Position initialization for a vehicle power closure system

• US 6,870,340 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Fukumura, Tomohiro, Dash, Sanjaya Kumar, Marlett, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US10/733,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 318/468, 318/282, 318/286, 318/434, 318/266, 49/28
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/22 by movement of the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/632 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/604 Transmission members
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/34 Pulse count limit setting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/342 Pulse count value setting or correcting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/40 Protection E05Y2400/50, E05Y2400/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A power closure system (40) for a vehicle panel (22, 24) includes position initialization techniques that ensure accurate position initialization. According to this invention, any slack in a coupling (62) between the vehicle panel and a motor (42) for moving the vehicle panel is removed prior to obtaining an initialization position reading when the panel (22, 24) is in a closed position. The inventive arrangement also includes determining a desired torque at which to operate the motor (42) during a position initialization procedure.

Claims

1. A method of determining an initialization position of a moveable panel on a vehicle that is moved by a motor, comprising the steps of:

(A) determining that the panel is in a closed position;

(B) energizing the motor to urge the panel toward the closed position to reduce any slack associated with a coupling between the motor and the panel; and

(C) determining the initialization position when there is no slack.

2. The method of claim 1, including performing step (B) when the motor is operating at a selected torque.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected torque is an average torque determined when the motor is moving the panel between first and second positions spaced along the travel of the panel from an open position to the closed position.

4. The method of claim 3, including selecting the first and second positions near the closed position of the panel.

5. The method of claim 1, including providing a sensor that provides an output indicative of the panel position and wherein step (C) includes obtaining an output from the sensor when there is no slack.

6. The method of claim 1, including determining that there is no slack by determining that the motor operates at a constant torque during step (B).

7. A system for moving a moveable panel, comprising:

a motor;

a coupling that couples the motor to the panel and includes a varying tension between the motor and the panel;

a position sensor that provides an indication of the panel position;

an indicator that provides an indication when the panel is in a closed position; and

a controller that energizes the motor responsive the closed position indication to urge the panel toward the closed position to reduce any slack between the motor and the panel, the controller obtaining an initialization position indication from the position sensor when there is no slack.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller obtains the initialization position indication only when the motor is operating at a selected torque level that corresponds to an average torque determined when the motor is moving the panel between first and second positions spaced along the travel of the panel from an open position to the closed position.

9. A method of initializing a motor that automatically moves a moveable panel on a vehicle between open and closed positions, comprising the steps of:

removing any slack associated with a coupling between the motor and the panel after the panel is in a closed position; and

determining an initialization position when there is no slack.

10. The method of claim 9 including energizing the motor and using a selected torque to remove any slack associated with the coupling.

11. The method of claim 10, including selecting the torque as an average motor torque between selected first and second positions along the movement of the panel from an open position toward the closed position.

12. The method of claim 11, including determining whether the panel was obstructed or the motor stalled during the movement between the first and second positions and only determining the average torque if the panel was not obstructed and the motor did not stall.

13. The method of claim 9, including determining that a clutch associated with the motor is engaged prior to energizing the motor.

14. A system for moving a moveable panel on a vehicle, comprising:

a motor;

a coupling between the motor and the panel; and

a controller that controls the motor to reduce any slack between the motor and the panel after the panel is in a closed position, the controller determining an initialization position when there is no slack between the motor and the panel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller causes the motor to operate at a torque that is an average torque associated with the motor as the panel moves between selected first and second positions along the movement of the panel from an open position toward the closed position.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller determines whether the panel was obstructed or the motor stalled during the movement between the first and second positions and only determines the average torque if the panel was not obstructed and the motor did not stall.

17. The system of claim 14, including a clutch associated with the motor and wherein the controller determines that the clutch is engaged prior to energizing the motor.