Closure Drive Stopping Or Reversal Patents (Class 49/28)
  • Patent number: 11928953
    Abstract: A garage door opener system includes a garage door opener having one or more sensors configured to monitor the status of a garage door as it moves between first and second positions. The garage door opener system may detect one or more anomalies in a profile generated from information from the one or more sensors and alert a user to the presence of those anomalies. The garage door opener system may allow a user to find and contact a service provider to address the one or more anomalies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Residential Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Lovejoy, David P. Bresson, Vickie Lents, Mark Caterino, Jason Williams, Kevin C. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11850922
    Abstract: A door seal and sensor assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes sealing members that can create seals between vehicle doors and the body of a vehicle. The assembly further includes pressure sensitive components that can detect pinching between vehicle doors and the body of the vehicle. The pressure sensitive components can be retained within retaining portions of lateral sealing members. Relatively rigid connecting members are used to connect the ends of the pressure sensitive components to corresponding wire harnesses. In vehicles that use a dual sliding door assembly, the assembly can be mounted around the entire periphery of an opening in the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ritesh Suresh, Hiroshi Shingu
  • Patent number: 11845478
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an operation of a door of a public transportation vehicle are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes an optical sensor unit and a control unit. The optical sensor is arranged at a distance from the door and configured to record a movement of the door during an opening and/or a closing. The control unit is configured to (1) determine a position of a reference point of the door based on the recorded movement of the door, (2) determine a parameter of the movement of the door during the movement based on the determined position of the reference point, (3) determine a deviation of the parameter of the movement from a predetermined/allowed range of values of the parameter, and (4) determine an error in the operation of the door based on the determined deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ICOMERA AB
    Inventor: Joel Bjurstrom
  • Patent number: 11846133
    Abstract: An exemplary method relates to operating a door closer assembly including a closer body, a pinion rotatably mounted to the closer body, a motor including a motor shaft, and a bidirectional clutch connected between the pinion and the motor shaft. The method generally involves permitting, by the clutch, rotation of the pinion in each of a first direction and a second direction without transmitting rotation of the pinion in either direction to the motor shaft; sensing, with a sensor, a rotational position of the pinion; comparing, by a controller, the rotational position of the pinion with a desired rotational position; based upon the comparing, driving the motor to rotate the motor shaft; and by the clutch, coupling the motor shaft with the pinion in response to rotation of the motor shaft, thereby transmitting torque from the motor shaft to the pinion and urging the pinion toward the desired rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brady Plummer, Subashchandra G. Rai, Brian C. Eickhoff, Benjamin L. Miller, Prajna Poojary
  • Patent number: 11624227
    Abstract: Garage door opening systems commonly include lighting generated from lower wattage bulbs mounted to an electric operator near a garage ceiling. This lighting is inadequate to fully illuminate a garage space particularly at the floor level. Since vehicles park under the light, the vehicle can become a blocker of light. Disclosed are garage door opening systems including a safety eye light which integrates a light source into the safety eye of a garage door opening system thereby providing additional illumination to poorly lit areas of a garage. This additional source of lighting helps assure users safer home to vehicle ingress and egress. In some forms, the lights in the safety eye light are fixed, in other forms the lights are adjustable in direction. Various methods of integrating a safety eye light into a garage door opening system and use of the safety eye light are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher T. Didio
  • Patent number: 11441347
    Abstract: An overhead door opener for opening and closing an overhead door. A motor is coupled to a shaft and is configured to rotate the shaft to raise and lower the overhead door. The shaft is coupled to the overhead door. The overhead door opener also includes a one-way bearing coupling the motor to the shaft, wherein the one-way bearing is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the shaft, and not to transmit torque from the shaft to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R Hall, Jerome Miles, David J Groesbeck
  • Patent number: 11421467
    Abstract: An opening-closing body controller includes a motor body that opens and closes an open-close body, a control unit that controls and drives the motor body, and an inner temperature detector that detects an inner temperature of the motor body. The control unit performs an entrapment detection process in a section excluding a mask section that is set from a fully closed position of the open-close body to a preset position in an opening direction of the open-close body. The control unit corrects the mask section in accordance with the inner temperature of the motor body detected by the inner temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11168506
