US3513374A - Car window safety circuit - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1.97() E33,v K|v|Er-rrl .13,513,374

` CAR .WINDOW SAFETY CIRcUIT 1 l Filed sepial 5, 1968 CAR WINDOW ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,513,374 CAR WINDOW SAFETY CIRCUIT Edward J. Koment, Franklin Lakes, NJ. (60 Harrison Ave., Waldwick, NJ. 07463) Filed Sept. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 760,115 Int. Cl. H02p 1/22 U.S. Cl. 318-266 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A circuit of transistor elements interconnected to provide a safety sensing overload circuit which controls a timing and a motor reversing circuit for operating car windows and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The circuit of the invention, in general, comprises a manually operated switch, transistor circuit, means for energizing an electric'circuit and motor means for raising and lowering a car window means having upper and lower cut-off switch means for ordinary operation of said car window means, and overload sensing and timing circuit means to reverse the Window travel should it strike an object in its upward travel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a schematic circuit showing of the invention implemented -by interconnected upper and lower manual directional operational switches for open and closed positions of the car window by energized motor means, and transistorized sensing and timing overload circuits to actuate a relay means including contacts for reversing the electric motor to lower the window should it reistively strike an object such as a childs head or the like in its upward travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the exemplary car window 22 of car door 20 is connected by conventional means 26 to motor 28 which is interconnected by circuit and suitable switch means to battery 40 or other suitable power means, as shown and hereinafter described. Switch interrupter 24 of window 22 contacts upper limit switch ULSW to open same when the window is closed on its upward travel, and contactor means 24 opens the DLSW switch when car window 22 is fully opened. SW1 of the circuit is manually closed on the up contact 41 to actuate motor 28 and close window 22. Likewise, SW1 is manually closed on down contact 42 to close window 22. One of the novelsafety features of this safety sensing and timing circuit is that, should window 22 on its upward travel contact an object like a childs head, the window will go back down to a predetermined level or fully opened as hereinafter explained, even if switch SW1 is manually held closed in the up position.

Applicants novel circuit includes an up limit switch and an optional down limit switch and additionally comprises, in general, relay RL1; grounds G1, G2, G4 and Patented May 19, 1970 ICC G5; capacitors C1 land C2; resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12 and R13; conventional diode-rectiers D1, D2, D3 and D4 (1N3l93); transistors Q1 and Q4 of a conventional switching type (2N3904), transistors Q3 and Q5 also of a conventional switching type (2N3906), and uni-junction transistor Q2 used for timing circuits (2N2160), all elements being functionally interconnected in the circuit as shown in the drawing and hereinafter described.

Applicants new circuit can be built in part or entirely in the form of an integrated circuit to conserve space and to reduce cost of production and labor installation of same. A broad dedfinition of an integrated circuit is defined 'as a chip or module, with all components of the circuit such as resistors, capacitors, transistors or other electronic components enclosed in such module, capsule or similar small device or type of packaging of assembled electronic circuits and parts.

The term Ibias or biasing means, as used in this application, means in general, the voltage applied to a transistor to bring it to a state necessary for proper circuit operation.

Referring more specifically to motor 28, this motor has conventional field windings (not shown) to operate by gear means 26, the car window 22 in the closed position or open position of window 22, as hereinafter described.

Referring more specifically to relay means RL1, this relay is comprised of energizing coil 60, armature 50 interconnected to switches 1, 2 and 3 and switch contacts 52, 54, 56 and 58 as shown in the drawing when relay coil 60 is not energized, and as hereinafter explained when relay RL1 is energized. Coil 60 is also in parallel with diode D2 in this circuit to protect Q1 during the novel operation of this circuit and oar window 22.

Applicants new circuit is additionally comprised of a timing pulse circuit, a voltage sensing circuit and a current sensing circuit, as hereinafter described.

Applicants timing pulse circuit is comprised, in general, of diode D1 connected to connection 81, lead 90. resistor R1, transistor Q2, R2, R3, capacitor C1, R4, diode D2, coil 60, Q1 and lead 64 as shown in the drawing. Transistor Q2 is a uni-junction transistor and is comprised of lbases B1 and B2 and emitter E as shown in the above circuit.

In applicants timing pulse circuit, resistor R1 is used for temperature stabilization; resistors R2 and R3 and capacitor C1 is used for timing in this circuit; diode D2 protects transistor Q1 which controls operation of relay RL1; and uni-junction transistor Q2 is used for pulse timing signal by lead 64 connected to the voltage sensor circuit, as hereinafter described.

Applicants voltage sensing circuit is comprised, in general, of lead 64, resistance R5, lead 68, transistor Q5, lead 70, Q4, lead `66 connected to ground G1 and R7 which is interconnected to R6 as shown in the drawing.

Applicants current sensing circuit, in general is comprised of relay operated switch 2 with contacts 54 and 56 interconnected to lead 76 and R13, respectively, and R8 interconnected to R9 and R10 and ground G4, transistor Q3, lead 74 and R11 which is connected to diode D3 and R12 connected to ground G2. Transistor Q3 is connected by C2 to ground G5 and lead 72 and resistance R6 to the above sensing circuit. Lead 78 is connected to car window upper limit switch L.SW1 as shown in the drawing.

In the above circuits diode D3 acts as a temperature compensator, resistance R10 acts as a current sensor for total current flow, resistance R11 acts as a threshold bias for transistor Q3; resistance R12 acts also as a bias for transistor Q3. Resistance R6 couples the signal from the current sensor circuit to the voltage sensor circuit. Capacitance C2 is used to prevent initial current 3 surge at the starting flow from triggering the circuit operation of the current sensor circuit.

Resistances R8 and R9 are used for biasing and stabilizing the current sensor circuit above.

In the current sensing circuit resistance R13 is used as a feed back means to prevent capacitance C2 from being rapidly discharged which keeps relay RL1 operating and the car window 22 going downwardly for a predetermined time after it has contacted an object on its upward travel, even if manual switch SW1 is held closed on up contact 41, thus affecting a novel safety feature of this circuit.

Leads 100 and 101 may be optionally connected to the energized circuit of an alarm such as a buzzer, bell, lamp or the like (not shown) as desired, to switch 1 and contact 52, which is operated by armature 50 of relay RL1 which actuates the alarm after car window 22 has struck an object on its upward travel to give an audible or visual alarm -or safety signal to the operator of car window 22.

The above circuit is properly grounded at points G1, G2, G3, G4, G and G6 as shown in the drawing and understood by those skilled in the art.

Lead 84 connects contact 42 of manual switch SW1 to diode D1 which is connected to junction 81 of the above timing circuit. Contact 42 is also operatively connected by lead 80 to lower limit switch L.SW2 for downward travel of car window 22. However, down limit switch is not essential, because the down operation of the motor 28 will cease (if the circuit was not automatically operated by excess strain lon the windows) by the timing circuit.

OPERATION OF PULSING, VOLTAGE SENSING AND CURRENT SENSING CIRCUITS Refering to the voltage sensing circuit, when there is no signal from the current circuit on lead 72, the voltage sensing circuit `operates like an open switch. When the voltage sensing circuit receives a signal from the current sensor R by lead 72 and resistance R6 of the current sensing circuit, transistors Q4 and Q5 turn on. If this signal is removed, Q4 and Q5 remain conducting due to the fact that each of these transistors holds the other forward biased, and on (conducting) they will remain on, until lead 64 has an interruption of power. This interruption of power occurs because of the performance of unijunction transistor Q2. When capacitor C1 -of the pulsing circuit charges to the firing voltage of transistor Q2, Q2 ires (shorts) and turns olf transistor Q1. Q1 is turned off momentarily which drops out relay RL1 and opens switch 3 from its contact 58. To insure that relay RL1 does become de-energized, transistor Q4 and Q5 also turn olf due to the interruption of power.

UPPER OPERATION OF CAR WINDOW AND CIRCUIT Moving manual switch SW1 to contact 41 will cause current from battery 40 to flow through switch 2, contact 54, lead 76 resistance R10 and lead 78 to window upper limit switch L.SW1 and energize motor 28 to raise by gear means 26 car window 22 until contactor 24 opens the contacts of switch LSWI to stop the travel of window 22 upward.

Under normal conditions, the window will move to the full up position and stop when the up limit switch is opened by the window mechanism 24. Also under normal conditions, the voltage drop across R10 is very low, less than .5 volt. Should the window meet an obstruction, an excess amount of voltage (.5 v. or more) will develop across resistance R10. When this happens the values of resistances, R11, R12, R9, R10, R8 and diode D3 are so selected as to cause transistor Q3 to conduct, and cause capacitor C2 to develop a voltage across it. Initially transistors Q4 and Q5 are in the nonconducting state, but when the voltage across capacitor C2 increases, the values of R6 and R7 are so selected to turn on transistors Q4 and QS. Q4 and Q5 remain turned on (conducting) even when the starting signal is removed, due to the regenerative biasing on the circuit. Essentially then, Q1 emitter is nearly at ground potential. Transistor Q1 is normally in the conducting state, and when the emitter is essentially brought to ground through Q4 and Q5, the relay RL1 will pick up or (energize). The relay contacts will now move by armature 50, and switch 1 will operate an optional alarm if desired, switch 2 will remove power to the up winding of the motor, and if switch SW1 is manually held closed on contact 41 it will apply power to R13 and then to capacitor C2, also switch 3 will close (remembering all contacts of RL1 transfer at once by armature 50) and supply power to `RL1 by diode D1 and also apply power to the down winding of the motor to operate car window 22.

If resistance R10 has excess voltage (meaning the motor was stalling) transistor Q3 would energize which would send a signal to transistors Q4 and Q5 which would energize and then RL1 would energize to close contact 58 of switch 3. Also switch 3 would send power to the down winding of motor 28, and switch 1 would energize an optional alarm, also switch 2 would Amove from 54 to 56 when RL1 is energized.

DOWNWARD OPERATION OF CAR WINDOW AND CIRCUIT If switch SW1 is manually closed on contact 42, car window 22 will travel downward until contactor 24 reaches and opens the contacts of lower limit switch L.SW2, or if SW1 is removed from 42, or the window will stop after a pre-determined time if the circuit was operated automatically by the current sensor. Assuming operation was automatic capacitor C1 is now charging slowly by resistors R2, R3 and when the firing point of transistor Q2 is reached, the resistance between the emitter of Q2 and the base contacts of Q2 is very low, and causes Q1 to become reverse biased, causing a brief (open) or non-conducting period of time of Q1, which causes RL1 to de-energize, and transistors Q4 and Q5 to return to their original state of non-conducting.

Should switch SW1 be manually closed on up contact 41, the circuit will cycle, and the window 22 will remain down (or continue going down if the window is not yet fully down) due to the voltage developed across capacitor C2 and due to the resistance value of R13 in the circuit after hitting an object on the way up.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved car window safety operating means and new actuating circuitry therefor which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept as obtain within the purview of this invention as desired by those skilled in the art without departing therefrom. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

In some types of vehicles there may have to be a slight variation of circuit operation and construction due to electrical and mechanical variations of said vehicles all of whch should come within the scope and spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a direct current motor operated car window or the like, a transistorized safety circuit means comprising a car window, an energized power and motor reversing circuit means including motor and gear means operatively connected to said window, a timing pulse circuit, a voltage sensing circuit operably connected to said timing pulse circuit, a current sensing overload circuit operably connected to said voltage sensing circuit, and relay circuit means selectively cooperating with said circuits and motor to automatically reverse said motor should the car window strike an object on its upward travel.

2. A transistor safety circuit means as in claim 1, wherein said timing pulse circuit comprises a rst unijunction transistor, a second transistor, said first transistor having one base connected by resistance means to a first diode means of said motor circuit, an emitter of said first transistor connected in series with a resistance connected to said first diode means and connected to a capacitance having its positive terminal connected in series with a resistance connected to said first diode means and connected to the base terminal of said second transistor, said second transistor having an emitter connected to a second base terminal of said unijunction transistor and an output terminal, and a collector terminal of said second transistor being connected in series with a second diode and energizing coil of a relay means interconnected to said first diode means.

3. A transistorized safety circuit means as in claim 1,

wherein said voltage sensing circuit comprises a third transistor having a collector terminal connected by resistance means to the output of said timing pulse circuit and the base terminal of a fourth transistor, said third transistor having an emitter terminal connected to a ground and by resistance means to the collector terminal of said fourth transistor and connected to an output terminal connected to said current sensing circuit, said emitter of said fourth transistor being interconnected to said output of said timing pulse circuit and connected by resistance means to the collector terminal of said third transistor.

