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`USOOS734245A
`
`United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,734,245
`
`Terashima et a1.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Mar. 31, 1998
`
`[54] POWER WINDOW CONTROL DEVICE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Noriaki Terashima. Okazaki;
`Yoshihisa Sato. Nagoya; Makihiro
`Ishikawa. Okazaki. all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.. Kariya. Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 570,083
`
`5,334,876
`5,399,950
`5,483,135
`5,539,290
`
`8/1994 Washeleski et all
`................ 318/469 X
`..........
`.. 318/469 X
`3/1995 Lu et a].
`
`1/1996 Parks .......
`318/469
`............................. 318/469 X
`7/1996 Lu et a].
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`60485625
`64—039278
`
`9/1985
`2/1989
`
`Japan.
`Japan.
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Dec. 11, 1995
`.
`.
`~
`.
`.
`Fomgn Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Dec. 13, 1994
`[JP]
`Japan .................................... 6—308701
`
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.6
`............................... G05D 3100
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 318/453; 314/455; 3313:6361:
`[58] Field of Search
`318/280 291
`318/293447453455 466 468. 469‘
`‘
`‘
`~
`‘ 476. 432.434
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Brian Sircus
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Cushman Darby & Cushman IP
`GIOUP 0f Pillsbury MEIdiSOI1 & SutIO LLP
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`When a window glass catches an obstacle and driving
`current of a driving motor increases to a set maximum value.
`the driving current is controlled within the maxnn'um set
`value to limit the obstacle catching force. Because the motor
`is controlled by a duty ratio of PWM signal. the motor speed
`can be controlled with ease and stable control of the motor
`is ensured.
`
`4,870,333
`
`9/1989 Itoh et a1.
`
`318/286
`
`21 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`39
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`1
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`7
`
`6
`
`38
`
`13
`
`UUSI, LLC
`
`Exhibit 2025
`
`WEBASTO ROOF
`
`SYSTEMS, INC.
`
`Petitioner
`V
`LlUSI, LLC
`Patent Owner
`
`Case:
`
`|PR2014-0065O
`
`Patent: 7,579,802
`
`1/12
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 31, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,734,245
`
`F/G.7
`
`3
`
`139
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`
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`SENSOR
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`2/12
`2/12
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 31, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,734,245
`
` X
`
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`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`3/12
`3/12
`
`(\l
`
`‘
`Q)
`
`\
`LL
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 31, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,734,245
`
`F/G.3
`
`
`
`WINDOW
`LOCK?
`
`
`
` FULL NUMBER
`
` CURRENT AND
`< COUNTED ?
`VOLTAGE
`
`
`
` STORE COUNT
`
`NUMBER AND
`CURRENT
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`8180
`
`No
`
`S 220
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Y se
`
`8230
`
`8210
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`4/12
`4/12
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 31, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,734,245
`
`F/G.4
`
`S270
`
`20,23=L,24=H
`
`S280
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Yes
`I S W.G .
`
`UPPERMOST '?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8290
`
`No
`
`SIGNAL 22
`
`$300
`
`S310
`
`5320
`
`S
`
`330
`
`SIGNAL 21
`
`COUNTER
`INCREMENTS
`
`CALCULATE
`SPEED
`
`ggFSRENT
`VOLTAGE
`
`20,2123 = L
`
`CATC
`OBSTACLE ?
`
`No
`
`RETURN
`
`S340
`
`
`Yes
`20, 23=H,24 = L
`
`
`
`8350 $360
`
`COUNTER
`DECREMENTS
`
`Yes
`
`FULL NUMBER
`COUNTED?)
`
`5370
`
`20,21,23,24=L
`
`No
`
`RETURN
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`5/12
`5/12
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 31, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,734,245
`
`F/G.5
`
`ATCH
`OBSTACLE
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`IC
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`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`6/12
`6/12
`
`
`
`5.734.245
`
`1
`POWER WINDOW CONTROL DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`The present application is based on and claims priority
`from Japanese Patent Application Hei 6-308701 filed on
`Dec. 13. 1994. the contents of which are incorporated herein
`by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a power window control
`device for a vehicle and. more particularly.