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a closure element of a vehicle comprises an adjustment drive for adjusting the closure element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle between a closed position and an open position, a control device for actuating the adjustment drive for executing an adjusting movement of the closure element between the closed position and the open position, and a light generating device for generating a light signal. The control device is configured to actuate the light generating device for generating a first light signal during an adjusting movement of the closure element and for generating a second light signal when the closure element is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Schulz, Sebastian Hermeling
  • Patent number: 11027646
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle door which is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work, wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work. It is proposed that the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Markus Kothe, Fatih Erarslan
  • Patent number: 10927590
    Abstract: A computing device determines that one or more users have departed a vehicle. The computing device determines whether a vehicle door is ajar. A power door subsystem is actuated to close the vehicle door when the vehicle door is ajar and the vehicle has no users. A fare is determined when the vehicle door is in a latched position. A message is sent to the at least one of the one or more users indicating the fare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Herman, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden
  • Patent number: 10801236
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to hatch arrangement having a hatch leaf, a hatch drive arrangement, a hatch lock, and a cinching system. The hatch lock has a hatch lock catch for engaging a hatch lock striker in a retaining manner in a primary latch position and in a secondary latch position, and for disengaging the hatch lock striker in an open latch position. The cinching system includes a force transfer arrangement for transferring a force exerted by the hatch drive arrangement to the hatch lock catch. The force transfer arrangement has a transfer element coupled to the hatch drive arrangement and a Bowden cable connecting the transfer element with the hatch lock catch. In the closed hatch position of the hatch leaf the hatch arrangement is free from pulling forces between the transfer element and the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Brose Schilesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 10801246
    Abstract: A power assist device includes a motor that is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle, a display for displaying a swing path of the door, a controller for controlling the motor, and a touchscreen device for supplying the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door, wherein the user-inputted selections are received by the touchscreen device via one or more touch events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz
  • Patent number: 10675956
    Abstract: When it is determined that there is an individual abnormality, in which an individual drive section is in an abnormal state, while the opening/closing body is being moved by the drive sections or the opening/closing body is stopped in an open state, the opening/closing body operation device performs a restriction control on the drive section with the individual abnormality, the restriction control restricting the movement of the opening/closing body in the closing direction. The opening/closing body operation device makes a comparison of the driving state between the drive section subjected to restriction control and another drive section, and when it is determined that the drive sections are normal with respect to each other, the opening/closing body operation device deems the opening/closing body to be in a normal state and disengages the restriction control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikiya Yagi, Kenji Matsumoto, Yusaku Hirano
  • Patent number: 10662684
    Abstract: Electronic door stop devices and an electronic door stop remote broadcast device are disclosed. The electronic door stop devices include a sound-activated remote release electronic door stop that automatically detects a particular sound and closes a propped open door and a silent broadcast signal-activated electronic door stop that provides automatic closing of propped open doors, by both silent broadcast signal and particular sound detection. The electronic door stop remote broadcast device broadcasts a wireless data signal to multiple silent broadcast signal-activated electronic door stops to automatically and concurrently close any doors propped open by the silent broadcast signal-activated electronic door stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Miller
  • Patent number: 10577840
