DE102011009535B3 - Method for electromotive movement of tailgate and cargo cover of motor vehicle, has common control device for supplying power, through power supply input, to motors of tailgate and cargo cover of motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The method has a common control device (22) for supplying power, through a power supply input (24) of the control device, to the motors (12,16) of a tailgate (14) and a cargo cover (18) of a motor vehicle. The driving of the motors is prevented till a predetermined positioning of the tailgate and the cargo cover. The motor of the cargo cover is driven after the motor of the tailgate by the control device.

Description

The invention relates to a method for electromotive moving a tailgate and a load compartment cover of a motor vehicle. The tailgate and the boot cover each have a motor, wherein when driving the respective motor current flows through a power supply input of a common control unit.

From the prior art, electric motor-driven tailgates for motor vehicles are known. If such a motor vehicle additionally has an electromotive-movable load compartment cover, a common control device for activating the engine of the tailgate and the engine of the load compartment cover is often provided for cost reasons. The opening movement and the closing movement of the tailgate and luggage compartment cover thus takes place at the same time. In a rear pillar of the motor vehicle, a guide is provided for the load compartment cover, along which the load compartment cover is moved in order to release the loading space when the tailgate is opened and to cover it when the tailgate is closed.

A disadvantage is to be regarded in a known from the prior art control of the engines of the tailgate and cargo space cover the fact that occasionally damage the common control unit occur.

From the EP 1 401 680 B1 It is also known to use a common control unit for extending a loading floor of a motor vehicle on a rear-side loading edge of the cargo area and for electromotive opening and closing a tailgate. Here, the tailgate is first opened and then extended the loading floor or retracted during the closing movement of the loading floor and then closed the tailgate.

Object of the present invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned, which makes damage to the control unit avoidable.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention, the driving of the engine of the cargo space cover or the tailgate is prevented, at least temporarily, when a predetermined temperature is present. This is based on the finding that, when the outside temperature is low, the tailgate and / or the luggage compartment cover may become sluggish. Such binding leads to the simultaneous activation of the engines of the tailgate and the boot cover to the fact that over the power supply input of the common control device, a current comparatively high current flows. This current can lead to damage or complete destruction of the control unit.

If, as in the present case, the driving of one of the motors is prevented as soon as a predetermined temperature is present, then damage to the control device can be avoided by an excessively high current value. At the same time, only one control unit still needs to be provided for driving both electromotively movable units. The accommodation of only a control unit in the motor vehicle for driving the engines of the tailgate and the luggage compartment cover is also associated with an advantageously low space requirement.

The inhibition of the driving of one of the two motors takes place when the detected temperature makes it appear likely that the tailgate or the load compartment cover with a temperature-induced stiffness is to be expected. Due to the only demand-dependent temporary inhibition of the driving of the motor can be ensured that both motors run simultaneously in the presence of a predetermined uncritical temperature and so the tailgate and the luggage compartment cover are moved comfortably at the same time.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the driving of the engine of the luggage compartment cover or tailgate is prevented until the tailgate or the luggage compartment cover has reached a predetermined position. This takes into account the fact that with the reaching of the predetermined position further movement, for example, the tailgate in the final position with a comparatively low power requirements is accompanied, so then the simultaneous driving the engine of the cargo space cover then not too high amperage value at the power supply input of the controller leads. In this way it can be ensured that the driving of the motor is inhibited only as long as necessary.

It has been found to be advantageous if the positions at which the engine of the cargo space cover or the tailgate is driven delayed in time, on the other hand differ from each other in a closing movement on the one hand and an opening movement. The temporal course of the current, which is applied to the engines of the tailgate and the luggage compartment cover, namely that depends on whether the Tailgate and cargo compartment cover to be closed or opened.

If the time course of the current is determined in the presence of different temperatures, so characteristic curves can be specified for the closing movement and the opening movement, which reflect the positions at which the engine of the cargo space cover - or the tailgate - is delayed in time.

