AEKD-TRUNKL1

NRND

Power liftgate zonal ECU implemented with model-based design approach

Download databrief

Product overview

Description

The power liftgate system installed in commercial cars requires a foot movement, which is not always successful in opening the trunk. This limit is due to the type of sensor used, to its position under the car bumper, and to the required ‘kick’ gesture. Moreover, the sensor used has no alternative redundant system (excluding an internal fail-safe button) to open the trunk if it is not working because covered with mud or the street is flooded.

The AEKD-TRUNKL1 has been designed to address all these issues while increasing the system safety. Based on the newest zonal approach paradigm, this ST power liftgate system controls seven subsystems in parallel: acoustic and visual alerts, NFC and Bluetooth® Low Energy communication, motion and foot detection sensors, and linear actuator control. An LCD screen and a fail-safe button control are also available.

The first core function of the application is the precise control of the linear actuators that open and close the liftgate. This control has been developed with a model-based design. The code has been generated with MathWorks Embedded Coder. The model includes all the control and safety mechanisms for the actuation based on the dual feedback coming from the Hall sensors and from the current sense.

The second core function lies in the Time-of-Flight sensors placed under the bumper to recognize a specific foot movement designed to deliver a stable performance for the user and to avoid unwanted activations. Another great advantage is represented by the huge cost saving of the Time-of-Flight sensors compared to the normally used ones, like sonars.

The NFC tag in the mobile phone is a valid alternative to the sensor under the bumper because, even with hands full of bags, it is possible to approach the phone in the jacket pocket to the NFC reader placed in the power liftgate system.

A dedicated Android mobile phone app allows controlling the power liftgate system.

You can open the tailgate even few meters away before getting loaded of bags and packages. The app uses a token exchange with the power liftgate system to secure the communication and identification of the car owner. In addition, the car owner's app can temporarily o permanently elect other mobile phones running the same app as secondary phones having the car trunk access.

The motion safety subsystem is the last remaining block. It is based on a MEMS motion sensor to detect an eventual car motion during the liftgate actuations both at engine on and off. The detected motion stops the liftgate and generates an error.

The acoustic and visual alerts are activated at the beginning of all liftgate actuations and when a safety concern occurs (for example, the tailgate getting stuck by an obstacle).

For demo purposes, an LCD display has been added to illustrate the different states and errors of the power liftgate system. An external fail-safe button is also present to open or close the trunk.

The AEKD-TRUNKL1 is a fully assembled kit developed for performance evaluation only, not available for sale.

  • All features

    • Control of two linear DC motor actuators to open and close the trunk
    • Motion detection to prevent accidental trunk opening/closing
    • Trunk locking and unlocking
    • Visual alert through turning lights blinking at the beginning of the trunk opening/closing phase
    • Acoustic alert through a beeper at the beginning of the trunk opening/closing phases
    • Trunk opening/closing with an NFC tag key
    • Trunk opening/closing via mobile phone app via Bluetooth® Low Energy
    • Mini-infotainment touch display showing trunk state
    • Self-calibration of the system motors
    • Trunk opening/closing jam detection
    • Trunk opening height adjustment

You might also like...

The current status of a product:
Active: Product is in volume production
Evaluation: Product is under characterization. Limited Engineering samples available
Preview: Product is in design stage
Target: Product is in design feasibility stage.No commitment taken to produce
Proposal: Marketing proposal for customer feedback.No commitment taken to design or produce
NRND: Not Recommended for New Design.Product is in volume production only to support customers ongoing production.
Marketing description of the package type.Compliancy of the device with industry requirement domains (IRD)The RoHS status of a product:
ECOPACK 1: Initial grade to identify European RoHS compliant products.
ECOPACK 2: New grade to identify brominated chlorinated and antimony oxide flame retardant free products.
ECOPACK 3: Halogen free RoHS exemptions free products.
(*): ECOPACK 2 version available upon request.
(**): Some versions still existing in ECOPACK 1 or not compliant.
Compliancy with WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU)The current status of a product:
Active: Product is in volume production
Evaluation: Product is under characterization. Limited Engineering samples available
Preview: Product is in design stage
Target: Product is in design feasibility stage.No commitment taken to produce
Proposal: Marketing proposal for customer feedback.No commitment taken to design or produce
NRND: Not Recommended for New Design.Product is in volume production only to support customers ongoing production.
Budgetary PriceMain country of assembly or fabrication of the product.ECCNs are five character alpha-numeric designations used on the Commerce Control List to identify dual-use items for export control purposes. ECCNs are five character alpha-numeric designations used on the Commerce Control List to identify dual-use items for export control purposes.