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a closure arranged relative a closure frame to selectively cover an opening to the vehicle. The vehicle also includes an actuator configured to move the closure among a plurality of positions including open and closed positions, and a first sensor configured to detect motion of the closure among the plurality of positions. The vehicle additionally includes a latch assembly with an engaged state to retain the closure in the closed position and a disengaged state to permit the closure to move among the plurality of positions. A second sensor is configured to detect the engaged or disengaged state of the latch assembly. The vehicle further includes a controller which is configured to, in response to the first sensor detecting motion of the closure among the plurality of positions and the second sensor detecting the latch assembly in the engaged state, provide a diagnostic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Besi Rrumbullaku, Jeffrey R. Nowicki, Alexandre F. Volpato, Thiago Laserra Lima, James C. O'Kane
  • Patent number: 10508485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for opening an access point of a vehicle. A system and a method may involve receiving wirelessly a signal from a remote controller carried by a user. The system and the method may further involve receiving audio or video data indicating the user approaching the vehicle. The system and the method may also involve determining an intention of the user to access an interior of the vehicle based on the audio or video data. The system and the method may also involve opening an access point of the vehicle responsive to the determining of the intention of the user to access the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Alexandru Mihai Gurghian
  • Patent number: 10415295
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling the opening and closing of a closure panel for a vehicle. The system includes a power actuator having a motor for opening and closing the closure panel. A lift-assist member cooperates with the power actuator and is operated by a controller that controls the operation of the power actuator. A circuit monitors current draw of the motor and signals the controller when the current required for opening the closure panel exceeds a predetermined level to prevent operation of the power actuator. The position of the closure member may be monitored by an encoder, or angle sensor, associated with the motor to detect whether the closure member is falling and actuate a system that prevents rapid movement of the closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Conner, Jason C. Zasa
  • Patent number: 10344516
    Abstract: In an aspect, a vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door is provided, and includes a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and a controller. The check arm holder is configured to apply at least three different amounts of braking force to the check arm. The controller is programmed to control the operation of the check arm holder based on input from at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Warren Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Sven Sauerwein, Douglas Broadhead, Markus Hetzler, Gareth Kenworthy, Mitchell English, Pasit Banjongpanith
  • Patent number: 10267079
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting blockages during an automatic adjustment of a movable vehicle part in a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor drive and an electronic control unit. The drive current as well as the movement speed of the drive are detected by the electronic control unit. When the movement speed increases above the normal level, the control unit suppresses the detection of a blockage event if a drive current increase required for the movement speed increase cannot be ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Mayr
  • Patent number: 10206498
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame, a processor, and a vertical displacement drive mechanism controllable by the processor to change the elevation of the worktop to different worktop elevation positions, the method comprising the steps of sensing the presence of a workstation user within a space associated with the workstation, tracking the duration of time that the worktop is in at least a first position while a user is within the space associated with the workstation and providing the user with a reminder to change the current position of the worktop to another position when the tracked duration of time reaches a threshold level by driving the worktop through at least one vertical displacement that is perceptible to the workstation user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Michael Xinjie Chu, Scott Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10053898
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing fixed adjacent to a door having a hinge, a rotating arm rotatable about the housing and biased toward the door, and a transmitter electronically coupled to the rotating arm, wherein the transmitter broadcasts a position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Jasco Products Company LLC
    Inventors: Keith Lashley, Mitchell Davis, Craig Morris, Matt Henson, Mark Simpkins
  • Patent number: 9850697
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a safety power window system capable of detecting jamming of an object between a window and a door frame by generating virtual pulse signals on the basis of pulse signals generated by two hall sensors positioned to have an interval of 90 degrees therebetween to calculate force acting on the window even though a window motor rotates only 0.75 turns, and an operation method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRICAL POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Suk Kim, Jung Min Lim, So Dam Jeong, Kyeong Won Jeon, Seung Ju Ham
