Vehicle door motor control method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle door motor control method and device. The vehicle door motor control method includes the steps of: applying a predetermined operation voltage and a predetermined operation time to a vehicle door motor; if the vehicle door can be successfully unlocked through the preset operation voltage and the preset operation time, the applied preset operation voltage and the duration time of the locked-rotor stage of the vehicle door motor are recorded; comparing the recorded duration of the locked-rotor stage of the vehicle door motor with a preset time threshold range; and according to the comparison result, the preset operation voltage applied to the vehicle door motor during the next operation is controlled. The vehicle door motor control device comprises corresponding modules. According to the operation mode, energy waste and noise can be reduced, and the service life of mechanical parts of the vehicle door can be prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for controlling vehicle door motors. Background Technology

[0002] Most vehicles currently use door motors to lock and unlock the doors, powered directly from the vehicle's battery. Traditionally, during operation, the door motor receives a constant operating voltage from the vehicle battery, typically equal to the battery's output voltage, and for a constant duration—that is, power is continuously supplied to the door motor for a certain period. For example, when the door is locked, to unlock it, an operating voltage of 13V is applied to the door motor for 300 milliseconds. To reset the door, an operating voltage of 13V is applied for 200 milliseconds.

[0003] The following drawbacks have been identified with this operating method. For the door motor, the currently applied operating voltage allows it to complete the door unlocking operation in a very short time. However, this voltage is still supplied to the motor during this process, resulting in a prolonged stall time and wasted energy. Furthermore, the short operating time of the door motor leads to a fast unlocking speed, resulting in significant noise and poor acoustic performance. Additionally, the rapid unlocking speed can cause sudden stops, which can negatively impact the lifespan of the door's mechanical components.

[0004] Figure 1 The diagram shows the power supply to the door motor under the current operating mode. The horizontal axis represents time (in seconds), and the vertical axis represents the operating current applied to the door motor (in amperes). As can be seen from the diagram, during the door unlocking operation (left waveform), the operating phase of the door motor is shorter during the power release period (lasting 300 milliseconds), while the stall phase is longer.

[0005] DE102019007704A1 discloses a door control device for vehicles, which aims to reduce noise and component wear by optimizing the excitation time of the door motor based on the current consumed by the door motor or the current curve or current characteristics of the door motor. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing door motor operation methods. To this end, this invention proposes a door motor control method, comprising the following steps: applying a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to the door motor; if the predetermined operating voltage and predetermined operating time can successfully unlock the door, recording the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase; comparing the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range; and, based on the comparison result, controlling the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor for the next operation.

[0007] According to the embodiment, if the duration of the door motor stall phase exceeds a predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor is reduced in the next operation; if the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor remains unchanged in the next operation; if the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor is increased in the next operation. As the operating voltage applied to the door motor increases or decreases, the duration of the motor stall phase increases or decreases accordingly.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the predetermined operating voltage during initial operation is 9V, and the predetermined operating time is 200 milliseconds.

[0009] According to the embodiment, the predetermined time threshold range is >0-50 milliseconds, preferably 5-15 milliseconds. The predetermined time threshold range can be adjusted as needed.

[0010] According to the embodiment, if the predetermined operating voltage and predetermined operating time fail to unlock the door successfully, a reset operating voltage and reset operating time are applied to the door motor. For example, the reset operating voltage is the output voltage of the vehicle battery, such as 13V, and the reset operating time is, for example, 200 milliseconds. In this way, successful door unlocking is ensured.

[0011] According to the embodiments, the voltage increase or decrease each time is in the range of 0.2-1V, preferably 0.5V.

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention provides a door motor control device, comprising: a first module configured to apply a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to a door motor; a second module configured to record the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase when the door can be successfully unlocked with the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time; a third module configured to compare the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range; and a fourth module configured to control the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor for the next operation based on the comparison result. The third and fourth modules can be configured as a single module.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the fourth module includes: a first submodule configured to reduce the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is greater than a predetermined time threshold range; a second submodule configured to not change the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range; and a third submodule configured to increase the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the door motor control device further includes a reset module configured to apply a reset operating voltage and a reset operating time to the door motor when the door cannot be successfully unlocked due to a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the door motor control device can be configured as a programmable control unit.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the door motor control device can be integrated into the door motor. Alternatively, the vehicle door may also include a door control unit, which can be used as the door motor control device.

[0017] According to the present invention, by monitoring the current of the door motor, a suitable voltage is applied to the door motor so that the door motor performs the door unlocking operation at an appropriate speed, thereby avoiding energy waste, reducing noise during the door unlocking operation, avoiding sudden stops during operation, and improving the service life of the door mechanical components. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the operating current received by the door motor over time under the existing technical operating method;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a door motor control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of a door motor control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figures 4a-4e This is a schematic diagram of the operating current received by the door motor over time under the door motor control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following reference Figures 2-4e The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0024] Figure 2 A flowchart of a door motor control method is shown, including: Step 10, applying a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to the door motor, for example, 9V and 200 milliseconds during initial operation; Step 20, if the predetermined operating voltage and predetermined operating time can successfully unlock the door, recording the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase; comparing the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range, and controlling the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation based on the comparison result. Specifically, the steps include: Step 31, if the duration of the door motor stall phase is greater than a predetermined time threshold range (>0-50 milliseconds), then in the next operation, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor is reduced by 0.2-1V, for example, 0.5V; Step 32, if the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range, then in the next operation, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor is not changed; Step 33, if the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range, then in the next operation, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor is increased by 0.2-1V, for example, 0.5V.

