Dynamic Boundary Positioning for Power Window Trap Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power window devices inaccurately detect the position of the window edge due to changes in motor voltage and temperature, leading to false trap detection when the window collides with the frame, as the fixed non-detected area width does not account for variations in rotation caused by these factors.

Innovation Solution

An opening/closing control device that adjusts the boundary position for trap detection based on changes in motor voltage, using a combination of first and second amounts of rotation to accurately enable or disable trap prevention control, ensuring accurate detection of the fully closed state and objects of predetermined thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed non-detected area width is used for trap detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of window position deteriorates due to voltage and temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidwindow position detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The non-detected area width is made dynamic by adjusting it according to the detected voltage value. The control unit calculates a corrected non-detected area width based on the relationship between voltage changes and motor rotation amount variations, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions while maintaining accurate trap detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of non-detected area width based on voltage conditions. By detecting voltage changes and corresponding motor rotation variations, the system adjusts the non-detected area width parameter to compensate for voltage-induced positioning errors, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the boundary position for disabling trap detection is fixed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of trap prevention control deteriorates due to false detections during window closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol setting simplicityVSAvoidtrap prevention control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The boundary position is made dynamic by adjusting it according to detected voltage values. The control unit calculates the corrected boundary position based on the relationship between voltage changes and motor rotation amount, enabling the system to automatically adapt to different voltage conditions and prevent false trap detections during window closure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from voltage detection and motor rotation monitoring to dynamically adjust the boundary position. By continuously monitoring voltage changes and their effect on motor rotation, the system feeds this information back to adjust the boundary position, ensuring reliable trap prevention control without requiring manual recalibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the non-detected area width is increased to prevent false detections, then the reliability of window closure is improved, but the productivity of trap detection deteriorates as objects of minimum thickness may not be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindow closure reliabilityVSAvoidtrap detection effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the non-detected area width parameter based on detected voltage values. By calculating the corrected width based on voltage-induced rotation variations, the system maintains the minimum width necessary for reliable window closure while preventing excessive widening that would cause missed trap detections of small objects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The non-detected area width is adjusted dynamically according to operating conditions (voltage). This allows the system to optimize the width for each specific condition, ensuring sufficient width to prevent false detections during closure while maintaining the sensitivity needed to detect objects of minimum thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3263814B1Opening/closing control device
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
  • EP3263814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3263814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3263814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A boundary position, which determines the range of the positions of the window (3) within which trap prevention control is disabled, is set according to the sum of a first amount of rotation and a second amount of rotation. The first amount of rotation approximates a change, in a reference amount of rotation, that corresponds to a change in a detected voltage from a reference voltage. The second amount of rotation is set to a value that is smaller than the difference between a specific amount of rotation at a stop and the reference amount of rotation and is larger than the amount of variations in the reference amount of rotation.