Abstract:
A window control system including at least one operator actuator and a housing, the operator actuator mounted and movable in the housing, and where the relative position of the operator actuator in the housing generates a position command signal to a window control circuit for moving the window in response to the position command.

Description:
This present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/113,623 filed on Dec. 23, 1998 by Northwehr and Wilkinson, and entitled WINDOW CONTROL APPARATUS. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a window control system for controlling the operation of the windows of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a window control circuit or system incorporating a control assembly having a plurality of operator actuators such as switches or dials and visual indicators. The operator actuators and visual indicators allow a driver or passenger of the vehicle to raise or lower the windows to a desired position by simply moving the appropriate switch(es) or dial(s) to the desired position. 
     Power window and mirror systems are widely used in motor vehicles such as cars and trucks to enable the driver or passenger in the vehicle to raise or lower one or more windows, and to allow the vehicle operator to quickly and easily adjust the outside driver and passenger side mirrors of the vehicle. Typically, such systems employ various mechanical switches, one associated with each of the driver/front, passenger/front, driver/rear and passenger/rear windows. 
     Traditionally, to raise or lower a window, a driver or passenger holds the switch associated with the desired direction of movement of the window (i.e., either up or down) in an engaged position until the window reaches the desired position. Obviously, this requires the driver to watch the window to visually discern when the window is at the desired position. If the driver is adjusting a rear window of the vehicle, the driver will be required to turn and look in the direction of the window being adjusted to know when it has reached the desired position. This visual adjustment adds a degree of inconvenience to the adjustment of the windows for the driver or front seat passenger. 
     A further problem that may be associated with power window switches and a self positioning window system is the plurality of controls for an individual window. For example, a rear window may have driver controls and rear passenger controls. Accordingly, the position of a slide switch along a positioning slot in a driver control assembly will not necessarily be indicative of the position of a rear window if a rear occupant moves the window with his/her control switches. Automated movement of the slide switch positions to assure conformity between the driver control assembly and rear occupant controls would necessitate increased cost and complexity of the system. Thus, there is a need in the art for visual indication and augmented controls to assure multiple control conformity and agreement in a self positioning window system. 
     Additional control switches are also provided on at least the driver&#39;s side door for conventional window control assemblies, enabling the driver and/or passenger to adjust the mirrors up, down, left, or right, as well as to select which mirror is to be adjusted. Other mechanical switches are also frequently employed such as window “lockout” switches, for example, which disable the window adjustment controls mounted on each door of the vehicle. 
     As can be appreciated, the significant number of mechanical switches and electrical wiring required for window and mirror control systems require a significant amount of the space to be used on and around the area of each vehicle door. The electrical wiring typically employed is also not very flexible, thus requiring that the switches be mounted fixedly to the door so that repeated flexing of the wires does not occur that could potentially result in an open or short circuit for one or more of the switches. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a window switch or dial assembly having a visual indicator which allows a vehicle occupant to precisely position a vehicle window at a desired position simply by sliding a switch or rotating a dial to a desired position. The visual indicator provides easily viewed window position feedback, thereby eliminating the need for the driver or passenger to physically watch the movement of the window to know when it reaches the desired position. Accordingly, the visual indicator provides window position feedback independent of switch or dial position to allow conformity and agreement between multiple control switches or dials controlling the position of a single window. 
     It is a further object to provide a compact window switch or dial assembly and associated control circuit that eliminates the need for bulky, mechanical control assemblies to be mounted in the interior door panels of the vehicle, thus enabling the window control assembly to be mounted in areas of an interior door panel where conventional control assemblies could not be easily mounted for lack of sufficient space. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a window control assembly which incorporates a flexible circuit board that allows the entire circuit board to be mounted such that it can be moved by a driver or occupant to gain access to an associated storage compartment, where the storage compartment. 
     It is also an object to provide a window switch or dial assembly having a flexible circuit board which enables the assembly to be mounted flush with a contoured portion of an interior door panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a window actuator assembly, such as a switch or dial assembly, having visual indicators and associated control systems or circuits. The switch assembly incorporates a plurality of slide switches and a flexible circuit board, and the dial assembly incorporates a plurality of dials and a flexible circuit board. A plurality of position indicating light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s) may be included with both the switch and dial assemblies. The number of active or lit LED&#39;s may be used to indicate the degree to which a window has been opened by the switch or dial. The color of specific LED&#39;s may be used to indicate whether the window is locked or unlocked. In a preferred embodiment, the slide switches or dials are associated one with each of the driver/front, passenger/front, driver/rear and passenger/rear windows of a motor vehicle. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also includes a mirror selector switch and switch controls for enabling a driver to adjust the driver and passenger side exterior mirrors as needed. 
