United States Patent [191
`Okuyama et al.
`
`[II] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,608,637
`Aug. 26, 1986
`
`[75]
`
`[54] CONTROL DEVICE FOR DRIVING
`ROAD-VEHICLE ELECTRIC-POWERED
`EQUIPMENT
`Inventors: Teiji Okuyama, Toyota; Hiroshi
`Noutomi, Yokohama, both of Japan
`[73] Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi,
`Japan
`[21] Appl. No.: 537,619
`Sep. 30, 1983
`[22] Filed:
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Sep. 30, 1982 [JP]
`Japan .: .............................. 57-172964
`[51]
`Int. Cl.4 ........................ G06F 15/20; G06D 3/20
`[52] U.S. CI ..................................... 364/424; 318/466;
`318/103; 364/140; 307/140
`[58) Field of Search ............... 364/424, 715, 425, 140;
`340/52 F; 318/102, 652, 103, 596, 444, 443,
`446, 447, 452, 466; 200/1 R; 307/139, 140, 141
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,013,875 3/1977 McGlynn ............................ 364/424
`4,204,255 5/1980 Cremer ................................ 364/715
`4,306,218 12/1981 Leconte et al. ..................... 364/424
`4,328,451 5/1982 Barge .................................. 318/596
`
`[56)
`
`4,463,426 7/1984 Caddick et al. ..................... 364/424
`4,481,585 11/1984- Huntzinger et al. ................ 364/424
`
`Primary Examiner-Felix D. Gruber
`Assistant Examiner-Thomas G. Black
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Mion, Zinn,
`Macpeak & Seas
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57)
`Automatic opening/closing control of side windows of
`a vehicle. An electronic control device mainly com(cid:173)
`posed of a microcomputer reads respective time-serial
`opening/closing patterns of key switches. These time(cid:173)
`serial opening/closing patterns are respectively allo(cid:173)
`cated to commands sent to the electronic control de(cid:173)
`vice. The electronic control device controls driving of
`the opening/closing mechanism for each side window
`in accordance with the commands. The electronic con(cid:173)
`trol device further effects overload detection of the
`opening/closing mechanism, limit position detection in
`movement thereof as well as arithmetic operation of the
`actual position, and then stops driving of the opening/(cid:173)
`closing mechanism at the time when the opening/clos(cid:173)
`ing mechanism undergoes overload and at the time
`when the actual position reaches the goal position.
`
`8 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures
`
`Po
`
`P1
`
`Pz
`
`PJ
`
`Oo
`01
`02
`03
`04
`05
`06
`
`07
`
`Rs
`
`R7
`
`r;
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`4,608,63 7
`
`5 - -
`
`Fi-g.1b
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 2 of 17
`
`4,608,63 7
`
`Fig.l c
`
`7a
`
`Fig.2a
`
`Fig.2b
`
`Fig. 2c
`
`2
`
`Fig.2d
`
`2
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`4,608,637
`
`Fig.3a
`
`Glass Rising Stroke
`
`3-rd Position
`Position
`2-nd Position
`
`Fig.3b
`
`12
`
`10
`
`,......,
`~8
`+'
`10::
`Q) 6
`~
`
`4
`
`~
`+'
`~ 2
`
`0
`
`10
`8
`6
`4
`2
`Weight on Powered Window
`Regulator Glass Kg
`
`Fig.4b
`
`23 -\
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 4
`
`

`

`'.._,J
`~
`0'.
`...
`00
`0
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`...
`+;;..
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`t
`~ = f""'t-
`
`0"\
`00
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`0"\
`N
`
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`
`07~
`
`1M -r r---1.2St"1VB --------___.J
`
`06
`05
`04
`NV
`031------w-"
`02
`01
`IW
`
`r
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`r
`
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`
`Oo
`
`P3~
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`P2~
`
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`
`r--'1"---!5<'H Vee
`
`p 1 t---------'M-1:
`
`Md II Ma IIMab IIMda
`
`Po
`R12~ t
`
`~
`
`MB8850
`
`?d --y7~aP7abP7daQ
`
`6d
`
`Vee)~ Vee
`6ab 16da
`
`RaEF
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`Rg
`
`Rll
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`22 _./'" J--W-------!R7
`
`IR6
`
`jl
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`
`~
`20
`
`13
`
`10
`-tB<>-<>(
`
`GNDh GNO
`Veci--oVec
`
`Fig.4a
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 5 of 17
`
`4,608,63 7
`
`Fig.4c
`
`Fig.5a
`
`Fig.5b
`
`Fig.5d
`
`77~7 ~ .1'
`7~7
`
`Up-on
`i
`
`\
`
`\
`7
`
`I
`
`\
`
`-..:
`
`,
`
`"'
`
`Switch OFF
`
`Up Switch 00
`
`Switch OFF
`(Returned State)
`
`Fig.5c
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 6
`
`

