Method for motorized movement of a motor vehicle door

• US 9,217,271 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Heissler, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): STRIMBU, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US12/130,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,762 Days
• Field of Search: 495/06, 493/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/414 for the initial closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/712 with incomplete toothing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/356 Predefined intermediate positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/508 for convertibles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A method of motorized movement of a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door can be moved from an open position to a closed position as part of a closing process with a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door and a control system. In a first section of the closing process the vehicle door is moved by the door drive mechanism from the open position to a comfortable open position that lies between the open position and the closed position. In a second section of the closing process, the vehicle door is further moved from the comfortable open position in the closing direction, preferably to the closed position, manually by the user and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

Claims

1. A method of moving a vehicle door, the method comprising:

providing a control system and a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door;

setting a predetermined open position that lies between an open position of the vehicle door and a closed position of the vehicle door, wherein the predetermined open position being a mechanically or electrically adjustable set position dependent upon a preference of a user;

manually moving the vehicle door in an opening direction from the closed position to the open position;

completing a first section of a closing process by moving the vehicle door in a closing direction from the open position toward the closed position using the door drive mechanism;

automatically ending movement of the vehicle door by the door drive mechanism at the predetermined open position; and

completing a second section of the closing process by manually moving the vehicle door, largely free of the door drive mechanism, in the closing direction from the predetermined open position to the closed position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mechanically separating the door drive mechanism from the vehicle door during the second section of the closing process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of mechanically separating the door drive mechanism from the vehicle door comprises disengaging a first element of the door drive mechanism from a second element of the vehicle door by moving the vehicle door in the closing direction beyond the predetermined open position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined open position is located between 25% and 85% of a swing range of the vehicle door from the closed position toward the open position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a coupling is located between the door drive mechanism and the vehicle door and the method further comprises:

mechanically separating the door drive mechanism from the vehicle door at the coupling when the vehicle door is in the predetermined open position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

shutting off the door drive mechanism with the control system when transitioning from the first section of the closing process to the second section of the closing process.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, at least in part with the control system, at least one predetermined user action after the step of manually moving the vehicle door to the open position; and

upon detection of said predetermined user action, initiating the first section of the closing process.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting said at least one user action with a sensor apparatus, wherein the at least one user action comprises occupation of a vehicle seat associated with the vehicle door.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a predetermined time delay occurs after the detection of the predetermined user action and before the step of initiating the first section of the closing process.