WO1998055722A1

WO1998055722A1 - Method for preventing jamming of foreign matter, and anti-jamming system

Info

Publication number: WO1998055722A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/003360
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Flieser; Karsten RÜTER; Michael Wokrinek
Original assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
Priority date: 1997-06-06
Filing date: 1998-06-05
Publication date: 1998-12-10
Also published as: DE19723974A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preventing jamming of foreign matter (16) in an opening (17) which can be closed by a motor-driven device (13), like for instance a car door window, sliding roof, or similar. In this method, when a detector beam (7) detects foreign matter (16) in the opening (17), the motor-driven device (13) is switched off or into reverse. The inventive method is characterized in that the direction of the detector beam (7) changes continuously, so that the detector beam (7) travels over the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) which is to be closed (17). The invention also relates to an anti-jamming system which functions in accordance with the inventive method. The anti-jamming system is characterized in that it has a deflecting element (1, 5) for deflecting the detector beam (7), which is used to continuously change the direction of the detector beam (7).

Description

Method for preventing a foreign object from being pinched and anti-pinch system

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for preventing the jamming of a foreign body in an opening to be closed by a motor-driven device, such as a door window, a sunroof or the like in a motor vehicle, in which when a foreign body located in the opening is detected by a detector beam, the motor driven device is switched off or switched to a reversing mode.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an anti-trap system for a motor-driven device that closes an opening and has an emitter that emits a detector beam to detect a foreign body and at least one receiver that detects the detector beam.

Methods and anti-trap systems of the type mentioned at the outset are intended to prevent, for example, an electrically operated window lifter or an electrically operated sunroof of a motor vehicle from pinching, damaging or injuring any foreign body. In particular, systems of this type are intended to prevent even the slightest injury to any body parts such as those in the (door window or roof) opening to be closed To prevent fingers, hands, arms or head. Basically there is a risk in motor vehicles that the body part between the upper edge of the window pane and the lower edge (closing edge) of the upper door handle (upper door frame) is pinched. With electrically operated sunroofs, a body part can get caught between the front edge of the sunroof and the closing edge in the headlining.

In particular, serious or fatal injuries to children in electrically operated window regulators in passenger cars are possible by being pinched. With the so-called toll switch, the closing movement of a door window pane is automatically continued only by briefly tapping it. This enables distraction-free driving of the motor vehicle. This comfort feature of electric window lift systems in particular has increased the need for anti-trap detection.

State of the art

Anti-trap systems can basically be divided into two groups. The first group concerns touch-sensitive systems. The second group includes contactless pinch protection detection.

In the case of anti-trap systems to be assigned to the first group, a foreign body to be detected must at least come into slight contact with a sensor device. Only then is a control element used to switch off the drive motor or reverse it.

As a solution to be assigned to this group, a switching band is known, for example, which is arranged directly at the point of possible pinching. In addition, conductive elastomer tapes have already been installed in motor vehicles for this purpose, in which conductive elastomer layers are used Detection of a foreign body are included. Finally, an optical fiber arranged in the seal on the door window frame is known from DE 37 31 428 AI. The optical fiber switches off the electric motor of the window lifter via a light sensor when the light intensity received by the light sensor changes.

This system, like all systems which respond to touch, has the disadvantage that at least a slight pinching of the foreign body precedes detection and switching off of the motor-operated device. Even then, there is already a risk of injury, especially for children. In addition, the detection of a foreign body depends on the pinching angle and is accordingly unreliable. At the end of the closing process, a relatively high closing pressure is required to move the window pane into the door seal, for example. Accordingly, this area must be excluded from the detection in the systems which can be assigned to the first group, since these would otherwise detect a foreign body which is not present. After all, such systems require sophisticated and sensitive measurement technology as well as complex concepts for signal processing and interference suppression.

