Power window or panel controller

• US 5,952,801 A
• Filed: 02/05/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Catudal, Michel, Boisvert, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/795,971
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 318/469, 318/466, 318/455, 318/458, 318/434, 318/468, 318/470, 318/447, 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/286, 49/26, 49/28
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• 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 controller for energizing a power window or panel such as a power sunroof. The disclosed controller senses both hard and soft obstructions and de-activates a motor that moves the sunroof when an obstruction is detected. The controller senses obstructions by maintaining data relating to motor operation in three different memory buffers that are periodically updating upon receipt of pulses that are related to motor speed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel comprising:

a) a current sensor for sensing the motor current as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path and producing a speed signal indicative of motor speed;

b) a switch means for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal; and

c) a controller coupled to the switch means for controllably energizing the motor comprising;

i) means for monitoring motor current from the sensor;

ii) means for monitoring motor speed based on the speed signal;

iii) means for calculating an obstacle detect threshold based on motor current detected during at least one prior period of motor operation and motor speed detected during at least one prior period of motor operation;

iv) a comparator for comparing a value based on currently sensed motor current with the obstacle detect threshold; and

v) output means coupled to said switch means for stopping the motor if the value based on currently sensed motor current exceeds the obstacle detect threshold by a predetermined amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a stored program programmable controller including an interface for coupling to a position sensor to determine a home position as the panel or window is moved by the motor and wherein the programmable controller conducts a calibration sequence by moving the window or panel to its home position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein subsequent to the calibration sequence the programmable controller determines a position of the window or panel relative to the home position and wherein the controller counts pulses generated as the motor commutates during rotation of an output shaft coupled to the window or panel through a transmission.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for determining a stalled condition of the motor based upon sensed motor current.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a rain sensor for generating a signal input to the controller for automatically closing the panel or window.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a stored program programmable controller which maintains values of motor current for use in calculating the obstacle detect threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the programmable controller maintains values of the motor speed for use in calculating the obstacle detect threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the programmable controller includes a signal interface for routing user inputs to the controller and further comprising a user actuated switch for creating one input to the signal interface to initiate motion of the window or panel in one sense and for creating a second input to the signal interface to initiate motion of the window or panel in an opposite sense, said controller comprising a timer for determining how long the user has actuated the switch and for activating the motor in either of two modes based on the sensed time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the programmable controller comprises a control program that allows the user to override obstruction sensing performed by the controller to close the window or panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising limit switches for defining locations along a path of travel of the window or panel for use by the controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a power switch for energizing the controller and further comprising circuitry to temporarily maintain power to the controller after the power switch is opened.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the window or panel is a moveable member of a motor vehicle and the power switch is the motor vehicle ignition switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller calculates the obstacle detect threshold using the motor current detected during two prior periods of motor operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller calculates the obstacle detect threshold using the motor current and motor speed detected during prior periods during movement caused by a present actuation of the motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a position detecting means for detecting whether the window or panel is within a soft obstruction region and wherein the output means stops the motor if the window or panel is in the soft obstruction region and the sensed motor current exceeds prior motor current sensed within the soft obstruction region by a predetermined amount.

16. Control apparatus for use with a power activated sunroof comprising:

a) a motor that moves a sunroof window or panel along a travel path;

b) a current sensor coupled to the motor for sensing motor current as the motor moves the sunroof window or panel along a travel path;

c) switch means for energizing the motor in one of two directions with an energization signal;

d) a pulse generator for generating signal pulses related to speed of movement during movement of the sunroof window or panel and for generating a pulse generator output; and

e) a programmable controller including a control program for controllably energizing the motor comprising;

i) a first input for monitoring motor current from the current sensor;

ii) a second input for monitoring pulses output by the pulse generator;

iii) logic for comparing sensed motor current with a factor based upon sensed current and speed that changes with the movement of the sunroof window or panel; and

iv) an output coupled to said switch means for activating the switch means based upon the results of the comparison to stop movement of the sunroof window or panel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the switch means deactivates the motor when the present motor current and motor speed exceeds the factor based upon sensed motor current and motor speed.

