EP2153000A1

EP2153000A1 - Method and unit for operating an electromechanical adjusting device

Info

Publication number: EP2153000A1
Application number: EP08736567A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Holzmann; Roman Morawek; Daniel Zuffer
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2007-05-07
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Also published as: CN101675202A; DE102007021285B3; US8143832B2; CN101675202B; US20100138046A1; WO2008135407A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an electromechanical adjusting device, having an actuating part (1), which is driven by a motor (2) controlled by a controller (4), and which can be adjusted as a function of a manual specification for an operating element (6) of the controller (4) between a first end position (21) and a second end position (20). The controller (4) is configured to detect the precise position of a blockage of an adjusting movement from fed sensor signals (17) of a sensor means (5), wherein user action performed on the operating element (6) causes the actuating part (1) to be adjusted by a first adjusting movement directed toward the end position (21) to a position at which mechanical blockage occurs in order to determine a reference position, and causes the actuating part (1) to be adjusted by a second adjusting movement into the second end position (20) in order to examine the validity of the previously determined reference position by means of a test program provided in the controller (4), wherein the test program decides whether an automatic operating mode, in which an actuating process initiated at the control element (6) runs automatically, is activated, or blocked, as a function of the test result.

Description

description

Method and device for operating an electro-mechanical adjustment device

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for operating an electromechanical adjusting device, with an actuating part, which is driven by a motor, which controls a control device, depending on a manual specification on an operating element of the control device, between a first end position and a second end position is adjustable, the Control device is set up to recognize from an inferred encoder signals of a donor means positionally accurate blocking an adjustment.

State of the art

It is known that in motor vehicles for adjusting windows, sunroofs or other actuators electromechanical actuators are used in which a safety pinching protection may be required by law. This anti-pinch protection prevents body parts from being injured by impermissibly high pinching forces in the case of a manually triggered but self-closing action.

However, the anti-pinch protection can only be effective if the position assumed by the control device of the setting part coincides with the actual position. To ensure this is an initialization of the actuator required, which can be performed for the first time in the manufacture of the drive but also during operation, and in which a reference position is determined. Usually, in the case of a vehicle window lifter, the window pane is moved upwards, against a rubber seal in the door frame. The blocking position in the closed position of the disc is considered as a reference point ("absolutely zero") for all subsequent positioning movements of the disc.

However, errors may occur during initialization. If, during the initialization run, the windowpane or sunroof is inadvertent, e.g. by an obstacle in the adjustment, blocked, or there is a mechanical stiffness in the transmission system, or a temporary error in the metrological detection of

Blocking state on, then the defined reference position is wrong, that is, it does not match the actual end position. Such an error could be detected during the manufacturing process as part of a quality assurance, for example by visually checking whether the window pane is actually in an open or closed position. If this is not the case, the initialization must be carried out again. This is associated with a corresponding effort. However, if this error occurs during normal use during operation, the customer must visit a specialist workshop, which is costly.

If such an initialization error goes unnoticed, this has the further consequence that all of the

Initialization phase subsequent positioning movements starting from a wrong point of reference. This also has the consequence that in a window lift the anti-trap no longer acts in the safety-critical proximity of the door frame, but is shifted in a remote from this area. But this is no longer limited in an automatically proceeding closing operation of the window, the closing force in the statutory range of the adjustment. There may be injuries from pinching body parts.

Presentation of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for operating an electromechanical adjustment device such that the effectiveness of an anti-pinch protection is not impaired by an incorrectly learned reference position.

This object is achieved for a method by the features of patent claim 1 and for a device by the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, respectively.

The invention is based essentially on the idea of not only defining a reference position but also of checking its validity. In other words, not only is a reference position learned, but what is learned is also checked for accuracy, or in one word said, validated. It is only on the basis of this test result that it is decided whether automatic closing is allowed. This can do that

Injury risk associated with an incorrectly learned reference position. In a preferred embodiment, this test is carried out on the basis of a manually controlled setting process, the disc in an end position, the open position of a

Motor vehicle window, drives. The reaching of the open position is detected by the blocking detection in the control device. If-starting from the previously defined reference position-the entire adjustment path (distance between the end positions) can be adjusted without blocking, the control device regards the previously defined reference position as correct. Since no discrepancy has been recognized between the control unit assumed and the actual position of the closure member, it is believed that the anti-jamming mechanism operates in the legally prescribed portion of the travel path and not in any other area. In an automatically running closing operation thus there is no impairment of the safety function. The controller releases the automatic mode. Occurs, however, in this second adjustment within the maximum travel blocking (the controller detects at the

Evaluation of the position signals that the disc can not be adjusted with full stroke down, but is on a mechanical stop), so the previously learned reference position was wrong, that is they did not match the actual closing position. The control device recognizes the danger associated with this positional shift, namely that in this case the effective area of the anti-pinch protection is shifted. Thus, the legally required safety function would not be provided at a self-closing process. The control device consequently does not release the automatic mode in this case. Automatic mode remains disabled until manually closed and opened of the window, the reference position is recognized as valid by the technical system.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may be characterized in that it is decided only after reaching the second end position depending on the test result, whether the previously detected reference position is retained or discarded. As a result, the validity is correctly determined even in a mechanical boundary area and a secure closing is ensured.

