WO2023006261A1

WO2023006261A1 - Method for automatically controlling an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2023006261A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/059633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Rupp
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2021-07-29
Filing date: 2022-04-11
Publication date: 2023-02-02
Also published as: DE102021119789A1; CN117396659A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically controlling an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises the following: (i) determining, using a sensor arranged on the motor vehicle, whether, during a driven moving process of the window, in which a window pane is moved within an associated window frame of the window, a physical object is present in an intermediate space between the window pane and the window frame of the window, wherein (ii) the sensor operates on the basis of a wireless measuring principle, such that, in the determining process, wireless, in particular electromagnetic or acoustic signals characterising the presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space are detected by the sensor; and (iii) controlling the moving process, in particular an opening or closing process, of the window, according to the determined presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space.

Description

Method for the automated control of an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a method for the automated control of an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device and a computer program, each of which is configured to carry out the method.

There are known motor vehicles with windows that have an anti-trap function. Such windows are installed in particular in newer motor vehicles, in which a respective window pane is moved in the window frame of the window by an electric motor. The anti-trap function is intended to prevent an object from being trapped between the window pane and the associated window frame while the window is being closed by the electric motor. In particular, it should be avoided that a part of the human body, for example a hand or an arm, is trapped. One way to determine whether there is an object between the window pane and the frame is to indirectly measure the force used to move the window pane using the electric motor. For the closing process, a continuous and essentially constant force can be transmitted to the window pane by the electric motor. A current required for this can be measured. If the window pane encounters an obstacle during the closing process, the force which the window pane or the electric motor must overcome to move the window pane in the closing direction can increase. This would also increase the current required by the electric motor to move the window pane. By continuously measuring this current, it can be determined whether the current used by the electric motor remains essentially constant or is increasing. An increase in the current used can indicate that an object has become trapped between the window pane and the window frame. By controlling the electric motor, the closing process can be interrupted or reversed when the current increases, i.e. the window is opened again.

This type of force measurement is technically complex and can, in particular, be used against external influences such as a temperature fluctuation or very hot or very cold temperatures, prone to failure. For example, in winter at low temperatures, with snow and/or ice forming on the window frame, this can mean that seals arranged in the window frame cause greater mechanical resistance to movement of the window pane along the seals, which means that the electric motor has to consume more power. This can lead to incorrect activation of the anti-trap function, which stops or reverses the closing process of the window, even though there is no object between the window pane and the window frame.

The object of the present invention is to propose a method for controlling an electrically operated window with a reliable anti-trap function.

This problem is solved according to the teaching of the independent claims. Various embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for the automated control of an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: (i) determining, using a sensor arranged on the motor vehicle, whether during a driven movement process of the window in which a window pane is moved within an associated window frame of the window, a physical object is present in a gap between the window pane and the window frame of the window, wherein (ii) the sensor is based on a wireless measuring principle, so that when detecting the presence or absence wireless, in particular electromagnetic and/or acoustic, signals characterizing the object in the intermediate space are detected by the sensor; and (iii) controlling the movement process, in particular an opening or closing process, of the window depending on the determined presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space.

As used herein, the terms "comprises,""includes,""includes,""has,""has,""having," or any other variant thereof, as appropriate, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a method or a Apparatus comprising or having a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such method or apparatus.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive "or". For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following conditions: A is true (or present) and B is false (or absent), A is false (or absent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

As used herein, the terms "a" or "an" are defined to mean "one or more". The terms "another" and "another" and any other variant thereof shall be construed to mean "at least one other".

The term "plurality" as used herein means "two or more".

The term "configured" or "set up" to fulfill a specific function (and respective modifications thereof) is to be understood within the meaning of the invention that the corresponding device is already in a configuration or setting in which it can perform the function or it is at least adjustable - i.e. configurable - in such a way that it can carry out the function after the appropriate setting. The configuration can take place, for example, via a corresponding setting of parameters of a process flow or of switches or the like for activating or deactivating functionalities or settings. In particular, the device can have a plurality of predetermined configurations or operating modes, so that the configuration can be carried out by selecting one of these configurations or operating modes.