18. A method for controlling activation of a motor for moving a window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel comprising:

a) sensing an initial motor current as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path and storing a value related to the motor current;

b) controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;

c) monitoring a later motor current sensed during movement of the window or panel and storing a value related to the motor current;

d) generating pulses related to motor speed from sensed motor current;

e) determining a threshold factor based on an initial and a later sensed motor current and a motor speed,

f) stopping the motor if the threshold factor when compared with sensed motor current indicates an obstacle has been detected.

19. The method of claim 18 additionally comprising a step of moving the window or panel to a home or closed position and using the home position and the pulses related to motor speed to determine a position of the window or panel.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the pulses are generated from a d.c. motor current as the motor commutates during rotating of a motor rotor.

21. The method of claim 18 additionally comprising the step of sensing a user input to override the stopping of the motor in the event of a rise in current indicating an obstruction has been sensed.

22. Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel comprising:

a) a current sensor for sensing the motor current as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path;

b) a motor speed signal means for producing a signal indicative of motor speed;

c) a switch means for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal; and

d) a controller coupled to the switch means for controllably energizing the motor comprising;

i) means for monitoring motor current from the sensor;

ii) means for monitoring motor speed from the signal means;

iii) means for calculating an obstacle detect threshold based on motor current detected during at least one prior period of motor operation and motor speed detected during at least one prior period of motor operation;

iv) a comparator for comparing a value based on subsequent sensed motor current with the obstacle detect threshold; and

v) output means coupled to said switch means for stopping the motor if the value based on subsequent sensed motor current exceeds the obstacle detect threshold by a predetermined amount.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said motor speed signal means is a hall effect sensor which produces pulses based upon motor rotation.

24. An apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel comprising:

a) a current sensor for sensing the motor current as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path;

b) a switch means for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;

c) a programmable controller coupled to the switch means for controllably energizing the motor comprising;

i) means for monitoring motor current from the sensor and determining motor speed;

ii) a first memory for storing prior values of motor current sensed during a first prior period;

iii) a second memory for storing prior values of motor current sensed during a second prior period;

iv) means for calculating an obstacle detect factor based on the prior values of motor current stored in said first and second memories and sensed motor speed; and

v) a comparator for comparing the obstacle detect factor with an obstacle detect threshold; and

vi) output means coupled to said switch means for stopping the motor if the obstacle detect factor exceeds the obstacle detect threshold.

25. A method for controlling activation of a motor for moving a sunroof along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the sunroof comprising:

a) sensing the motor current as the motor moves the sunroof along a travel path;

b) generating pulses related to motor speed;

c) controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;

d) monitoring motor current sensed during movement of the sunroof and comparing sensed motor current with a prior motor current sensed at a prior period of motor operation;

e) stopping the motor if the sensed motor current exceeds a threshold factor determined from prior sensed motor current by a predetermined amount;

f) moving the sunroof to a home or closed position and using the home position and the pulses related to motor speed to determine a position of the sunroof;

g) monitoring the opening and closing of the sunroof wherein the actuation of the motor opens the sunroof or vents the sunroof depending on the sense of motor current; and

h) sensing user input to determine a mode of opening or closing the sunroof in either a manual or express mode and wherein the controller only monitor obstructions in a path of movement of the sunroof in the express mode of closing the sunroof.

26. A method for controlling activation of a motor for moving a motor vehicle window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel comprising:

a) controlling energization of the motor by outputting an energization signal from a programmable controller powered by a motor vehicle battery;

b) sensing a motor current input to the programmable controller as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path;

c) monitoring motor current sensed during multiple intervals of window or panel movement;

d) generating pulses related to motor speed from sensed motor current; and

e) stopping the motor if the sensed motor current and the motor speed causes a threshold factor based on said sensed motor current and said motor speed to indicate an obstacle has been encountered; and

f) sustaining power to the programmable controller for a short period of time after a vehicle ignition switch is turned off to control a closing of the window or panel subsequent to the turning off of the ignition switch.