Closure Drive Stopping Or Reversal Patents (Class 49/28)
  • Patent number: 6104156
    Abstract: Device for controlling the stopping of a shrouding product driven by an asynchronous motor having a phase-shifting capacitor (1) stopping the motor when the shrouding product encounters an abutment or an obstacle and utilizing for this purpose at least one operating parameter of the motor so as to detect the appearance of a resisting overtorque. This device furthermore comprises means (4) for detecting a dip in the supply voltage of the local network and means for disabling the control of stoppage when the supply voltage falls below a specified value and for as long as this voltage remains below this specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Somfy
    Inventor: Serge Bruno
  • Patent number: 6086177
    Abstract: A process for controlling the closing movement of closing mechanisms with at least one electromotive part includes the following features to guarantee squeeze protection: the measured values of at least one motor performance characteristic which characterizes the load on the electric motor, are continuously recorded and evaluated, a continuously adapted tripping threshold defining a squeezing incident is specified for each motor performance characteristic, the measured values of each motor performance characteristic are compared with each tripping threshold and, if the tripping threshold is exceeded by at least one measured value, a defined reaction is initiated from the closing mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Temic Telefunken microeletronics GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Driendl, Erwin Kessler, Kurt Kleiner, Wolfgang Schulter
  • Patent number: 6082046
    Abstract: An overhead door safety sensor mounting bracket allows overhead door safety sensors to travel beneath the leading edge of an overhead door for substantially the full travel path of the overhead door as the overhead door closes. The mounting brackets attach to the bottommost roller axles of the overhead door on opposite lateral sides of the overhead door. As the overhead door approaches a closed position, the mounting brackets for the overhead door safety sensors rotate about the bottommost roller axles of the overhead door. The safety sensors are rotated up above the ground so that neither the safety sensors, nor the mounting brackets touch the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Kevin A. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6067753
    Abstract: A door controlling device for opening and closing a door in a wall has a first arm, one end of which is mounted to the wall and the other end of which is pivotally attached to the second end of a second arm. The first end of the second arm is pivotally attached to the top of a door and is adapted for rotation about a horizontal axis at the first end thereof. An electric motor attached to the device has a shaft which drives a gear train, and an output shaft of the gear train is connected to the input end of an electrically operated clutch. The output shaft of the clutch is connected to the first end of one of the arms such that upon the simultaneous engagement of the clutch and the energizing of the motor, that arm will be rotated about the horizontal axis at the first end and will cause the door to be opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hebda
  • Patent number: 6035002
    Abstract: A digital super-regenerative receiver is provided having an analog RF detector and a regenerative oscillator. The output of the RF detector is used to generate a digital signal from which the oscillator bias is adjusted, in order to maintain the oscillator start-up time at a fixed level. The circuit senses if the start-up time is earlier or later than the predetermined start-up time and produces an output when the majority of the start times are ahead of the expected start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Freybler Schleifer
  • Patent number: 6032415
    Abstract: A power window apparatus for detecting accidental pinching in a power window in accordance with the opened/closed position of the window and a state of rotation of a motor which is structured to improve the accuracy of the operation of a position sensor for detecting a safety-control suspension region for the window. A pair of contacts are disposed on the side surface of a main gear which is rotated by an output shaft of a motor for opening/closing a window. A conductive film opposite to the contacts is provided for a sub-gear engaged to the main gear through an interlocking gear and arranged to be rotated at different speed from that of the main gear. When the relative rotational operation between the main gear and the sub-gear causes the output shaft of the motor to reach a predetermined amount of rotation, so that the window has moved to a predetermined opened/closed position, the contacts and the conductive film are brought into contact with one another so that an electric signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 6031296
    Abstract: In a power window apparatus in which between a car power source and a ground, a first series circuit formed of a first switch and a first relay and a second series circuit formed of a second switch and a second relay are connected; when the first switch is operated, the first relay is energized, a motor is rotated in one direction due to switching of contacts of the first relay, and a window is raised; and when the second switch is operated, the second relay is energized, the motor is rotated in the other direction due to switching of contacts of the second relay, and the window is lowered, the first switch and the second switch each have one circuit with two contacts, and the fixed contacts which are switched when the first switch or the second switch is not operated are grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Takagi, Akira Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6025663