`to a power
`window control device having a unit for preventing an
`obstacle from being caught by a door window of a vehicle.
`2. Description of Related Art
`US. Pat. No. 4.870.333 (which corresponds to Japanese
`Patent Unexamined publication Sho 63—165682) discloses a
`power window control having a unit for preventing an
`obstacle from being caught by a vehicle window glass. in
`which such obstacle—catch is detected by the rotational speed
`change of a window driving motor. When the change in the
`rotational speed becomes a fixed value. the motor stops and
`rotates in the opposite direction.
`However. in the above structure. since the rotational speed
`of the window driving motor varies with the voltage of an
`electric driving source. the window is driven to ascend or
`descend faster when the voltage is high. and slower when the
`voltage is low. When the voltage of the driving source is
`high. the kinetic energy of the window increases so that the
`window applies an increased impact to the obstacle if it is
`caught by the window. In addition. the driving current of the
`motor increases rapidly after the window catches the
`obstacle. thereby increasing a catching force of the obstacle
`before the motor rotates in the opposite direction to open the
`window.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is made in view of the above
`problems. and a primary object of the present invention is to
`provide a power window control device which limits
`increase of the rush current after obstacle-catch so as to
`reduce the catching force.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`power window control device which reduces kinetic energy
`of the window when it closes.
`
`According to the present invention. a power window
`control device for controlling opening and closing operation
`of a window glass includes a window glass driving motor. a
`drive control unit having a circuit generating PWM (pulse.
`width modulation) signal to control the motor. a current
`sensor detecting motor driving current. means for setting
`maximum driving arrrent according to the position of the
`window glass. means for detecting an obstacle caught by the
`window glass and means for commanding the drive control
`unit to limit driving current within the maximum driving
`current.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`15
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`Other objects. features and characteristics of the present
`invention as well as the functions of related parts of the
`present invention will become clear from a study of the
`following detailed description. the appended claims and the
`drawings. In the drawings:
`
`65
`
`2
`FIG. 1 is an overall circuit diagram of a power window
`control device according to the embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a chart showing relationship between driving
`current of a window driving motor and the position of a
`window glass;
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a part of the operation program
`of the power window control device according to the
`embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a part the of operation program
`of the power window control device according to the
`embodiment; and
`FIG. 5 is a schematic time chart of the driving current of
`the window driving motor.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`A preferred embodiment will be described with reference
`to appended drawings hereafter.
`In FIG. 1. a window—up switch 1 and a window-down
`switch 2 send an ascent signal 39 and a descent signal 40 to
`a micro processor unit (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 3 in
`response to operation of the switches 1 and 2. respectively.
`Rotating direction of a window driving motor 17 is switched
`by a relay 16 to open or close the window. The window
`driving motor 17 provides pulse rotation signals related to
`the rotating direction. A rotation detector 19 is composed of.
`for example. a Hall element. which detects the rotation pulse
`signal of the motor 17 and provides a counter 8 of the MPU
`3 with a pulse signal 38.
`A switching element 15 supplies or cuts electric current
`from a battery terminal 14 to die relay 16 in response to an
`output signal 28 of an OR gate 9. When the signal 28 is a
`high level voltage (hereinafter referred to as H). the switch
`element 15 is turned on or brought into the on-state to supply
`the electric current to the relay 16 from the battery 14.
`Avoltage sensor 12 detects terminal voltage of the motor
`17 (which is almost equal to battery voltage) and provides an
`A/D converter 7 of the MPU 3 with a signal 25 representing
`the driving voltage. A current sensor 13 detects driving
`current of the motor 17 and provides the AID converter 7 and
`a comparator 11 with a signal 26 representing the driving
`current. A flywheel diode 18 releases energy accumulated in
`the motor 17 when the switching element 15 is turned off.
`The MPU 3 includes a microcomputer.
`21 PMW (pulse
`width modulation) circuit 4. 3 D/A converter 5. a memory 6.
