Patent ID: 8464469

Claim:
A power drive system for moving a closure panel on a motor vehicle having an opening between an open position substantially clearing the opening and a close position substantially covering the opening, said power drive system comprising: an elongated flexible drive member extending between first and second ends, said elongated flexible drive member operatively coupled to the closure panel and defining a path; a motor operatively engaging said elongated flexible drive member for moving said elongated flexible drive member in a first direction and a second direction along said path to move the closure panel between the open and close positions; a tensioner operatively coupled to each of said first and second ends of said elongated flexible drive member, wherein manual movement of the closure panel causes movement of said elongated flexible drive member in said first or second direction and said tensioner allows one of said first and second ends of said elongated flexible drive member to move in said first direction while the other of said first and second ends moves in said second direction generally opposite said first direction, thereby causing relative movement between said first and second ends of said elongated flexible drive member; at least one sensor mounted adjacent to said elongated flexible drive member, said at least one sensor sensing said relative movement between said first and second ends of said elongated flexible drive member in response to manual movement of the closure panel, whereby said at least one sensor creates a feedback signal; and an electronic controller electrically connected to said at least one sensor for receiving said feedback signal and for operating said motor to overcome forces created during manual movement of the closure panel.