(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,315,355 B1
`
`Lamm et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 13, 2001
`
`U5006315355B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`TRIGGERING A SLIDING AND HINGED SUN
`ROOF
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Hubert Lamm, Kappclrodcck; Guenter
`Haderer, Buehl, both of (DE)
`
`525922060 * “”97 Radne 6‘ 3L ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 49/27X
`FOREIGN PAl'hN'l‘ DOCUMENTS
`
`(73) Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`27 56 972
`30 34 118 C2
`
`6/1979 (DE) .
`12/1983 (DE) .
`
`.
`.
`..
`* Clted by exammer
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`.
`(22) PCT FIICd:
`
`09/445,702
`
`Jan. 29’ 1999
`
`Feb. 23’ 2000
`§371 Date:
`§ 102(e) Date: Feb. 23, 2000
`2
`'
`(87) PCT 131111 No; WOW/53589
`PCT Pub. Date: Oct. 21’ 1999
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Apr. 9, 1998
`(DE) .............................................. 19815960
`
`Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... 360.] 7/057
`(51)
`(52) US. Cl.
`.........
`.. 296/213; 296/223; 49/28
`
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 296/213, 223;
`49/26, 28
`
`Primary Examiner—Dennis H. Pedder
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael J. Striker
`
`Proposed are a method and an apparatus for controlling a
`sliding and lifting sunroof device, which has a protection
`against wedging during closing of the cover (12) of the
`sliding and lifting sunroof from its raised position to its
`closed position, and Which detects a situation of wedging of
`an object (20) wedged between the cover (12) and the
`opening of the sliding and lifting sunroof With the help of at
`sensor (34) Furthermore’
`for detecung a Situation 0f
`wedging, provision is made for a water duct (18), which is
`movably arranged on the roof (14) of the motor vehicle
`Within the opening of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
`
`9 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`20
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`1L
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`UUSI, LLC
`
`Exhibit 2021
`
`WEBASTO ROOF
`
`SYSTEMS, INC.
`
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`UUSI, LLC
`Patent Owner
`
`Case:
`
`|PR2014-0065O
`
`Patent: 7,579,802
`
`1/6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 13,2001
`
`US 6,315,355 B1
`
`
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`16
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`L2
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`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2021
`Exhibit 2021
`2/6
`2/6
`
`

`

`The invention starts out from a method and an apparatus
`as defined in the introductory parts of the main claims.
`A method for electronically monitoring the opening and
`closing operations of electrically operated window regula-
`tors and sliding roofs in motor vehicles is known from DE
`PS 30 34 118. In fixed zones of the path along which the
`moved part has to travel in the course of the opening and
`
`closing operation, the electric motor of the drive is switched
`
`
`o
`as soon as a blocking situation occurs, which is detected
`by monitoring the number of revolutions of the drive, and a
`time limit is reached. A means of protection against wedging
`or jamming is realized in another zone in that in the course
`0 the closing operation, measured values depending on the
`number of revolutions and on the speed of the moving part
`or drive motor are continuously collected and compared ’
`with a limit value based on a value measured initially, and
`if such limit value is exceeded, the driving direction of the
`electric motor is briefly reversed and the drive is then
`switched off.
`
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`However, realization of the protection against wedging or
`jamming via monitoring and evaluation of the number of
`revolutions or speed is not possible in connection with a
`sliding and lifting sunroof when the sliding and lifting roof
`is lowered from its raised into its closed position because
`with a moving motor vehicle, high driving speeds generate
`a vacuum above the raised or open cover. Such vacuum
`counteracts the closing movement of the cover and thus
`leads to a reduction of the detected number of revolutions
`and faulty triggering of the protection against wedging.
`Furthermore, low stiffness of the roof of the motor vehicle
`increases the effects of the forces engaging the cover as well.
`Sliding roofs with protection against wedging or jamming
`are known from DE-OS 27 56 972, which measure and
`evaluate the motor current for detecting a wedging situation
`within the sliding zone of the cover. However, for the
`reasons stated above, this type of protection against wedging
`cannot either be employed in the lifting zone of the sliding
`and lifting sunroof.
`Other devices known in the market as means for protec-
`tion against wedging, for example such as light barriers or
`
`pressure sensors in the opening zone of the sliding roof, are
`
`
`
`di icult to install in the seal of the cover, or in the opening
`of the sliding roof because of the geometry of the roof.
`ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
`
`The method and the apparatus as defined by the invention,
`with the characterizing features of the main claims, offer the
`advantage that a means of protection against wedging is
`realized for a sliding and lifting sunroof during closing of the
`latter from its raised to its closed position in that a wedging
`situation involving an object wedged between the cover of
`the sliding and lifting sunroof and the opening of the latter
`is detected by a sensor.