The method according to the first aspect makes it possible for the movement process of the window to be controlled depending on the determined presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space using a sensor which is based on a wireless measuring principle. As a result, on a Cable connection in the area of the window, in particular a cable connection between an electric drive for the movement of the window pane and an associated evaluation logic can be dispensed with. It is known from the prior art that current measurement data from an electric drive for the window pane can be evaluated in such an evaluation logic and, based thereon, it can be determined whether an object is located between the window pane and the window frame. A seal arranged in the window frame, in which the window pane is moved, can exhibit temperature-dependent friction with respect to the moving window pane. This can lead to erroneous current measurements and erroneous triggering of the pinch function. By using a sensor that is based on a wireless measuring principle, it is possible to at least reduce false triggering due to a current measurement, which in particular cannot be attributed to a physical object jammed between the window pane and the window frame. There is therefore no need to evaluate the current of the electric drive to determine whether there is a physical object between the window pane and the window frame. An integrated module with an electric drive and an associated evaluation logic can be configured more simply by dispensing with the evaluation logic, so that this module also becomes more cost-effective as a result.

Preferred embodiments of the method are described below, each of which, unless expressly excluded or technically impossible, can be combined with one another and with the other described aspects of the invention as desired.

In some embodiments, controlling comprises pausing the process of moving the window upon a detected presence of the object in the gap. It can thereby be ensured that the object is not jammed in the intermediate space between the window pane and the window frame.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, when determining the presence of the object in the gap, determining an object type of the object depending on the detected signals and by comparing the signals or measurement data derived therefrom with predetermined reference data on known objects; the movement process also being controlled as a function of the specific object type. A comparison with a known object can be used to determine more reliably whether an object is located between the window pane and the window frame. Because this method step can be used not only to determine whether an object is located between the window pane and the window frame, but also which object.

In some embodiments, the determination further includes the signals being detected multiple times by the sensor within a measurement period during the movement process, and the determination of the presence or absence of the object based on a comparison of at least two different points in time within the measurement period signals detected by the sensor. This means that the presence or absence of the object can be determined more reliably, since signals are detected at least at two different points in time and are compared with one another.

In some embodiments, controlling the movement process of the window comprises automatically causing a direction reversal of the movement of the window in the event that the presence of the object in the gap is detected. In one case, the actual movement of the window may result in the window closing. If the direction is reversed, the window is then opened. This can be advantageous in order to prevent the object from becoming trapped between the window pane and the window frame. It is also conceivable that an object that has already been jammed is freed again by the reversal of direction. In another case, the actual movement of the window may result in the window opening. If the direction changes, the window is then closed. This can be advantageous in order to close the window with a short movement of a hand or an arm between the window pane and the window frame without having to operate a lever or switch in the vehicle. It is also conceivable that in the other case access to the vehicle from outside the vehicle can be prevented. When the window is about to open, and for example from outside the vehicle a stranger in the vehicle wants to steal an object, the automatic window closing can at least make this procedure more difficult.

In some embodiments, the method also includes sensory detection of a vehicle train status of the motor vehicle or an identity or behavior of one or more vehicle occupants, and outputting the corresponding sensor data, with a predetermined movement process of the window being automatically initiated if the sensor data meets a predetermined criterion fulfill. In this way it can be achieved that a movement process of the window is automatically initiated when the sensor data meet a predetermined criterion. In this case, it would not be necessary for a user in the motor vehicle, in particular a driver, to have to manually trigger the process of moving the window. This can also prevent a window from being unintentionally closed by manual initiation, thereby bypassing an anti-trap function.

In some embodiments, the sensing determines whether a seat in the vehicle is occupied by a person, the sensing determines biometrics of that person, and manually controls a window disposed adjacent the seat , depending on the biometric data. In particular, weight, size of the upper body or the interpupillary distance of the person can be determined by appropriate sensors. This biometric data can be used to assess whether the person is an adult or a child, for example. For example, in the event that the person's weight has a value at which it can be assumed that it is a child, the manual control of the window can be automatically prevented. This can increase the safety of the child in the vehicle. In another case, if the determined height of the person's torso can be attributed to an adult, manual control of the window could be enabled.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a device for the automated control of a power window in a motor vehicle, the device being configured to carry out the method according to the first aspect of the invention. A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which cause the device according to the second aspect to carry out the steps of the method according to the first aspect.

