The present subject matter is related, in general, to an electric glovebox control system, and more particularly, to the electric glovebox control system with overload management.
Background of the Invention
Glovebox is one of an essential components of a vehicle. Earlier, the glovebox was operated manually. The manual intervention for opening and closing of the glovebox use to distract the driver while driving the vehicle, which was a safety concern. To overcome this problem, electronically operated glovebox is introduced for minimizing the driver's distraction and maximizing occupant comfort during opening and closing of the glovebox.
However, the electronic glovebox is restricted to only opening of the door of the glovebox. That is, once the door of the glovebox is opened, it again requires user intervention for closing its door, which is again the safety concern. Even if it is made to close automatically, another challenge faced is in managing overload on the glovebox. For managing the overload, the motor must be selected/designed not only to handle such overload condition, but also to meet budget and space requirement without compromising the occupant comfort and safety. Due to the overload, the risk of damaging the motor or compromising with its life arises. Hence, the safety of the motor in the overload condition is another concern.
Objects of the Invention
An object of the present disclosure is to provide safety and comfort to the occupant/driver of a vehicle while using the glovebox.

Another object of the present disclosure is to manage the overload on the glovebox by providing a suitable motor.
Another object of the present disclosure is to select the motor of a given size conforming to a given material cost budget without compromising the occupant comfort.
Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to protect the motor from getting damage due to overload condition.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to an electric glovebox control system for controlling a glovebox. The system comprises an electronic motion control unit, a memory, a motor, and a gear linkage coupled to the glovebox. The electronic motion control unit is configured to determine motor current using current sense feedback received from the motor. The motor current indicates a current at an instance when door of the glovebox starts operating in a closing mode in response to user's command. Further, the electronic motion control unit is configured to analyze the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory. The pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the motor, comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox. The electronic motion control unit is further configured to perform, based on the analysis, when the motor current goes beyond the threshold current, determining a remaining time required by the motor for closing the door of the glovebox. The electronic motion control unit enables the motor to automatically close the door of the glovebox when the remaining time is less than a threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current,. Else, the electronic motion control unit is configured to generate an alarm, while keeping the door of the glovebox in a stationary position, till the threshold time only when the remaining time is greater than the threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated

with the threshold current. The alarm is an indication for a user to reduce load on the door of the glovebox.
Further, the present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a glovebox. The method comprises providing an electronic motion control unit, a memory, a motor, and a gear linkage coupled to the glovebox. The method further comprises a step of determining motor current using current sense feedback received from the motor. The motor current indicates a current at an instance when door of the glovebox starts operating in a closing mode in response to user's command. Further, the method comprises a step of analyzing the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory. The pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the motor, comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox. The method further comprises a step of performing, based on the analyzing, when the motor current goes beyond the threshold current, determining a remaining time required by the motor for closing the door of the glovebox. Based on the determining, the method comprises a step of enabling the motor to automatically close the door of the glovebox when the remaining time is less than a threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current. Else, the method comprises generating an alarm, while keeping the door of the glovebox in a stationary position, till the threshold time only when the remaining time is greater than the threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current. The alarm is an indication for a user to reduce load on the door of the glovebox.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

Brief description of the drawings
The embodiments of the disclosure itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows block diagram illustrating an electric glovebox control system for controlling a glovebox, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and
Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a glovebox in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
The figure depicts embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
Detailed Description of the Invention
In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.
Disclosed herein is an electric glovebox control system (hereinafter "system") and a method for controlling opening and closing of the electric glovebox. For effective opening and closing of the glovebox it is necessary to meet various requirements like maximum load on a lid or door of the glovebox, space constraint and cost budget. Though, in most of the circumstances, the glovebox is used for using light-weight loads like user manual, light tools, music CDs, books and the like, however, sometimes it happens that the load on the door of the glovebox may goes beyond a certain limit. As it is conventionally known that, the movement of the door is operated by a motor, for example a DC motor. Such motor requires certain amount of current for the operation. However, when the current goes beyond a certain limit, due to increase in load on the door of the glovebox, the amount of current on the motor also parallelly increases. In such condition, if the motor is not stopped on time and the increased amount of current is allowed to flow through the motor, the motor may get damage. However, according to embodiments of present disclosure, the system disclosed in the present disclosure is designed to handle the maximum possible load on the glovebox without damaging the motor.
For this, the system, at first, learns about maximum amount of current which the motor can safely handle for a corresponding maximum amount of time. For example, if the current is flowing at 5A, the maximum time the motor can sustain that current may be 4 seconds. Similarly, the system learns about different maximum current values and their corresponding maximum time for which the motor can be safely operated.

