Method for actuating a drive means of a window positioning device for positioning a window pane of a vehicle, and control device suitable therefor

Abstract

A drive device of a window positioning device positions a window of a vehicle to selectively cover a window opening. The drive device is operated by a control device. When the window is fully closed, the drive device is operated (a) in an opening direction and then (b) in a closing direction. The operation of the drive device is carried out depending on a drive parameter. In a), using a first value of the drive parameter, the drive device is brought into a first reduced load position, and in b), using a second value of the drive parameter, the drive device is brought into a second reduced load position in which the window positioning device is in a reduced load state. A control device and a window positioning device are used.

Claims

1. A method for operating a drive device of a window positioning device, the window positioning device being controlled by a control device to position a window pane of a vehicle to selectively cover a window opening, the drive device moving in an opening direction to open the window pane and moving in a closing direction to close the window pane, the method comprising: operating the drive device to displace the drive device in the opening direction and bring the drive device into a first reduced load position, the drive device being displaced to the first reduced load position when the drive device is in an initial position in which the window pane is in a closed end position and when the window positioning device is in a first preload state for preloading the window pane; starting from the drive device being in the first reduced load position, operating the drive device to displace the drive device in the closing direction and bring the drive device into a second reduced load position in which the window positioning device is in a second preload state; and maintaining the window positioning device in the second preload state at least temporarily, wherein the drive device is displaced to the first reduced load position by a first value of a drive parameter, the drive device is displaced to the second reduced load position by a second value of the drive parameter, the second value of the drive parameter is smaller than the first value of the drive parameter such that the drive device is displaced less in the closing direction than in the opening direction, the window opening is fully covered when the drive device is in the second reduced load position, and in the second preload state, the window positioning device is subjected to a smaller preload than in the first preload state.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive device is a rotary drive device, and the drive parameter is an angle unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window positioning device comprises a set of teeth, and the drive parameter is an angle unit or a length unit.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein displacing the drive device to the second reduced load position is carried out with at least one of a reduced force and a reduced speed compared to displacing the drive device to the first reduced load position, and the force and/or speed of the drive device is controlled by a pulse width modulated control signal delivered by the control device to the drive device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive device is displaced to the first reduced load position in response to locking of the vehicle or turning off an engine of the vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to displacing the drive device to the first reduced load position, the window pane is displaced from an at least partly open position into the end position.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in displacing the drive device to the first reduced load position, the window pane is displaced from the end position into a first intermediate position, and the first intermediate position is at a distance of 1 to 10 millimeters from the end position.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in displacing the drive device to the first reduced load position, the window pane is displaced from the end position into a first intermediate position, and the first intermediate position is at a distance of 0.5 to 3 millimeters from the end position.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in displacing the drive device to the first reduced load position, the window pane is displaced from the end position into a first intermediate position, and the first intermediate position is at a distance of 0.25 to 1 millimeter from the end position.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device delivers a pulse width modulated control signal to the drive device to control at least displacement of the drive device to the second reduced load position.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displacing the drive device in the closing direction, from the second reduced load position, to bring the window positioning device to the first preload state for preloading the window pane.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a speed of the motor vehicle; and after the speed of the motor vehicle reduces below a predetermined limit, waiting for a delay period and then triggering the drive device to be moved to the first reduced load position and then to the second reduced load position.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive device is moved to the second preload position when the vehicle is not moving or moving at less than a predetermined speed, and the method further comprises displacing the drive device in the closing direction from the second preload position, so that the window positioning device is returned to the first preload state for preloading the window pane when the vehicle again moves at the predetermined speed.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second preload states relate to at least one of a bearing force, a contact pressure between gearbox components of the window positioning device, a traction force on a cable of the window positioning device, a torque on a gearwheel of the window positioning device and a thrust on a mechanical component of the window positioning device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a defined ratio between the first and second values of the drive parameter such that altering an amount of displacement of the drive device in the opening direction causes a corresponding alteration to displacement of the drive device in the closing direction.