  • Patent number: 9725941
    Abstract: A system and portable device are provided for opening and closing sliding doors associated with conventional sliding doors as used in residences and businesses. The portable sliding door device attaches to a sliding door via a bracket, and moves along the same track used by the sliding door. The sliding door device can be initiated to move the sliding door to the open position through remote control, voice-activation, and proximity transmitters. The sliding door device can communicate with wireless routers and be remotely controlled and monitored by computers, netbooks and cell phones. The sliding door device has safety features, including cameras and speakers to ward off attempted break-ins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Ronald E. Van Tassell, III
  • Patent number: 9650824
    Abstract: In an aspect, a vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door is provided, and includes a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and a controller. The check arm holder is configured to apply at least three different amounts of braking force to the check arm. The controller is programmed to control the operation of the check arm holder based on input from at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: WARREN INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Sven Sauerwein, Douglas Broadhead, Markus Hetzler, Gareth Kenworthy, Mitchell English, Pasit Banjongpanith
  • Patent number: 9484914
    Abstract: An anti-trapping method and a corresponding apparatus for a vehicle door that can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position along an adjustment path by an adjustment motor. First, a proximity sensor is used to monitor an adjustment path region ahead of the vehicle door for the presence of an obstacle during a closing movement of the vehicle door. The closing movement is stopped or reversed when an obstacle is identified in the adjustment path region. Second, when the obstacle is identified during the closing movement of the vehicle door, an additional emergency measure is taken at least when the vehicle door is already closed down to a remaining gap having size does not exceed a prespecified threshold value, and when the presence of the obstacle within this remaining gap is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventor: Florian Pohl
  • Patent number: 9476243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an adjusting movement of a vehicle closing element of a vehicle to be closed in a manner actuated by an external force, such as a tailgate lid, wherein an obstacle in the path of adjustment of the vehicle closing element can be detected by means of a capacitive anti-trap system in order to prevent this obstacle from being trapped, and the vehicle closing element has a locking part, via which the vehicle closing element can be locked in a closed position. An obstacle in a monitoring region around the locking part provided on the vehicle closing element can also be detected via the capacitive anti-trap system in order to prevent a collision of this locking part with an obstacle at least as the vehicle closing element closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Holger Wuerstlein, Christian Herrmann, Florian Pohl
  • Patent number: 9377531
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle (1) with a cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9) and a first ultrasonic sensor (10 to 13), which with its membrane is disposed on a rear side of the cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9), so that the membrane is designed for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals through the cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9), wherein the cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9) is a wing (4, 5, 8, 9) for the motor vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Paul-David Rostocki, Frank Schwitters
  • Patent number: 9322194
    Abstract: An intelligent door lock system is provided with a position sensing device configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device. The position sensing device senses position of the drive shaft and assists in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device. An engine is provided with a memory coupled to the positioning sensing device. A circuit is coupled to the engine and an energy source is coupled to the circuit. A device converts energy into mechanical energy and is coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft. The device that converts energy is coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUGUST HOME, INC.
    Inventors: Shih Yu Thomas Cheng, Jason Johnson, Christopher Kim, Joseph Aranda
  • Patent number: 9322201
    Abstract: An intelligent door lock system is provided with a position sensing device configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device. The position sensing device senses position of the drive shaft and assists in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device. An engine is provided with a memory coupled to the positioning sensing device. A circuit is coupled to the engine and an energy source is coupled to the circuit. A device converts energy into mechanical energy and is coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft. The device that converts energy is coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source. Wing latches are used to secure the intelligent door lock system to a mounting plate coupled to a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUGUST HOME, INC.