`

`-.l
`(j.)
`~ 0\
`00
`0
`~ 0\
`~
`
`7
`
`2
`
`Clear other fl
`Clear window control fl
`Clear posi~ioning flag F
`Clear data A, Data
`
`~ -........
`g" a
`
`0\
`
`rJ).
`
`tO 29
`
`•
`
`~ RO o~ _,Rl = L ? ) 1L
`
`7
`
`6
`
`Fig. 6a
`
`~
`•
`00
`~ •
`
`'" -\0
`~
`~ (t) a
`
`0\
`00
`
`0\
`N
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 7 of 17
`
`4,608,637
`
`Fig.6a (CONT.)
`
`FROM 15
`
`1'/2.
`pos1 t1on
`t 3-
`data in goal
`position register
`
`timer out
`>'
`
`1 counting-up of
`highest two digits
`B2 & ro of B
`
`Clear key-in flag,
`key-off flag & timers
`
`17J
`
`Clear window control
`Obtain goal position u....:.fl:::a=--~----~
`data based on levels
`of R6 & R7 and data
`
`17
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 8
`
`

`

`-.....1
`0'\ w
`-..
`00
`0
`0'\
`~ -..
`
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`
`00
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`tJ:l
`
`~
`•
`C/.)
`
`c •
`
`_., -\.0
`~ (!Q'
`~ ('t) = ~
`
`0\
`00
`
`0\
`N
`
`6$
`
`set it in goal register
`direction) and data B,
`of opening or closing
`of R6 & R7 (instruction
`data based on levels
`Obtain goal position
`stop flag
`Set key-in reading
`
`control flag
`Clear window
`
`#
`
`17
`
`?1.
`
`timer
`
`Fig.6b
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 9
`
`

`

`0'\ w
`....
`00
`0
`0'\
`~ ....
`
`-.}
`
`~ -........)
`
`0
`1..0
`.-+
`('t)
`('t)
`::r'
`VJ
`
`I
`
`... -1..0
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`~ a
`~
`~
`•
`rJ'J.
`
`0'\
`00
`
`0'\
`N
`
`c •
`
`4,608,637
`
`•
`
`US. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
`
`B) I
`
`of ...
`
`~7
`
`
`
`HahpnooEOUCHBnew
`
`{(.6
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`wmam
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`Fig.Gc 5
`
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`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 10
`
`
`
`

`

`-.l
`(jJ
`0'\
`-..
`00
`0
`0'\
`~ -..
`
`~ --...J
`a -0
`
`g'
`Vl
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`•
`Cl.l
`
`c •
`
`... -\.0
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`~ ('t) a
`
`0'\
`00
`
`0'\
`N
`
`-
`
`I
`
`'-' "
`
`I
`
`' -
`
`register in Dab register
`set reference point
`register in cab register,
`Set current pos1 t10n
`
`n.
`
`1t
`
`TO 83
`
`L~ I·
`j,.z} register in D:ia register I
`set reference point
`register in Cda register,
`Set current position
`~~----~----~~----~
`
`/"
`
`register in Dd register
`, set reference point
`register in Cd register
`I Set current position
`I
`~~--------~---~~----~~
`
`= L ?
`RO or R1 of data A
`
`~
`
`R6 of data A = H ?
`
`~--------1~------
`Register set flag ?
`
`Fig. 7a
`
`·
`One of RO-R5 of data A = L ?
`
`..
`
`--
`
`U.Lnput pon ~etting u---;--l
`
`72
`URe.ference point deciding IJ
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 11
`
`

