ANTI-PINCH LOGIC FOR DOOR OPENING ACTUATOR

• US 20180080270A1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Khan, Muhammad Omer, Papanikolaou, Kosta, Puscas, Livianu Dorin, Radjewski, Christopher Matthew, Linden, H. Paul Tsvi, Bernwanger, JR., George Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,458,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/422 for opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• 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 2400/54 Obstruction or resistance detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/41 against finger injury
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A vehicle door system includes a vehicle door and electrically-powered linear and rotary actuators. The vehicle door system also includes a pinch sensor. Upon receiving an open door command, a controller actuates the linear actuator and then actuates the rotary actuator to open the door. The controller also actuates the linear actuator to prevent closing of the door if the pinch-sensor detects an object in a door opening. The controller actuates the rotary actuator to close the door upon receiving a close door command.

Claims

1. A vehicle door system, comprising:

a vehicle structure having a door opening;

a door having a front edge portion that is rotatably mounted to the vehicle structure to close off the door opening when the door is in a closed position, the door including a rear edge portion that is opposite the front edge portion;

an anti-pinch sensor that is configured to detect a user'"'"'s hand if a user'"'"'s hand is positioned adjacent the door opening and/or adjacent an edge of the door;

an electrically-powered door actuator that can be actuated to partially open the door by shifting the door from a closed position to a partially open position to form a gap between the rear edge portion of the door and the vehicle structure such that a user can grasp the rear edge portion and pull the door to a fully open position, and wherein the electrically-powered door actuator can be actuated to shift the door from the fully open position towards the closed position;

a controller configured to;

     1) cause the electrically-powered door actuator to generate a force tending to prevent the door from closing if the anti-pinch sensor detects a user'"'"'s hand; and

     2) actuate the electrically-powered door actuator to shift the door from the fully open position towards the closed position.

2. The vehicle door system of claim 1, wherein:

an electrically-powered latch mechanism configured to permit the door to open when the electrically-powered latch mechanism is unlatched, wherein the electrically-powered latch mechanism is configured to retain the door in a closed position when the electrically-powered latch mechanism is latched; and

the controller is configured to actuate the electrically-powered latch mechanism prior to actuating the electrically-powered door actuator to open the door.

3. The vehicle door system of claim 2, wherein:

the controller is configured to deactivate the electrically-powered door actuator if the door encounters an object that impedes opening of the door.

4. The vehicle door system of claim 3, wherein:

the controller stops supplying electrical current to the electrically-powered door actuator if an electric current to the electrically-powered door actuator exceeds a predefined maximum.

5. The vehicle door system of claim 4, wherein:

the controller is configured to actuate the electrically-powered door actuator to shift the door towards the closed position if a close door request is received.

6. The vehicle door system of claim 5, including:

a door position sensor; and

wherein;

the controller is configured to utilize position data from the door position sensor to determine if the door has encountered an object while closing and to deactivate the electrically-powered door actuator if an object is detected.

7. The vehicle door system of claim 1, wherein:

the anti-pinch sensor is positioned on the door adjacent the rear edge thereof

8. The vehicle door system of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle structure includes adjacent front and rear door openings;

the door comprises a front door that closes off the front door opening when the front door is closed;

the anti-pinch sensor comprises a front anti-pinch sensor;

the electrically-powered door actuator comprises a front electrically-powered door actuator; and

including;

a rear door rotatably mounted to the vehicle structure to close off the rear door when the rear door is closed;

a rear anti-pinch sensor;

a rear electrically-powered door actuator that can be actuated to move the rear door to an open position; and

wherein;

the controller is configured to cause the rear electrically-powered door actuator to generate a force tending to prevent closing of the rear door if the front anti-pinch sensor detects a user'"'"'s hand.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a body having an opening;

a movable door that selectively closes the opening;

an electrically-powered actuator that opens and closes the door;

an anti-pinch sensor configured to detect a user'"'"'s hand adjacent the door opening; and

a controller that causes the electrically-powered actuator to generate a force that tends to prevent closing of the door when the anti-pinch sensor detects a user'"'"'s hand.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

the controller actuates the electrically-powered actuator and closes the door upon receiving a close door command.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein:

the door includes a close door sensor that can be actuated by a user to generate a close door command to the controller.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the close door sensor comprises a switch on an exterior surface of the door that is configured to be manually actuated by a user.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

the door includes an electrically-powered latch that retains the door in a closed position when the electrically-powered latch is in a latched configuration, and wherein the electrically-powered latch permits opening of the door when the electrically-powered latch is in an unlatched configuration;

and wherein the controller, upon receiving an open door command, unlatches the electrically-powered latch and then actuates the electrically-powered actuator to open the door.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the electrically-powered latch defines locked and unlocked states, and wherein the electrically-powered latch does not unlatch unless the electrically-powered latch is in an unlocked state.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the door includes an open door sensor on an exterior surface thereof that can be actuated by a user to generate an open door command.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

the electrically-powered actuator includes an electrically-powered linear actuator having a plunger that shifts from a retracted position to an extended position to push the door to a partially open first check position, and an electrically-powered rotary actuator that moves the door from the first check position to a fully open position, and wherein the electrically-powered rotary actuator moves the door from the fully open position to a closed position.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

the controller is configured to actuate the electrically-powered linear actuator to maintain the plunger in the extended position if the anti-pinch sensor detects a user'"'"'s hand.

18. A vehicle door system comprising:

a door;

electrically-powered linear and rotary actuators;

a pinch sensor; and

a controller configured to;

     1) actuate the linear actuator followed by actuating the rotary actuator upon receiving an open door command;

     2) actuate the linear actuator to prevent closing of the door if the pinch sensor detects a hand in a door opening; and

     3) actuate the rotary actuator to close the door upon receiving a close door command.

19. The vehicle door system of claim 18, wherein:

the controller does not actuate the rotary actuator to close the door if the pinch sensor detects a user'"'"'s hand.

20. The vehicle door system of claim 19, wherein:

when closing the door, the controller first retracts the linear actuator and then actuates the rotary actuator to close the door.