Process for monitoring movement of closure devices which may be adjusted by motors

• US 5,585,705 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Brieden, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/433,159
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/286, 318/430, 318/431, 318/434, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 318/469, 388/903, 388/907.5, 388/909
• US Class Current: 318/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• 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 2900/55 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

A process for the monitoring of, in particular, the closing of a motor-operated aggregate, preferably for use in motor vehicles, for example a vehicle window or sliding roof. A motor which is connected to the vehicle electrical supply system is switched off by means of switching elements and/or a sensor which detects characteristic values of the aggregate and a data processing system including storage and comparing means. Switch off occurs during the closing process within a predetermined (central) portion of the closing travel, when a value dependent on the motor rpm or the speed of the aggregate exceeds a threshold value based on a stored reference value. A monitoring system is effective in the start-up phase of the motor. In the start-up phase of the motor, therefore, an initial threshold value based on a reference value detected towards the end of the previous adjustment process and then stored, is compared with the current motor period value.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring and controlling movement of a closure device which can be controlled by a motor to provide anti-jamming protection, comprising:

connecting the motor to a supply voltage;

switching off the motor in response to an arresting signal indicative of an obstacle to movement of the closure device, the signal being generated by a data processor provided with storage and comparing means, wherein the switching off step includes;

determining a motor time period value (PWv) dependent on the rpm of the motor or the speed of movement of the closure device during a previous safety-related control of the device;

deriving an initial time period threshold value (PGW*) based on PWv of the previous safety-related control of the device according to the formula

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">PGW*=2×

PWvn×

(0.5+e.sup.-t/τ

)

wherein

PWvn is a last period valve of the motor time period values (PWv), t is the time elapsing between the start of motor activation and the beginning of the first current period value supplied by the sensor and

τ

is a time constant of the closure device, where τ

is approximately 20 milliseconds;

detecting a current motor time period value (PWa);

comparing PWa with PGW*; and

generating the arresting signal if PWa exceeds ·

PGW*.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the initial period threshold value (PGW*) is augmented by a safety margin of about 10%.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein, during the start-up phase of the motor, the motor is not switched off until completion of a sensor signal cycle (PW).

4. A process according to claim 1 further comprising:

comparing during the start-up phase of the motor the period value (PWa₁ or PWa₂) according to the prior motor period to the current period value (PWa₂ or PWa₃, respectively), thereby considering the known start-up behavior of the motor.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the signal representing the rpm or the speed is supplied by a Hall sensor which generates digital impulses.

5. A process according to claim 5 further comprising:

multiplying the prior motor time period value (PWa₁ or PWa₂) by an adjustment factor which considers start-up behavior of the motor.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the factor (F) lies in the range of about 1-1.25.