Once the system learns about current and time relationship, the system may be implemented in real-time. That is, as soon as the door starts closing, the system determines the motor current in the real-time and analyze it with the pre-learned current and time relationship data as discussed above. The analysis is performed to check whether the real-time motor current is going beyond the threshold current which the motor can handle. If the system determines that the real-time motor current is within the threshold current, the system allows the motor to safely close the door of the glovebox.
However, if it is determined that the real-time motor current is going beyond the threshold current which the motor can handle, the system further determines remaining time required for closing the door of the glovebox. The system further analyzes the remaining time with the pre-learned current and time relationship data. Based on the analysis, the system determines whether the motor can safely close the door in the remaining time. If it is determined that the motor cannot bear the real-time current (which is going beyond the threshold current), the system holds the movement of the door and simultaneously generates an alarm. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the alarm may be generated in different formats like audio form (buzzer), visual form (visual LED) or combination thereof.
On hearing/noticing the alarm, the user may either reduce the load or may not take any action. If the load is reduced, the real-time motor current which was flowing beyond the threshold current also reduces. Here, the system understands based on the historical learning that now the motor can safely be operated, and hence allows the motor to close the door the of the glovebox. However, on the contrary, if the user do not/fails reduce the load or do not take any action during the threshold time, the system de-energizes the motor so that the motor comes in its original open position. This way, the system prevents the motor from getting damage due to the overload current.
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the

conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figure. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figure is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
Figure 1 shows block diagram illustrating an electric glovebox control system for controlling the electric glovebox, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
The electric glovebox control system 102 (alternatively also referred as "system") includes an electronic motion control unit 104, a memory 106, a motor 108, and a gear linkage 110 which is connected with the electric glovebox 112. As conventionally known, the motor can carry a certain amount of current depending upon its size and characteristics. If the current goes beyond a limit, armature coil of the motor may burn, and hence the motor may get damaged. As discussed above, one of an objectives of the present disclosure is to maintain the safety of the motor 108, for example a DC motor.
To achieve the above objective, first and foremost requirement is to understand or learn about the maximum current capacity of the motor 108 at which the motor 108 can safely operate. Along with the maximum current capacity, it is also important to learn about the corresponding time period for which the motor 108 can safely sustain maximum current capacity. When the system 102 is initially implemented, without any prior knowledge of the maximum current capacity of the motor 108 and the corresponding time period, the system 102 requires training.
During the training phase, the system 102 observes the behavior of the motor 108 of different sizes and capacities while operating the glovebox 112. That is, the system

102 determines threshold current-threshold time data for the motor 108. The threshold current-threshold time data is nothing but relationship between a threshold current at which the motor 108 sustain for a threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox 112. An example of the threshold current-threshold time data is shown in below table 1.

Threshold Current Threshold Time
1 Ampere (A) 10 seconds
2 Ampere 8 seconds
3 Ampere 6 seconds
5 Ampere 4 seconds
7 Ampere 2 seconds
9 Ampere 1 second
Table 1 showing the threshold current and threshold time relationship for a motor
From the above table 1, it can be observed how the motor 108 of a certain shape and size can sustain or carry the threshold current for a corresponding threshold time. For instance, the motor 108 can carry the maximum current (threshold current) of 5 Ampere for 4 seconds. It means that, if the current is allowed to flow for more than that maximum time period, the motor 108 may get damage. From the above table 1, it can be also observed that as the current increases, the sustainable time of the motor 108 decreases. It may be understood to a skilled person that the current increases due to increase in the load on the glovebox 112, and hence on the motor 108. For handling such load, the motor 108 requires more current, and hence the current increases. The increase in the current may damage the motor 108 if it goes beyond a certain limit.
According to embodiments of present disclosure, the above discussed learning provided to the system 102 serves as a starting point for the system 108 while operating the glovebox 112. Stated another way, the system 102 now understands what maximum current is carrying capacity of the motor 108 and for how much time limit the motor 108 can bear the maximum current.

Now, in the real-time implementation, suppose the user provides a command to the system 102 for closing the door of the glovebox 112. It may be understood to the skilled person that the command may be provided in various communication modalities. For example, but not limited to, touch command, voice command, and visual command. The purpose of providing different modalities for providing the command is to help the user to concentrate on driving vehicle rather than manually closing the glovebox 112.
Once the command is received from the user, the door of the glovebox 112 starts operating in a close position. As soon as the door starts operating, the motor 108 starts drawing the current for this operation and may send current sense feedback to an electronic motion control unit 104 of the system 102. In response, the electronic motion control unit 104 determines motor current (i.e., real-time current) based on the current sense feedback. It may be understood to the skilled person that the electronic motion control unit 104 may be a dedicated hardware device like a processor, a circuit, an application specification integrated circuit (ASIC) which is capable of performing various operations of the system 102.
Once the motor current is sensed in the real-time, the electronic motion control unit 104 analyzes the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory 106. As already discussed above while referring to table 1, the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor 108 sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox 112. How the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data is generated is also discussed in the above paragraphs of the specification.
Referring back to the table 1, the system 102 understands that, for example, if the motor 108 is drawing a current of 3 Ampere, then the maximum time required for closing door is 6 seconds. Now, in the real-time, if the motor current is sensed as 4 Ampere, for example (which is between 3 Ampere and 5 Ampere in table 1), then the electronic motion control unit 104 understands that the maximum time for closing the door must not