    Inventors: Shih Yu Thomas Cheng, Jason Johnson, Mason Curry, John Caldwell, Giles Lowe
  • Patent number: 9205852
    Abstract: A monitoring system and method is provided for monitoring the lighting and the gate arm position at a railroad crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Railway Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Honeck, Craig P. Gabel, David K. Fox, Greggory C. Phelps
  • Patent number: 9051767
    Abstract: A sliding door device for a motor vehicle includes a slidably movable sliding door, a door weather strip attached to the sliding door, and a vehicle body weather strip tightly attached to the door weather strip to maintain airtightness in a state in which the sliding door is closed. A pressure switch senses an internal pressure of the door weather strip, and a pneumatic line connects the door weather strip and the pressure switch such that they communicate with each other. An electronic control unit (ECU) controls an opening and closing operation of the sliding door upon receiving a sensing signal from the pressure switch, and an opening and closing valve allows the pneumatic line to communicate with atmospheric pressure or closes the pneumatic line to atmospheric pressure. An object or a passenger is effectively prevented from being caught when a sliding door is being closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyunghyun Nam
  • Patent number: 9045929
    Abstract: An open-close member control apparatus is to prevent a foreign matter from being trapped to a window glass serving as an open-close member that is driven to open by manipulation of a manipulation switch. When a trapping detection section determines that the foreign matter is trapped to the window glass, power supply to a driving device is stopped to stop opening of the window glass. Then, it is determined whether a predetermined condition is satisfied for approving re-open of the window glass. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the power supply to the driving device is re-started. Opening of the window glass is thereby enabled again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150121758
    Abstract: An anti-trapping method and a corresponding apparatus for a vehicle door that can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position along an adjustment path by an adjustment motor. First, a proximity sensor is used to monitor an adjustment path region ahead of the vehicle door for the presence of an obstacle during a closing movement of the vehicle door. The closing movement is stopped or reversed when an obstacle is identified in the adjustment path region. Second, when the obstacle is identified during the closing movement of the vehicle door, an additional emergency measure is taken at least when the vehicle door is already closed down to a remaining gap having size does not exceed a prespecified threshold value, and when the presence of the obstacle within this remaining gap is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: FLORIAN POHL
  • Patent number: 9015993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for carrying out an operating method for an electric window lifter for moving a rear pane (3) in a motor vehicle, in which the rear pane (3) is moved in a lowering direction (?z) along an approximately s-shaped path of movement. In the case of trapping, the movement of the rear pane (3) in the lowering direction (?z) is stopped and the rear pane (3) is moved in the lifting direction (+z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG., Hallstadt
    Inventors: René Zellmer, Roland Kalb
  • Patent number: 8991103
    Abstract: An anti-trap protection unit for an electric window lifter of a vehicle or generally to efficiently limit excess forces of an adjusting element that can be driven by means of a drive unit is provided. For this purpose, a compensation trajectory of the drive unit is determined independent of the temperature, and a variable threshold function which is dependent on the temperature is determined as a function of the drive trajectory or the drive time, the threshold function approaching a defined threshold value asymptotically, and the drive force especially in the form of a measured speed of a drive motor being continuously determined and being monitored in accordance with the determined threshold function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Markus Schlesiger, Roland Kalb
  • Patent number: 8984809
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to adapt an automatic door motor operator utilizing a photoelectric eye generating a digital pulse train of known amplitude, periodicity and duty cycle to a control signal created through the opening or closure of a moving door edge sensing device or strip which closes or opens when compressed. The invention relates to safety edges used on motorized doors to provide a conversion means to allow a sensing edge switch on the leading edge of a moving door to control a door operator control unit which expects to receive a control signal of a predetermined amplitude, period and duty cycle normally generated through use of a photo eye used to monitor obstructions within the path of the moving door. The invention allows field replacement of an obstruction protecting photo-eye sensor with an safety edge switch type device utilizing the existing door operator and the in-place power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Miller Edge, Inc.
