Automatic power-operated window and roof panel system for a motor vehicle

• US 5,208,483 A
• Filed: 08/31/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul A. Reneau
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Reneau
• Inventors: Reneau, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US07/938,510
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/34, 307/38, 307/39, 307/241, 307/596, 307/597, 307/598, 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/141.8, 361/191, 361/196, 361/178, 296/223, 296/117, 180/271, 180/289, 180/272, 318/266, 318/286, 318/466-469, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/902, 379/105, 379/63, 379/59, 379/441, 379/447, 290/38 C
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/05 by means of electronic switching

Abstract

An electronic system for automatically operating the power-operated windows and roof panel in a motor vehicle. Also to provide driver and occupant safety and co]fort by controlling the vehicle'"'"'s radio/stereo system, air conditioning/climate control system and other selected systems in response to calls placed or received on the vehicle'"'"'s cellular phone or in response to changes in the vehicle'"'"'s interior or exterior environment or both.

Claims

1. An improved system for automatically activating power-operated window and roof panel motors and motor actuators in a motor vehicle so equipped, the system is comprised of:

a vehicle battery with a positive pole and a negative pole wherein said negative pole is connected to a vehicle ground,

two groups of relays, each relay of said two groups has a set of normally open contacts, each said set of contacts is in a separate circuit between said vehicle battery and a single motor or motor actuator to operate said single motor or motor actuator in one direction,

two controlling circuits for operating said two groups of relays,

a first circuit that controls the operation of a first group of relays, said first circuit is comprised of;

a first switch that is closed by closing an ignition switch of the vehicle, said first switch is normally open and tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery, said ignition switch is also tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery,

a first transistor arrangement to operate said first group of relays, said first transistor arrangement is comprised of;

said first switch,

a first timer that activates a first transistor,

a second timer that activates a second transistor,

said first timer and said second timer both are activated by closing said first switch, said first transistor is disabled by closing said first switch, said first transistor is enabled by opening said first switch and also by activating a first prime transistor, said first prime transistor has a base tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery and said first prime transistor also has a collector tied to an emitter of said first transistor, said second transistor has a base tied to said first switch, said second transistor also has a collector tied to said base of the first prime transistor, activating said second transistor disables said first prime transistor, all of the coils of said first group of relays are in parallel with each other and tied together at an end of each of said coils, an other end of each of said coils of said first group of relays is tied to the positive pole of the vehicle battery, said first transistor has a collector tied to said end of each of said coils of said first group of relays,

opening said first switch after said closing said first switch activates said first transistor, activating said first transistor engages said first group of relays, engaging said first group of relays energizes said motors or motor actuators in a first direction,

a second circuit that controls a second group of relays, said second circuit is comprised of;

a second switch that is not closed by closing said ignition switch of the vehicle, said second switch is normally open and tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery,

a second transistor arrangement to operate said second group of relays, said second transistor arrangement is comprised of;

said second switch,

a third timer that activates a third transistor,

a fourth timer that activates a fourth transistor,

said third timer and said fourth timer both are activated by closing said second switch, said third transistor is enabled by a second prime transistor, said second prime transistor has a base tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery, said second prime transistor also has a collector tied to an emitter of said third transistor, said fourth transistor has a collector tied to said base of said second prime transistor,

activating said fourth transistor disables said second prime transistor, all of the coils of said second group of relays are in parallel with each other and tied together at an end of each coil, an other end of each of said coils of said second group of relays is tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery, said third transistor has a collector tied to said end of each of said coils of said second group of relays,

opening said second switch after closing said second switch activates said third transistor,

activating said third transistor engages said second group of relays, engaging said second group of relays energizes said motors or motor actuators in a second direction,

closing said first switch disables closing said second switch.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein said first circuit that controls said first group of relays is also comprised of:

said first switch,

an electrically-operated warning device having

a first electrical lead tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery and

a second lead,

a third transistor arrangement to operate said warning device, said third transistor arrangement comprised of;

a fifth timer that activates a fifth transistor, said fifth timer is activated by closing said first switch,

a sixth transistor activated by closing said first switch, said sixth transistor disables

a third prime transistor, said third prime transistor has a base tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery, said third prime transistor also has a collector tied to an emitter of said fifth transistor, activating said third prime transistor enables said fifth transistor, said fifth transistor also has a collector tied to said second electrical lead of said warning device, with said fifth timer activated said enabled fifth transistor activates said warning device.

