Power window device

The power window device addresses complexity in existing systems by using a simplified circuit to monitor switch potentials, ensuring safe and reliable window operation during submersion without additional components, enhancing safety and reliability.

JP7611717B2Active Publication Date: 2025-01-10NIDEC MOBILITY CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2021012944
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-01-29
Publication Date
2025-01-10
Estimated Expiration
2041-01-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing power window devices in vehicles face complexity in circuit configuration due to the need for detection pads and additional components to prevent accidental window closure during water submersion, compromising safety and reliability.

Method used

A power window device with a simplified circuit configuration using two switch circuits and a control unit that monitors potentials at their ends to determine submergence and switch operations, allowing the window to open even if mistakenly closed during submersion without requiring detection pads or complex circuits.

Benefits of technology

Ensures high safety and reliability by preventing accidental window closure during submersion, improving submergence detection reliability with dual systems, and maintaining a simple circuit design.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To realize a power window device having a simple circuit configuration and high safety and reliability.SOLUTION: An operation unit 1 of a power window device 100 has a switch circuit 1A including a manual close switch S3 and a series circuit of resistors R1 to R3, and a switch circuit 1B including a manual open switch S4. A control unit 2 monitors potentials V1 and V2 at one end of each of the switch circuits 1A and 1B. Additionally, when the potential V1 is within the first submersion potential range or when the potential V2 is within the second submersion potential range, the control unit 2 determines that submersion has occurred. At the time of submersion, the control unit 2 does not output a window close command signal for commanding the closing of the window W even when the potential V1 is the potential when an auto close switch S2 or the manual close switch S3 is operated. On the other hand, when the potential V2 is the potential when a manual open switch S4 is operated at the time of submersion, the control unit 2 outputs a window open command signal for commanding the opening of the window W.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power window device that opens and closes a window using a motor, and more particularly to a technique for preventing the window from closing due to erroneous switch operation when a vehicle is submerged in water. [Background technology]

[0002] A power window device installed in a vehicle rotates a motor forward or reverse depending on the operating state of a switch, and opens and closes the window via an opening and closing mechanism installed between the motor and the window. When the switch is operated to the UP side (close window), the motor rotates forward and closes the window, and when the switch is operated to the DOWN side (open window), the motor rotates reverse and opens the window. The forward and reverse rotation of the motor is controlled by switching the direction of the current flowing through the motor.

[0003] Some power window devices have a function of detecting submersion in water and forcibly opening the window by operating a switch to ensure the safety of occupants by enabling them to escape through the window even if the vehicle is submerged in water and the opening and closing control of the window cannot be performed normally. Patent documents 1 to 5 describe such power window devices with a submersion detection function.

[0004] The power window devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are provided with a detection pad (electrode) for detecting submersion in water, which increases the number of parts and complicates the circuit configuration. In contrast, the power window device described in Patent Document 5 does not have a detection pad, and determines the submersion state based on the result of comparing the voltage of the input terminal when a constant current is passed through the input terminal with a predetermined threshold value. The power window device of Patent Document 5 does not require a detection pad, but requires a constant current circuit, which inevitably complicates the circuit configuration.

