United States Patent
`
`Ito et al.
`
`[15] 3,651,389
`£451 Mar. 21, 1972
`
`£541 SAFETY DEVICE FOR USE WITH
`AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE WINDOW
`REGULATOR
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`331/65 3,409,842 11/1968 Emb1ins et al. ..........................
`
`
`(72] Inventors: Shlgehiko Ito, Kariya-shi;
`
`Hiroshi Arai,
`3,513,374
`
`5/1970 Koment ................................. 318/266
`
`Toyota-shi, both of Japan
`
`8/1970 Ruossetal... .......................... 318/478
`3,525,028
`
`3,200,304
`8/1965 Atkins et al ..................... .. 200/DIG. I
`[ 73] Assignee: Nippon Denso Kabushlki Kalsha, Showa­
`
`
`cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan
`[22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1969
`[21] Appl. No.: 873,320
`
`z. Rubinson
`Primary Examiner-Gene
`
`Examiner-W. E. Duncanson, Jr.
`Assistant
`
`Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman
`
`
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`[30]
`
`
`
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`
`A safe automatic window regulator so designed that if the
`human body and the like touches the upper end of the window
`Nov. 9, 1968 Japan ............... :···················43/97823
`glass, it is sensed so that even if the switch has been closed in
`
`
`
`the direction to close the window, the electric circuit is au to­
`[52] U.S. Cl •............................... 318/266, 318/286,318/466
`
`matically changed over so as to reopen the window thereby
`[51] Int. Cl • ......................... ................................. H02p 1/22
`
`preventing harm to the human body and the like due to any in­
`[58] Field of Search ......................... 318/266, 286,466, 478;
`
`advertency.
`
`317/123 P; 340/258; 200/DIG. I
`
`5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure
`
`420
`
`:--1��-....-4-�-tT
`
`419
`3b
`
`30
`
`'4
`
`

`

`PATENTEmm.R21I972
`PATENTEDM�R211972
`
`‘
`
`% 3,551,389
`'3,651 .389
`
`420
`
`419
`
`3b
`
`
`···\-···- --··---·-- -·-·- -··--···
`.'4
`
`. f1'nvcn+ors
`.
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`H/msh: Ara:
`
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`
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`
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`
`_
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1024 A
`
`

`

`3,651,389
`
`1
`SAFETY DEVICE FOR USE WITH AUTOMATIC
`AUTOMOBILE WINDOW REGULATOR
`
`2
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`
`
`The present invention will be explained hereinafter in con­
`
`
`
`junction with the illustrated embodiment. In the accompany-
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`a power source such as a 5 ing drawing, numeral 1 designates
`I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`storage battery, and 2 a switch in which a movable contact 2c
`
`The present invention relates to a safety device for use with
`
`is manually operated to contact with either one of fixed con­
`
`
`
`automatic automobile window regulators. which automatically
`
`
`tacts 2a and 2b. Numeral 3 designates an electric motor for
`stops the rising movement of the window glass to prevent any
`
`
`
`operating the window regulator which is so constructed that it
`harm to the human body, should a hand or the like be caught
`
`
`I 0 makes a forward rotation when the motor is energized through
`between the window glass and the window frame.
`
`
`a field coil3a, and that the direction of rotation of the motor is
`2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`
`
`reversed when it is energized through the other field coil 3b.
`
`
`Conventionally, the vertical movement of an automobile
`
`
`
`Numeral 4 designates a relay circuit according to the present
`. :window glass was effected by manually turning the handle to
`
`
`
`invention, and 401 an antenna connected to an electrode such
`
`raise or lower the window glass. However, with the manufac­
`
`15 as a conductor foil mounted on the upper end of the window
`
`
`ture of more and more elaborate automobiles, the· recent
`
`
`glass. Numeral 402 designates a capacitor to block the relay
`
`
`trend is towards manufacturing an increasing number of win­
`
`circuit 4 from the antenna 401 with respect to the DC com­
`
`dows in which the window glass is automatically powered by
`
`
`ponent. Numeral 403 designates a resistor, and 404 a capaci-
`
`an electric motor. However, such powered windows are very
`20 tor to block the DC component. Numeral
`
`405 designates an
`
`dangerous in a sense, because, if its switch is operated by
`
`
`oscillating coil, and 406 also designates an oscillating coil,
`mistake by a child and the like and a hand or the like is caught
`
`both coils being wound so that they have their polarities set as
`
`.between the window glass and the window frame, the window
`shown by the mark ".'; in the drawing. Numeral 407
`
`
`glass will nevertheless continue its upward movement with the
`
`
`
`
`designates an oscillating transistor, and the oscillation circuit
`hand or the like being caught therebetween.