`

`-.l
`~
`0"1
`-..
`00
`0
`0"1
`~ -..
`
`I-+) -.....,J
`....... --0
`
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`t:r'
`VJ.
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`•
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`~
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`t N
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`00
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`
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`
`----------·
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`I
`
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`
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`
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`
`92,
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`
`91"'' I Store inout oolari tv of II II! I clear torwarct
`
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`
`-
`
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`
`I
`
`.. ~~~5 -~~Motor drive setting 11!
`
`I
`
`FROM 82
`
`Fig. 7a (CONT.)
`
`to 1=3, set output I Motor Md drive] I
`
`setting
`
`·· --·---,
`
`.[X>rt PO to H
`I Set reading .(X)rt Ki I
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 12
`
`

`

`0"\ w
`-...
`00
`0
`0'\
`~ -...
`
`......,J
`
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`~ -N
`
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`
`___________ _j
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`.. ::::::1
`------11 ---------... -value Iii
`
`.. I
`
`..
`
`flag Ea
`
`..
`r
`
`...
`--------
`
`f•
`
`Return to
`..
`p.
`J:_J?int de~~ding ~-lag F
`
`·-
`
`i I Clear reference
`II
`
`deciding flag Eda
`reference
`
`?L
`
`= L?
`R2 or R3 of data A
`
`7Z.
`
`= L?
`RO or Rl of data A
`
`~
`•
`Cl.l
`~
`
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`~ (I) a
`
`0"\
`00
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`0"\
`N
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`I
`
`II
`
`II
`
`~ of IIUDdate content of
`
`I
`
`v
`In ' ~.
`I
`
`11.
`
`at
`
`lri~h~~~~~~~~·~~~~~-~~~-~x----~•
`
`II ~te of Positwn-111
`
`initial control
`Motor drive
`
`.. ~;
`
`9~
`
`?
`
`1t
`
`9S
`
`. (R6
`
`1:"
`I .
`I
`
`Fig.7b t ..----------t
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 13 of 17 4,608,637
`
`Fig.7c
`
`Return to 7
`
`Update and store
`content of current
`position register
`-d2 in reference
`point register as
`2-nd position data
`( D:.l2 , Da2 , Ddl>2 or D1a2
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 26, 1986
`
`Sheet 14 of 17 4,608,637
`
`Fig. 7c (CONT.)
`
`FROM 110
`
`128
`
`Update content of
`the number of times
`counter to 1
`
`Heturn to 7
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 15
`
`

`

`-.l
`~
`0'\
`._.
`00
`0
`0'\
`~ ._.
`
`~ --1
`f""''--UJ
`
`(T)
`(T)
`t:r'
`VJ
`
`I-'d
`•
`V'J
`~
`
`.._ -\0
`~ (!Q
`~ (t) a
`
`0"1
`00
`
`0"1
`N
`
`position data
`point register as 2-nd
`register -d2 in reference
`content of current position
`Update and store
`
`?r..
`
`)I
`
`. data in reference
`= content of 2-nd position
`position register -d2
`Content of current
`
`int register?
`
`117
`
`Fig. 7d
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 16
`
`

`

`-.l
`V.l
`0"\
`...
`00
`0
`0"\
`~ ...
`
`~ --:J
`('I) a -0\
`
`:::r'
`en
`
`~
`•
`00
`~ •
`
`"' -\0
`~
`~ (1) a
`
`0\
`00
`
`0\
`N
`
`Clear key-in reading stop flag
`Clear window control flag,
`Clear drive initial flag,
`Clear data A,
`
`Update position data
`
`timer out
`
`II
`
`I •-
`
`? ..
`
`••
`
`•
`
`I ''-. .
`
`;as 1...,1 ~ '
`AJlZ .... ~ .
`
`Fig.8a
`
`![Window control II
`
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`Page 17
`
`

`

`-.l
`0\ w
`...
`00
`0
`0\
`~ ...
`
`~ --.J
`~ --.J
`
`(/) ;
`
`~
`•
`Cll
`
`c •
`
`"' -\.0
`~
`~ (1) a
`
`0"1
`00
`
`0"1
`N
`
`register y
`register..:::. content of goal
`Content of current position
`
`y
`
`Fig.8b
`
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`IPR2014-00417
`Page 18
`
`