    Abstract: A self-locking drive, for use in door/gate operators is disclosed. The method/means incorporates an electric motor, which has a rotor assembly that can slide axially in its casing. A brake cone is fixed to the rotor-shaft, which can engage a complimentary brake cone that is attached to the motor casing. At rest these brake cones are very lightly engaged due to an axially mounted spring. The components of the system are designed and configured that any attempt to open the closed door/gate results in the brake cones being forced tighter together. This results in further engagement of the of the brake cones which further resist opening of door/gate. The forcing of the cones together is achieved by helical spur gearing. During motorized closing, the stator's centering pull on the rotor at full load, just balances the axial thrust due to the meshing helical gearing. Consequently, the brake cones do not engage during closing of door/gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: Frank Peter Hull, Robert Alexander Hull
  • Patent number: 6025685
    Abstract: An automatic gate operator includes an electric drive motor coupled by a drive train to a movable gate, and includes provision for measuring the coasting distance which the gate moves after shut off of the drive motor. This coasting distance varies both with the weight and momentum of the gate in comparison to frictional drag of the gate hardware, and the drag provided by the gate operator with the drive motor shut off, and also varies in response to a great number of other variables many of which are unpredictable. These other variables include such factors as wind, weather, temperature, wear, adequacy of lubrication, time interval since last operation of the gate operator, and off-level installation of the gate, for example. However, the coasting distance is measured and recorded, and is subsequently used as a predictor of gate coast on subsequent operation of the gate operator in order to coast the gate to a stop precisely at a selected limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Elite Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Parsadayan
  • Patent number: 6002228
    Abstract: An apparatus for electronically monitoring an adjusting drive controlling a moving part in a vehicle is proposed wherein a position-dependent anti-jam system is realized. The signals of a switching strip and of an incremental sensor are considered in different manners, depending on the position of the moving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Knab
  • Patent number: 5996281
    Abstract: A safety auxiliary apparatus for an automatic door assembly includes a single door or first and second doors slidable along a predetermined track for selectively opening and closing the doorway, first and second mutually confronting closure faces being defined by said first and second doors or said single door in cooperation with a brace. A casing accommodating therein a light emitting element for emitting a beam for detection of an object and a light receiving element for receiving the beam from the light emitting element is mounted in a longitudinal frame member of the doors or said brace that define respectively said closure faces, so that an optical path can be defined between said closure faces so as to extend from the light emitting element to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Optex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takano, Masazumi Morishita, Hiroaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5998951
    Abstract: A new vehicular electric window safety switch for stopping the closing of an electric powered window of a vehicle when an obstruction, such as a finger or a hand, is detected between the glass of the window and the window frame. The inventive device includes an elongate member having a base portion, and a lip portion. The base portion has opposite first and second sides and is resiliently compressible between the first and second sides of the base portion. The lip portion is extended from the first side of the base portion. The elongate member is designed for attachment to a window frame of a electric powered window such that the lip portion and the first side of the base portion are adapted for abutting against the window frame of the electric powered window. The base portion has an interior space extending between the ends of the elongate member. A pair of elongate electrically conductive strips are provided in the interior space of the base portion. The strips are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: James H. Dove
  • Patent number: 5982126
    Abstract: A power closure panel control apparatus is independent of closure panel configuration and capable of a diverse range of remote and direct activation. Sophisticated safety features utilize an adaptive strategy to facilitate highly sensitive obstruction detection by learning the closure system's force requirement and applying a safety margin to it. The control system allows the closure panel to operate in a totally manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Multimatic, Inc, Agile Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hellinga, Robert Lankin, Brad Watson
  • Patent number: 5977732
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for determining whether a foreign object or the like is caught in an open-and-closure mechanism such as a power window of an automotive vehicle. An external disturbance torque T imposed on a the open-and-closure mechanism motor as its load is calculated on the basis of at least two of three parameters of a terminal voltage Em across the motor, a current flowing through the motor Im, and a motor angular velocity .omega.. Furthermore, the calculated external disturbance torque is differentiated to derive a change rate at which the external disturbance torque T is changed with time as dT/dt (T'). Since dT/dt (T')=dTs'/dt (Ts')+dTd'/dt (Td') and dTd/dt (Td')=0 (Td: a dynamic friction resistance force and dTd/dt: the change rate of the dynamic friction resistance force per time), dT/dt=dTs'/dt (Ts: an external disturbance force imposed on the motor by the caught foreign object and dTs/dt (Ts'): the differentiation value of the external disturbance force).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5969637
