System and method for dynamic braking a vehicle closure system

• US 8,103,416 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Original Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Inventors: Frommer, Thomas P., Dominik, Tomasz T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): OH, HARRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/230,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/49, 296/146.4, 340/5.72
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/16 non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panelB60J7/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/24 using lost motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electromotoric braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/336 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/112 Back driving the transmission or motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

A system for dynamic braking a vehicle closure including a drive mechanism mounted to the vehicle, the drive mechanism having contacts to receive a drive signal to cause the drive mechanism to move the vehicle closure between an open and a close position in response to the drive signal, the drive mechanism capable of generating a generated drive signal during at least a portion of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position; and a controller having electrical outputs electrically coupled to the electrical contacts of the drive mechanism and electrical inputs to provide the drive signals to the drive mechanism and to receive generated drive signals from the drive mechanism, the controller configured to provide the generated drive signals back to the drive mechanism during operation of the vehicle closure to provide dynamic braking of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure of a vehicle, comprising:

a drive mechanism mounted to the vehicle, the drive mechanism having electrical contacts to receive a drive signal to cause the drive mechanism to move the vehicle closure between an open and a closed position in response to the drive signal, the drive mechanism capable of generating a generated drive signal during at least a portion of the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position; and

a controller having electrical outputs electrically coupled to the electrical contacts of the drive mechanism and electrical inputs to provide the drive signals to the drive mechanism and to receive generated drive signals from the drive mechanism, the controller further configured to provide the generated drive signals back to the drive mechanism during operation of the vehicle closure to provide dynamic braking of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

2. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is a motor capable of generating the generated drive signals during the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

3. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a circuit board having a plurality of microcontrollers for controlling the drive mechanism between one of an open position, a close position, a freewheeling operation, and the dynamic braking operation.

4. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a processor executing a software program that alters the drive signal in response to the position of the vehicle closure.

5. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 4, wherein the software program is configured to determine when to apply the drive signal to the drive mechanism based on one of speed and position of the vehicle closure.

6. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 4, wherein the software program is further configured to provide the drive signal generated by the drive mechanism back to the drive mechanism during the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

7. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle closure position sensor mounted on the vehicle in communication with the controller for providing to the controller data relating to the closing velocity of the vehicle closure relative to the vehicle.

8. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle closure position sensor is one of a rotary flex shaft encoder, a Hall Effect sensor, and an angle sensor.

26. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 2, wherein the generated drive signal is electrical energy, the generated drive signal responsive to the kinetic force of the vehicle closure.

27. The system for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 26, wherein the electrical energy is fed back the system to power the system during the dynamic braking.

9. A method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure of a vehicle, comprising:

generating a generated drive signal by a drive mechanism under mechanical force of kinetic energy from the vehicle closure during at least a portion of the operation of the vehicle closure from an open position to a close position; and

feeding back the generated drive signal to the drive mechanism for dynamic braking of the vehicle closure during the at least a portion of the operation of the vehicle closure from the open position to the close position.

10. The method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining a speed of the vehicle closure relative to the vehicle.

11. The method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 10, wherein feeding back the generated drive signal further comprises:

pulse width modulating the generated drive signal to the drive mechanism.

12. The method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 11, wherein pulse width modulating the generated drive signal to the drive mechanism further comprises:

increasing the pulse width modulation generated drive signal to increase the dynamic braking and decrease the speed of the vehicle closure.

13. The method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 11, wherein pulse width modulating the generated drive signal to the drive mechanism further comprises:

decreasing the pulse width modulation generated drive signal to decrease the dynamic braking and increase the speed of the vehicle closure.

14. The method for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 9, wherein pulse width modulating the generated drive signal to the drive mechanism further comprises:

decreasing the pulse width modulation generated drive signal to decrease the dynamic braking and increase the speed of the vehicle closure.

15. A vehicle having a vehicle closure, comprising:

a vehicle body, the vehicle closure being operably mounted to the vehicle body to enable the vehicle closure to move between an open and a closed position;

a drive mechanism operably mounted to the vehicle and the vehicle closure, the drive mechanism having electrical contacts to receive a drive signal to cause the drive mechanism to move the vehicle closure between the open and the close position in response to the drive signal, the drive mechanism capable of generating a generated drive signal during at least a portion of the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position; and

a controller having electrical outputs electrically coupled to the electrical contacts of the drive mechanism and electrical inputs to provide the drive signals to the drive mechanism and to receive generated drive signals from the drive mechanism, the controller further configured to provide the generated drive signals back to the drive mechanism during operation of the vehicle closure to provide dynamic braking of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

16. The vehicle having a vehicle closure according to claim 15, wherein the drive mechanism is a motor capable of generating drive signals during the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

17. The vehicle having a vehicle closure according to claim 15, wherein the controller further comprises:

a circuit board having a plurality of microcontrollers for controlling the drive mechanism between one of an open position, a close position, a freewheeling operation, and the dynamic braking operation.

18. The vehicle having a vehicle closure according to claim 15, wherein the controller further comprises:

a processor executing a software program that alters the generated drive signal in response to the closing velocity of the vehicle closure.

19. The vehicle having a vehicle closure according to claim 18, wherein the software program is configured to determine when to apply a generated drive signal to the drive mechanism based on the closing velocity of the vehicle closure.

20. The vehicle having a vehicle closure according to claim 19, wherein the software program is further configured to provide a generated drive signal generated by the drive mechanism back to the drive mechanism during the operation of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

21. A controller for dynamically braking a vehicle closure, comprising:

a processor configured receive a control signal representative of a closing velocity of the vehicle closure, the processor configured to receive a generated drive signal from a drive mechanism controlling the vehicle closure;

software executable by the processor, the software configured to generate a pulse width modulation generated drive signal in response to the generated drive signal; and

an input/output unit configured to communicate the pulse width modulation generated drive signal to the drive mechanism for providing dynamic braking to the vehicle closure.

22. The controller for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 21, wherein the controller further comprises:

a first microcontroller circuit operable between an on position and an off position, the first microcontroller circuit in contact with a power source for providing an opening drive signal to the drive mechanism.

23. The controller for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 21, wherein the controller further comprises:

a second microcontroller circuit operable between an on position and an off position, the second microcontroller circuit in contact with the power source for providing a closing drive signal to the drive mechanism.

24. The controller for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 21, wherein the controller further comprises:

a third microcontroller circuit operable between an on position and an off position, the third microcontroller circuit for providing the pulse width modulation generated drive signals.

25. The controller for dynamically braking a vehicle closure according to claim 21, wherein the controller further comprises:

a fourth microcontroller circuit operable between an on position and an off position, the fourth microcontroller circuit in contact with the controller for providing the dynamic braking to the vehicle closure.