United States Patent [19J
`Takeda et al.
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005404673A
`5,404,673
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent: Apr. 11, 1995
`
`[75]
`
`[54] POWER WINDOW APPARATUS WITH
`SAFETY DEVICE
`Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda; Keiichi Tajima; Toru
`Nakayama, all of Shizuoka, Japan
`[73] Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.,
`Tokyo, Japan
`[21] Appl. No.: 78,643
`Jun.21,1993
`[22] Filed:
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jun. 26, 1992 [JP]
`Japan ............................. 4-050439 U
`Oct. 8, 1992 [JP]
`Japan .................................. 4-293973
`Int. C1.6 .............................................. EOSF 15/16
`[51]
`[52] u.s. ct ........................................... 49/28; 49/349;
`49/352; 318/266; 318/282; 318/468; 318/470
`[58] Field of Search ..................... 49/28, 26, 349, 352;
`318/256,264,265,266,282,467,468,469,470
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,634,945 1/1987 Takemura et al .................. 49/28 X
`4,641,067 2/1987 Iizawa et al ........................ 49/28 X
`4,686,598 8/1987 Herr .................................... 49/28 X
`4,709,196 11/1987 Mizuta .
`4,870,333 9/1989 Itoh et al ..
`
`[56]
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2147432 5/1985 European Pat. Off ..
`0525788A1 2/1993 European Pat. Off ..
`
`3329717 5/1984 Germany .
`3829405 8/1990 Germany .
`3303590 9/1994 Germany .
`1384974 2/1973 United Kingdom .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`German Office Action dated 20 Jul. 1994 (with transla(cid:173)
`tion).
`Primary Examiner-Philip C. Kannan
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Mion, Zinn,
`Macpeak & Seas
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A power window apparatus for carrying out a safety
`control operation when an object is caught in the win(cid:173)
`dow, which apparatus is capable of setting a safety
`. control mode disabling region to within the required
`distance exactly. The power window apparatus in(cid:173)
`cludes a motor rotation sensor for sensing a state of
`rotation of the motor, and a window movement sensor
`for sensing the amount of movement of the window.
`The object-caught state is detected on the basis of the
`rotational rate of the motor, and the absolute position of
`the window is detected on the basis of the detected
`amount of movement of the window. The safety control
`mode is disabled in response to the detected absolute
`position of the window. A reference value for detecting
`the object-caught state may be varied as the window
`approaches its fully closed position.
`
`14 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`205
`
`201
`/WINDOW
`OPENING/
`CLOSII{l
`MECHANISM
`
`211
`MOTOR
`
`218
`
`~
`L-------t---
`
`{
`-:1--.J.- ·-~-··__j
`i
`207
`WINDOW GLASS
`
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`Page 2
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`WINDOWDRIVESECTION
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`MOTORROTATIONSENSOR
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 2 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 3 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 4 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`FIG. 4(a)
`
`(13a)l|lllll_|
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`(13blllllllll
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 5 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`FIG. 6(a)
`
`33
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`
`7&8 34a
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`5
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`RESISTOR MEMBER
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`STROKE
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 6 of 12
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`5,404,673
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` DETECT OPENING/CLOSING
`
`POSITION
`
`DETECT OBJECT-CAUGHT
`(BY MRS)
`
`OBJECT CAUGHT ?
`
`'
`
`CARRY OUT SAFETY
`CONTROL OPERATION
`
` MOTOR LOCKED ?
`
`
`
`
`COMPLETE
`WINDOW
`CLOSING
`
`OPERATION
`
`CLOSE THE WINDOW
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 7 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`208
`
`CLOSING
`MECHANISM
`
`218
`
`3
`L._-
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`POWER wmnow UNIT
`4
`2
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`207
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`203a
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`
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 8 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 9 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 10 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`r:|.-.:|||:|-
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`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`
`
`L RUN CHANNEL REGION
`
`SAFETY CONTROL REGION
`
`_
`
`I'm'“
`
`|
`
`1°
`
`0
`
`~10
`
`REFERENCE
`VALUE
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`/ RUN CHANNEL
`MARGIN
`
`4mm
`
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`SO a % S '
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`3:
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`79
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`F/G.
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`73
`
`FIG.
`
`74
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`RELATIVESPEED(°/o)
`
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`
`SENSOROUTPUTVOLTAGE(V)
`
`
`
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 11, 1995
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`Sheet 12 of 12
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`5,404,673
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`4mm} _/__
`
`..