    Abstract: A garage door operator with light control includes a garage door movement apparatus for moving the garage door in an open and in a close direction within a doorway, a light having an on and an off state, a controller for generating a door movement signal for operating the door movement apparatus and for generating a light enable signal for operating the light in one of a plurality of on and off states and an obstacle detector for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the doorway. The controller responds to the door state (traveling open, traveling closed and stopped open) in order to control operation of the door and activation of the lights. When the door state indicates the door is stopped open and the obstacle detector detects an obstruction in the doorway, the controller generates a light enable signal for enabling the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren E. Doppelt, James J. Fitzgibbon, John V. Moravec
  • Patent number: 5966071
    Abstract: To improve the detection reliability in the detection of sticking of a foreign matter and minimize a sticking load, a power window is provided with a window frame sensor disposed along the inner peripheral edge of a window frame and a drive motor for advancing and retreating a window glass in accordance with an external signal. A control circuit makes a duty control for a transistor to decrease the operating speed of the window glass when the pressure detected by the window frame sensor becomes larger than a predetermined value during a closing operation of the window glass. Thereafter, when the drive load of the drive motor exceeds a predetermined value, a relay is switched over to operate the window glass reverse in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuge, Takeshi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Hidenori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5960849
    Abstract: An apparatus that detects the occurrence of slack in a cable and that compensates for detected slack is disclosed. The apparatus includes body parts that are movable relative to each other between fully extended and fully retracted positions. A bias device biases the body parts toward the fully retracted position. However, normal tension conditions in the monitored cable overcome the bias and extend the body parts to their fully extended relation. If the cable becomes slack, the body parts retract to take up the slack. If the cable slack is to such an extent that the body parts move to a predetermined relative position, the apparatus generates a signal warning of extreme slack conditions. The present invention also is a cable slack control apparatus for a door operator, with such control apparatus including a cable slack detection and compensation device and a door motor drive control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Edward Delaney, Robert Edward Balli
  • Patent number: 5955854
    Abstract: An obstruction detection apparatus is provided for use in closing a power driven vent, such as a window, that is located in an opening. When the vent includes a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening includes a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an obstruction at points all along the second closing edge without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal when an obstruction is detected. A controller is connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering a corresponding alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Prospects Corporation
    Inventors: Jianjun Zhang, Cliff Chuang, John Z. W. Zhang, Peter J. Pan, James S. Li, Michael Yuan Lu, Ziqiang Chen, Chong Tian Wang, Yong Bo Shao
  • Patent number: 5950365
    Abstract: A motor-driven window lifter for a motor vehicle with electronic means to protect against entrapment of body parts in the window opening with at least one spring in the line of force between the drive unit (such as an electric motor or gear) and the window pane is characterized in that the blocking force of the spring corresponds at a maximum to the sum of the displacement force anticipated and the admissible entrapment force and that the spring characteristic when an initial load is exceeded has a decreasing, preferably negative curve, such that the spring enables a relatively long path of the drive unit when the initial load is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeuteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Lieb, Andre Eberlein, Michael Friedrich, Jurgen Seeberger
  • Patent number: 5937579
    Abstract: A door opener includes a motor in mechanical communication with a door, a first gas source for powering the motor, and a control system interposed to the first gas source and the motor. The control system includes a first pilot valve communicating with the first gas source at an inlet port and the motor at a motor port. The first pilot valve also communicates with a first flow control valve at an exhaust port. The first flow control valve regulates the speed of the door during closing and communicates with the first pilot valve at an inlet port and communicates with the atmosphere at an exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventors: Gary L. Baczewski, Dennis Aguilar
  • Patent number: 5936842
    Abstract: The invention takes as its departure point a housing (10) for receiving electric drives (16, 18, 20), in particular garage-door drives, and/or the controls (24, 26) thereof, which housing exhibits at least two housing parts (12, 14). Provision is made on the housing parts for a latching device (34, 52, 68, 110) and guide elements (108, 112) for the reliable connection of the housing parts (12, 14) and for latching-in and retaining functional components (22, 28, 78) and/or circuit boards (24, 26) for the controls. Consequently, a structure with few individual parts and simple mounting and demounting is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Kaiser, Bernhard Siegwart, Peter Grabandt, Matthias Spaeth
  • Patent number: 5934019
    Abstract: A bracket which can be secured to a track for a garage door for mounting an IR receiver/sender to the track and need not be screwed to the framing around the door opening or bolted into the garage floor includes a main web portion with a right angle lip portion attached at one side and a serpentine-shaped spring member attached adjacent to the other side of the web and bent down so as to face the opposite lip member. An IR mounting extension member extends from the side of the web with the spring member with the IR mounting member extending at right angles to the web and in a direction opposite from the spring member and lip member. Retention of the bracket to the track is achieved by the effect of spring loading of the bracket on the exterior of the track, which is snap fit between the serpentine member and the lip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Michel R. Rotharmel, Joseph Ergun