4. A transistorized safety circuit means as in claim 1 wherein said current sensing circuit comprises an input from said motor circuit selectively operated by switch means connected to the armature of said relay means, said switch means having a first contact and a second Contact, said first contact being connected to a variable resistance sensor means connected in series to the up winding of said motor circuit, a fifth transistor having its base terminal connected in series by resistive means to said motor up winding and connected to ground, said fifth transistor also having an emitter terminal connected by resistance to ground, said fifth transistor having a collector terminal connected in series to said second contact of said switch, connected by a feedback resistance to said voltage sensing circuit and connected by capacitance to ground.

5. A transistorized safety circuit means as in claim l, wherein said motor circuit comprises a direct current source of energy connected by manual operated switch means to the up winding of the motor and down winding of the motor and inter-connected by switch means operated by the armature of said relay in said safety circuits for selective operation of a car window or the like and having upper and lower limit switch means for selectively obtaining a closed or open position of said window.

`6. A combination as in claim 5, wherein said safety circuit includes -a command circuit and means for operating an energized alarm circuit should said car window strike an object on its upward travel after a manual closing of a command circuit switch.

7. In combination with a direct current motor operated car window or the like, a car door and window means, a motor and gear means connected to said window, a transistorized safety circuit means comprising an energized power and motor reversing circuit means, a timing pulse circuit having an output, a voltage sensing circuit operably connected to the output of said timing pulse circuit, a current sensing circuit operably connected to said voltage sensing circuit, and relay circuit means selectively cooperating with said circuits and motor to automatically reverse said motor should the car window strike an object on its upward travel, gear means operatively interconnecting said motor to said car window, said motor circuit comprising a direct current source of energy connected by manual operated switch to the up winding of the motor and down winding of the motor and interconnected by switch means operated by the armature of said relay in said safety circuits for selective operation of a car window or the like and having upper and lower limit switch means for selectively obtaining a closed or open position of said window during free travel thereof.

8. A safety circuit means as in claim 7, wherein said timing pulse circuit comprises a first uni-junction transistor, a second transistor, said uni-junction transistor having one base connected by resistance means to a first diode means of said motor circuit, an emitter of said first transistor connected in series with a resistance connected to said first diode means and connected to a capacitance having its positive terminal connected in series with a resistance connected to said first diode means and connected to the base terminal of a said second transistor, said second transistor having an emitter connected to a second base terminal of said uni-junction transistor and an output terminal, and a collector terminal of said second transistor being connected in series with a second diode and energizing coil of a relay means interconnected to said first diode means.

9. A safety circuit means as in claim 8 wherein, said voltage sensing circuit comprises a third transistor having a collector terminal connected by resistance means to the output of said timing pulse circuit and the base terminal of a fourth transistor, said third transistor having an emitter terminal connected in series to a ground and by resistance means to the collector terminal of said fourth transistor and connected to an output terminal connected to said current censing circuit, said emitter of said fourth transistor being interconnected to said output of said timing pulse circuit and connected by resistance means to the collector terminal of said third transistor.

10. A safety circuit means as in claim 9, wherein said current sensing circuit comprises an input from said motor circuit selectively operated by switch means connected to the armature of said relay means, said switch means having a first contact and a second contact, said first contact being connected to a variable resistance sensor means connected in series to the up winding of said motor circuit, a fth transistor having its base terminal connected in series by resistive means to said motor up winding and connected to ground, said fifth transistor also having an emitter terminal connected by resistance to ground, said fifth transistor having a collector terminal connected in series to said second contact of said switch, connected by a feedback resistance to said voltage sensing circuit and connected by capacitance to ground.

11. A combination as in claim 7, wherein said safety circuit includes selective operating means to operate an energized auxiliary alarm circuit should said safety circuit overload due to said window contacting an object on its upward travel.

12. A combination of claim 1, wherein said safety circuit may be constructed as an integrated circuit, or as a micro-circuit and encapsulated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,219 6/1956 Dodge 318-266 2,756,990 7/ 1956 Reamey B18-286 2,887,311 5/1959 Klamp 318-266 3,296,513 1/1967 Morton 318-286 yORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner K. L. CROSSON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 3l8-286, 476

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