Panel Assembly Control Units

• US 20100155213A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Timothy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,080,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/066 having switches mounted on a control handle, e.g. gear shift lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable control unit for activating a panel assembly of a vehicle that includes a housing, a first switch disposed on the housing, at least one connector, and a battery, wherein the at least one connector is configured to engage a receptor of a panel assembly of a vehicle, the panel assembly lacking a power source, such that the battery provides power to the panel assembly and the first switch controls movement of a panel within the panel assembly.

Claims

1. A portable control unit for activating a panel assembly of a vehicle comprising:

a housing, a first switch disposed on the housing, at least one connector, and a battery;

wherein the at least one connector is configured to engage a receptor of a panel assembly of a vehicle, the panel assembly lacking a power source, such that the battery provides power to the panel assembly and the first switch controls movement of a panel within the panel assembly.

2. The portable control unit of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a trigger switch.

3. The portable control unit of claim 2, further comprising a second switch disposed on the housing that controls the function of the trigger switch.

4. The portable control unit of claim 3, wherein the second switch toggles between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein when the second switch is in a first orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the panel to move in a first direction, and when the second switch is in a second orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the panel to move in a second direction.

5. The portable control unit of claim 4, further comprising a third switch and a fourth switch disposed on the housing, wherein activating the third switch controls the panel to move in a third direction and activating the fourth switch controls the panel to move in a fourth direction.

6. The portable control unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector comprises a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to engage a first receptor of a panel assembly of a first vehicle, and the second connector configured to engage a second receptor of a panel assembly of a second vehicle.

7. The portable control unit of claim 1, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

8. The portable control unit of claim 7, wherein the battery is a 9 volt battery or a 12 volt battery.

9. The portable control unit of claim 1, wherein the portable control unit is hand-held.

10. A portable control unit for activating at least one of an electric moonroof and an electric window comprising:

a housing, a first switch disposed on the housing, at least one connector, at least one battery, and at least one wire connecting the at least one connector to the at least one battery;

wherein the at least one connector is capable of connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor in a vehicle lacking a power source, such that the at least one battery provides power to the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor, and the first switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor.

11. The portable control unit of claim 10, wherein the first switch is a trigger switch.

12. The portable control unit of claim 11, further comprising a second switch disposed on the housing that controls the function of the trigger switch.

13. The portable control unit of claim 12, wherein second switch toggles between a first orientation and a second orientation to control the function of the trigger switch, wherein when the second switch is in a first orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive at least one of a moonroof and a window in a first direction, and when the second switch is in a second orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a second direction.

14. The portable control unit of claim 13, further comprising a third switch and a fourth switch disposed on the housing, wherein activating the third switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a third direction and activating the fourth switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a fourth direction.

15. The portable control unit of claim 10, wherein the at least one connector comprises a first connector and a second connector, the first connector capable of electrically connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor of a first vehicle, and the second connector capable of electrically connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor of a second vehicle.

16. The portable control unit of claim 10, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

17. A portable control unit for opening and closing at least one of an electric moonroof and an electric window comprising:

a housing, a trigger switch and a second switch disposed on the housing, at least one connector and at least one battery;

wherein the at least one connector is capable of connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor in a vehicle lacking a power source, such that the at least one battery provides power to the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor, and the trigger switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor, and the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor drives at least one of a moonroof and a window;

wherein the second switch toggles between a first orientation and a second orientation to control the function of the trigger switch, wherein when the second switch is in a first orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a first direction, and when the second switch in a second orientation, activating the trigger switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a second direction.

18. The portable control unit of claim 17, further comprising a third switch and a fourth switch disposed on the housing, wherein activating the third switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a third direction, and activating the fourth switch controls the at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor to drive the at least one of a moonroof and a window in a fourth direction.

19. The portable control unit of claim 17, wherein the at least one connector comprises a first connector and a second connector, the first connector capable of electrically connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor of a first vehicle, and the second connector capable of electrically connecting the portable control unit to at least one of an electric moonroof motor and an electric window motor of a second vehicle.

20. The portable control unit of claim 17, wherein the battery is rechargeable.