Control Device and Method for Controlling a Window Lifter With Anti-Trap Protection for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for controlling an externally-powered window lifter with anti-trap protection for a motor vehicle window. A control device of this type is designed to determine that an operating element for closing the window is actuated and, in response thereto, the window is moved in the closing direction. The control device is further designed to determine that the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is no longer guaranteed. In the case of a control device and in the event that it has been determined that the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, the window lifter is actuated in response to the actuation of the operating element in such a way that the window is moved at a lower displacement speed in the closing direction when compared with the displacement speed with guaranteed functionality. In the case of an alternative control device and in the event that it has been determined that the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, the window lifter is actuated in response to the actuation of the operating element with a predetermined actuation sequence of the window lifters in such a way that the window is displaced in the closing direction starting from the idle state.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A control device for controlling a power-operated window lifter with anti-trap protection for a motor vehicle window, comprising: the control device, wherein the control device is configured to: determine that an operating element for closing the window is actuated, and in response thereto, move the window from an inoperative state in the closing direction, and wherein the control device is furthermore configured to: determine that functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, and when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, activate the window lifter in response to the actuation of the operating element such that the window is moved at a lower movement speed in the closing direction in comparison to the movement speed when the functionality is guaranteed.

12. The control device according to claim 11, further comprising: a regulator for regulating movement speed to a desired movement speed or to a desired variable characteristic thereof, during closing of the window, and when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, a value of the desired movement speed or desired variable is lower than when functionality is guaranteed.

13. A control device for controlling a power-operated window lifter with anti-trap protection for a motor vehicle window, comprising: the control device, wherein the control device is configured to: determine that an operating element that is to be actuated for closing the window is actuated, and in response thereto, move the window from an inoperative state in the closing direction, wherein the control device is further configured to: determine that functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, not activate the window lifter in response to an actuation of the operating element with a single state change of the operating element such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction, determine that the operating element that is to be actuated for closing the window is actuated with a predetermined actuation sequence which has more than one single state change of the operating element, and when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, activate the window lifter in response to the actuation of the operating element with the predetermined actuation sequence such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction.

14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the actuation sequence comprises repeated actuation of the operating element.

15. The control device according to claim 14, wherein the control device is further configured to: check whether the repeated actuation takes place in a predetermined period of time, when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, activate the window lifter in response to the actuation of the operating element with the predetermined actuation sequence such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction if the repeated actuation takes place in the predetermined period of time.

16. The control device according to claim 14, wherein the operating element for closing the window is actuatable at least in two stages with an actuated state of a first stage and an actuated state of a second stage, the actuation sequence comprises repeated actuation of the operating element in the same stage.

17. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the operating element for closing the window is actuatable at least in two stages with an actuated state of a first stage and an actuated state of a second stage, the actuation sequence comprises switching over from an unactuated state into the actuated state of a first stage and switching over from the actuated state of a first stage into the actuated state of a second stage.

18. A method for controlling a power-operated window lifter with anti-trap protection for a motor vehicle window, comprising: determining that an operating element for closing the window is actuated; and in response thereto, moving the window in the closing direction, determining that functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed; and when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed, activating the window lifter, when the operating element is actuated, such that the window is moved at a lower movement speed in the closing direction in comparison to the movement speed when the functionality is guaranteed.

19. A method for controlling a power-operated window lifter with anti-trap protection for a motor vehicle window, comprising: determining that an operating element that is to be actuated for closing the window is actuated; when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is guaranteed, activating the window lifter in response thereto such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction, determining that the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed; determining that the operating element that is to be actuated for closing the window is actuated with a predetermined actuation sequence which has more than one single state change of the operating element; when the functional activity of the anti-trap protection is not guaranteed: (i) not activating the window lifter in response to an actuation of the operating element with a single state change of the operating element such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction, and (ii) activating the window lifter in response to an actuation of the operating element with the predetermined actuation sequence such that the window is moved from the inoperative state in the closing direction.

20. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed on one or more processors, carries out the method of claim 18.

21. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed on one or more processors, carries out the method of claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an operating principle of a first exemplary embodiment of a control device according to the invention (according to the first aspect of the application).

[0060] FIG. 2 shows an operating principle of a second exemplary embodiment of a control device according to the invention (according to the second aspect of the application).

[0061] FIG. 3 shows an operating principle of a third exemplary embodiment of a control device according to the invention (according to the second aspect of the application).

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a schematic overview of an exemplary electric window lifter system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] In FIG. 1, the operating principle of a first exemplary embodiment of a control device (for example a window lifter control unit) for controlling an electric window lifter is illustrated in a simplified way in the form of a sequence diagram. This involves a control device according to the first aspect of the application. Only the manual closing is illustrated; a possibly provided automatic closing is in any case permissible only when the anti-trap protection is guaranteed, and is not illustrated.

