to send a wake signal on said power communication pathway to place said door control system in a wake mode, wherein the door control system is responsive to commands in said wake mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said controller is operatively coupled between said standard control module and said door control system on said power communication pathway; and

said controller is operable to delay sending said wake signal on said power communication pathway to said door control system until said ramp motor stows the ramp.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication pathway operatively coupling said controller to said door control system;

wherein said standard control module is operatively coupled to said door control system through said controller and said second communication pathway; and

wherein said controller is operable to control said ramp motor in order to move the ramp before echoing a command signal from said standard control module to said door control system on said second communication pathway.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said ramp motor is operatively coupled to said controller through said second communication pathway.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a door latch motor operatively coupled to said standard control module;

a door latch sensor operatively coupled to said standard control module; and

wherein said controller is operable to send a service code to said standard control module to actuate said latch motor when the door is ajar.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said door latch motor and said door latch sensor are operatively coupled to said standard control module through said communication pathway.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said communication pathway includes a bidirectional serial bus;

said door control system includes a power sliding door module; and

said standard control module includes a body control module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to detect ramp obstructions by monitoring current drawn by said ramp motor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the ramp operatively coupled to said ramp motor;

the door; and

wherein said door control system includes a door motor to move the door.

11. A method of providing wheelchair access to a vehicle having a door and a ramp, comprising:

sending door operation commands via a communication pathway;

suspending operation of the door operation commands of a door control system to selectively delay execution of the door operation commands operable to control movement of the door of the vehicle in order to prevent operational interference between the door and the ramp; and

moving the ramp of the vehicle by operating a ramp motor coupled to the ramp after said suspending operation of the door control system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said suspending operation of the door control system includes placing the door control system into a sleep mode, wherein the door control system is unresponsive to commands when in the sleep mode.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

placing the door control system in a wake mode before said placing the door control system into the sleep mode,

wherein the door control system is responsive when in the wake mode;

opening the door of the vehicle with the door control system while the door control system is in the wake mode; and

wherein said moving the ramp includes deploying the ramp.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

wherein said moving the ramp includes stowing the ramp;

placing the door control system in a wake mode after said stowing the ramp, wherein the door control system is responsive when in the wake mode;

closing the door of the vehicle with the door control system after said placing the door control system in the wake mode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said suspending operation of the door control system includes delaying receipt of a command to operate the door at the door control system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said moving the ramp includes stowing the ramp; and

said delaying receipt of the command includes transmitting a close door command to the door control system after said stowing the ramp.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said suspending operation of the door control system includes placing the door control system into a sleep mode, wherein the door control system is unresponsive to commands when in the sleep mode.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said suspending operation of the door control system includes delaying receipt of a command to operate the door at the door control system.

19. A method of providing wheelchair access to a vehicle having a door and a ramp, comprising:

suspending operation of a door control system that is operable to control movement of the door of the vehicle in order to prevent operational interference between the door and the ramp;

moving the ramp of the vehicle by operating a ramp motor coupled to the ramp after said suspending operation of the door control system;

providing a door latch motor for a door latch of the door of the vehicle;

detecting the door of the vehicle is ajar before said suspending;

resetting the door control system in response to said detecting by sending a service mode command to the door control system to actuate the door latch; and

opening the door to a fully opened position with the door control system after said resetting.

20. A method of providing wheelchair access to a vehicle having a door and a ramp, comprising:

suspending operation of a door control system that is operable to control movement of the door of the vehicle in order to prevent operational interference between the door and the ramp;

moving the ramp of the vehicle by operating a ramp motor coupled to the ramp after said suspending operation of the door control system,

wherein said moving the ramp includes deploying the ramp;

kneeling the vehicle; and

detecting a ramp obstruction during said deploying by monitoring current drawn by the ramp motor.

21. A wheelchair access system for a vehicle having a door and a ramp that provides wheelchair access to the vehicle, comprising:

a ramp motor operable to move the ramp;

a controller operatively coupled to said ramp motor;

a door control system operatively coupled to said controller, said door control system being operable to monitor and control operation of the door; and

said controller being operable to selectively delay execution of said door operation commands by said door control system while operating said ramp motor to move the ramp.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said controller is operable to detect ramp obstructions by monitoring current drawn by said ramp motor.

23. A method of providing wheelchair access to a vehicle having a door and a ramp, comprising:

sending door operation commands;

suspending operation of the door operation commands of a door control system to selectively delay execution of the door operation commands operable to control movement of the door of the vehicle in order to prevent operational interference between the door and the ramp; and

moving the ramp of the vehicle by operating a ramp motor coupled to the ramp after said suspending operation of the door control system.