[0005] In addition, if the window is closed by mistake when the vehicle is submerged, the window closes, making it difficult to escape, and threatening the safety of the occupants, so measures against this are also necessary. For example, in Patent Document 1, a first switching element that turns on when the detection pad is short-circuited when the vehicle is submerged, and a second switching element that turns on when the first switching element turns on are provided. When the vehicle is submerged and each switching element turns on, one end of the window closing switch on the power supply side is grounded to ground by the second switching element. Therefore, even if the window closing switch is operated, no current flows through the switch, and the switch operation is not detected, so that the window can be prevented from closing by mistake when the vehicle is submerged. However, to realize this function, switching elements such as transistors and relays are required in addition to the detection pad, which makes the circuit configuration even more complicated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-100507 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6634351 [Patent Document 3] JP 2018-135726 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2019-15115 A [Patent Document 5] JP 2020-87834 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a power window device which has a simple circuit configuration and yet is highly safe and reliable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The power window device according to the present invention includes an operation unit having a window closing switch operated to close the window and a window opening switch operated to open the window, a motor driving unit that drives a motor for opening and closing the window, and a control unit that controls the operation of the motor driving unit based on the operation of each switch of the operation unit. The operation unit has a first switch circuit including a series circuit of a window closing switch and a resistor connected between a first power source and a ground, and a second switch circuit including a window opening switch connected between a second power source and a ground. The control unit monitors a first potential at one end of the first switch circuit on the first power source side and a second potential at one end of the second switch circuit on the second power source side. Then, when the first potential is within a preset first submersion potential range, or when the second potential is within a preset second submersion potential range, the control unit determines that submersion has occurred. In normal times when no submersion has occurred, the control unit outputs a window close command signal to the motor drive unit to command the window to be closed if the first potential is the potential when the window close switch is operated, and outputs a window open command signal to the motor drive unit to command the window to be opened if the second potential is the potential when the window open switch is operated. On the other hand, in times of submersion when submersion has occurred, the control unit does not output a window close command signal to the motor drive unit even if the first potential is the potential when the window close switch is operated, and outputs a window open command signal to the motor drive unit if the second potential is the potential when the window open switch is operated. In the present invention, a first submersion threshold for determining whether or not the device is submerged in water and a window close threshold for determining whether or not the window close switch is operated are set in the control unit for the first potential, and a second submersion threshold for determining whether or not the device is submerged in water and a window open threshold for determining whether or not the window open switch is operated are set in the control unit for the second potential. The first submersion potential range is the range between the first submersion threshold and the window close threshold, and the second submersion potential range is the range between the second submersion threshold and the window open threshold.

[0009] In this way, the control unit monitors the first potential and the second potential at one end of each of the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit, and when the window open switch is operated during submersion when the first potential is in the first submersion potential range or the second potential is in the second submersion potential range, the window can be opened based on the window open command signal output from the control unit. On the other hand, even if the window close switch is operated by mistake during submersion, the control unit does not output the window close command signal, so that a situation in which the window is closed and safety is endangered can be avoided. Therefore, a highly safe power window device can be realized that can open the window during submersion and prevent the window from being closed by mistake with a simple circuit configuration without providing a detection pad or a constant current circuit for detecting submersion, or a switching element for prohibiting the window from closing during submersion. Also, even if one of the first potential and the second potential is not in the submersion potential range, it is determined that the window is submerged as long as the other is in the submersion potential range, so that the reliability of the submersion detection is improved. Furthermore, because water submersion is detected using two systems, the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit, even if a malfunction occurs in one of the two switch circuits, water submersion can be detected by the other switch circuit, further improving reliability.

[0011] In the present invention, when the control unit determines that submersion has occurred based on the first submersion threshold or the second submersion threshold, it may not determine whether the window close switch has been operated based on the window close threshold, but may only determine whether the window open switch has been operated based on the window open threshold.

[0012] In the present invention, the first submersion threshold may be greater than the window closed threshold, the second submersion threshold may be greater than the window open threshold, and the window open threshold may be less than the window closed threshold.

[0013] In the present invention, the window closing switch may be composed of a manual closing switch for manually closing the window and an auto-closing switch for automatically closing the window, the window opening switch may be composed of a manual opening switch for manually opening the window and an auto-opening switch for automatically opening the window, and the resistor may be composed of a first voltage dividing resistor, a second voltage dividing resistor, and a third voltage dividing resistor. In this case, the first switch circuit includes the auto-opening switch, the auto-closing switch, the manual closing switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, the second voltage dividing resistor, and the third voltage dividing resistor, and the second switch circuit includes the manual opening switch. In the first switch circuit, a series circuit of the manual closing switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, the second voltage dividing resistor, and the third voltage dividing resistor, a series circuit of the auto-closing switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, and the second voltage dividing resistor, and a series circuit of the auto-opening switch and the first voltage dividing resistor are each connected between a first power source and ground. In the second switch circuit, the manual opening switch is connected between a second power source and ground.

[0014] In the present invention, the operation unit may have a first terminal to which one end of the first switch circuit is connected and a second terminal to which one end of the second switch circuit is connected. The control unit may have a third terminal connected to the first terminal by a first wiring and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal by a second wiring. The third terminal may be connected to a first power source via a first pull-up resistor, and the fourth terminal may be connected to a second power source via a second pull-up resistor. The control unit monitors the potential of the third terminal as a first potential and monitors the potential of the fourth terminal as a second potential. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a power window device that has a simple circuit configuration and yet is highly safe and reliable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a determination threshold value that is normally used. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a determination threshold value used when the item is submerged in water. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a potential at one end of each switch circuit in a normal state; FIG. [Diagram 5] 11 is a diagram showing the potential at one end of each switch circuit when submerged in water. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a power window device according to a first embodiment. The power window device 100 includes an operation unit 1, a control unit 2, and a motor drive unit 3.

[0018] The operation unit 1 is provided with a switch circuit 1A (first switch circuit), a switch circuit 1B (second switch circuit), a terminal T1 (first terminal), and a terminal T2 (second terminal). One end of the switch circuit 1A is connected to the terminal T1, and the other end of the switch circuit 1A is connected to the ground G. One end of the switch circuit 1B is connected to the terminal T2, and the other end of the switch circuit 1B is connected to the ground G.

[0019] The control unit 2 is provided with a CPU 4, a pull-up resistor Ra (first pull-up resistor), a pull-up resistor Rb (second pull-up resistor), a terminal T3 (third terminal), and a terminal T4 (fourth terminal). One end of the pull-up resistor Ra is connected to a power supply B1 (first power supply), and the other end of the pull-up resistor Ra is connected to the terminal T3. One end of the pull-up resistor Rb is connected to a power supply B2 (second power supply), and the other end of the pull-up resistor Rb is connected to the terminal T4. Here, although the power supplies B1 and B2 are distinguished, they may be the same power supply. Hereinafter, the voltage of the power supply B1 is denoted as B1 for convenience, and the voltage of the power supply B2 is denoted as B2 for convenience.

[0020] The terminal T1 of the operation unit 1 is connected to the terminal T3 of the control unit 2 by a wiring L1 (first wiring). Also, the terminal T2 of the operation unit 1 is connected to the terminal T4 of the control unit 2 by a wiring L2 (second wiring).

[0021] In the operation unit 1, the switch circuit 1A has switches S1 to S3 and resistors R1 to R3. The switch S1 is an auto-open switch for automatically opening the window, the switch S2 is an auto-close switch for automatically closing the window, and the switch S3 is a manual-close switch for manually closing the window. The resistors R1 to R3 are voltage-dividing resistors connected in series. As an example, the resistance values of the pull-up resistor Ra and the voltage-dividing resistors R1 to R3 are selected such that R2 < R3 < R1 < Ra. The resistance values of the pull-up resistor Ra and the pull-up resistor Rb may be the same or different.

[0022] The switch circuit 1B has a switch S4. The switch S4 is a manual-open switch for manually opening the window. The auto-open switch S1 and the manual-open switch S4 are an example of the "window open switch" in the present invention, and the auto-close switch S2 and the manual-close switch S3 are an example of the "window close switch" in the present invention.

[0023] In the case of the auto-open switch S1, the window continues to open even if the operation is released after operation, whereas in the case of the manual-open switch S4, the window opens only while the operation state is maintained, and the window opening operation stops when the operation is released. Also, in the case of the auto-close switch S2, the window closes only while the operation state is maintained, and the window closing operation stops when the operation is released, whereas in the case of the manual-close switch S3, the window closes only while the operation state is maintained, and the window closing operation stops when the operation is released.

[0024] In the switch circuit 1A, a series circuit of a manual close switch S3, a resistor R1 (first voltage dividing resistor), a resistor R2 (second voltage dividing resistor), and a resistor R3 (third voltage dividing resistor) is connected between a terminal T1 and a ground G. Also, a series circuit of an auto close switch S2, a resistor R1, and a resistor R2 is connected between the terminal T1 and a ground G. Furthermore, a series circuit of an auto open switch S1 and a resistor R1 is connected between the terminal T1 and a ground G. The terminal T1 is connected to a power source B1 via a wire L1, a terminal T3, and a pull-up resistor Ra.

[0025] In the switch circuit 1B, a manual-open switch S4 is connected between a terminal T2 and a ground G. The terminal T2 is connected to a power source B2 via a line L2, a terminal T4, and a pull-up resistor Rb.

[0026] In the control unit 2, the input side of the CPU 4 is connected to the connection point between the pull-up resistor Ra and the terminal T3, and the connection point between the pull-up resistor Rb and the terminal T4. The CPU 4 monitors the potential V1 (first potential) of the terminal T3 and the potential V2 (second potential) of the terminal T4, and controls the motor drive unit 3 based on the results (details will be described later).

[0027] The motor drive unit 3 is configured from known circuits including a PWM circuit that generates a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, and a switching circuit that performs switching operation based on this PWM signal.

[0028] In this embodiment, the motor 5 is a DC motor, and rotates at a predetermined speed based on the drive voltage output from the motor drive unit 3. When the auto close switch S2 or manual close switch S3 is operated in the operation unit 1, a window close command signal commanding to close the window is output from the control unit 2 (CPU 4), ​​and based on this command signal, the motor 5 rotates forward to close the window W. When the auto open switch S1 or manual open switch S4 is operated in the operation unit 1, a window open command signal commanding to open the window is output from the control unit 2 (CPU 4), ​​and based on this command signal, the motor 5 rotates reversely to open the window W. An opening and closing mechanism (not shown) is provided between the motor 5 and the window W.

[0029] Although not shown in Figure 1, the control unit 2 performs feedback control on the motor drive unit 3 based on the output of a sensor (such as a rotary encoder) that detects the rotational speed of the motor 5 so that the rotational speed of the motor 5 becomes a target speed.

[0030] Next, the detection of submersion in water, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0031] As described above, the CPU 4 of the control unit 2 monitors the potential V1 of the terminal T3 and the potential V2 of the terminal T4. Since the terminals T3 and T4 are connected to the terminals T1 and T2, respectively, the potential V1 is the potential of one end of the switch circuit 1A on the power supply B1 side, and the potential V2 is the potential of one end of the switch circuit 1B on the power supply B2 side. For these potentials V1 and V2, threshold values ​​for determining whether the switches S1 to S4 are operated and threshold values ​​for determining whether the switches are submerged in water are set in the control unit 2. Each threshold value is stored in advance in an internal memory (not shown) built into the CPU 4 or an external memory (not shown) provided separately from the CPU 4.

[0032] 2 shows the determination thresholds used in normal operation (not submerged in water). Here, five thresholds Xa to Xe are set for potential V1 between power supply voltage B1 and zero volts, and two thresholds Ya and Yb are set for potential V2 between power supply voltage B2 and zero volts. Note that power supply voltages B1 and B2 are the same value.

[0033] Of the thresholds set for potential V1, Xa is a first submersion threshold for determining whether or not there is submersion. Xb is a window close threshold for determining whether the manual close switch S3 has been operated. Xc is a window close threshold for determining whether the auto close switch S2 has been operated. Xd is a window open threshold for determining whether the auto open switch S1 has been operated. Xe is an OFF threshold indicating that the operation of each switch S1 to S3 is not determined. A region Z1 (Xa≧Z1>Xb) between Xa and Xb indicates a first submersion potential range.

[0034] The CPU 4 compares the potential V1 with each of the thresholds Xa to Xe, and determines that submersion has occurred if Xa≧V1>Xb (i.e., if V1 is in the first submersion potential range Z1). The CPU 4 also determines that the manual close switch S3 has been operated if Xb≧V1>Xc, determines that the auto close switch S2 has been operated if Xc≧V1>Xd, determines that the auto open switch S1 has been operated if Xd≧V1>Xe, and does not determine that any switch has been operated if Xe≧V1≧0.

