Control system for blinds in motor vehicles

• US 20030141025A1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
• Original Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
• Inventors: Schlecht, Werner P., Seel, Holger, Laudenbach, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/111,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141025A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/370.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2016 Control means for actuating the roller blind, e.g. using electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2019 powered, e.g. by electric, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/208 for rear windows

Abstract

A window shade control for window shades (17, 28) of motor vehicles contains a control arrangement (23, 71). The control arrangement (23, 71) receives signals from a switch (41, 42), which is to be manually operated by the driver, or vehicle occupant, in order to be able to arbitrarily retract or extend the window shade (17, 18).

Signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51) are additionally provided, which react to other external stimuli in order to bring the respective window shade into a state which best meets the respective reported external stimulus independently of the actuation by the driver.

Claims

1. A window shade control for a window shade (17, 28) of a motor vehicle, wherein the window shade (17, 28) is equipped with a powered drive mechanism (88), by means of which a window shade web (18, 29) of the window shade (17, 28) is to be selectively, and at least partially, retracted or extended,

having a control arrangement (34, 71) which is designed in such a way that it is suitable for controlling the drive mechanism (88), and

having first signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72), whose status is stimulus-dependent and which work together with the control arrangement (34) in order to cause the control arrangement (34) to put the drive mechanism (88) into operation or to stop it.

2. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that second signaling means (41, 42, 71) are additionally provided, whose status is to be determined directly by a user of the vehicle in order to cause the control arrangement (34) to put the drive mechanism (88) into operation or to stop it.

3. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34, 71) has at least one switch (71).

4. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34, 71) has a current supply input (35, 76,,77, 78, 79) and a current output (36, 84, 85), which is provided for connection to the drive mechanism (88) of the window shade (17, 28).

5. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control mechanism (34, 71) has a first control input (43, 44, 47, 49, 52, 75, 91), to which a signal from the first signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) is to be fed, or to which the first-signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) are connected.

6. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control mechanism (34, 71) has a second control input (38, 39), to which a signal from the second signaling means (41, 42, 71) is to be fed, or to which the second signaling means (41, 42, 71) are connected.

7. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34) has its own microprocessor.

8. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34) is embedded into a central motor vehicle control (53).

9. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement is a part of a program of a motor vehicle control (53).

10. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the second signaling means (41, 42) comprise at least one switch or key.

11. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the second signaling means are constituted by a variable program quantity, whose value is defined by at least one switch (41, 42) or key.

12. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the first signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) are constituted by at least one switch (48, 51) or key.

13. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the first signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) are constituted by a variable program quantity, whose value is defined by at least one switch (48, 51) or key.

14. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the first signaling means (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) include a sensor (45, 46, 48, 51, 72).

15. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (45, 72) is a light-sensitive sensor.

16. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (45) is a photodiode.

17. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (45) is a photoresistor.

18. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (46) is a a heat-sensitive sensor.

19. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (46) is a temperature-dependent resistor.

20. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (48, 51) is an electromechanical switch.

21. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (48, 51) is a magnetic field-dependent sensor.

22. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (48, 51) is a magnetoresistor.

23. The window shade control in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (48, 51) is a a Hall probe.

24. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (45, 46, 48, 51, 72) is arranged at a location which is shaded when the window shade web (18, 29) is extended.

25. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34) contains time function elements in such a way that the drive mechanism (88) is put into motion in the reversed movement position after a preset length of time.

26. The window shade control in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (34, 52) contains a memory in which the previous operating status is stored.