`

`4,608,637
`
`1
`
`CONTROL DEVICE FOR DRIVING
`ROAD-VEHICLE ELECI'RIC-POWERED
`EQUIPMENT
`
`2
`operation is controlled to be positioned in the instructed
`position.
`In the road-vehicle electric-powered equipment thus
`arranged, there arise such problems as follows. If any
`5 substance rides on the movable object or some part of
`the human body obstructs the movement thereof, or if
`any foreign matter is caught in the driving mechanism,
`the mechanism will not move smoothly in spite of the
`continued actuation of the motor. This results in that
`the driving source may be subject to overload, or that
`the person or the mechanism may be damaged. Further,
`due to wear and rattling of the mechanism components,
`the movable members tend to be positioned incorrectly
`·
`with the lapse of time.
`Therefore, in a control device for driving road-vehi(cid:173)
`cle electric-powered equipments wherein a signal gen(cid:173)
`erator such as a ·rotary encoder adapted to issue an
`electric signal undergoing level changes in conjunction
`with a mechanical movement is coupled to the electric(cid:173)
`powered . driving mechanism, the electronic control
`device such as a microcomputer (or microprocessor)
`counts the level changes in the electric signal to mea(cid:173)
`sure the current position of a movable member, and a
`motor is driven in such direction that the counted value
`is made coincident with the position instructed by
`switch operation, a preferred embodiment of this inven-
`tion is featured in that when the given condition such as
`power input to the electronic control device or the
`predetermined operation of the given switch is met, the
`motor is driven to rotate forwardly or reversely and the
`limit position of the movable member is detected with
`the load imposed on the movable member thereby to
`attain the required information on its position. With
`this, since the information on limit position is updated
`each time, there occurs no shift in positioning with the
`lapse of time.
`Normally, actuation of the electric motor is in(cid:173)
`structed by operation of the switch means, the level
`changes in the electric signal are monitored during such
`actuation, the information on current position is ob(cid:173)
`tained based on the information on movement limit
`position, the rotating direction of the electric motor and
`the number of level changes, reference data stored in a
`semiconductor memory and corresponding to the posi(cid:173)
`tion is read out and compared with the load of the elec(cid:173)
`tric motor, and the actuation of the electric motor is
`stopped when the load exceeds a predetermined value
`which is determined by the reference data. With this, if
`any substance or some part of the human body comes
`into contact with the movable member and the resultant
`load becomes larger than the normal value, the motor
`stops its rotation so that the contacting substance or part
`and the electric-powered driving mechanism may be
`prevented from being damaged. Also when the load is
`55 increased upon reaching of the movable member to the
`limit position, the motor stops its rotation similarly.
`Further, when the information on current position indi(cid:173)
`cates the limit position, the motor is stopped too.
`In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the ref-
`60 erence data corresponding to positions is divided into
`two groups, one of them being referred to when the
`road-vehicle equipment is moved between the first limit
`position and the constant load changing position and the
`other group being referred to when the road-vehicle
`65 equipment is moved between the constant load chang(cid:173)
`ing position and the second limit position, and the elec(cid:173)
`tronic control device actuates the electric motor to be
`driven forwardly or reversely in accordance with estab-
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to position control that permits
`attitude setting or positioning of one or more road-vehi(cid:173)
`cle electric-powered mechanisms such as road-vehicle 10
`side windows, roof panels, seats and mirrors, and more
`particularly to actuation control for such electric-pow(cid:173)
`ered mechanisms in response to operation of switch
`means adapted to instruct driving of the mechanism.
`In some vehicles, side windows (i.e., windows in the 15
`doors adjacent to the driver's seat and the assistant
`driver's seat as well as rear of the driver's seat and the
`assistant driver's seat), sunroofs (or roof panels), seats,
`mirrors outside and inside the vehicles, etc. are ar(cid:173)
`ranged to be driven electrically. In one example of such 20
`a vehicle, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,218 of J.D.
`LESLIE et al, control switches are provided to selec(cid:173)
`tively close an actuating circuit for forward and reverse.
`rotation of a motor thereby to drive the motor. In an(cid:173)
`other example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,255 of 25
`H. P. Cremer and UK Patent Application No. GB
`2060944A of G. R. Caddick et al, an electronic control
`device having an advanced arithmetic function, such as
`a microcomputer, is used as a central control unit to
`monitor the current position of a movable object, so 30
`that the movable object is I.ocated at the position in(cid:173)
`structed by key switch operation.
`The latter example is constructed as follows, for in(cid:173)
`stance. A plurality of switches and motor drivers for
`electric-powered driving mechanisms are connected to 35
`the electronic control device such as a microcomputer,
`those among the switches adapted for designation of
`mechanism being operated to specify the electric-pow- ·
`ered mechanism to be controlled and the remaining
`switches adapted for designation of goal position being
`operated to instruct the goal position in driving. Stated
`differently, a plurality of switches and a set of micro(cid:173)
`computers are used to carry out both position instruc(cid:173)
`tion and positioning control of plural electric-powered 45
`mechanisms.
`However, the prior art of this kind has encountered
`such problems that the number of switch means adapted
`to designate both electric-powered mechanism and po(cid:173)
`sition is increased and it is inconvenient to select the 50
`desired switch, and that the electronic control device
`such as a microcomputer requires many input/output
`ports used for reading the switches, thus resulting in the
`complicated structure and the higher cost of the device.
`
`40
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of this invention to reduce the number
`of switch means required for instruction of electric(cid:173)
`powered actuation control.
`To achieve the above object, this invention is so de(cid:173)
`signed that the instruction content for an electric-pow(cid:173)
`ered mechanism and/or driving position, etc. is repre(cid:173)
`sented by a time-serial opening/closing pattern of
`switch operation, an electronic control device such as a
`microcomputer reads such a time-serial opening/clos(cid:173)
`ing pattern generated by operation of the desired switch
`to judge the instruction of the switch operation, and the
`electric-powered mechanism specified by the switch
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
`IPR2014-00417
`Page 19
`
`