`According to the invention, provision is made,
`furthermore, that for detecting a situation of wedging, use is
`made of a water duct, which is movably arranged on the
`edge of the roof of the motor vehicle within the opening of
`the sliding and lifting sunroof. The water duct prevents
`water present on the roof of the vehicle from getting into the
`interior of the car through the opening of the sliding and
`lifting roof, for example when the vehicle is accelerated.
`
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`US 6,315,355 B1
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`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`TRIGGERING A SLIDING AND HINGED SUN
`ROOF
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`2
`The measures specified in the dependent claims result in
`advantageous further developments and improvements of
`the features stated in the main claim.
`is
`the water duct
`It
`is particularly advantageous that
`arranged via a pivot and a spring device in the rear part of
`the opening of the sliding and lifting sunroof, for example on
`a movable guide part of the sliding and lifting sunroof, such
`guide part permitting the cover to be opened and moved into
`a sliding position, so that the water duct, on the one hand,
`either assumes an unstressed condition, or a resting position
`when the cover is open, or, on the other hand, it is depressed
`and stressed into a loaded condition depending on the force
`acting on the water duct and is finally brought into a closing
`position when the sunroof is closed.
`ln a case of wedging,
`the object wedged between the
`cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof and the water duct is
`pressed against the latter by the lowering movement of the
`cover, so that
`the water duct
`is brought into its closing
`position as the clamping force progresses. The closing
`position, a previously reached clamping or wedging
`position, or a movement of the water duct are advanta—
`geously detected by a sensor, which generates a sensor
`signal for a control. Such control evaluates the sensor signal
`in view of a wedging situation or a normal closing operation
`of the cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
`It is advantageous, furthermore, that the sensor is realized
`in the form of a switch, which detects the closing or
`clamping position of the water duct and thus a preset
`position corresponding with the effect exerted by a previ-
`ously known adjusting or wedging force on the water duct.
`Furthermore, it is advantageous that the sensor is designed
`in the form of an angular sensor, so that not only the closing
`or wedged position of the water duct is detected, but the
`rotational motion of the water duct, for example from the
`resting into the closing position is continually or partly
`continually monitored as well. Arotational movement of the
`water duct around its fastening on the roof is already
`detected in this way, depending on the wedging force
`exerted on the wedged object by the cover of the sliding and
`lifting sunroof, so that a sensor signal is generated as a
`function of the increasing adjusting or wedging force via the
`angle of deflection of the water duct. This assures a particu-
`larly safe and rapidly responding protection against wedg—
`ing.
`Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous that the sen-
`sor signals are evaluated in the control. The movement of the
`sliding and lifting sunroof is usually regulated via position
`control circuit, or via a simple controlling means. For
`example, with a position control circuit, the adjusting move-
`ment of the sliding and lifting sunroof, such movement
`being initiated by presetting a new nominal value,
`is
`detected by position sensors, which are known per se, for
`example Hall sensors or absolute value devices, and sup—
`plied to the controller for determining the actual position of
`the sliding and lifting sunroof. An actual value/nominal
`value comparison is carried out in the controller, and the
`adjusting movement is controlled in the latter. Based on the
`actual position of the sliding and lifting sunroof and the
`sensor signal, the controller determines whether a normal
`closing process or a wedging situation is on hand.
`It is particularly advantageous, furthermore, that by evalu-
`ating the sensor signal in the controller, direct limitation of
`the closing force is realized in a way not subjected to the
`interfering influence of wind load,
`i.e. vacuum at high
`speeds of the motor vehicle, or to the characteristic of the
`spring or elasticity rate of the overall system of the sliding
`and lifting sunroof.
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2021
`Exhibit 2021
`3/6
`3/6
`
`

`

`US 6,315,355 B1
`
`3
`DRAWING
`
`Exemplified embodiments of the invention are shown in
`the drawing and explained in greater detail in the following
`description.
`FIG. 1 shows a preferred exemplified embodiment of the
`device as defined by the invention, with a sliding and lifting
`sunroof shown by a sectional view, and
`FIG. 2 shows a top view of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFIED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`FIG. 1 shows a sliding sunroof 10 for a motor vehicle,
`with a sliding sunroof cover 12 closing an opening in a
`motor vehicle roof 14. The sliding sunroof cover 12 is
`mounted via a link guide (not shown) on the motor vehicle
`in such a way that the sunroof cover 12 can be raised via a
`pivot 16 into a lifted position (FIG. lb), or controlled via a
`closed position (FIG. la) into a sliding position. The control
`system is realized here in the form of a position control
`circu it .
