Motor control system for an automatic window of a vehicle

• US 20010048280A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/751,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/445
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/435 by interruption of the beam
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/487 Fault detection of safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver

Abstract

A motor control system and method for detecting an obstruction for an automatic window of a vehicle include a window frame having an opening defined therebetween and a window pane disposed within the opening of the window frame. The motor control system includes a plurality of transmitters that emit an electromagnetic energy signal and a plurality of sensors which detect the signals in the opening of the window frame. A control module in communication with the plurality of transmitters and sensors processes the detected signals and transmits a signal to a drive motor to stop the upward travel of a window based on the detection of an obstruction between the window frame and the window pane.

Claims

1. A motor control system to avoid an obstruction in a window opening in a vehicle door, the motor control system comprising:

a plurality of transmitters disposed about the opening of the door frame for emitting an electromagnetic energy signal;

a plurality of sensors disposed about the opening of the door frame for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the plurality of transmitters; and

a control module in communication with the plurality of sensors to detect the presence of an obstruction in the opening of the window frame based on an interruption in the signals detected by the plurality of sensors, wherein the control module transmits a signal to a drive motor operatively connected to a window terminate the upward travel of the window in the window frame upon detecting an obstruction between the plurality of transmitters and sensors.

2. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein the control module compares the electromagnetic energy signals detected by the first and second sensors to stored values in the control module over an interval of time during the upward travel of the window to determine the presence of an obstruction in the opening of the window frame.

3. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein each of the plurality of sensors is disposed opposite to and coplanar with each of the plurality of transmitters to monitor an area of the opening of the window frame.

4. The motor control system of

claim 1

further comprising a first transmitter disposed adjacent an upper portion of the window for transmitting the electromagnetic energy signal and a first sensor disposed opposite to and coplanar with the first transmitter for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal.

5. The motor control system of

claim 1

further comprising a second transmitter disposed adjacent an upper portion of the window for transmitting the electromagnetic energy signal and a second sensor disposed opposite to and coplanar with the second transmitter for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal.

6. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein the control module independently monitors the first and second areas of the opening of the window frame for obstructions detected between the first transmitter and sensor and the second transmitter and sensor.

7. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the first and second transmitters is an infrared energy signal.

8. The motor control system of

claim 7

wherein the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the first and second transmitters is a narrow beam of infrared energy directed at the first and second sensors of the motor control system.

9. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein the signal emitted by the first and second transmitters is an ultrasound wave.

10. The motor control system of

claim 1

wherein the system further comprises a photointerrupter in communication with the control module to detect the position of the window relative to the window frame.

11. The motor control system of

claim 10

wherein the photointerrupter is provided adjacent the first transmitter to detect the position of the window relative to the window frame.

12. A door assembly for a vehicle having an automatic window including a motor control system to avoid an obstruction in a window opening, the door assembly comprising:

a vehicle door frame;

a window frame formed in the door frame, the window frame having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, a rear portion and an opening defined therebetween;

a window carrier assembly mounted to the door frame, the window carrier assembly including a window regulator having a pair of spaced apart generally vertical rails, a generally horizontal support arm extending between the rails and a motor in communication with the support arm which vertically adjusts the position of the support arm;

a window secured to the support arm of the window regulator, wherein the window is vertically adjustable through an inner periphery of the window frame;

a first transmitter mounted adjacent the upper portion of the window frame for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal;

a first sensor mounted coplanar to the first transmitter along the upper portion of the window frame to detect the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the first transmitter for monitoring a first area of the opening in the vehicle door;

a second transmitter mounted adjacent the front portion of the window frame for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal;

a second sensor mounted coplanar to the second transmitter along the front portion of the window frame to detect the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the second transmitter; and

a control module in communication with the first and second transmitters and sensors to detect an interruption in signals between the transmitter and sensor, wherein the control module transmits a signal to the motor to terminate the upward travel of the window based on the detection of an obstruction in one of the first and second areas of the opening of the window frame.

13. The door assembly of

claim 12

further comprising a switching mechanism coupled to the control module to transmit commands to the control module to raise or lower the window in the window frame.

14. The door assembly of

claim 13

wherein the switching mechanism further comprises a one-touch feature which allows a single activation of the switching mechanism to actuate the control module to raise the window pane to the window frame.

15. The door assembly of

claim 12

wherein the system further comprises a photointerrupter in communication with the control module to detect the position of the window relative to a window frame.

16. The door assembly of

claim 15

wherein the photointerrupter is provided adjacent the first monitoring system to detect the position of the window relative to the window frame.

17. The door assembly of

claim 12

wherein the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the first and second transmitters is an infrared energy signal.

18. The door assembly of

claim 12

wherein the control module compares the electromagnetic energy signals detected by the first and second sensors to stored values in the control module over an interval of time during the upward travel of the window to determine the presence of an obstruction in the opening of the window frame.

19. The door assembly of

claim 12

wherein the control module independently monitors the first and second areas of the opening of the window frame for obstructions detected between the first transmitter and sensor and the second transmitter and sensor.

20. A method of detecting an obstruction in a window assembly of a vehicle door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a motor control system to monitor an opening defined in a window frame, the motor control system including a plurality of transmitters for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal, a plurality of sensors for detecting the electromagnetic energy signals and a control module in communication with the plurality of transmitters and sensors to monitor signals detected by the sensors to sense the presence of obstructions in the opening of the window frame during the upward travel of the window;

activating a drive motor to initiate the upward travel of the window in the window frame;

activating the motor control system when the drive motor initiates the upward travel of the window in the window frame;

emitting electromagnetic energy signals with the plurality of transmitters into the opening of the window frame;

detecting electromagnetic energy signals with the plurality of sensors;

processing the signals detected by the plurality of sensors with the control module; and

transmitting a signal to the drive motor to terminate the upward travel of the window based upon detection of an obstruction in the opening by the motor control system between the window and the window frame.

21. The method of

claim 20

wherein the step of processing the signals detected by the plurality of sensors with the control module further comprises the step of comparing the signal interrupts received by the first and second sensors with the control module to stored values to detect the presence of an obstruction in the first and second areas of the opening of the window frame.

22. The method of

claim 20

wherein the step of emitting electromagnetic energy signals with the plurality of transmitters further comprises emitting infrared light signals with the plurality of transmitters into the opening of the window frame.

23. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of performing a hardware fault detection of the motor control system during downward travel of the window in the window frame.

24. The method of

claim 23

wherein the step of performing a hardware fault detection of the motor control system includes sending a pulse of infrared light from the plurality of transmitters to the plurality of sensors test the motor control system.