IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`PATENT
`
`Application of: Mario Boisvert and Randall Perrin
`
`Serial No.: To be assigned
`
`Filing Date: To be assigned
`
`Parent Application Serial No.: 10/100,892
`
`Parent Application Filing Date: March 18, 2002
`
`Title: COLLISION MONITORING SYSTEM
`
`Examiner: To be assigned
`
`Art Unit: 2837 (based on art unit of parent application)
`
`Docket No.: 2546/14-733C3
`
`Watts Hoffmann Co., LPA
`Suite 1750
`1100 Superior Ave.
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`
`MAIL STOP NON-FEE AMENDMENT
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`FIRST PRELIMINARY AMENDMENT
`
`Prior to examination of this application, please amend the claims as follows:
`
`1
`
`
`
`PATENT
`
`Application of: Mario Boisvert and Randall Perrin
`
`Serial No.: To be assigned
`
`Filing Date: To be assigned
`
`Parent Application Serial No.: 10/100,892
`
`Parent Application Filing Date: March 18, 2002
`
`Title: COLLISION MONITORING SYSTEM
`
`Examiner: To be assigned
`
`Art Unit: 2837 (based on art unit of parent application)
`
`Docket No.: 2546/14-733C3
`
`Watts Hoffmann Co., LPA
`Suite 1750
`1100 Superior Ave.
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`
`MAIL STOP NON-FEE AMENDMENT
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`FIRST PRELIMINARY AMENDMENT
`
`Prior to examination of this application, please amend the claims as follows:
`
`1
`
`
`
`In the Claims:
`
`1.
`
`(Original) Apparatus for controlling motion of a motor driven element in a vehicle
`
`over a range of motion and for altering said motion when undesirable resistance to said
`
`motion is encountered, said apparatus comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for measuring a parameter of a motor coupled to the motor driven
`
`element that varies in response to a resistance to motion during all or part of a range of
`
`motion of the motor driven element;
`
`b) a memory for storing a number of measurement values from the sensor
`
`based on measurements of said parameter over at least a portion of said range of
`
`motion;
`
`c) a controller coupled to the memory for determining to de-activate the motor
`
`based on the measurement values stored in the memory as the motor driven element
`
`moves over its range of motion; and
`
`d) a controller interface coupled to the motor for altering motion of said motor
`
`driven element in response to a determination made by the controller.
`
`2. (Original) A method for controlling motion of a motor driven element in a vehicle
`
`over a range of motion and for altering said motion when undesirable resistance to said
`
`motion is encountered, said method comprising:
`
`a) measuring a parameter of a motor coupled to the motor driven element that
`
`varies in response to a resistance to motion during all or part of a range of motion of the
`
`motor driven element by taking a multiplicity of measurements as the motor moves the
`
`motor driven element over its range of motion;
`
`b) storing a number of measurement values based on measurements of said
`
`parameter over at least a portion of said range of motion;
`
`c) determining that the parameter is outside a parameter range based on
`
`previous stored measurement values as the motor driven element moves over its range
`of motion; and
`
`d) altering motion of said motor driven element in response to a determination
`
`that the parameter is outside the parameter range.
`
`2
`
`
`
`3. (Original) The method of claim 2 wherein the motor driven element is a window or
`
`panel and additionally comprising reverse actuating the window or panel prior to moving
`
`said window or panel in a direction to close the window or panel.
`
`4. (Original) The method of claim 3 additionally comprising maintaining a position of
`
`the window or panel based on the sensed parameter and the reverse actuation is
`
`initiated if a leading edge of the window or panel is near a closed position.
`
`5. (Original) The method of claim 4 movement is first initiated toward a closed
`
`position when a leading edge of the window or panel is near the closed position and
`
`wherein the reverse actuation is performed upon a sensing of an obstacle that is based
`
`on determining the parameter is outside the parameter range.
`
`6. (Original) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor coupled to a motor
`
`vehicle window or panel for moving said window or panel along a travel path and de(cid:173)
`
`activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel, said
`
`apparatus comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for sensing movement of the window or panel and providing a
`
`sensor output signal related to a speed of movement of the wiodow or panel;
`
`b) a switch for controllably actuating the motor by providing an energization
`
`signal; and
`
`c) a controller having an interface coupled to the sensor and the switch for con(cid:173)
`
`trollably energizing the motor; said controller sensing a collision with an obstruction
`
`when power is applied to the controller by:
`
`i) monitoring movement of the window or panel by monitoring a signal
`
`from the sensor related to the movement of the window or panel;
`
`ii) identifying a collision of the window or panel with an obstacle due to a
`
`change in the signal from the sensor that is related to a change in movement of the
`
`window or panel ; and
`
`3
`
`
`
`iii) outputting a control signal to said switch to deactivate said motor in
`
`response to a sensing of a collision between an obstacle and said window or panel.
