EP1158129B1 - Closure system and method in case of panic - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for securing a motor vehicle in an emergency. In particular, the invention relates to a panic locking system and method for closing power windows and sunroofs.

Nowadays, motor vehicles often have window lift systems that can be used to open and close windows of a motor vehicle with a switch. There may be situations in which the persons in the vehicle must protect themselves against attacks from the outside by quickly closing the motor vehicle. This may be necessary, for example, for short stop periods at traffic lights and slow-moving or stationary traffic, because such situations can be exploited for raiding motor vehicles and stealing valuables located therein.

To close the doors in such situations, so-called "lock-unlock switches" are known. By such a switch, a central door lock can be triggered, so that the vehicle doors and optionally the locking device for the trunk are closed. Since in such a situation, the closing of the windows and the sunroof could be required, so-called panic locking functions are already known in motorized window regulators and sliding roofs. However, the problem with these known panic locking functions is that the anti-pinch mechanism conventionally provided for motor-driven window regulators and sliding lifting roofs is disabled when the panic locking function is actuated.

A panic closing function in conjunction with a modified anti-trap protection is basically from the not previously published EP-A-1030427 already known. In this case, first, stopping and / or reversing, for example, of a window and then continuing the closing operation with a higher shutdown threshold take place.

Thus, for example, in previously known systems, such as in EP 0 901 210 , the anti-jamming in the window or sliding sunroof in automatic mode (jog mode) and when operating in a first detent position (manually) and in the comfort closure, for example via a remote control active. This means that in the event of a pinch, the disc automatically reverses completely or partially downwards. When the closing operation button is pressed continuously in a second detent position or on a mechanical stop, the panic locking function (panic mode) is activated and the anti-trap protection is released. Thus, vehicle occupants have the ability to effect an emergency closure of the windows and the sunroof without jamming by manually operating the control switch. As a result, there is a particular risk of injury from pinching body parts. Due to the structural nature of the control switch with two detent positions in each direction (manually or by tapping open and close) is often closed by unconsciously pressing and holding the switch, the disc. That in such a case, the anti-trap is inactive, ie the panic function is active, the or the inmates is usually not known. This creates dangerous situations for inmates and passers-by.

A well-known panic closing function is for example in the EP-A-856 629 disclosed. According to this publication, a control panel with four switches is provided in the access area of the driver, which is in operative connection with a anti-trap device for the windows of all doors. By operating an emergency switch all windows can be brought together, bypassing or switching off the anti-trap device in their closed position. Thus, this device also has the disadvantages described above.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved panic locking system and method for closing windows and sunroofs in a motor vehicle. In particular, while the disadvantages associated with the known systems and risks to persons should be avoided. This object is achieved with the features of the claims.

According to the present invention, an unintentional triggering of the panic function is avoided by overpressing and holding the control switch on the stop. This can be realized both for vehicles in which only some of the windows are actuated by a motor as well as in vehicles in which all windows including the sliding roof are automatically actuated. Usually located in vehicles, the control panels for the windows in a switch block of the driver's door and other switches on the corresponding doors of the windows to be opened and in the vicinity of the sunroof. The panic locking system and method according to the invention is preferably designed such that an effective anti-trap protection takes place on all motor-operated windows and sliding roofs.

The invention is based on the basic idea that the anti-trap protection can be operated both in a standard state for normal closing and in a modified state for panic closing. As a result, the risk of injury to persons and passers by in the vehicle can be greatly reduced. Even in the absence of knowledge of the manual or the operation of the actuator can be effectively avoided for the occupants and for passers-dangerous conditions. In addition, there are no functional limitations compared to the known antiskid systems, i. potential attackers can be locked out. Frozen or stuck discs can also be torn loose. Another advantage is that hardly any changes in the hardware compared to the known systems are required for the control device. Thus, with increased safety, the costs for series production remain virtually unchanged.

The panic locking system and method according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart of the switching logic of the panic locking system and method according to the invention. The system according to the invention essentially comprises at least one actuating device, a drive device assigned to the respective element to be actuated (eg window, sliding-roof cover) and a control device.

The actuator is a switch with a first and a second shift detent. The first shift detent serves to manually actuate the window or the sunroof, wherein the element to be actuated moves in the desired direction as long as the switch is held in the first detent position. If the switch is typed or briefly pressed into the second switching latch, an automatic opening or closing of the element to be actuated takes place. However, if the switch is held in the second switching latch (in the closing direction), the panic function or a panic lock is triggered. It is further preferred that when the panic function is triggered by means of an actuator, all the elements to be actuated, i. all windows and optionally the sliding roof are closed. It is also possible to lock with the triggering of the panic function, the central door locking and the locking device of the boot lid.