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`--
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`
` RUN?
`
`CHANNEL
`REGION
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`
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`

`POWER WINDOW APPARATUS WITH SAFETY
`DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`45
`
`1
`
`5,404,673
`
`2
`the closing operation of the window is stopped, so that
`the window is incompletely closed.
`In a window using the weather strip WS having the
`structure in cross section as shown in FIG. 15, the upper
`s edge of the window glass 207 comes into contact with
`the lip WL of the weather strip WS at a position ap-
`proximately 15 mm short of the position where the
`The present invention relates to a power window
`window is completely closed. In the region where the
`apparatus, for use with a motor vehicle, for driving a
`window glass comes in contact with the lip (referred to
`window glass for opening and closing the window with
`a motor, for example. More particularly, the invention 10 as a run channel region), the closing operation of the
`relates to a power window apparatus with a safety de-
`window is impeded, so that the motor speed decreases.
`In this state, erroneous detection tends to occur. To
`vice which performs a safety control operation when
`the hand, neck, etc., of a driver or passenger is inter-
`avoid such erroneous detection, the reference value for
`the object-caught detection must have some range of
`posed between the window glass and the sash.
`Generally, a power window apparatus is constructed IS variation in value. However, if the reference value is so
`set, the sensitivity of the object-caught detector when it
`so as to drive the window glass for opening and closing
`detects an object being caught in the channel region is
`purposes with a drive source, for example, an electric
`motor. In the power window apparatus of this type, the
`reduced. Accordingly, it is difficult for the object-
`caught detector to detect a state, for example, where a
`window glass is automatically moved for opening and
`closing by the drive source.
`20 finger is caught in the window. In the figure, SS desig-
`In such a power window apparatus, to cope with the
`nates a sash.
`situation where the hand or neck of a passenger is acci-
`The actual power window apparatus employs a gear
`dentally interposed between the window and the sash, a
`mechanism, wire, and pulley mechanism for transfer-
`safety device is provided. The safety device operates
`ring the rotational force of the motor to the window
`such that when it detects a state where an object is 25 glass. Accordingly, the power window apparatus inevi-
`tably. suffers from problems such a~ variations in the
`interposed between the window glass and the sash,
`movement of the window glass is stopped, or the win-
`rotational amount of the motor owmg to the damper
`dow glass is forcibly moved in the opening direction.
`effect 7aused by t~e presence of the gear mechani~m,
`To detect the state where an object is caught in the
`stretching of the ~e, we~ of~e pulleys, and the like.
`window, the safety device measures the rotational 30 As a resul.t, a precxse relationship betw.e~n the num~r
`speed of the motor, which is proportional to the open-
`of revolutions of th~ m~tor and the. position of th~ w~-
`ing and closing speed of the window glass, since when
`d?w cannot be mamtamed over time, thus m~!? It
`the load on the motor for moving the window glass
`dlfl~cult to lJ:CC~ately c~mtrol the safety mode disabling
`.
`region to Within that ~Istance.
`increases, the motor speed decreases. Specifically, the
`safety device detects when the motor speed drops 35
`.Thus, the con.ventlonal P.ower wmdow apparatus
`·
`tat
`hich corresponds to With a safety devxce cannot simultaneously satxsfy both
`t al
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`contra xctory requrrements o etectmg an o ~ect mg
`1 d · d.
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`caught with a high sensitivity particularly in the run
`.,
`passenger emg caug m
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`c anne region an preven I~g ~rrone~us operations
`Wh
`~n t de wmd ow I
`Thy
`t.
`40 when the safety control operation IS earned out and the
`t'.
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`to zero.
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`system mentioned above sometimes rmstakenly recog-
`nizes this speed reduction as an object-caught state. As
`a result, the safety control operation starts to fully open
`the window, and the window is left open.
`To avoid the window being left open, the current
`position of the window can be constantly monitored
`utilizing the quantity of rotation of the motor. When the
`window approaches the position where it is fully
`closed, the safety control mode is disabled, allowing the 50
`window to be fully closed. That is, a safety control
`mode disabling region is provided. The safety control
`mode disabling region must cover a very small distance
`in order to prevent fingers of children from being
`caught in the window. For this purpose, the position for 55
`safety control mode disabling is typically set at a posi(cid:173)
`tion approximately 4 mm short of the position where
`the window is completely closed.