  • Patent number: 5930954
    Abstract: A door controlling device for opening and closing a door in a wall has a first arm, one end of which is mounted to the wall and the other end of which is pivotally attached to the second end of a second arm. The first end of the second arm is pivotally attached to the top of a door and is adapted for rotation about a horizontal axis at the first end thereof. An electric motor attached to the device has a shaft which drives a gear train, and an output shaft of the gear train is connected to the input end of an electrically operated clutch. The output shaft of the clutch is connected to the first end of one of the arms such that upon the simultaneous engagement of the clutch and the energizing of the motor, that arm will be rotated about the horizontal axis at the first end and will cause the door to be opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hebda
  • Patent number: 5932931
    Abstract: When a closing end of a vehicle windowpane is located at the upper side of a preset point P1 while the windowpane is closing, an obstacle pinched between a window frame and the windowpane is detected by a window frame sensor. When the closing end of the vehicle window is located at the lower side of a preset point P2, the pinched obstacle is detected by the window frame sensor and a motor rotation speed sensor, which indicates changes in motor driving load. This prevents a vehicle window control system from operating erroneously when an obstacle is pinched at a slope portion of the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tanaka, Noboru Tsuge, Hidenori Ishihara, Tsutomu Saito
  • Patent number: 5924949
    Abstract: Apparatus for driving a roller-shutter door comprises a driving plate, a planetary-gearset, a stationary housing, and adjustable control means. The adjustable control means is mounted in the stationary housing for cooperating with the driving plate as well as the planetary-gearset for controlling the actuation of a motor whereby a roller-shutter door can be moved to a predetermined limit position. More especially, the adjustable control means is disposed to extend from the stationary housing such that the adjustable control means can be manually adjusted from outside of the stationary housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Chain-Tech International Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Fan
  • Patent number: 5912625
    Abstract: A control system utilizes generated acoustic or electromagnetic waves within a deformable wall wave guide. The wave guide is located in the surveillance area and, upon the wave guide being deformed by an obstruction or an intruder, the characteristics of the wave within the change. The change is sensed by a receiver which produces a control signal to activate an alarm and/or an operating system if the control system is used to control moving elements, such as a door or gate. The wave guide can constitute a homogeneous portion of door weatherstripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventor: John H. Scofield
  • Patent number: 5880421
    Abstract: To provide a power window apparatus which can reliably actuate an anti-pinching mechanism even in a window provided with a side visor, a cord switch operable in response to a specific external force is mounted in a joining part of a side visor between a window frame and the side visor. The cord switch senses the external force acting on the side visor, reliably detecting a foreign object pinched between a window glass and the side visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuge, Takeshi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Hidenori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5864104
    Abstract: An elevator door control apparatus according to the present invention includes a driver for driving an elevator door; a torque detector, connected to the driver, for detecting torque command values during driving and the maximum torque command value; a standard door memory; an optimal door speed calculator for calculating an optimal door speed from the standard door values stored in memory and from the torque command values detected by the torque detector; and a door speed command for outputting a speed command signal to the driver, based on the door speed calculated by the optimal door speed calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Tawada, Yoshikatsu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5851050
    Abstract: A hydraulic closure system is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle that enables automatic opening and closing, as well as manual closing, of a closure pivotably mounted to an opening frame defining a closure opening in the motor vehicle. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator assembly attached at opposite ends thereof to the closure and the opening frame, respectively. A motorized hydraulic pump inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the opened position to the closed position, and a biased energy storage system inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the closed position to the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the pump is activated by manually generated movement of the closure from the opened position toward the closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time. An obstacle detection mechanism detects obstacles interfering with closing of the closure based on monitored pressure in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Atoma International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Squire, Maciej Bigoszewski, Gareth J. Selfe
  • Patent number: 5852333