3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein engaging both said first group of relays and said second group of relays is controlled by operating a third relay, said third relay has a double throw contact arrangement comprised of:

a first set of contacts, said first set of contacts is normally closed and in a circuit that controls the operation of said first group of relays, said first set of contacts is located between said first switch and said first timer,

a second set of contacts, said second set of contacts is normally open and in said second circuit that controls the operation of said second group of relays, said second set of contacts is located between said first switch and said second timer,

engaging said third relay opens said first set of contacts and closes said second set of contacts.

4. The system recited in claim 2, wherein an end of the coil of said third relay is tied to said first switch, an other end of the coil of said third relay tied to an output of a seventh transistor, said seventh transistor output enables energizing said coil of said third relay, said third relay is engaged by both closing said first switch and also by activating said seventh transistor.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein said seventh transistor is activated by activating a third controlling circuit, said third controlling circuit is comprised of:

said first switch,

a reed relay comprised of;

a normally open reed switch in series between said first switch and a gate of said seventh transistor,

a coil wound around said reed switch, said coil is in series in a circuit between said vehicle battery and a first electrical load of the vehicle,

a resistive-capacitive network forming a sixth timer comprised of;

a first resistor connected in series between said reed switch and said gate of said seventh transistor,

a second resistor with a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead,

a capacitor with a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead, said second lead is tied to said vehicle ground,

said second resistor and said capacitor are connected in parallel with each other such that a first lead of said second resistor and said first lead of said capacitor are tied together between said first resistor and said gate of said seventh transistor, said second lead of said second resistor is tied to said second lead of said capacitor, closing said first switch activates said third controlling circuit, activating said third controlling circuit energizes said coil and closes said reed switch and also activates said sixth timer, activating said sixth timer activates said seventh transistor.

6. A system recited in claim 5, wherein said first electrical load of the vehicle is a cellular phone.

7. A system recited in claim 6, wherein said seventh transistor is activated by activating a fourth controlling circuit, said fourth controlling circuit is comprised of:

a third switch, said third switch is normally open and tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery,

said sixth timer,

closing said third switch activates said fourth controlling circuit, activating said fourth controlling circuit activates said seventh transistor.

8. A system recited in claim 7, wherein said first controlling circuit and said second controlling circuit are both by-passed such that:

said first group of relays is engaged by closing a fourth switch, said fourth switch is normally open and in a circuit between said vehicle ground and said end of said coils of said first group of relays, said other end of said coils of said first group of relays is tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery,

said second group of relays is engaged by closing a fifth switch, said fifth switch is normally open and in a circuit between said vehicle ground and said end of said coils of said second group of relays, said other end of said coils of said second group of relays is tied to said positive pole of the vehicle battery.

9. A system recited in claim 8, wherein said third relay has a third set of contacts, said third set of contacts is normally closed and in series in a circuit between a second electrical load of the vehicle and said vehicle battery, engaging said third relay opens said third set of contacts and opens said circuit between said second electrical load of the vehicle and said vehicle battery.

10. A system recited in claim 9, wherein said second electrical load is a radio of the vehicle.

11. A system recited in claim 10, wherein a normally open sixth switch is connected in parallel with said third set of contacts of said third relay, and a normally open seventh switch is connected in series with said third set of contacts of said third relay, said sixth switch and said seventh switch are both located between said vehicle battery and said second electrical load of the vehicle, closing said sixth switch connects said second electrical load of the vehicle to said vehicle battery with said third set of contacts of said third relay open, closing said seventh switch with said third set of contacts of said third relay closed and said sixth switch open connects said second electrical load of the vehicle to said vehicle battery.

12. A system recited in claim 10, wherein said seventh switch is connected in series with a set of normally closed contacts of a fourth relay between said vehicle battery and said second electrical load of the vehicle, said fourth relay has an end of its coil tied to said first switch, an other end of said coil of said fourth relay is tied to an eighth switch, said eighth switch is normally open and tied to said vehicle ground, closing said eighth switch with said first switch closed engages said fourth relay and opens said set of contacts of said fourth relay, opening said set of contacts of said fourth relay disconnects said vehicle battery from said second electrical load.

