Method and system for detecting an object in the path of a vehicle power window system using acoustic signals
AssigneeMaritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc.
InventorChristos Kyrtsos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and device for detecting an object caught in the path of a vehicle power window system includes an acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic signals associated with the window as the window closes. A control circuit having control logic compares the sensed acoustic signals with a predetermined noise threshold. If a difference is determined between the sensed signals and the predetermined noise threshold, an object caught in the path of the vehicle power window system is assumed to be present and the control circuit controls the motor accordingly to either stop or reverse direction.
Claims12
A system for detecting an object caught in the path of a vehicle power window system having a window that opens and closes via a motor commanded by a control circuit, the system comprising:
- an acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic signals associated with the window as the window closes;
- a control circuit having control logic for comparing the sensed acoustic signal with a predetermined noise threshold and detecting an object caught in the path of the vehicle power window system based on the comparison;
- and
- wherein the acoustic sensor is further operative to sense a current acoustic signal as the window closes during a current window closing operation indicative of the sound associated with the window closing, and wherein the control circuit, in comparing, is further operative to compare the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal during the current window closing operation and determine if the sensed current acoustic signal differs from the previously sensed acoustic signal.
A system for detecting an object caught in the path of a vehicle power window system having a window that opens and closes via a motor commanded by a control circuit, the system comprising:
- an acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic signals associated with the window as the window closes;
- a control circuit having control logic for comparing the sensed acoustic signal with a predetermined noise threshold and detecting an object caught in the path of the vehicle power window system based on the comparison, wherein the acoustic sensor is further operative to sense a current acoustic signal as the window closes during a current window closing operation, wherein the control circuit, in comparing, is further operative to compare the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal during the window closing operation and determine if the sensed current acoustic signal differs from a previously sensed acoustic signal wherein the control circuit, in comparing the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal, is further operative to compare the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal for a predetermined amount of time after the end of the current window closing operation.
A method for detecting an object caught in the path of a vehicle power window system having a window that opens and closes via a motor commanded by a control circuit, the method comprising:
- sensing acoustic signals associated with the window as the window closes;
- comparing the sensed acoustic signals with a predetermined noise threshold;
- detecting an object caught in the path of the vehicle power window system based upon the comparison;
- and
- wherein comparing comprises sensing a current acoustic signal as the window closes during a current window closing operation indicative of the sound associated with the window closing, comparing the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal during the current window closing operation, and determining if the sensed current acoustic signal differs from the previously sensed acoustic signal.
A method for detecting an object caught in the path of a vehicle power window system having a window that opens and closes via a motor commanded by a control circuit, the method comprising:
- sensing a current acoustic signal as the window closes during a current window closing operation;
- comparing the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal during the current window closing operation;
- and
- determining if the sensed current acoustic signal differs from the previously sensed acoustic signal, wherein comparing the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal further comprises comparing the sensed current acoustic signal with a previously sensed acoustic signal for a predetermined amount of time after the end of the current window closing operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.