[0025] In addition, the door motor control method also includes: step 40, if the predetermined operating voltage and predetermined operating time fail to unlock the door, a reset operating voltage and reset operating time are applied to the door motor, such as 13V and 200 milliseconds, to ensure that the door can be unlocked successfully.

[0026] Figure 3 A corresponding door motor control device is shown, comprising: a first module 100 configured to apply a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to the door motor; a second module 200 configured to record the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase when the door can be successfully unlocked with the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time; and a third module 300 configured to compare the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range, and control the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor for the next operation based on the comparison result. The door motor control device also includes a reset module 400 configured to apply a reset operating voltage (e.g., 13V) and a reset operating time (e.g., 200 milliseconds) to the door motor when the door cannot be successfully unlocked with the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time.

[0027] The third module includes: a first submodule 310, configured to reduce the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is greater than a predetermined time threshold range; a second submodule 320, configured to not change the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range; and a third submodule 330, configured to increase the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor in the next operation when the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range.

[0028] The door motor control device can be configured as a programmable control unit so that each module can execute the control method steps described above.

[0029] Figures 4a-4e The method for controlling a car door motor according to an embodiment of the present invention explains how to control the operating current applied to the car door motor. Figure 4a This diagram shows the operating current applied to the door motor during the initial operation over time. Figure 4b , Figure 4c and Figure 4d The diagrams show the operating current applied to the door motor over time during the Nth, N+1th, and N+2th operations, with the horizontal axis representing time (in seconds) and the vertical axis representing the current applied to the door motor (in amperes). As shown, the recorded duration of the motor stall phase during the initial, Nth, and N+1th successful door unlocking operations all exceeded a predetermined time threshold (>0-50 milliseconds). Therefore, in the corresponding next operation, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor was reduced, resulting in a shorter stall phase duration. During the N+2th operation, the stall phase duration (45 milliseconds) was already within the predetermined time threshold, so the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor was not changed in the next operation.

[0030] Figure 4e This displays a scenario where the duration of the motor stall phase is less than a predetermined time threshold. As shown in the figure, the duration of the motor stall phase is 0 in this case. In this situation, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor for the next operation needs to be increased.

[0031] The above embodiments describe a method and apparatus for controlling a door motor to unlock a vehicle door. It is understood that the principles of this invention can be applied to other operations, such as controlling a motor for ice-breaking operations.

[0032] In some cases, the features disclosed in this invention may be used independently of other features. On the other hand, when necessary, the features disclosed in this invention may be combined to provide various combinations.

[0033] The wording and expressions used in this invention are illustrative and not restrictive, and therefore their use is not intended to exclude any equivalents of the illustrated and described features from the scope of this invention. Various modifications, variations, and substitutions may exist within the scope of the claims. The claims are intended to cover all such equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle door motor control method characterized by The method comprises the following steps: applying a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to the door motor; and recording the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase if the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time successfully unlock the door; comparing the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range; and controlling the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation according to the comparison result.

2. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 1, characterized by, If the duration of the door motor stall phase is greater than the predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation is reduced; if the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation is not changed; and if the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range, the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation is increased.

3. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, The predetermined operating voltage during the initial operation is 9 V, and the predetermined operating time is 200 ms.

4. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, The predetermined time threshold range is > 0-50 ms or 5-15 ms.

5. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, If the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time fail to successfully unlock the door, a reset operating voltage and a reset operating time are applied to the door motor.

6. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 5, characterized by, The reset operating voltage is 13 V, and the reset operating time is 200 ms.

7. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 2, characterized by, The voltage increased or decreased each time is within the range of 0.2-1 V.

8. The vehicle door motor control method according to claim 7, characterized by, The voltage increased or decreased each time is 0.5 V.

9. A vehicle door motor control device characterized by The method comprises: a first module configured to apply a predetermined operating voltage and a predetermined operating time to the door motor; a second module configured to record the applied predetermined operating voltage and the duration of the door motor stall phase if the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time successfully unlock the door; a third module configured to compare the recorded duration of the door motor stall phase with a predetermined time threshold range; and a fourth module configured to control the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation according to the comparison result.

10. The door motor control device according to claim 9, characterized by The fourth module comprises: a first submodule configured to reduce the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation if the duration of the door motor stall phase is greater than the predetermined time threshold range; a second submodule configured to not change the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation if the duration of the door motor stall phase is within the predetermined time threshold range; and a third submodule configured to increase the predetermined operating voltage applied to the door motor during the next operation if the duration of the door motor stall phase is less than the predetermined time threshold range.

11. The door motor control device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by The door motor control device further comprises a reset module configured to apply a reset operating voltage and a reset operating time to the door motor if the predetermined operating voltage and the predetermined operating time fail to successfully unlock the door.

Images