Method of controlling a closure drive system of a motor vehicle

1. A method of controlling a vehicle closure drive system movable between an open position and a closed position and including a control device with a pinch protection circuit, comprising the following steps:

(a) measuring a supply voltage across the control device; and

(b) depending on the supply voltage measured in step (a), making a differentiation whether the pinch protection circuit is operated with pinch protection parameters for a stationary vehicle or a moving vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) includes determining whether the supply voltage is above or below a defined threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the defined threshold lies between a voltage value delivered by a vehicle battery when the vehicle battery is not in a state of being charged, and a voltage value delivered by an electric generator for charging the vehicle battery.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the defined threshold is approximately 13 volts (V).

5. The method according to claim 2 including correcting the defined threshold depending on an age of the vehicle battery.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) includes determining whether the supply voltage lies in a first voltage range or a second voltage range.

7. The method according to claim 1 including providing a memory in which a measured supply voltage, which is delivered by an electric generator, is registered during an initialization.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the control device is used as part of a window lifter system.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the control device is used as part of a sliding roof system.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the control device is used as part of a partition window drive.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the control device is used as part of a drive for a flap of a vehicle body.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the flap is one of a hatchback and a vehicle door.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) includes defining a first mode of operation associated with the stationary vehicle and a second mode of operation associated with the moving vehicle, and including the steps of excluding external vehicle parameters when operating in the first mode of operation and considering external vehicle parameters when operating in the second mode of operation.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the external vehicle parameters include at least one of a wind load input and a road load input.

15. The method according to claim 13 including defining the first mode of operation as being an engine off condition and defining the second mode of operation as an engine on condition.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein step (a) includes determining whether the supply voltage is above or below a defined threshold that lies between a voltage value delivered by a vehicle battery when the vehicle battery is not in a state of being charged, and a voltage value delivered by an electric generator for charging the vehicle battery, and including operating in the first mode of operation when the supply voltage is below the defined threshold and operating in the second mode of operation when the supply voltage is above the defined threshold.

17. The method according to claim 13 including making adapted power reserves available to the pinch protection circuit when operating in the second mode of operation to prevent the pinch protection circuit from stopping a closing of a vehicle closure when there is no obstacle present.