Motor vehicle drive assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12263797-B2
Application number	US-201917051542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2018
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A motor vehicle drive assembly which is equipped with a drive element and an abutment, and also with at least one spring between the drive element and the abutment. In addition, there is at least one drive element sensor which, depending on the application of force by the drive element counter to the force of the spring and an associated relative movement between the drive element and the abutment, transmits sensor signals to a control unites. According to the invention, the drive element sensor, depending on the application of force by the drive element, generates different force-dependent, sliding sensor signals which are evaluated by the control unites, for example to drive an actuating element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle drive assembly comprising:
a drive element;
an abutment;
at least one spring between the drive element and the abutment;
at least one drive element sensor;
a control unit, wherein the at least one drive element sensor, depending on an application of force by the drive element counter to a force of the spring and an associated relative movement between the drive element and the abutment, transmits sensor signals to the control unit; and
an actuating element connected to the drive element, wherein the drive element sensor, depending on the application of force by the drive element, generates different force-dependent, sliding sensor signals which are evaluated by the control unit to drive the actuating element, wherein the sliding sensor signals includes an anti-trap signal,
wherein the control unit is configured to receive additional sensor signals from an actuating element sensor to determine a position of the actuating element,
wherein the control unit is configured to stop or reverse the drive element in response to the anti-trap signal when the control unit detects the position of the actuating element is within a first position range, and
wherein the control unit is further configured to ignore the anti-trap signal and continue operating the drive element to move the actuating element when the control unit detects the position of the actuating element is within a second position range,
wherein the sliding sensor signals further includes an overload signal for the actuating element,
wherein the anti-trap signal corresponds to a compression of the at least one spring and a first force threshold being exceeded during the application of force by the drive element counter to the force of the at least one spring, and
wherein the overload signal corresponds to further compression of the at least one spring and a second force threshold being exceeded during the application of force by the drive element counter to the force of the at least one spring.

2. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding sensor signals correspond to the application of force.

3. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the sliding sensor signals are linearly dependent on the application of force.

4. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element sensor operates in a tactile or non-tactile manner.

5. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element sensor is formed as two parts with a stationary base part, and a moving part which is movable in relation to the stationary base part and is connected to the drive element.

6. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element sensor is a Hall effect sensor, a light sensor, a sliding variable resistor, or a linear potentiometer.

7. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit evaluates additional sensor signals from at least one of an inclination sensor, an actuating element sensor, or a catch sensor.

8. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit recalibrates the additional sensor signals depending on the additional sensor signals and/or externally supplied data.

9. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element has drive units for motor vehicle actuating elements.

10. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the actuating element includes a motor vehicle opening panel and the motor vehicle opening panel is configured as a motor vehicle hinged door, a motor vehicle sliding door, a motor vehicle sunroof, a motor vehicle fuel filler flap, or a motor vehicle tailgate.

11. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the drive units include at least one of a motor vehicle opening panel, a window regulator, a seat adjuster, or a motor vehicle door latch.

12. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding sensor signals include a voltage emitted by the drive element sensor, resistance values generated by the drive element sensor, or current generated by the drive element sensor.

13. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding sensor signals vary continuously between a minimum and a maximum value, and wherein the sliding sensor signals increase as the application of force by the drive element increases.

14. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a hollow support that defines the abutment and through which the drive element travels relative to the abutment.

15. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the drive element sensor is housed in the hollow support.

16. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a closing drive for the drive element, wherein the control unit is configured to stop or reverse the closing drive in response to the overload signal.

17. The motor vehicle drive assembly according to claim 16 ,
wherein if the control unit determines that a detected rotation angle position or swivel angle of a hinged door is within a first swivel angle range, the control unit is configured to ignore the anti-trap signal and the control unit operates the closing drive until the overload signal is received by the control unit.

Assignees

• Kiekert Ag

Inventors

• Bauer Christian
• Scholz Michael
• Inan Ömer
• Reusch Manuel

Classifications

• E05Y2400/44

  Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement · CPC title

• E05B81/64

  Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors · CPC title

• E05B81/70

  the wing position · CPC title

• E05B81/25

  Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections · CPC title

• E05B81/74

  by sensing the state of the actuator · CPC title