Contact based Anti-pinch system for vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is a contact based anti-pinch system for vehicle. The anti-pinch system comprises an electrically conductive material configured on any one of upper edge of power window glass, a programable electronic circuit connected with a motor operating the window glass and the electrically conductive material. The programable electronic circuit is configured to turn the motor ON, OFF, rotate in reverse and forward direction. While the window glass is closing, and if the electrically conductive material come in contact with a part of a human body being the signal emitter due to capacitance property, the electrically conductive material gets the capacitance and transmit signal to the programmable electronic circuit thus rotating the motor in reverse direction with normal speed thereby protecting the human body from getting injured.

Description

[0001] CONTACT BASED ANTI-PINCH SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

[0002] Field of the invention:

[0003] The present invention generally relates to an anti-pinch system for vehicle and more particularly, the present invention relates to anti-pinch system for vehicle as a safety system that modem vehicles employ in power windows. More specifically, the present invention relates to the anti-pinch system to prevent the accidental winding up of the power window.

[0004] Background of the invention:

[0005] Passenger car manufacturers are adding more customer-oriented comfort features at every price segment in order to differentiate themselves from the competition. A lot of these features make use of automating the movement of various parts such as sunroof panels, seats and tailgates. Automation through motorized components needs to be accompanied by systems that can act as safeguards to prevent human injury due to this automation process.

[0006] Anti-pinch system is a safety system that modem vehicles employ in power windows. The power window is the window that uses an electric motor to operate. As the name suggests, this technology prevents the accidental winding up of the power window. If the system senses any obstacle in the path of the glass, it prevents the window glass from moving further up. Thus, it prevents possible injuries to the occupants.is one such feature provided by the car manufacturers to provide safety to user

[0007] Normally, a pressure switch base anti-pinch system is popular, wherein the pressure is situated at the lower end of power window glass. When there is an interruption in the window glass closing by any obstacle, then glass applies pressure on the pressure switch located at below. The pressure switch is then turned ON and the electric power window motor start to rotate in reverse direction, with this window glass goes down.

[0008] However, the pressure switch operating anti-pinch system has certain drawback. Generally, the window glass is guided by a window slot, which has rubber seal or rubber headings. Due to dust, moisture, water, temperature and other parameter, these rubber beading start to make grip on the window glass when the window glass is opened or closed. Further this grip converts into resistance in motion of the window glass. This resistance restricts the motion of the window glass and increases the pressure on the motor just like interruption in window closing, which turns the pressure switch ON, and window glass goes down again and again.

[0009] One prior art US Patent 7162928 discloses an anti-entrapment system for preventing objects from being entrapped by a translating device which includes a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to the translating device and a controller. The sensor has first and second conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors. The conductors have a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance. The capacitance of the conductors’ changes in response to a geometry of the sensor changing as a result of either conductor or the dielectric element deforming in response to a first object touching the sensor. The capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with either conductor. The controller receives a signal from the sensor indicative of the capacitance of the conductors, and controls the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the conductors to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

[0010] However, the dielectric material cannot be kept leakproof. Further, the environmental condition can change the proximity resulting in wrong closing of the window glass. Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an anti-pinch system for vehicle which overcomes above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0011] Objects of the invention:

[0012] An object of the present invention is to protect the human body part from getting injured while the window of the vehicle is closing.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide anti -pinch system which requires less power, cost effective and easy to operate.

[0014] Summary of the invention

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides a contact based anti-pinch system for vehicle. The anti -pinch system comprises an electrically conductive material configured on any one of upper edge of power window glass, window rubber seal, and window beading. Specifically, the electrically conductive material is capable of getting capacitance from a signal emitter.

[0016] The anti-pinch system further comprises a programable electronic circuit connected with a motor operating the window glass and the electrically conductive material. The programable electronic circuit is configured to turn the motor ON, OFF, rotate in reverse and forward direction,

[0017] Wherein while the window glass is closing, and if the electrically conductive material come in contact with a part of a human body being the signal emitter due to capacitance property, the electrically conductive material gets the capacitance and transmit signal to the programmable electronic circuit thus rotating the motor in reverse direction with normal speed thereby protecting the human body from getting injured. Brief description of the drawings:

[0018] The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

[0019] Figure 1 shows a contact based anti-pinch system in accordance with the present invention; and

[0020] Figure 2 shows a contact based anti-pinch system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Detailed description of the invention:

[0022] The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

[0023] Referring now to figure 1 and 2, there is shown a contact based anti-pinch system (100) for a vehicle. The system (100) is configured within the vehicle door (50). The system uses human body’s capacitance for its working. According one theory, it has observed that the average human, at rest, produces around 100 watts of power. Over periods of a few minutes, humans can comfortably sustain 300- 400 watts; and in the case of very short bursts of energy, such as sprinting, some humans can output over 2,000 watts. The bulk of this energy is required for important tasks, such as pumping your heart and flexing your muscles, but a lot of it is wasted, primarily as heat. Almost all of this wasted energy could be captured and turned into electricity. Furthermore, this process could then augment or completely replace reliance on batteries. The system (100) comprises an electrically conductive material configured on any one of edge of a part of the vehicle opening and closing electrically by a motor. In an embodiment, the motor operated part of the vehicle includes but not limited window glass, sunroof glass, bonnet, boot space cover, doors of the vehicle and the like. In an embodiment, the edge of vehicle part may be, for example, upper edge of the window glass and the like.