`Further, in the above-described detecting method, if
`the reference value of the object-caught detector is set 60
`at a critical value, the following problem arises. In a
`region just before the window is completely closed and
`the window glass is in contact with the weather strip of
`the sash, the frictional resistance between the window
`glass and the weather strip impedes the rotation of the 65
`motor to reduce the motor speed. The object-caught
`detector can mistakenly recognize this state as that in
`which an object is caught in the window. As a result,
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
`provide a power window apparatus with a safety device
`which can maintain the safety control mode disabling
`region to within the required distance exactly.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a power window apparatus witch a safety device which
`is able to detect the positions of the opening/closing
`windows at a high sensitivity, and to prevent erroneous
`operations when a safety control operation is carried
`out and the window is completely closed.
`In accordance with the above and other objects, the
`invention provides a power window apparatus with a
`safety device comprising means for detecting a state of
`rotation of the motor, and means for detecting the quan(cid:173)
`tity of movement of the window, wherein an object(cid:173)
`caught state and the current position of the window are
`detected on the basis of the rotational state of the win(cid:173)
`dow, and the absolute position of the window is de(cid:173)
`tected on the basis of the detected quantity of move(cid:173)
`ment of the window. The safety control operation is
`carried out on the basis of these detection results.
`Yet further in accordance with the above objects, the
`invention provides a power window apparatus with a
`safety device including means for detecting a object(cid:173)
`caught state by comparing the speed of the motor with
`
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`5,404,673
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`3
`a reference value, means for detecting the position of
`the opening or closing window in a region just before
`the window is completely closed, and means for setting
`a reference value to detect the object-caught depending
`on the detected position of the opening/closing win- 5
`dow.
`The means for detecting the position of the opening/(cid:173)
`closing window includes a position sensor for detecting
`the amount of movement of the window glass. The
`position sensor includes a sensor portion which moves 10
`together with the window glass in a state Wherein the
`sensor portion is in contact with the window glass or a
`part of the window glass, a reducing portion for reduc(cid:173)
`ing the movement quantity of the sensor portion, a
`signal generating portion for producing the reduced 15
`movement quantity in the form of an electrical displace(cid:173)
`ment, and a casing for sealing at least the signal generat(cid:173)
`ing portion tightly against liquid.
`
`4
`FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic illustration showing
`a power window apparatus to which the present inven(cid:173)
`tion is incorporated. As shown in this drawing, a win(cid:173)
`dow opening/closing mechanism 10 is installed in a
`portion of the body of an automobile or a car located
`under the window. In the window opening/closing
`mechanism 10, a rail 2 extends vertically. A slider 3 is
`vertically slidable along the rail2. A wire 4 is connected
`to the slider 3. The wire 4 is wound around pulleys 5
`mounted at the top and bottom of the rail 2, and con(cid:173)
`nected to a window drive section 1. When the motor 11
`of the window drive section 1 is driven, the slider 3 is
`moved up and down by the wire 4. A window glass 7 is
`mounted on the slider 3. The window glass 7, when it is
`moved up and down together with the slider 3, closes
`and opens the window space defined by the sash.
`The structure of a key portion of the window drive
`section 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this figure, reference
`numeral 11 designates an electric motor employed as a
`drive source. A disc-like magnet 12, polarized as shown,
`is mounted on a part of the rotating shaft la of the motor
`11. A pair of Hall elements 13a and 13b, which are
`disposed on both sides of the magnet 12, are angularly
`spaced apart from each other by 90• with respect to the
`axis of the magnet 12. The magnet 12 and the Hall ele(cid:173)
`ments 13A and 13b together form a motor rotation sen(cid:173)
`sor MRS. A worm gear 14 is mounted on the other end
`part of the rotating shaft 1a. The worm gear 14 is in
`mesh with a worm wheel 15. The worm wheel 15,
`which has a damper 16 fitted thereinto, is fixedly cou(cid:173)
`pled to an output pulley shaft 17 to transfer the rota(cid:173)
`tional force of the worm wheel 15 through the output
`pulley shaft 17 to the drive pulley 18 in FIG. 2. Thus,
`35 the wire 4 is moved.