`
`25 composed of the transistor 407 and the coils 405 and 406
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`forms a high-frequency oscillation circuit whose oscillation
`
`
`frequency is of the order of several MHz. Here, the oscillation
`
`The general object of the present invention is to provide a
`
`
`
`
`frequency of the oscillation circuit is determined by the in­
`
`
`
`highly safe automatic window regulator wherein, if a part of
`
`
`ductance and stray capacitance of the oscillating coil 405 on
`the human body and the like touches the upper end ofthe win­
`
`
`30 the side of the base of the oscillating transistor 407 and by the
`dow glass, it is sensed so that, even if the switch has been
`
`
`
`stray inductance and stray capacitance of the base circuit of
`
`
`closed in the direction to close the window, the electric circuit
`
`
`the oscillating transistor 407. Numeral408 designates a varia­
`
`is automatically changed over so as to reopen the window to
`
`
`ble resistor constituting a portion of the emitter bias resistor
`
`thereby prevent hurt to the human body and the like due to an
`
`
`
`for the oscillating transistor 407, and 409 a resistor constitut-
`inadvertency.
`
`35 ing also a portion of the emitter bias resistor for the transistor
`
`
`More specifically, the object of the present invention is to
`
`
`
`407, a bypass capacitor 410 being connected in parallel with
`
`provide what is stated in the claim.
`
`
`
`the resistor 409. Numeral 411 designates a bias resistor for a
`According to the present invention, a relay circuit for de­
`
`
`
`
`
`transistor 412; 413 and 414 capacitors to ensure the conduc-
`
`tecting a hand or the like which is caught by the window glass
`
`
`the source voltage to 40 tion of the transistor 412 upon applying
`
`
`
`
`includes an oscillation circuit wherein the base circuit of its
`
`the circuit so that a relay coil 418 will not be operated by
`
`
`
`
`oscillating transistor is connected to an electrode mounted on
`
`
`mistake due to the conduction of a transistor 416. Numeral
`
`the upper end of the window glass, and a high-frequency oscil­
`
`
`
`415 designates a load resistor of the transistor 412. The
`
`
`
`lation circuit is employed as the said oscillation circuit whose
`
`
`
`transistor 416 forms a Schmitt circuit with the transistor 412.
`
`
`
`
`oscillation frequency is determined by the inductance and
`
`
`of both 45 Numeral 417 designates a common emitter resistor
`
`
`stray capacitance of the oscillating coil and by the stray in­
`
`
`
`transistors 412 and 416, which provides a hysteresis effect for
`
`
`ductance and stray capacitance of the base circuit of the oscil­
`
`
`the on-off operations. Numeral419 designates a movable con­
`
`
`
`lating transistor, whereby the oscillating condition of the oscil­
`
`tact actuated by the relay coil418 and 420 and 421 a normally
`
`
`lation circuit in the device of the present invention is made
`closed fixed contact and a normally open fixed contact as-
`
`
`very critical so that a very slight electrical change in the base
`
`
`respectively. 50 sociated with the movable contact,
`
`
`
`circuit of the oscillating transistor caused by a hand or the like
`
`
`
`With the construction described above, the operation of the
`
`
`
`touching the electrode may readily cause the -oscillation cir­
`
`
`device according to the present invention will be explained
`
`cuit to start or stop its oscillation, hence not only the detection
`
`
`
`hereinafter. Now, assuming that the movable contact 2c of the
`
`
`
`
`sensitivity is excellent but also the external appearance of the
`
`switch 2 is caused to contact with the fixed contact 2a to close
`window is not spoiled since the sensing means comprises
`
`55 the window, current is supplied to the electric motor 3
`
`
`merely an electrode of a very simple construction such as a
`through the field coil 3a, and the motor 3 makes a forward
`
`
`conductor foil. These are the remarkable effects attributable
`
`running, whereupon the window glass is moved upward. At
`to the present invention.
`
`
`
`this instance, the relay circuit 4 is supplied with the source
`
`
`Moreover, because the oscillating transistor is provided
`
`voltage through the contacts 2c and 2a, so that the oscillation
`
`with an emitter bias resistor and a portion of this bias resistor
`60
`
`
`
`operation of the oscillating transistor 407 is caused by the
`
`
`
`is composed of a variable resistor to accomplish a negative
`
`feedback from this variable resistor to the oscillating
`
`feedback action between the oscillating coils 405 and 406,
`
`
`
`transistor, there is a further advantage that the magnitude of
`
`
`and the oscillation output voltage of the transistor appears
`
`
`
`the negative feedback to the oscillating transistor is changed
`
`across the resistors 408 and 409. This causes the potential
`
`
`
`
`according to the resistance value ofthe variable resistor to ad­
`
`
`408 and 409, and 65 raise at the junction point A of the resistors
`
`
`just the stability of the oscillation circuit thereby achieving the
`
`
`
`the transistor 412 in the succeeding stage conducts, so that the
`
`
`
`
`adjustment of the sensitivity of the oscillation circuit very easi­
`
`
`transistor 416 is brought into a nonconducting state, and the
`
`
`ly. Furthermore, there is another advantage that there is no
`
`relay coil418 remains deenergized, thereby leaving the mova­
`
`
`need to especially provide a transformer and the like in the
`
`
`ble contact 419 to be in contact with the normally closed fixed
`
`
`
`output circuit of the oscillation circuit, since the oscillation
`70 contact 420. On the other hand, since the antenna 401 of the
`output is taken out from the said emitter bias resistor.