[0024] The electrically conductive material is capable of getting capacitance from a signal emitter. Specifically, the electrically conductive material configured on any one of upper edge of power window glass (10), window rubber seal (not shown), and window beading (12). Specifically, the electrically conductive material is capable of getting capacitance from a signal emitter.

[0025] In an embodiment, the electrically conductive material includes metal, paint and the like. The metal is used as a metal strip glued / screwed on upper edge of the window glass (10).

[0026] The system (100) further comprises a circuit (14) a circuit configured to receive capacitance from the electrically conductive material and activate. The circuit (14) is connected with the motor (16) operating the part of the vehicle and the electrically conductive material. The circuit (14) is connected with the motor (16) operating the window glass (10) and the electrically conductive material, i.e. the metal strip by wired means. Specifically, circuit (14) is the programable electronic configured to turn the motor (16) ON, OFF, rotate in reverse and forward direction.

[0027] In an embodiment, the circuit (14) is powered by a vehicle battery.

[0028] In an operation, when the window glass (10) is closing, and if the electrically conductive material come in contact with a part of a human body being the signal emitter due to capacitance property, the electrically conductive material gets the capacitance and transmit signal to the programmable electronic circuit (14) thus rotating the motor (16) in reverse direction with normal speed thereby protecting the human body from getting injured. Here, the human body acts as electrical switch for activating the circuit (14) operating the motor (16).

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrically conductive material is in the form of at least one metal strip (18) on the upper edge of the window glass (10).

[0030] In one implementation of the present invention, the window glass (10) includes one metal strip (18) as the electrically conductive material as shown in figure 1. Specifically, a part of human body such as hand, finger act as a signal emitter and the electronic programable circuit (14) act as the signal receiver, wherein the programable electronic circuit (14) is connected to the window glass (10) operating motor (16). Here a part of the human body acts as electrical switch for activating the circuit operating the motor.

[0031] When the window glass (10) is closed, and when the metal strip (10) come in contact to human body part like finger, due to capacitance property of human body, the metal strip (18) gets capacitance in the form of some electric current and the metal strip (18) transmit signal in the form of electric current to the programmable electronic circuit (14). The programmable electronic circuit (14) makes the motor (16) immediately rotate in reverse direction with normal speed. In this way the human body is protected from getting injured while the window glass (10) is closing.

[0032] In another implementation of the present invention, the window glass (10) includes two metal strip (18, 20) as the electrically conductive material as shown in figure 2. The two-metal strip (18, 20) are separated from each other with a predefined distance, situated at the upper end of power window glass (10) or upper end of window rubber beading (12). The programable electronic circuit (14) which is powered by vehicle battery is connected with the motor (16) and the two thin metal strips (18, 20). The electronic circuit (14) is also capable to turn on and off and also can rotate the motor reverse forward.

[0033] Specifically, one of the two metal strips (18.20) has some electric current which is provided by the programmable electronic circuit (14) and the second metal strip works as the current transmitter. When any human body part touches both metal strips (18, 20) simultaneously at the given moment when the window glass is getting closed, then due to electrically conductive property of the human body, current easily travel from one strip to another, like electric switch. The metal strip (18, 20) transmits electric current to the programmable electronic circuit (14), which in turn makes the motor (16) immediately rotate in reverse direction with normal speed and the window glass (10) goes down. In this way the human body is protected from getting injured.

[0034] Advantages of the invention

[0035] 1. The system (100) of the present invention is easy to operate, reliable, cheaper than other anti -pinch system available in the market.

[0036] 2. The system (100) does not need any pressure switch and is Suitable for any shape, size, weight glass.

[0037] 3. The system (100) requires low power consumption because electronic control circuit get current when somebody lift the switch to close the window.

[0038] 4. The system (100) can be used for sudden closing of bonnet, boot space cover of the vehicle, sunroof by making appropriate changes in the system.

[0039] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

I Claim1. A contact based anti-pinch system for vehicle comprising; an electrically conductive material configured on any one of edge of a part of the vehicle, opening and closing electrically by a motor, the electrically conductive material is capable of getting capacitance from a signal emitter, and a circuit configured to receive capacitance from the electrically conductive material and activate, the circuit connected with the motor operating the part of the vehicle and the electrically conductive material, wherein when the part of the vehicle is closing, and if the electrically conductive material come in contact with a part of a human body being the signal emitter due to capacitance property, the electrically conductive material gets the capacitance and transmit signal to the circuit thus rotating the motor in reverse direction with normal speed thereby protecting the human body from getting injured with the moving part of the vehicle.

2. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material includes metal, paint and the like.

3. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the part of the vehicle opening and closing electrically by the motor includes a power window glass, sunroof, bonnet, boot space cover, and doors of the vehicle.

4. The contact based anti-pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein circuit is powered by vehicle battery.

5. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit is operated after getting capacitance from the human body.

6. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein capacitance is received from the part of human body as the signal emitter.

5. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit is programable electronic circuit.

6. The contact based anti-pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the the circuit is configured to turn the motor ON, OFF, rotate in reverse and forward direction on receipt of capacitance current,7. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material is in form of at least one metal strip on the upper edge of the window glass, top rubber beading.

8. The contact based anti -pinch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human body acts as electrical switch for activating the circuit operating the motor.

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