    Abstract: An electric actuator return-to-normal failsafe system that utilizes a bank of storage capacitors to store electrical energy for returning an electrical actuator to a safe position in the event of a power failure. The failsafe system includes a regulator circuit that regulates the output of the storage capacitor such that a constant power output is applied to the electric actuator. The constant power output from the regulator circuit is also available to provide directional control of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Strojny, Gerald A. Duenkel
  • Patent number: 5834719
    Abstract: A cord switch that includes a hollow flexible cord member, contact lines and a bridge conductor. The cord member includes two portions generally opposed to and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction of the cord member. The contact lines are disposed in parallel to each other on one of the inner portions of the two portions of the cord member. The bridge conductor is disposed on the other of the two inner portions so as to be generally opposed to apart from the contact lines. When the cord member is pressed, the bridge conductor is brought into contact with the contact lines to energize the cord member. The cord switch is configured so that its neutral axis is positioned on the side of the one of two inner portions with respect to the central portion of the distance between the two wall portions. As a result, even if the cord switch is mounted at a comer portion of a window frame of a vehicle, contact between the contact lines and bridge conductor can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignees: ASMO Co., Ltd., Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kaji, Norihisa Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5821644
    Abstract: A safety device for a passage closure, such as a garage door, having a drive, a maximum permissible load value which can be set, and a control device by which the drive can be switched off, switch-off occurring when the maximum permissible load value has been reached and a signal S.sub.2 is sent to the control device at a time T.sub.2. A sensor is disposed in the area of the leading edge of the closure. When the sensor encounters an obstacle, it emits a signal S.sub.1 to the control device at a time T.sub.1. Upon reaching the maximum permissible load, the control device determines a .DELTA.T based on T.sub.2 -T.sub.1, compares it to a preset value and if the preset value is exceeded, changes the direction of movement of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Frank-Uwe Sommer
  • Patent number: 5802766
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the automatic opening and closing of a window of the driver's cab of a working vehicle in which the automatic opening and closing operations and locking operation of the window are carried out smoothly by detecting the opening and closing stop positions of the window and the operation stop positions of the locking units without fail and with high safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masamichi Miyazaki, Yoshihiro Nagata
  • Patent number: 5780985
    Abstract: A deformation detection system including an elongated element having a hollow deformable wall member that defines a radiation transmission path. A sound radiation transmission source positioned at one end of the elongated member transmits acoustical radiation into the radiation transmission path. A sound radiation detector positioned at an opposite end of the radiation transmission path is responsive to and detects the acoustical radiation transmitted from the radiation source. Deformation of the wall member at least partially interrupts the radiation transmission path such that transmitted acoustical radiation from the sound radiation source is attenuated, and the attenuated acoustical radiation is detected and assessed by the radiation detector. The detection system has particular applicability to monitor a body opening of a motor vehicle in which a closure member, such as a window, is movable towards a peripheral edge of the body to close the opening by an electrically operated drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: The Standard Products Company
    Inventors: Alan Charles Bickley, Laurence John Parnham, John Nicholas Hall
  • Patent number: 5774046
    Abstract: In a power window apparatus, an external force which develops at the time of catching foreign objects in a window is detected directly by a window frame sensor and indirectly by a motor load detection circuit. Automatic window closing operation is disabled when the external force exceeds a first and a second predetermined levels of the window frame sensor and the motor load detection circuit, respectively. When the window frame sensor fails, the window closing operation is disabled and a warning is provided at the time the external force detected by the load detection circuit reaches a third predetermined level. Alternatively, the automatic window closing operation is disabled when the external force exceeds the first or the second predetermined levels of the window frame sensor or the motor load detection circuit, respectively. When the window frame sensor fails, the window closing operation is disabled and the warning is provided at the time the external force reaches the second predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Ishihara, Tsutomu Saito, Takeshi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Noboru Tsuge
  • Patent number: 5770934
    Abstract: A process for the closed-loop control and thus for the limitation of the maximum allowable force on the primary and secondary closing edges of an automatic door. This object is achieved by conducting a verification of the drive system before each movement of the door panel. During this verification, the actual value of the motor current during the startup phase is verified by means of a stored motor torque characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: DORMA GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Theile
  • Patent number: 5754017
    Abstract: To improve the detection reliability in the detection of sticking of a foreign matter and minimize a sticking load, a power window is provided with a window frame sensor disposed along the inner peripheral edge of a window frame and a drive motor for advancing and retreating a window glass in accordance with an external signal. A control circuit makes a duty control for a transistor to decrease the operating speed of the window glass when the pressure detected by the window frame sensor becomes larger than a predetermined value during a closing operation of the window glass. Thereafter, when the drive load of the drive motor exceeds a predetermined value, a relay is switched over to operate the window glass reverse in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuge, Takeshi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Hidenori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5729104
