Electrically powered door actuating system of motor vehicle

• US 7,977,903 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited
• Inventors: Kamiya, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip; Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/338,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 318/266, 318/280, 318/283, 318/466, 318/469, 49 26- 28, 324/661, 324/663, 250/221
• US Class Current: 318/469
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

In an electrically powered door actuating system of a motor vehicle with a slide door, there is employed a control unit for controlling a door actuating device of the slide door. The control unit is configured to carry out, under a condition wherein the door actuating device is controlled to move the door in a closing or opening direction upon manipulation of a door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon detecting an obstacle by a contact type obstacle sensor, and controlling the door actuating device to temporarily stop the movement of the door upon detecting an obstacle by a non-contact type obstacle sensor; and under a condition wherein the temporary stop of the door is kept, controlling the door actuating device to continue the temporary stop of the door upon detecting an obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, and controlling the door actuating device to move the door in the same direction as that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door upon detecting no obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors.

Claims

1. An electrically powered door actuating system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a door actuating device that, upon manipulation of a door control switch means, moves a slide door in closing or opening direction with power of an electric motor;

a contact type obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle on a given track of the door by contacting the same;

a non-contact type obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle on the given track of the door without contacting the same; and

a control unit that controls the door actuating device by processing information signals issued from the door control switch means and the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors,

wherein the control unit is configured to carry out;

when the door actuating device is moving the door due to manipulation of the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon detecting an obstacle by the contact type obstacle sensor;

when the door actuating device is moving the door due to manipulation of the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to temporarily stop the movement of the door upon detecting an obstacle by the non-contact type obstacle sensor; and

when the temporary stop of the door is being kept by the door actuating device, controlling the door actuating device to keep the temporary stop of the door upon detecting an obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, and controlling the door actuating device to move the door in the same direction as that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door upon detecting no obstacle by the contact and non-contact obstacle sensors.

2. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when the door actuating device is moving the door due to manipulation of the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to continue the movement of the door upon detecting no obstacle by the non-contact type obstacle sensor.

3. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect an obstacle in a predetermined time from the time when the temporary stop of the door started, controlling the door actuating device to continue the temporary stop of the door;

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect no obstacle, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in the same direction as that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door; and

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect an obstacle at a time when the predetermined time expires, controlling the door actuating device to move in a direction opposite to the direction in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door.

4. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect an obstacle in a predetermined time from the time when the temporary stop of the door started, controlling the door actuating device to continue the temporary stop of the door;

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect no obstacle, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in the same direction as that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door; and

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors detect an obstacle at a time when the predetermined time expires, discontinuing the control of the door actuating device.

5. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 3, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

after the temporary stop of the door is made, controlling the door actuating device to release an operative connection between the electric motor and the door actuating device; and

when a movement of the door is detected, controlling the door actuating device to establish the operative connection between the electric motor and the door actuating device.

6. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 5, in which the release and establishment of the operative connection between the electric motor and the door actuating device is made by an electromagnetic clutch.

7. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 3, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, during the temporary stop of the door, a door opening instruction is issued from the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in a direction opposite to the direction in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door.

8. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when the non-contact type obstacle sensor senses an obstacle at a time when the door is placed to define only a very small space in a door opening, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction.

9. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 3, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, before the temporary stop of the door, the non-contact type obstacle sensor senses an obstacle at a time when the door is placed to define only a very small space in a door opening, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction.

10. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 9, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, during the temporary stop of the door, the door is placed to define a larger space for the door opening and a door open instruction is issued from the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in a direction opposite to the direction in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door.

11. An electrically powered door actuating system of a motor vehicle with a slide door, comprising:

a door actuating device that, upon manipulation of a door control switch means, moves the slide door in a closing direction with power of an electric motor;

an electromagnetic clutch that is operatively disposed between the door actuating device and the electric motor;

a contact type obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle on a given track of the door by contacting the same;

a non-contact type obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle on the given track of the door without contacting the same; and

a control unit that controls the door actuating device and the electromagnetic clutch by processing information signals issued from the door control switch means and the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors,

wherein the control unit is configured to carry out;

under a condition wherein the door actuating device is controlled to move the door in a closing or opening direction upon manipulation of the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon detecting an obstacle by the contact type obstacle sensor, and controlling the door actuating device to temporarily stop the movement of the door upon detecting an obstacle by the non-contact type obstacle sensor; and

under a condition wherein the temporary stop of the door is kept, controlling the door actuating device to continue the temporary stop of the door upon detecting an obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, and controlling the door actuating device to move the door in the same direction as that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door upon detecting no obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors.

12. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 11, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

under a condition wherein during the temporary stop of the door the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors sense an obstacle, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in a direction opposite to that in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door, upon detecting that a predetermined time has passed from the time when the temporary stop of the door started.

13. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 11, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

under a condition wherein during the temporary stop of the door the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors sense an obstacle, discontinuing the door moving control of the door actuating device upon detecting that a predetermined time has passed from the time when the temporary stop of the door started.

14. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 12, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

after starting counting of the time, releasing an engaged condition of the electromagnetic clutch; and

when movement of the door is detected, establishing the engaged condition of the electromagnetic clutch.

15. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 12, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, after detection of an obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, a door open instruction is issued from the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in a direction opposite to the direction in which the door moved before the temporary stop of the door.

16. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 12, in which the control unit is configured to further carry to out:

when, after detection of the obstacle by the non-contact type obstacle sensor, it is detected that the door is placed to define a very small space in a door opening, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction.

17. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 16, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, after detection of the obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, it is detected that the door is placed to define a larger space for the door opening, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon receiving a door open instruction from the door control switch means.

18. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 16, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, after detection of the obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, it is detected that the door is placed to define a larger space for the door opening and no door open instruction is issued from the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon detecting an obstacle by the contact type obstacle sensor.

19. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in claim 16, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when, after detection of an obstacle by the contact and non-contact type obstacle sensors, it is detected that the door is not placed to define a larger space for the door opening, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon receiving a door open instruction from the door control switch means.

20. An electrically powered door actuating system as claimed in is claim 19, in which the control unit is configured to further carry out:

when receiving no door open instruction from the door control switch means, controlling the door actuating device to move the door in an opposite direction upon detecting that the predetermined time expires.