Electronic control system and method for an auxiliary device interlock safety system
First Claim
1. A control system for an auxiliary vehicular access device, the control system comprising:
- a communication bus for carrying communication signals between a plurality of vehicle components;
a vehicle controller coupled to the communication bus;
a power sliding door subsystem operable to open and close a vehicle door in response to at least one of the communication signals;
an access device moveable between stowed and deployed positions;
an access controller coupled to the access device for controlling movement of the access device between the stowed and deployed positions, and coupled to the communication bus, wherein the access controller delays operation of at least one of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device until the other of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device is in an appropriate state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller, control system and method for controlling an auxiliary device comprising a wheelchair lift, ramp, or the like are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary device controller is microprocessor-based and communicates with a vehicle'"'"'s OEM controller for receiving a plurality of sensor inputs, which originate from OEM and auxiliary sensors, process the sensor inputs, and control various OEM and auxiliary systems relative to the sensor inputs to effect a number of safety interlocks. The controller may operate to coordinate various OEM and auxiliary subsystems to automate auxiliary device operation to reduce operator error.
79 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A control system for an auxiliary vehicular access device, the control system comprising:
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a communication bus for carrying communication signals between a plurality of vehicle components; a vehicle controller coupled to the communication bus; a power sliding door subsystem operable to open and close a vehicle door in response to at least one of the communication signals; an access device moveable between stowed and deployed positions; an access controller coupled to the access device for controlling movement of the access device between the stowed and deployed positions, and coupled to the communication bus, wherein the access controller delays operation of at least one of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device until the other of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device is in an appropriate state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of installing an access device in a vehicle to provide access to the vehicle while coordinating operation between the access device and at least one vehicle subsystem, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle including a door subsystem that opens and closes a vehicle door, the door subsystem operating in response to vehicle communications sent from a vehicle controller, the vehicle communications sent via a communication bus; installing the access device in the vehicle for passenger egress and ingress to the vehicle through the vehicle door, the access device moveable between stowed and deployed positions; providing an access controller having at least one communication interface; coupling the communication interface to the communication bus for receiving the vehicle communications; coupling the access controller to the access device to control stowing and deploying of the access device, and for determining whether the access device is stowed; and programming the access controller to delay execution of operation of the door subsystem when the access device is not stowed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A control system for an auxiliary vehicular access device, the control system comprising:
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a communication bus associated with the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle components for carrying communication signals between the plurality of vehicle components, the plurality of vehicle components operable to send and receive the communication signals using a communication protocol, the plurality of vehicle components including; a vehicle control module; and a power sliding door subsystem operable to open and close a vehicle door in response to at least one of the communication signals, the at least one of the communication signals sent by the vehicle control module; an access device installed in the vehicle to provide ingress and egress through the vehicle door, the access device moveable between stowed and deployed positions and including an access device sensor that indicates whether the access device is stowed or deployed; an access controller installed in the vehicle to coordinate operation between at least the access device and the power sliding door subsystem, the access controller coupled to the access device for controlling movement of the access device between the stowed and deployed positions, and for communicating with the access device sensor to determine whether the access device is stowed, the access controller also coupled to the communication bus for communication with the vehicle controller and the power sliding door subsystem, wherein the access controller intercepts a control signal to delay operation of at least one of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device when the other of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device is in an incorrect state to thereby prevent interference between the vehicle door and the access device, and wherein the access controller operates the other of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device to correct the incorrect state while delaying operation of the at least one of the power sliding door subsystem and the access device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An access system for a vehicle, the access system comprising:
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a door control system for controlling movement of a vehicle door between open and closed positions; an access device installed in the vehicle and moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position that provides ingress and egress through the vehicle door; a first vehicle module operable to send a door operation command; a second vehicle module operable to receive and interpret the door operation command to initiate execution of a door operation; a communication pathway extending between the first vehicle module and the second vehicle module and carrying vehicle command signals in the form of coded data, the vehicle command signals including the door operation command; an access controller coupled to the access device to control movement of the access device between the stowed and deployed positions, the access controller coupled to the communication pathway for receiving the vehicle command signals and to identify at least the door operation command, wherein the access controller determines whether the vehicle door is in the open or closed position and whether the access device is in the stowed or deployed position and delays execution of the door operation command to avoid interference between the vehicle door and the access device when the vehicle door and the access device are in an incorrect state. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification