GB2428652A

GB2428652A - Vehicle Window Operation

Info

Publication number: GB2428652A
Application number: GB0515770A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Trevor Talbot
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2005-08-01
Filing date: 2005-08-01
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0515770D0

Abstract

Automated opening of a vehicle window (2) as a toll booth (4) is approached followed by the automatic return of the window (2) to its original position once the vehicle (1) has driven through the booth is provided. Control of the window (2) may be done in response to a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, imaging device or navigational system.

Description

-I-

Vehicle Window Operation This invention relates to automated operation of vehicle windows.

It is known to provide a driver-operated switch for lowering and raising the windows of a vehicle. Usually the position of the window within the vehicle's door frame is set by the driver holding down the switch until the window has reached the desired position and then releasing it. Some arrangements have a "one-touch" facility whereby pressing and then immediately releasing the switch will lower (or raise) the window to its fullest extent.

Neither of these known arrangements is convenient when approaching and leaving tollbooths, for example.

In this type of situation, the driver must fully open his/her window whilst searching for coins for payment, then on leaving the toll booth, raise the window to its former position whilst merging with traffic.

Hence an arrangement which would ease the driver's burden in the above situation would be advantageous.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises, a vehicle including; vehicle location determining means, a movable window mounted within a door frame of the vehicle, a motor for driving the movable window upwards and downwards within the door frame, monitoring means for monitoring the position of the movable window within the door frame, and, operating means for supplying a drive signal to the motor and being responsive to a signal from the vehicle location determining means.

In one embodiment, the vehicle location determining means includes a manual switch and a vehicle speed sensor. In this particular example, the driver may operate the manual switch when a toll booth is approached, whereupon the window is fully opened to facilitate payment. When the vehicle leaves the booth and reaches a predetermined speed, the speed sensor can initiate the return of the window to its original position.

In an alternative embodiment the vehicle location determining means comprises an imaging device. Such a device may be a visual or RF or ultrasonic device. The operating means may then be configured to compare the image of the area infront of or behind the vehicle (said image being provided by the imaging device) with stored data thereby determining if the vehicle is in the vicinity of a tollbooth, for example.

In a further embodiment, the vehicle location determining means includes a vehicle speed sensor and an imaging device.

In a further embodiment, the vehicle location determining means includes a Global Positioning System.

In a further embodiment, the location determining means includes a vehicle speed sensor and a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter associated with a toll booth, for example.

The monitoring means may include Hall effect switches and means for counting pulses generated by the switches as the motor is actuated.

In one example, The motor is an electric motor and the monitoring means includes means for measuring the power consumed by said motor, means for measuring the time for which the motor is actuated and means for computing a distance travelled by the movable window from said power and time measurements.

The means for monitoring the position of the movable window and the operating means may be combined into a single module.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings of which, Fig 1. is a sketch showing a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention approaching a toll booth, Fig 2. is a block diagram of components in accordance with a first embodiment and Fig 3. is a block diagram of components in accordance with a second embodiment.

With reference to Figs I and 2; a vehicle I which is fitted with a movable window 2 mounted within a door frame 3 is shown approaching a toll booth 4 and barrier 5.

The vehicle I is further provided with an electric motor 6, which drives a conventional window winding mechanism 7. A window position sensor 8 has an input connected to the electric motor 6 and an output, which is connected to a motor controller 9. The motor controller 9 has three inputs, one from a driver-operated utoll booth" switch 10, another from a vehicle speed sensor 11 and a third from a conventional window open/close switch 12 which the driver operates as normal.

The operation of the first embodiment is as follows.

As the driver operates the conventional window open/close switch 12, the motor controller 9, in response, causes the motor 6 to drive the window 2 upwards or downwards according to the driver's manual commands.

The window position sensor 8 constantly monitors the position of the window 2 within the doorframe 3 as the driver operates the window open/close switch 12. The window position sensor 8 does this by monitoring the power consumed by the motor 6 whilst the motor 6 is running, monitoring the direction of rotation of the motor 6 during its operation (i.e. to determine whether the window is moving up or down) and measuring the duration of operation of the motor 6. Knowing the properties of the motor 6 and of the winding mechanism 7, the position sensor 8 is able to calculate the speed of movement of the window 2 then, from the calculated speed value and measurement of duration of operation, the window's position can be determined by the position sensor 8.

The relationship between power consumed and motor speed (and therefore calculated window position) will have some dependence on the resistance of the motor windings, which in turn, will vary with temperature. This temperature dependence can be compensated by measuring the initial current spike when the motor 6 is first powered up but not yet moving. This will enable an instantaneous measurement of resistance in the motor windings. The compensation process is performed by the window position sensor 8.

Hence the position of the window 2 within the doorframe 3 is known as the vehicle travels towards the toll booth 4. -5.-

As the vehicle 1 approaches the toll booth 4 and barrier 5, the driver responds to this by pressing the tollbooth switch 10 and slowing the vehicle.

