Electricity: motive power systems – Motor-reversing – Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-09
2002-05-28
Donels, Jeffrey (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Motor-reversing
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
C307S010100, C180S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06396227
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof power window apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a waterproof power window apparatus wherein, when the car submerges, a submergence-detecting unit provided in one of switch units detects the submergence, or the apparatus which is capable of opening a window at a seat other than the driver seat by operating the other-seat window opening switch provided in a driver-seat switch unit if a signal cannot be transmitted through a bus line.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a power window apparatus comprises a driver-seat switch unit, a front-passenger-seat switch unit, a left-rear-seat switch unit and a right-rear-seat switch unit. The driver-seat switch unit is connected to each of the other switch units, namely, the front-passenger-seat switch unit, the left-rear-seat switch unit and the right-rear-seat switch unit by a bus line. At normal times, communication signals such as control signals are transmitted through the bus lines.
FIG. 4
is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of main components composing a commonly known power window apparatus.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the power window apparatus comprises a driver-seat switch unit
41
, a front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
, a left-rear-seat switch unit
43
, a right-rear-seat switch unit
44
, a first bus line
45
(
1
) connecting the driver-seat switch unit
41
to the front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
, a second bus line
45
(
2
) connecting the driver-seat switch unit
41
to the left-rear-seat switch unit
43
and a third bus line
45
(
3
) connecting the driver-seat switch unit
41
to the right-rear-seat switch unit
44
.
The driver-seat switch unit
41
comprises a control unit (CPU)
46
, a motor-driving unit
47
, a window-opening and closing motor
48
, a driver-seat-window-opening and closing switch
49
, a front-passenger-seat-window-opening and closing switch
50
, a left-rear-seat-window-opening and closing switch
51
, a right-rear-seat-window-opening and closing switch
52
, a first interface (I/F) unit
53
and a second interface (I/F) unit
54
. The motor-driving unit
47
comprises a relay-driving unit
47
A and a window-opening and closing relay
47
B. In the driver-seat switch unit
41
, the control unit
46
, the motor-driving unit
47
, the window-opening and closing motor
48
, the driver-seat-window-opening and closing switch
49
, the front-passenger-seat-window-opening and closing switch
50
, the left-rear-seat-window-opening and closing switch
51
, the right-rear-seat-window-opening and closing switch
52
, the first interface unit
53
and the second interface unit
54
are connected to each other as shown in FIG.
4
.
The front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
, the left-rear-seat switch unit
43
and the right-rear-seat switch unit
44
each include components such as a control unit, a motor-driving unit, a front-passenger-seat, left-rear-seat or right-rear-seat-window-opening and closing motor, a front-passenger-seat, left-rear-seat or right-rear-seat-window-opening and closing switch and an interface unit. Since the front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
, the left-rear-seat switch unit
43
and the right-rear-seat switch unit
44
are commonly known components of a power window apparatus of this type, they are not shown in FIG.
4
.
The operation of the commonly known power window apparatus having the configuration described above is explained briefly as follows.
When the driver operates a window-opening switch of the driver-seat-window-opening and closing switch
49
employed in the driver-seat switch unit
41
, the motor-driving unit
47
is driven by the operation of the window-opening switch, rotating the window-opening and closing motor
48
in a certain direction, that is, the window-opening direction in this case. As a result, the window at the driver seat is moved in the opening direction. When the driver operates a window-closing switch of the driver-seat-window-opening and closing switch
49
, on the other hand, the motor-driving unit
47
is driven by the operation of the window-closing switch, rotating the window-opening and closing motor
48
in the other direction, that is, the window-closing direction in this case. As a result, the window at the driver seat is moved in the closing direction.
When the driver operates the front-passenger-seat-window-opening and closing switch
50
employed in the driver-seat switch unit
41
in the opening direction, the control unit
46
senses the operation and outputs a window-opening-operation signal to the first bus line
45
(
1
) by way of the second I/F unit
54
. The window-opening-operation signal is transmitted to the control unit of the front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
through the first bus line
45
(
1
). The control unit drives components such as the motor-driving unit to rotate the motor. As a result, the window at the front-passenger seat is moved in the opening direction. When the driver operates the front-passenger-seat-window-opening and closing switch
50
employed in the driver-seat switch unit
41
in the closing direction, on the other hand, the control unit
46
senses the operation and outputs a window-closing-operation signal to the first bus line
45
(
1
) by way of the second I/F unit
54
. The window-closing-operation signal is transmitted to the control unit of the front-passenger-seat switch unit
42
through the first bus line
45
(
1
). The control unit drives components such as the motor-driving unit to rotate the motor. As a result, the window at the front-passenger seat is moved in the closing direction.
When the driver operates the left-rear-seat switch unit
43
or the right-rear-seat switch unit
44
, almost the same operation as the front-passenger-seat-window-opening and closing switch
50
is carried out. As a result, the window at the left-rear seat or the window at the right-rear seat is moved in the opening or closing direction in accordance with the direction of the operation of the left-rear-seat switch unit
43
or the right-rear-seat switch unit
44
respectively.
In addition, there is also provided a commonly known power window apparatus having the so-called submergence-problem-solving means including a submergence-detecting unit provided at least in the driver-seat switch unit, the front-passenger-seat switch unit, the left-rear-seat switch unit or the right-rear-seat switch unit of the power window apparatus in order to prevent any of the switch units from becoming not operative normally due to some reasons such as submergence of the car causing water to flow to the inside of the car and to the switch units. To put it concretely, a submergence-detecting unit is provided to keep a window-opening switch of a switch unit operating normally or to prevent the window-opening switch from becoming incapable of opening the window even if the switch is operated.
Since the conventional power window unit does not have a submergence-detecting unit on any of the switch units, when water flows to the inside of the car and, hence, to the driver-seat switch unit, the front-passenger-seat switch unit, the left-rear-seat switch unit or the right-rear-seat switch unit, an insulator of the wet switch unit is broken so that a normal window operation can no longer be accomplished even if the opening and closing switch of the switch unit with a broken insulator is operated. That is to say, even if a passenger of the car operates the opening and closing switch of the switch unit near at hand, the window associated with the switch unit can not be opened so that it is feared that an action of the passenger to escape from the submerging car will be too late.
In the case of a power window apparatus having the submergence-problem solving means described above, a submergence-detecting unit is provided at least in the driver-seat switch unit, the front-passenger-seat switch unit, the left-rear-seat switch unit or the right-rear-seat switch unit so that, when water flows t
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Donels Jeffrey
LandOfFree
Driver side waterproof power window apparatus permitting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Driver side waterproof power window apparatus permitting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Driver side waterproof power window apparatus permitting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2822038