In the second group regarding non-contact pinch protection systems, a distinction is again made between active and passive proximity detection. In principle, all physical wave fields (electromagnetic and sound waves) that spread in air and are "disturbed" or generated by matter are suitable for contactless anti-trap systems. Active proximity detection can be based, for example, on the basis of a high-frequency field, a capacitor field. However, this sub-group also includes light barrier systems, sound barriers or, for example, radar fields. Passive proximity detection is formed, for example, by a system working with a heat field. From the features of the preamble of claim 1 and claim 12 having DE 42 26 134 C2 a device for monitoring and controlling the opening and / or closing process of electrically operated window regulators of motor vehicles is known. By means of this device, at least one electrically operated actuator of the window lifter connected to the electrical supply can be influenced directly via electrical operating elements or indirectly via at least one light transmitter, a light receiver and an electronic safety device having a light guide element designed as a reflector band. In this known device, the light receiver forwards its output signal, which is dependent on the received light intensity, to influence the closing process to a circuit arrangement. The reflector band is arranged close to and along the roof section of the motor vehicle which receives the window edge in such a way that the light emitted by the light transmitter arranged on the one hand is guided to the light receiver arranged on the other hand by multiple reflections occurring at least in regions on the surface of the reflector band. The device is characterized in that the reflector band is an integral part of the sealing arrangement which receives the window edge and is arranged along the relevant roof section of the motor vehicle.

A very similar device is also known from EP 0 556 711 AI. Again, a light-deflecting means in the form of a metal foil, a metal sheet or a reflective lacquer is created in the partial area of the upper edge area of the window opening.

Finally, a device working with a light barrier system is again known from DE 40 28 584 A1, in which the prevention of an as an exemplary embodiment Pinching a foreign body in a motor vehicle sunroof is shown.

All devices known from this have in common that a light beam transmitter and a light receiver are arranged fixedly in the area of the door area to be detected. In addition, only a straight line from the emitter to the receiver is detected. Although it would be worth considering creating so-called light grids or light curtains, these solutions then make it necessary to have a large number of opposing receivers, each of which is next to one another and whose signal would have to be queried successively in time. This means that complex electronics cabling and assembly would be absolutely necessary.

Presentation of the invention

The technical problem on which the invention is based is to improve a method for preventing the jamming of a foreign body in an opening of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is to be closed by a motor-driven device, in such a way that a larger area of the opening can be detected upon the penetration of a foreign body. In addition, the invention is based on the technical problem of creating a corresponding anti-trap system.

The technical problem on which the invention is based is solved by a method with the features of claim 1 or by an anti-trap system with the features of claim 12.

The present invention is based on the idea, instead of the previously "static" light barrier systems, which have the disadvantage, among other things, that only a very small area of the opening to be monitored is monitored for the penetration of a foreign body by a to replace "dynamic" light barrier system. A dynamic detector beam system used for the first time to prevent the foreign body from being trapped in an opening to be closed by a motor-driven device is distinguished by the fact that the detector beam is deflected in different directions over time. This makes it possible with an emitter to monitor larger areas of an opening for the penetration of a foreign body.

In principle, all directionable physical wave fields can be used as a detector beam that can be changed over time with respect to the direction. In particular, the use of light as a detector beam is advantageous for the present application. The means necessary for generating and emitting a light beam are well known and relatively inexpensive.

A laser beam, which is emitted, for example, by a laser diode, is advantageously used to detect a foreign body. A laser beam is namely a light beam that runs largely parallel and has only a very small angular aperture. Accordingly, even the smallest foreign bodies can be detected easily. In addition, if a reflection means is provided on the closing edge region opposite the emitter, sufficient light can be reflected back, which light is collected by the receiver and processed in an assigned control part.

Of course, it is also possible with the solution according to the invention that a plurality of receivers are arranged in the region of the closing edge of the opening to be closed, so that a correspondingly continuously changing detector beam is detected by the various receivers and the detection by an associated control part in a corresponding manner is processed. Advantageously, however, a reflection means is provided in the region of the closing edge for reflecting the detector beam in the direction of a single receiver. The reflection means can comprise all means known for this in the prior art, for example special reflective lacquer layers or special reflection foils, which reflect the detector beam back into the direction of incidence of the beam, for example according to the "cat's eye" principle, where the receiver is in the vicinity of the transmitter sits. It is also conceivable, for example, to integrate the reflection means into the sealing component there (for example window seal or sunroof seal). The reflection means can already be integrated in one piece during the manufacture of the sealing component, for example, when extruding the sealing profile, corresponding particles which reflect the detector beam are “extruded” into the sealing component at least in a desired or suitable surface area. Such reflecting particles can be prisms, for example or the like.

So that reflecting objects can also be detected as foreign bodies in the opening to be closed, it is advantageous if the reflection means changes the polarization of the received light and the receiver is set to the changed light.