16. A control device to operate a drive device of a window positioning device, the window positioning device positioning a window pane of a vehicle to selectively cover a window opening, the drive device moving in a closing direction to close the window pane and moving in an opening direction to open the window pane, the control device comprising a control unit coupled to the drive device to: deliver a first control signal to the drive device, to displace the drive device in the opening direction and bring the drive device into a first reduced load position, the drive device being displaced to the first reduced load position when the drive device is in an initial position in which the window pane is in a closed end position and when the window positioning device is in a first preload state for preloading the window pane; deliver a second control signal to the drive device, to displace the drive device in the closing direction from the first reduced load position, to bring the drive device into a second reduced load position in which the window positioning device is in a second preload state; and maintain the window positioning device in the second preload state at least temporarily, wherein the first control signal is produced according to a first value of a drive parameter, the second control signal is produced according to a second value of the drive parameter, the second value of the drive parameter is smaller than the first value of the drive parameter such that the drive device is displaced less in the closing direction than in the opening direction, the window opening is covered in the second reduced load position, and in the second preload state, the window positioning device is subjected to a smaller preload than in the first preload state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the proposal, by which a long service life and gentle stowage of a window positioning device can be ensured;

(3) FIG. 2a shows a window pane disposed in a vehicle door in a schematic side view, for which the proposed method for the operation of a drive device for the positioning of the window pane can be used;

(4) FIG. 2b shows a detailed view according to the detailed sectional view characterized in FIG. 2a, wherein different positions of the window pane are marked, into which the window pane can be displaced by the proposed method;

(5) FIG. 3 shows in a schematic representation a control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present proposal that is designed to provide instructions for a drive device for the displacement of a window pane such that the window pane can be displaced according to the method;

(6) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary construction of a window positioning device according to an exemplary embodiment, with a drive device and its arrangement in relation to a control device on a vehicle door; and

(7) FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of a drive device of a window positioning device according to another exemplary embodiment, wherein a window pane of a vehicle in a vehicle door can be positioned by a cable of the drive device, and the drive device is in communication with a proposed control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

(9) In FIG. 1 a process flow is shown that optionally starts with a displacement of a window of a vehicle into an end position according to process V0, or with a displacement from the end position into a first intermediate position according to process V1. The start of the process for the displacement of the window or the window pane can take place by a signal S1, which e.g. can be produced by a vehicle system 30. Signal S1 is e.g. associated with a shutdown and/or locking of a vehicle. Process V2, corresponding to a return displacement from the first intermediate position into a second intermediate position, follows process V1. The proposed method can already be carried out to a conclusion here, wherein the second intermediate position is provided between the first intermediate position and the end position. Optionally, the method can also comprise another process V3, corresponding to a return displacement from the second intermediate position into the end position. Said process V3 can e.g. be initiated by a signal S2, especially a signal for starting and/or for unlocking the vehicle, and said signal S2 can e.g. also be provided by the vehicle system 30. By the displacement of the window pane in an opening direction (corresponding to V1) and the following return displacement of the window pane in a closing direction (corresponding to V2) with reduced force and/or speed compared to the displacement in the opening direction, which e.g. takes place by pulse width modulation of a drive signal or control signal, a window positioning device, in particular a mechanism of the window positioning device, can be de-tensioned or loosened. This is primarily of interest for longer stationary periods of the vehicle.

(10) It should be mentioned that instead of an actual displacement of the window pane, the operation of a drive device of a window positioning device can also take place only to such a small extent that the window pane is not moved at all. In the end position, the window pane is normally pressed with high force into a maximally closed position on a seal of a vehicle door, which is of interest e.g. with regard to high sound protection, especially for luxury vehicles that can be driven at high speed. Said force must be maintained by a window positioning device, wherein it has been shown that this is not necessarily required when the vehicle is stationary. By operating a drive device of the window positioning device in an opening direction, the load on the window positioning device can be reduced. The operation only has to be carried out to such an extent that a preload is reduced in the window positioning device. A subsequent operation of the drive device in a closing direction can then take place with regard to a smaller contact pressure of the window pane, i.e. by holding the window pane in the end position e.g. with reduced (preload) force.

