System and method to simulate and evaluate management algorithms of a panel or mobile window, activated by an electric motor, with anti-crushing security and programme for its execution

• US 6,882,123 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Guasch Murillo, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Duda, Rina
• Application Number:
  US10/343,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 318264-266, 318/283, 318/286, 318/567, 318/569, 318/600, 701/36, 701/49
• US Class Current: 318/264
• 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 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 6/005 using digital thermal images
• 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

A system and method to simulate and evaluate management algorithms of a panel or mobile window, activated by an electric motor, with anti-crushing security and a program for its execution.

It includes a modular structure integrating a series of models representative of the electric parameters of the electric motor, mobile panel performance, incidence of a possible obstacle and an activation and control methodology implemented by means of a sequential state machine related to starting, stopping and/or motor displacement direction according to position and panel displacement direction and a module to evaluate an algorithm to be validated on introducing the current supplied to the motor and its angular speed and which analyzes said values and its temporary evolution and combinations between some or other values. Said models and modules are implemented in a high level programming language.

Claims

1. A system with hardware and software components to simulate and evaluate at least one management algorithm of a panel, the system being activated by an electric motor, the system having anti-crushing security, the panel being mobile between two extreme positions, the system being operable such that the edge of the panel cannot trap and compress an obstacle interfering in the movement of the panel, the system comprising:

a plurality of probes providing information about a plurality of operation parameters of the electric motor in relation to the panel;

a first model providing a representation of the electric motor, the model indicating at least one of the following plurality of parameters;

electric parameters of the electric motor,

electro-mechanical conversion,

motor inertia,

torque applied to the panel,

interactions between the panel and at least one guidance device, and

interference with the obstacle;

second model providing a representation of a performance of the panel the second model including;

an interface with the electric motor and

a description of an influence of at least one guiding device in the displacement of the panel;

a third model offering a representation of the incidence of the obstacle and providing description related to an inertia of the panel;

a module for evaluation of the algorithm to be evaluated based on a detection of at least one of the following parameters;

current supplied to the electric motor,

evolution of said current with respect to time,

motor angular speed,

evolution of said angular speed value with respect to time,

said module operable to receive commands to move the panel and further operable to receive data related to the plurality of probes;

an activation and control model related to starting, stopping and/or changing direction of the motor based on a position and displacement of the panel and further based on a decision provided by the algorithm to be evaluated; and

an interface module operable to input commands and display numeric and graphical values related to the system, further operable to integrate components of the system and to perform statistical analysis.

2. A system, according to claim 1, further including an algorithm optimization module.

3. A system, according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle provides at least a minimum force and a maximum force for testing.

4. A system, according to claim 3, wherein the obstacle is simulated by a condenser and the maximum and minimum forces are defined by a greater or lesser load related to the condenser, said condenser being described in a high level language.

5. A system, according to claim 1, wherein the motor is activated and controlled based on at least one of the following variables:

window position;

existence of an obstacle; and

outside activation input.

6. A system, according to claim 5, wherein the activation and control model is an intelligent performance state machine, having a series of states based on user commands, and two main blocks related to a presence of the obstacle or the absence of the obstacle.

7. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said interface module includes an acquisition and data pre-processing stage coming from the motor or a simulated motor.

8. A system, according to claim 1, wherein description of the influence of guidance devices in panel displacement is simulated using a polynomial simulating a dynamic friction of said panel with said guidance devices.

9. A system, according to claim 8, wherein said polynomial is obtained from empirical data, from a type of panel and the guidance devices.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a stage to simulate operation in a continuous cycle of panel or window displacement to demonstrate real time performance of the algorithm.

11. A method of simulating and evaluating management algorithms of a system for a panel or mobile window, the system being activated by an electric motor, the system having anti-crushing security, the panel being between two extreme positions, the system being operable such that the panel closure edge cannot trap and compress an obstacle interfering in the movement of said panel, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing an algorithm to be examined for evaluation according a detection of at least one of a following parameters;

current supplied to the electric motor,

evolution of said current with respect to time,

angular motor speed,

evolution of said angular speed value with respect to time;

b) introducing at least a first descriptive condition of at least a first obstacle;

c) simulating the system based on the algorithm and,

d) evaluating a response capacity of the algorithm to stop and/or displace in a direction away from an obstacle obstructing the mentioned panel.

12. A method, according to claim 11, wherein at least a second descriptive conditions of a second obstacle is provided.

13. A method, according to claim 11, wherein MATLAB is used as a higher level language for at least one component of the system.

14. A method, according to claim 11, wherein at least one result is displayed and a subset of numeric and graphic data is stored.

15. A method, according to claim 13, graphic data includes a representation, in function of time, of the current supplied to the motor, mobile panel position and motor torque for different cycle points including start, ascent, descent with or without the presence of the obstacle.

16. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the evaluation is established according to the value of current supplied to the electric motor and the evolution with respect to time of said current supplied to the electric motor.

17. A method, according to claim 11, wherein evaluation is established according to the angular speed of said electric motor and the evolution with respect to time of the angular speed or acceleration of the electric motor.

18. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the evaluation is established according to the combined evolution with respect to time of the current supplied to the motor and the angular speed of said electric motor, in response to different characteristics of the obstacles interposed in the panel displacement.

19. A method, according to one of claims 11 to 18, wherein threshold intensity values, intensity evolution and angular speed evolution are considered together with information on intensity and angular speed values to decide motor activation to prevent crushing.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable media with instructions, said instruction including instructions to enable a computer to simulate and evaluate management algorithms of a system for a panel or mobile window, the system being activated by an electric motor, the system having anti-crushing security, the panel being between two extreme positions, the security mode of the system being operable such that the panel closure edge cannot trap and compress a user'"'"'s limb or other object susceptible of interfering in the movement of said panel the instructions further comprising instructions for:

a) introducing an algorithm to be examined for evaluation of said algorithm according a detection of at least one of a following parameters;

current supplied to the electric motor,

evolution of said current with respect to time,

angular motor speed,

evolution of said angular speed value with respect to time;

b) introducing at least one first descriptive condition of at least a first obstacle;

c) simulating the system based on the algorithm and,

d) evaluating a response capacity of the algorithm to stop and/or displace in a direction away from an obstacle obstructing the mentioned panel.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein threshold intensity values, intensity evolution and angular speed evolution are considered together with information on intensity and angular speed values to decide motor activation to prevent crushing.