Vehicle window control system

• US 20070255468A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alps Automative, Inc. (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alps Automative, Inc. (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dulgerian, James, Strebel, Eric, Lucas, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US11/411,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266

Abstract

A vehicle window control system is configured to move a window to a selected position or until a desired change in position has been achieved. The system includes an input device and a control device. The input device generates a signal indicative of a desired window movement. The switch analyzes the received input signal to detect an input mode, and generates an output signal that causes a window to move in accordance with the received signal data.

Claims

1. A vehicle window control system, comprising:

an elongated touch sensitive input device; and

a switch programmed to cause a window to move according to a first mode or a second mode;

where the first mode comprises the switch causing the window to move to a position indicative of a location touched on the input device, and the second mode comprises the switch causing the window to move a distance proportional to a length of a region located between a starting contact position and an ending contact position.

2. The system of claim 1, where the switch detects the first mode or the second mode based on data received from the input device.

3. The system of claim 2, where the switch is further programmed to monitor the window'"'"'s position.

4. The system of claim 3, where the switch is further programmed to cause the window to move subsequent to an input received at the input device.

5. The system of claim 3, where the switch is further programmed to cause the window to move in real-time in response to an input received at the input device.

6. The system of claim 3, where the input device further comprises a plurality of discrete switches.

7. The system of claim 6, where the second mode further comprises contact with each of the discrete switches between the starting contact position and the ending contact position.

8. A vehicle window control system, comprising:

an elongated input device comprising a plurality of touch sensitive switches;

a programmable logic programmed to receive absolute data or relative data from the input device; and

a sensor configured to sense a window position data coupled to the programmable logic.

9. The system of claim 8, where the programmable logic detects whether to generate an output signal through a comparison of the received data and the window position data.

10. The system of claim 9, where the absolute data comprises a window position signal associated with a location touched on the input device.

11. The system of claim 8, where the relative data comprises a window position signal proportional to a linear path traversed between a first contact point of the input device and a second contact point of the input device.

12. The system of claim 10, where the programmable logic is programmed to determine a window position based on the window position data and the relative data.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a sensor coupled to the input device that is configured to generate a tactile feedback signal.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. A power window system, comprising:

a touch sensitive input device;

a controller that raises or lowers a window while keeping the window level;

where the touch sensitive input device comprises an absolute movement device and a relative movement device;

the absolute movement device coupled to the controller raises or lowers the window to a position associated with a position on the touch sensitive input device; and

the relative movement device coupled to the controller raises or lowers the window a relative distance linked to a movement across the touch sensitive input device.

19. The system of claim 18, where the touch sensitive input device is coupled to a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, where the touch sensitive input device comprises a touch sensitive surface.

21. A system that controls a vehicle window, comprising:

means for generating a desired window position signal or a change in position signal;

means for detecting the type of received input signal; and

means for moving an associated window in accordance with the received input signal.