`

`4,608,637
`
`4
`FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c are flow charts showing the
`key-in reading operation of a microcomputer 9 shown
`in FIG. 4a;
`FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are flow charts showing the
`reference point deciding control operation of the mi(cid:173)
`crocomputer 9 shown in FIG. 4a; and
`FIGS. Sa and 8b are flow charts showing the window
`opening/closing control operation of the microcom(cid:173)
`puter 9 shown in FIG. 4a.
`
`3
`lishment of the given condition such as power input to
`the device itself or operation of the given switch, ob(cid:173)
`tains the· information on constant load changing position
`where there causes a load change in the electric motor
`smaller than that at the limit position of the road-vehicle 5
`equipment, while attaining the information on limit
`position as to the movement of the road-vehicle equip(cid:173)
`ment, and switches the reference data upon crossing the
`border of the constant load changing position from one
`to another data which is referred to for detection of 10
`overload. With this, it becomes possible for even a mov(cid:173)
`able member undergoing constant load changes be(cid:173)
`tween the two limit positions (i.e., the fully-closed and
`fully opened positions) to be stopped with overload in a
`stable and safe manner without possibility of erroneous 15
`stopping. For example, when window glass is closed
`from the opened state in the side windows, the motor
`load starts to be increased immediately after the leading
`end of the window glass comes into abutment with a
`weather strip, but the motor is stopped first when the 20
`window glass is further raised up and the weather strip
`has been compressed completely.
`In case the electric-powered driving mechanism is
`stopped and then started to move at an arbitrary point ·
`between the two limit positions, a motor current neces- 25
`sary for the motor to start from such point becomes so
`much larger than that necessary for the motor to pass
`through the point at a steady speed. It is preferable that
`such a state is not detected as the overload state. In a
`preferred embodiment of this invention, therefore, the 30
`above-mentioned overload detection is not effected for
`a predetermined time from starting-up of the motor
`until the motor reaches a steady speed. This predeter(cid:173)
`mined time is a very short period of time.
`Other objects and features of the invention will be- 35
`come apparent from the following description given
`with reference to the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORA WINGS
`FIG. 1a is a side view of a mechanism section accord- 40
`.. ing to one embodiment of this invention, showing an
`electric-powered window opening/closing mechanism
`for the assistant driver seat of a vehicle;
`FIG. 1b is an enlarged perspective view of a part of
`the electric-powered window opening/closing mecha- 45
`nism;
`FIG. 1c is an enlarged plan view of a part of the
`electric-powered window opening/closing mechanism;
`FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are partial sectional views
`showing the relationship between window glass 2 and a 50
`weather strip 8;
`FIG. 3a is a graph showing an actuating current of an
`electric motor for driving the window glass 2 at the
`time of upward driving thereof;
`FIG. 3b is a graph showing the relationship between 55
`the actuating current and the load of the motor;
`FIG. 4a is a block diagram showing a configuration
`of an electric control system adapted to read switch
`input and then actuate and control the electric-powered
`window opening/closing mechanism;
