Vehicle Window Control Device with Centralized Catch Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle window control systems require multiple controllers and sensors across different seats, leading to a complex wiring configuration and increased costs, while also lacking a simple method to detect window catches across all seats from the driver seat.

Innovation Solution

A simplified control device where the driver seat unit connects to other-seat motors through fewer wirings, using a controller to monitor currents and detect catches without the need for additional sensors, allowing manual and automatic window operation across all seats from the driver seat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple controllers and sensors are provided in each seat for window control, then window operation control is achieved, but wiring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindow operation controlVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates the control function into a single controller located in the driver seat, which controls motors in all seats through communication. This merging of control functions eliminates the need for multiple distributed controllers and sensors, significantly reducing wiring complexity while maintaining reliable window operation control across all seats

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver seat controller serves multiple functions: it controls window operations for the driver seat, receives signals from operation switches in other seats, and communicates with motors in all seats. This multi-functional design allows a single controller to replace multiple dedicated controllers, reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If sensors are installed in each seat to detect window catches, then catch detection is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatch detectionVSAvoidsensor quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the catch detection function from the individual seat level and centralizes it in the driver seat controller. The controller detects catches by monitoring motor current characteristics and position feedback, eliminating the need for physical sensors in each seat while maintaining accurate catch detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical sensors with an electrical detection method. The controller monitors the current consumed by motors and position feedback signals to detect catches, substituting physical sensing components with electronic monitoring that reduces device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If each seat has independent control capability, then local window operation is achieved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal window operationVSAvoidcontrol system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary between the driver seat controller and the operation switches in other seats. This allows seats to have local operation capability through their switches while the central controller coordinates all operations, maintaining ease of local operation without requiring complex distributed control architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces wiring complexity, enables seamless manual and automatic window control across all seats from the driver seat, and detects catches without additional sensors, enhancing functionality and ease of retrofitting.

Implementation Method 1

the controller monitors the currents passed through the first to fourth wirings, and detects generation of catch in the window of the driver seat and the window of the seat other than the driver seat based on states of the currents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical current monitoring: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9257918B2Vehicle window opening and closing control device

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle window opening and closing control device has a driver seat unit that is provided in a driver seat of a vehicle, and a sub-switch that is provided in a seat other than the driver seat. The driver seat unit includes a main switch that operates opening and closing of a first window of the driver seat and a second window of the seat other than the driver seat and a controller that controls a driver seat motor provided in the driver seat and an other-seat motor provided in the seat other than the driver seat to perform manual opening and closing and automatic opening and closing of the first and second windows based on the operation of the main switch. The sub-switch is a switch that performs only the manual opening and closing of the second window using the other-seat motor.