`Metal plates 16b and 16c of the damper 16 are bonded
`to respective sides of a disc-like rubber plate 16a. A
`metal plate 16c is fastened to the worm wheel 15 by
`means of screws 19. The damper 16 absorbs an impact
`generated between the metal plates 16b and 16c, i.e.,
`between the motor side and the window glass side, by
`the elastic deformation of the rubber plate 16a. A ring(cid:173)
`like multi-pole magnet 20, circumferentially magnetized
`as shown, is fastened to the surface of the metal plate
`16b coupled with the output pulley shaft 17, which is
`located closer to the window glass. A pair of Hall ele-
`ments 21a spaced by half an NS magnet element are
`disposed around the ring magnet 20. The ring magnet
`20 and the pair of Hall elements 21a together form a
`window movement sensor WTS for sensing the quan(cid:173)
`tity of rotation of the output pulley shaft 17, the quan-
`tity of the movement of the wire 4 connected thereto, or
`the quantity of the movement of the window glass 6.
`Reference numeral 22 designates the housing of the
`window drive section 1. Reference numeral 20 desig(cid:173)
`nates the housing of the window opening/closing mech(cid:173)
`anism 1.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical sys(cid:173)
`tem including the motor rotation sensor MRS and the
`60 window movement sensor WTS in the power window
`apparatus. In this figure, a microcomputer 100 receives
`pulse signals from the motor rotation sensor MRS for
`sensing the amount of rotation of the motor 11. The
`opening/closing operation of the window is selected by
`65 a function switch 101. The select signal from the switch
`101 is also applied to the microcomputer 100. The
`switch 101 is used for opening or closing the window in
`an automatic mode or a manual mode. A motor drive
`
`20
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a part of a power
`window apparatus constructed according to a preferred
`embodiment the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a power
`window apparatus in which the present invention is 25
`incorporated;
`FIG. 3 sa block diagram showing an electrical sys(cid:173)
`tem including a motor rotation sensor (MRS) and a
`window transfer
`FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show sets of waveforms of sig- 30
`nals output from a motor speed Sensor and a window
`movement sensor;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a key portion of
`a power window apparatus according to a second em(cid:173)
`bodiment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) are respectively show dia(cid:173)
`grams showing the internal structure of a potentiome(cid:173)
`ter, its electrical characteristic, and the variation of the
`output voltage corresponding to the positions of the
`window as it is moved;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
`power window apparatus according to the second em(cid:173)
`bodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a side view showing the overall construc(cid:173)
`tion of a power window apparatus according to a fur- 45
`ther embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing a part of a power
`window drive section;
`FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing a part of a
`position sensor used in the power Window apparatus; 50
`FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a
`part of the power window apparatus;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an electrical
`system used in the power window apparatus;
`FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship of the 55
`motor speed and a detection reference value;
`FIG. 14 is a graph showing the relationship of the
`motor speed and the output signal of a position sensor in
`a region just before the window is completely closed;
`and
`FIG. 15 sa cross-sectional view showing an example
`of a window strip.
`
`40
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Preferred embodiments present invention now will
`be described with reference to the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`
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`IPR2014-00416
`Page 15
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`5,404,673
`
`5
`circuit 102 controls the motor 11 in accordance with a
`signal from the microcomputer 100.
`The microcomputer 100 includes a system for detect(cid:173)
`ing a safety control region from the opening/closing
`operation of the window, and another system for de- 5
`tecting a state where an object is caught in the window.
`The system for detecting the safety control region
`includes a window moving direction detector 110
`which detects the repetition rate ·of pulse signals output
`from the motor rotation sensor MRS, the rotational 10
`direction of the motor, and the opening or closing direc(cid:173)
`tion of the window. A detector 111 for detecting the
`opening/closing position includes an up/down counter
`in this embodiments. The counter is set to 0 when the
`window is completely closed. When the motor for- 15
`wardly rotates, the counter counts pulse signals pro(cid:173)
`duced therefrom in the negative direction. When the
`motor reversely rotates, the counter counts pulse sig(cid:173)
`nals in the positive direction. The current position of the
`opening or closing window is detected in the form of 20
`the count of the counter. In response to the output
`signal of the opening/closing position detector 111, a
`safety control region detector 112 detects a safety con(cid:173)
`trol region which excludes a safety control mode dis(cid:173)
`abling region within a preset range near the position 25
`where the window is completely closed. The safety
`control operation is allowed within only the safety con(cid:173)
`trol region.
`The signal from the window movement sensor WTS
`of the opening/closing mechanism 10 is applied to a 30
`window position detector 113 for detecting the absolute
`position of the window. The position of the opening or
`closing window in the region near the position where
`the window is completely closed is accurately detected
`by the window position detector 113. The output signal 35
`from the detector 113 is input to the safety control
`region recognizing unit 112; which detects the safety
`control region and sets a reference value for object(cid:173)
`caught detection.
