Motor vehicle door system

Abstract

A user-operated system for interactive vehicle door opening and closing. The system detects vehicle position (gravity) and external force (such as wind) and provides an assistive force in effortlessly opening or closing the door. In some embodiments, the system provides a fail safe mode of operation in case of power failure and/or limit stops to minimize or prevent damage to external objects in the event the door is inadvertently brought into contact with the external object.

1 . A method of providing power assistance to a door attached to a vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing the vehicle with a power assistance system including a spatial sensor configured to sense gravitational forces acting on the door, a door sensor configured to sense a position of the door, and a powered actuator coupled to the door, the powered actuator electronically communicating with the spatial sensor and the door sensor;   sensing a real time sum of gravitational and external forces acting on the door; and   powering the actuator to assist in opening/closing the door by offsetting the sum of gravitational and external forces acting on the door.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the vehicle with a power assistance system includes providing the vehicle with a door pad configured to sense a force delivered by a user, the door pad in electrical communication with the powered actuator, and further wherein powering the actuator includes stopping the actuator when the force delivered by the user is approximately zero pounds. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein powering the actuator includes providing a force to the actuator in maintaining the door in an open position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein powering the actuator includes opening/closing the door based upon a sensed time rate of change in door position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein powering the actuator includes opening/closing the door based upon a sensed time rate of change in door velocity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the vehicle with a power assistance system includes providing the door with at least one limit detector electrically communicating with the powered actuator, the at least one limit detector configured to detect a door obstruction and disable the powered actuator when the door obstruction is sensed.