`FIG. 4b is an electric circuit diagram showing a con(cid:173)
`stant-voltage power supply circuit adapted to apply
`voltage V cc to the electric control system;
`FIG. 4c is a perspective view showing an external
`appearance of one of window opening/closing instruc- 65
`tion switches 11 through 17 shown in FIG. 4a;
`FIGS. Sa, 5b, Sc and Sd are side views showing the
`normal state and the operated states of such switch;
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`In the following, there will be described a preferred
`embodiment of this invention which is applied to ope(cid:173)
`ning/closing driving control for a road-vehicle side
`window.
`FIG. 1a shows an electric-powered mechanism
`adapted to drive window glass 2 in a left-side door 1 i.e.,
`the passenger side of a right-hand drive automotive
`vehicle, upwardly and downwardly.
`Pins at one-side ends oflink arms 31 and 32are respec(cid:173)
`tively coupled to upper and lower guide rails rigidly
`mounted to the window glass 2, and an elevating arm
`engaged with the other end of the link arm 32 is driven
`upwardly and downwardly by a sector-like gear 4 cou(cid:173)
`pled to the elevating arm. The sector-like gear 4 is in
`mesh with a wheel of a worm and wheel assembly 5,
`and a rotary shaft of an electric motor Ma is coupled to
`the worm in mesh with the wheel. With this arrange-
`ment, when the motor Ma rotates forwardly, the sector(cid:173)
`like gear 4 is turned in the clockwise direction in FIG.
`1a to push up the window glass 2. When the motor Ma
`rotates reversely, the sector-like gear 4 is turned in the
`counterclockwise direction to lower the window glass
`2. In the worm and wheel assembly 5, a ring-shaped
`permanent magnet 7a (FIG. lc) is rigidly mounted onto
`a rotary disk fixed to the wheel shaft, while a Hall IC
`unit 6a in which a Hall element and an electric circuit
`adapted to process a magnetic field detection signal
`generated from the Hall element are integrated into a
`unitized structure, is disposed at the outer side of the
`permanent magnet 7a facing it. The permanent magnet
`7a is magnetized in a polarized manner in the circumfer(cid:173)
`ential direction, so that the Hall IC unit 6a generates a
`sinusoidal electric signal as the wheel is rotated. FIG. 1b
`shows a combination of the sector-like gear 4 and the
`worm and wheel assembly 5, while FIG. 1c shows a
`combination of the permanent magnet 7a in the worm
`and wheel assembly 5 and the Hall IC unit 6a. In the
`state where the motor Ma is driven to rotate forwardly
`to push up the window glass 2, when the leading end of
`the glass 2 has not yet reached a weather strip 8 as
`shown in FIG. 2a, a level of motor current is low and its
`fluctuation is small. But when the glass 2 is raised up
`and comes into abutment with the weather strip 8, as
`shown in FIG. 2b, the motor current (i.e., motor load) is
`increased from that time. And when the weather strip 8
`starts to be compressed as shown in FIG. 2c, the motor
`current is further increased. Finally, when the weather
`60 strip 8 is compressed completely as shown in FIG. 2d,
`the electric-powered mechanism is stopped and the
`motor current is abruptly increased. FIG. 3a shows a
`change in the current of the motor Ma in driving the
`window glass 2 from the fully-opened state to the fully(cid:173)
`closed state shown in FIG. 2d. As is well known, a level
`of the motor current corresponds to the mechanical
`load of the motor and there exists a proportional rela(cid:173)
`tionship therebetween, as shown in FIG. 3b.
`
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`Page 20
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`