`
`7. (Original) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the controller comprises a
`
`programmable controller including a processing unit for executing a control program
`
`and including a memory for storing multiple window or panel speed values
`corresponding to a signal received from the sensor.
`
`8. (Original) The apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising one or more limit
`
`switches for use by the controller to determine window or panel position for use in
`
`identifying a collision.
`
`9. (Original) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the control program adjusts an
`ob~tacle detection threshold in real time based on immediate past measures of the
`signal sensed by the sensor to adapt to varying conditions encountered during
`operation of the window or panel.
`
`10. (Original) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the controller maintains a position of
`
`a leading edge of the window or panel and further wherein the controller reverse
`energizes the motor to move the window or panel away from a closure position prior to
`
`activating the motor to close the window or panel.
`
`11 . (Original) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the controller reverse energizes the
`
`motor in response to a sensing of an obstacle and the reverse energizing and attempt
`
`to move the window or panel to a closed position is performed to confirm sensing of the
`
`obstacle.
`
`12. (Original) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving an object
`
`along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the
`
`object comprising:
`
`a) a movement sensor for monitoring movement of the object as the motor
`
`4
`
`
`
`moves said object along a travel path;
`
`b) a switch for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;
`
`and
`
`c) a controller including an interface coupled to the switch means for controllably
`
`energizing the motor and said interface additionally coupling the controller to the
`
`movement sensor for monitoring signals from said movement sensor; said controller
`
`comprising a stored program that:
`
`i) determines motor speed from an output signal from the movement sensor;
`
`ii) calculates an obstacle detect threshold based on motor speed of movement
`
`detected during at least one prior period ·of motor operation;
`
`iii) compares a value based on currently sensed motor movement with the
`
`obstacle detect threshold; and
`
`iv) outputs a signal from the interface to said switch for stopping the motor if the
`
`comparison based on currently sensed motor movement indicates the object has
`
`contacted an obstacle.
`
`13 (Original} The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes a buffer
`
`memory for storing successive values of motor movement for use in determining the
`
`obstacle detect threshold.
`
`14. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the con~roller includes a clock and
`
`an input from the movement sensor is in a form of a sequence of pulses and further
`
`wherein the controller counts clock signals occurrences between receipt of pulses to
`
`provide an indication of motor speed .
`
`15. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes an interface
`
`for monitoring user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the window or
`
`panel and wherein the controller maintains a motor energization sequence a specified
`
`minimum time period in response to a short period user actuation of said control inputs
`
`to maintain position accuracy in monitoring window or panel movement.
`
`. 5
`
`
`
`16. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes an interface
`
`for monitoring user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the object
`
`and wherein in response to a specified input the controller conducts a calibration motor
`
`energization sequence to determine parameters of object.
`
`17. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the motor is coupled to a motor
`
`vehicle window or panel and wherein the controller includes an interface for monitoring
`
`user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the window or panel and
`
`wherein the controller maintains a position indication which is updated in response
`
`movement of the window or panel and further wherein the controller reverse actuations
`
`the motor near an end point in an object path of travel to avoid false obstacle detection
`
`in the region of closure of.the window or panel.
`
`18. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a current sensor and
`
`wherein the controller includes means for adjusting the obstacle threshold based on
`dynamic motor current as sensed from the current sensor to take into account varying
`
`loads experienced by the motor.
`
`19. (Original) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a window or
`
`panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by
`
`the window or panel comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for sensing movement of a window or panel along a travel path;
`b) a switch for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;
`
`and
`
`c) a controller coupled to the switch for controllably energizing the motor and
`
`having an interface coupling the controller to the sensor and to the switch; said
`
`controller comprising decision making logic for:
`
`i) monitoring a signal from the sensor;
`
`6
`
`
`
`ii) calculating an obstacle detect threshold based on the signal that is
`
`detected during at least one prior period of motor operation, or a predetermined
`
`threshold;
`
`iii) comparing a value based on a currently sensed motor parameter with
`
`the obstacle detect threshold; and
`
`iv) stopping movement of the window or panel by controlling an output to
`
`said switch that controls motor energization if the comparison based on a currently
`
`sensed motor parameter indicates the window or panel has contacted an obstacle.
`
`20. (Original) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor fo.r moving a window or
`
`panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by
`
`the window or panel comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for generating signals representative of the window or panel speed
`
`as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path;
`
`b) an obstacle detection controller for monitoring at least a part of the travel path
`
`of the window or panel for sensing and generating an obstacle detect signal indicating
`
`the presence in said travel path of an obstacle to movement of the window or panel;
`
`c) a switch coupled to said controller for controlling energization of the motor
`
`with an energization signal; and
`
`d) said controller including means for processing motor speed and obstacle
`
`detection signals and controlling operation of the motor in response to said speed or
`
`obstacle detection signals; said controller including:
`
`i) a storage for storing a number of speed signals that vary with motor speed;
`
`ii) a processor for calculating an obstacle detect threshold based on one or more
`
`7
`
`
`
`speed signals stored in said storage;
`
`iii) a logic unit for making a comparison between a value representing window or
`
`panel speed based on currently sensed motor speed with the calculated obstacle detect
`
`threshold, a predetermined threshold, and generating a control output based on said
`
`comparison; and
`
`iv) an interface coupled to said switch for changing the state of the switch to stop
`
`the motor.
`
`21 . (Original) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sensor for generating a speed
`
`signal comprises a Hall-effect sensor.
`
`22. (Original) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sensor for generating a speed
`
`signal comprises a magnetic pick-up.
`
`23. (Original) The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising an obstacle
`
`detector having an output coupled to the controller that senses a disruption in a region
`
`through which the window or panel moves.
`
`24. (Original) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the obstacle detector comprises a
`
`microwave generator and a reflected wave transducer.
`
`25. (Original) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the obstacle detector comprises an
`
`infrared light source and detector.
`
`8
`
`
`
`26. (Renumbered - Original claim 27) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the
`
`obstacle detector comprises a field effect device.
`
`27. (Renumbered- Original claim 28) The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the field
`
`effect device comprises a magnetic field inductive sensor.
`
`28.
`
`(New) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor coupled to a motor
`
`vehicle window or panel for moving said window or panel along a travel path and de(cid:173)
`
`activating the motor when a predetermined position is encountered by the window or
`
`panel, said apparatus comprising:
`
`a)
`
`a sensor for sensing movement of the window or panel and providing a
`
`sensor output signal related to a position of the window or panel;
`
`b)
`
`a switch for controllably actuating the motor by providing an energization
`
`signal; and
`
`c)
`
`a controller having an interface coupled to the sensor and the switch for
`
`controllably energizing the motor; said controller determines the position of the window
`
`or panel when power is applied to the controller by:
`
`i) monitoring the position of the window or panel by monitoring the
`
`sensor output signal from the sensor related to the position of the window or panel;
`
`ii)
`
`identifying the position of the window or panel based on the sensor
`
`output signal from the sensor; and
`
`9
`
`
`
`iii) outputting a control signal to said switch to deactivate said motor in
`
`response to a sensing of the predetermined position of said window or panel.
`
`29.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the controller comprises a
`
`programmable controller including a processing unit for executing a control program
`
`and including a memory for storing multiple window or panel position values
`
`corresponding to a signal received from the sensor.
`
`30.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 28 additionally comprising one or more position
`
`limits programmed for use by the controller to determine window or panel position for
`
`use in identifying whether the window or panel is closed or open.
`
`31.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the controller maintains a position of
`
`a leading edge of the window or panel and further wherein the controller reverse
`
`energizes the motor to move the window or panel away from a closure position prior to
`
`activating the motor to close the window or panel.
`
`32.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the motor is coupled to a motor
`
`vehicle or panel and wherein the controller includes an interface for monitoring user
`
`actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the window or panel and wherein
`
`the controller maintain a position indication which is updated in response to movement
`
`of the window or panel and further wherein the controller reverse actuates the motor
`
`10
`
`
`
`near an end point in the travel path of the window or panel to avoid false obstacle
`
`detection in a region of closure of the window or panel.
`
`33.
`
`(New) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a motor driven
`
`element in a vehicle over a range of motion and de-activating the motor when
`
`undesirable resistance to motion of the element is encountered, the apparatus
`
`comprising:
`
`a)
`
`a sensor for sensing a speed of the motor and generating an output
`
`signal representative of a speed of the motor, a speed of the motor changing when
`
`undesirable resistance to motion of the element is encountered;
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`a switch for controlling activation of the motor; and
`
`a controller coupled to the sensor and the switch, the controller receiving
`
`the sensor output signal from the sensor and outputting a control signal to the switch to
`
`de-activate the motor if the sensor output signal indicates that the element has
`
`encountered undesirable resistance to motion.
`
`34.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the sensor includes a Hall effect
`
`sensor.
`
`35.
`
`(New) The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the apparatus includes a memory
`
`for storing values corresponding to the sensor output signal over at least a portion of
`
`the range of motion of the element and the controller analyzes the sensor output signal
`
`11
`
`
`
`values stored in the memory to determine if the ·control signal to de-activate the motor
`
`should be output to the switch.
`
`12
`
`
`
`..
`
`'
`
`. ..
`
`REMARKS
`
`Entry of this preliminary amendment prior to substantive examination of this
`
`application is respectfully requested. All claims are believed to be in condition for
`
`allowance and prompt issuance of a Notice of Allowance is respectfully requested.
`
`,1 { 2 "-\ I o '-\
`
`Date:
`
`Respectfully submic·=v ~
`
`~~
`
`Registration No. 37,697
`WATTS HOFFMANN CO .• L.P.A.
`1100 Superior Ave .• Suite 1750
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`
`Phone: (216) 241-6700
`Facsimile: (216) 241 -8151
`E-mail: gpinchak@wattshoff.com
`
`13
`
`
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