Method and system for detecting an object in the path of an automotive window utilizing a system equation

• US 6,555,982 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inteva Products USA LLC (Intevac)
• Original Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Tyckowski, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US09/867,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 318/266, 318/282, 318/286, 318/446, 318/455, 318/465, 318/469, 318/473, 318/474, 388/815, 388/833, 388/903, 49/28
• US Class Current: 318/465
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/903 Protective, e.g. voltage or current limit

Abstract

The presence of an object in the path of an automotive vehicle window is detected. This is accomplished by sensing or observing a system variable, such as speed or motor current, and comparing this measured value to a predicted limit value of the system variable which is based upon the behavior of the system variable when there is no object present. The values are compared over predetermined time intervals and if the measured value falls out of the predicted limit value of the system variable in a direction that indicates an obstruction, then a control system detects the presence of an object and reacts accordingly by stopping or reversing the drive motor of the vehicle window.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the presence of an object caught between a closure and its respective frame of a power system comprising:

providing a closure for opening and closing via a regulator driven by an electric drive motor controlled by a control circuit;

calculating a predicted variable parameter value utilizing a system equation, said system equation including a number of coefficients which are multiplied by a number of different parameter values measured over a period of time, such that said predicted variable parameter value for any one of a series of different times is based upon a plurality of measured parameter values measured over a period of time;

sensing a variable parameter value of the power system during closing of the closure;

comparing said sensed variable parameter value to a previously predicted variable parameter value based upon a presumption of how said predicted variable parameter value would behave without the presence of an object; and

detecting an object caught between the closure and its respective frame based on the result of the compared parameter values.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the closure is a side window mounted in a vehicle door frame.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensed or predicted parameter is the speed of said drive motor.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said parameter values are compared at predetermined time intervals, and

at the beginning of each of said time intervals a correction mechanism is incorporated to adjust the predetermined limit when the sensed variable parameter value falls out of said predetermined limit in a direction opposed to that which indicates the presence of an object.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said correction mechanism is a value based on another dynamic system equation.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said coefficients are calculated utilizing information from a movement cycle of said closure wherein no object is detected, and utilizing sensed parameter values during said movement cycle to calculate said coefficients.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said coefficients are selected to err on the side of predicting a value in a direction towards which said parameter will move when an object is encountered.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said equation is initialized by setting said predicted limits utilized in said equation to be values that the observed parameter will be just prior to motion.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said predicted values are initialized by values taken from actual values after motion.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein a correction mechanism not being utilized to adjust when the sensed variable parameter value falls out of said predetermined limit in a direction consistent with the indication of the presence of an object.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said variable parameter values during different periods during the movement, occur during a current path of movement of said closure.

12. A power closure system comprising:

a closure opening and closing via a regulator that is driven by an electric drive motor which is controlled by a motor control circuit;

a sensor for sensing a variable parameter value of the power system; and

a digital control circuit in communication with said sensor for comparing the sensed variable parameter value during closing of the closure to a previously predicted variable parameter value calculated utilizing a system equation which includes coefficients multiplied by parameter values from various locations through a path of movement of said closure and providing an indication of how said predicted variable parameter value would behave without the presence of an object in order to detect an object caught between the closure and its respective frame based on the result of the compared parameter values.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the closure is a side window mounted in a vehicle door frame.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the sensed or predicted parameter is the speed of said drive motor.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said parameter values are compared at predetermined time intervals, and

at the beginning of each of said time intervals a correction mechanism is incorporated by way of said digital control circuit to adjust the predetermined limit when the sensed variable parameter value falls out of said predetermined limit in a direction opposed to that which indicates the presence of an object.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said correction mechanism is a value based on another dynamic system equation.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said coefficients are calculated utilizing information from a movement cycle of said closure wherein no object is detected, and utilizing sensed parameter values during said movement cycle to calculate said coefficients.

18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said coefficients are selected to err on the side of predicting a value in a direction towards which said parameter will move when an object is encountered.

19. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said equation is initialized by setting said predicted limits utilized in said equation to be values that the observed parameter will be just prior to motion.

20. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said predicted values are initialized by values taken from actual values after motion.

21. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said digital control circuit not being utilized to adjust when the sensed variable parameter value falls out of said predetermined limit in a direction consistent with the indication of the presence of an object.

22. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least some of said variable parameter values during different periods during the movement, occur during a current path of movement of said closure.