[0035] Among the thresholds set for potential V2, Ya is a second submersion threshold for determining whether or not the device is submerged in water, and Yb is a window-opening threshold for determining whether the manual-opening switch S4 has been operated. The area Z2 between Ya and Yb (Ya≧Z2>Yb) indicates the second submersion potential range. The second submersion threshold Ya is approximately the same value as the first submersion threshold Xa (Ya≈Xa), and the window-opening threshold Yb is smaller than the window-closing threshold Xb (Yb <Xb)。

[0036] The CPU 4 compares the potential V2 with each of the thresholds Ya and Yb, and determines that submersion has occurred if Ya≧V2>Yb (i.e., if V2 is within the second submersion potential range Z2). Also, the CPU 4 determines that the manual open switch S4 has been operated if Yb≧V2≧0.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the determination thresholds used when the power window device 100 is submerged in water. When submerged, only a threshold Xf is set for the potential V1 between the power supply voltage B1 and zero volts. This threshold Xf is a first submersion threshold similar to the normal threshold Xa in FIG. 2. On the other hand, two thresholds Yc and Yd are set for the potential V2 between the power supply voltage B2 and zero volts. The threshold Yc is a second submersion threshold similar to the normal threshold Ya in FIG. 2. Moreover, the threshold Yd ​​is a window opening threshold similar to the normal threshold Yb in FIG. 2. The second submersion threshold Yc is approximately the same value as the first submersion threshold Xf (Yc≈Xf).

[0038] 2 and 3, the first submersion thresholds Xa and Xf may be the same or different values. The second submersion thresholds Ya and Yc may be the same or different values. Furthermore, the window opening thresholds Yb and Yd may be the same or different values.

[0039] Under normal circumstances, the CPU 4 of the control unit 2 determines whether or not each of the switches S1 to S4 has been operated, and also determines whether or not the device has been submerged in water, in the manner described above, based on the results of comparing the potentials V1, V2 with the respective thresholds in Fig. 2. Then, when it is determined that submersion has occurred, the CPU 4 determines whether or not a switch has been operated and whether or not the device has been submerged in water, using the determination thresholds in Fig. 3 instead of the determination thresholds in Fig. 2.

[0040] 3, while the submerged state continues, the potentials V1 and V2 are in the ranges Xf≧V1≧0 and Yc≧V2>Yd, respectively. At this time, for the potential V1, the operation status of the automatic opening switch S1, the automatic closing switch S2, and the manual closing switch S3 is not judged, and only the operation status of the manual opening switch S4 is judged based on a comparison between the potential V2 and a threshold value Yd. When the CPU 4 judges that the manual opening switch S4 has been operated (Yd≧V2≧0), it outputs a window opening command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to be manually opened.

[0041] 4 shows how the potentials V1 and V2 change based on the operation of the switches S1 to S4 under normal circumstances. Since the potential V1 is the potential of terminal T3, the potential V1 changes when the switches S1 to S3 connected to terminal T3 are turned on, and the potential V1 does not change when the switch S4 not connected to terminal T3 is turned on. On the other hand, since the potential V2 is the potential of terminal T4, the potential V2 changes when the switch S4 connected to terminal T4 is turned on, and the potential V2 does not change when the switches S1 to S3 not connected to terminal T4 are turned on.

[0042] In FIG. 4, when none of the switches S1 to S4 are operated, the potentials V1 and V2 are B1≧V1>Xa and B2≧V2>Ya, respectively (OFF state). Now, when the automatic opening switch S1 is operated and turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs1. At this time, Vs1 is as follows from FIG. Vs1 = B1 R1 / (Ra + R1) For convenience, the resistance of the switch S1, the wiring L1, etc. is ignored (the same applies to Vs2, Vs3, Vs1' to Vs3' described later). If Vs1 is within the range of Xd ≥ Vs1 > Xe, the CPU 4 determines that the automatic opening switch S1 has been operated, and outputs a window opening command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to automatically open.

[0043] When the automatic closing switch S2 is operated and turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs2. At this time, Vs2 is as follows, from Figure 1: Vs2 = B1 (R1 + R2) / (Ra + R1 + R2) If Vs2 is within the range of Xc≧Vs2>Xd, the CPU 4 determines that the auto-close switch S2 has been operated, and outputs a window close command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to automatically close.

