Obstruction-sensing system for a movable member
First Claim
1. A method for detecting an obstruction of a moving member, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) taking a plurality of measurements of a variable representative of a force resisting the movement of said member;
(b) comparing the last said measurement with more than one previous said measurements taken over a predetermined distance of movement of said moving member during the present movement of said moving member; and
(c) reversing or stopping the movement of said moving member if at least one of said comparisons yields a difference larger than a predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a "one-touch-up" power window system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a controller which controls the power window motor. One function of the controller is to determine whether an obstruction impedes travel of the power window. The controller takes a plurality of samples of the electrical current drawn by the power window motor. If the last sample varies by more than a predetermined amount from any of the past samples taken over a predetermined distance of travel of the window, the controller concludes that an obstruction impedes the travel of the window. The controller then stops or reverses the power window motor to stop or reverse travel of the power window. In this embodiment of the present invention, distance of travel of the window can be inferred from rotations of the power window motor.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an obstruction of a moving member, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) taking a plurality of measurements of a variable representative of a force resisting the movement of said member; (b) comparing the last said measurement with more than one previous said measurements taken over a predetermined distance of movement of said moving member during the present movement of said moving member; and (c) reversing or stopping the movement of said moving member if at least one of said comparisons yields a difference larger than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for detecting an obstruction of a moving member driven by a motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) taking a plurality of measurements of electrical current drawn by said motor; (b) comparing the last said measurement with more than one previous said measurements taken over a predetermined number of rotations of said motor during the present movement of said moving member; and (c) reversing or stopping the movement of said moving member if at least one of said comparisons yields a difference larger than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for detecting the obstruction of a movable member, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a movable member; (b) a motor mechanically coupled to drive said movable member; (c) means for taking, when said movable member is moving, a plurality of measurements of a quantity representing a force resisting movement of said movable member; (d) means for comparing the last said measurement with more than one previous said measurements taken over a predetermined number of rotations of said motor during the present movement of the movable member; and (e) means for stopping or reversing the movement of said movable member if said comparison yields a difference greater than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification