Auto up window with obstacle detection system

• US 5,616,997 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, James A., McCann, Roy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wysocki, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US08/540,696
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280-286, 318/466-472, 318/490, 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 49/118, 160/291, 160/292, 160/293.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 318/467
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0852 directly responsive to abnormal temperature by using a temperature sensor in a control circuit H02H7/0833

Abstract

A closure system for a motor vehicle includes a closure, a closure frame, an electric motor, a control switch, an electric power source, first and second displacement sensors, temperature sensor, voltage sensor of the power source and a microprocessor. The first and second displacement sensors each operably generate a signal indicative of the one of closure movement and output shaft rotation. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the control switch, the electric motor, the first and second displacement sensors, the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor of the power source. The microprocessor includes electrically connecting the motor with the power source responsive to a condition of the control switch. The microprocessor also has means for converting temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature. The microprocessor also includes converting voltage sensed to an electrical signal of power source voltage, and calculating a velocity of one of the closure and the motor between predetermined positions as indicated by transition signals from the displacement sensors as the closure is moved from an open position to the seated position. The microprocessor further includes calculating a compensated velocity by using the calculated velocity and the voltage signal and the temperature signal. The microprocessor yet further includes comparing the velocity with a reference velocity and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference value.

Claims

1. A power closure system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a closure;

a closure frame defining a seated position of the closure;

a control switch;

an electrical power source including a battery;

an electric motor with an output shaft drivingly connected to the closure and selectively electrically connected to the power source;

a first displacement sensor operably generating a signal indicative of one of closure movement and output shaft rotation;

a second displacement sensor operably generating a signal indicative of one of closure movement and output shaft rotation;

means for sensing a temperature;

means for sensing a voltage of the power source; and

a microprocessor electrically connected to the control switch, the electric motor, the first and second displacement sensors, the means for sensing a temperature and the means for sensing a voltage of the power source, and including

means for electrically connecting the motor with the power source responsive to a condition of the control switch;

means for converting signals from the displacement sensors into a predetermined number of closure positions;

means for converting temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature at one of the closure positions;

means for converting voltage sensed to an electrical signal of power source voltage at the one of the closure positions;

means for calculating a velocity of one of the closure and the motor as the closure approaches the one of the closure positions;

means for calculating a compensated velocity for the one of the closure positions using the calculated velocity and the voltage signal and the temperature signal; and

means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity for the one of the closure positions and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity.

2. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity elects to reverse the motor only when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity by a predetermined amount.

3. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

means for revising the reference velocity by including the compensated velocity therein when there is not an election to reverse the motor.

4. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

means for calculating upper and lower second velocity range values by multiplying the reference velocity by predetermined upper and lower second range factors and revising the reference velocity by including the compensated velocity therein when the compensated velocity is between the upper and lower second velocity range values when there is not an election to reverse the motor.

5. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity includes:

means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity and electing to increment a pulse count when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity and to clear the pulse count when the compensated velocity is greater than the reference velocity; and

means for comparing the incremented pulse count to a predetermined set count and electing to reverse the motor when the incremented pulse count equals the set count.

6. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity includes:

means for comparing the compensated velocity with the reference velocity and electing to increment a pulse count when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity and to clear the pulse count when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity; and

means for comparing the incremented pulse count to a predetermined set count and electing to reverse the motor when the incremented pulse count equals the set count.

7. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for comparing the compensated velocity with a reference velocity and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity includes:

means for comparing the compensated velocity with the reference velocity and electing to increment a pulse count when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity, and for clearing the pulse count and calculating upper and lower second velocity range values by multiplying the reference velocity by predetermined upper and lower second range factors when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity;

means for comparing the compensated velocity with the upper and lower second velocity range values and revising the reference velocity to statistically include the compensated velocity when the compensated velocity is between the upper and lower second velocity range values; and

means for comparing the incremented pulse count to a predetermined set count and electing to reverse the motor when the incremented pulse count equals the set count.

8. A power closure system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for calculating a compensated velocity for the one of the closure positions includes:

means for calculating a temperature correction factor using the electrical signal indicative of temperature and a predetermined referenced temperature; and

means for calculating the compensated velocity for the one of the closure positions by dividing the velocity by the voltage signal and multiplying by the temperature correction factor.

9. A method for controlling closure movement in a motor vehicle employing an electric drive motor controlled by a microprocessor including:

mounting a first displacement sensor in a first position relative to a shaft of the electric drive motor;

mounting a second displacement sensor in a second position relative to the shaft of the electric drive motor;

using the first displacement sensor and the second displacement sensor to provide an indication of closure direction and position;

using the microprocessor to calculate a velocity of one of the closure and the motor at a predetermined closure position;

sensing a temperature and converting the temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature at the predetermined closure position;

sensing a voltage and converting the voltage sensed to an electrical signal of power source voltage at the predetermined closure position;

using the microprocessor to calculate a temperature correction factor using the electrical signal indicative of temperature and a predetermined reference temperature;

using the microprocessor to calculate a compensated velocity for the predetermined closure position by dividing the calculated velocity by the voltage signal and multiplying by the temperature correction factor; and

comparing the compensated velocity with a stored reference velocity for the predetermined closure position and electing to reverse the motor when the compensated velocity is less than the reference velocity.