Vehicle panel control system
First Claim
1. A control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving a panel control signal, wherein the motor moves a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source;
an object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the object sensor generates an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the panel;
a controller operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller transmits a panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object; and
an in-vehicle local area network (LAN), wherein the controller communicates with vehicle modules over the LAN, wherein the LAN is either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle includes a controller, an object sensor, and a motor. The motor receives power from a power source upon receiving a panel control signal. The motor moves a movable panel of the vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source. The object sensor is operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor. The object sensor generates an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the panel path. The controller is operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel. When the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller transmits a panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal to prevent the panel from entrapping an object.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving a panel control signal, wherein the motor moves a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source; an object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the object sensor generates an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the panel; a controller operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller transmits a panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object; and an in-vehicle local area network (LAN), wherein the controller communicates with vehicle modules over the LAN, wherein the LAN is either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving a panel control signal, wherein the motor moves a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source; an object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the object sensor generates an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the panel; a controller operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller transmits a panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object; a second motor operable to receive power from a second power source upon receiving a panel control signal, wherein the second motor moves a second movable panel of the vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the second motor receives power from the second power source; a second object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the second panel without monitoring the second motor, wherein the second object sensor generates an object signal upon detecting an object in the path of the second panel; and a second controller operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the second motor to move the second panel, wherein when the second panel is moving in the closing direction the second controller transmits a panel control signal to the second motor to reverse movement of the second panel to the opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the second panel from entrapping an object. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving a panel control signal, wherein the motor moves a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source; an object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the object sensor generates an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the oath of the panel; and a controller operable for transmitting a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller transmits a panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object. wherein the controller includes memory for storing the position of the panel alone the path prior to the vehicle being turned off, wherein the controller transmits a panel control signal to move the panel from the closed position to an opened position stored in memory upon receiving a preset panel open command, wherein the controller is operable for transmitting a panel control signal to close the panel to the closed position upon the vehicle being exited after a predetermined time period.
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Specification