GB2319294A

GB2319294A - Vehicle window:safety control

Info

Publication number: GB2319294A
Application number: GB9802394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norbert Heller; Klaus Hanndorf; Alfons Stockschlager
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-18
Filing date: 1994-10-14
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-14
Also published as: GB9420806D0; GB2282848B; GB2319294B; GB2282848A; GB9802394D0

Abstract

A window glass in a motor vehicle body door is slidable in a vertical direction within a window frame by means of an electric motor (34) controlled by "up" and "down" switches (36,40). The window glass slides with reference to a window guide channel (11). The window guide channel has a lip of flexible plastics or rubber material extending along its length adjacent the mouth of the window channel and carrying an embedded electrical conductor which forms one plate of a capacitor in the tuned circuit of an oscillator (28) in a control unit (20), the conductor being connected to the oscillator (28) by a line (30). If a human hand, or other part of the human body, is present within the window opening and is raised by the closing window glass into contact with the flexible lip adjacent the mouth of the window channel (11), the embedded conductive member will move and change the output frequency of the oscillator (28) to stop the motor.

Description

MOVABLE-WINDOW SAFETY DEVICE The invention relates to a system for controlling a power-driven window movable in a window opening between closed and open positions.

One such system is shown, for example, in French patent specification No. 2,098,871. In this system, for controlling a power-driven window in a motor vehicle, an electrical conductor is incorporated into insulating material and mounted on or around the frame of the window. The conductor is connected to the nongrounded terminal of the vehicle's electrical battery so as to produce a difference .n potential between that conductor and the remainder of the vehicle's body. An electrical capacitor is thus produced such that the entry of a part of the human body into the window opening alters the dielectric of the capacitor. This may be detected by a Wheatstone bridge circuit and stops the movement of the window glass.

An object of the invention, however, is to produce a system with greater sensitivity to the detection of the presence of a part of the human body (or other object), but also with the possibility of being less sensitive to the effects of ambient conditions.

According to the invention, there is provided a system for controlling a power-driven window glass movable in a window opening between closed and opened positions, comprising means defining a frame for the window opening, a window channel incorporating flexible material and mounted on the frame for receiving an edge of the window glass as it is driven into the closed position, an electrically conductive member flexibly supported adjacent to the window channel so as to be moved by direct or indirect contact with part of the human bqdy or other object which is moved towards the window channel by the closing window glass, an electrical oscillator producing an oscillating output and having a tuned circuit in which is connected the electrically conductive member such that movement thereof produces a change in frequency of the oscillating output, detecting means responsive to the change in the frequency of the oscillating output to produce an output signal, and output means responsive to the output signal for interrupting movement of the window glass towards the closed position.

Safety systems for interrupting the movement of a power-driven window glass in a motor vehicle, to prevent human injury, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a cross-section through a window channel in one of the systems; and Figure 3 is a block circuit diagram of one of the systems.

Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 5 having a front door 6 with a power-driven window glass 8 which is shown cross-hatched for clarity. The power-driven window glass 8 is raised and lowered by means of a suitable motor, normally an electric motor1 under the control of switches positioned within the vehicle for use by the driver or passenger. All or some of the other side window glasses in the vehicle may also be power-driven.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the top 10C of the window frame, showing, also, the window channel 11 mounted in position.

The window channel 11 is made from plastics or rubber material and has a portion 60 which is clipped into the window frame 10C and holds the window channel in position. In addition, it has lips (one referenced at 62) which contact the rising window glass 8. The window channel 11 Incorporates a U-shaped carrier 14 for helping to hold the window channel on the window frame 10C.

The Figure also shows parts of the body panels 72 and 74 where they meet at the frame surrounding the door opening so as to define a flange 76. A door seal 78 incorporates a channel-shaped gripping part which embracingly grips the flange 76 and supports a sealing part 80 which is sealingly contacted by the frame 10C when the door closes.

As shown in Figure 2, the extruded material defining one side of the channel in which the rising window glass 8 enters is extended to form a flexible lip 100 incorporating a metal carrier or conductor 102. This may be in the form of a metal strip, possibly apertured or slotted to increase its flexibility.

Instead, however, a metal wire could be used.

The lip 100 is so positioned in relation to the window glass 8 that a human hand or other human body part on the rising edge of the window glass 8 will make contact with the lip 100 as the window glass rises to the closed position, and will alter the position of the lip 100 because of the latter's flexibility.