[0064] In step 100, it is determined by the control device that the anti-trap protection (actually prescribed for automatic closing) cannot currently be guaranteed, that is to say that the effectiveness of the closing force limitation cannot be guaranteed, for example because the value of the achievable closing force limitation is greater than a prescribed value (for automatic closing) of the closing force limitation or because a closing force limitation is no longer present at all. If the anti-trap protection cannot be guaranteed, in step 120 a reduced value for the desired speed for regulating the speed during manual closing is preset, the value being lower than the preset value of the desired speed when the anti-trap protection is guaranteed (see step 110).

[0065] If, in step 130, an actuation of the switch that is directed toward (manual) closing of the window (e.g. pulling of the switch in stage 1 instead of pressing for opening the window) is determined, the window is moved incrementally in the closing direction at the respectively set desired speed (see step 140) if the end position of a completely closed window is not yet reached. The incremental movement in the closing direction is repeated for as long as the switch continues to be actuated in the closing direction.

[0066] In FIG. 2, the operating principle of a second exemplary embodiment of a control device (for example a window lifter control unit) for controlling an electric window lifter is illustrated in a simplified way in the form of a sequence diagram. This involves a control device according to the second aspect of the application.

[0067] As explained above with regard to step 100 in FIG. 1, it is determined in step 200 by means of the control device that the anti-trap protection (actually prescribed for automatic closing) cannot be guaranteed. If there is currently no restriction for the anti-trap protection, when the switch is continuously actuated for manual closing (e.g. pulling in stage 1), the window is moved in the closing direction for as long as the switch is held and the end position is not yet reached.

[0068] If the anti-trap protection, by contrast, cannot be currently guaranteed, no movement of the window is triggered when the switch is actuated once for manual closing. Instead, the driver has to actuate the switch more than once (see step 230), specifically in a predetermined time Δt (e.g. Δt=2 s; calculated after the end of the first actuation) in order subsequently to initiate a movement of the window in the closing direction (see step 240). If the switch for closing the window is actuatable in two stages with stage 1 (e.g. actuation as far as the pressure point) and stage 2 (e.g. actuation beyond the pressure point), the operator can actuate the switch twice in succession in stage 1 or alternatively twice in succession in stage 2 in order, even if the closing force limitation is not guaranteed, to initiate a movement in the closing direction.

[0069] It is then asked in step 250 whether the operator is also continuing to keep the switch actuated after the multiple actuation (in the case of the switch having two stages: keeping the actuation in the respective stage of the preceding actuation). The window is moved further in the closing direction (see step 260) for as long as the continuous actuation persists and the end position for the closing operation has not yet been reached.

[0070] In FIG. 3, the operating principle of a third exemplary embodiment of a control device (for example a window lifter control unit) for controlling an electric window lifter is illustrated in a simplified way in the form of a sequence diagram. The third exemplary embodiment differs from the second exemplary embodiment only in that, when the effectiveness of the closing force limitation is not guaranteed, instead of a multiple actuation of step 230 an actuation sequence of neutral—stage 1—stage 2 (without neutral between stage 1 and stage 2) is necessary as a required prerequisite (see step 230′) in order to initiate a movement of the window in the direction of the closing direction.

[0071] Two or three of the measures in the three exemplary embodiments (reduced movement speed, multiple actuation, actuation sequence of neutral—stage 1—stage 2) can also be combined in one joint exemplary embodiment. If the control of the window lifter is software-based, no development of new hardware or changing existing hardware is necessary for realizing the above-described measures; they can be realized purely by a software program.

[0072] FIG. 4 shows a schematic overview of an exemplary electric window lifter system. A control unit 2 serves for controlling an electric window lifter 1 with an electric motor and one or more Hall sensors for ascertaining the position of the window. The position information of the Hall sensor or the Hall sensors and the drive torque of the electric motor are made available to the control unit 2 from the window lifter 1. The closing force limitation is controlled on the basis thereof in the control unit 2.

[0073] It can be provided that a window lifter switch 3′ that is to be actuated is coupled (see dashed line) to the window lifter control unit 2 without a further control unit located inbetween. In this case, the window lifter control unit 2 directly receives the actuating signal of the window lifter switch 3′. Said signal is erroneous if there is an error in the window lifter switch 3′. It can also be provided, in the event that the control unit 2 directly receives the actuating signal of the window lifter switch 3′, that said signal is transmitted to the master control unit 4 for prioritization if there are a plurality of window lifter switches 3′ for the same window, and the control unit 2 activates the window lifter only in response to a message from the master control unit 4 in such a manner that the window is moved.

[0074] Alternatively, the window lifter switch 3′ as part of a global control panel 3 (with a multiplicity of operating elements) for the door can be connected to a master control unit 4 via a vehicle bus. When the window lifter switch 3′ in the control panel 3 is actuated, a corresponding signal is sent from the master control unit 4 to the window lifter control unit 2 to close the door. This signal implicitly indicates that the switch has been actuated. This signal is erroneous when there is an error in the window lifter switch.