go more than 4 seconds. This is because, 4 seconds is the threshold time or safe time-limit for 5 Ampere current which is greater than the 4 Ampere current.
However, by the time the motor current is determined, the door of the glovebox 112 already moves to a certain distance in a closing direction. Hence, before taking any action, it is important to determine remaining time required by the motor 108 for completely closing the door of the glovebox 112. The reason being, it may happen that when the motor current sensed as 5 Ampere, by that time, the door already travels half of distance in the closing direction. In that scenario, the electronic motion control unit 104, before taking any action, determines the remaining time required closing the door of the glovebox 112 in a completely closed position. For example, if it is determined that only 3 seconds are remaining for closing the door in the completely closed position with the motor current of 5 Ampere, the electronic motion control unit 104 (by referring the pre-learnt data as discussed in the table 1) understands that the motor 108 can easily close the door without getting damage.
The logic of the above analysis is that, for the 5 Ampere current, the motor 108 can safely operate till threshold time of 4 seconds. Hence, the remaining time of 3 seconds (which is less than corresponding threshold time of 4 seconds for the 5 Ampere current), the door can easily carry the current of 5 ampere and can close the door in the remaining 3 seconds. Here, the electronic motion control unit 104 enables the motor 108 to operate and close the door of the glovebox 112.
However, if the remaining time goes beyond the threshold time of the sensed motor current, the electronic motion control unit 104 generates an alarm while keeping the door of the glovebox 112 in a stationary position. This is because, the electronic motion control unit 104 understands that if the motor 108 is allowed to carry the overload current, it may damage the motor 108. For example, if the remaining time is determined to be 5 seconds for the motor current of 7 Ampere, for example, then the electronic motion control unit 104 (by referring the pre-learnt data as discussed in the table 1) understands that remaining time is not safe for the motor 108 for handling the motor

current of 7 Ampere. In this scenario, as discussed above, the electronic motion control unit 104 generates the alarm.
However, the duration of the alarm generated is limited to the threshold time only corresponding to the motor current. In this case, the alarm will be generated for only 2 seconds (i.e., threshold time when the 7 Ampere current is sensed). This is because, the electronic motion control unit 104 understands, based on past learning, that if the motor 108 current of 7 Ampere is allowed to flow for more than 2 seconds, the motor 108 may get damage. The alarm provides an indication or signal to the user to either reduce the load on the door of the glovebox 112 or manually provide a support. In case user reduce the load, the motor current of 7 Ampere automatically reduces. And, if the motor current (7 Ampere) reduces to a certain current such that the remaining time comes in a safe range, the door of the glovebox 112 is automatically closed. However, in case, instead of reducing the load, the user may attempt to manually close the door. In such case, the manual closing is aided by the motor 108 which minimizes the effort of the user for closing the door of the glovebox 112 against the gravity.
However, it may happen that the user may not take any of the above discussed actions (reducing weight or providing manual closing support). In such a scenario, the system 102 anticipates the danger of the motor 108 getting damage. To prevent this., the electronic motion control unit 104 de-energizes the motor 108 once the threshold time elapses. Here, the de-energizing of the motor 108 leads the door of the glovebox 112 to come back into original open position.
After this, the electronic motion control unit 104 enables the motor 108 to perform predefined number of retries for closing the door of the glovebox 112 after the de-energizing of the motor 108. The number of retries may also be derived from the past or historical data. In other words, the predefined number of retries/attempt are restricted based on previous history of stall operation stored in the memory 104 of the system. The purpose of retrying is that to give another chance to the user to perform any of the above

discussed actions (reducing weight or providing manual closing support) for successfully closing the door of the glovebox 112.
Once the predefined number of retries/attempt command is aborted due to non intervention of the user, the user has to issue a fresh command. It must be understood to the person skilled in art that the user may provide the command by various means, for example by touhing on control panel, voice command, or comnination of voice and tocuh and the like. This way, the system provides a safe and comfortable mechanism of opening and closing of the glovebox without/with minimal user invention. The system also helps in suitably operating the motor in such a manner that it fits into the cost budget to provide economic signifcance.
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a glovebox in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the method 200 comprises one or more blocks for controlling a glovebox using an electric glovebox control system 102. The method 200 may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, and functions, which perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types.
The order in which the method 200 is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.
At block 202, the electric glovebox control system 102 determine motor current using current sense feedback received from the motor 106. The motor current indicates a current at an instance when door of the glovebox 112 starts operating in a closing mode in response to user's command.

