Glass breakage detecting sensor

• US 7,656,279 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Okada, Takashi, Ochiai, Hironori, Aoki, Koji, Maeda, Toshiro, Shirai, Katsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Punam
• Application Number:
  US11/882,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.27, 340/550, 738/620.44, 738/620.45, 737/74, 737/75, 737/76, 737/81
• US Class Current: 340/426.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001

Abstract

A glass breakage detecting sensor includes a strain detecting portion by which breakage of a window glass, which is provided at a door of a vehicle, is detected based on changes of an amount of strain, and an attaching portion attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion.

Claims

1. A glass breakage detecting apparatus, comprising:

a strain gage including an attaching portion and a strain detecting portion,

the attaching portion being attached to an attached portion, the attached portion being at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports a window glass within a door, and an inner panel of the door to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door;

the strain detecting portion for detecting a change in strain at the attaching portion; and

a glass breakage detecting device determining whether or not a breakage of the window glass occurs on the basis of the change in strain detected by the strain detecting portion while the opening and closing mechanism is being inactive.

2. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing mechanism includes an arm movably supported by the inner panel and the arm being moved in conjunction with the window glass, the arm serving as the attached portion.

3. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion includes a strain generating body for generating a strain in cooperation with the attached portion, and the strain detecting portion is provided on the strain generating body.

4. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attached portion is a surface of the inner panel facing inside of the vehicle.

5. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion includes a strain generating body on which the strain detecting portion is provided and is strained together with the attached portion, and further the attaching portion is attached to the inner panel facing inside of the vehicle.

6. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion is attached to a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided on the inner panel.

7. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching portion includes:

a strain generating body to which the strain detecting portion is provided and is strained in cooperation with the attached portion;

a first fixing portion provided at one end portion of the strain generating body and a second fixing portion provided at the other end portion of the strain generating body, the attaching portion of the strain generating body being fixed to the attached portion on the inner panel by the first and the second fixing portions; and

restraining means for restraining the strain generating body such that straining directions of the strain generating body when the window glass is opened and closed, respectively, are made same.

8. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and the second fixing portions include a plurality of washers which are interposed between the strain generating boy and the attached portion, and further the first and the second fixing portions include the restraining means for restraining a strain direction structured with the plurality of washers of different heights.

9. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

10. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the strain detecting portion includes a plurality of strain detecting elements, and further the strain detecting portion outputs an electrical signal detected by the plurality of the strain detecting elements as a detecting signal, the electrical signal indicates an amount of differences of strain generated on the strain generating body.

11. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

12. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the glass breakage detecting sensor is arranged at a position lower than the position where the opening and closing mechanism is provided.

13. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel of the door is the attached portion for being attached to the attaching portion of the strain gage.

14. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not a breakage of the window glass occurs is determined while the window glass is being in held in place.

15. The glass breakage detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not a breakage of the window glass occurs is determined while the window glass is in its fully closed condition.

16. A glass breakage detecting apparatus, comprising:

a strain detecting portion by which strain of an attached portion is detected, and the strain detecting portion being attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass within a door, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion; and

a breakage determining portion determining a breakage of the window glass on the basis of a change in strain generated on the attached portion detected by the strain detecting portion while the opening and closing mechanism is being inactive.

17. A glass breakage detecting apparatus, comprising:

a strain generating body generating strain in cooperation with an attached portion when a window glass is raised to fully close a window, a strain generating body is attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass provided at a door of a vehicle, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion;

a strain detecting portion outputting a detecting signal indicating an amount of strain generated on the strain generating body while the opening and closing mechanism is being inactive;

a first fixing portion provided on one end portion of the strain generating body and a second fixing portion provided on the other end portion of the strain generating body for fixing the strain generating body with the attached portion; and

restraining means for restraining the strain generating body such that straining directions of the strain generating body when the window glass is opened and closed, respectively, are made same.