Device for electronically controlling a motor vehicle displacement mechanism

• US 6,002,228 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Knab, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTIN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US08/983,049
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280-300, 318/445-489, 160/291-293, 44/26-28
• US Class Current: 318/469
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• 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 15/443 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

An apparatus for electronically monitoring an adjusting drive controlling a moving part in a vehicle is proposed wherein a position-dependent anti-jam system is realized. The signals of a switching strip and of an incremental sensor are considered in different manners, depending on the position of the moving part.

Claims

1. An apparatus that operates an electric adjusting drive arranged in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic control unit including an anti-jam system for controlling the adjusting drive;

a switching strip which is arranged at an end position of a part that is moved by the adjusting drive, and which, in the presence of a pressure load, emits signals to the electronic control unit;

an incremental sensor from whose signals the electronic control unit determines the position of the part, a measure for the rotational speed of the adjusting drive and an indication of a jam derived from the rotational speed; and

at least two position regions which are traversed by the part during movement of the part and forming a partition of the region over which the part moves;

wherein in a first position region, which is disposed closer to the switching strip, the anti-jam system responds either when signals of the switching strip detect a jam or when a jam indication which was derived from the rotational speed is present; and

wherein, in a second position region, which is further removed from the switching strip than the first position region, the anti-jam system responds when both;

(a) signals of the switching strip detect a jam, and (b) a jam indication derived from the rotational speed is present.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incremental sensor is a Hall sensor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incremental sensor is a sensor which detects the signal waviness of the motor current.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two position regions are freely selectable.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus operates a window.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus operates a sliding roof.

7. A method of operating an electric adjusting drive arranged in a vehicle, the method controlling the movement of a movable part, comprising the steps of:

detecting, by means of a switching strip located at an end position of said movable part in its region of movement, the presence of a pressure load at said end position;

detecting signals from an incremental sensor that monitors said electric adjusting drive;

determining, based on the signals detected from said incremental sensor, the position of the movable part, a measure of the rotational speed of the electric adjusting drive and an indication of an occurrence of a jam, based on said measure of the rotational speed; and

controlling said electric adjusting drive to adjust the position of said movable part to alleviate a jam;

wherein the region of movement of the movable part is divided into at least two position regions;

wherein, in a first position region located near said switching strip, an occurrence of a jam is determined to occur when either;

(a) signals detected from said switching strip indicate the occurrence of a jam, or (b) said jam occurrence indication is present; and

wherein, in a second position region farther away from said switching strip than said first position region, an occurrence of a jam is determined to occur when both;

(a) signals detected from said switching strip indicate the occurrence of a jam, and (b) said jam occurrence indication is present.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein an electrical control unit is arranged to perform the determination of an occurrence of a jam.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein an anti-jam system forming part of said electrical control unit controls said electric adjusting drive to alleviate a jam.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of detecting signals from an incremental sensor comprises the step of detecting signals indicating the waviness of a motor current of said electric adjusting drive.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of detecting signals from an incremental sensor comprises the step of detecting signals from a Hall sensor.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein said movable part is a window.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein said movable part is a sliding roof.

14. A method according to claim 7, wherein said at least two position regions are freely selectable.