     The slide switches or dials permit the driver or an occupant to quickly and easily adjust a window to a desired position by simply sliding the switch or rotating the dial to a desired position. There is no need to hold the switch or keep the dial engaged and to look at the window to determine when the switch needs to be released or the dial no longer needs to be rotated, as with conventional window controls. Accordingly, if the driver wishes to lower one of the rear windows half way, the appropriate switch is simply slid to the approximate halfway location in a slot and a pushbutton located in said switch is actuated to trigger a position command to the window position control system such that the position command may be executed. In a window control assembly equipped with dials, the dials need only be rotated to a desired position to change the position of the window. A visual indicator is included with the slide switch assembly and/or dial assembly to provide window position feedback independent of switch and dial position. The visual indicators allow the use of multiple control switches or dials for a single window by eliminating the need to view the position of the slide switch or the rotation of the dial to determine the window position. 
     The flexible circuit board of the present invention eliminates the need for bulky, conventional mechanical switch assemblies and also enables the entire switch or dial assembly to be mounted for movement on the interior door panel. In this manner, the switch or dial assembly can be easily moved to permit a driver or occupant to gain access to a storage compartment formed behind or underneath the switch assembly. The flexibility provided by the flexible circuit board permits mounting of the circuit board in this fashion without worry that repeated flexing might eventually cause shorting or an open circuit condition to occur, which would be a concern with switch assemblies coupled directly to a plurality of electrical wires. 
     The flexible circuit board also enables mounting along a contoured arm portion of an interior door panel such that the window switch or dial assembly blends in with the contour of the arm portion. Since the assemblies of the present invention are significantly more compact than previously developed window switch assemblies, it can also be mounted on areas of an interior door panel where conventional switch assemblies could not be mounted for lack of space. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following specification and by reference to the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an interior door panel of a vehicle illustrating a first embodiment of a switch control assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the flexible circuit board used with the first embodiment of the switch control assembly of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 3 a,    3   b,    3   c,    4 , and  5  are schematic drawings of the electronic circuitry of the first embodiment of the switch control assembly of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views of a switch control assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a switch module of the switch control assembly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of the switch module shown in FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of an interior door panel of a vehicle illustrating a dial control assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a window switch control assembly  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The switch assembly  10  is shown mounted in an interior door panel  12  of a motor vehicle interior closely adjacent an arm rest portion  14  of the door panel  12 . The switch control assembly  10  includes a molded plastic housing  16  having a contour which blends in with the surface of the door panel  12 . Four window slide switches  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  control the driver/rear, driver/front, passenger/front and passenger/rear windows, respectively. Four corresponding slots  18   a,    20   a,    22   a  and  24   a  allow the slide switches  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 , respectively, to be moved linearly along the housing  16 . A rocker switch  26  controls the door locks such that all of the door locks of the vehicle can be opened or closed simultaneously. A window lockout switch  28  disables the window slide switches  18 - 24  of each switch assembly  10  mounted on each of the doors of the vehicle. 
     Also included on the switch control assembly  10  is a mirror control switch  30 . The mirror control switch  30  includes a switch  32  for enabling the driver&#39;s side mirror to be adjusted and a switch  34  for enabling the passenger&#39;s side mirror to be adjusted. Once the switch  32  is actuated, the switch control assembly  10  enables the driver&#39;s side mirror to be adjusted by a four position switch  35  for a period of preferably about 30 seconds. Similarly, if the pushbutton  34  is pressed, then the passenger&#39;s side mirror can be adjusted using the four position switch  35  for a period of about 30 seconds. It will be appreciated, however, that a rocker style switch could also be used in connection with the four position switch  35  to continuously enable one or the other of the two front outer mirrors to be adjusted, depending upon which position the rocker switch is in. 