`
`
`
`relay circuit 4 is connected with the electrode mounted on the
`
`
`upper end of the window glass or in the vicinity thereof, if a
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`
`portion of the human body such as a hand and the like touches
`
`
`the said electrode, it is equivalent to that the base of the oscil-
`
`
`The accompanying drawing is an electrical wiring diagram
`
`75 lating transistor 407 is grounded by means of a certain
`
`showing an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`

`

`3,651,389
`
`4
`
`3
`capacitance of the human body, and the oscillating condition
`
`
`touched with a hand.
`
`
`
`
`of the oscillation circuit including the transistor 407 collapses
`We claim:
`1 . A safety device for use with automatic automobile win­
`
`thereby stopping the oscillation.
`
`
`
`dow regulators wherein a reversible window regulating motor
`
`
`
`Here, as the oscillation circuit comprising the oscillating
`
`
`
`is provided for raising and lowering at least one window glass,
`
`
`transistor 407 and the oscillating coils 405 and 406 are formed 5
`said safety device comprising:
`
`
`
`as a high-frequency oscillation circuit whose frequency of
`an oscillation circuit comprising an oscillating transistor, se­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`oscillation is ' determined by the inductance and stray
`
`ries connected emitter bias resistors connected to the
`
`
`capacitance of the oscillating coil 405 and by the stray in­
`
`
`emitter of said transistor, oscillation coil means con­
`
`ductance and stray capacitance of the base circuit of the oscil­
`
`nected between the collector and the base of said
`
`
`
`lating transistor 407, the waveform of the generated output is I 0
`
`
`transistor, and an electrode for mounting on the upper
`
`
`
`very unstable and the condition for oscillation of this oscilla­
`
`end of said window glass and connected to the base of
`
`
`
`
`tion circuit is made extremely critical. It is thus possible to
`
`
`
`said transistor, said oscillation circuit being oscillatable
`
`
`
`readily stop the oscillation of the transistor 407 by simply
`
`
`with a high frequency which is determined by the in­
`
`causing a small portion of the electric signal feedback to the
`
`ductance of said oscillation coils and by the stray
`
`
`oscillating transistor 407 to leak to the ground through the 15
`
`
`capacitance and the stray inductance of said electrode,
`
`human body and the like. It is to be recalled here that the
`
`
`one of said emitter bias resistors being a variable resistor
`
`
`emitter bias resistors 408 and 409 is inserted into the emitter
`
`
`for adjusting the amount of negative feedback from the
`
`
`
`
`circuit of the oscillating transistor 407, and the variable re­
`
`emitter to the base of said oscillating transistor by varying
`
`
`sistor 408 is employed as a portion of this bias resistor to ac­
`
`
`
`the resistance thereof, the other of said resistors being
`
`complish a negative feedback from the variable resistor408 to 20
`
`
`
`
`
`bypassed by a capacitor and oscillation output of said
`
`
`the oscillating transistor 407, and the sensitivity of the oscilla­
`
`
`
`oscillation circuit being taken from the junction of said
`
`
`
`tion circuit may be thereby readily adjusted, because any ad­
`
`emitter bias resistors;
`
`
`justment of the magnitude of the variable resistor 408 to
`
`a relay and a relay control circuit, said relay control circuit
`
`
`change the amount of the negative feedback will change the
`
`
`being responsive to said oscillation output for controlling
`
`oscillating condition of the oscillation circuit and sub-25
`
`
`
`the energization of said relay; and
`
`
`
`sequently the stability of the oscillation. Then, since the suc­
`means in said control circuit for automatically reversing
`
`
`
`
`
`ceeding stage transistor 412 is driven into cut off and the
`
`said window regulating motor to lower said glass in
`
`
`
`transistor 416 conducts when the oscillating transistor 407
`
`
`response to operation of said relay.
`
`
`stops its oscillation as previously described, a current is sup­
`2 . A safety device as in claim 1 , wherein said emitter bias re­
`plied to the relay coil 418, and the movable contact 419 30
`
`
`sistors are connected between the emitter of said transistor
`
`
`comes into contact with the normally open fixedcontact 421.