`
`For catching any water that may have collected on the
`roof 14, a water duct 18 is rotatably arranged on a displace-
`able guide part 44 on the side of the opening of the sliding
`and lifting sunroof opposing the pivot 16. Said water duct
`can be tensioned by at least one coil spring 46 as the spring
`device, the latter being located at a site where the water duct
`18 is secured on the guide part 44. By the closed cover 12
`of the sliding and lifting sunroof, the water duct 18 is pressed
`into a closing position according to FIG. 1a.
`When the cover 12 of the sliding and lifting sunroof is
`lifted into its raised position, the water duct 18 changes into
`a relieved resting position. Alternatively, it is possible also
`to make provision for a stop for the resting position of the
`water duct 18, so that the latter is prestressed when located
`in its resting position.
`When the sunroof 10 is open, an object 20 may get into
`the opening between the water duct 18, or roof l4, and the
`cover 12 of the sliding and lifting sunroof. Such object 20 is,
`for example a bar or pole, a body part such as, for example
`a finger or an arm, or any other object 20 that may get
`wedged in.
`The sunroof cover 12 is controlled into a raised, sliding or
`closed position by a reversible electric motor 22 via a
`gearing (not shown) equipped, for example with a link—type
`guide. The motor 22 is controlled directly via a control 24,
`and indirectly via a control switch 26 operated by the user
`for presetting the position or the nominal value of the cover
`12 of the sliding and lifting sunroof. The control switch 26
`is preferably a potentiometer and/or a toggle switch, with
`which the driver of the motor vehicle adjusts discrete
`nominal positions of the sliding and lifting sunroof either
`continuously or by means of click stops.
`Associated with the motor is a position sensor 28, pref-
`erably a Hall sensor, which operates together with one or a
`plurality of ring magnets located on the armature shaft of the
`motor 22, and which transmits Hall sensor signals 30 as a
`function of the rotation of the armature shaft. The Hall
`sensor signals 30 are supplied to the control 24 via an
`interrupt input and counted via a counter 32 located in said
`input. The counter reading indicates the position of the cover
`of the sliding and lifting sunroof within its path of adjust-
`ment. The closed position of the cover of the sliding and
`lifting sunroof therefore can be determined via the reading
`of counter 32 as well. For standardizing the counter 32, the
`cover 12 of the sliding and lifting sunroof is displaced or
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`driven into a mechanical stop. This is recognized by the
`control 24 and the counter 32 is reset accordingly.
`Alternatively, however, the closed position of the cover 12
`can be detected by a microswitch 40, or such a switch can
`be employed for standardization. According to the invention,
`a switch in the form of a sensor detecting a closed position
`when the sunroof is closed, or a clamped or wedged position
`of the water duct 18 located between the resting and the
`closing positions, supplies the control 24 with an appropriate
`switch signal 36.
`For the evaluation of said switch signal 36, the control 24
`has a comparator 38 which compares the switch signal 36
`with the detected actual position.
`FIG. 2 shows a top View of the sliding and lifting sunroof
`10 according to FIG. 1, but without the cover 12. Shown are
`the opening for the sliding and lifting sunroof in the roof 14
`of the motor vehicle, and the water duct 18 mounted on the
`side of the opening opposite the pivot 16.
`The method as defined by the invention is now described
`in light of FIG. 1.
`The motion and the direction of rotation of the motor
`armature shaft are detected with the Hall sensor 28 and
`supplied to the control 24. Corresponding with the rotation
`of the shaft of the motor armature, the cover 12 is driven into
`its lifting or into a sliding position. Therefore, it is possible
`in this way to determine via the Hall sensor signals 30 and
`the counter 32 the actual position, speed and direction of
`movement of the cover 12. A value of the counter 32 is
`consequently associated with or allocated to each position of
`the cover 12 over the entire distance of displacement, said
`counter counting the interrupts upwardly or downwardly
`depending on the direction of rotation. Via a mechanical stop
`of the cover 12, the counter 32 is set to a predetermined or
`preset value, for example to zero.
`The range of adjustment of the cover 12 is continually
`detectable in this way and the actual position of the cover 12
`is known. The sliding range and the lifting range of the
`sunroof cover 12 may be differentiated with the help of the
`value counted by the counter 32.
`The protection against wedging described in the following
`is effective when the cover 12 is driven from its raised
`position into its closed position. For this purpose, the control
`24 controls the motor 22 depending on the Hall sensor
`signals 30 of the Hall sensor 28, and the signals supplied by
`the control switch 26. A position control circuit is conse-
`quently realized in this way.
