Patent ID: 6822410
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: E05F,E05Y,G05B,H02H

Abstract:
A powered movable panel control apparatus for a panel movable between first and second positions by an electric motor having an armature coupled to the panel, the control apparatus comprising:means for detecting deceleration of a motor armature; timer means, responsive to the detecting means, for generating consecutive time periods between a predetermined amount of rotation of the armature over at least a portion of one complete revolution of the armature; means, responsive to the timer means, for calculating an average time period over the predetermined number of time periods; means, responsive to the average time period, for calculating the deceleration of the motor armature between two average time periods of the armature rotation; means for comparing the deceleration with a threshold defining normal motor decelerations resulting from motor armature load variations; means responsive to a comparison exceeding armature load threshold for classifying the deceleration as a relative deceleration with respect to the threshold; means for assigning a weighted value based on the relative deceleration with respect to the threshold; means for accumulating successive weighted values as a total cumulative weighted value; means for comparing the total cumulative value to a defined obstacle detection weighted value; and means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a panel reverse movement signal when the total cumulative weighted value exceeds the defined obstacle detection weighted value.