System for controlling a sunroof of a vehicle

• US 10,639,974 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto SE (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Webasto SE (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Inventors: Iott, Phillip, Adams, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US15/386,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/043 Sunroofs B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedencee.g. sliding above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems

Abstract

A system is provided for gaining access to a sunroof of a vehicle, in particular a car, including a sunroof control unit (19) and a sunroof actuation switch (27), in particular, for actuation of opening and/or closing and/or tilting of a sunroof. The sunroof actuation switch has one switch contact (28) or a plurality of switch contacts, wherein the sunroof control unit (19) and the sunroof actuation switch (27) are re-configured to communicate data, such as programming and/or reprogramming data and/or parameter setting data and/or diagnostic data, from and/or to the sunroof control unit (19) through the one switch contact (28) or at least one of the plurality of switch contacts.

Claims

1. A system for gaining access to a sunroof of a vehicle, comprising:

a sunroof control unit (19) and a sunroof actuation switch (27) operatively connected to the sunroof of the vehicle for actuation of opening and/or closing and/or tilting of the sunroof, the sunroof actuation switch (27) having one switch contact (28) or a plurality of switch contacts; and

a diverter switch (20) including a single pole, double throw (SPDT) switch for diverting a line (18a) between the actuation switch (27) and the control unit (19) so that said line (18a) can be connected to either a first input means (21) of the control unit for receiving an actuation command opening or closing or tilting of the sunroof, or to a second input and/or output means (23) of the control unit (19) for transmitting and/or receiving the data;

wherein;

the sunroof control unit (19) and the sunroof actuation switch (27) are configured to communicate programming and/or reprogramming data and/or parameter setting data and/or diagnostic data, from and to the sunroof control unit (19) through the one switch contact (28) or at least one of the plurality of switch contacts

the actuation switch (27) comprises a removable switch module (15) including a bezel for allowing access to at least one inner switch connector including a wire of the switch (27);

the removable switch module (15) comprises one or a plurality of switch buttons (16) for generating the opening and/or closing and/or tilting commands; and

the diverter switch (20) is controllable by the actuation switch (27) by holding the actuation switch in a predetermined position for a predetermined time period by a series of pulses on at least one line.

2. The system of claim 1, characterised by a snap-in and/or screwing mechanism for a mechanical connection of the switch module (15) with the remaining parts of the switch (27).

3. The system of claim 1, characterised in that the diverter switch (20) is controllable by the actuation switch (27) by holding the actuation switch in a predetermined position for more than 3 s by a series of pulses on at least one line.

4. The system of claim 1, characterised in that the control unit (19) comprises a microprocessor.

5. The system of one claim 1, characterised by an external control and/or monitoring and/or diagnose unit (26) being connectable to at least one of the switch contacts (28) for data transmission.

6. The system of claim 1, characterized by the vehicle being a car.

7. A method of communicating with a sunroof control unit (19) of a vehicle comprising a step of communicating programming and/or reprogramming data and/or parameter setting data and/or diagnostic data, from and/or to the sunroof control unit through a switch contact (28) of a sunroof actuation switch (27) for actuation of opening and/or closing and/or tilting of a sunroof, the sunroof control unit comprising a diverter switch (20) which is controllable by the actuation switch (27) by holding the actuation switch in a predetermined position for a predetermined time period by a series of pulses on at least one line so that said line (18a) can be connected to ether a first input means (21) of the control unit for receiving an actuation command opening or closing or tilting of the sunroof, or to a second input and/or output means (23) of the control unit (19) for transmitting and/or receiving the data;

wherein;

the actuation switch (27) comprises a removable switch module (15) including a bezel for allowing access to at least one inner switch connector including a wire of the actuation switch (27); and

the removable switch module (15) comprises one or a plurality of switch buttons (16) for generating opening and/or closing and/or tilting commands.

8. A use of a switch contact (28) of a sunroof actuation switch (27) for actuation of opening and/or closing and/or tilting of a sunroof, for communicating programming and/or reprogramming data and/or parameter setting data and/or diagnostic data, from and to a sunroof control unit, the sunroof control unit comprising a diverter switch (20) which is controllable by the actuation switch (27) by holding the actuation switch in a predetermined position for a predetermined time period by a series of pulses on at least one line so that said line (18a) can be connected to either a first input means (21) of the control unit for receiving an actuation command opening or closing or tilting of the sunroof, or to a second input and/or output means (23) of the control unit (19) for transmitting and/or receiving the data;

wherein;

the actuation switch (27) comprises a removable switch module (15) including a bezel for allowing access to at least one inner switch connector including a wire of the actuation switch (27); and

the removable switch module (15) comprises one or a plurality of switch buttons (16) for generating opening and/or closing and/or tilting commands.