`4,608,637
`
`45
`
`5
`Doors adjacent to the driver's seat and to the rear of
`the driver's seat, as well as to the rear of the front pas(cid:173)
`senger seat, are respectively equipped with electric(cid:173)
`powered driving mechanisms of the same structure as
`the foregoing electric-powered driving mechanism. An 5
`electric motor for each of the electric-powered driving
`mechanisms also exhibits a similar characteristic to the
`foregoing one.
`FIG. 4a shows a configuration of an electric control
`system adapted to actuate and control the electric-pow- 10
`ered driving mechanisms for the above-mentioned four
`doors. The electric control system is mainly composed
`of a microcomputer 9, which has input ports RO
`through RS connected to key switches 11 through 20
`for instructing window positions and has output ports 15
`R6 and R7 connected to transistors 21 and 22 for key-in
`reading. An input port R15 is connected to an automatic
`control setting key switch 10 which permits automatic
`positioning control for the side windows, and an inter(cid:173)
`ruption input terminal R14 is connected to an output 20
`terminal of a pulse generator PG adapted to generate
`clock pulses for counting time. The motors of the elec(cid:173)
`tric-powered driving mechanisms for the respective
`doors are driven by outputs from output ports QO
`through Q7 to be rotated forwardly and reversely. For 25
`instance, when a high level H is set at the output port
`QO, Q2, Q4 or Q6, the motor Md (for the door adjacent
`to the driver's seat), the motor Ma (for that adjacent to
`the front passenger seat), the motor Mab (for that to the
`rear of the front passenger seat), or the motor Mda (for 30
`that to the rear of the driver's seat) is actuated to rotate
`forwardly. On the other hand, when a high level His set
`at the output port Q1, Q3, QS or Q7, the motor Md (for
`the door adjacent to the driver's seat), the motor Ma
`(for that adjacent to the front passenger seat), the motor 35
`Mab (for that to the rear of the front passenger seat), or
`the motor Mda (for that rear of the driver's seat) is
`actuated to rotate reversely. The ring-shaped perma(cid:173)
`nent magnets 7d, 1a, 1ab and '1da mechanically coupled
`to the motor output shafts in the worm and wheel as- 40
`semblies 5 and the Hall IC units. 6d, 6a, 6ab and 6da
`opposite to the corresponding worm and wheel assem(cid:173)
`blies constitute rotary encoders, which apply their pluse
`outputs to input ports K3 through KO of the microcom-
`puter 9, respectively.
`The output from an amplifier AMP is applied to an
`AID conversion input terminal R12 of the microcom(cid:173)
`puter 9, and the voltage across each of resistors r for
`detecting motor current is applied to the amplifier AMP
`via a relay. The voltage across the resistor r is propor- 50
`tiona! to the motor current or motor load. By setting a
`high level H at an output port PO, P1, P2 or P3, the
`voltage respectively in proportion to the load current of
`the motor Md (for the door adjacent to the driver's
`seat), the motor Ma (for that adjacent to the front pas- 55
`senger seat), the motor Mab (for that to the rear of the
`front passenger seat), or the motor Mda (for that to the
`rear of the driver's seat) is selectively applied to the
`microcomputer 9. Data (4 bits) for setting AID conver-
`sion range is set at output ports R8 through R11.
`Each of the electric circuits is supplied with constant
`voltage Vee from a power supply circuit as shown in
`FIG. 4b.
`"
`FIG. 4c shows an external appearance of one 12
`among the switches 11 through 17. Other switches 13 65
`through 17 have the same structure as the switch 12.
`The switch 12 is of a two-pole switch such that the up
`instruction side and the down instruction side are
`
`60
`
`6
`equally projected in the normal state, as shown in FIG.
`Sa. But when the up side is pressed down as shown in
`FIG. Sb, the switch is turned to bring a movable contact
`into abutment with one fixed contact (i.e., window
`opening instruction contact). In the absence of the
`pressing-down force, the switch is returned back to the
`normal state as shown in FIG. Sd, thereby to allow the
`movable contact to return back to the neutral position
`where it comes into no abutment with either fixed
`contact. On the other hand, when the down side is
`pressed down as shown in FIG. Sc, the switch is turned
`to bring the movable contact into abutment with the
`other fixed contact (i.e., window closing instruction
`contact). In the absence of the pressing-down force, the
`switch is returned back to the normal state as shown in
`FIG. Sd,
