Vehicle door system with power drive module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018266162-A1
Application number	US-201515533472-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automotive door system includes a hinge that supports a door. A switch provides a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door. An output shaft of a power drive module is connected to the door and a gearbox to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge. A brake assembly is connected to a shaft member and has a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing and an open position that corresponds to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode. A position sensor detects rotation of the output shaft and provides a second input in response thereto, which corresponds to a manually initiated movement of the door that exceeds a slip torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position.

First claim

1 . An automotive door system comprising:
a hinge configured to support a door; a switch configured to provide a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door; a power drive module including:
a housing;
a motor;
a gearbox operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member;
an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox, the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about a hinge; and
a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, the brake assembly includes an open position corresponding to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position;
a position sensor configured detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds a slip torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position.

2 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , comprising a controller in communication with the switch, the motor, the brake assembly and the position sensor, the controller configured to command the brake assembly to the open position and to command the motor to move the door automatically in response to the second input without a first input from the switch.

3 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , wherein the gearbox includes first and second gearboxes interconnected to one another by the shaft member, the first gearbox coupled between the second gearbox and the motor.

4 . The automotive door system according to claim 3 , wherein the brake assembly is arranged between the first and second gearboxes.

5 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , comprising a linkage assembly connected to the output shaft and configured to be interconnected to a door pillar, the linkage assembly configured to transmit the output torque to the door pillar to open or close the door.

6 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is integrated with the motor, the position sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor, which is indicative of rotation of the output shaft.

7 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , wherein the brake assembly includes a permanent magnet grounding the shaft member to the housing in the normally closed position, and a coil is configured to overcome a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet to provide an open position that permits the shaft member to freely rotate relative to the housing.

8 . The automotive door system according to claim 7 , wherein the coil is modulated to provide a desired release of the brake assembly corresponding to a desired door feel.

9 . The automotive door system according to claim 8 , wherein the brake assembly includes a holding torque in the normally closed position, and the coil is configured to be modulated to decay the holding torque in relation to a pulse width modulation average voltage of the coil.

10 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , comprising a latch in communication with the controller, the latch configured to open and close with respect to a striker in response to a command from the controller.

11 . The automotive door system according to claim 1 , comprising an attitude sensor in communication with the controller, the attitude sensor configured to provide an attitude of the vehicle, the controller configured to regulate the brake assembly in response to a signal from the attitude sensor.

12 . A door power drive module comprising:
a housing; a motor arranged in the housing; first and second gearboxes arranged in the housing and coupled in series with one another by a shaft member, the first gearbox connects the motor to the second gearbox; an output shaft coupled to the second gearbox; a brake assembly selectively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly has a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, the brake assembly includes an open position corresponding to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member is configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the brake open position in response to the motor driving the first gearbox; and a position sensor configured to detect rotation of the output shaft.

13 . The door power drive module according to claim 12 , wherein the first gearbox is a planetary gear set, and the second gearbox is a spur gear set.

14 . The door power drive module according to claim 12 , comprising a linkage assembly interconnected to the output shaft, the linkage assembly configured to transmit an output torque from the output shaft to a door pillar to open or close the door.

15 . The door power drive module according to claim 12 , wherein the position sensor is integrated with the motor, the position sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor, which is indicative of rotation of the output shaft.

16 . The door power drive module according to claim 12 , wherein the brake assembly includes a permanent magnet mounted on a drive ring secured to the shaft member, the permanent magnet grounding the drive ring to the housing in the normally closed position, and a coil is configured to move the drive ring to an open position to permit the shaft member to freely rotate relative to the housing.

17 . The door power drive module according to claim 12 , wherein the brake assembly includes a permanent magnet grounding the shaft member to the housing in the normally closed position, and a coil is configured to overcome a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet to provide an open position that permits the shaft member to freely rotate relative to the housing.

18 . A method of actuating a door comprising the steps of:
manually pivoting a door in an opening or closing direction about a hinge to open or close the door; providing a manual input in response to both opening the door and closing the door; detecting the manual input; and energizing a motor to drive the door in the direction in response to the manual input.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the detecting step includes back-driving a gearbox via an output shaft and detecting rotation of the output shaft.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the detecting step includes back-driving the motor and detecting rotation of the motor, which is indicative of rotation of the output shaft.

21 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the manual door pivoting step includes exceeding a slip torque of a brake assembly that holds the door, and performing the step of releasing the brake assembly prior to performing the step of energizing the motor.

Assignees

• Multimatic Inc

Inventors

• Gruber Rudolf
• Daniels Andrew R
• Nagamany Balathas

Classifications

• E05Y2201/21

  Brakes · CPC title

• E05F15/63 Primary

  operated by swinging arms · CPC title

• F16D2121/20

  using electromagnets · CPC title

• F16D65/18

  adapted for drawing members together {, e.g. for disc brakes} · CPC title

• E05F15/655

  specially adapted for vehicle wings · CPC title