VEHICLE PANEL CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090198420A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Newman, Todd R., Washeleski, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use E05Y2400/51, E05Y2400/522 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A system includes a controller and a sensor. The controller is configured to transmit a panel control signal to a motor for the motor to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions. The sensor is configured to detect an object in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor. The sensor is further configured to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel. Upon receipt of the object signal, the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in an opening direction towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object. The controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN).

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to a motor for the motor to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions;

a sensor configured to detect an object in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the sensor is further configured to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel; and

wherein, the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in an opening direction towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal;

wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with at least one vehicle module over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN).

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another over the LAN.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor includes a compressible dielectric element interposed between two conductors which are separated from one another;

wherein capacitance of the sensor changes in response to either an object in the path of the panel deforming the shape of the sensor while touching the sensor such that the sensor generates the object signal or a conductive object in the path of the panel coming into proximity with the sensor such that the sensor generates the object signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle module includes a switch, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive a command signal from the switch over the LAN upon the switch being activated by an operator, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in accordance with the command signal.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path to the closed position upon receiving an express close panel command signal from the switch over the LAN;

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path to the opened position upon receiving an express open panel command signal from the switch over the LAN;

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in a closing direction while receiving a manual close panel command signal from the switch over the LAN;

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in an opening direction while receiving a manual open panel command signal from the switch over the LAN.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the controller is further configured to abort an express panel command upon receiving a manual panel command;

the controller is further configured to abort an express panel command for one of the opening and closing directions upon receiving an express panel command for the opposite direction.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle module includes an interior temperature sensor and an exterior temperature sensor, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive an internal temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the vehicle interior from the interior temperature sensor over the LAN and to receive an external temperature signal indicative of the temperature outside of the vehicle from the external temperature sensor over the LAN;

wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether vehicle venting is desired based on a comparison of the temperature signals, and is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel in the opening direction in order to vent the vehicle if vehicle venting is desired.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle module includes an occupant detection sensor, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive an occupant signal indicative of the absence of an occupant in the vehicle from the occupant detection sensor over the LAN, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alarm signal indicative of vehicle intrusion upon receiving the object signal from the sensor after the panel has been moved in the opening direction while the vehicle is unoccupied.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel in the opening direction in order to vent the vehicle if vehicle venting is desired when the vehicle is in operation.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle module includes a rain sensor, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive a rain sensor signal indicative of moisture outside the vehicle from the rain sensor over the LAN;

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel in the closing direction upon determining the presence of moisture outside of the vehicle based on the rain signal.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one vehicle module further includes a venting component, wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a vent control signal to the venting component via the LAN in order for the venting component to vent the vehicle if vehicle venting is desired.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the venting component is one of a vehicle sunroof and a vehicle HVAC system.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a vent control signal to the venting component in order to vent the vehicle when the internal temperature exceeds the external temperature by a predetermined amount and the vehicle is unoccupied.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a vent control signal to the venting component in order to vent the vehicle when the internal temperature exceeds the external temperature by a predetermined amount and the vehicle is in operation.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to a second motor for the second motor to move a second movable panel of the vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions;

a second sensor configured to detect an object in the path of the second panel without monitoring the second motor, wherein the second sensor is further configured to generate a second object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the second panel; and

wherein, the second controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the second panel along the path in an opening direction towards the opened position in order to prevent the second panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the second object signal;

wherein the second controller is further configured to communicate with at least one of the first controller and the at least one vehicle module over the LAN.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the LAN is either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller is further configured to store the position of the panel along the path prior to the vehicle being turned off, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel from the closed position to a stored opened position stored upon receiving a preset panel open command.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive the panel open command from a remote keyless entry component.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to move the panel during a predetermined time period after the vehicle has been turned off.

20. A system comprising:

a controller configured to transmit a panel control signal to a motor for the motor to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions; and

a sensor configured to detect an object in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the sensor is further configured to generate an object signal indicative of an object detected in the path of the panel;

wherein the controller and the sensor are further configured to communicate with one another over an in-vehicle local area network (LAN);

wherein, the controller is further configured to transmit a panel control signal to the motor to move the panel along the path in an opening direction towards the opened position in order to prevent the panel from entrapping the object upon receipt of the object signal.