Power driven venting of a vehicle

• US 5,955,854 A
• Filed: 05/05/1995
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prospects Corp.
• Original Assignee: Prospects Corp.
• Inventors: Zhang, Jianjun, Lu, Michael Yuan, Wang, Chong Tian, Zhang, John Z. W., Pan, Peter J., Shao, Yong Bo, Li, James S., Chen, Ziqiang, Chuang, Cliff
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/435,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/29, 49/25, 49/28, 250/221, 250/342, 250/206.3, 250/341, 250/208.2, 250/206.1, 318/53, 318/28, 318/264, 318/266, 318/608, 318/444, 318/445, 318/480, 318/283, 340/540, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/904, 340/903, 340/435, 340/901
• US Class Current: 318/480
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• 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 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/422 for opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/358 in the proximity of end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/57 Disabling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/664 by radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/40 Protection E05Y2400/50, E05Y2400/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/42 against smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/422 against vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/141 using sound propagation, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 : using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 : Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 : Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 : Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 : Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 : of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 : using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

An obstruction detection apparatus is provided for use in closing a power driven vent, such as a window, that is located in an opening. When the vent includes a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening includes a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an obstruction at points all along the second closing edge without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal when an obstruction is detected. A controller is connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering a corresponding alarm signal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the openining including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising:

a housing,

an emitter held by the houing and configured to emit energy across an area defined by the opening,

a detector held by the housing and configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter, and

a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening,

wherein the vent comprises a window, and the housing holding both the emitter and the detector is positioned in a lower front corner of the opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector, and

the detector delivers the detection signal when the durations of a predetermined number of consecutive pulses exceed a predetermined value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits energy modulated at a first modulation frequency and wherein the detector includes a band pass filter that passes energy modulated at the first modulation frequency.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the emitter emits energy having a first wavelength and wherein the detector includes a second band pass filter that passes energy having the first wavelength.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter includes a lens that emits the energy signal as a fan-shaped energy curtain.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for activating the detector and the emitter only when the vent is closing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the detector delivers the detection signal when the duration of at least one pulse exceeds a predetermined value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the predetermined value is related to the duration of a pulse when no obstruction is present.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined value is related to the average duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present and the vent moves between an opened position and a closed position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predetermined value includes a correction factor that accounts for variations in the duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the emitter comprises a lens that is shaped to produce the fan-shaped beam.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the emitter comprises multiple light emitting diodes.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is spaced from the lens.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein vertical sections of the common lens in a first dimension have upper surfaces that conform to circular arcs and vertical sections of the common lens in a second dimension have curved upper surfaces that do not conform to circular arcs.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the common lens has a flat lower surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the common lens comprises epoxy resin.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the detector further comprises a plano-convex lens formed from the epoxy resin.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a plano-convex lens having a planar side in contact with the common lens.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the emitter and the detector share a common lens, and

the detector farther comprises a plano-convex lens having a planar side in contact with the common lens and a filter positioned between the photo IC and a convex side of the plano-convex lens.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to activate the emitter in response to an input signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change a state of the output signal from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change the state of the output signal from the second state to the first state when no obstruction is detected and to maintain the state of the output signal in the second state when an obstruction is detected.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to deliver the output signal along only a single wire.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is operable to receive an input signal along only a single wire.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an external interface that comprises an input wire and an output wire.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the external interface further comprises a power wire and a ground wire, and wherein the input wire, output wire, power wire and ground wire are the only wires that extend externally from the housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an input connection and an output connection accessible from outside the housing,

wherein the controller is held by the housing and connected to the emitter, the detector, the input connection, and the output connection, and the controller has circuitry that responds to a signal at the input connection by analyzing signals from the detector and providing a signal at the output connection indicative of whether an object is present in the opening.

33. Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, comprising:

an automatic vent actuator for automatically activating the power driven vent,

a manual vent actuator for manually activating the power driven vent,

a detector configured to detect an obstruction in the opening without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal when an obstruction is detected, the detector being activated to produce the detection signal only when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator,

a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal, and

a manual switch that, while pressed, enabes the manual vent actuator,

wherein;

when the manual switch is pressed for less than a predetermined time, the controller enables the automatic vent actuator, and

when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator and the detection signal is received, the controller deactivates the vent.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the controller disables the manual vent actuator during the predetermined time to prevent activation of the power driven vent until the controller determines whether to enable the automatic vent actuator.

35. Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising:

an emitter that emits energy,

a detector configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter,

a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening,

circuit connected to activate the detector and the emitter only when the vent is closing, and to verify that the emitter is emitting energy immediately after activating the emitter.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein

the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector, and

the detector delivers the detection signal when the duration of one pulse exceeds a predetermined value.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector and the emitter share a common lens.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

41. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens.

42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.

43. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to activate the emitter in response to an input signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to change a state of the output signal from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal.

45. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to deliver the output signal along only a single wire.

46. A sensor for detecting an obstruction in an opening, comprising:

an emitter operable to emit energy,

a detector operable to detect energy emitted by the emitter and to deliver a detection signal in response to an increase in detected emitter energy,

control circuitry connected to the emitter and detector, the control circuitry being operable to control the emitter and the detector and to produce an output signal indicative of the detection of an obstruction in the opening in response to the detection signal, and

a housing in which the emitter, detector and control circuitry are held,

wherein

the emitter and the detector share a common lens, and

vertical sections of the common lens in a first dimension have upper surfaces that conform to circular arcs and vertical sections of the common lens in a second dimension have curved upper surfaces that do not conform to circular arcs.

47. The sensor of claim 46, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in an opening of an automobile.

48. The sensor of claim 47, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in a window opening of an automobile.

49. The sensor of claim 47, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in a door opening of an automobile.

50. The sensor of claim 46, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

51. The sensor of claim 46, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

52. The sensor of claim 46, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.