Motor Vehicle Tailgate Drive Control for Safe Pre-Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for motorized adjustment of motor vehicle components, such as tailgates, pose a risk of user injury due to improper operation, particularly when manually transferring the latch bolt to pre-locked or main locked positions, leading to unintended activation of the closing auxiliary drive.
Innovation Solution
A drive system with a control mechanism that only activates the auxiliary closing function when a detected intervention indicator between the motor vehicle lock and locking wedge is confirmed, along with the position of the adjustment element being in the pre-locking area and a closing movement is detected, ensuring safe and correct operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the auxiliary closing function is activated by manual transfer of the latch bolt to pre-locked or main locked positions, then the closing assistance is provided, but the risk of user injury increases due to unintended activation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the position of the adjustment element and the state of the latch bolt, using this feedback to determine whether to activate the auxiliary closing function. The system only activates when it detects the specific sequence of closing movement followed by latch bolt engagement, preventing unintended activation from manual interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static activation mechanism to a dynamic one that evaluates the temporal sequence of events. The control unit assesses whether the latch bolt engagement occurs during an active closing process or as a separate manual action, enabling selective activation based on the dynamic state of the system.
2Reliability
If the auxiliary closing function is always activated by latch bolt transfer, then the closing assistance is reliably provided, but the system complexity increases due to additional safety checks
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it monitors latch bolt position, detects adjustment element position, determines closing direction, and controls auxiliary closing activation. By consolidating these functions in a single control unit, the system achieves reliable operation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is pre-programmed with the logical conditions for safe activation (closing movement detection followed by latch engagement). This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically evaluate safety conditions without requiring additional hardware complexity or manual intervention during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for displacing a displacement element (1) of a motor vehicle in a motorised manner by means of a drive system, a first drive arrangement (3) being provided for displacing the displacement element (1), in a motorised manner, between a pre-closure position upstream of the main closure position, and the open position, a second drive arrangement (4) being provided for the motorised displacement of the displacement element (1) from the pre-closure position to the main closure position, the second drive arrangement (4) being controlled by a drive control system (8) so as to displace the displacement element (1) from the pre-closure position to the main closure position.