The motor controller 9 registers the depression of the switch 10 and interrogates the window position sensor 8 and the vehicle speed sensor 11 for the current window position and vehicle speed, respectively. The controller 9 continues to monitor vehicle speed until the speed reaches a first pre-determined, set value, say 5 miles per hour (8kph). At this point, the controller 9 sends a signal to the electric motor 6 causing it to wind the window 2 all the way down.

Now as the vehicle arrives at the booth, the window 2 is fully lowered, facilitating the payment process, after which the vehicle proceeds through the tollgate and accelerates back up to a cruising speed.

As the vehicle speed increases the motor controller 9 continues to monitor the speed until it reaches a second, set predetermined value, say 15 miles per hour (24kmh), whereupon the controller 9 sends a signal to the motor 6 causing it to raise the window to its previous position.(i.e. its position at the time when the driver pressed the switch 10) This position could be fully closed or partially open. Hence, the window is restored to its previous position without further action from the driver whose attention can be given solely to merging in with the traffic flow. If the driver so wishes, however, he/she can override the vehicle speed sensor's control of the window's operation by operating the open/close switch 12.

A second embodiment will now be described with reference to figs I and 3.

In this embodiment a window winding mechanism 13 is controlled by an electric motor 14 in a manner similar to that described with reference to fig 2. Also in common with the first embodiment, a window position sensor 15 monitors operation of the motor 14 and provides an indication of the window's position to a motor controller 16.

In contrast with the first embodiment however, a forward looking camera 17 and a rearward looking camera 18 provide inputs to the controller 16 and the toll booth switch of the first embodiment is dispensed with.

Each of the two cameras is mounted in (or on) the vehicle I and between them provide an image of the road ahead and behind the vehicle 1. The motor controller 16 has stored images of features, which distinguish a tollbooth and barrier from other typical road scenes.

Also provided is a conventional driver-operated window open/close switch 19 connected to the motor controller 16.

In operation, the window position sensor 15 constantly monitors the position of the window within the doorframe 3 as the driver operates the window open/close switch 19.

In this example, the electric motor 14 is provided with Hall effect switches and the position sensor 15 is configured to count the pulses generated by the switches as the motor rotates to raise of lower the window 2.

Hence the position of the window 2 within the door frame 3 is know as the vehicle I travels towards the toll booth 4.

The fact that the vehicle I is approaching the tollbooth 4 is automatically detected by the operation of the forward - looking camera 17 in conjunction with the motor controller 16. The controller receives the imaged scene of the road ahead from the forward-looking camera 17 and compares this image with stored data. On matching up the image of the toll booth ahead with the appropriate stored data, the controller sends a signal to the electric motor 14 to cause the motor 14 lower the window to its fullest extent.

As the vehicle I leaves the toll booth area, the motor controller 16 will be cognizant of this fact by making a comparison between the image (of the toll booth) from the rearward looking camera 18 and stored data. At this point the motor controller 16 sends a signal to the electric motor 14 to cause the motor 14 to move the window to back to its original position, as it was when the toll booth was approached.

In both the embodiments described above, the window position sensor is configured to always keep track of where the window is and then return the window to its original position once the vehicle has driven through the toll gate.

In an alternative arrangement, the position sensor is configured to measure the travel down to the motor stall position and then to raise the window by the same travel distance, up to its original position It will be understood that further embodiments comprising a combination of a speed sensor with a camera or other type of imaging device are possible. For example, a forward-looking imager could be employed to instigate the towering of the window, and a vehicle speed sensor to instigate the return of the window to its original position.

A further automated arrangement can be realised using navigation systems, e.g. a Global Positioning System. (on board the vehicle) for determining the vehicle's location with respect to a tollbooth.

In another alternative embodiment, the vehicle is provided with a receiver 19 (see Fig. 1) which is receptive to a signal emitted from a transmitter associated with the toll booth 4. In this case, when the signal is received, the receiver 19 sends a signal to the motor controller which instigates full opening of the window. On leaving the toll booth, a vehicle speed sensor controls the point at which the window is raised to its original position.

Claims

1. A vehicle including; vehicle location determining means, a movable window mounted within a door frame of the vehicle, a motor for driving the movable window upwards and downwards within the door frame, monitoring means for monitoring the position of the movable window within the door frame, and, operating means for supplying a drive signal to the motor and being responsive to a signal from the vehicle location determining means.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim I in which the vehicle location determining means includes a manual switch and a vehicle speed sensor.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim I in which the vehicle location determining means includes an imaging device.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim I in which the vehicle location determining means includes a vehicle speed sensor and an imaging device.

5. A vehicle as claimed in daim I in which the vehicle location determining means includes a Global Positioning System.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim I in which the vehicle location determining means includes a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means includes Hall effect switches and means for counting pulses generated by the switches as the motor is actuated.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims I to 6 in which the motor is an electric motor and in which the monitoring means includes means for measuring the power consumed by said motor, means for measuring the time for which the motor is actuated and means for computing a distance travelled by the movable window from said power and time measurements.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the operating means contains stored data and is adapted to compare said stored data with an image provided by said imaging device.

10. A vehicle substantially as hereinfore described with reference to the drawings.