Method for positioning a mobile unit in a motor vehicle

• US 8,219,288 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Schulter, Wolfgang, Öxle, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANG, MICHAEL DEAN
• Application Number:
  US12/063,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• 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: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/336 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/35 related to specific positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/358 in the proximity of end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/57 Disabling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/73 Single use of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for positioning a mobile unit in a motor vehicle. The mobile unit is driven by an external force and equipped with an electronic jamming protection device. A tactile input unit is provided for positioning the mobile unit. An occupied position of the mobile unit is stored under certain conditions, whereby said stored position is automatically approached when the tactile unit is correspondingly operated.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a mobile unit (2) in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

driving a mobile unit (2) in one of a manual mode and an automatic mode, with an external force provided by a motor (M), wherein the mobile unit (2) is equipped with an electronic jamming protection device;

driving the mobile unit (2) with increased motor power when the mobile unit (2) exceeds a jamming protection position defined by the electronic jamming protection device for the mobile unit (2) and when the mobile unit (2) is operated in the automatic mode;

positioning the mobile unit (2) between two final positions (El, E2), wherein the final positions are predefined by a guide mechanism (7) of the mobile unit (2) and positioning can be performed via at least one input unit (T);

automatically storing an occupied position (5) of the mobile unit (2) in a storage unit (SP), wherein the stored occupied position (5) can be automatically approached by user request, a region (B1, B2) is defined between the final positions (E1, E2), wherein the region (B1, B2) is smaller than the distance of the final positions (El, E2), and the occupied position (5) is stored automatically when the occupied position (5) lies in the predefined region (B1, B2), and when the occupied position (5) is maintained longer than a predefined time;

selecting one of the manual mode and the automatic mode based upon a period of time the input unit (T) is actuated; and

positioning of the mobile unit (2) via the input unit (T) to one of the stored position (5) and the two final positions (El, E2) by user request when in automatic mode based upon the period of time the input unit (T) is actuated.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stored position (5) is automatically approached by an appropriate actuation of the input unit (T) only if the mobile unit (2) is currently distant from the stored position (5) only a given degree or is located within a given region.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the input unit (T) is a single-stage duplex switch, the stored position (5) is automatically approached, and if the duplex switch is short-term actuated in direction of the stored position (5) of the mobile unit (2) based on the current position of the mobile unit (2).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the input unit (T) is a two-stage duplex switch the stored position (5) is automatically approached, and if the switch is short-term actuated in the first or second stage in direction of the stored position (5) of the mobile unit (2) based on the current position of the mobile unit (2).

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stored position (5) is automatically approached, if the mobile unit is in the lower final position (E2) and the input unit (T) is short-term actuated in direction of closing.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stored position (5) is automatically approached, if the mobile unit is in the upper final position (El) and the input unit (T) is short-time actuated in direction of opening.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit (2) is a windowpane driven by an external force and that between two final positions (E1, E2) an exhaust region (B1, B2) is provided and that the occupied position is stored as an exhaust position for the purpose of exhausting the vehicle interior, if the occupied position lies within the exhaust region.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the mobile unit (2) with a motor control unit (IJP) and measuring a current from the motor (M) to continuously determine the position of the mobile unit (2).

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the mobile unit (2) with a motor control unit (IJP) and measuring a current from the motor (M) to continuously determine the position of the mobile unit (2).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit (2) is a windowpane for a vehicle and further comprising positioning the at least mobile unit (2) via a second input unit (T), wherein each the second mobile unit (2) is another windowpane for the vehicle.

11. An apparatus for positioning a mobile unit (2) in a motor vehicle comprising:

a control unit (μ

P) operable in one of an automatic and a manual mode;

an input unit (T);

a mobile unit (2);

an unit (M) for moving the mobile unit (2); and

a storage unit for storing an occupied position, wherein wherein the control unit (μ

P) comprises means to verify and to automatically store the occupied position (5)

when the occupied position (5) is in a predefined region (B1, B2), wherein the region (B1, B2) is defined between the final positions (E1, E2) and is smaller than the distance of the final positions (El, E2), and when

the occupied position (5) is maintained longer than a predefined time; and

wherein one of the automatic and the manual mode is selected based upon a predetermined actuation time for the input unit (T) and wherein the mobile unit (2) is positioned in one of the stored position (5) and the two final positions (E1, E2) by user request when in automatic mode based upon the period of time the input unit (T) is actuated.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mobile unit (2) is a windowpane, a sliding door, a sun roof or a rear flap or a trunk lid of a motor vehicle.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the input unit (T) is a tactile unit, or a speech input unit or a remote control unit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tactile input unit (T) is a switch, in particular a single-stage or two-stage duplex switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an electronic jamming protection device for the mobile unit (2), wherein the mobile unit (2) is driven with increased power from the unit (M) when the mobile unit (2) exceeds a jamming protection position defined by the electronic jamming protection device and when the mobile unit is operated in the automatic mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one resistor located in the current path of the motor (M), wherein a current from the motor (M) is measured with the resistor to continuously determine the position of the at least mobile unit (2).

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a magnet and at least one Hall effect sensor for the motor (M) wherein a distance between the magnet and the at least one Hall effect sensor is measured to determine the position of the at least mobile unit (2).

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile unit (2) is one of a plurality of windowpanes for the vehicle and wherein each of the plurality of windowpanes from the vehicle corresponds with one of a plurality of input units (T).

19. A method for positioning at least one mobile unit (2) in a vehicle comprising:

driving the at least mobile unit (2) in one of a manual mode and an automatic mode by an external force from a motor (M);

determining a position of the at least mobile unit (2) with a motor control unit (μ

P);

positioning the at least mobile unit (2) via at least one input unit (T), wherein the mobile unit (2) is positioned between two final positions (E1, E2) predefined by a design of a guide mechanism (7) of the at least mobile unit (2);

automatically storing an occupied position (5) of the at least mobile unit (2) in a storage unit (SP), when the occupied position (5) lies in a predefined region (B1, B2) and when the occupied position (5) is maintained longer than a predefined time;

wherein the predefined region (B1, B2) is defined between and is smaller than the distance of the final positions (E1, E2); and

selecting one of the manual mode and the automatic mode based upon a period of time the input unit (T) is actuated;

driving the at least mobile unit (2) to approach one of the stored position (5) and the two final positions (E1, E2) by user request when in automatic mode based upon the period of time the input unit (T) is actuated.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising driving the mobile unit (2) with increased motor power when the mobile unit (2) exceeds a jamming protection position defined by a electronic jamming protection device for the mobile unit (2) and when the mobile unit (2) is operated in the automatic mode.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the position of the at least mobile unit (2) with a motor control unit (IJP) further comprises measuring a current from the motor (M) to continuously determine the position of the at least mobile unit (2).

22. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the position of the at least mobile unit (2) with a motor control unit (IJP) further comprises measuring a position of the at least mobile unit (2) with a magnet and at least one Hall effect sensor for the motor (M).

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least mobile unit (2) is one of a plurality of mobile units (2) and further comprising positioning each of the plurality of mobile units (2) each with a corresponding one of a plurality of input units (T), wherein each of the plurality of mobile units (2) corresponds to windowpane for the vehicle.