Cost effective, the invention can be realized if existing hardware can be used, i. if e.g. used as donor means common position sensor and be used to detect a mechanical blockage, as well as for position detection, the same position signals of this position encoder.

It is particularly advantageous if a single Hall sensor is used, which detects the magnetic field of a mechanically coupled to the motor shaft encoder wheel.

In terms of programming, it may be expedient for the reference value, together with additional information characterizing the validity, to be stored in a memory cell of the memory device.

The test program can be easily implemented as an algorithm on a microcontroller. It can be of very particular advantage if the validity of the position is checked both during initial initialization in production and during reinitialization during operation of a motor vehicle. Depending on the application, it may be of particular advantage if the reinitialization either at regular intervals, or when, in an error case, an initialization loss is detected is performed.

Brief description of the drawings

To further explain the invention, reference is made in the following part of the description to the drawings, in which further advantageous embodiments, details and further developments of the invention can be found. It shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an electromechanical adjusting device with reference to the invention will be explained.

Embodiment of the invention

1 shows a schematic representation of a power-operated window lens lifter, as it is commonly used today in motor vehicles. The inventive method for operating this

Adjusting device is explained in more detail below with reference to this illustration:

The electromechanical adjusting device is indicated in Figure 1 in its entirety by the reference numeral 22. It consists essentially of a control part 1, which is here a motor vehicle window glass 1, which is adjustable by means of the driving force of a motor 2 within an adjustment path 3 (stroke). The engine 2 is through gear 14 and a cable 13th coupled with the window pane 1. The motor 2 is connected to a control line 15 to a control device 4, a microcontroller. To monitor the positioning process, a position sensor 5 is coupled to the drive train, the encoder signals via a line 17 of the

Control device 4 are supplied. The control device 4 comprises the microcontroller 23 with a memory device 19 and is connected to a power supply 16. The program in the microcontroller is u. A. arranged to determine by evaluating the encoder signals blocking when adjusting the window 1 and contains the test program, which is explained in more detail below.

In order to trigger a setting process, an operating element 6 is provided on the control device 4. This control can be a simple push-button. A setting process can be carried out in full operation of the adjusting device 22 in a known manner, either manually or automatically: in manual mode, the window is moved as long as long as you operate the control element 6 manually; in the automatic operating mode, the adjusting movement runs automatically as soon as a predetermined operating interval of the operating element 6 is exceeded.

As indicated in the drawing of Figure 1 top left, the window pane 1 along the adjustment path 3 is adjustable; the maximum possible stroke of the adjusting movement is predetermined by a first (upper) end position 21 and a second (lower) end position 20. The first end position 21 is limited by a mechanical stop 11, the second end position 20 by a mechanical stop 10. In normal operation, the lower stop 10 is not started. The sketched in Figure 1 current position of the Window pane between these two end positions 20 and 21 is indicated by a pointer 12 which corresponds to the upper edge of the pane 1. The maximum adjustment path 3 is stored in the memory 19 of the microcontroller 23.

In the open position 20, the opening in the window frame 18 is completely released from the window pane 1 (pointer 12 points to FIG. 20). In the closed position (pointer 12 points to 21), the opening in the window frame 18 is completely closed by the window pane 1.

As already mentioned, in the case of a motor-driven window regulator in a motor vehicle, a trapping recognition system is provided for safety reasons, which limits the excess force in a predefinable area during a closing operation, so that injury to body parts is prevented by trapping. (In Figure 1, the area 8, in which the excess force is limited (typically about 20 cm) by the reference numeral 8 and the inactive area (inlet in the rubber seal) by the reference numeral 7 is indicated.)

The prerequisite for an intact limitation of the excess force is the knowledge of the actual position of the window pane with respect to the window frame 18. This means that both during manufacture and from time to time during operation, an initialization of the system must be carried out the absolute zero position of the positioning movement is learned and possibly corrected.

If this initialization is faulty, as already mentioned, a positional offset occurs between the position assumed by the control device (4) and the actual position of the window pane 1, which is shown in FIG. 1 as "offset". designated by the reference numeral 9. By this shift, however, the safety of the anti-trap protection is no longer guaranteed in an automatic closing process.