`thereby to allow the movable contact to re(cid:173)
`turn back to the neutral position where it comes into no
`abutment with either fixed contact. The switch 11 has
`substantially same mechanical structure as that of the
`switch 12, but it has additional two flexible contacts,
`one of which serves as a window opening instruction
`contact and the other of which serves as a window
`closing instructio,n contact, and two fixed contacts are
`used as stop instruction contacts. This switch 11 is so
`arranged that when the up side is rather slightly pressed
`down, a movable contact comes into abutment with the
`flexible window opening instruction contact to instruct
`the forward rotation of the motor, and when the up side
`is strongly pressed down, the movable contact comes
`into abutment with one stop instruction contact while
`keeping abutment with the flexible window opening
`instruction contact, thereby to instruct stopping of the
`motor. Meanwhile, when the down side is rather
`slightly pressed down, the movable contact comes into
`abutment with the flexible window closing instruction
`contact to instruct the reverse rotation of the motor,
`and when the down side is strongly pressed down, the
`movable contact comes into abutment with the other.
`stop instruction contact while keeping abutment with
`the flexible window closing instruction contact, thereby
`to instruct stopping of the motor.
`The switches 18 and 19 are mounted in a key hole
`formed in the driver's door. When an unlocking key is
`inserted into the key hole and turned in the locking
`direction, the switch 18 is closed to instruct the mi(cid:173)
`crocomputer 9 to close the window to the door rear of
`the driver's seat. When the unlocking key is inserted
`into the key hole and turned in the unlocking direction,
`the switch 19 is closed to instruct the microcomputer 9
`to open the window in the door to the rear of the driv(cid:173)
`er's seat.
`The microcomputer 9 incorporates therein a program
`which executes initialization in response to energization
`of the power supply, detection of limit position and
`current position in responce to closing of the switch 10,
`reading of operation of the switches 11 through 19 for
`instructing window positioning, as well as window
`control instructed by the switch operation. Control
`operation in accordance with this program is summa(cid:173)
`rized as follows.
`A. When the source voltage V cc is applied, all of the
`input/ output ports and internal registers (including
`those for counting and setting flags) are initialized. The
`output ports are set in such a state where all motors are
`stopped.
`B. The microcomputer waits for the window control
`instruction (the input port R15=H: the switch 10
`closed). When R15 indicate a high level H or becomes
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1049
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`4,608,637
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`7
`H, it waits for operation of the switches 11 through 19
`for instructing window opening/closing. When there
`occurs the switch operation, both limit position detec(cid:173)
`tion and current position detection as well as decoding
`of the switch operation are started.
`C. Both limit position detection and current position
`detection are carried out for the electric-powered driv(cid:173)
`ing mechanism for the side window corresponding to
`the switch which has been operated first of all. During
`execution of this flow, operation of other switches will 10
`not be read, but stop instruction of the switch 11 is read
`at all times, and when this instruction is issued, the
`motor is stopped to clear the processed state up to that
`time. At the completion of both limit position detection
`and current position detection, a positioning flag Ei (the 15
`number of i represents the corresponding window
`under control) is set. This flag is held when the source
`voltage is being applied. In the presence of the flag,
`both limit position detection and· current position detec(cid:173)
`tion will not be performed, and there will be executed 20
`window opening/closing control that permits position(cid:173)
`ing of the window glass at a position in accordance with
`the decoded result of the switch operation.
`D. Decoding of the key switch operation begins upon
`starting of the switch operation to decode the repeated 25
`closing/opening mode of the same switch, thereby to
`prepare the data instructing an opening/closing degree
`.. of window (full closing, A opening,~ opening,~ opening
`and full opening). This data is set as a goal value.
`E. Since a driving speed of the glas