`Legal standards such as, for example the US test standard
`“FMVSSl 18”, or the German “Richtlinien fuer fremdkraft—
`betaetigte Fenster in PK ” [Guidelines for Passenger Car
`Windows operated by Separate Power] specify, for example,
`that no forces higher than 100 N may act on an object 20
`wedged between the cover 12 and the water duct 18. With
`a sliding sunroof 10 without protection against wedging,
`said wedging forces would be significantly exceeded in a
`case of wedging. Detection of a wedged object as defined by
`the invention, and the limitation of the closing forces of
`cover 12, for example to below 100 Newton, take place via
`the switch 34 and the control 24.
`In such a wedging
`situation, the adjusting force or the adjusting torque applied
`by the motor 22 to the wedged object 20 via the cover 12 is
`transmitted to the movably supported water duct 18, so that
`the latter is lowered with increasingly effective force from
`the resting position into a clamping position. Each position
`of the water duct 18 corresponds with a known clamping
`force acting on said duct. Since the clamping position is
`detected by the switch 34, the switch signal 36 characterizes
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2021
`Exhibit 2021
`4/6
`4/6
`
`

`

`In the comparator 38, the control 24 carries out a corn-
`parison of the actual position of the cover 12 with the switch
`signal 36 to detect whether the switch signal 36 coincides
`with the closed position of the cover according to FIG. 1a,
`or with a raised position of the cover 12 according to FIG.
`1b. In the latter case, the control 24 induces stopping or
`reversal of the rotational direction of motor 22 in order to
`keep the wedging forces low, or to release again the wedged
`object 20.
`The comparison of the actual position of the cover 12 with
`the switch signal 36 also permits detection of the thickness
`of the wedged object 20, so that in the control 24,
`the
`permissible wedging forces have to be fixed as a function of
`the thickness. For example, pursuant to US safety standard
`FMVSSllS, a wedging force of maximally 100 Newton is
`permissible with a thickness of from 4 mm to 200 mm of the ’
`wedged object 20. Furthermore, according to FMVSSllS,
`the spring constant of the test object 20 to be wedged is fixed
`depending on its thickness: at least 65 Newton/mm for a
`diameter of 25 mm or less; at least 20 Newton/mm for a
`diameter of more than 25 mm. The spring constant therefore
`specifies a value for the hardness of the wedged object 20.
`So as to comply with legal provisions,
`the protection
`against wedgng and the limitation of the closing force are
`adjusted for hard and soft objects 20 Via the spring constant
`of the spring means 46, on the one hand, and thus via the
`absorption of force when the water duct 18 is deflected from
`the resting position, or, on the other hand, via the position of
`the clamping detected by the switch 34 i.e. a switch signal
`36 can be generated already in the presence of a minor, or
`only in the presence of a major deflection of the water duct
`18. The function or dependence of both quantities and their
`optimal adjustment can be determined by experimentation,
`and set for each motor vehicle model.
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`With a soft spring constant of the spring, or high uptake
`of force per displacement of water duct 18, wedging situa-
`tions involving hard objects 20 (high spring constant), in
`which the wedging forces build up rapidly, can be detected
`as well in a safe and rapid manner in compliance with the
`legal prescriptions.
`The design of the water duct 18 can be optimized for the
`method as defined by the invention according to FIG. 2.
`With a rectangular opening of the sliding sunroof, for
`example,
`the water duct 18 has to be extended in its
`longitudinal direction along the edge of the roof, resulting on
`the attachments 42. With such attachments it is possible for
`the protection against wedging to cover at least partially also
`the zones where the cover 12 “yaws” with the roof 14.
`Furthermore, the width of the water duct 18 or its resting
`position can be varied and optimized in accordance with the
`requirements.
`In an enhanced exemplified embodiment, an angle sensor
`34, a rotary potentiometer or a switch bar is employed
`instead of a switch. Such an element detects not only a
`closing or clamping position of the water duct 18, but
`continually or partly continually or step by step detects also
`the rotational motion of the water duct 18 around its fas—
`tening on roof 14. This means that a continuous signal is
`transmitted over a longer path to the control 24 and evalu—
`ated even before a maximum wedging force has been
`reached. Preferably, the change in force, i.e. the change in
`displacement per time interval is used for the evaluation,
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`US 6,315,355 B1
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`5
`the action of said known force on the object 20. For
`example, the switch 34 generates a switch signal 36 when
`the adjusting force of cover 12 exerts on the object 20 or the
`water duct 18 the value of 80 Newton.
