Patent ID: 6435600
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B60J,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
In a vehicle having a body and a sliding door system including a door assembly slidably interconnected with the body, a power door drive assembly having a drive motor for driving the door assembly between an open position and a closed position under a source of power, a power latching mechanism for engaging an element carried by the body, and at least one manual door handle for manually controlling the latching mechanism, a method for controlling the operation of the power sliding door system comprising:determining whether the drive motor is moving the door assembly; and arresting movement of the door assembly in response to manual actuation of the at least one manual door handle, wherein the power drive assembly includes a power-driven rotatable pinion that is coupled to the door assembly and engages a rack that is coupled to the vehicle body, and wherein determining that the door assembly is being moved by the drive motor includes monitoring rotation of the pinion with a sensor, and generating a signal in response to rotation of die pinion.