`the AID converter 7 and a counter 8. The A/D converter 7
`converts the signal 25 representing the motor driving voltage
`applied by the voltage sensor 12 and the signal 26 repre-
`senting the motor driving current applied by the current
`sensor 13 into digital signals. The counter 8 counts the
`number of pulses of the pulse signal 38 of the rotation
`detector 19 to detect the position of the window glass. Since
`the rotating direction and the rotational speed of the motor
`are calculated from the counted number of the pulses. the
`direction (opening or closing). the position. and the speed N
`of the window glass can be calculated. The relationship
`between the position of the window glass and the motor
`driving current and voltage is stored into the memory 6.
`Incidentally. the counter is reset when the window grass
`comes to the lowest position or the highest position. (The
`counter increments as the window glass rises and decre-
`ments as the window glass lowers if the counter is reset at
`the lowest position. and vice versa if the counter is reset at
`the uppermost position). The MPU 3 receives the ascent
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`7/12
`7/12
`
`
`
`5,734,245
`
`3
`signal 39 and the descent signal 40 in addition to the input
`signals mentioned before and executes programs. which are
`installed previously, according to all the signals it receives.
`The MPU 3 sets a maximum driving current (hereinafter
`referred to as limited current I‘m-gen). which is converted by
`the D/A converter 5 into an analog signal 22 and is applied
`to the comparator 11. The limited current Isa-w, is set to
`correspond to the position of the window glass and to
`generate catching force to such a degree that the obstacle
`which is caught between the window glass and the window
`frame may not get injured.
`FIG. 2 shows how to set the limited current Isa-gm.
`The position x of the window glass is plotted on the
`horizontal axis and the driving current of the motor is plotted
`on the whim] axis. A solid—line curve U(x) indicates the
`driving current (hereinafter referred to the ascent current)
`when the window glass ascends. a broken-line curve D(x)
`indicates the driving current (hereinafter referred to as the
`descent current) when the window glass descends and a
`chain—line curve 1mm indicates the limited driving current
`which is given by adding a fixed value to the descent current
`U(x).
`It is clear from FIG. 2 that the driving current supplied to
`the motor 17 changes significantly with difference in the
`gear elficiency of the window regulator disposed between
`the motor 17 and the window glass. For example. the decent
`current D(x) changes from 2 A to 6 A and the ascent current
`changes from 3 A to 8 A. The curves of the descent current
`D(x) and the ascent current U(x) are very similar to each
`other. however the current level is diffm‘ent from each other
`because conditions such as the weight of the window glass
`and friction of various parts are different between descend-
`ing and ascending of the window glass. However. as under-
`stood from FIG. 2. the ascent current U(x) relative to the
`window glass position can be readily estimated from the
`descent current D(x). if no obstacle is present between the
`window glass and the window flame. In the power window
`control device according to the present embodiment. the
`curve of the descent current D(x)(which is very similar to the
`ascent current except the current level) is detected and stored
`into the memory 6 every time the window glass is opened so
`that the ascent current U(x) can be estimated from the latest
`curve of the descent current D(x). thereby setting the limited
`driving current I‘m-8m.
`This relation may be written as the following equation
`1311.1:
`
`I_,,,,=D(x)+lflp
`
`van+lpr
`
`where
`
`n is a current value which is a difierence between
`the ascent current U(x) and the descent current D(x). and is
`determined according to experiment results or calculated
`from the weight of the window glass. the type of the window
`regulator and etc. and
`Ip is a current value corresponding to a current when an
`obstacle is caught between the window glass and the win-
`dow frame. and is determined according to experiment
`results or calculated from the number of turns of an armature
`winding. magnetic flux of the magnetic field. output efliv
`ciency of the motor and the like.
`The current of Izeigat at the starting position is set com-
`paratively large since the current to start the motor becomes
`greater than the current to keep the motor running.
`If a difference between the signal 26 of the current sensor
`13 at a certain position of the window glass and the signal
`representing the descent current D(x) stored in the memory
`
`4
`6 at the same position of the window glass is less than a fixed
`value. the current value 1,1140” of the equation Eq. 1 can be
`replaced with the above difference (the signal 26 - a signal
`representing D(x)). However. when the pulse signal 21 is
`sent from the PWM circuit 4 and the switching element 15
`is turned on. the difierence is calculated according to the
`signal 26 at a certain position of the window glass and a
`signal representing the descent cmrent D(x) stored in the
`memory 6 at the same window glass position.
`The MPU 3 generates signals 20. 23 and 24 which
`correspond to ascending or descending of the window glass
`when the window-up switch 1 or the window-down switch
`is turned on down. In more detail. when the window-up
`switch 1 is turned on, the signals 20 and 23 become L and
`the signal 24 becomes H. On the other hand when the
`window-down switch 2 is turned on. the signals 20 and 23
`become H and the signal 24 becomes L. The signals 23 and
`24 are applied to the relay 16 and the signal 20 is applied to
`the OR gate 9. When the MPU 3 detects that the window
`glass is located at the uppermost or the lowest position
`according to the number of pulses of the signal 38. MPU 3
`changes the signal 20 to H to lock the window glass. When
`the MPU 3 detects. thereafter. that the motor and the window
`glass are locked according to the rotational speed signal. the
`MPU 3 renews data of the driving voltage signal 25 and the
`driving current signal 26 stored in the memory 6. The
`renewed data are used as lock voltage Ewcx and lock
`current 1“,“. The data are initially set according to the
`armature resistance of the motor so that the power window
`control device can be used at the beginning.
`The PWM circuit 4 of the MPU 3 provides an AND gate
`10 with the pulse signal 21 having a duty ratio D (which is
`the product of the H(on)-period and the frequency of the
`signal 21) according to the rotational speed (which is
`counted by the counter 8) when the window glass is
`ascending. so that the motor can rotate at an optimum speed.
`The basic frequency of the pulse signal 21 is set high: than
`the human audible frequency or higher than 20 KHz. which
`is sufficiently greater than the natural frequency decided by
`the time constant of the motor.
`The setting of the pulse signal 21 and the operation of the
`motor 17 are described next. When the motor 17 is driven by
`the pulse signal 21 having a duty ratio D. the driving voltage
`of the motor 17 becomes D limes (D<l) as high as the
`voltage of the battery 14 due to switching operation of the
`switching element 15. and the rotational speed of the motor
`17 decreases to a speed corresponding to the duty ratio D. In
`other words. the ascending speed of the window glass can be
`changed by changing the duty ratio. for instance. from 30%
`to 100%. However. when the voltage becomes D times as
`high as it was (lower than the battery voltage). the lock
`current of the motor in the locked condition becomes D
`times (less than 1) as much as it was. and.
`therefore.
`sufficient driving current may not be supplied to drive the
`window glass.
`In the power window control device according to the
`present embodiment. the duty ratio D is controlled to be not
`less than a limited duty ratio 13mg." which makes the lock
`current 1106K not less than the ascent current U(x) (=D(x)
`+Inspdowu)‘
`Since the lock current 1mg is proportional to the driving
`voltage of the motor 17. the following equation is given:
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`M.....=U<x)xr,
`
`whae E is battery voltage and r is a resistance of the
`armature windings of the motor 17.
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`8/12
`8/12
`
`
`
`S ,734,245
`
`5
`Since the resistance #EWKHMCK, the limited duty ratio
`Dam is expressed as the following equation Eq.2:
`
`Duryn=(U(x)/[Locx)X(ELocx/E)
`
`The duty ratio D is set according to the armature windings
`and the field magnetic flux of the motor 17 or given from
`experimental results. An ascending speed ND of the window
`glass which corresponds to the duty ratio D is set beforehand
`according to the weight of the window glass. the rotational
`inertia of the motor 17 and so forth. or experimental result.
`In order to restrict the kinetic energy of the motor and the
`window glass while the window glass is ascending, limited
`motor speeds NM,“ are set according to the weight of the
`window glass and the rotational inertia of the motor 17. The
`MPU 3 controls the ascending speed N of the window glass
`within a speed ND so that the motor speed is controlled
`within ngm.
`If a difference (N-ND) between the current speed N of the
`window glass counted by the counter 8 while the window
`glass is ascending and the set speed ND thereof when the
`duty ratio is D is Within a fixed value. the MPU 3 can change
`the duty ratio corresponding to the difference (N-ND).
