Electromechanical control unit for adjusting devices in motor vehicles

• US 5,923,094 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Inventors: Stenzel, Manfred, Seeberger, Jurgen, Sesselmann, Helmut, Pleiss, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/930,799
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 310/66, 310/71, 310/89, 439/43, 439/52, 439/53, 439/577, 439/928, 439/34, 439/76.1, 439/76.2, 439/604, 439/606, 439/620-622, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 701/45, 701/49, 200/293, 200/303, 200/307, 70/237, 70/275, 70/277
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/38 Control circuits or drive circuits associated with geared commutator motors of the worm-and-wheel type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1166 comprising worm and worm-wheel structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081

Abstract

An electromechanical control unit for adjustment devices in motor vehicles which can be used with particular advantage in connection with a window lift drive in a vehicle door. The electromechanical drive, the electronics system and the switch of the electromechanical control unit form one pre-testable modular unit. Preferably each switch is in keyed engagement with a cover and is elastically mounted relative to the electronics system, for example through a flexible flat band cable connection.

Claims

1. An electromechanical control unit for a window lift in motor vehicles, comprising:

an electromechanical drive comprising an electromotor with gearing;

an electronics system ,having a housing, coupled with the electromotor;

at least one switch coupled with the electronics system for issuing control commands to at least one functional unit; and

at least one further switch for controlling at least one further functional unit,

wherein the switches are mechanically fixable and electronically connectable to the electromechanical drive and the housing enclosing the electronics system to form a modular unit for building into a larger functional system, and wherein the at least one further switch for controlling the at least one further functional unit is connected to the electronics system through an electrical plug contact and wherein said at least one further switch has a common serial interface with the electrical plug contact.

2. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 further comprising a cover, wherein at least a portion of each switch engages positively with the covers, and wherein the switch is in elastic floating connection with the electronics system.

3. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 further comprising a cover, wherein at least a portion of each switch is in positive keyed engagement with the cover, and wherein the switch is connected to the electronics system through a flexible electric lead.

4. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one further switch for controlling the at least one further electrical functioning unit is mounted in a separate housing from the electromechanical drive and electronics system and can be combined selectively with the electromechanical control unit.

5. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one further switch for controlling an electrical seat adjustment system, and wherein the at least one switch has a separate electrical connection for connection to the seat adjustment system.

6. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 4 wherein a separate seat electronics system is provided which forms one unit with the at least one further switch.

7. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one futher switch controls an electrical seat adjustment, and wherein the electronics system comprises a window lift electronics system and a seat electronics system forming one unit and that relays required where necessary for the seat adjustment are mounted near the associated drive.

8. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one further switch comprises a seat adjustment switch, and wherein the electronics housing has in the area of the electrical plug contact a removable closure part so that a plug connection can be made between the seat adjustment switch and the electronics system.

9. The electromechanical control unit according to claim 8 wherein the closure part corresponds to an area formed by a plurality of ideal break points and can be broken out of the housing.

10. A door module for a vehicle comprising an inner cladding and the electromechanical control unit according to claim 1,

wherein the switch for controlling the window lift is mounted in a surface of the door module which is substantially horizontal and the switch for controlling a seat adjustment is mounted in a surface of the inner cladding which runs vertically facing into passenger interior of such vehicle.

11. A door module for a vehicle comprising the electromechanical control unit according to claim 1 prefitted on a support plate on a dry chamber side of the door module.

12. The electromechanical control unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one further functional unit comprises an electrical seat adjustment.

13. The electromechanical control unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one further functional unit comprises an electrical mirror adjustment.

14. The electromechanical control unit of claim 1 wherein a separate seat electronics system is proved which forms one unit with the electrical drive.

15. The electromechanical control unit of claim 1 wherein the electronics system comprises a window lift electronics system and a seat electronics system forming one unit and relays for the seat adjustment are mounted in a separate housing.