The computer program can in particular be stored on a non-volatile data medium. This is preferably a data carrier in the form of an optical data carrier or a flash memory module. This can be advantageous if the computer program is to be traded as such independently of a processor platform on which the one or more programs are to be executed. In another implementation, the computer program can exist as a file on a data processing unit, in particular on a server, and be downloadable via a data connection, for example the Internet or a dedicated data connection, such as a proprietary or local area network.

The features and advantages explained in relation to the first aspect of the invention also apply correspondingly to the further aspects of the invention.

Further advantages, features and application possibilities of the present inventions emerge from the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures.

while showing

1 schematically shows a flow chart to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram to illustrate the interaction of controls for window lifters and an occupant model with a central Logic.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numbers are used for the same or corresponding elements of the invention. FIG. 1 schematically shows a flowchart to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the method 100 according to the invention for the automated control of an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle.

In a step 110 of the method, a determination is made, using a sensor arranged on the motor vehicle, whether during a powered movement process of the window, in which a window pane is moved within an associated window frame of the window, a physical object is in an intermediate space between the window pane and the window frame of the window.

In particular, it is to be determined whether an object, for example a human hand or a human arm, is present between the window pane and the window frame during a movement process, in particular a closing process, and that with a continuation of the movement process between the window pane and the window frame could be trapped or is already trapped.

In method 100, the sensor is based on a wireless measuring principle, so that during the determination, wireless, in particular electromagnetic and/or acoustic, signals characterizing the presence or absence of the object in intermediate space 120 are detected by the sensor.

Sensors that are already arranged in the vehicle, such as cameras that are provided for an occupant model, can be used to detect the electromagnetic and/or acoustic signals. This can be a camera that is used, for example, to identify a driver's condition, such as tiredness, or to check whether the seats in the vehicle are occupied. In this case, the camera can be arranged in a roof module in the vehicle and, for example, be equipped with wide-angle optics, through which a large part of the interior of the vehicle can be captured. Also, an ultrasonic sensor already provided for the anti-theft device can also be used for detecting the physical object. An electro-acoustic sensor is suitable for converting acoustic signals, in particular sound waves, into electrical signals. Here, the sound waves, which are dominant in the area of the motor vehicle due to ambient noise and which are reflected by the window and a physical object that may be present at the window, can be detected by the sensor and converted into an electrical signal for detection. However, it is also conceivable for a known acoustic signal, in particular an ultrasonic signal, to be emitted by a separate acoustic source, which is then reflected through the window and a physical object possibly arranged on the window, and is detected by the sensor. By comparing the transmitted known signal with the reflected signal, it can be determined whether there is a physical object between the window pane and the window frame.

The use of both detected electromagnetic and acoustic signals in determining whether a physical object is present in a gap between the window pane and the window frame of the window can be advantageous. A higher reliability can be achieved in the determination if, using the detected electromagnetic signals and the de tekted acoustic signals, a separate determination is made as to whether a physical object is present in a gap between the window pane and the window frame of the window, and these separate investigations are verified against each other. This can reduce the probability of erroneous determination.