(11) This method is especially appropriate with regard to long stationary periods of a vehicle, but can also produce a longer service life of the window positioning device if it is used for vehicles that are only driven at low speeds in town over long phases. The signal S1 can then e.g. also be related to a certain speed and can be produced if the vehicle is driven below a certain speed. The signal S2 can then be produced by analogy if the vehicle again exceeds a defined speed. In order to prevent the window positioning device from being operated repeatedly in a short time, a time variable can also be taken into account when coupling the signals to the speed, using which it can be specified that the window positioning device is only operated if the speed is below a speed threshold value for at least a defined time threshold value.

(12) In FIG. 2a a vehicle 1 is shown on which a vehicle door 2 is provided that comprises a seal 2.1 on a door frame, especially in the vicinity of an end position of a window pane, and a window pane 3 is provided on the vehicle door 2. The window pane 3 can be displaced in the y-direction or opposite to the y-direction.

(13) In FIG. 2b it is shown in detail in which positions the window pane 3 can be optionally positioned by operating a drive device according to the method. The operation of the drive device for positioning the window pane in intermediate positions Y1, Y2, which differ from a maximally closed end position Y0, is only one version of the method, because the displacement of the window pane 3 from the end position Y0 is not necessarily required in order to benefit from the advantages of the method. The window opening is closed in the example shown in the intermediate positions Y1, Y2, i.e. it is covered by the window pane.

(14) FIG. 2b shows the end position Y0, a first intermediate position Y1, and a second intermediate position Y2, wherein the Y coordinate of the first intermediate position Y1 is smaller than the Y coordinate of the second intermediate position Y2 and of the end position Y0. It can be seen that the intermediate positions Y1, Y2 are provided in the area near a frame of a vehicle door 2, so that the window pane 3 can also come into contact with a seal 2.1 of the vehicle door 2 if the window pane 3 is placed in one of the intermediate positions Y1, Y2. An at least partly open position Y3, in which the window pane 3 is now actually disposed such that the window opening is at least partly open, is different from the intermediate positions Y1, Y2.

(15) The window pane 3 can be displaced in an opening direction and a closing direction. In the design shown in FIG. 2b, an opening direction corresponds to a negative y direction and a closing direction corresponds to a positive y direction, as shown in the illustrated coordinate system.

(16) A control device 10 is shown in FIG. 3 that comprises a pulse width modulation module (PWM module) 10a that is connected to a counter/a comparator circuit 10b and an analogue comparator/a multivibrator 10c. Optionally, the counter/comparator circuit 10b or analogue comparator/multivibrator 10c can be disposed directly in the PWM module 10a. The control device 10 is connected to at least one position sensor 11 and/or to a force sensor 12. The position sensor 11 can be in the form of an angle of rotation sensor. The control device 10 is also connected to a drive device 23, to which the control device 10 can deliver a pulse width modulated control signal S10. By a connection to a vehicle system 30, the control device 10 can take into account a driving state of the vehicle, e.g. a speed.

(17) In FIG. 4 a vehicle door 2 is shown on which a window pane 3 is illustrated in a partly open position, and the window pane 3 can be displaced by a drive device 23 comprising a gearbox 21, which is formed by a first set of teeth 21a and a second set of teeth 21b, which are only shown schematically here. The respective set of teeth can also generally be in the form of an engagement device. The drive device 23 and the gearbox 21 are part of a window positioning device 20, by which the window pane 3 can be displaced. The drive device 23 is connected to a control device 10, and this is in turn connected to a vehicle system 30 and to a force sensor 12 and/or to a position sensor 11.

(18) In FIG. 5 a version of a vehicle positioning device 20 is shown in which a drive device is provided in the form of a rotary drive device 230. The rotary drive device 230 is designed to operate a cable 210a, wherein the cable is part of a cable traction drive 210, by which a window pane 3 on a vehicle door 2 can be displaced. A control device 10, which is connected to the rotary drive device 230, is in communication with a force sensor 12 and/or a position sensor 11, wherein an angle of rotation sensor 11a is also provided, which can deliver an angle of rotation of the rotary drive or of the rotary drive device 230 to the control device 10.

(19) The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention covered by the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).