Automatic window synchronization system

• US 10,119,321 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Bulpitt, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Catherine A
• Application Number:
  US15/212,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20180016837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/17 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 17/00 Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously for simultaneously moving a plurality of interconnected ventilating lamellae E06B7/086
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/41 for multiple motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/445 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A system for automatically synchronizing window openings and closings of multiple windows of a vehicle. The system includes a first actuator and a second actuator configured to move a first window and a second window to respective closed positions. The system includes a window control unit configured to receive, at a first time, an indication to close the first window at a first closing rate. The window control unit is configured to receive, at a second time, an indication to close the second window at a second closing rate. The window control unit is configured to adjust at least one of the first closing rate or the second closing rate, from a standard rate to an adjusted rate, when the first time and the second time are within a threshold time, such that the first window and the second window achieve their respective closed positions simultaneously.

Claims

1. A system for closing a first window and a second window of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first actuator configured to move the first window to a first window closed position;

a second actuator configured to move the second window to a second window closed position;

a window control unit connected to the first actuator and the second actuator, the window control unit configured to;

receive, at a first time, an indication to close the first window,

close the first window at a first closing rate based on the indication to close the first window, the first closing rate being a standard rate,

receive, at a second time after the first time, an indication to close the second window,

close the second window at a second closing rate based on the indication to close the second window, the second closing rate being the standard rate, and

when a difference between the first time and the second time is less than or equal to a threshold time difference, adjust at least one of the first closing rate or the second closing rate, from the standard rate to an adjusted rate, so that the first window closed position and the second window closed position are achieved simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first window switch connected to the window control unit, the first window switch configured to provide the indication to close the first window; and

a second window switch connected to the window control unit, the second window switch configured to provide the indication to close the second window.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input unit configured to receive user preference data, and

wherein the threshold time difference is based on the user preference data.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first window position sensor connected to the first window and configured to detect window position data of the first window; and

a second window position sensor connected to the second window and configured to detect window position data of the second window, and

wherein the window control unit is connected to the first window position sensor and the second window position sensor, and further configured to;

determine a first window position of the first window based on the window position data of the first window,

determine a second window position of the second window based on the window position data of the second window, and

when a difference between the first window position and the second window position is less than or equal to a threshold window position difference and when the difference between the first time and the second time is less than or equal to the threshold time difference, adjust at least one of the first closing rate or the second closing rate, from the standard rate to the adjusted rate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the window control unit is further configured to determine the adjusted rate based on the window position data of the first window, the window position data of the second window, the first time, and the second time.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising an input unit configured to receive user preference data, and

wherein the threshold time difference and the threshold window position difference are based on the user preference data.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an air pressure sensor configured to detect air pressure data; and

an air control unit configured to;

detect, based on the air pressure data, a change in air pressure in response to the closing of the first window and the second window, and

adjust air pressure within the vehicle when the change in air pressure is detected.

8. A vehicle having a first window and a second window, the vehicle comprising:

a first actuator configured to move the first window to a first window closed position;

a second actuator configured to move the second window to a second window closed position; and

a window control unit connected to the first actuator and the second actuator, the window control unit configured to;

receive an indication to close the first window at a first time,

close the first window in response to receiving the indication to close the first window,

receive an indication to close the second window at a second time after the first time,

close the second window in response to receiving the indication to close the second window, and

when a difference between the first time and the second time is less than or equal to a threshold time difference, adjust at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window such that the first window closed position and the second window closed position are achieved simultaneously.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a first window switch connected to the window control unit, the first window switch configured to provide the indication to close the first window; and

a second window switch connected to the window control unit, the second window switch configured to provide the indication to close the second window.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising an input unit configured to receive user preference data, and

wherein the threshold time difference is based on the user preference data.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a first window position sensor connected to the first window and configured to detect window position data of the first window; and

a second window position sensor connected to the second window and configured to detect window position data of the second window, and

wherein the window control unit is connected to the first window position sensor and the second window position sensor, and further configured to;

determine a first window position of the first window based on the window position data of the first window,

determine a second window position of the second window based on the window position data of the second window, and

when a difference between the first window position and the second window position is less than or equal to a threshold window position difference and when the difference between the first time and the second time is less than or equal to the threshold time difference, adjust at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an input unit configured to receive user preference data, and

wherein the threshold time difference and the threshold window position difference are based on the user preference data.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the adjusting at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window comprises accelerating the closing of the first window or accelerating the closing of the second window.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the adjusting at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window comprises delaying the closing of the first window or delaying the closing of the second window.

15. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

an air pressure sensor configured to detect air pressure data; and

an air control unit configured to;

detect, based on the air pressure data, a change in air pressure in response to the closing of the first window and the second window, and

adjust air pressure within the vehicle when the change in air pressure is detected.

16. A system for closing a first window and a second window of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first actuator configured to move the first window to a first window closed position;

a second actuator configured to move the second window to a second window closed position;

a first window position sensor connected to the first window and configured to detect window position data of the first window;

a second window position sensor connected to the second window and configured to detect window position data of the second window;

a window control unit connected to the first actuator, the second actuator, the first window position sensor, and the second window position sensor, the window control unit configured to;

simultaneously receive an indication to close the first window and an indication to close the second window,

determine a first window position of the first window based on the window position data of the first window,

determine a second window position of the second window based on the window position data of the second window, and

when a difference between the first window position and the second window position is less than or equal to a threshold window position difference, adjust at least one of a closing of the first window or a closing of the second window such that the first window closed position and the second window closed position are achieved simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a first window switch connected to the window control unit, the first window switch configured to provide the indication to close the first window; and

a second window switch connected to the window control unit, the second window switch configured to provide the indication to close the second window.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a single switch connected to the window control unit and configured to provide the indication to close the first window and the second window.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the adjusting at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window comprises accelerating the closing of the first window or accelerating the closing of the second window.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the adjusting at least one of the closing of the first window or the closing of the second window comprises delaying the closing of the first window or delaying the closing of the second window.