[0044] When the manual close switch S3 is turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs3. At this time, Vs3 is as follows, as shown in FIG. Vs3=B1·(R1+R2+R3) / (Ra+R1+R2+R3) If Vs3 is within the range of Xb≧Vs3>Xc, the CPU 4 determines that the manual close switch S3 has been operated, and outputs a window close command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to be closed manually.

[0045] On the other hand, when the manual open switch S4 is operated and turned on, the potential V2 drops to Vs4. At this time, Vs4 is calculated as follows from FIG. 1, assuming that the total resistance of the switch S4, the wiring L2, etc. is Rx. Vs4 = B2 Rx / (Rb+Rx) Here, since Rx is a value sufficiently smaller than Rb (Rb>>Rx), Vs4 is also a value smaller than the above-mentioned Vs1 to Vs3. If Vs4 is within the range Yb ≧ Vs4 ≧ 0, the CPU 4 determines that the manual open switch S4 has been operated, and outputs a window open command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to be manually opened.

[0046] Fig. 5 shows how the potentials V1 and V2 change based on the operation of the switches S1 to S4 when submerged in water. The operation unit 1 and control unit 2 shown in Fig. 1 have a waterproof structure that prevents water from entering the inside, but when submerged in water, leakage occurs at the terminals T1 to T4 exposed to the outside, and the current flowing through the switch circuits 1A and 1B decreases, so the potentials V1 and V2 become lower than usual.

[0047] In FIG. 5, when none of the switches S1 to S4 are operated, the potentials V1 and V2 are Xf≧V1≧0 and Yc≧V2>Yd, respectively (submerged state). In this state, when the automatic opening switch S1 is operated and turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs1', when the automatic closing switch S2 is operated and turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs2', and when the manual closing switch S3 is operated and turned on, the potential V1 drops to Vs3'. However, since no threshold is set for these switches S1 to S3, the presence or absence of operation is not determined. In other words, in the submerged state, the operation of each switch S1 to S3 is ignored. Therefore, in the submerged state, even if the potential V1 is the potential Vs2' or Vs3' when the automatic closing switch S2 or the manual closing switch S3 is operated, the window close command signal is not output from the CPU 4 to the motor drive unit 3, and the window W does not close.

[0048] On the other hand, when the manual opening switch S4 is operated and turned on in the submerged state, the potential V2 drops to Vs4'. Since a threshold value Yd is set for this switch S4, if Yd ≥ Vs4' ≥ 0, the CPU 4 determines that the manual opening switch S4 has been operated and outputs a window opening command signal to the motor drive unit 3 to command the window W to be opened manually.

[0049] Therefore, if the vehicle is submerged in water, it is possible to forcibly open the window W and escape by operating the manual open switch S4. Also, if the auto close switch S2 or manual close switch S3 is operated when the vehicle is submerged in water, these operations are ignored, so it is possible to avoid a situation in which the window W closes and escape becomes impossible.

[0050] When the submerged state is resolved, leakage current at terminals T1 to T4 disappears, so the current flowing through switch circuits 1A and 1B increases, raising potentials V1 and V2, and the state becomes B1≧V1>Xf or B2≧V2>Yc in Fig. 5. At this point, CPU 4 determines that the state has transitioned from the submerged state to the non-submerged state, and switches the determination threshold in Fig. 3 to the determination threshold in Fig. 2. This causes the processing based on the normal determination threshold described above to be performed.

[0051] According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the potentials V1 and V2 at one end of each of the switch circuits 1A and 1B are monitored by the CPU 4. When the manual open switch S4 is operated during submersion when the potential V1 is in the submersion potential range Z1 or the potential V2 is in the submersion potential range Z2, the window W can be opened based on the window open command signal output from the CPU 4. On the other hand, even if the automatic close switch S2 or the manual close switch S3 is operated by mistake during submersion, the window close command signal is not output from the CPU 4, so that it is possible to avoid a situation in which the window W is closed and safety is endangered. Therefore, even without providing a detection pad for detecting submersion (Patent Documents 1 to 4), a constant current circuit (Patent Document 5), and a switching element for prohibiting the window from closing during submersion (Patent Document 1), a highly safe power window device 100 can be realized that can open the window W during submersion and prevent the window W from closing due to mistaken operation, with a simple circuit configuration.