So that the wiring effort is as low as possible, the emitter and the receiver are housed in one housing. The housing is advantageously arranged on the side opposite the closing edge of the opening area to be closed. With this arrangement, the entire opening is "scanned" by the detector beam which is continuously changed in direction. That is, any foreign matter at any point in the opening is detected. «Ö μ ^j d ti PJ Q for Q ro tr ro

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Brief description of the drawings

In the following, two exemplary embodiments of the invention are described and explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for further explanation and for better understanding. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle door, in which an anti-trap system according to the invention is integrated.

Figure 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention which includes a rotating mirror;

Fig. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an oscillating mirror is integrated.

Description of exemplary embodiments of the invention

The basic structure of an anti-trap system according to the invention can be seen from the schematic side view of an upper door rail 8 shown in FIG. 1.

A door window opening 17 is essentially delimited on three sides by the upper door spar 8. In the lower area, the window opening 17 is delimited by a lower door spar 3. The window pane 13, which is motor-driven to close the window opening 17, is accommodated in the lower door area in the retracted state. In the closed state, the upper edge of the window pane 14 closes tightly with the closing edge 18 of the door spar 8. The closing edge 18 extends here in the essentially over that area of the upper door spar 8 which faces the lower door spar 3.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, a reflective film 9 is attached not only in the area of the closing edge 18, but also on the side parts of the upper door spar 8. The reflective film 9 is a polarizing reflective film that changes the polarization of an incident light beam, for example by rotation through 90 °. A reflected light beam thus has a polarization rotated by 90 ° with respect to the incident light beam 7.

In the lower corner area of the door window opening 17 adjacent to the B pillar of the motor vehicle, an emitter and receiver device 2 is accommodated on the inside or outside side with respect to the window pane 13. A fine laser beam generated in a laser diode (not shown) is emitted with the emitter part of the device 2. With the receiving part of the device 2, light emitted from the emitter part of the device 2 or, as here, light changed by the reflection film 9 is detected.

The emitter and receiver device 2 is connected via a cabling 15 to the necessary energy source for operating the laser diode located therein as well as to a control unit which - according to the light detected by the receiver part - switches off or reverses the window regulator motor.

2 and 3 show two different embodiments of a deflection means for the laser beam 7 emitted by the emitter part of the device 2. The first embodiment according to FIG. 2 comprises a rotating mirror 1 which rotates in one direction about an axis of rotation 10 at approximately 1 to 60 Hz, in particular 15 Hz. The rotating mirror 1 has one Mirror surface 11 on which the laser beam 7 is reflected from the emitter part of the emitter and receiving device 2. A reflective film 12 is attached to the entire back of the rotating mirror 1. The reflective film 12 attached to the rotating mirror 1 is identical to the reflective film 9 attached to the upper door rail 8 in the region of the shooting edge 18, as shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen in the view shown in FIG. 2, the emitter and receiving device 2 is accommodated in the lower door pillar 3. The lower door spar 3 has an opening 6, which is designed such that the laser beam 7 falls on the rotating mirror 1, as well as light reflected by the reflective film 9 on the upper door spar 8 can strike the receiver part of the device 2.

A configuration which is essentially identical except for the type of mirror according to a second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Instead of the rotating mirror 1 according to the first embodiment, an oscillating tilting mirror 5 is pivotably arranged in the corner region of the lower door spar 3 and the side part of the door spar 8. The tilting mirror 5 in turn has a mirror surface 51, which fulfills the same function as the mirror surface 11 of the rotating mirror 1 with respect to the embodiment explained in FIG. 2. The tilting mirror 5 is pivotally mounted on a pivot axis 52 at its lower end. For this purpose, a holder 53 is created.

Both the rotating mirror 1 and the tilting mirror 5 are driven by a motor.

The method of operation of the anti-trap protection system according to the invention in accordance with the two embodiments explained above will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the switch for the electric window regulator is actuated, the anti-trap protection System activated. The rotating mirror 1 or the tilting mirror 5 is set in motion. This means that the rotating mirror 1 executes, for example, 15 revolutions per second or the tilting mirror 5 pivots about 15 times per second through a predetermined angular range. At the same time, the laser diode in the emitter part of the device 2 is actuated. The laser beam 7 emitted continuously or in a pulsed manner by the laser diode strikes the mirror surface 11 or 51 and is reflected according to the physical laws of refraction. Depending on the position of the mirror surface 11 or 51, the laser beam is reflected on the mirror surface 11 or 51 at another location in the area of the closing edge 18. If there is no foreign body 16 in the beam path from the mirror surface 11 or 51 to the reflection film 9 in the region of the closing edge 18 of the upper door spar 8, the laser beam 7 is reflected on the reflection film 9. Part of the reflected light of the laser beam 7 is incident on the receiving part of the device 2.

