System for controlling the doors of a power split tailgate
First Claim
1. A power, split door system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position;
a second vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position;
first and second drive means for moving the first and second vehicle doors, respectively, between the closed and open positions; and
control means for controlling the first and second drive means so as to control movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions;
wherein the control means is provided with positional information relating to each of the first and second vehicle doors;
wherein the control means is configured to ensure that each of the first and second vehicle doors do not attempt to occupy the same space at the same time;
wherein the control means comprises a first control unit for controlling the first drive means and a second control unit for controlling the second drive means; and
wherein;
(i) the first control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the first drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the first control unit is provided with positional information relating to the first vehicle door;
(ii) the second control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the second drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the second control unit is provided with positional information relating to the second vehicle door; and
(iii) the first and second control units are in communication with one another to exchange positional data relating to the first and second vehicle doors such that each of the first and second control units is provided with positional data relating to both the first and the second vehicle doors;
wherein the first and second control units each receive positional data from a sensor located on or within the first and second drive means respectively; and
wherein the first drive means comprises an electrically driven rotating spindle and wherein a first Hall sensor located on or within the first drive means issues a signal to the first control unit about every half rotation of the rotating spindle and wherein the first control unit is configured to count the Hall sensor signals issued to the first control unit and determine in dependence upon the counted number of Hall sensor signals the current position of the first vehicle door.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power, split door system (12) for a vehicle (10), comprising a first vehicle door (14) arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; a second vehicle door (16) arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; first (40a, 40b) and second (42) drive means for moving the first and second doors, respectively, between the closed and open positions; and control means (18, 83, 85, 87) for controlling the first and second drive means so as to control movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions; wherein the control means is provided with positional information relating to each of the first and second vehicle doors; and wherein the control means is configured to ensure that each of the first and second vehicle doors do not attempt to simultaneously occupy the same space. The first and second doors may be configured such that in a closed position, the first and second doors partially overlap.
22 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A power, split door system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; a second vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; first and second drive means for moving the first and second vehicle doors, respectively, between the closed and open positions; and control means for controlling the first and second drive means so as to control movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions; wherein the control means is provided with positional information relating to each of the first and second vehicle doors; wherein the control means is configured to ensure that each of the first and second vehicle doors do not attempt to occupy the same space at the same time; wherein the control means comprises a first control unit for controlling the first drive means and a second control unit for controlling the second drive means; and wherein; (i) the first control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the first drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the first control unit is provided with positional information relating to the first vehicle door; (ii) the second control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the second drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the second control unit is provided with positional information relating to the second vehicle door; and (iii) the first and second control units are in communication with one another to exchange positional data relating to the first and second vehicle doors such that each of the first and second control units is provided with positional data relating to both the first and the second vehicle doors; wherein the first and second control units each receive positional data from a sensor located on or within the first and second drive means respectively; and wherein the first drive means comprises an electrically driven rotating spindle and wherein a first Hall sensor located on or within the first drive means issues a signal to the first control unit about every half rotation of the rotating spindle and wherein the first control unit is configured to count the Hall sensor signals issued to the first control unit and determine in dependence upon the counted number of Hall sensor signals the current position of the first vehicle door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A power, split door system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; a second vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; first and second drive means for moving the first and second vehicle doors, respectively, between the closed and open positions; and control means for controlling the first and second drive means so as to control movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions; wherein the control means is provided with positional information relating to each of the first and second vehicle doors; wherein the control means is configured to ensure that each of the first and second vehicle doors do not attempt to occupy the same space at the same time; wherein the control means comprises a first control unit for controlling the first drive means and a second control unit for controlling the second drive means; wherein; (i) the first control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the first drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the first control unit is provided with positional information relating to the first vehicle door; (ii) the second control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the second drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the second control unit is provided with positional information relating to the second vehicle door; and (iii) the first and second control units are in communication with one another to exchange positional data relating to the first and second vehicle doors such that each of the first and second control units is provided with positional data relating to both the first and the second vehicle doors; wherein the first and second control units each receive positional data from a sensor located on or within the first and second drive means, respectively; and wherein the second drive means comprises an electrically driven rotating spindle and wherein a second Hall sensor located on or within the second drive means issues a signal to the second control unit about every half rotation of the rotating spindle and wherein the second control unit is configured to count the Hall sensor signals issued to the second control unit and determine in dependence upon the counted number of Hall sensor signals the position of the second vehicle door.
-
-
14. A power, split door system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; a second vehicle door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position; first and second drive means for moving the first and second vehicle doors, respectively, between the closed and open positions; and control means for controlling the first and second drive means so as to control movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions; wherein the control means is provided with positional information relating to each of the first and second vehicle doors; wherein the control means is configured to ensure that each of the first and second vehicle doors do not attempt to occupy the same space at the same time; wherein the control means comprises a first control unit for controlling the first drive means and a second control unit for controlling the second drive means; and wherein; (i) the first control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the first drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the first control unit is provided with positional information relating to the first vehicle door; (ii) the second control unit is supplied with positional data from at least one of one or more sensors, the second drive means, and another control system within the vehicle such that the second control unit is provided with positional information relating to the second vehicle door; and (iii) the first and second control units are in communication with one another to exchange positional data relating to the first and second vehicle doors such that each of the first and second control units is provided with positional data relating to both the first and the second vehicle doors; wherein the first drive means comprises an electrically driven rotating spindle and wherein a first Hall sensor located on or within the first drive means issues a signal to the first control unit about every half rotation of the rotating spindle and wherein the first control unit is configured to count the Hall sensor signals issued to the first control unit and determine in dependence upon the counted number of Hall sensor signals the current position of the first vehicle door; wherein the second drive means comprises an electrically driven rotating spindle and wherein a second Hall sensor located on or within the second drive means issues a signal to the second control unit about every half rotation of the rotating spindle and wherein the second control unit is configured to count the Hall sensor signals issued to the second control unit and determine in dependence upon the counted number of Hall sensor signals the position of the second vehicle door; and wherein the counted number of Hall signals issued to the first control unit can range from zero in the closed or fully open position of the first vehicle door to a first maximum count in the fully opened or closed position of the first vehicle door and wherein the counted number of Hall signals issued to the second control unit can range from zero in the closed or fully open position of the second vehicle door to a second maximum count in the fully opened or closed position of the second vehicle door.
-
Specification