Control system for power-assisted door

• US 9,159,219 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: Magner, David S., Bergman, John Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Kawing
• Application Number:
  US12/713,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/445, 318/446, 320/137, 493/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/01 Locks for military or armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/50 using fluid-pressure actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/512 of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/504 for armored vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries

Abstract

A control system for a power assisted door, the electronic door control system includes an intelligent control, a plurality of sensor inputs operatively connected to the intelligent control, the plurality of sensor inputs associated with state of a plurality of mechanical components of the power assisted door, and a power drive operatively connected to the intelligent control for providing opening and closing of the power assisted door. The intelligent control is configured to monitor status of the plurality of sensor inputs and control the power drive at least partially based on the status of the plurality of sensor inputs. The intelligent control may be adapted to determine when state of the plurality of sensor inputs is indicative of one or more conditions which would preclude safe door movement. A power distribution module may also be present to assist in limiting current draw and to allow for charging.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for a power assisted hinged door mounted to a door frame, the door having interior and exterior door handles for opening and closing a door, a latch for latching and unlatching the door, and a blast lock extendable from the door into the frame to preclude opening of the door, the interior handle is operatively connected to the latch and to the blast lock, the control system comprising:

an intelligent control operatively connected to the interior and exterior handles, the latch, and the blast lock;

a plurality of electrical sensor inputs operatively connected to the intelligent control, the plurality of sensor inputs associated with the state of each of the interior handle, the exterior handle, the blast lock, the latch, and the position of the door;

a power drive operatively connected to the intelligent control for providing opening and closing of the power assisted door;

wherein the intelligent control is configured to monitor status of the plurality of electrical sensor inputs and control the power drive at least partially based on the plurality of electrical sensor inputs, and to achieve intuitive control of the interior and exterior handles; and

the intelligent control being operative for actuating the blast lock extension into and retraction from the door frame, for activating the latch, and for pivoting the door open and closed.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a power distribution module operatively connected to the intelligent control and the power drive.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the power distribution module is operatively connected to a vehicle battery and a backup battery.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein the power distribution module is configured for charging the back up battery.

5. The control system of claim 2 wherein the power distribution module provides for limiting current draw of one or more batteries operatively connected to the power distribution module.

6. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless remote device in operative communication with the intelligent control.

7. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a controller area network (CAN) interface.

8. The control system of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control determines when the sensor inputs indicate attempts to both open and close the power assisted door at the same time.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control determines when the sensor inputs indicate one or more conditions which would preclude safe door movement.

10. The control system of claim 1 wherein the interior handle is a joystick pivotal about two perpendicular axes.

11. The control system of claim 1 wherein the electrical sensors include a first position sensor on the interior handle, a second position sensor on the blast lock, a third position sensor on the latch, and the first, second and third sensors each generating an input signal to the intelligent control corresponding to the positions of the interior handle, blast lock, and latch, respectively.

12. The control system of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control locks the blast lock only after the door is latched, and unlatches the door only after the blast lock is unlocked.

13. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a primary actuator to open and close the door and a secondary actuator to lock and unlock the blast lock.

14. The control system of claim 13 wherein the intelligent control is operatively connected to the primary and secondary actuators.

15. A method of electrically controlling a power assisted hinged door mounted to a door frame and having interior and exterior door handles and motorized actuator for opening and closing the door, a door latch assembly for latching and unlatching the door, and a door blast lock assembly engageable and disengageable with the door frame for locking and unlocking the door via a secondary motorized actuator, the method comprising:

providing an electronic door control system including (a) an intelligent control, (b) a plurality of sensor inputs operatively connected to the intelligent control, the plurality of electrical sensor inputs being associated with positions of each of the interior handle, the exterior handle, the power assisted door, the lock assembly and the latch assembly, and (c) a power drive operatively connected to the intelligent control for providing opening and closing of the power assisted door, and monitoring status of the plurality of electrical sensor inputs at the intelligent control;

controlling the power drive at least partially based on the status of the plurality of sensor inputs, and

controlling operation of the latch and lock assemblies using the intelligent control, wherein the intelligent control locks the blast lock only ater the door is latched, and unlatches the door only after the blast lock is unlocked.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising controlling a secondary actuator at least partially based on the status of one or more of the sensor inputs.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising managing power associated with the power-assisted door.