WO2004022895A1

WO2004022895A1 - One-touch open/close system for power windows, partitions and roof panels

Info

Publication number: WO2004022895A1
Application number: PCT/CA2003/001299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clarke G. Oberheide
Original assignee: Intier Automotive Closures Inc.
Priority date: 2002-09-05
Filing date: 2003-09-05
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Also published as: AU2003264197A1

Abstract

An anti-pinch system controls the operation of a vehicle closure panel. The closure panel is movable through a frame between an open position providing access through the frame and a closed position closing the opening. A drive moves the closure panel between the open position and the closed position. A pneumatic sensor extends along the frame. The system includes a control unit electrically connected to the drive and the sensor to stop the closure panel moving towards the closed position to prevent the object from being trapped between the frame and the closure panel. The pneumatic sensor has a micro-leakage path allowing the sensor to vent to atmospheric compensating for temperature and pressure variations, while still enabling the sensor to detect transitory changes in pressure within the channel and thereby detect objects trapped in the path of the closure panel.

Description

One-Touch Open/Close System For Power Windows, Partitions and Roof Panels

1. Field Of The Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a system for controlling a movable closure panel for a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to a system incorporating a pneumatic sensor to provide anti-pinch control to a window, door, liftgate or a roof panel of a motor vehicle.

2. Description Of The Related Art

[0002] Motor vehicles employ power systems to move sliding doors, windows, liftgates, roof panels and the like between open and closed positions. The closure panels have the potential of trapping or pinching obstructions that may be in the path of the closure panel as it closes. Anti-trapping protocols have been designed that are expensive and cumbersome to employ.

[0003] The closing mode of a closure panel is actuated by the continuous depression of the closure panel's operating switch. Continuous activation by the user meets the first level of North American safety standards and thus does not require an anti-trap control. Conversely, the convenience of the "one-touch close" mode is, by definition, initiated and sustained by only a momentary depression of the switch. This mode lacks active participation and is required to have an anti-trap protection control to prevent undesirable consequences. Federal regulations require that an anti-trap protection control be used to detect semi-rigid obstacles and limit squeezing forces to less than 100 Newtons, and reversing the closure panel to free the entrapment of the obstacle.

[0004] Current methods of control and anti-trap protection are relatively expensive, limiting high-volume application. Memory adaptive controllers, PWM motor drivers, and expensive anti-trap sensors currently contribute to the high cost. In addition, these systems include sensors that require complete compression before they produce signals to be sent to their respective controllers. This creates a discomfort if a foreign object is a body limb because there will always be a time lag between the signal sensing and the cessation of movement of the closure panel. And, if there is no more compression in the sensor, the only compression that will provide for the lag time in cessation is the compression in the object, which is painful if it is a body limb.

[0005] United States Patent 4,773,183 discloses a contact sensitive control apparatus that includes a hollow tube that extends around an opening for detecting when an object is caught between the frame of the opening and the closure panel. In the second embodiment thereof, a valve has a flap that opens and closes the valve allowing the hollow tube to reach atmospheric pressure. This design is faulty in that it requires a mechanical valve to ensure atmospheric pressure is attained. Should the valve fail, the system may become desensitized and allow a pinch of a foreign object to occur. In addition, this system utilizes a complex and costly mechanism to test the hollow tube to ensure the system is working properly. The whole mechanism fails to appropriately test the hollow tube as it operates to determine whether the system is working.

Summary Of The Invention

[0006] An anti-pinch system controls the operation of a vehicle closure panel.

The closure panel is movable through a frame between an open position providing access through the frame and a closed position closing the opening. A drive moves the closure panel between the open position and the closed position. A pneumatic sensor extends along the frame. The system includes a control unit electrically connected to the drive and the sensor to stop the closure panel moving towards the closed position to prevent the object from being trapped between the frame and the closure panel. The pneumatic sensor has a micro-leakage path allowing the sensor to vent to atmospheric compensating for temperature and pressure variations, while still enabling the sensor to detect transitory changes in pressure within the channel and thereby detect objects trapped in the path of the closure panel.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

[0007] Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a closure panel with an obstacle extending through the frame thereof;

[0009] Figure 2 is a quarter-sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the sensor used with the invention;

[0010] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a seal from circle 3 in Figure 2;

[0011] Figure 4 is an electrical schematic of a control circuit for one embodiment of the invention; and

[0012] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a glass position sensor.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiment

[0013] Referring to Figure 1, a portion of the door 10 for a motor vehicle is shown. The door 10 defines a frame 12 that defines an opening 14. A closure panel 16 is movable between an open position within the door 10 and closed position wherein the closure panel 16 covers the opening 14 defined by the frame 12. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the closure panel 16 is a window 16. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the closure panel 16 might be a window (as shown), a sliding door, liftgate or a roof panel. In such other environments in which the motor vehicle may include the invention, the orientations and descriptions of parts as they relate to each other in space may vary, but such a variance will not change the scope of the invention.

[0014] Extending around the frame 12 along the inner periphery 18 thereof is a seal 20. The seal 20 defines a glass run channel 22 that receives an edge 24 of the window 16 therein. The seal 20 prevent fluids, including air and rainwater from ingressing through the opening 14 when the window 16 is in its fully closed position.

[0015] The seal 20 includes a closed pneumatic channel 26 filled with a liquid, preferably air. Preferably, the enclosed fluid is air and it is at atmospheric pressure. The pneumatic channel 26 acts as a sensor that detects when an object 28 is present. These systems are often referred to as anti-pinch systems because they prevent people from being pinched by a closing closure panel 16. The pneumatic channel 26 may be mounted to any opening that has a closure panel 16 that has an automatic closing device. Therefore, the anti-pinch system can be mounted to a liftgate or a sliding side door, or their respective framed openings.

[0016] Pressure switch 27 is mounted in fluid communication with the channel 26, which is integrated with the seal 20. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the channel 26 and switch 27 could be separate elements that are affixed to the seal 20, thereby enabling retrofitting of existing vehicles with the system of the invention.

[0017] Preferably, pressure switch 27 includes a diaphragm 29. A micro-hole

31 is preferably provided in the diaphragm 29 of the pressure switch 27 allowing air to bleed between opposite side of the diaphragm 29. The micro-hole 31 is shielded from environmental concerns. The micro-hole 31 is preferably laser drilled and has a diameter of about 0.005" for required sensitivity. Although the preferred embodiment provides the micro-hole 31 in the pressure 27, it is now readily understood that the micro-hole 31 could be provided anywhere along channel 26.

[0018] It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the pressure switch 27 could be any conventional mechanical sensor and/or a low pressure, solid-state sensor operating at or below a pressure of about 1" of water.

[0019] The channel 26 stays at atmospheric due to the micro-leakage path provided through micro-hole 31. A micro-leakage path will maintain 0 gage pressure accommodating barometric and temperature variations. The micro-leakage path is small enough that a quick disturbance of the channel 26 will cause a brief pressure rise. The pressure decay time constant for a typical channel 26 is on the order of a second or so. This rise is typically on the order of 1" of water pressure. The pressure switch 27 has a sensitivity to operate and detect changes in pressure of less than 0.3" of water.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, an object, such as a hand 28 may, from time to time, extend through the opening 14 as the window 16 is moving from its open position to its closed position. As the window 16 closes, the window 16 will engage the hand 28 and urge it against the seal 20. The seal 20 will compress and the pneumatic channel 26 will also compress. The pressure switch 27 senses a change in pressure in the channel 26. The pressure switch 27 generates a signal, which in turn is sent to a controller 30 (Figure 4), which stops and/or reverses the direction of movement of the window 16.

