Circuit for control of power windows, sun roofs, or door locks in motor vehicles

• US 6,515,377 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Seeberger, Jürgen, Übelein, Jorg, Aab, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/596,827
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/114, 307/140, 701/49
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/504 of control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A circuit and a process are used to control operation of an electromagnetic drive arrangement for power window lifters, sun roofs, or door locks of a motor vehicle. After recognition of a failure of functions or parts thereof or electrical or electronic components, emergency operation is initiated. The operation of electromagnetic drive arrangement is enabled by a switching element, and the control level for the control of the switching element is verified by the running of a safety routine before possible emergency operation.

Claims

1. A circuit for control of power accessories in motor vehicles with an electromechanical drive arrangement and the circuit switches into an emergency operation after recognition of a failure, the circuit comprising:

a power driver configured to supply current to the electromechanical drive arrangement;

at least one connection to the power driver;

an operating switch configured to be operated by a user in an emergency operation; and

a switching element, such that the power driver can be actuated in an emergency operation, at least, via the operating switch;

wherein the at least one connection has an input level defined by a logical AND-operation of states of the operating switch and the switching element.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a static memory having one output connected to the switching element and storing a control input level used to control the switching element.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the static memory is a non-volatile memory.

4. The circuit according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the switching element is switched on to enable an emergency operation through actuation of the power driver when one of the static memory is destroyed and the control level stored in the static memory is deleted.

5. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the control input level is verifiable by a control unit.

6. The circuit of claim 5, further comprising a microcontroller, with the memory and the control unit being connected via a serial data line to the microcontroller.

7. The circuit of claim 5, further comprising a microcontroller with the control unit being at least a part of the microcontroller.

8. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller evaluating a switching state of one of the switching element and the operating switch, with one of the switching element and the operating switch being connected to an input of the microcontroller.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the power driver is a relay, and a coil current of the relay is switched by the operating switch for actuation, such that the operating switch is connected with a connection of a coil of the relay directly or via the switching element.

10. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the power driver is a semiconductor bridge, and an output level of a connection of the semiconductor bridge is controlled by the operating switch.

11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switching element and the operating switch are arranged in a series connection to function as a logical AND-operation.

12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the switching element is a switching transistor.

13. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the switching element is one of a switchable current source and a switchable voltage source.

14. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switching element is a part of a gate to function as a logical AND-operation, and position of the operating switch connected with an input of the gate defines an input value of the gate.

15. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the power driver is configured to be actuated by a logical OR-operation of the operating switch and an automatic switching element.

16. The circuit of claim 2, further comprising:

an additional switching element connected in parallel with the switching element; and

an additional static memory storing an additional control level to control the additional switching element and having an output connected to the additional switching element.

17. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a microcontroller;

wherein the electromechanical drive arrangement is switchable from a CLOSE direction to an OPEN direction by means of the operating switch, in that the drive arrangement is switched by the microcontroller without current for a minimal period of time between closing and opening.

18. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a microcontroller;

a control unit; and

an automatic switching element;

wherein the switching element is connected to a supply voltage and to the power driver, the operating switch is connected to ground, to the power driver, via a pull-up resistor to the supply voltage and via a lowpass filter for debouncing, to the microcontroller, and wherein the automatic switching element is connected in parallel with the operating switch, in that the automatic switching element is connected with the ground and with the power driver, and

the automatic switching element and the switching element are controllable by the microcontroller via a serial connection using a control level transmitted via the serial connection which is verifiable by the control unit.