`In the operation for detecting the safety control re- 40
`gion, the output signal of the safety control region rec(cid:173)
`ognizing unit 112 is input to a first input terminal of an
`AND gate 114, and is also applied to an operation in(cid:173)
`struction unit 117. The operation instruction unit 117
`outputs to the motor drive circuit 102 an operation 45
`instruction which depends on the state of the switch.
`The system for detecting a state where an object is
`caught in the window includes a motor speed sensor 115
`for detecting the speed of the motor by sensing the time
`intervals of the signals from the motor rotation sensor 50
`MRS, and an object-caught detector 116 for detecting
`the object-caught state by sensing a reduction of the
`motor speed. The speed reduction is detected by com(cid:173)
`paring the sensed speed and the reference value. The
`output signal of the object-caught detector 116 is input 55
`to the other input terminal of the AND gate 114. The
`output signal of the AND gate 114 is input to the safety
`control operation instruction unit 118. Upon receipt of
`the object-caught signal, the safety control operation
`instruction unit 118 controls the operation instruction 60
`unit 117 for effecting a safety control operation. For
`safety control, the window glass is moved 12 em from
`the current position of the window glass in the opening
`direction.
`In the power window apparatus thus constructed, 65
`when the motor 11 starts to operate, the motor rotation
`sensor MRS sends pulse signals to the microcomputer
`100. The motor speed sensor 115 detects the motor
`
`6
`speed according to the time intervals of the pulse sig(cid:173)
`nals. When the motor speed is below the reference
`speed, the object-caught detector 115 outputs an object(cid:173)
`caught signal. Either the absolute speed or the relative
`speed can be used for the motor speed.
`The direction detector 110 detects the direction of
`rotation of the motor 11, i.e., the opening or closing
`direction of the window, using- the pulse signals from
`the motor rotation sensor MRS. As the motor shaft
`turns, the paired Hall elements 13A and 13b produce
`pulse signals shifted by ; period with respect to one,
`another, with the direction of the shift being determined
`by the direction of motor rotation. The direction of the
`motor rotation thus can be detected from the phase
`difference of the pulse signals. In the opening/closing
`position detector 111, the counter contained therein
`counts up or down according to the direction of motor
`rotation and the amount of the motor rotation. The
`resultant count is indicative of the present position of
`the window. The safety control region recognizing unit
`112 determines whether or not the window is within the
`safety control region on the basis of the output signal of
`the opening/closing position detector 111. If it is within
`the safety control region, it applies an output signal to
`the AND gate 114.
`In detecting the safety control region, the window
`position detector 113 accurately detects the position of
`the window near the position where the window is fully
`closed, and applies the detected position to the safety
`control region recognizing unit 112. Accordingly, the
`safety control region can be exactly recognized, In the
`window position detector 113, the pulse signals from
`the window movement sensor WTS are counted by the
`counter as in the opening/closing position detector 111.
`The count of the counter provides the absolute position
`of the window.
`The object-caught detection signal is input to the
`AND gate 114. At the same time, the signal from the
`safety control region recognizing unit 112 is applied to
`the AND gate 114. Since the gate is enabled by the
`signal from the safety control region recognizing unit
`112, the object-caught detect signal is passed to the
`safety control operation instruction unit 118. The unit
`118 operates
`the operation
`instruction unit 117,
`whereby the safety control operation is carried out. In
`the safety control operation, the operation instruction
`unit 117 inverts the polarity of the current applied to the
`motor 11 by the motor drive circuit 102. Then, the
`motor is reversely turned to open the window glass a
`preset distance of, for example, 12 em, and then is
`stopped. As a result, the object is released from its state
`of being caught in the window. Thus, safety is secured.
`In the window movement sensor WTS, the ring mag(cid:173)
`net 20 is of the multi-pole type. Accordingly, it pro(cid:173)
`duces a pulse signal whose frequency is higher than that
`of the signal from the motor rotation sensor MRS, if its
`speed is reduced by the worm mechanism. By using the
`pulse signal of the higher frequency, the window posi(cid:173)
`tion detector 113 accurately detects the quantity of
`motor rotation after passing the damper 16, that is, the
`quantity of movement of the window glass 6, which is
`moved by the wire 4 wound around the drive pulley 18.
`Accordingly, in the safety,control region recognizing
`unit 112, the safety control mode removal region can be
`controlled precisely.