`The relay 16 receives the signals 23 and 24 from the MPU
`3 and changes the rotational direction of the motor 17 fiom
`opening direction to closing direction of the window and
`vice versa. The comparator 11 compares the signal 26 from
`the current sensor 13 and the signal 22 from the MPU 3. and
`provides the AND gate 10 with an output signal 29. That is.
`the limited current IMF" and the motor driving current are
`compared by the comparator 11. The signal 29 becomes H
`when the signal 22 (corresponding to 1mg“) is higha than
`the signal 26 (corresponding to the motor driving current).
`The AND gate 10 receives the signal 21 from the PWM
`circuit of the MPU 3 and the signal 29 from the comparator
`11 and provides the OR gate 9 with an output signal 27. The
`OR gate 9 receives the signal 20 from the MPU 3 and the
`signal 27 from the AND gate 10 and provides the switching
`element 5 with the signal 28.
`The operation of the above embodiment is described next.
`When the window-up switch 1 is turned on in the
`window-full—open state.
`the ascent signal 39 changes to
`render the signals 20 and 23 to become L and the signal 24
`to become H. At the same time. the pulse signal 21 having
`the duty ratio D is applied to the AND gate 10 and the signal
`22 which corresponds to the limited current Leis,” is applied
`to the comparator 11. Since motor driving current is not
`supplied to the motor 17 at this moment. the level of the
`signal 22 is higher than that of the driving current signal 26
`and the output signal 29 of the comparator 11 becomes H.
`Since the AND gate 10 receives signal 29 which is H and the
`pulse signal 21, the signal 27 from the AND gate corre-
`sponds to the duty ratio D. and the signal 28 from the OR
`gate also corresponds the duty ratio D. The switching
`element 15. therefore. is controlled in a way of the pulse
`width modulation (PWM-control) and supplies the motor 17
`with current from the battery terminal 14 through the
`switching element 15 and the relay 16 to lift up the window
`glass. Since response time of the switching element 15
`(which switches large amount of current) is not as short as
`that of the AND gate 10. the OR gate 9, the current sensor
`13 or the comparator 11. the driving current supplied to the
`motor 17 is comparatively stable although the signals 27 and
`28 change between H and L. That is, when the switching
`element 15 is PWM—controlled. the driving current is sup—
`plied to the motor 17 continuously. thereby ensuring stable
`rotation of the motor 17. Since the driving current supplied
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`to the motor 17 is PWM-controlled. the rotational speed can
`be changed easily.
`the
`When an obstacle is caught by the window glass.
`motor driving current increases and becomes greater than
`the limited current Isa-gm. the current sensor 13 sends the
`comparator 11 the signal 26 which is higher than the signal
`22. Accordingly. the comparator 11 provides the AND gate
`10 with the L signal 29, thereby to make the signal 27 and
`the signal 28 become L (signal 20 is L). Thus the switching
`element 15 is turned off for an instant until the current
`detected by the current sensor 13 (which flows through the
`flywheel diode 18) becomes less than 1mg“. However. the
`motor keeps running because of the current through the fly
`wheel diode 18 and the inertia of itself. It is possible for the
`comparator 11 to have a timer. which allows the motor to
`drive the window glass with the maximum driving current
`1“,. an for a fixed time period such as a period between 10
`milliseconds and 700 milliseconds before providing the
`AND gate 10 with the L signal 29. It is also possible to
`provide the comparator 11 with a counter which holds the H
`signal 29 when the current sensor sends the signal 26 which
`is higher than the signal 22 until it counts a fixed number of
`on—oif operation of the switching element 15.
`Since the motor 17 is PWM-controlled by the MPU 3 and
`the duty ratio of the control signal is set suitably. the driving
`force of the motor 17 can be changed easily so that the
`window glass will not injure the obstacle.
`It is possible to change the duty ratio when the window
`glass approaches the uppermost position or full—closing
`position in order to reduce the closing speed.
`The operation of the embodiment is further described with
`reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
`When the MPU 3 is started in a flow chart shown in FIG.