If the receiving part of the device 2 detects laser light in the predetermined manner, the control part does not switch off the electric window lifter.

If, however, there is a foreign body 16 in the door window opening 17, a reflection of the laser light or the laser beam 7 necessary for the receiving part of the device 2 is not carried out. Accordingly, the power window is immediately turned off or reversed by the control part, i.e. the window pane 13 is moved downwards.

The change in the position of the mirror surface 11 or 51 ensures that the entire closing edge 18 is scanned by a laser beam 7. In particular, in the arrangement shown here, the entire door window opening is also detected by the laser beam 7. As a result, a foreign body 16 located somewhere in the door window opening 17 is removed Laser beam 7 is detected and the electric window regulator is controlled accordingly.

In the rotating mirror 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the laser beam does not strike the mirror surface 11 for a certain angular range, but on the back. Due to the attachment of the reflective film 12, which is identical to the reflective film 9 in the area of the closing edge 18 on the upper door rail 8, the reflective film 9 is in turn reflected on the receiver part of the device 2, so that the control part of the system is pretended that there is none Foreign body is located in the door window opening area.

Both in the first and in the second embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, either polarized laser light is emitted or the emitted laser light is polarized by a polarizer connected downstream of the laser diode, for example a polarization filter. The reflection film 9 or 12 reflects the incident laser light in such a way that the polarization is rotated by 90 °. The receiver part of the device 2 only detects "rotated" laser light in this way. In this way, reflecting foreign bodies can also be detected as foreign bodies.

Claims

claims

1. A method for preventing the jamming of a foreign body (16) in an opening (17) to be closed by a motor-driven device (13), such as, for example, a door window, a sliding roof or the like in a motor vehicle, in the case of which one is detected in the opening (17) foreign body (16) is switched off by a detector beam (7), the motor-driven device (13) or is switched to a reversing mode, characterized in that the direction of the detector beam (7) is continuously changed so that the detector beam (7 ) migrates over the area of the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) to be closed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector beam (7) sweeps the area of the closing edge (18) continuously in a reciprocating manner.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector beam (7) continuously sweeps the area of the closing edge (18) in one direction.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that during the period in which the detector beam (7) at the beginning of the closing edge

(18) is returned, no foreign body (16) is detected.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that during the period in which the detector beam (7) from the end of the closing edge (18) is returned to the beginning, a detector beam receiver (2) the information is supplied that there is no foreign body (16) in the opening (17).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector beam (7) on the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) to be closed is reflected back in the direction of a receiver (2).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the polarization of the detector beam (7) is changed in the reflection at the closing edge (18).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector beam (7) on a rotating (1) or oscillating mirror (5) is deflected.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a light beam (7) is used as the detector beam.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a laser beam (7) is used as the light beam.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the laser beam (7) from a laser diode (2) is emitted continuously or in a pulsed manner.

12. Anti-trap system for a motor-driven device that closes an opening, such as, for example, a window lifter, a sliding roof or the like in a motor vehicle, with one for Detection of a foreign body (16) an emitter (2) emitting a detector beam (7) and at least one receiver (2) detecting the detector beam (7), characterized in that a deflecting means (1, 5) is provided for deflecting the detector beam (7) , with which the direction of the detector beam (7) can be changed continuously.

13. Anti-trap system according to claim 12, characterized in that the deflecting means is a rotating mirror (1) with which the detector beam (7) can be aligned essentially over the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) to be closed.

14. Anti-trap system according to claim 12, characterized in that the deflecting means is an oscillating mirror (5) with which the detector beam (7) essentially over the closing edge

(18) of the opening (17) to be closed can be aligned while moving.

15. Pinch protection system according to one of claims 12-14, characterized in that the emitter is a laser diode (2).

16. Pinch protection system according to claim 12, characterized in that a reflection means (9) is provided at least in the region of the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) to be closed.

17. Anti-trap system according to claim 13 and 16, characterized in that on the back of the rotating mirror (1) an equivalent

Reflection means (12) are present as on the closing edge (18) of the opening (17) to be closed.

18. Anti-trap system according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the reflection means is a reflective film (9) which causes the polarization of the reflected light beam to be changed compared to the incident light beam (7).