Device and method for powered closing of car doors

• US 9,879,463 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lombrozo, Peter Craig, Warburton, Andrew Paul, Ellis, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US15/054,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 49333, 49334, 49335, 49338, 49339, 49340, 49341, 49347, 49348, 49352
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0486 Special type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/38 Planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/234 direction dependent
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/608 Back-drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/662 Cable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/72 Planetary gearing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3014 Back driving the transmission or motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 : Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 : of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/336 : of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/337 : Encoder wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 : Doors

Abstract

The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.

Claims

1. A system for automatically closing a door of a vehicle comprising:

a door check connected between a body of the vehicle and the door of the vehicle;

a cable; and

an actuator comprising a motor and a pulley,

wherein a first end of the cable is attached to the door check and a second end of the cable is attached to the pulley, and the motor is configured to pull the second end of the cable around the pulley such that the first end of the cable causes the door check to be placed into a closed state.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first end of the cable is attached to a connector on the door check.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cable is a Bowden cable comprising an external housing and an internal cable.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the door check further includes a mount and the actuator further includes a cable housing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein a first end of the external housing is attached to the mount and the second end of the external housing is attached to the cable housing.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein a first end of the internal cable is attached to a connector on the door check and a second end of the internal cable is attached to the pulley.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulley includes one or more internal teeth.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the actuator further comprises a hub, and wherein the hub includes one or more teeth.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the actuator further comprises an output shaft connected to the hub;

and

wherein the motor is configured to pull the second end of the cable around the pulley such that the first end of the cable causes the door check to be placed into a closed state by rotating the output shaft such that the output shaft rotates the hub, and the one or more teeth of the hub engage with the one or more internal teeth of the pulley, thereby causing the pulley to rotate.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising one or more door angle sensors for monitoring the position of the pulley.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising one or more motor angle sensors for monitoring the position of the output shaft.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to pull the second end of the cable around the pulley such that the first end of the cable causes the door check to be placed into a closed state when a triggering signal is received.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator further comprises a hub and a friction disc, wherein

the hub includes one or more pawls;

and the pulley includes one or more teeth,

wherein the motor is configured to pull the second end of the cable around the pulley such that the first end of the cable causes the door check to be placed into a closed state by rotating the output shaft such that the output shaft rotates the hub in a first direction, and the one or more teeth of the hub engage with the one or more internal teeth of the pulley, thereby causing the pulley to rotate.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the one or more pawls of the hub into the one or more teeth of the pulley when the friction disc provides a downward force on the one or more pawls while the output shaft rotates the hub in the first direction, and disengage the one or more pawls of the hub when the friction disc provides a downward force on the one or more pawls while the output shaft rotates the hub in the second direction.