Power management for vehicle door system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047163-B2
Application number	US-201816178120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 29, 2016
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle door system comprising:
a primary supply that supplies power to a drive system of the vehicle;
at least one actuator that control a vehicle door to a plurality of positions;
at least one secondary supply that supplies power to the at least one actuator; and
a controller that:
controls the position of the vehicle door via the at least one actuator with the power from the at least one secondary supply;
detects a first level of the primary supply;
in response to the first level less than a first threshold, supplies power from the at least one secondary supply to the primary supply,
detects a second level of the at least one secondary supply less than a second threshold; and
in response to the second level less than the second threshold, controls a gradual release of the at least one door via the at least one actuator from a held position to a rest position with power from the primary supply.

2. The vehicle door system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system of the vehicle comprises an ignition system of an engine of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle door system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
determine if the second power level is above a third threshold.

4. The vehicle door system according to claim 3 , wherein the third threshold corresponds to power sufficient to supply vehicle ignition power to the primary supply.

5. The vehicle door system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a plurality of actuators that control positions of a plurality of doors of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle door system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one secondary power supply comprises a plurality of secondary power supplies, each configured to supply power to one of the plurality of actuators.

7. The vehicle door system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively supply power from each of the secondary power supplies to the primary power supply in response to the level of the primary power supply being less than the first threshold.

8. The vehicle door system according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively supply power to an ignition system of the vehicle from the plurality of the secondary power supplies in combination with the primary power supply.

9. A method for controlling door actuators comprising:
controlling a plurality of doors via a plurality of actuators;
supplying power to a vehicle drive system from a vehicle drive power supply;
supplying power to each of the actuators from a plurality of actuator power supplies;
in response to a failure condition of a first actuator supply of the actuator power supplies, supplying power from at least one of a second actuator supply of the actuator power supplies and the vehicle drive power supply to the to the first actuator supply; and
in response to the failure condition controlling a gradual release of a first door from a held position to a rest position with power from at least one of the second actuator supply and the vehicle drive power supply.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
selectively supplying each of the actuator power supplies with the operating power independently from the vehicle drive power supply.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the controlling the plurality of doors comprises controlling a rotational position of the doors rotating about a hinge.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
in response to identifying a second level of the vehicle drive power supply below a second threshold, selectively supplying power from one of the actuator power supplies to the vehicle drive power supply.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle drive power supply is configured to supply power for a vehicle ignition sequence.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle drive power supply is configured to supply power to a motor controlling motion of the vehicle.

15. A door control system for a vehicle comprising:
a plurality of actuators configured to control a position of a plurality of doors, each of the actuators comprising an actuator power supply;
a vehicle power supply configured to power a drive operation of the vehicle; and
a controller that:
controls a first actuator of the actuators positioning a first door to a held position via a first actuator supply of the actuator power supplies;
detects a failure condition of the first actuator supply;
in response to a failure condition supplies power from at least one of a second actuator supply of the actuator power supplies and the vehicle power supply; and

in response to the failure condition, controls a gradual release of the first door from the held position to a rest position with power from at least one of the second actuator supply and the vehicle power supply.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
detect a first level of the vehicle power supply; and
supply power from a plurality of the actuator power supplies to the vehicle power supply in response to the first level being less than a first threshold.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein controlling the position of the plurality of doors comprises controlling a rotational position of the doors rotating about a hinge.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Elie Larry Dean
• Jaranson John Wayne
• Potter Timothy J
• Novak Robert F
• Wallace Jeff A
• Azzouz Michael M
• Heath Gerald J
• Skoures Evangelos P

Classifications

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• E05F15/40

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title

• B60J5/0472

  the door having a hinge axis in horizontal direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis · CPC title

• E05F15/611

  for swinging wings · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title