This invention relates to control circuits and more specifically relates to a novel anti-pinch circuit for sensing obstacles in an automotive window path.
Motor driven automotive windows should stop while closing if an obstacle (such as a person's hand or finger or the like) is pressed between the top of the window and the top of the window frame. Mechanical sensors (transducers) can be used for this purpose but these increase the number of parts needed and increase the cost of the window control system. The use of added parts also reduces the reliability of the system.
It would be desirable to eliminate the need for such sensor transducers in an anti pinch control system.
In accordance with the invention, the motor current (of a d-c motor in an H bridge control circuit) is monitored and the distortion in the motor current wave shape due to an obstacle in the window path when closing is monitored to stop the motor. The sensing circuit can be integrated into an IC control chip, such as the IR3220 chip of the International Rectifier Corporation. This circuit is shown in copending application Ser. No. 10/091,194, filed Mar. 4, 2002 entitled H-BRIDGE WITH SINGLE LEAD FRAME (IR-1853), which is incorporated by reference in this application.
The present invention offers to automotive power window manufacturers a “full silicon” platform for an integrated low cost anti pinch solution without external sensors.
Referring first to
Capacitors 30 and 31 are input capacitors connected across the input terminals +Vcc and GND of the automotive system. Resistors 32 and 33 are connected in the gate circuits of MOSFETs 23 and 24 respectively.
The components of the system of
With the two additional regular MOSFETS, 23 and 24 the circuit drives DC motor in either of two directions and features over-current and over temperature protection circuits 40 and 40a (FIG. 1). Other relevant circuit blocks include High Side Current sensing circuits 41 and a Programmable Logic Array (P.L.A.) 42. The “H bridge I.C.” 25 is able to house at the same time a P.L.A. 42 and Current Sensing High Side Switches 21, 22 so that all the basic blocks for the Anti-pinch function are integrated in a single part.
The architecture of IC 25 of
The sensorless detection goal of the invention is to identify different mechanical stops among several possibilities (the top of the door, an arm or a finger . . . etc.). Each has a defined and unique “Torque/Speed vs Time” characteristic when used as a mechanical stop in a power window. A simple and accurate way to differentiate each characteristic consists in sampling “specific points” of the Torque/Time or Speed/Time profiles when the window encounters an obstacle as will be described. When the profile “sampled” doesn't correspond to the “Top of the door” model then the window is immediately powered downward in order to release the obstacle.
Torque measurement can be done by the inner current sensing High Side Switch(Swit). A 100 kHz bandwidth and the 5% precision of the current feedback available with the IC 25 are good enough for the torque evaluation even while switching at 20 kHz.
The shaft speed of Motor 20 is measured by sensing the back E.M.F. of the motor. Sampling the speed is accomplished by in the following sequence that is executed on request during the window motion:
The whole sequence lasts no longer than 3 ms and the H-Bridge is then switched back to its initial state. The sampled value is then used in the Anti-Pinch Algorithm as a speed feedback.
Torque & Speed Profiles
The basic aim is to identify the “top of the door” characteristic with a sufficient definition in order to not confuse it with any “flesh obstacle”. The characterization is done by looking at the “Torque vs. Time” and the “Speed vs. Time” curves when the window approaches the top of the door. Monitoring the “Torque vs. Time” curve could cover 80% of the “anti-pinch” function but the “Speed vs. Time” profile helps in identifying some of the most difficult cases like a thin finger or a child's neck or head. The waveforms of
The small plateau on the curve of
The torque and speed profiles of
An example of a three series sequence is described in the flow chart of FIG. 8. The thresholds and temporization have to be adapted depending on the mechanical system and the motor characteristics. The sequence architecture itself remains identical whatever the window type.
The flow chart of
More specifically, and as seen in
In a first sample, the motor torque is measured in 50 ms intervals until the motor current exceeds Ith1) which can be caused either because of the beginning of the door top profile or hand profile in FIG. 6.
A comparison is next made of the motor current to threshold Ith2, If Ith2 has not been reached, then the “hand profile” and not the door top profile is the cause of the increase in motor torque, and the motor power is reversed. However, if the current exceeds Ith2, the back EMF (or shaft speed) is acquired (in a second phase) to determine if the EMF is between Vth1 and Vth2. If it is not this indicates, in
Temperature Effects
The door signature is not adversely affected by temperature variations. Temperature effects can be virtually eliminated when the signature is enhanced by the use of a spring. At low temperature, the torque level during motion is higher and may reach the obstacle detection threshold. The corresponding current threshold (Ith1) is then pre-programmed depending on the outside temperature. This can be done by a temperature sensor directly interfaced with the I.C. It is also possible to measure the average current of the motor during the first downward going motion and to predict the proper “anti-pinch” current level when the window will be going upward.
The H bridge I.C. of
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/350,192, filed Jan. 21, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030137265 A1 | Jul 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60350192 | Jan 2002 | US |