This is where the invention starts by not just one

It also provides certainty as to whether it is valid before a safety-critical automatic operating mode is released to close the window 1.

This positionalization is explained in more detail below:

For this, a reference position to be checked must first be available. It is assumed that this has previously been determined in a manner known per se, e.g. by moving the window glass 1 in a first step by manual operation of the key switch 6 toward the closing position (end position 21), the blocking detection of the control device 4 has detected a blocking of the motor, and this blocking position has been defined as the reference position.

In a second step, the invention checks whether this previously determined reference position is actually valid. This is done by the test procedure according to the invention.

In this case, the window pane 1 is completely opened. This opening is effected in a window lifter meaningful way by a manual user action on the key switch 6, but could also be done automatically. During this opening movement, the blockage detection is active again and it is observed whether a mechanical blockage occurs. If at the end of the opening movement it is clear that no mechanical blocking occurred, then the validity of the previously determined reference position is given. The before Defined reference position corresponds to the actual situation (ie, in the first step, in fact, the upper stop 11 was approached and this position - in accordance with the reality - is correctly considered by the control device as zero movement point).

If, on the other hand, blocking of the motor (stop 10) is detected during opening, the reference position initialized in the first step was incorrect (ie, an obstacle was inadvertently jammed between the door frame 18 and the upper edge of the window pane 1 and this blocking state was erroneously reached by the control device 4 as reaching of stop 11). In this case, the displacement 9 ("offset") marked in FIG. 1 is present. The validity, i. the validity of the reference position is not given here; the

Control device 4 does not release the automatic operating mode for closing. This can not lead to an impairment of the safety function of the adjustment, since a safety-critical, automatically running closing operation on the control element 6 can not be triggered.

The full functionality of the window regulator, i. Manual and automatic mode of operation, is only (again) available when the user by manual operation on the control element 6 first causes a complete closing and then a complete opening of the window, and the reference position determined in the closed position after completion of the

Opening movement of the test program could be validated.

As a result, the position validation ensures that the determined reference position coincides with reality matches. An autonomous closing procedure is only possible after successful validation of the reference position.

The embodiment of the invention shown here is of course possible analogously with the reverse direction. So it can be e.g. also be initialized at the lower end position 20, the reference position for the first time and be validated with the complete closing of the window 1. However, this is unusual, since the accuracy of the upper stop 11 (rubber seal) in a window lifter is more important (test rod 4mm).

Of course, the invention is not limited to automotive adjusting devices for windows or sliding roofs, but also applicable to other safety-critical adjustment.

Claims

claims

1. A method for operating an electromechanical adjusting device, with an actuating part (1), driven by a motor (2), the one

Control device (4) controls, depending on a manual specification on an operating element (6) of the control device (4), between a first end position (21) and a second end position (20) is adjustable, wherein the control device (4) is adapted to From an encoder means (17) of encoder means (5) to accurately detect blocking of an adjustment, each effected by a user action performed on the control element (6), - that the control part (1) by a first to the first end position (21) directed Adjusting movement is adjusted to a position at which a mechanical blocking occurs to determine a reference position, and - that the actuating part (1) by a second

Adjustment movement in the second end position (20) is adjusted to check by means of a control device (4) held test program, the validity of the previously determined reference position, wherein the test program decides depending on the test result, whether an automatic operating mode, in which one on the control (6) triggered adjustment automatically runs, is enabled or disabled.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the test program during this second adjustment a current position information of the control part (1) compares with a Verstellweginformation (3) stored in a memory device (19).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that after reaching the second end position (20) is decided depending on the test result, whether the previously detected reference position is retained or discarded.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that as a donor means (5) a

Position sensor is used and the position signals of this position encoder are used to detect a mechanical lock.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that as a position sensor (5) a single Hall sensor is used, which detects the magnetic field of a mechanically coupled to the motor shaft encoder wheel.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reference position is stored together with a validity characterizing additional information in a memory cell of the memory device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the test program is formed by an executable on a microcontroller (22) program code.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the validity of the position both at the initial initialization in the production as is also checked during re-initialization during operation of the adjustment, the re-initialization either regularly or in case of failure (initialization loss) is performed.

9. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control device (4) is adapted to perform a test procedure by means of which the validity of a previously detected reference position is verifiable, and that depending on the test result, an automatic operating mode the adjusting device, in which one of an operating element (6) of the control device (4) triggered, automatically running movement of the actuating part (1) in a closed position (21), is enabled or disabled.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device (4) includes a microcontroller (23), and that the test procedure is predetermined in the form of an algorithm which is executable on the microcontroller (23).

11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the control device (4)

Position signals of a position sensor (5), which is formed by a single Hall sensor, are supplied.