[0052] Even if one of the potentials V1 and V2 is not within the submersion potential range Z1 and Z2, it is determined that the device is submerged if the other is within the submersion potential range Z1 and Z2. For example, even if there is no leakage current at the terminals T1 and T3, if there is leakage current at the terminals T2 and T4, the potential V2 falls within the submersion potential range Z2, so that it is possible to determine that the device is submerged, improving the reliability of the submersion detection. Since the device detects submersion using two systems, the switch circuit 1A and the switch circuit 1B, even if a malfunction such as a breakdown, disconnection, or poor contact occurs in one of the switch circuits, the device can detect submersion using the other switch circuit, further improving the reliability. Furthermore, by simply changing the software program of the CPU 4, a power window device with a submersion detection function and a power window device without a submersion detection function can be realized using the same circuit board assembly, so that the part numbers can be made common and management can be facilitated.

[0053] Fig. 6 shows a power window device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 differs from Fig. 1 in that a switch circuit 1A is composed of only a series circuit of a manual close switch S3 and a voltage dividing resistor R4. The configuration of a switch circuit 1B is the same as Fig. 1, and other configurations are also the same as Fig. 1.

[0054] That is, in the second embodiment, the automatic opening switch S1 and the automatic closing switch S2 are removed and the resistors R1 to R3 are replaced with a resistor R4 in the switch circuit 1A in Fig. 1. In the second embodiment, the thresholds Xc and Xd in Fig. 2 are omitted. With such a second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0055] Fig. 7 shows a power window device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 differs from Fig. 1 in that a switch circuit 1A is composed of only a series circuit of an auto-close switch S2 and a voltage dividing resistor R5, and a switch circuit 1B is composed of an auto-open switch S1. The other configurations are the same as those in Fig. 1.

[0056] That is, in the third embodiment, the automatic opening switch S1, the manual closing switch S3, and the resistor R3 are removed from the switch circuit 1A in Fig. 1, the resistors R1 and R2 are replaced with a resistor R5, and the manual opening switch S4 is replaced with the automatic opening switch S1 in the switch circuit 1B in Fig. 1. In the third embodiment, the thresholds Xb and Xd in Fig. 2 are omitted, and the threshold Yb becomes the threshold of the automatic opening switch S1. With this third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

[0057] In the present invention, various embodiments other than the above-described embodiment can be adopted.

[0058] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pull-up resistors Ra, Rb are provided in the control unit 2, but these pull-up resistors Ra, Rb may be provided in the operation unit 1.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the motor drive unit 3 is provided separately from the control unit 2. However, the motor drive unit 3 may be incorporated in the control unit 2.

[0060] Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been given in which the motor 5 is provided outside the power window devices 100, 200, 300, but the motor 5 may be provided in the power window devices 100, 200, 300.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the power window devices 100, 200, and 300 for vehicles are given as examples, but the present invention can also be applied to power window devices used in fields other than vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Control section 1A Switch circuit (first switch circuit) 1B Switch circuit (second switch circuit) 2. Control section 3 Motor drive unit 4 CPU 5 Motor 100, 200, 300 Power window device T1 terminal (first terminal) T2 terminal (second terminal) T3 terminal (third terminal) T4 terminal (4th terminal) B1 power supply (1st power supply) B2 power supply (second power supply) L1 wiring (first wiring) L2 wiring (second wiring) R1 Voltage divider resistor (first voltage divider resistor) R2 Voltage divider resistor (second voltage divider resistor) R3 Voltage divider resistor (third voltage divider resistor) Ra Pull-up resistor (first pull-up resistor) Rb Pull-up resistor (second pull-up resistor) S1 Auto-open switch (window open switch) S2 Auto-close switch (window close switch) S3 Manual close switch (window close switch) S4 Manual opening switch (window opening switch) V1: Potential at one end of switch circuit 1A (first potential) V2: Potential at one end of the switch circuit 1B (second potential) W Window Xa Submersion Threshold (First Submersion Threshold) Ya Submersion threshold (second submersion threshold) Xb, Xc Window closure threshold Xd, Yb Window opening threshold Z1 First submerged potential range Z2 Second submerged potential range