[0021] In addition to sensing the presence of an object 28, the pneumatic channel 26 provides an additional cushion for the object 28 as it is forced against the frame 12 of the door 10. More specifically, the fluid that extends through the pneumatic channel 26 moves out of the pneumatic channel 26 and into the pressure switch 27 to displace the diaphragm 29 allowing the pneumatic channel 26 to further compress after the pressure switch 27 detects a change in pressure and identifies the presence of the object 28. The design of the pneumatic channel 26 provides for further compression thereof as the object 28 continues to be compressed by the closure panel 16 relieving any discomfort until the controller 30 can stop the closure panel 16 and reverse its direction. It is important to note that the pneumatic channel 26 has resiliency after the pressure switch 27 indicates the presence of the object 28. And this resiliency is not extinguished as soon as the pressure switch 27 is activated. The pneumatic channel 26 is pliable and will dissipate more of the force received by the object 28 from the closure panel 16.

[0022] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a first alternative embodiment of the pressure switch is generally indicated at 27', wherein like primed numerals represent similar elements as those in the first embodiment 27. The pressure switch 27' incorporates the use of the diaphragm 29'. The pressure switch 27' includes two leads 32 (one shown) that receive a signal when the pressure switch 27' is activated due to increased pressure in one 33 of two chambers 33, 34 that comprise the pressure switch 27'. A wave spring (not shown) forces the diaphragm 29' against an annular raised rib 35. When fluid enters the first chamber 33 via an inlet port 36, which is in fluid communication with the pneumatic channel 26, it forces the diaphragm 29' upwardly forcing an electrical connection between the leads 32. This forces a diaphragm button 37 to move a leg 38 of a contact spring 39 upwardly to contact one of the leads 32. The signal generated therefrom indicates an object 28 is in the opening 14 and the closure panel 16 will be reversed and opened. [0023] The switch 27' of the first alternative embodiment includes a seal 40.

The seal 40 is annular and extends around an outer edge of the diaphragm 29' outside of the raised rib 35 and seals the first chamber 33 from the second chamber 34. The seal 40 is secured to a lower housing 41 the seal 40 includes a notch 42 extending thereacross. The notch 42 is produced by a knife blade that is a part of a mold used to create the lower housing 41. The notch 42 defines an area of 0.01 square millimeters. The notch 42 replaces the micro hole 31 of the first embodiment. More specifically, the notch 42 defines a path through which fluid can escape from the first chamber 33 to ensure the first chamber 33 is at atmospheric pressure. By providing a notch 42, calibration of the pneumatic chamber 26 is not necessary. It should be noted that the size of the notch 42 is small enough that changes in pressure due to the collapsing of the pneumatic channel 26 by an object will not be compensated for by the notch 42. The notch 42 is too small to accommodate the large amount of fluid transfer in the small amount of time that it takes for the fluid flow to occur.

[0024] An upper housing 43 covers the covers the pressure switch 27' and completes the second chamber 34. Fasteners 44 are used to secure the upper housing 43 to the lower housing, as is well known in the art. Additional seals 45, 46 are used to seal the first 33 and second 34 chambers, respectively.

[0025] Referring to Figure 4, the controller 30 is shown in detail. The pneumatic switch 27' is connected to one 56 of a set of NAND gates 56, 58, 60. The pneumatic channel sensor 26' presses on the diaphragm 29' that acts as a pinch switch. The NAND gates 56-60 receive inputs from S5 sensors for open and close signals and an overcurrent signal. A glass position relay 47 provides an input that changes based on the position of the edge 24 of the closure panel 16. The glass position relay 47 receives its input through a diode 62 from the close signal input. From the NAND gates 56, 58, 60, the circuit for the controller 30 is electrically connected to an express circuit 64. The express circuit 64 includes two relays 48, 49 that control whether the closure panel 16 is to be expressly opened or closed. The express circuit 64 includes two NOR gates 66, 68. A user switch 70 is a double pole double throw switch that is mounted to the door 10 or center console (not shown). The direction the user switch 70 is thrown determines which of two transistors 72, 74 is powered to power one of the two relays 73, 75, which will determine the direction in which a drive motor 77 will rotate to open or close the closure panel 16.

[0026] The controller 30 can only operate when the pneumatic channel 26 and switch 27' are operating properly. An integrity sub-circuit, generally shown at 76, senses a deliberately actuated pressure change in the pneumatic sensor 26 to ensure it is working properly. The integrity sub-circuit 76 receives inputs from the pneumatic channel sensor at 78 and from the glass position sensor 47 at 80. The output 82 of the integrity sub-circuit 76 suppresses any express action by the controller 30 preventing the operator of the user switch 70 from activating the express close option.

