Vehicle window control system responsive to external force

• US 5,932,931 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Tsutomu, Tanaka, Takeshi, Ishihara, Hidenori, Tsuge, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/033,091
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 318/280, 318/283, 318/286, 318/445, 318/69, 318/264, 318/265, 301/23, 49/28, 49/349, 200/61.42, 200/61.43
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/17 vertically
• 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: E05F 15/665 for vertically-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/04 Stops for limiting movement of members, e.g. adjustable stop G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence

Abstract

When a closing end of a vehicle windowpane is located at the upper side of a preset point P1 while the windowpane is closing, an obstacle pinched between a window frame and the windowpane is detected by a window frame sensor. When the closing end of the vehicle window is located at the lower side of a preset point P2, the pinched obstacle is detected by the window frame sensor and a motor rotation speed sensor, which indicates changes in motor driving load. This prevents a vehicle window control system from operating erroneously when an obstacle is pinched at a slope portion of the window frame.

Claims

1. A vehicle window control system comprising:

a window frame having a window opening, the window frame having a slope portion and an upper portion;

a windowpane movable in the window opening;

actuator means for moving the windowpane;

driving load detector means for detecting a driving load of the actuator means;

window frame sensor means disposed on the slope portion and the upper portion for detecting an external force exerted on the window frame;

window position detector means for detecting a position of the windowpane;

first control means for restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator means in response to at least a detection output of the window frame sensor means indicative of the external force in excess of a first predetermined value, when the detected window position is located at the window closing side of a first preset point P1; and

second control means for restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator means in response to at least a detection output of the driving load detector means indicative of the driving load in excess of a second predetermined value, when the detected window position is located at the window opening side of a second preset point P2.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first preset point P1 is located at the window opening side of the second preset point P2.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second preset points P1 and P2 are substantially the same.

4. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a side visor having a bottom end disposed downward from the window frame; and

the first preset point P1 is located below the bottom end of the side visor.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator means includes an electric motor to drive the windowpane;

the first control means rotates the electric motor in reverse to open the windowpane in response to the output of the window frame sensor means irrespective of the output of the driving load detector means; and

the second control means rotates the electric motor in reverse to open the windowpane in response to both outputs of the driving load detector means and the window frame sensor means.

6. The control system of claim 5, further comprising:

a side visor having a bottom end disposed downward from the window frame; and

the first preset point P1 is located below the bottom end of the side visor.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator means includes an electric motor to drive the windowpane;

the first control means rotates the electric motor in reverse to open the windowpane in response to either one of the outputs of the window frame sensor means and the driving load detection means; and

the second control means rotates the electric motor in reverse to open the windowpane in response to both outputs of the driving load detector means and the window frame sensor means.

8. The control system of claim 7, further comprising:

a side visor having a bottom end disposed downward from the window frame; and

the first preset point P1 is located below the bottom end of the side visor.

9. A vehicle window control system comprising:

a window frame having a window opening, the window frame having a slope portion and an upper portion;

a windowpane disposed in the window frame and movable in the window opening;

actuator coupled with the windowpane for moving the windowpane;

driving load detector coupled with the actuator for detecting a driving load of the actuator;

window frame sensor disposed on the slope portion and the upper portion for detecting an external force exerted on the window frame;

window position detector operatively coupled with the actuator for detecting a position of the windowpane;

a first controller coupled with the actuator for restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to a detection output of either one of the window frame sensor or the driving load detector indicative of the external force or the driving load in excess of a respective predetermined value, when the detected window position is located at a window closing side of a first preset point P1; and

a second controller coupled with the actuator for restricting the windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to detection outputs of both the window frame sensor and the driving load detector indicative of the external force and the driving load in excess of respective predetermined values, when the detected window position is located at a window opening side of a second preset point P2.

10. A vehicle window control system comprising:

a window frame having a window opening, the window frame having a slope portion and an upper portion;

a windowpane disposed in the window frame and movable in the window opening;

actuator coupled with the windowpane for moving the windowpane;

driving load detector coupled with the actuator for detecting a driving load of the actuator;

window frame sensor disposed on the slope portion and the upper portion for detecting an external force exerted on the window frame;

window position detector operatively coupled with the actuator for detecting a position of the windowpane;

a first controller for restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to a detection output of the window frame sensor indicative of the external force in excess of a first predetermined value, irrespective of the output of the driving load detector, when the detected window position is located at a window closing side of a first preset point P1; and

a second controller coupled with the actuator for restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to detection outputs of both the window frame sensor and the driving load detector indicative of the external force and the driving load in excess of respective predetermined values, when the detected window position is located at a window opening side of a second preset point P2.

11. A control method for a vehicle window control system having a window frame, a windowpane and an actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a driving load of the actuator;

detecting an external force exerted on the window frame;

detecting a position of the windowpane;

restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to at least a detection output of the external force detecting step indicative of the external force in excess of a first predetermined value, when the detected window position is located at a window closing side of a first preset point P1; and

restricting a windowpane driving operation of the actuator in response to at least a detection output of the driving load detecting step indicative of the driving load in excess of a second predetermined value, when the detected window position is located at a window opening side of a second preset point P2.