Powered tailgate assembly and corresponding method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020002995-A1
Application number	US-201816021203-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2018
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, such as a pickup truck, including a including a powered tailgate assembly and a corresponding method of using the same. An exemplary motor vehicle includes a powered tailgate assembly having a tailgate moveable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The tailgate is also moveable to a neutral loading position near the fully open position. Further, the motor vehicle includes a controller configured to identify the onset of an active loading condition when the tailgate moves from the neutral loading position toward the fully open position.

First claim

1 . A motor vehicle, comprising:
a powered tailgate assembly including a tailgate moveable between a fully closed position and a fully open position, wherein the tailgate is moveable to a neutral loading position near the fully open position; and a controller configured to identify the onset of an active loading condition when the tailgate moves from the neutral loading position toward the fully open position.

2 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the powered tailgate assembly includes an actuator configured to move the tailgate, and the actuator is electrically coupled to the controller and is responsive to commands from the controller.

3 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes a motor.

4 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein, after a period of time following the onset of the active loading condition, the controller is configured to command the actuator to move the tailgate back to the neutral loading position.

5 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein, as the actuator attempts to move the tailgate back to the neutral loading position, the controller determines whether a current level of the actuator is above a threshold.

6 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the period of time is a predefined period of time.

7 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein the period of time is one minute.

8 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein, when the controller determines that vehicle operation is imminent, the controller is configured to command the actuator to move the tailgate to the fully closed position.

9 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein the controller determines that vehicle operation is imminent during at least one of a user entering a cab of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle being shifted into a gear other than park.

10 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein, after a period of time during which the tailgate has remained in the neutral loading position, the controller is configured to command the actuator to move the tailgate to the fully closed position.

11 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controller only commands the tailgate to move to the fully closed position if a user locating device is outside of range of the vehicle.

12 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the controller commands the tailgate to move from the closed position to the neutral loading position when the user locating device moves back within range of the vehicle.

13 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tailgate is rotatable relative to a cargo box about a hinge adjacent a bottom of the tailgate.

14 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to detect manual movement of the tailgate from the neutral loading position to an initial raise position, and the controller is configured to command an actuator to move the tailgate to the fully closed position when the tailgate is manually moved from the neutral loading position to the initial raise position.

15 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position of the tailgate, the controller configured to interpret signals from the sensor in order to determine a position of the tailgate.

16 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 15 , wherein the sensor is an absolute position sensor.

17 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 16 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

18 . A method, comprising:
detecting an onset of an active loading condition when a tailgate of a powered tailgate assembly manually moves from a neutral loading position toward a fully open position.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , further comprising:
after a period of time following the onset of the active loading condition, attempting to move tailgate back to the neutral loading position; and while attempting to move the tailgate back to the neutral loading position, determining whether a current level of an actuator is above a threshold.

20 . The method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising:
moving the tailgate from the neutral loading position to a fully closed position when a condition occurs indicating that vehicle operation is imminent or after a period of time during which the tailgate has remained in the neutral loading position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Halonen Aaron
• Glickman David Brian
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Buttolo Pietro

Classifications

• B62D33/03

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05F15/70

  with automatic actuation · CPC title

• E05F15/611 Primary

  for swinging wings · CPC title

• E05F15/73 Primary

  responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects · CPC title

• E05F15/79

  using time control · CPC title