`The window movement sensor WTS detects the
`amount of motor rotation after the rotating force from
`the motor 11 passes the damper 16. Accordingly, if the
`
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`5,404,673
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`7
`8
`measured precisely. The resultant detection precision is
`direction or amount of rotation of the damper 16 is
`higher than that in the detecting method using the sig-
`changed, the detected quantity of the movement of the
`nals from the Hall elements. Even a distance as small as
`window nevertheless does not contain any error. Thus,
`about 4 mm can be detected. Thus, high precision con-
`the absolute position of the window can be detected
`5 trol of the safety control mode disabling region is real-
`with high precision.
`ized.
`Sets of waveforms of signals output from a motor
`The operation of the power window apparatus in-
`speed sensor and a window movement sensor are illus-
`trated in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). The waveforms of the
`eluding safety control, which uses the motor rotation
`signals output from the motor rotation sensor MRS are
`sensor MRS and the window movement sensor WTS, is
`shown in FIG. 4(a). The waveforms of the signals out- 10 as shown in FIG. 7.
`put from the window movement sensor WTS are
`As described above, the distortions in the rotation of
`shown in FIG. 4(b). Reference numerals in FIGS. 4(a)
`the damper will not cause error in the window ope-
`and 4(b) correspond to those of the Hall elements.
`ning/closing position, as in the first embodiment. The
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a key portion of
`amount of movement of the window glass is directly
`a power window apparatus according to a second em- 15 detected, so that the result does not involve the wire 4,
`bodiment of the present invention. In this.embodiment,
`the pulleys 5, and the like. Because of this, the power
`a potentiometer is used instead of the window move-
`window apparatus is free from detection error of the
`ment sensor. The motor rotation sensor is the same as
`window opening/closing position and the window
`that in the first embodiment. In the figure, a potentiome-
`movement quantity due to stretching of the wire 4,
`ter 30 is attached to one side of the rail 2 of the power 20 slippage of the wire on the pulleys 5, and the like. Ac-
`window apparatus. When the window approaches the
`cordingly, the position control is more accurate than
`position where the window is fully closed, the slider 3
`that in the first embodiment.
`operates the potentiometer 30.
`High precision control is not required for the window
`In the potentiometer 30, as shown in FIG. 6(a), a
`opening/closing position outside the effective stroke of
`resistor member 32 is mounted on a substrate 31. An 25 the potentiometer 30. Accordingly, the output signal of
`actuator 34, which is slidably mounted within a casing
`the motor rotation sensor MRS is used. The use of the
`33 covering the substrate 31, is resiliently held in a state
`output signal is applied to the position detection spaced
`15 mm or more from the fully-closed position of the
`where it is urged in one direction by a pair of springs 35.
`An operating rod 34a protruding from the actuator 34
`window.
`projects through a hole of the casing 33 to abut the 30 As seen from the foregoing description, a detector for
`slider 3. The actuator 34 includes a contacts 37, which
`sensing the amount of window movement is provided in
`slides on the surface of the resistor member 32. The
`addition to the detector for sensing the state of motor
`output of the potentiometer 30, which is in the form of
`rotation employed to move the window. The opening/-
`a resistance, is indicative of the amount of movement of
`closing position of the window is detected according to
`the actuator 34. The variation characteristics of the 35 the quantity of window movement. The power window
`quantity of movement and the resistance are linear.
`apparatus can thus detect the window opening/closing
`Also in the second embodiment, an object-caught
`position close to the fully closed position of the window
`state is detected using the signal output from the motor
`highly precisely, and control the safety control mode
`rotation sensor MRS as in the first embodiment. The
`removal region can be precisely effected. Therefore, the
`absolute position of the window is detected in the fol- 40 power window apparatus of the invention has a good
`lowing manner. When the window is moved up to a
`safety performance.
`position where the window is fully closed, the slider 3,
`Further embodiments of the present invention will be
`which is fixedly coupled to the window glass 6, hits the
`described with reference to the accompanying draw-
`operating rod 34a of the potentiometer 30 to tum the
`ings. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the overall construe-
`actuator 34. As a result, the resistance value output at 45 tion of a power window apparatus according to an
`embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a win-
`the contact 37 changes. Using this resistance value, the
`absolute position of the wind glass, i.e., the window
`dow opening/closing mechanism 201 is installed in a
`opening/closing position, is detected.
`portion of the body of an automobile located under the
`The potentiometer 30 is electrically constructed as
`window. In