`3. the operation of the window-up switch 1 or the window—
`down switch 2 is detected in a step 8110. When none of the
`switches 1 and 2 is turned on. the signals 20. 21. 23, and 2A
`are all L which turn on the switching element 15 and the
`relay 16, and the step of the program returns. When the
`window—down switch 2 is turned on in the step 110, the
`signals 20 and 22 are changed to H and the signal 24
`maintains L in a step 130 to turn on the switching element
`15 and change the relay 16 to the descent position. Whether
`or not the window glass is located at the lowest position is
`detected according to a number counted by the counter 8
`which counts pulses of the pulse signal 38 (which corre-
`sponds to the window glass position) in a step 140. If it is
`found N0. the counter 8 decrements each time one of the
`pulse signal 38 is applied to the counter 8. When it is
`detected in a step 160 that the counter 8 decrements by a
`fixed number of pulses. the step returns. If detected NO in
`the step 160.
`it is decided that
`the window glass is
`descending. and the current number of the counter and
`amount of the driving current are stored into the memory 6.
`The limited current Ink," relative to the window glass
`position x is calculated according to the equation Eq.1 and
`is set in a step 180. The motor driving voltage E is calculated
`according to the signal 25 from the voltage sensor in a step
`S 190 to calculate the limited duty ratio Dug”, according to
`the equation Eq.2 in a step 200. If the duty ratio D which is
`set previously is detected not greater titan the limited duty
`ratio Dug," in a step S 210. the window glass may not be
`driven to close the window. Therefore. the duty ratio D is
`renewed as 13:13,.an in a step S 220. and the renewed duty
`ratio D is set in a step S 230. On the other hand. if the duty
`ratio D is greater than the limited duty ratio Dun-gm and YES
`is decided in the step S 210. the duty ratio D is set as it has
`been in the step S an. After the setting in the step S 230. the
`program returns
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`9/12
`9/12
`
`
`
`5 ,734,245
`
`7
`When the window glass descends and it is detected that
`the window glass is located at the lowest position (full open
`position) in the step S 140. whether or not the window glass
`stops (or the motor is locked) is detected according to the
`rotational speed of the motor in a step S 240. If the result is
`YES. the signal 25 of the driving voltage and the signal 26
`of the driving current are stored into the memory 6 (renew
`the stored data) to be used as the lock voltage Emcx and the
`lock current Iwcx in a step S 250. The signals 20 and 23 are
`changed to L to turn oif the switching element 15 and the
`relay 16 in a step S 260. and the program returns thereafter
`0n the other hand. if the result in the step S 240 is NO. the
`program returns without proceeding to the steps S250 and
`8260.
`If the window-up switch 1 is pushed down in the step
`$110. the program proceeds to a step S 270 (shown in FIG.
`4) and renders the signal 20 to be L. the signal 23 to be L to
`change the relay 16 to the ascent direction. and changes the
`signal 24 to H. Whether or not the window glass is located
`at the uppermost position is detected according to the count
`number of the counter which counts the pulse signal 38 in a
`step S 280. If the result
`is NO.
`the signal 22 which
`corresponds to the limited current 1mg," is applied to the
`comparator 11 in a step S 290. the signal 21 which corre-
`sponds to the duty ratio D set in the step 5 230 (shown in
`FIG. 3) is applied to the AND gate 10. so that the window
`glass ascends at a speed ND related to the duty ratio D. The
`counter 8 increments each time one of the pulse signal 38 of
`the rotation detector 19 is applied thereto in a step S 310. and
`the ascending speed of the window glass is calculated
`according to the count number of the counter 8 in a step S
`320.
`While the window glass is ascending, the obstacle-catch
`is detected in a step 330. The obstacle-catch is decided. for
`instance. when the signal 26 (which corresponds to the
`motor driving current) becomes higher than the signal 24
`(which corresponds to the limited current 1mm.) and main-
`tains such a high level for a fixed time period.
`When the driving current of the motor 17 becomes greater
`than the limited current 1mm. the signal 29 of the com-
`parator 11 becomes L and. accordingly, the signal 27 of the
`AND gate and the signal 28 of the OR gate 10 become L to
`turn off the switching element 15. Therefore. the motor
`driving current will not become greater than the limited
`current even though the window glaSs catches the obstacle
`When the obstacle-catch is detected in the step 330. the
`signals 20 and 23 are changed to H and the signal 24 is
`changed to L to turn on the switching element and change
`the relay 16 to the descent direction in a step 340. The
`counter 8 decrements each time a pulse of the pulse signal
`38 of the rotation detector 19 is applied thereto in a step 350.
