Window object detection system with vibration compensation

• US 6,360,486 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Tyckowski, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/596,125
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 495/06, 200/61.43, 318/264
• US Class Current: 49/26
• 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: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• 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

The effect of vibration on an obstruction detection system for a vehicle closure member is utilized to eliminate false identifications of an obstruction. The effect of vibration is measured, and utilized to change the expected value or limits relied upon to identify an obstruction. A characteristic such as speed is measured when it moves away from a predicted value in a direction opposed to the direction which would be indicative of an obstruction. In the case of speed, the system measures speed movement above the predicted value. The control senses the absolute value of the movement above the predicted speed value, and utilizes the absolute value to compensate for an expected upcoming valley below the predicted value. This compensation is either utilized to move the predicted value, or a limit, further downwardly. In this way, the expected valley will not move below the limit, which might otherwise result in a false indication of an obstruction. Although the invention is disclosed in a system monitoring speed, systems monitoring power, and torque would also benefit from this technique.

Claims

1. A window closure monitoring system comprising:

a closure member movable within a frame and through a closure path, and a motor for driving said closure member;

a control for said motor, and for monitoring at least one characteristic which is variable upon the presence of an obstruction in the path of said closure, said control being programmed to have a predicted characteristic value during said closure path of said closure, and said control being operable to monitor said characteristic during movement of said closure, said control being operable to identify the effect of vibration on said characteristic, and to determine a compensation value based upon said vibration effect, said control being operable to determine an obstruction based upon said monitored characteristic combined with said compensation value.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control has a predetermined limit spaced from said predicted value, and said vibration compensation is utilized to move said predetermined limit.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said predetermined limit is spaced in a first direction from said predicted value, and said control determines said compensation value by reading monitored values in a second direction opposed to said first direction.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said monitored values in said second direction are combined with a scaler value, and utilized as said compensation value.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said compensation value decays over time and moves toward zero.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said characteristic is speed.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein a predetermined limit is spaced below said predicted value, and said system looks for values above said predetermined value as an indication of a vibrational effect on said system.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compensation value is held constant over a period of time and then decays.

9. A method of monitoring movement of a closure member in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a closure member, a motor for moving said closure member movable through a path, and a control for monitoring operation of said motor, said control being operable to monitor at least one monitored value of said motor; and

(2) monitoring said characteristic of said motor, and comparing said monitored characteristic to a predicted value, determining a vibration compensation value based upon said monitored value, and utilizing said vibration compensation value in combination with said predicted value to identify an obstruction in the path of said closure.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a movement of said monitored characteristic in a direction opposed to a direction which would be indicative of an obstruction is utilized to determine said vibration compensation value.