13. A system recited in claim 12, wherein activating a fifth controlling circuit engages said fourth relay, said fifth controlling circuit is comprised of:

said first switch tied to said end of said coil of said fourth relay,

an eighth transistor with a collector tied to said other end of said coil of said fourth relay,

an audio frequency responsive circuit connected to said first switch and also connected to a base of said eighth transistor,

a microphone for receiving an audio frequency, said microphone is connected to said first switch and also connected to said audio frequency responsive circuit,

closing said first switch activates said microphone to receive said audio frequency, reception of said audio frequency activates said audio frequency responsive circuit, activating said audio frequency responsive circuit activates said eight transistor, activating said eighth transistor engages said fourth relay.

14. A system recited in claim 13, wherein a fifth relay with a set of normally open contacts is engaged by activating a sixth controlling circuit, said sixth controlling circuit is comprised of:

said first switch tied to an end of the coil of said fifth relay,

said first set of contacts of said third relay,

a ninth transistor, said ninth transistor has a collector tied to an other end of said coil of said fifth relay, said ninth transistor is activated by a circuit comprised of;

a seventh timer, said seventh timer is in a circuit between said first set of contacts of said third relay and said ninth transistor,

said first transistor,

closing said first switch activates said sixth controlling circuit, activating said sixth controlling circuit activates said seventh timer and also engages said third relay, engaging said third relay activates said first transistor with said first switch closed, activating said first transistor enables said ninth transistor, said activating said seventh timer also activates said enabled ninth transistor, activating said enabled ninth transistor engages said fifth relay and closes said set of contacts of said fifth relay.

15. A system recited in claim 14, wherein said set of contacts of said fifth relay is in a circuit between said vehicle battery and an air conditioning/climate control system of the vehicle, closing said set of contacts of said fifth relay activates said air conditioning/climate control system with said ignition switch of the vehicle closed.

16. A system recited in claim 15, wherein a sixth relay with a set of normally open contacts is engaged by both closing said first switch and also by activating a seventh controlling circuit, said first switch is tied to an end of the coil of said sixth relay, an other end of said coil of said sixth relay is tied to said seventh controlling circuit, said seventh controlling circuit is comprised of:

said first switch,

said second set of contacts of said third relay,

a tenth transistor with a collector tied to said other end of said coil of said sixth relay said tenth transistor is activated by a circuit comprised of;

an eighth timer, said eighth timer is in a circuit between said second set of contacts of said third relay and said tenth transistor,

said third transistor,

engaging said third relay activates said eighth timer with said first switch closed, disengaging said third relay with said first switch closed following said engaging of said third relay activates said third transistor, activating said third transistor enables said activated tenth transistor, said enabling of said activated tenth transistor engages said sixth relay and closes said set of contacts of said sixth relay.

17. A system recited in claim 16, wherein said set of contacts of said sixth relay is in a circuit between said vehicle battery and said air conditioning/climate control system of the vehicle, closing said set of contacts of said sixth relay deactivates said vehicle air conditioning/climate control system with said ignition switch of the vehicle closed.

18. A system recited in claim 17, wherein a seventh relay with a set of normally open contacts is engaged by closing said second set of contacts of said third relay, said seventh relay has an end of its coil tied to said second contact set of said third relay, an other end of its coil is tied to a ninth switch, said ninth switch is normally closed and tied to said vehicle ground, opening either said second set of contacts of said third relay or opening said ninth switch disengages said seventh relay.

19. A system recited in claim 18, wherein said set of contacts of said seventh relay is in a circuit between said vehicle battery and an air conditioning system of the vehicle, closing said set of contacts of said seventh relay activates said air conditioning system, opening said set of contacts of said seventh relay deactivates said air conditioning system.

20. A system recited in claim 19, wherein said first timer is tied to a tenth switch, said tenth switch is normally open and tied to said vehicle ground, closing said tenth switch deactivates said first timer.

21. A system recited in claim 20, wherein said first timer, and said second timer, and said third timer, and said fourth timer, and said fifth timer, and said seventh timer, and said eighth timer are each comprised of a resistive-capacitive network.