Power window device

A power window device for lowering and raising any one of a plurality of window members in a vehicle having an engine, the power window device comprising:

• a plurality of window switches, each provided for one of the window members and operated when lowering and raising its corresponding window member;
• a plurality of motors, each connected to one of the window switches for driving the corresponding window member when the window switch is operated;
• a plurality of control units, each provided for one of the window members and connecting the corresponding window switch and motor to control the motor in accordance with the operation of the window switch;
• a signal path connecting the control units;
• an engine switch, connected to the control units, shifted between a position for driving the engine and a position for stopping the engine;
• a control signal generator, connected between the engine switch and the signal path, for transmitting a validation signal through the signal path when the engine switch is shifted to the position for driving the engine so as to validate the control of each control unit over the corresponding motor and for transmitting an invalidation signal through the signal path when the engine switch is shifted to the position for stopping the engine so as to invalidate the control of each control unit over the corresponding motor, wherein each control unit includes;
• a control circuit for determining that the signal path is in an unexpected condition when neither the validation signal and the invalidation signal can be received for a predetermined period, validating the control of each control unit over the corresponding motor by overriding the signal generated by the control signal generator when determining that the signal path is in an unexpected condition, and monitoring entrapment of an object by the corresponding window member to stop or reverse movement of the window member when the window member entraps an object.