    Inventors: Bearge Miller, Timothy Castello, John Provenzano, Vinay Sao
  • Patent number: 8887440
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a garage door is presented. An alarm system includes an antenna mounted to a garage door. A signal generator logic generates a periodic signal based on a capacitive value of the antenna. The signal generator logic also provides transmit power to the antenna that is radiated away from the garage door. A detection logic detects if there is a change in a characteristic of the periodic signal caused by movement in proximity of the garage door. Amplification logic amplifies the change of the periodic signal. Alarm detection logic determines if the change is an alarm and an alarm response logic will stop a movement of the garage door when the change is an alarm resulting from movement near the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Arvin Brent Simon
  • Patent number: 8875441
    Abstract: Embodiments of an adaptive ultrasound detecting system for a door assembly include an ultrasound transducer assembly mounted to the door assembly and a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly. The ultrasound transducer assembly is adapted to emit ultrasound detecting beams within the door path, and to trigger a detecting signal indicative of a body located within the door path when the body intersects at least one of the ultrasound detecting beams. The controller is adapted to receive information indicative of a position of the door along the path, and to vary emitting at least one detecting beam in accordance to the position of the door relative to the ultrasound detecting beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sensotech Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Agam, Pino Marcovecchio
  • Patent number: 8869449
    Abstract: An apparatus automatically closes and opens a door in a frame. The door is controlled by a controller providing a safety mode for retaining the door in an open state and, if need be, a door reopening mode if an obstacle blocks the closure of the door. A camera having a vision axis intersecting a plane of the frame, provides an image of a space divided by the plane of the frame. An image analysis unit isolates the regions of interest of an obstacle in the space. A calculator extracts a geometrical characteristic of each region of interest, for classifying the same into a closest category of different safety scenarios of known characteristics, and for outputting, to the controller, a safety signal which activates the safety mode and which is dependent on the evaluation of a safety alarm value calculated by a formula, in accordance with the category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens S.A.S.
    Inventors: Said El Fassi, Clara Nogueira Alves
  • Patent number: 8854061
    Abstract: A linear sensor 21 includes an attachment base 22 attached to a metallic edge of a slide door 2 capable of opening and closing a platform 4, a skin cover part 23 which bulges from the attachment base 22 and has a hollow part 24 in the inside, an insulator 25 which has flexibility and also is embedded in the hollow part 24, and a plate-shaped electrode 26 opposed to the attachment base 22, at least a portion of the electrode being embedded in the insulator 25. In the hollow part 24, a gap 27 is disposed between the electrode 26 and the attachment base 22 and also, the electrode 26 is set in a plus pole and the attachment base 22 is set in a minus pole as the grounding, and proximity and/or contact between a foreign body and the skin cover part 23 is detected based on a change in capacitance between the electrode 26 and the grounding minus pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Suhara, Satoshi Toki, Toshihiro Okamoto, Yuzo Tajima, Taizo Shibata, Noboru Sakakibara, Osamu Ito
  • Patent number: 8826592
    Abstract: A window regulator device including an object pinching detection unit which includes an input-side rotational member; an output-side rotational member coupled to an output shaft; an elastic member interposed between the input-side rotational member and the output-side rotational member; a cam formed respectively on opposed surfaces of the input-side rotational member and the output-side rotational member; and an object pinching detection switch for performing a switching operation based on the axial movement of the output-side rotational member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Katayama, Ryoichi Fukumoto, Ryujiro Akizuki, Koichi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20140173984
    Abstract: An anti-trap protection unit for an electric window lifter of a vehicle or generally to efficiently limit excess forces of an adjusting element that can be driven by means of a drive unit is provided. For this purpose, a compensation trajectory of the drive unit is determined independent of the temperature, and a variable threshold function which is dependent on the temperature is determined as a function of the drive trajectory or the drive time, the threshold function approaching a defined threshold value asymptotically, and the drive force especially in the form of a measured speed of a drive motor being continuously determined and being monitored in accordance with the determined threshold function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Markus SCHLESIGER, Roland KALB
  • Patent number: 8756863
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating method for an electric window lifter for moving a rear pane (3) in a motor vehicle, in which the rear pane (3) is moved in a lowering direction (?z) along an approximately s-shaped path of movement. In the case of trapping, the movement of the rear pane (3) in the lowering direction (?z) is stopped and the rear pane (3) is moved in the lifting direction (+z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: René Zellmer, Roland Kalb
  • Publication number: 20140157670
