Switch-based door and ramp interface system
First Claim
1. A control system for providing wheelchair access to a vehicle, the vehicle having a door and a ramp, the system comprising:
- a door motor operable to move the door between an opened position and a closed position;
a ramp controller operable to move the ramp between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a door control unit operable to control a supply of electrical power to the door motor in response to a door operation request;
a power line coupled between the door control unit and the door motor to carry the supply of electrical power to the door motor; and
an access controller coupled to the ramp controller and the power line, the access controller operable to selectively prohibit the supply of electrical power from reaching the door motor when the ramp is deployed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface system is presented, which prevents operational interference between a vehicle power door and a ramp of an access system by interrupting power to the motors and actuators responsible for operating the door. The interface system includes a relay system that does not interrupt, read, signal, or otherwise interfere with the communication lines between a body control unit, door control unit, or remote control transmitter or receiver. Thus, the interface system functions without the need to receive and transmit signals on the vehicle'"'"'s communication bus. The interface system enables the ramp controller of the access system to be a separate module, which controls the ramp and kneel functions, because the only input the ramp controller provides to the power door system is to a ground signal that mimics that of a switch included in the vehicle.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A control system for providing wheelchair access to a vehicle, the vehicle having a door and a ramp, the system comprising:
-
a door motor operable to move the door between an opened position and a closed position; a ramp controller operable to move the ramp between a stowed position and a deployed position; a door control unit operable to control a supply of electrical power to the door motor in response to a door operation request; a power line coupled between the door control unit and the door motor to carry the supply of electrical power to the door motor; and an access controller coupled to the ramp controller and the power line, the access controller operable to selectively prohibit the supply of electrical power from reaching the door motor when the ramp is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An access system for a vehicle having a door and a ramp, the access system comprising:
-
a body control unit; a door control unit operable in response to commands received from the body control unit; a door motor operable in response to electrical power supplied by the door control unit to move the door between opened and closed positions; a power line coupled between the door control unit and the door motor for carrying the electrical power supplied by the door control unit; a ramp system operable to move the ramp between a stowed position and a deployed position; and an access controller coupled to the ramp system and including a motor switch connected to the power line between the door control unit and the door motor, the access controller operable to close the motor switch when the ramp is in the stowed position to allow operation of the door motor, and operable to open the motor switch when the ramp is not in the stowed position to prohibit operation of the door motor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of controlling a door system and a ramp system in a vehicle having a ramp, the method comprising:
-
selecting a vehicle with an OEM door operation system including a door control unit and a door motor, the door control unit operable to provide a supply of electrical power to the door motor; installing an access controller in the vehicle; coupling the access controller to the door operation system between the door control unit and the door motor; and
,coupling the access controller to the ramp system, wherein the access controller prevents the supply of electrical power from reaching the door motor when the ramp is in a deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification