Openable and closable member control apparatus and openable and closable member control method

1. An openable and closable member control apparatus comprising:

a drive device that drives an openable and closable member to open or close an opening of a subject with the openable and closable member; and

a controller that controls the drive device and is configured to execute:

a position determining step of determining whether the openable and closable member reaches a predetermined start position, the predetermined start position corresponding to a position of the openable and closable member between a fully open position and a fully closed position at which the controller starts a full closing control operation of the drive device to place the openable and closable member into a full closing state;

a voltage sensing step of sensing an amount of voltage of the drive device; and

a voltage comparison step of comparing the amount of voltage of the drive device with a predetermined voltage;

wherein when the amount of the voltage of the drive device is less than the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to maintain a supply of electric power to the drive device; and

wherein when the amount of the voltage of the drive device is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to execute:

a load change sensing step of sensing an amount of load that is generated by contact between a seal member of the opening and the openable and closable member after reaching of the openable and closable member to the start position;

a load attainment determining step of determining whether the amount of load reaches a predetermined value that is set to a value to be attained before reaching of the openable and closable member to a mechanical limit position; and

an electric power supply stopping step of stopping the supply of electric power to the drive device after it is determined that the amount of load reaches the predetermined value in the load attainment determining step.

2. The openable and closable member control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device is a drive motor and wherein the specified value corresponds to a predetermined voltage that enables continuous rotation of the drive motor to upwardly move the openable and closable member towards the full closing state without stopping rotation of the drive motor.

3. The openable and closable member control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the amount of the voltage of the drive device is less than the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to maintain the supply of electric power to the drive device while prohibiting execution of the load attainment determining step.

4. An openable and closable member control method for controlling a drive device, which drives an openable and closable member to open or close an opening of a subject with the openable and closable member, the openable and closable member control method comprising:

a position determining step of determining whether the openable and closable member reaches a predetermined start position, the predetermined start position corresponding to a position of the openable and closable member between a fully open position and a fully closed position at which a full closing control operation of the drive device is started to place the openable and closable member into a full closing state;

a voltage sensing step of sensing an amount of voltage of the drive device;

a voltage comparison step of comparing the amount of voltage of the drive device with a predetermined voltage;

in response to the amount of the voltage of the drive device being less than the predetermined voltage, maintaining a supply of electric power to the drive device; and

in response to the amount of the voltage of the drive device being greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage, performing:

(i) a load change sensing step of sensing an amount of load that is generated by contact between a seal member of the opening and the openable and closable member after reaching of the openable and closable member to the start position;

(ii) a load attainment determining step of determining whether the amount of load reaches a predetermined value that is set to a value to be attained before reaching of the openable and closable member to a mechanical limit position;

(iii) an electric power supply stopping step of stopping the supply of electric power to the drive device after it is determined that the amount of load reaches the predetermined value in the load attainment determining step.

5. The openable and closable member control method according to claim 4 , wherein the drive device is a drive motor and wherein the specified value corresponds to a predetermined voltage that enables continuous rotation of the drive motor to upwardly move the openable and closable member towards the full closing state without stopping rotation of the drive motor.

6. The openable and closable member control method according to claim 4 , wherein the maintaining of the supply of electric power to the drive device is executed in response to the amount of the voltage of the drive device being less than the predetermined voltage while prohibiting execution of the load attainment determining step.

7. An openable and closable member control apparatus comprising:

a drive device that drives an openable and closable member to open or close an opening of a subject with the openable and closable member;

a load sensing device that outputs a pulse signal synchronized with a rotation of the drive device;

a controller in communication with the load sensing device, the controller being configured to: control the drive device; determine whether the openable and closable member has reached a predetermined start position while the openable and closable member is being closed, the predetermined start position being between a fully open position and a fully closed position; automatically start a full closing control operation of the drive device to place the openable and closable member into a full closing state when the openable and closable member has reached the predetermined start position while the openable and closable member is being closed; sense an amount of voltage of the drive device; and compare the amount of voltage of the drive device with a predetermined voltage;

wherein when the amount of voltage of the drive device is less than the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to maintain a supply of electric power to the drive device; and

wherein when the amount of voltage of the drive device is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to: determine an amount of load on the drive device generated by contact between a seal member of the opening and the openable and closable member based on the pulse signal received from the load sensing device; determine whether the amount of load reaches a predetermined load value, the predetermined load value corresponding to a load value attained before the openable and closable member reaches a mechanical limit position; and stop the supply of electric power to the drive device in response to determining that the amount of load has reached the predetermined load value.

8. The openable and closable member control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the amount of the voltage of the drive device is less than the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to maintain the supply of electric power to the drive device while prohibiting execution of the determining of whether the amount of load reaches the predetermined load value.