The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Feb. 06, 1995
David J Kowall, Hartland, MI (US);
Delbert D DeRees, Romeo, MI (US);
Thomas S Moore, Northville, MI (US);
David R Bernier, WhiteLake, MI (US);
Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, MI (US);
Abstract
A lift type tailgate on a passenger van type vehicle body is operated by an electric motor powered actuator with an electronic control circuit utilizing a microprocessor operating under program control to respond to user-initiated opening and closing signals to move the tailgate in the selected direction. In the control circuit, feedback information to the microprocessor indicative of tailgate position is provided by a potentiometer coupled with the actuator motor and the microprocessor is programmed to operate with this information to stop the tailgate at a wide open position, a partially closed position and a fully closed position. Obstruction detection is performed by the microprocessor using an obstruction detection circuit and additionally by monitoring the position signal input from the potentiometer to stop the tailgate on encountering an obstacle. Activation of a tailgate latching mechanism is performed under the control of the microprocessor using a solenoid drive circuit and warning or alerting sounds indicating tailgate closure operation including tailgate stoppage at the partially closed position are provided in accordance with audio data received from the microprocessor.