    Abstract: Attention is given to that, when a catch-in state occurs while a vehicle window glass is moved upward, a current flowing in a motor serving as a drive means for moving the vehicle window glass increases. In an apparatus for comparing a predetermined current threshold value with a current detected by a motor current monitor unit to recognize a catch-in state, the predetermined current value is made variable, and the catch-in state can be correctly recognized without an erroneous operation even when the external environment changes, or when the window glass is moved upward for the first time. In particular, a current value obtained at the start of the motor and changed by a circumference temperature of the motor is set as a current threshold value, and the current threshold value is set each time the motor is started. A current value in an upward moving operation is estimated each time the window glass is moved downward to set the current value as a current threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamishima, Toshimasa Miwa
  • Patent number: 5729101
    Abstract: A gate operator for moving a gate between two fixed end positions such as a gate opened position and a gate closed position and minimizing the possibility of impact with a fixed structure at either of these end positions. The operator relies upon measuring the number of electrical pulses or so-called counts representative of a distance between the two fixed end positions. The gate operator includes a controller in which the number of counts are measured between movement from an open position to a closed position, or a closed position to an open position, and the count is automatically readjusted to eliminate any hard contact of the gate at a fixed closed or open position. In one of the important embodiments of the invention, the gate operator utilizes a controlled coasting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Moscow K. Richmond, Thomas R. Richmond, Patrick S. Kochie
  • Patent number: 5728984
    Abstract: Each sensing safety edge system includes an elongated, one-piece, flexibly resilient, extrusion of air-impervious material. The extrusion includes an elongated hollow member with tubular wall, a pair of laterally spaced apart support legs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tubular wall, an elongated mounting strip extending outwardly from the tubular wall between the pair of support legs and a weather strip extending outwardly from an opposing side of the tubular member. Conical plug closures are provided in each of two opposing ends of the tubular member, preferably so as to seal the ends to air passage. The resulting safety edge is mounted on a leading edge of an overhead steel door or like movable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Miller Edge, Inc.
    Inventor: Bearge D. Miller
  • Patent number: 5723960
    Abstract: An opening/closing control apparatus detects an overload placed on a movable member of a vehicle such as a sunroof and a power window while it is sliding. Further, it prevents overload detecting operation (reversing motion) from being made by a cause other than an overload. A control processor circuit compares a driving current value of a motor detected at predetermined intervals with a preset current value and corrects an overload threshold value to a threshold value of higher value when the driving current value detected when a first predetermined time period has passed after the start of the motor does not exceed the preset current value. Thereafter, the control processor circuit determines that an overload has occurred when a change in the driving current value has exceeded the overload threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 5714853
    Abstract: A movement path of a part which is movable by a drive relative to at least one end position is monitored by monitoring the drive, and turning off or reversing the drive is performed in dependence on the exceeding of at least one predetermined parameter. The movement path of the path is subdivided into regions in which different influences are performed. In particular, the movement path is subdivided into five regions in which a different drive force limiting (closing force limiting) of the drive is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Knab, Holger Pruessel
  • Patent number: 5689160
    Abstract: A drive control device for an opening/closing member may be advantageously utilized in vehicular power window systems and the like. The drive control device is active to detect occurrence of pinching of an object obstructing the path of motion of the opening/closing member and, upon detection of such pinching during closing operation is controlled so as to move in the opening direction for a predetermined distance for preventing serious pinching from being applied to, for example, a persons hand or arm which may be blocking a power window while being closed by a vehicle driver. The drive control device further includes timing functions such that closing operation may not be immediately resumed after pinch detection, until a predetermined time period has elapsed. The pinch detection operation is effective to compensate for overrun of the opening/closing member caused by a lag between the time a closing control signal is stopped and the acutal motion of the opening/closing member finally and completely stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Shigematsu, Osamu Kawanobe
  • Patent number: 5682089