`
`6
`such change in displacement being compared with a limit
`value selected correspondingly. Since this provides for a
`longer observation time, the control can be finely timed to
`the wedging situation, so that it is possible to respond or
`
`
`react
`to a wedging situation in an optimized way.
`In
`
`
`particular, di erent spring constants of the wedged objects
`20 can be considered through different evaluations of the
`sensor signal 36.
`In another exemplified embodiment, standardization of
`the sliding and lilting sunroof 10 via the adjustment range
`and via resetting of counter 32 is accomplished by a
`microswitch 40 as the reference switch which, for example
`in the course of passage of the cover 12 from its raised
`position via the closed position into its sliding position,
`generates a signal change, whereby the zero passage of the
`level change is allocated to the closed position of cover 12.
`The invention is not limited to a water duct 18, but
`comprises similarly arranged movable shutters, strips, metal
`sheets or the like, which are employed in connection with
`sliding and lifting sunroofs, lifting roofs, folding roofs or
`side vents that have to be adjusted from an open-position to
`a closed position. For example, for closing a folding roof, a
`shutter has to be arranged above the windshield, such shutter
`cooperating with the folding roof in the closing operation, so
`that the protection against wedging as dellned by the inven—
`tion can be realized.
`What is claimed is:
`I. A method for controlling a sliding and lifting sunroof
`device of a motor vehicle, with a control (24) for controlling
`a reversible drive (22), whereby a movable element (18) is
`movably arranged on a side of an opening of the sliding and
`lifting sunroof, characterized in that when the cover (12) of
`the sliding and lifting sunroof is lowered by the drive (22)
`from its open, raised position into its closed position, a
`wedging of an object (20) between the cover (12) of the
`shding and lifting sunroof and the opening of the latter is
`detected by the control (24) in that the movable element (18)
`is dellected by the wedged object (20) from its resting
`position, and said deflection is detected by a sensor (34), the
`latter transmitting a sensor signal (36) to the control (24),
`and the movable element (18) is a water duct.
`2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that
`the sensor (34) formed as a switch detects a fixable value of
`deflection of the moveable element (18),
`in a clamping
`position or a closing position.
`3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that
`the deflection of the movable element (18) is detected by the
`sensor (34), formed as an element selected from the group
`consisting of an angle sensor and a switch bar continuously,
`partly continuously or step by step over a range of displace—
`ment of the movable element (18), and that a sensor signal
`(36) depending on the magnitude of deflection is transmitted
`to the control (24).
`4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that
`the drive (22) is stopped and/or reversed by the control (24)
`depending on the sensor signal (36) characterizing the
`dellection of the moveable element (18), so that the adjust-
`ment movement of the cover (12) of the sliding and lifting
`sunroof is stopped or the cover (12) is opened again.
`5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that
`the control (24) carries out a determination of the actual
`position value of the cover (12) of the sliding and lifting
`sunroof, such actual value being detectable through an
`actual position value acquisition (28), with the sensor signal
`(36), and that a wedging situation or a closed condition of
`the cover (12) of the sliding and lifting sunroof is recognized
`by the control (24) depending on the result of the determi—
`nation.
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2021
`Exhibit 2021
`5/6
`5/6
`
`

`

`US 6,315,355 B1
`
`7
`6. 'lhe method according to claim 1, characterized in that
`a comparison of the actual position value of the cover (12)
`of the sliding and lifting sunroof, said actual position value
`being detectable through an actual position value acquisition
`(28), with the sensor signal (36) is carried out by the control
`(24), and that in the event of a situation of wedging, the
`thickness of the wedged object (20) is determined and the
`maximally permissible wedging force is fixed by the control
`(24) depending on the thickness.
`7. A device for controlling a sliding and lifting sunroof 10
`device of a motor vehicle, with a control (24) for controlling
`a reversible drive (22), whereby a movable element (18) is
`movahly arranged on a side of the opening of the sliding and
`lifting sunroof, characterized in that the movable element
`(18) is deflectable from a resting position by an object (20)
`
`8
`wedged between the cover (12) of the sliding and lifting
`sunroof, and the opening of the latter, and that a sensor (34)
`detects the deflection of the movable element (13) and
`transmits a sensor signal (36) to the control (24) for realizing
`a protection against wedging, and the movable element (18)
`is a water duct.
`8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that
`the sensor is formed as at least one switch selected from the
`group consisting of a switch bar and an angle sensor.
`9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the movable
`element is arranged on a side of an opening of a sliding and
`lifting sunroof, which is opposite to a pivot (16) 0f the
`sliding and lifting sunroof.
`*
`$
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`*
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`*
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`as
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`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2021
`Exhibit 2021
`6/6
`6/6
`
`