`
`
`and ground, said oscillation coil means comprising a first oscil­
`
`
`This causes a current to flow into the electric motor 3 through
`
`
`
`lation coil connected to the collector of said transistor and a
`
`the reversing field coil 3b, hence the window glass in the up­
`
`
`second oscillation coil connected to the base of said transistor
`
`
`
`ward movement is reversed. The instant an obstacle, such as
`and wherein a coupling capacitor is connected between said
`
`
`
`
`
`the hand or the like, is removed, the oscillating transistor 407 35
`
`
`electrode and the base of said oscillating transistor.
`
`
`starts its oscillation again, and the transistor 412 conducts
`
`3 . A safety device as in claim 2 , wherein said oscillation cir­
`
`thereby cutting off the transistor 416, whereby the movable
`
`
`
`cuit further comprises a DC blocking capacitor connected in
`
`
`contact 419 comes into contact with the normally closed fixed
`
`
`series with second oscillation coil, and a resistor connected
`contact 420 thus causing the window glass to move upward
`
`between the base of said transistor and said power source.
`again. In this case, a limit switch and the like may be employed 40
`
`4 . A safety device for use with an automatic automobile
`
`to detect the position of the window glass when it has moved
`
`window regulator having a power source, a window regulator
`
`up to the position where the upper end of the window glass
`
`motor, and a manual switch for changing the direction of said
`
`contacts with the window frame to thereby prevent the relay
`motor to open or close a window glass, comprising:
`
`coi1418 from being actuated again. By this means, such an un­
`
`
`electrode detecting means adapted to be mounted on said
`
`desired operation may be avoided that, although no hand or 45
`
`
`window glass for signalling the presence of an adjacent
`
`the like is caught between the electrode and the window
`human object by changing its stray impedance,
`
`frame, the relay coil 418 should be energized by the
`
`
`
`
`
`a transistorized oscillator circuit electrically connected to
`
`
`capacitance between the electrode and the window frame, and
`
`
`said electrode and coil structured to change its normal
`
`
`
`that the direction of the rotation of the electric motor 3 should
`
`
`
`operation into an abnormal operating condition when and
`be thereby reversed to cause the window glass to go 50
`
`only while the stray impedance of said electrode means
`
`
`downwards even under such a normal operation condition. In­
`
`changes as aforesaid, and
`
`stead of employing a limit switch, the window frame may be
`
`means connected· to said oscillator circuit and responsive
`
`formed so that only the electrode section of the antenna 401
`
`only to said abnormal condition for automatically
`may be free from the contact with the window frame when the
`
`reversing said motor to cause said glass to move in an
`
`upper end of the window glass reaches the position where it 55
`
`
`opening direction while said manual switch is in a position
`
`
`contacts with the window frame. The present invention will
`
`
`normally to cause closing of the glass so as to prevent said
`
`not be limited to those in which the window regulation is ef­
`
`
`glass, �uman object from being caught by closing
`
`fected by means of an electric motor, but is equally applicable
`
`
`said reversing means being also responsive immediately
`
`
`
`to a pneumatic or a hydraulic window regulator if a relay is
`
`
`upon cessation of said abnormal condition and return of
`
`utilized to control the opening and closing of the pneumatic or 60
`
`
`
`
`
`said oscillator circuit to its said normal operation due to
`
`the hydraulic circuit.
`sufficient removal of said human object from said elec­
`Now, referring to the experiments conducted with the fol­
`
`
`
`
`
`trode detecting means to effect automatic re-reversing of
`
`
`lowing component parts: the oscillating coil 405-diameter of
`
`said motor so that said window glass resumes its move­
`winding 15 cp, number of turns 25; oscillating
`coil 406-
`
`
`
`ment in the closing direction while the said manual switch
`winding I 0 cp, number of turns 15; the capacitor
`65
`diameter of
`
`remains in its said normal closing position.
`
`402-0.001 to 0.01 p.f.; the resistor 403-IM!l; the capacitor
`5. A safety device as in claim 4 wherein said oscillator ab­
`
`
`402-500 pf. to 0.1 p.f.; the electrode of the antenna 401-a
`
`
`
`
`normal operating condition is a non-oscillating condition and
`
`
`
`
`conductor foil; and the oscillation frequency of the oscillation
`
`
`
`said electrode detecting means is a conductor foil adapted to
`
`
`
`from the experi­obtained circuit - 4 to 5 MHz, the results
`
`mount on the closing edge of said window glass.
`ments have shown that the upward movement of the window 70
`
`
`glass was exactly prevented when the said electrode was
`
`* * *
`
`* *
`
`75
`
`