Vehicle liftgate control system

• US 7,034,485 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: StrongArm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Roach, Jack R., Dayoub, Karim, Fin, Enrico, Bauman, Walter Douglas, Saxon, Joseph Benjamin, Bolbrugge, Shelley Lynn, Kuan, Chihping, Cramton, Adam Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/948,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 318/283, 318/286, 318/266, 318/466, 318/468, 493/24, 493/40, 49/26, 492/80, 493/49, 493/53, 296/146.8, 296/146.4
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A powered system to selectively position a vehicle liftgate at a multiple of positions intermediate a fully open and a fully closed position. A controller receives commands from a remote, such as a key fob, and/or from a selector located within the vehicle to selectively operate the liftgate to move the liftgate through a multiple of liftgate positions through a combination of button presses or selector positions.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle closure member comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a vehicle closure member movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position;

(2) communicating a first position command to the vehicle closure member to command the vehicle closure member to move the vehicle closure member directly to an intermediate position intermediate the fully open position and the fully closed position; and

(3) selectively moving the vehicle closure member toward the intermediate position in response to the position command of said step (2).

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (2) further comprises the step of:

wirelessly transmitting the position command.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (2) further comprises the step of:

communicating the position command in response to a rotational position of a dial selector.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(4) communicating a close position command to the vehicle closure member; and

(5) moving the vehicle closure member to the closed position in response to said step (4).

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(4) communicating an open position command to the vehicle closure member, and

(5) moving the vehicle closure member to the open position in response to said step (4).

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprises the step of:

stopping the vehicle closure member at the intermediate poison.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(4) communicating a second position command to the vehicle closure member after said step (3); and

(5) moving the vehicle closure member toward the fully open position in response to said step (4).

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (2) further comprises the step of:

wirelessly communicating the position command in response to a rotational position of a dial selector.

9. A method of operating a vehicle closure member comprising the steps of:

(1) communicating a first position command to a vehicle closure member movable between a first end position and a second end position;

(2) moving the vehicle closure member toward the first end position in response to said step (1);

(3) communicating a second position command after said step (2) but prior to the vehicle closure member reaching the first end position; and

(4) stopping the vehicle closure member at an intermediate position intermediate the first end position and the second end position in response to the second position command in response to said step (3).

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(5) communicating a third position command; and

(6) moving the vehicle closure member to the first end position in response to said step (5).

11. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(5) communicating a third position command; and

(6) moving the vehicle closure member to the second end position in response to said step (5).

12. A powered system for a vehicle closure member comprising:

an actuator which drives a vehicle closure member movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and

a controller in communication with said actuator, said controller operable to communicate a multiple of intermediate position commands to said actuator to selectively position said vehicle closure member to a multiple of corresponding intermediate positions intermediate said fully open position and said fully closed position in response to communication of one of said multiple of intermediate position commands.

13. The powered system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a remote signaling device that wirelessly communicates with said controller.

14. The powered system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a dial selector that communicates with said controller.

15. The powered system as recited in claim 12, wherein said actuator further comprises a gas spring selectively movable by a linear electric motor.

16. The powered system as recited in claim 15, wherein said gas spring and said linear electric motor are mounted along a common axis.

17. A vehicle closure member and associated system comprising:

a gas spring selectively movable by a linear electric motor to drive a vehicle closure member movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position;

a controller in communication with said linear electric motor; and

a dial selector in communication with said controller, said controller operable to communicate a multiple of intermediate position commands to said linear electric motor to selectively position said vehicle closure member at one position of a multiple of corresponding intermediate positions intermediate said fully open position and said fully closed position in response to selection of said one position at said dial selector.