Power window apparatus having safety unit

• US 6,114,820 A
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishigaya, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US09/267,638
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 318/466, 318/468, 318/469, 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/268, 318/272, 318/273, 318/275, 318/282, 318/434, 318/630, 318/652, 318/653, 318/650, 318/663, 318/665 , 318/666, 318/670, 49/26, 49/28, 49/31, 49/348, 49/349, 49/350, 49/352, 160/292, 160/293.1, 33/1 PT, 33/706, 33/708
• US Class Current: 318/466
• 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 15/697 Motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/564 sensing motor speed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/268 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A power window apparatus is provided for detecting pinching in accordance with the opened/closed position of the window and a state of rotation of a motor, the apparatus having a position sensor which detects a safety-control suspension region of the window and which is an accurate sensor. A spiral guide groove is formed in the inner surface of a housing opposite to a rotational plate which is rotated by an output shaft of a motor which opens/closes a window. A follower which is guided by the spiral guide groove is able to move along a straight guide groove provided for the rotational plate in the radial direction. Terminals in the form of conductive films are provided for a printed circuit board accommodated in the housing. When the rotational plate has been rotated, the follower is guided by the spiral guide groove so as to be moved in the straight guide groove. Thus, a slide member provided for the follower is brought into contact with the terminals so that the terminals are conducted with each other. Thus, an electric signal is output from the terminals. A safety-control suspension region can be detected with an accuracy of one-to-one correspondence to the amount of movement of the window. Moreover, a necessity of disposing the position sensor adjacent to the window can be eliminated.

Claims

1. A power window apparatus having a safety unit, comprising:

a position sensor for detecting an opened/closed position of a window which is opened/closed by a motor to perform a pinch preventive safety control operation in accordance with the detected opened/closed position, wherein said position sensor incorporates a spiral guide fixedly disposed in a housing integrally supported by said motor;

a rotational plate arranged to be rotated along a guide surface of said spiral guide by an output shaft of said motor disposed at the center of said spiral guide and provided with a straight guide groove formed in a radial direction;

a terminal disposed at a predetermined position in said housing facing a predetermined region of said spiral guide; and

a follower supported in said straight guide groove of said rotational plate arranged to be moved along said straight guide groove while said follower is being guided by said spiral guide and brought into contact with said terminal at a predetermined movement position to enable an electric signal to be output from said terminal.

2. A power window apparatus having a safety unit according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is constituted by a pair of conductive films which are electrically conducted by said follower when said follower has been moved to a position corresponding to a predetermined distance from a fully closed position of said window, along a direction in which said window is opened.

3. A power window apparatus having a safety unit according to claim 2, wherein said position sensor is provided with a gear arranged to be rotated by said output shaft of said motor, a magnet disposed in at least a portion of the circumference of said gear and a hall element disposed adjacent to said gear and arranged to detect a state of rotation of said magnet caused by the rotation of said gear, and wherein at least the opened/closed position of said window is detected in response to a pulse signal output from said hall element.

4. A power window apparatus having a safety unit according to claim 2, wherein said position sensor is provided with a gear arranged to be rotated by said output shaft of said motor, a magnet disposed in at least a portion of the circumference of said gear and a hall element disposed adjacent to said gear and arranged to detect a state of rotation of said magnet caused by the rotation of said gear, and pinching in said window is detected in response to a pulse signal output from said hall element.

5. A power window apparatus having a safety unit according to claim 1, wherein a guide pin and a slide member are formed with said follower, said guide pin extending from one surface of said follower so as to be inserted into said spiral guide, and said slide member extending from another surface of said follower so as to be elastically slid on said terminal.