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the speed and stopping time of an electronically commutated motor having a rotary drive member and a stator having at least one phase coil, electric power being supplied to the phase coils by current supply elements which are controlled by the control circuit to obtain a given phase voltage and a given load angle during operation. In response to a supplied stop signal the control circuit decelerates the drive member by controlling the phase voltage and load angle so as to produce a deceleration force which changes dependent on the speed of the drive member; there being a high speed range over which the deceleration force increases to a maximum value as speed is reduced; an intermediate speed range over which the deceleration force remains substantially constant at the maximum value as speed is further reduced, and a low speed range over which the deceleration force reduces as speed is still further reduced to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Ekkehard Bolte, Jurgen Halfmann
  • Patent number: 5650698
    Abstract: The window glass of the power window apparatus is controlled so as to be returned in the opening direction as much as a predetermined distance of, for example, 2 mm or so when the closing operation of the window switch is discontinued while the window glass is moving toward the full-closed position in a turning area predetermined within the movable range of the window glass excepting the full-closed position of the window glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Satoru Sekiguchi, Masaru Kato
  • Patent number: 5634296
    Abstract: A door controlling device for opening and closing a door in a wall has a first arm, one end of which is mounted to the wall and the other end of which is pivotally attached to the second end of a second arm. The first end of the second arm is pivotally attached to the top of a door and is adapted for rotation about a horizontal axis at the first end thereof. An electric motor attached to the device has a shaft which drives a gear train, and an output shaft of the gear train is connected to the input end of an electrically operated clutch. The output shaft of the clutch is connected to the first end of one of the arms such that upon the simultaneous engagement of the clutch and the energizing of the motor, that arm will be rotated about the horizontal axis at the first end and will cause the door to be opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Carol A. Hebda
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hebda
  • Patent number: 5621290
    Abstract: A window glass in a motor vehicle body is slidable in a vertical direction within a window frame by means of an electric motor controlled by "up" and "down" switches. The window glass slides with reference to a window guide channel. The window guide channel incorporates a metal carrier or other electrical conductor which receives the output from electrical oscillating means. If a human hand, or other part of the human body, is present within the frame of the window, when the window is open, and within a predetermined distance from the window guide channel, the resultant capacitive effect will change the output of the oscillator. This output change is detected by a detecting unit and opens a switch. This switch is connected in series with the "up" switch for the window drive motor and thus either stops the motor, if it is driving the window glass upwards, or prevents the window glass from being so driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Draftex Industries Limited
    Inventors: Norbert Heller, Klaus Hanndorf, Alfons Stockschlager
  • Patent number: 5616997
    Abstract: A closure system for a motor vehicle includes a closure, a closure frame, an electric motor, a control switch, an electric power source, first and second displacement sensors, temperature sensor, voltage sensor of the power source and a microprocessor. The first and second displacement sensors each operably generate a signal indicative of the one of closure movement and output shaft rotation. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the control switch, the electric motor, the first and second displacement sensors, the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor of the power source. The microprocessor includes electrically connecting the motor with the power source responsive to a condition of the control switch. The microprocessor also has means for converting temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Jackson, Roy A. McCann
  • Patent number: 5610579
    Abstract: A controller for an electrical switching device such as a motor starting contactor including separable contacts, an operating mechanism for operating the separable contacts and a control mechanism responsive to a plurality of control sources for controlling the operating mechanism, includes a plurality of light emitting diode indicators each of which corresponds to one of the control sources; a membrane pushbutton; and a selection circuit, responsive to the pushbutton for selecting one of the control sources, including a circuit for detecting actuation of the pushbutton; a circuit responding to the actuation for sequentially indicating representations of at least some of the control sources on the corresponding ones of the indicators; and a circuit for detecting de-actuation of the pushbutton to select one of the control sources the representation of which is indicated on the corresponding one of the indicators at the time of the de-actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Early, Pamela S. Combs
  • Patent number: RE36267
    Abstract: A tailgate is hinged to a passenger van type vehicle body above a substantially vertical rear access opening for swinging movement about a horizontal hinge axis. The tailgate is counterbalanced through its range of movement by spring devices and is opened and closed by a powered actuator mounted on a rear vehicle body pillar. The actuator includes a reversible electric motor driving a worm shaft that drives a worm gear to pivot a crankarm about an axis parallel to the hinge axis. A roller mounted on the crankarm is received in a guide channel that is fixed to the tailgate and extends at right angles to the hinge axis with the pivoting movement of the crankarm thereby translated into swinging tailgate opening and closing movement. The motor is connected with torque sensing circuitry that detects an excessive motor torque demand when the tailgate encounters an obstacle and stops the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Moore, Delbert D. DeRees, David J. Kowall