Claims

1. an operating unit provided with a window closing switch operated when closing a window and a window opening switch operated when opening a window; a motor driving unit that drives a motor for opening and closing the window; a control unit that controls an operation of the motor drive unit based on an operation of each switch of the operation unit, The operation unit includes: a first switch circuit including a series circuit of the window closing switch and a resistor, the first switch circuit being connected between a first power supply and a ground; a second switch circuit including the window switch, the second switch circuit being connected between a second power supply and ground; The control unit is monitoring a first potential at one end of the first switch circuit on the first power supply side and a second potential at one end of the second switch circuit on the second power supply side, determining that submersion has occurred when the first potential is within a preset first submersion potential range or when the second potential is within a preset second submersion potential range; Under normal circumstances when there is no flooding, If the first potential is a potential when the window close switch is operated, a window close command signal is output to the motor drive unit to command the window to be closed; If the second potential is a potential when the window opening switch is operated, a window opening command signal is output to the motor driving unit to command the motor driving unit to open the window; When submersion occurs, Even if the first potential is a potential when the window close switch is operated, the window close command signal is not output to the motor drive unit, a power window device that outputs the window-open command signal to the motor drive unit when the second potential is a potential when the window-open switch is operated, A first submersion threshold for determining whether or not the vehicle is submerged in water and a window close threshold for determining whether or not the window close switch is operated are set in the control unit with respect to the first potential, A second submersion threshold for determining whether or not the second potential is submerged in water and a window opening threshold for determining whether or not the window opening switch is operated are set in the control unit, the first submersion potential range is a range between the first submersion threshold and the window closure threshold; The power window device according to claim 1, wherein the second submersion potential range is a range between the second submersion threshold and the window opening threshold.

2. 2. The power window device according to claim 1, The control unit, when determining that submersion has occurred based on the first submersion threshold or the second submersion threshold, does not determine whether the window close switch has been operated based on the window close threshold, but only determines whether the window open switch has been operated based on the window open threshold.

3. 3. The power window device according to claim 1, The first water submersion threshold is greater than the window closure threshold, The second submersion threshold is greater than the window opening threshold, The power window device according to claim 1, wherein the window opening threshold is smaller than the window closing threshold.

4. 4. The power window device according to claim 1, The window closing switch includes a manual closing switch for manually closing the window and an auto closing switch for automatically closing the window, The window opening switch includes a manual opening switch for manually opening the window and an automatic opening switch for automatically opening the window, the resistors include a first voltage dividing resistor, a second voltage dividing resistor, and a third voltage dividing resistor; the first switch circuit includes the auto-open switch, the auto-close switch, the manual close switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, the second voltage dividing resistor, and the third voltage dividing resistor; the second switch circuit includes the manual opening switch; In the first switch circuit, a series circuit of the manual close switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, the second voltage dividing resistor, and the third voltage dividing resistor, a series circuit of the auto close switch, the first voltage dividing resistor, and the second voltage dividing resistor, and a series circuit of the auto open switch and the first voltage dividing resistor are each connected between the first power supply and ground, In the second switch circuit, the manual opening switch is connected between the second power supply and ground.

5. 5. The power window device according to claim 1, the operation unit has a first terminal to which one end of the first switch circuit is connected and a second terminal to which one end of the second switch circuit is connected, the control unit has a third terminal connected to the first terminal by a first wiring and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal by a second wiring; the third terminal is connected to the first power supply via a first pull-up resistor, and the fourth terminal is connected to the second power supply via a second pull-up resistor; The power window device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit monitors the potential of the third terminal as the first potential and monitors the potential of the fourth terminal as the second potential.

Citation Information

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