Method and apparatus for operating a power sliding door in an automobile

• US 6,091,162 A
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Long, Richard L., Williams, Robert M. Jr., Dean, Patrick D., Minissale, Ernest P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLK, SHARON A
• Application Number:
  US09/166,029
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/825.56, 340/825.69, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 49/360, 49/280, 296/155, 296/146.4, 307/10.1, 709/245
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/006 actuating opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/40 for sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/646 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a power sliding door in an automobile, such as a minivan, is disclosed. The invention is comprised in a control system that includes a user input interface for receiving sliding door actuation requests from a user. The actuation signals are carried to a body control module (BCM) where the request is broadcast to a power sliding door module (PSDM) over a serial data bus communications network meeting the SAE J1850 multiplex communications protocol standard. Upon receipt of the actuation message the PSDM monitors several operating conditions of the automobile and makes a determination whether or not to carry out the power sliding door activation request. Power sliding door actuation is controlled by the PSDM via electric motors located at or near the power doors. A power liftgate module (PLGM) controls the power liftgate actuation upon via electric motors located at or near the liftgate. The user input interface includes interior switches as well as a RKE system.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for controlling the operation of at least one power sliding door in a minivan, said control system comprising:

a user input interface for producing a power sliding door actuation signal, said user input interface comprising at least one overhead console switch, at least one B-pillar switch, and a RKE system;

a first control module for receiving said actuation signal from said user input interface, interpreting said actuation signal, determining an action in reponse to said actuation signal and broadcasting an actuation message in response to said actuation signal;

a second control module for receiving said actuation message from said first control module, monitoring a plurality of status inputs and determining an action in response to said actuation message and controlling the operation of a plurality of devices for directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door; and

a communications network between said first control module and said second control module, said communications network comprising a serial data bus.

2. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of status inputs are provided by an engine controller, a transmission controller, an ignition switch, a primary latch switch, a secondary latch switch, a lock status switch, a sliding door handle switch, a child lock switch, an end of travel switch, a tape switch and a Hall effects sensor.

3. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of devices is comprising a power sliding door motor, a cinching motor and an engage/disengage clutch.

4. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said RKE system is comprising a RKE transmitter and a RKE receiver, and wherein said RKE transmitter transmits a radio frequency signal to said RKE receiver.

5. The electronic control system of claim 4, wherein said RKE transmitter and said first control module communicate by a serial data connection.

6. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said overhead console switches are comprising a left sliding door switch, a right sliding door switch, a liftgate switch and a lockout switch.

7. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said overhead console switches are comprising a left sliding door switch, a liftgate switch and a lockout switch.

8. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said overhead console switches are comprising a right sliding door switch, a liftgate switch and a lockout switch.

9. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said B-pillar switches is comprising a left B-pillar switch and a right B-pillar switch.

10. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said B-pillar switches is comprising a left B-pillar switch.

11. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said B-pillar switches is comprising a right B-pillar switch.

12. A method for controlling the operation of at least one power sliding door in a minivan, said method comprising:

monitoring a user input interface for a change of state in a first control module comprising monitoring overhead console switches, B-pillar switches and a RKE system;

producing a power sliding door actuation signal in response to a user request in said user input interface;

receiving said actuation signal from said user input interface in a first control module;

interpreting said actuation signal in said first control module;

determining an action in response to said actuation signal in said first control module;

broadcasting an actuation message by said first control module;

receiving an actuation message from said first control module in a second control module;

monitoring a plurality of status inputs in said second control module;

determining an action in response to said actuation message in said second control module; and

directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in a second control module utilizing a plurality of motors.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said monitoring a plurality of status inputs in said second control module comprises monitoring status inputs from an engine controller, a transmission controller, an ignition switch, a primary latch switch, a secondary latch switch, a lock status switch, a sliding door handle switch, a child lock switch, an end of travel switch, a tape switch and a Hall effects sensor.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said monitoring of status inputs from an engine controller in said second control module comprises monitoring speed pulse and battery voltage level inputs from an engine controller.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said monitoring of status inputs from a transmission controller in said second control module comprises monitoring gear position information from a transmission controller.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said determining an action in response to said actuation message in said second control module comprises disregarding an activation input originating from said user input interface when a first status input is received from said ignition switch, said gear position monitored from said transmission controller indicates that said minivan is in park or neutral and said speed pulses monitored from said engine controller indicate that said minivan is moving.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said determining an action in response to said actuation message in said second control module comprises disregarding an activation input originating from said user input interface when a first status input is received from said ignition switch and said gear position monitored from said transmission controller indicates that said minivan is not in park or neutral.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises disengaging the power sliding door motor when a first status input is monitored from said door handle switch.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises stopping the motion of said sliding door and shutting down said sliding door motor when a first status input is monitored from said end of travel switch.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises disregarding an activation input originating from said B-pillar switch when a first status input is monitored from said child lock switch.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises stopping and shutting down said power cinching motor when a first status input is monitored from said primary latch switch.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises disengaging said sliding door drive motor and activating said power cinching motor when a first status input is monitored from said secondary latch switch.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises disregarding an activation input originating from said B-pillar switch when a first status input is monitored from said lock switch.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises stopping and reversing the direction of travel of said at least one power sliding door when a first status input is monitored from said tape switch.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein said directing the movement of said at least one power sliding door in said second control module comprises controlling the position and speed of said sliding door when a first status input is monitored from said Hall effects sensor.

26. The method of claim 12 wherein said determining an action in reponse to said actuation signal in said first control module comprises disregarding an actuation signal originating from said B-pillar switches when said lockout switch is enabled.

27. The method of claim 12 wherein said broadcasting an actuation message by said first control module comprises broadcasting a sliding door actuation message to said second control module when an actuation signal is received from said user input interface.

28. The method of claim 12 wherein said determining an action in reponse to said actuation signal in said first control module comprises unlocking said sliding door when an actuation signal is received from either said overhead console switch or said RKE system of said user input interface.

29. The method of claim 12 wherein said user input interface is comprising a plurality of overhead console switches including a lockout switch, a plurality of B-pillar switches and a RKE system.