Glass breakage detecting sensor

• US 20080030310A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Hironori, Okada, Takashi, Aoki, Koji, Maeda, Toshiro, Shirai, Katsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001

Abstract

A glass breakage detecting sensor includes a strain detecting portion by which breakage of a window glass, which is provided at a door of a vehicle, is detected based on changes of an amount of strain, and an attaching portion attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion.

Claims

1. A glass breakage detecting sensor comprising:

a strain detecting portion by which breakage of a window glass, which is provided at a door of a vehicle, is detected based on changes of an amount of strain; and

an attaching portion attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion.

2. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing mechanism includes an arm movably supported by the inner panel and the arm being moved in conjunction with the window glass, and further the attaching portion is attached to the arm.

4. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion is attached to a surface of the inner panel facing inside of the vehicle.

5. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion includes a strain generating body on which the strain detecting portion is provided and is strained together with the attached portion, and further the attaching portion is attached to the inner panel facing inside of the vehicle.

6. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion is attached to a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided on the inner panel.

7. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion includes:

a strain generating body to which the strain detecting portion is provided and is strained in cooperation with the attached portion;

a first fixing portion provided at one end portion of the strain generating body and a second fixing portion provided at the other end portion of the strain generating body, the attaching portion of the strain generating body is fixed to the attached portion on the inner panel by the first and the second fixing portions; and

restraining means for restraining a strain direction by which, when the window glass lowered, the strain generating body is preliminarily strained to a direction of the strain generating body being strained when the window glass is raised to fully close the window.

8. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 7, wherein the firs and the second fixing portions include a plurality of washers which are interposed between the strain generating boy and the attached portion, and further the first and the second fixing portions include the restraining means for restraining a strain direction structured with the plurality of washers whose height differs from each other.

9. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 7, wherein the strain detecting portion includes a plurality of strain detecting elements, and further the strain detecting portion outputs an electrical signal detected by the plurality of the strain detecting elements as a detecting signal, the electrical signal indicates an amount of differences of strain generated on the strain generating body.

10. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 7, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

11. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 8, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

12. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 9, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

13. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to claim 7, wherein the breakage detecting sensor includes a breakage determining portion by which breakage of the window glass is determined on the basis of changes of an amount of strain generated on the attached portion, and wherein the amount of strain is detected by the strain detecting portion.

3. The glass breakage detecting sensor according to Clam 1, wherein the attaching portion includes a strain generating body for generating a strain in cooperation with the attached portion, and the strain detecting portion is provided on the strain generating body.

14. A glass breakage detecting sensor comprising:

a strain detecting portion by which strain of an attached portion is detected, and the strain detecting portion being attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports a window glass provided at a door of a vehicle, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion; and

a breakage determining portion by which breakage of the window glass is determined on the basis of changes of an amount of strain generated on the attached portion detected by the strain detecting portion, the amount of the strain being detected by the strain detecting portion.

15. A glass breakage detecting sensor comprising:

a strain generating body generating strain in cooperation with an attached portion when a window glass is raised to fully close a window, a strain generating body is attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass provided at a door of a vehicle, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion;

a strain detecting portion outputting a detecting signal indicating an amount of strain generated on the strain generating body;

a first fixing portion provided on one end portion of the strain generating body and a second fixing portion provided on the other end portion of the strain generating body for fixing the strain generating body with the attached portion; and

restraining means for restraining a strain direction by which, when the window glass is lowered, the strain generating body is preliminarily strained to a direction of the strain generating body being strained when the window glass is raised to fully close the window.