At block 204, the electric glovebox control system 102 analyze the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory 106. The pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the motor 108, comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor 108 sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox 112.
At block 206, the electric glovebox control system 102 checks whether the motor current goes beyond the threshold current.
At block 208, if the above condition described in the block 206 is not satisfied, the electric glovebox control system 102 enables the motor 108 to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112.
At block 210, however, if the above condition described in the block 206 is satisfied, the electric glovebox control system 102 determines a remaining time required by the motor 108 for closing the door of the glovebox 112.
At block 212, the electric glovebox control system 102 checks whether the remaining time is greater than the threshold time.
At block 214, if the above condition described in the block 212 is not satisfied, the electric glovebox control system 102 again enables the motor 108 to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112.
At block 216, however, if the above condition described in the block 212 is satisfied, the electric glovebox control system 102 generate an alarm, while keeping the door of the glovebox 112 in a stationary position, till the threshold time only. According to embodiments, the alarm is an indication for a user to reduce load on the door of the glovebox 112.

The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.
The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.
A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention.
When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the invention need not include the device itself.
Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We Claim:

1.An electric glovebox control system 102 for controlling a glovebox 112, the
system comprises an electronic motion control unit 104, a memory 106, a motor 108, and a gear linkage 110 coupled to the glovebox 112, wherein the electronic motion control unit 104 is configured to:
determine motor current using current sense feedback received from the motor 106, wherein the motor current indicates a current at an instance when door of the glovebox 112 starts operating in a closing mode in response to user's command;
analyze the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory 106, wherein the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the motor 108, comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor 108 sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox 112;
perform, based on the analysis, when the motor current goes beyond the threshold current:
determine a remaining time required by the motor 108 for closing the door of the glovebox 112,
perform, based on the determining, at least one of:
enable the motor 108 to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112 when the remaining time is less than a threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current; and
generate an alarm, while keeping the door of the glovebox 112 in a stationary position, till the threshold time only when the remaining time is greater than the threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current, and wherein the alarm is an indication for a user to reduce load on the door of the glovebox 112.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic motion control unit 104 is further configured to de-energize the motor 108 once the threshold time elapses and the user fails to reduce the load on the door of the glovebox 112.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic motion control unit 104 enables the motor 108 to perform predefined number of retries for closing the door of the glovebox 112 after the de-energizing of the motor 108.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predefined number of retries are determined based on the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic motion control unit 104 enables the motor 108 to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112 when the motor current is less than the threshold current.
6. A method for controlling a glovebox 112, wherein the method comprises:
providing an electronic motion control unit 104, a memory 106, a motor 108, and
a gear linkage 110 coupled to the glovebox 112, wherein the method further comprising:
determining, by the electronic motion control unit 104, motor current using current sense feedback received from the motor 106, wherein the motor current indicates a current at an instance when door of the glovebox 112 starts operating in a closing mode in response to user's command;
analyzing, by the electronic motion control unit 104, the motor current in relative to a threshold current of pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data stored in the memory 106, wherein the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the motor 108, comprises a plurality of threshold current at which the motor 108 sustain for a corresponding plurality of threshold time while closing the door of the glovebox 112;
performing, by the electronic motion control unit 104, based on the analyzing, when the motor current goes beyond the threshold current:

determining a remaining time required by the motor 108 for closing the door of the glovebox 112,
performing, based on the determining, at least one of:
enabling the motor 108 to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112 when the remaining time is less than a threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current; and
generating an alarm, while keeping the door of the glovebox 112 in a stationary position, till the threshold time only when the remaining time is greater than the threshold time, of the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data, associated with the threshold current, and wherein the alarm is an indication for a user to reduce load on the door of the glovebox 112.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising de-energizing the motor 108, by the electronic motion control unit 104, once the threshold time elapses and the user fails to reduce the load on the door of the glovebox 112.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising performing, by the electronic motion control unit 104, predefined number of retries for closing the door of the glovebox 112 after the de-energizing of the motor 108.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predefined number of retries are determined based on the pre-learned threshold current-threshold time data.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising enabling the motor 108, by the electronic motion control unit 104, to automatically close the door of the glovebox 112 when the motor current is less than the threshold current.