The operation of the panic lock system and method according to the invention will now be described below. By holding the operating switch in the second detent position (override), the panic function is activated after a predetermined response time t _A , which is required for the tapping function. All windows and sliding roofs are closed at maximum speed. In this case, the anti-trap protection according to the invention is maintained in a modified form. If jamming is detected, the affected window or sunroof only reverses by a distance S _REV which is considerably shortened compared to the standard anti- _{jamming protection} and not completely (or by a distance of, for example, about 200 mm in some embodiments). The obstacle or attacker is thus given the opportunity to move away from the danger zone, but no longer penetrate further into the vehicle interior. According to an embodiment of the present invention Now, the operation switch must be released deliberately and be operated again within a time window t _ZF . If an operation within this time window t _ZF so the windows and the sunroof are closed without any anti-jamming with maximum force and speed. If there is no renewed activation of the panic function within the time window t _ZF , ie continuous holding of the switch in the second detent position, then the anti-trap protection is again in the normal state and thus fully active. Takes place but outside the time window _ZF t turn a consequence of operating with the panic function is activated, the modified anti-trap is active. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided for additional security to block the panic function from a predetermined vehicle speed (eg 16 km / h), which is determined by means of a vehicle speed detection device.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reversing distance S _REV with modified anti-jamming protection is about 10 mm and the time window T _{ZF is} 4 seconds.

The mode of operation of the panic system and method according to the invention compared to the prior art will be described again below with reference to a concrete example. In this example, the driver wants to close the rear window and operates the corresponding switch on the driver's door. In the prior art, it happens that the driver keeps the switch pressed to close the disc. He keeps the switch unconsciously on mechanical stop (second detent position) and therefore activates the panic function. According to the prior art, the disk closes without jamming protection with full force. This can lead to injuries, for example, a person stretches a hand out of the window and the window closes with full force and the hand can be pinched. According to the present invention closes in the same situation, the disc with anti-trap at maximum speed. Also in this case, the driver may overlook that a person is stretching a hand out of the window. However, according to the invention, trapping is automatically detected and the disc reverses by 10 mm and stops. The person is frightened and pulls the hand back. If the driver does not notice and keep the switch in the second detent position, the window stops anyway. In the event that the driver intentionally releases the button within the time window of 4 seconds and then presses it again and keeps it in the second detent position, the window closes without jamming protection with full force. However, if the driver activates the switch only after the time window of 4 seconds, the window closes again with pinch protection.

Accordingly, the panic lock system and method of the present invention offers significant safety advantages over the prior art.

Claims (14)

1. An emergency locking system for motor-driven window lifts and/or tilt/slide sun roofs provided in motor vehicles with at least one actuating device, a drive device associated with the respective element to be actuated and a control device, the control device having a clamping protection mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism has a switch with a first switch locking position for manual actuation of the element to be actuated and a second switch locking position, the switch being configured in such a way that by jogging into the second switch locking position an automatic actuation of the element to be actuated takes place and the emergency function is triggered by holding in the second switch locking position, characterised in that the clamping protection mechanism has a standard clamping protection for normal locking and a modified clamping protection for emergency locking.
2. An emergency locking system according to claim 1, wherein the clamping protection mechanism is configured in such a way that on actuation of an actuating device all the elements to be actuated are locked.
3. An emergency locking system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in the standard clamping protection, the element to be actuated, at which clamping was recognised, reverses completely or at least by a distance of 50 mm.
4. An emergency locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the modified clamping protection is configured in such a way that when clamping is recognised during emergency locking, at least the element to be locked, at which the clamping was recognised, reverses by a distance of less than 50 mm, preferably about 10 mm.
5. An emergency locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the modified clamping protection is configured in such a way that once clamping has been recognised during the emergency locking, a timer provided in the control device starts a time window (t_ZF) in which, upon renewed actuation of the actuation device for emergency locking, the entire clamping protection mechanism is deactivated and the elements to be locked are locked completely without clamping protection.
6. An emergency locking system according to claim 5, wherein the clamping protection mechanism is configured in such a way that outside the time window (t_ZF) and on actuation of the emergency locking, the modified clamping protection responds again.
7. An emergency locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control mechanism is connected to a vehicle speed detection device and is configured in such a way that from a specific vehicle speed of preferably greater than 16 km/h the emergency function is deactivated.
8. An emergency locking method, especially for motor-driven window lifts and/or slide/tilt sun roofs provided in motor vehicles comprising the steps:

   (a) detecting an emergency locking request; and

   (b) deactivating a standard clamping protection present for normal locking and activating a modified clamping protection provided for emergency locking by means of an actuating device having a switch, with a first switch locking position for manual actuation of the element to be actuated and a second switch locking position, wherein by jogging into the second switch locking position, an automatic actuation of the element to be actuated takes place and by holding in the second switch locking position, the emergency function is triggered.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein during emergency locking, on actuating an actuating device, all the elements to be actuated are locked.
10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein in the standard clamping protection, the element to be actuated is completely reversed or at least by a distance of 50 mm.
11. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein on recognising clamping during emergency locking, the modified clamping protection reverses the element to be locked, at which clamping was recognised, by a distance of less than 50 mm, preferably about 10 mm.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein in the modified clamping protection after recognising clamping during emergency locking, a timer starts a time window (t_ZF), within which on renewed actuation of the emergency device for emergency locking, the entire clamping protection mechanism is deactivated and the elements to be locked are completely locked without clamping protection.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein outside the time window (t_ZF) and on actuation of the emergency locking, the modified clamping protection responds again.
14. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein from a specific vehicle speed of preferably greater than 16 km/h, the emergency function is deactivated.

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