Electricity: motive power systems – Motor-reversing
Utility Patent
1999-06-04
2001-01-02
Masih, Karen (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Motor-reversing
C318S460000, C318S468000, C318S488000, C318S282000, C318S478000, C318S283000
Utility Patent
active
06169379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to power driven venting of a vehicle.
Early automobiles for example, included stationary windows that allowed an occupant of the automobile to view regions outside of the automobile. Over time, these stationary windows evolved into adjustable windows that could be opened to provide ventilation to the interior of the automobile. The adjustable windows, which were initially hand lifted, were followed first by manually cranked windows, and then by the power operated windows commonly found in automobiles today.
Eventually, it was discovered that the power operated windows could be automatically opened to provide ventilation when the interior of the automobile became too hot and automatically closed when rain was detected. This automatic venting system, which is described U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,469 and incorporated by reference, then evolved into the automobile environment management system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,686 and also incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, in one aspect, the invention features an obstruction detection technique for use in closing a power driven vent, such as a window, that is located in an opening. 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. A detector is configured to detect an obstruction at points all along the second closing edge without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent. When the detector detects such an obstruction, the detector delivers a detection signal to a controller. The controller receives the detection signal and delivers a corresponding alarm signal that is used, for example, to open the window. The technique ensures that powered vents such as windows or sunroofs can be automatically closed without risk of injury to children, pets, or other occupants of a vehicle in which the vents are installed.
Embodiments of the invention may include the following features. The detector may include an optical detector, an infrared detector, an ultrasound detector, or similar devices. The detector may deliver the detection signal in response to an increase in energy received at the detector, and there may also be an emitter that emits energy so that the detector delivers the detection signal in response to an increase or a decrease in a reflected portion of the energy produced by the emitter and received by the detector.
The detection signal may have a characteristic which represents the intensity of the energy received. For example, the detector may produce pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector and deliver the detection signal when the duration of one pulse exceeds a predetermined value, or when the durations of a predetermined number of consecutive pulses exceed the predetermined value. The predetermined value may be related to the duration of a pulse when no obstruction is present or the average duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present and the vent moves between an opened position and a closed position. The predetermined value may include a correction factor that accounts for variations in the duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present, and may vary based on the position of the vent. The predetermined value, or some other value indicative of an obstruction free opening, may be stored during an initialization procedure.
The detector and emitter may be included in an integral unit, which may be a compact unit in which the detector and the emitter share a common lens. The emitter may include a light emitting diode or a laser device. The emitter may also includes a lens that emits a fan shaped energy curtain.
There may also be a second detector configured to detect an obstruction at any point along the second closing edge without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a second detection signal when an obstruction is detected. The first and second detectors may be arranged so that they are not caused to deliver the first and second detection signals as a result of energy received at the same time. There may also be a first emitter positioned to emit a first energy signal toward the first detector, and a second emitter positioned to emit a second energy signal toward the second detector, with the first and second emitters producing the first and second energy signals in an alternating manner, and the controller being connected to the second detector and to deliver the alarm signal in response to the first or second detection signals. The detectors may be configured so that, when the first emitter is emitting the first energy signal, the first detector delivers the first detection signal in response to a decrease in energy received at the first detector, and the second detector delivers the second detection signal in response to a decrease in energy received at the second detector, and when the second emitter is emitting the second energy signal, the first detector delivers the first detection signal in response to an increase in energy received at the first detector, and the second detector delivers the second detection signal in response to an increase in energy received at the second detector. The first detector may be screened from the second emitter and the second detector may be screened from the first emitter.
Automatic closing or opening of the vent may be initiated by a rain sensor, a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, or a light sensor. Closing of the vent may also be initiated by a manual switch.
In another aspect, generally, the invention features a technique for controlling power driven windows of an automobile. There are driver control switches accessible at the driver's position, separate passenger control switches accessible at a passenger position, and microprocessor control circuitry for responding to switching of the driver and passenger control switches for controlling the power driven windows. The microprocessor control circuitry is programmable in response to the driver control switches and separately programmable in response to the passenger control switches.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The microprocessor control circuitry may respond to switching of the driver control switches when a conflict arises between the driver control switches and the passenger control switches. There may be passenger control switches located at two additional passenger positions and a lockout switch at the driver's position that, when active, causes the microprocessor control circuitry to ignore switching of the additional passenger control switches in response to the lockout switch. This feature could be used, for example, to disable window controls for the rear window of an automobile when children are present in the back seat.
The driver control switches need not be directly connected to the vent driving circuits, and the microprocessor controller may be located remotely from the driver control switches. The driver control switches may be connected to the microprocessor controller by 20 gauge or finer wire.
The technique provides failsafe operation in that it is designed so that a failure in the obstruction detection apparatus will prevent automatic vent closure. This ensures that a system failure will not result in injury. However, the apparatus also includes a manual switch that can override the obstruction detection features. Thus, in the event of a failure of the obstruction detection system, the vents can still be closed through the manual override.
In another aspect, generally, the invention features automatically opening a power driven vent, such as the sunroof or one or more windows, to an opening level specified by a user of the vehicle in response to the opening of a door of the vehicle to reduce air pressure build up when closing the door. Because the pressure build up can result in a back pressure on the door
Chen Ziqiang
Chuang Cliff
Li James S.
Lu Michael Yuan
Pan Peter J.
Masih Karen
Prospects Corporation
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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