[0027] Referring to Figure 5, a perspective view of one embodiment of the glass position sensor 47 is shown. The glass position sensor 47 includes a base 90 that is fixedly secured to the frame 12. In the embodiment shown, it is contemplated that the glass position sensor 47 is fixedly secured to the frame 12 at a position within the door 10 so that it will be out of the sight of the occupants of the motor vehicle. An extension 92 crosses the frame 12 and divides into a follower 94 and a trigger 96. A boss 98 is fixedly secured to the closure panel 16 in a position such that movement of the closure panel 16 will force the boss 98 through a path interrupted by the follower 94. If the closure panel 16 is in the closed position, the boss 98 would come down over the follower 94 (from the orientation of the glass position sensor 47 shown in Figure 5) and the trigger 96 would compress the pneumatic channel 26. This would produce a signal at 80 of the integrity sub-circuit 76 to let the controller 30 identify the pressure switch 27' is working properly. Therefore, the glass position sensor 47 actually tests the system as it would operate. This ensures the system is operating as is required. It should be appreciated that upon the return of the closure panel 16 to the closed position, the trigger 96 will not compress the pneumatic channel 26 and no integrity check will occur.

[0028] The glass position sensor 47 can be replaced with a more sophisticated memory device. This would also provide the capability of checking the integrity of the system when the closure panel 16 is being closed. The cost associated with such advancement is prohibitive and may not accurately test the system as it operates. And with the glass position sensor 47 acting as a 1-bit latch, the design and integrity of the system are simple and complete.

[0029] An illumination circuit 84 indicates when the controller 30' is operating in the express mode. A transistor 86 powers an LED 88 when the controller 30' is operating an express close.

[0030] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for operating a closure assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a frame defining an opening, a closure panel movable relative to said frame between a open position providing access through said frame and an closed position closing said opening, and a drive operatively engaging said closure panel effecting movement of said closure panel between said open position and said closed position, said system comprising: a pneumatic channel extending along said frame; a pressure switch in fluid communication with said channel, said switch generating a signal upon detection of a change in pressure in said channel; and a control unit electrically connected to said drive and said pressure switch, said control unit receiving said signal from said pressure switch and responsively stopping said drive from moving said closure panel towards said closed position.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control unit includes an integrity sub-circuit to deliberately test said pneumatic channel to ensure sealed integrity thereof.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said integrity sub-circuit includes a glass position sensor capable of identifying a position of the closure panel and the direction in which the closure panel is moving.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said glass position sensor includes a trigger in abutting relationship with said pneumatic channel such that said trigger compresses said pneumatic channel when the closure panel passes thereby in a direction.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch includes a fluid filling said pneumatic channel at atmospheric pressure.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fluid within said channel has a micro-leakage path to atmospheric pressure.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said micro-leakage path is a cut of about 0.01 mm² in area.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch includes a diaphragm engaging of said pneumatic channel and experiencing pressure applied thereagainst by said fluid and movement of said diaphragm closes said pressure switch from changes in pressure within said pneumatic channel.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said diaphragm has a micro-hole providing a micro-leakage path for said fluid to vent to atmospheric pressure.

10. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said micro-hole is about 0.005" in diameter.

11. A system for operating a closure assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a frame defining an opening, a closure panel movable relative to said frame between a open position providing access through said frame and an closed position closing said opening, and a drive operatively engaging said closure panel effecting movement of said closure panel between said open position and said closed position, said system comprising: a pneumatic channel extending along said frame, said pneumatic channel having a resiliency thereto; a pressure switch in fluid communication with said channel, said switch generating a signal upon detection of a change in pressure in said channel; and a control unit electrically connected to said drive and said pressure switch, said control unit receiving said signal from said pressure switch and responsively stopping said drive from moving said closure panel towards said closed position prior to the complete collapse of said pneumatic channel, such that said pneumatic channel absorbs energy received by the object prior to said control unit stopping the closure panel.