Temperature control for powered vehicle doors

• US 10,000,961 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elie, Larry Dean, Novak, Robert F., Jaranson, John Wayne, Potter, Timothy J., Azzouz, Michael M., Heath, Gerald J., Skoures, Evangelos P., Wallace, Jeff A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rephann, Justin B
• Application Number:
  US15/056,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/322 by using absolute position sensors sensors for electronic control of hinges, wings, windows as such E05Y2400/44
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/502 of components
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/54 Obstruction or resistance detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/414 against high or low temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2205/00 Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/005 Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature fire detection G08B17/00

Abstract

A vehicle door controller is disclosed. The vehicle door controller is in communication with an actuator configured to control a door and is further in communication with a temperature sensing device. The controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensing device. Based on the temperature signal, the controller is configured to identify an actuator condition. In response to the actuator condition, the controller is configured to control the actuator to move the door to a resting position.

Claims

1. A vehicle door system comprising:

an actuator configured to adjust a position of the door;

a temperature sensor proximate to the actuator configured to measure an actuator temperature;

a controller configured to control the actuator and receive the actuator temperature, wherein the controller is configured to;

compare the actuator temperature to at least one temperature threshold;

in response to the actuator temperature exceeding the at least one temperature threshold, output an actuator warning signal; and

control the actuator to release the door from an at least partially open, held position in response to the actuator temperature exceeding the at least one temperature threshold.

2. The vehicle door system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature threshold corresponds to a plurality of temperature thresholds.

3. The vehicle door system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator to release the door from the at least partially open, held position in response to the actuator temperature exceeding a first temperature threshold of the plurality of temperature thresholds.

4. The vehicle door system according to claim 2, further comprising a position sensor configured to identify a position of the door and communicate the position to the controller.

5. The vehicle door system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert in response to the position changing as the actuator is released.

6. The vehicle door system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the actuator to move the door position a plurality of times in response to the actuator temperature exceeding a second temperature threshold of the plurality of temperature thresholds.

7. The vehicle door system according to claim 6, wherein the movement of the door at a plurality of times corresponds to an oscillating motion of the door by the actuator.

8. The vehicle door system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the actuator to output the warning signal in response to the actuator temperature exceeding a third temperature threshold of the plurality of temperature thresholds.

9. The vehicle door system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is integrated with the actuator.

10. A vehicle door controller in communication with an actuator configured to control a position of a door and a temperature sensing device in connection with the actuator, the controller configured to:

control the actuator to hold the position of the door;

receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensing device;

based on the temperature signal, identify an actuator condition, wherein the actuator condition is identified as a plurality of warning states corresponding to a plurality of temperature ranges of the temperature signal; and

in response to the actuator condition, control the actuator to release the hold position of the door.

11. The vehicle door controller according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a first warning state in response to a first temperature range, and in response to the first warning state, control the actuator to release the door.

12. The vehicle door controller according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a second warning state in response to a second temperature range.

13. The vehicle door controller according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the actuator to move the door in an oscillating motion generating a visual alert of the second warning state.

14. The vehicle door controller according to claim 10, wherein the holding position of the door comprises resisting an external force applied to the door.

15. A vehicle door control system comprising:

an actuator configured to adjust a position of a vehicle door;

a sensor configured to communicate a temperature of the actuator;

a controller configured to control the actuator and receive the actuator temperature, wherein the controller is configured to;

identify at least one warning state of the actuator in response to the actuator temperature exceeding at least one predetermined threshold; and

control the actuator to move the door in an oscillating motion in response to the at least one warning state.

16. The vehicle door control system according to claim 15, wherein the actuator corresponds to an electrical motor.

17. The vehicle door control system according to claim 15, further comprising a position sensor configured to identify a position of the door and communicate the position to the controller.

18. The vehicle door control system according to claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the actuator to release the door in response to the temperature exceeding the at least one predetermined threshold.

19. The vehicle door control system according to claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a position of the door from the position sensor such that the door is released gradually.