An apparatus includes a first fuse having a first breaking capacity, a first set of time-current characteristics, and a first rating; a second fuse having a second breaking capacity, a second set of time-current characteristics, and a second rating. The second set of time-current characteristics is different from the first set of time-current characteristics and the second rating is different from the first rating. The first fuse and the second fuse are connected in series, the value of the first breaking capacity is set such that at a high current fault condition the first fuse acts to interrupt the current before the second fuse, and the value of the second set of time-current characteristics is set such that at a locked rotor condition of the motor unit the second fuse acts to interrupt the current before the motor unit reaches a maximum winding temperature.

A method and an apparatus for identifying a force and/or torque exerted by a part, in particular a seat or closing part, such as, a window winding system or sunroof or trunk lid or sliding door of a motor vehicle, that can be electrically adjusted by way of an electric motor on a body resting on said part, having an actuation system, which is configured to apply a voltage to the motor, which voltage causes a force of the part on a body, if present, resting on the part, having a measurement device, which is configured, while the motor is stationary, to measure a variable of the motor representing a movement of the motor, having a comparison device, which is configured to identify, based on the measured variable, a force that is exerted by the part on a body resting on the part.

A method for operating a tailgate of a motor vehicle, in particular a pickup, which is driven by means of an electric motor and delimits a cargo area. A disassembled state is detected, and energization of the electric motor is inhibited. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle.

Embodiments of a system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate are described. The system includes a motor operably connectible to a tailgate to open and close the tailgate, a processor, and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory stores a tailgate control module including instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to, responsive to a value of a motor speed parameter being above a predetermined motor speed threshold and a value of a motor acceleration parameter being above a predetermined motor acceleration threshold during opening of a tailgate, control operation of the motor to apply a braking force to the tailgate.

A motor control system configured to detect a pinch condition of a structure actuated by a motor includes a pinch detection module configured to receive a current signal indicative of a motor current, determine a rate of change of current based on the current signal, and generate a pinch signal indicative of the pinch condition in response to either one of the motor current being greater than a current threshold and the rate of change of current being greater than a rate of change threshold. The motor control system further includes a position control module configured to control the motor to actuate the structure in response to an input and at least one of stop and reverse the motor in response to the pinch signal.

Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.

A method of detecting blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member with movement in translation between a first abutment and a second abutment, the method comprising the steps of, during an angular movement of the rotor, estimating at least a position (X) of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, a travel direction of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, and also a travel speed (V) of the actuator member; and on the basis at least of the estimated position of the actuator member, of the estimated travel direction of the actuator member, and of the estimated travel speed of the actuator member, detecting blocking of the rotor.

A method of detecting blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member with movement in translation between a first abutment and a second abutment, the method comprising the steps of, during an angular movement of the rotor, estimating at least a position (X) of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, a travel direction of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, and also a travel speed (V) of the actuator member; and on the basis at least of the estimated position of the actuator member, of the estimated travel direction of the actuator member, and of the estimated travel speed of the actuator member, detecting blocking of the rotor.

A lock for a motor vehicle includes a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a closing device having an electric drive, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred from a pre-locking position into a main locking position by the closing device, and a control unit for the closing drive, wherein a closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a measurement variable of the closing drive, and wherein the closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a determinable deviation from a setpoint value curve.

A door control device includes: a speed control unit configured to perform speed control of an electric motor that drives a door; a speed detection unit configured to detect a speed of the door; and an obstruction detection unit configured to detect obstruction between the door and a door pocket, upon a value of the speed of the door detected by the speed detection unit decreasing by a first predetermined value or more with respect to a speed command value in the speed control during a door opening operation of the door.