A further step 130 of the method 100 provides for the movement process, in particular an opening or closing process, of the window to be controlled as a function of the determined presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram 200 to illustrate the interaction of controls for the window regulators of the driver and front passenger 240, 250 and the controls for the window regulators of the passengers 260, 270 and an occupant model 230 with a central logic 220. The central logic 220 also interacts with a driver assistance system 210 and an occupant model of the motor vehicle, whereby, for example, individualized settings can be made for the occupants of the motor vehicle. The occupant model 320 in turn interacts with sensors 320 arranged in the motor vehicle or also with seat occupancy mats 330, with which it can be determined whether a seat in the motor vehicle is occupied by an occupant or not. These interactions between the controls for the power windows 240, 250, 260, 270, the buttons 280, 290, 300, 310, the occupant model 230 and the driver assistance system 210 with the central logic 220 can be used to control the windows, in particular the anti-pinch function , further parameters are taken into account. For example, a plausibility check of the seat occupancy mats 330 can be used to determine whether a seat is occupied by a passenger or whether a seat is occupied by an underage child. If a seat is occupied by a child, additional safety queries could be triggered, for example whether the child safety device in the motor vehicle is activated. Another function of the central logic 220 can be, in addition to controlling the window lifters 240, 250, 260, 270, to receive information from other systems in the motor vehicle, such as the occupant model 230, in order to use this information through the central logic 210 for another system to be able to provide in the motor vehicle. For example, an individual profile of the driver can be stored in the occupant model 230, which also includes the fact that the driver wants all the windows of the motor vehicle to be closed above a certain temperature. This individualized profile makes it possible for the window to close at a specific temperature, with the anti-trap function being activated at the same time according to the method according to the invention. Furthermore, the functionality of the other systems can be monitored by the central logic 220 . For example, a warning signal can be issued that the driver can perceive if a sensor for a safety-relevant system, such as the anti-trap protection, is not functional. This informs the driver that the anti-trap protection cannot be functional and needs to be repaired.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that a large number of variations thereon exist. It should also be noted that the example embodiments described are non-limiting examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the devices described herein. to restrict measures and procedures. Rather, the foregoing description will provide those skilled in the art with guidance for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, with the understanding that various changes in the operation and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment may be made without departing from the any subject matter defined in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

REFERENCE LIST

100 methods for the automated control of an electrically operated window. 110 Determining whether a physical object is in a space between the

window pane and the window frame of the window 120 detecting characteristic wireless signals 130 controlling the movement process of the window.

200 Diagram to illustrate the interaction of controls for window regulators with a central logic.

210 driver assistance system 220 central logic 230 occupant model

240, 250 actuation of power window driver, front passenger

260, 270 actuation of the passenger window regulator

280, 290 button window regulator driver, front passenger

300, 310 button window regulator passenger

320 interior sensors 330 seat occupancy mats

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

A method (100) for automated control of a power window in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

determining (110), using a sensor located on the motor vehicle, whether a physical object is present in a gap between the window pane and the window frame of the window during a powered movement of the window in which a window pane is moved within an associated window frame of the window window is present, (120) the sensor being based on a wireless measuring principle, so that during the determination, wireless signals characterizing the presence or absence of the object in the intermediate space are detected by the sensor; and

controlling (130) the movement process of the window depending on the detected presence or absence of the object in the gap.

The method (100) of claim 1, wherein controlling (130) comprises pausing the process of moving the window upon a detected presence of the object in the gap.

The method (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:

If the presence of the object in the intermediate space is determined during the determination (110), an object type of the object is determined as a function of the detected signals and by means of a comparison of the signals or measurement data derived therefrom with predetermined reference data for known objects; wherein the control (130) of the movement process also takes place as a function of the specific object type.

4. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the determining (110) further comprises that the signals are detected by the sensor multiple times within a measurement period during the movement process, and determining the presence or absence of the object on the basis a comparison of signals detected by the sensor at least at two different points in time within the measurement period.

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein controlling the movement process of the window in the event that the presence of the

object is detected in the gap, automatically causing a direction reversal of the movement of the window.

6. The method (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:

Sensory detection of a vehicle train status of the motor vehicle or ei ner identity or behavior of one or more vehicle occupants and output corresponding sensor data, with a predetermined BeWe supply process of the window is automatically initiated when the sensor data meet a predetermined criterion.

7. The method (100) according to claim 6, wherein it is determined by the sensory detection whether a seat in the vehicle is occupied by a person, and wherein biometric data of this person are determined by the sensory detection, and a manual control of a window , which is arranged adjacent to the seat, depending on the biometric data.

8. A device for the automated control of an electrically operated window in a motor vehicle, the device being configured to carry out the method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

A computer program including instructions that cause the apparatus of claim 8 to carry out the steps of the method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 7.