Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-15
2002-11-26
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
C318S256000, C318S266000, C318S286000, C318S446000, C318S466000, C318S468000, C307S009100, C307S010100, C307S113000, C307S115000, C307S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06486630
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power window apparatus, and more particularly to a power window apparatus capable of opening windows for a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes) when an automobile falls into water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although conventional power window apparatus used in an automobile are designed to remain operational when the automobile falls into water, they often fail to operate as intended because the operation of their electrical system is made unstable by water, with the result that passages cannot escape from the automobile and their life may be risked. Accordingly, there is proposed a power window apparatus that retains its reliability and will function to open the windows for a predetermined time after the automobile falls into water.
Such a conventional power window apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
4
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, the power window apparatus includes a driving part
51
, relays
52
and
53
, transistors
55
and
60
, a control part
58
, a submergence detecting sensor
72
, a window close switch (UP)
64
, and a window open switch (Down)
65
. The control part (hereinafter referred to as CPU)
58
comprises a microcomputer, ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and the like.
The driving part
51
, which is a reversible motor for opening or closing open/close parts (hereinafter referred to as windows) not shown, rotates (Down) so as to open the windows when a current flows from the upper side to the lower side in a circuit shown in
FIG. 3
, and rotates (Up) so as to close the windows when a current flows from the lower side to the upper side.
The relays
52
and
53
respectively have switches
52
a
and
53
a
, and exciting coils
52
b
and
53
b
, and only when a control voltage is applied to only one of the exciting coils
52
b
and
53
b
, power from an automobile power terminal
54
is supplied to the driving part
51
via the switches
52
a
and
53
a.
The transistor
55
has: a base connected to an output pin P
06
of CPU
58
via a resistor
56
and an inverter
57
in series; a collector grounded via the exciting coil
52
b
; and an emitter connected with an automobile power terminal
59
.
A transistor
60
has: a base connected to an output pin P
07
of CPU
58
via a resistor
61
and an inverter
62
in series; a collector connected with connected with one end of the exciting coil
53
b
; and an emitter connected with an automobile power terminal
63
.
The CPU
58
has plural input-output pins; input pins (P
71
, P
72
, P
73
) are applied with voltages to serve as signals from the window close switch (UP)
64
, the window open switch (Down)
65
, and the submergence detecting sensor
72
, and according to the signals, minute currents to serve as signals for turning the transistors
55
and
60
on or off are outputted from the output pins (P
07
, P
06
).
Both the window close switch (UP)
64
and the window close switch (Down)
65
, only when operated, switch a connection destination of one end thereof from the ground to the automobile power terminal
66
. Another end of the window close switch (UP)
64
is connected to the input pin P
71
of the CPU
58
via an inverter
67
and a pullup power
68
. Another end of the window open switch (Down)
65
is connected to the input pin P
72
of the CPU
58
via an inverter
69
and a pullup power
70
, and to another end of the exciting coil
53
b.
The submergence detecting sensor
72
comprises a pair of conductors disposed in opposed relation to each other and in proximity to each other, and when exposed to water, it is brought into conduction with a small resistance value so that one end thereof is grounded and the other end thereof is connected to an automobile power terminal
73
and the base of the transistor
74
.
The transistor
74
has an emitter connected to the automobile power terminal
73
and a connector connected to the input pin P
73
of the CPU
58
.
With the above construction, when the window close switch (UP)
64
or the window open switch (Down)
65
is operated, a signal corresponding to the operated switch is inputted to the input pin P
71
or P
72
of the CPU
58
. According to the inputted signal, the CPU
58
outputs a signal of minute current from the output pin P
06
or P
07
to the transistor
55
or
60
via the inverter
57
or
62
. The transistor
55
or
60
is turned on or off by the outputted signal so that a voltage is applied to the exciting coil
52
b
or
53
b
. Accordingly, the switch
52
a
or
53
a
is switched so that the automobile power is supplied to the driving part
51
, whereby the driving part
51
rotates forward or backward to open or close windows.
When the submergence detecting sensor
72
is exposed to water, the transistor
74
goes on because the base thereof goes into a ground voltage, and a voltage from the automobile power terminal
73
is inputted to the input pin P
73
of the CPU
58
. When the voltage is inputted to the input pin P
73
, the CPU
58
outputs minute currents of, e.g., +5 V from both the output pins P
06
and P
07
, which are inputted to the transistors
55
and
60
via the comparators
57
and
62
, with the result that both the transistors
55
and
60
are turned on. Since a voltage is applied to both the exciting coils
52
b
and
53
b
, both the switches
52
a
and
53
a
are switched and an equal voltage is applied to both input-output pins of the driving part
51
, so that the driving part does not operate. Consequently, the windows do not operate, either.
At this time, when the window open switch (Down)
65
is operated, a connection destination of one end of the switch
65
is switched from the ground to the automobile power terminal
66
. Then, since a series circuit from the automobile power terminal
63
having applied a voltage to the exciting circuit
53
b
is not grounded, a current flow is stopped, and since a higher voltage is developed at the cathode side of a diode
71
by the automobile power terminal
66
, no voltage is applied to the exciting coil
53
b
. As a result, since a voltage is applied to only the exciting coil
52
b
and only the switch
52
a
is switched, the automobile power is applied to the driving part
51
, which starts operation, so that the windows are opened.
By the above-described construction and operation, even if an automobile falls into water, the windows can be opened, so that occupants can escape from it.
However, this power window apparatus has the following problem. Parts and circuits except the CPU
58
, upon submergence, undergo reduction in insulation resistance between terminals but operate for a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes), while the CPU
58
, which performs control by slight currents, may cause malfunction or run away uncontrollably upon submergence. For example, a slight current of, e.g., +5 V, which is outputted from both the output pins P
06
and P
07
to turn on the transistors
55
and
60
, leaks elsewhere at submergence, with the result that the slight current from the CPU
58
minus the leak current may yield to further result in failure of both the transistors
55
and
60
to be turned on, so that the windows may move in unexpected directions or may not be opened even if the window open switch (Down)
65
is operated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the problem and provides a power window apparatus that, even if a CPU causes malfunction or becomes uncontrollable upon submergence, can prevent windows from performing unexpected operations and enables the windows to be opened without fail if desired.
To solve the problem, a power window apparatus of the present invention comprises: a driving part that has two current input-output ends, and drives automobile open/close parts open or close, depending on the direction of a driving current flowing via the current input-output ends; two relays which each have an exciting coil and a switching contact, wherein, when a current is fed to the exc
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Duda Rina I.
Nappi Robert E.
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