Automated closure system and method

• US 6,748,308 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Losey, Allan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/073,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/36, 236/49.3, 318/445, 318/466, 318/467, 340/825.75, 340/545.2, 340/545.1, 307/118, 307/112, 307/116, 454/75
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/689 specially adapted for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/422 against vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A powered window system for a vehicle is disclosed. The powered window system includes a window moveable between an open and a closed position. A motor is coupled to the window. The motor causes selective movement of the window. At least one of a switch and a communications bus is coupled to the motor. A processor is coupled to at least one of the switch and the communications bus and is configured to selectively send at least one of close and open signals to at least one of the switch and the communications bus. A sensor is coupled to the processor and senses conditions on which automated window closure is based. The sensor sends condition signals to the processor. The processor interprets the condition signals and selectively sends a closed signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when the conditional signal exceeds a prescribed threshold.

Claims

1. A powered window system for a vehicle, comprising:

a window movable between an open and a closed position;

a motor coupled to the window, the motor selectively causing movement of the window;

at least one of a switch and a communications bus coupled to the motor;

a processor coupled to at least one of the switch and the communications bus and configured to selectively send at least one of close and open signals to one of the switch and communications bus; and

at least one sensor coupled to the processor and sensing conditions on which automated closure of the window is based, the at least one sensor sending at least one condition signals to the processor,

wherein the processor interprets the at least one condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when the at least one condition signal exceeds a prescribed threshold,

wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group of sensors of a noise sensor and a vehicle speed sensor.

2. The powered window system of claim 1, further comprising an anti-pinch system that overrides automated window closure under specific conditions.

3. The powered window system of claim 1, further comprising a closing force limitation system that overrides automated window closure under specific conditions.

4. The powered window system of claim 1, wherein the window is automatically rolled up when the vehicle exceeds a predefined speed and the window is rolled down when the vehicle falls below a predefined speed.

5. The powered window system of claim 1, further comprising an additional sensor coupled to the processor and sensing additional conditions on which automated window closure is based, the additional sensor sending additional condition signals to the processor wherein the processor interprets the additional condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when either the at least one condition signal exceeds its prescribed threshold or the additional condition signal exceeds an additional prescribed threshold, wherein the additional sensor is a rain sensor.

6. The powered window system of claim 1, further comprising an additional sensor coupled to the processor and sensing additional conditions on which automated window closure is based, the additional sensor sending additional condition signals to the processor wherein the processor interprets the additional condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when either the at least one condition signal exceeds its prescribed threshold or the additional condition signal exceeds an additional prescribed threshold, wherein the additional sensor is a temperature sensor.

7. The powered window system of claim 1, further comprising a master switch configured to selectively enable and disable the automated window closure functionality.

8. The powered window system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to sense a condition supplied by a source external to the vehicle via RF communications.

9. A method of causing a vehicle window to close, comprising:

sensing via at least one electronic sensor at least one environmental condition;

sending at least one environmental condition signal to a switching circuit;

comparing the at least one sent environmental condition signal to a prescribed threshold;

causing the vehicle window to close automatically when the at least one sent environmental condition signal meets the threshold in accordance with at least one relationship, by using the switching circuit wherein the at least one sent environmental condition is selected from the group of sensors of a noise sensor and a vehicle speed sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition is rain.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition is temperature inside the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing the vehicle window to open automatically when the environmental condition signal violates the threshold according to a second relationship, by using the switching circuit.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source.

14. A powered closure system for a vehicle, comprising:

a closure member movable between an open and a dosed position;

a motor coupled to the closure member, the motor selectively causing movement of the closure member;

at least one of a switch and a communications bus coupled to the motor;

a processor coupled to at least one of the switch and the communications bus and configured to selectively send at least one of close and open signals to the switch; and

a sensor coupled to the processor and sensing conditions on which automated closure member closure is based, the sensor sending condition signals to the processor,

wherein the processor interprets the condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when the condition signal meets a prescribed threshold,

wherein the sensor is selected from the group of sensors of a vehicle speed sensor and a noise sensor.

15. The powered closure system of claim 14, further comprising an anti-pinch system that overrides automated window closure under specified conditions.

16. The powered closure system of claim 14, further comprising a closing force limitation system that overrides automated window closure under specified conditions.

17. The powered closure system of claim 14, wherein the window is automatically rolled up when the vehicle exceeds a predefined speed and the window is automatically rolled down when the vehicle falls below a predefined speed.

18. A The powered closure system of claim 14, further comprising

an additional sensor coupled to the processor and sensing additional conditions on which automated closure member closure is based, the additional sensor sending additional condition signals to the processor,

wherein the processor interprets the additional condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when the additional condition signal meets a prescribed threshold, wherein the additional sensor is a rain sensor.

19. The powered closure system of claim 14, further comprising

an additional sensor coupled to the processor and sensing additional conditions on which automated closure member closure is based, the additional sensor sending additional condition signals to the processor,

wherein the processor interprets the additional condition signals and selectively sends a close signal to at least one of the switch and the communications bus when the additional condition signal meets a prescribed threshold, wherein the additional sensor is a temperature sensor.

20. The powered closure system of claim 14, wherein the closure member is at least one of a window, a lift gate, a sunroof, a moon roof, and a sliding door.

21. A method of causing a vehicle member to close, comprising:

sensing via at least one electronic sensor at least one environmental condition wherein the at least one environmental condition is selected from one of vehicle speed and noise;

sending at least one environmental condition signal to a switching circuit;

comparing the at least one environmental condition signal to at least one prescribed threshold;

causing the vehicle member to close automatically when the environmental condition signal violates the threshold, by using the switching circuit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition is rain.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition is temperature inside the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

causing the vehicle member to open automatically when the environmental condition signal violated the threshold according to a second relationship, by using the switching circuit.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein an additional environmental condition is sensed, wherein the additional environmental condition is a radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source.