It is also advantageous if, during a closing movement of the tailgate and the load compartment cover, a different temperature interval is used for the position-dependent activation of the motor than during an opening movement. Namely, it may be critical for the opening movement already a temperature in terms of stiffness, which is to cope with a closing movement of tailgate and cargo space cover without an excessively high current flows through the power supply input of the common control unit.

Furthermore, when there is a first temperature, the activation is advantageously prevented for a longer time than when there is a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature. This takes into account the increasing likelihood of sluggishness of the tailgate and the load compartment cover with decreasing temperatures.

As further advantageous, it has been shown that in the presence of a temperature below a threshold, the driving of the motor is inhibited until the tailgate or the luggage compartment cover has reached its final position. In particular, at very low temperatures, the stiffness of the tailgate or the luggage compartment cover can take on such an extent that even only a simultaneous driving of both motors can lead to an impairment of the control unit.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an inclination of the motor vehicle is taken into account when setting the delay for the driving of the engine of the luggage compartment cover or the tailgate. The inclination can namely support the opening movement and / or the closing movement or, conversely, make it more difficult. Characteristics of the time profile of the current when controlling the engines of the tailgate and the load compartment cover for different temperatures and different inclinations are preferably stored in the control unit.

Finally, it has proven to be advantageous if the engine of the luggage compartment cover is actuated by the control unit later in time than the engine of the tailgate. At the beginning of the movement of the tailgate namely a particularly large power requirement is given, which exceeds the power required to move the load compartment cover power requirements. This peak is less noticeable in the total current that flows through the power supply input of the common control unit, when the luggage compartment cover is timed to the tailgate.

The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the scope of To leave invention.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. Showing:

1 schematically and partially a motor vehicle with an electric motor-driven tailgate and electric motor movable cargo cover, which are controlled by a common control unit; and

2 Curves which represent the current intensity of the current required to move the tailgate or the load compartment cover as a function of time.

In a motor vehicle 10 is an electric motor 12 for electromotive moving a tailgate 14 intended. A second electric motor 16 is used to move a load compartment cover 18 , When opening and closing the cargo compartment cover 18 move guide pins of the cargo compartment cover 18 in guideways, which in the D-pillars 20 of the motor vehicle are provided. To control the two electric motors 12 . 16 is a common control device 22 provided, which has a single power supply input 24 having.

When the outside temperature is low, the tailgate can 14 or the cargo compartment cover 18 be stiff. To prevent in such a case, too much total current through the power supply input 24 of the control unit 22 flows, the electric motors 12 . 16 timed activated when the outside temperature makes a binding seem likely.

2 shows in a curve 26 the current strength 28 as a function of time t, which when opening the tailgate 14 at an outside temperature of 20 ° C and when the car is not inclined 10 can be observed. Furthermore shows a curve 30 the temporal course of the stream 28 which under these environmental conditions the electric motor 16 is supplied to the cargo compartment cover 18 to open. Both curves 28 . 30 show maximum value shortly after the start of the movement 32 . 34 on. At particularly low outside temperatures, such maximum values are significantly higher. If these then occur at the same time, flows through the power supply input 24 a current of such high amperage that the control unit 22 Can take damage.

This is in the present case by the time-delayed driving of the electric motor 16 the cargo compartment cover 18 prevented.

curves 36 . 30 as they are in 2 are exemplified are for the type of motor vehicle 10 at different outside temperatures and at different inclinations of the motor vehicle 10 added. From these temporal processes of the stream 28 then curves are obtained which determine which electric motor 12 . 16 when in the presence of a certain outside temperature and at the respective inclination of the motor vehicle 10 is to be controlled to the occurrence of high current values at the power supply input 24 to avoid.

In an exemplary case, the controller may 22 from an operator a command to open the tailgate 14 and the cargo compartment cover 18 receive. It can be provided that at a temperature of less than -15 ° C, the load compartment cover 18 only then moved when the tailgate 14 has reached its open end position.

