Programmable door power assist
A motor is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle. A controller controls the motor and a user-input device supplies the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door.
1. A power assist device comprising:
a motor operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle;
a display for displaying a swing path of the door;
a controller for controlling the motor; and
a touchscreen device in communication with the controller and configured to receive user-input via one or more touch events specifying a torque to be applied by the motor to the door at one or more angular position of the door to assist a user with opening or closing the door, each one or more angular positions corresponding to a position of the door on the swing.
2. The power assist device of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises one of a brushless direct-current motor and a brushed direct current motor.
3. The power assist device of claim 1 , wherein the torque is selected from a range of available torques.
4. The power assist device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more touch events additionally specifies a direction in which the torque is to be applied to the door by the motor.
5. The power assist device of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen device is a portable electronic device.
6. The power assist device of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen device is provided onboard the vehicle.
7. A vehicle door assembly comprising:
a door of a vehicle;
a power assist device comprising:
a motor operatively coupled to the door;
a controller for controlling the motor
a display for displaying a swing path of the door; and
a touchscreen device in communication with the controller and configured to receive user-input via one or more touch events specifying a torque to be applied by the motor to the door at one or more angular positions of the door to assist a user with opening or closing the door, each of the one of more angular positions corresponding to a position of the door on the swing path.
8. The vehicle door assembly of claim 7 , wherein the torque is selected from a range of available torques.
9. The vehicle door assembly of claim 7 , wherein the touchscreen device is provided onboard the vehicle.
10. The vehicle door assembly of claim 7 , wherein the motor comprises one of a brushless direct-current motor and a brushed direct current motor.
11. The vehicle door assembly of claim 7 , wherein the one or more touch events additionally specifies a direction in which the torque is to be applied to the door by the motor.
12. The vehicle door assembly of claim 7 , wherein the touchscreen device is a portable electronic device.
13. A method of controlling a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:
operatively coupling a motor to the door;
displaying a swing path of the door on a display;
receiving user-input via one or more touch events on a touchscreen device specifying a torque to be applied by the motor to the door at one or more angular positions of the door to assist a user with opening or closing the door, each of the one or more angular positions corresponding to a position of the door on the displayed swing path; and
controlling the motor based on the user-input.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving user-input further comprises receiving user-input specifying a direction in which the torque is applied to the door by the motor.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the torque is selected from a range of available torques.