The system now to be described in more detail with reference to Figure 3 is for automatically stopping upward movement of the window glass 8 if the driver or passenger, or someone outside the vehicle, should inadvertently place a hand or other body part within the gap between the upper edge of the window glass and the top of the window frame 10C. As explained in connection with Figure 2, any such body part will, as the window glass 8 moves into the closing position, make contact with and alter the position of the lip 100. In a manner to be explained with reference to Figure 5, the system automatically responds to such movement of the lip 100 by stopping upward movement of the window glass, by disconnecting energisation of the motor, before the hand or other body part becomes injured by being trapped between the top edge of the glass and the window frame 10C.

As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle carries a control unit 20 which is supplied with electrical power on lines 22 and 24 from the vehicle's battery 26. The control unit 20 includes an oscillator 28 having a capacitor (not separately shown) forming part of its tuned circuit. One plate of this capacitor is constituted by the conductor 102 embedded in the lip 100 (Figure 2), and a line 30 (Figure 3) connects conductor 102 to the oscillator 28.

Figure 3 also shows the circuit for energising the electric motor 34 for raising and lowering the window glass 8. The motor 34 is energised by means of an "up" switch 36 which is positioned for use by the driver or passenger. When the switch 36 is closed, the motor 34 is electrically energised through a further switch 38 forming part of the control unit 20. Switch 38 is normally closed. Closure of switch 36 therefore energises the motor 34, and the window glass thus begins to move upwards.

A second switch 40 is provided for the driver or passenger, and is used for causing the motor 34 to lower the window glass. The output of switch 40 is connected directly to the motor 34 and not via the normally-ciosed switch 38.

Oscillator 28 is connected to a detecting unit 42 which detects changes in frequency of the oscillator 28. When at least a predetermined a frequency change is detected, detecting unit 42 produces a control signal which is used to open switch 38.

When the system is energised in the manner described, the window glass can be moved upwardly and downwardly by appropriate operation of the switches 36 and 40. In the normal position of the lip 100 (that is, when not contacted by any external object such as a human hand or other body part), the capacitance in the tuned circuit of the oscillator 28 is such that its output frequency does not activate the detecting unit 42, and the motor 34 operates normally.

However, when a human hand or other human body part or object is carried by the rising edge of the window glass 8 and makes contact with the lip 100, the position of the lip 100 is altered because of its flexibility. The consequent movement of the metal conductor 102 will cause a significant change in the capacitance in the tuned circuit of the oscillator 28. An abrupt and significant change in the oscillator frequency will therefore take place and this will be detected by the detecting unit 42 which responds by opening the switch 38.

Electrical supply to motor 34 is thus interrupted and the motor stops. Upward movement of the glass ceases and injury to the hand or other body part is prevented.

The control unit 2G may incorporate a reversing unit 46 which responds to the output from detector 42 by providing an output on a line 48 whIch reverses the motor 34, so as to cause it to lower the window glass.

The system described is advantageous in that the change in the oscillator output frequency, in response to the human hand or other body part, can be substantial and easy to detect.

The system is also advantageous in that it requires only a single electrical connection and requires little or no modification to the window arrangement. Existing vehicles can be easily modified. There are no wearing parts. Most forms of existing window guide channel can be adapted for use in the system. The system is robust and needs no extra space and can be inexpensive.

The other power driven windows of the vehicle may be controlled in the same way.

The system described may of course be used to control horizontally slidable power-driven windows instead. It may also be used to control angularly movable power-driven windows.

Reference is made to application No. 9420806.3 (Serial No.

2282848) from which this application is divided.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a power-driven window glass movable in a window opening between closed and opened positions, comprising means defining a frame for the window opening, a window channel incorporating flexible material and mounted on the frame for receiving an edge of the window glass as it is driven into the closed position, an electrically conductive member flexibly supported adjacent to the window channel so as to be moved by direct or indirect contact with part of the human body or other object which is moved towards the window channel by the closing window glass, an electrical oscillator producing an oscillating output and having a tuned circuit in which is connected the electrically conductive member such that movement thereof produces a change in frequency of the oscillating output, detecting means responsive to the change in the frequency of the oscillating output to produce an output signal, and output means responsive to the output signal for interrupting movement of the window glass towards the closed position.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which the e'ectrica'ly conductive member is embedded in flexible plastics or rubber material.

3. A system according to claim 2, in which the plastics or rubber material forms a lip extending along the length of the window channel adjacent the mouth thereof.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, in which the window is mounted within the door of a motor vehicle and in which the frame for the window opening comprises a frame for the door opening.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, in which the window glass is driven by an electric motor and the output means comprises a switch for interrupting energisation of the motor.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, in which the output means includes means responsive to the output signal for causing the window glass to reverse and to move towards the open position.

7. A system for controlling a power-driven window glass, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.