Control apparatus for power window

• US 5,537,013 A
• Filed: 03/14/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyozumi, Morihiko, Nakatsuji, Naohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Wysocki, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US08/403,578
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280-286, 318/265, 318/266, 318/466-470, 49/26, 49/28, 361/23, 361/31, 160/291, 160/272, 160/293.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/38
• US Class Current: 318/283
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/148 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0851 for motors actuating a movable member between two end positions, e.g. detecting an end position or obstruction by overload signal

Abstract

This invention prevents a power window from trapping a hand or the like during manual opening and closing of the window as well as during automatic opening and closing of the window. A current-flowing unit 56 flows a current in a closing direction in a power window motor 58 by turning on a sub-switch 57 for a passenger'"'"'s seat window. While a catching detector 61 generates a detecting signal when an obstacle is present, a breaker 63 breaks a current flowing in a closing direction in the motor 58 through the unit 56 by turning off a master switch 39 for the passenger'"'"'s seat. A reversing unit 65 rotates the motor 58 in a reverse direction by flowing a current in an opening direction in the motor 58. Even if an obstacle is present during an operation of closing the manual sub-switch 57, it is possible to release window, thereby freeing the obstacle.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a power window, comprising:

a sub-switch for opening and closing a window provided in a door other than a driver'"'"'s seat door;

a master switch provided in the driver'"'"'s seat door and operative for opening and closing the window provided in the door other than the driver'"'"'s seat door;

means for flowing currents in opening and closing directions in a power window motor responsive to an on-off operation of said sub-switch;

means for detecting an obstacle such as a hand or the like caught in the window during flowing of the current in the closing direction in said power window motor to generate a detecting signal;

means for breaking the current flowing in the closing direction in the power window motor in response to said detecting signal from said detecting means; and

means for reversely rotating said power window motor by flowing the current in the opening direction in said motor in response to said detecting signal,

said master switch having priority over said sub-switch, such that the obstacle is released even when the master switch and the sub-switch are operated in opposite directions at the same time,

said control apparatus further comprising a driver switch which actuates, either automatically or manually, a further power window motor to open and close a window provided in the driver'"'"'s seat door, and

wherein said means for flowing currents includes an automatic opening and closing mode, a manual mode, and a special mode for forcibly moving at least the window provided in the door other than the driver'"'"'s seat door into a completely, open or closed position regardless of said detecting signal from said detecting means.

2. A control apparatus for a power window as in claim 1, wherein said means for breaking the current comprises an NPN transistor, a collector of said NPN transistor being connected to said means for flowing currents and an emitter of said NPN transistor being connected to ground.