    Abstract: A sliding door device for a vehicle is disclosed. The sliding door device for a vehicle includes a sliding door installed in a vehicle body to be slidingly moved to open and close a door opening formed in the vehicle body. A vehicle body weather strip is attached to the door opening. A sensing device is installed in the vehicle body weather strip to sense that an object or an occupant is jammed in a state where the sliding door is closed. An electronic control unit (ECU) for receives a sensing signal of the sensing device to control opening and closing of the sliding door. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent an object or an occupant from being jammed in a process of closing the sliding door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyunghyun NAM
  • Patent number: 8726573
    Abstract: A position detection unit includes a rotational member rotatable by a rotational drive force of an output shaft, an operation lever configured to avoid engaging with the rotational member when an a position of a window glass is situated out of an insensitive area, and engage with the rotational member when the position of the window glass is situated within the insensitive area, the operation lever being rotated by the rotational drive force of the output shaft transmitted via the rotational member when the operation lever engages with the rotational member, and an insensitive area detection switch for performing a switching operation based on a rotational operation of the operation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Katayama, Ryoichi Fukumoto, Ryujiro Akizuki
  • Publication number: 20140083011
    Abstract: An open-close member control apparatus has a function to release a foreign matter pinched to an open-close member. The open-close member is either (i) driven only while a manipulation switch is manipulated or (ii) driven continuously once the manipulation switch is manipulated to a specified position regardless of whether the manipulation is then released. When trapping of a foreign matter is detected under an open movement of the open-close member to an open direction based on an open command signal from the manipulation switch, an electric power supply to a motor is restricted to stop a progress of the trapping. When receiving a close command signal from the manipulation switch after restricting the electric power supply, the electric power is supplied to the motor to drive the open-close member to a close direction under a restricted state of a predetermined operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro SUMIYA
  • Patent number: 8677693
    Abstract: An assembly (20) for controlling movement of an automatically moveable door panel (22) includes sensors (30, 50) such as microswitches positioned on at least one of a door panel (22) or a door frame member (26). The sensors provide an indication of different levels of relative movement between the door panel and the door frame member at an interface (28) between them. Such relative movement includes an increase in a gap between them that corresponds to a situation when an object is at the interface (28) and may be caught. The sensors (30, 50) respectively provide an indication of when an object may become caught and when one has. Automated movement of a door is controlled responsive to an indication of the presence of an object in a location where the object may become caught during automatic movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Tadaaki Nabetani, Jiro Kashima, Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8661735
    Abstract: The invention, in certain embodiments, specifies an actuation method for an electric window winder (10) of a front window (1) of a vehicle (3) without a B-pillar and with a moveable rear window (2), which actuation method allows all the windows to be closed in a particularly rapid and reliable manner. According to the method, provision is made for the front window (1) to be closed by the window winder (10), taking into consideration a trapping-prevention means (25). Furthermore, a closing condition is checked during the actuation method. If, on account of this closing condition, it can be assumed that trapping prevention-related reversing of the front window (1) has been caused by a collision with the rear window (2), the front window (1) is closed again after the trapping prevention-related reversing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG., Hallstadt
    Inventor: René Zellmer
  • Patent number: 8650799
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening warning system for a car includes a sensor for sensing the approaching of another car from behind when a person is opening the car door, a car door-opening control unit stops the car door from being opened when the sensor senses the approaching of the other car from behind, and a warning light and a buzzer are activated to give a visual warning signal and an audio warning signal when the car door is being opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Chung-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 8635809
    Abstract: The invention specifies an anti-trapping device, comprising a motor for driving a pivotable actuating element of a motor vehicle, a sensor for contactlessly identifying an obstacle in the way of the actuating element with an electrode, which has a plurality of segments for producing an external electrical field with respect to a mating electrode and a control unit. The electrode extends in a radial direction with respect to the pivotable actuating element and is split in the radial direction into the plurality of segments, which can each be evaluated separately for the purpose of generating an interference signal. The control unit is designed to drive the motor as a function of an interference signal from one of the segments. Such an anti-trapping device has particularly high flexibility when driving the pivotable actuating element if an obstacle in the way of the pivotable actuating element has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Wuerstlein, Thomas Weingaertner, Wolf-Christian Mueller