`When the counter number (which corresponds to the win-
`dow glass position) becomes a fixed number.YES is decided
`in a step 360 and the signals 20. 21. 23 and 24 are rendered
`to be L to stop the motor running in a step S 370. and the
`program returns thereafter. On the other hand. when No is
`decided in the step S 360. the program returns thereafter.
`If YES is decided in the step 280. the signal 20 is forcibly
`rendered to be H to render the signal 28 to be H in a step S
`380. and whether or not the window glass is stopped from
`the motion thereof (whether or not the motor is locked) is
`detected in a step S 390. When YES is decided in the step
`5 390. the signal 75 (which corresponds to the motor driving
`voltage) and the signal 26 (which corresponds to the motor
`driving current) are stored into the memory 6 in a step 400.
`Subsequently, the signals 20. 21. and 23 are rendered to be
`L to turn ofi the switching element 15 and the relay 16 in a
`
`8
`step S 410. and the program returns thereafter. On the other
`hand. when NO is decided in the step S 390. the program
`returns without proceeding to the step 400.
`In a time chart shown in FIG. 5. the limited current Isa-gen
`is given an initial amount for a time T1. When the window-
`up switch is pushed down at the full open position or the
`lowest position of the window glass. the limited current
`1mm becomes an amount indicated by a chain line which is
`given by the equation Eq.l (time period T2). When the
`window glass catches an obstacle. the motor driving current
`increases up to the limited current 1mg“ as indicated by a
`broken line. However. since the motor driving current will
`not become greater than the limited current I‘m“. the
`catching force is limited so that the obstacle may not get
`injured.
`Since the motor 17 is driven by PWM-controlled current
`which is schematically indicated by hatching in FIG. 5.
`highly responsive and highly efficient motor control can be
`provided.
`Since the rotational speed control of the motor 17 is
`carried out by changing the duty ratio of the signal 21 easily.
`the catching force of the motor 17 can be adjusted easily
`according to various conditions such as external
`disturbances. variations between motors. difference in the
`window position. change in the battery voltage and/or the
`like. Such conditions can be detected by the signal 38 of the
`rotation detector 19 and the signal 25 of the voltage sensor
`12.
`Further. ascending or descending speed of the window
`glass. slow or quick starting of the window glass or other
`control of the window glass can be changed to meet user‘s
`preference.
`Incidentally. since the motor driving current increases
`when an obstacle is caught by the window glass. the MPU
`3 calculates the rate of change in the motor driving current
`according to the signal 26 of the current sensor 13 and
`decides the existence of the obstacle if the rate of change is
`higher than a fixed threshold value in the step S 330. The
`MPU 3 can decide the obstacle‘catch when the rotational
`speed of the motor 17 or the rate of change in the rotational
`speed (which it calculates according to the pulse signal 38 of
`the rotation detector 19) exceeds a fixed threshold value.
`The MPU 3 can be provided with an extra switch to
`supply the driving current whenever a driver pushes it down
`intentionally. irrespective of the obstacle catch.
`The motor can have various selections of the armature
`windings (difierent turn of the armature winding). magnetic
`flux of the magnetic field. reduction gears or window
`regulators in order to change the operation speed of the
`window glass.
`Although the present invention has been fully described in
`connection with the preferred embodiment
`thereof with
`reference to the accompanying drawings. it is to be noted
`that various changes and modifications will become appar-
`ent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifica-
`tions are to be understood as being included within the scope
`of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. Apower window control device having a window glass
`driving unit driven by an electric power source for opening
`and closing a window glass. said power window control
`device comprising:
`a switching element. connected between said electric
`power source and said window glass driving unit;
`a first means for controlling said switch element to supply
`said window glass driving unit with modulated driving
`current. thereby controlling window-closing-speed of
`said window glass driving unit;
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`UUSI, LLC
`UUSI, LLC
`Exhibit 2025
`Exhibit 2025
`10/12
`10/12
`
`
`
`5,734,245
`
`9
`a current sensor for detecting current sup