In a temperature interval of -15 ° C to 0 ° C, however, may be provided, the electric motor 16 the luggage compartment cover only to be controlled, if the tailgate 14 50% of its opening travel has covered. At a temperature of 0 ° C to less than 15 ° C, the electric motor 16 the cargo compartment cover 18 already subjected to electric current when the tailgate 14 only 20% of its opening distance has covered. In other words, in the presence of a temperature from said intervals, the driving of the motor 16 the cargo compartment cover 18 prevented so long until the tailgate 14 has reached a predetermined position.

In the case of an outside temperature of more than 15 ° C, however, in the case of opening the tailgate 14 and the cargo compartment cover 18 both electric motors 12 . 16 controlled at the same time. Immediately with the beginning of opening the tailgate 14 So also sets the opening movement of the luggage compartment cover 18 one.

The operator can also perform a closing movement of the tailgate 14 and the cargo compartment cover 18 Request. It can be provided that the closing movement of both components starts at the same time when the outside temperature is more than 25 ° C. In contrast, it is provided by way of example in a temperature interval of 5 ° C to 25 ° C that the load compartment cover 18 then their closing movement begins when the tailgate still has 70% of its closing path in front of it. In a temperature interval of -20 ° C to 5 ° C, however, the electric motor 16 the cargo compartment cover 18 only activated when the tailgate 14 only 35% of their closing distance needs to be covered. If the outside temperature is below a limit of -20 ° C, the loading compartment cover will move 18 prevented so long until the tailgate 14 has reached its closed end position.

Depending on the vehicle type and specific design of the moving the tailgate 14 and the cargo compartment cover 18 Systems provided may also be provided deviating values from the temperature intervals and positions on the path of movement given here by way of example. For example, at a temperature of 20 ° C both electric motors 12 . 16 simultaneously be driven in the direction of closing. If the outside temperature is 0 ° C, the tailgate will be activated first 14 driven in the direction of closing, and if the tailgate 14 is closed to 50%, sets the closing movement of the luggage compartment cover 18 one. If the temperature is -30 ° C, however, the movement of the luggage compartment cover may occur 18 be stopped until the tailgate 14 is completely closed.

Claims (8)

Method for electromotive movement of a tailgate ( 14 ) and a load compartment cover ( 18 ) of a motor vehicle ( 10 ), in which when driving the respective engine ( 12 . 16 ) of the tailgate ( 14 ) and the load compartment cover ( 18 ) Power via a power supply input ( 24 ) of a common control device ( 22 ) flows, characterized in that in the presence of a predetermined temperature, the driving of the motor ( 12 . 16 ) of the load compartment cover ( 18 ) or the tailgate ( 14 ) is prevented at least temporarily. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving of the motor ( 12 . 16 ) of the load compartment cover ( 18 ) or the tailgate ( 14 ) is prevented until the tailgate ( 14 ) or the load compartment cover ( 18 ) has reached a predetermined position. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the positions at which the engine is reached ( 12 . 16 ) of the load compartment cover ( 18 ) or the tailgate ( 14 ) is delayed in time, on the other hand, differ in a closing movement on the one hand and on an opening movement on the other hand. A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that during a closing movement of the tailgate ( 14 ) and the load compartment cover ( 18 ) another temperature interval for the position-dependent activation of the motor ( 12 . 16 ) is used as in an opening movement. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that in the presence of a first temperature, the driving is inhibited longer than in the presence of a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that in the presence of a temperature below a limit, the driving of the motor ( 12 . 16 ) is stopped until the tailgate ( 14 ) or the load compartment cover ( 18 ) has reached its final position. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when setting the delay for the driving of the engine ( 12 . 16 ) of the load compartment cover ( 18 ) or the tailgate ( 14 ) an inclination of the motor vehicle ( 10 ) is taken into account. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the engine ( 16 ) of the load compartment cover ( 18 ) from the controller ( 22 ) is timed later than the engine ( 12 ) of the tailgate ( 14 ).

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