     The slide switches  18 - 24  form a principal feature of the switch control assembly  10  by allowing each window to be raised or lowered to a relatively precise position simply by moving the appropriate switch  18 - 24  to the desired point in slots  18   a - 24   a  and housing  16 . For example, moving slide switch  18  to its approximate midpoint along slot  18   a  causes the window controlled by switch  18  to be moved approximately halfway down. Advantageously, the driver or occupant does not need to watch the window move down, and does not need to hold a switch depressed until the window is at the halfway point, as with previous window control switch arrangements. This adds significant convenience by eliminating the need for the driver to watch the window being controlled to determine when it is at the desired position. This feature is particularly advantageous when adjusting the rear windows of a vehicle. In this instance, with conventional window control switches which need to be held continuously to apply current to a window motor, the driver or occupant needs to turn and look behind to see when the window reaches the desired point of travel. This adds significant inconvenience to the driver. The switch control assembly  10 , however, completely removes this inconvenience to the driver. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a flexible circuit board  36  is shown which forms part of the switch control assembly  10 . The flexible circuit board  36  is attached to the housing  16  and communicates electrical signals to the door locks, window motors and mirror motors via the switches described in connection with FIG.  1 . The circuit board  36  includes conductive traces at points  26   a  and  26   b,  which are associated with the rocker switch  26  (FIG. 1) used for locking and unlocking the door locks of the vehicle. Depressing the switch  26  on the “L” side of the switch  26  (FIG. 1) causes the switch to complete a circuit at point  26   a.  Conversely, pressing the switch  26  on the “UN” side causes a circuit to be completed at point  26   b.  Point  28   a  is associated with the window lockout switch and communicates an electrical signal when switch  28  is engaged to disable operation of all the window motors. 
     Resistors or potentiometers  18   b,    20   b,    22   b  and  24   b  are associated with slide switches  1824 , respectively, and are each disposed along an associated conductor  19  which is tied to ground. In this regard, it will be appreciated that each switch  18 - 24  includes a conductor which slides along and bridges its associated resistor  18   b - 24   b  and its associated ground conductor  19  to generate an analog voltage signal representative of the switch position. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, linear encoders (incremental or absolute) or other similar position feedback devices may be used in place of the potentiometers  18   b - 24   b.    
     The conductors at points  35   a,    35   b,    35   c  and  35   d  are associated with the “LEFT”, “UP” “RIGHT” and “DOWN” arrows on the four position switch  35 . The conductors at point  32   a  are associated with the “LEFT” mirror control switch  32  and the conductors at point  34   a  are associated with the “RIGHT” mirror control switch  34 . Holes formed at points  40  allow the flexible circuit board  36  to be coupled to bosses (not shown) on an undersurface of the housing  16 . Since it is flexible, the circuit board  36  can readily assume the contour of the housing  16 , thereby enabling it to be placed on contoured surfaces of the interior door panel  12 . Edge  36   a  is coupled to a cable leading to a control circuit which processes the signals generated by the various above-described switches and controls the windows, mirrors and locks of the vehicle. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, an electrical control circuit  42  associated with the switch assembly  10  is disclosed. It will be appreciated that the various integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors and other components are disposed on a circuit board of a remote module that is coupled to the flexible circuit board  36  at edge  36   a  thereof and that variations of the control circuit may be used with the second embodiment of the switch control assembly  110  and the dial control assembly  180 . 
     With initial reference to FIG. 3 b,  the control circuit  42  includes a microprocessor  44  that receives analog voltage signals, or position commands from slide switches  18 - 24 . In alternate embodiments digital encoder signals may also be used. A clock signal from clock circuit  46  supplies the clock signal to the microprocessor  44  for the timing and execution of software embedded in the microprocessor  44 . Additional discrete inputs of the microprocessor  44  receive signals from momentary UP and DOWN switches of the four position mirror switch  35 , which form switch circuit  48  in FIG. 3 a,  as well as signals from the LEFT and RIGHT switches of the four position switch  35 , which form switch circuit  50 . The door LOCK and UNLOCK rocker switch  26  is represented by lock circuit  52  and the LEFT and RIGHT mirror select switches  32  and  34 , respectively, are represented by switch circuit  54 . 
     With further reference to FIG. 3 c,  a plurality of transistors  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62  each have their bases tied, via a resistor, to outputs of the microprocessor  44 . The transistors  56 - 62  are associated with “DOOR LOCK”, “DOOR UNLOCK”, “WINDOW UP”, and “WINDOW DOWN” electrical motors. Turning on one of the microprocessor outputs coupled to any of these transistors causes the transistor to be forward biased or alternatively, pulsed on and off, thereby allowing current to flow through the transistor. Controls for a single door window are shown in FIGS. 3-5 and these controls may be replicated to drive similar electrical motors for additional door windows in a vehicle. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the microprocessor  44  also has three outputs thereof coupled to op amps  64 ,  66  and  68 . Op amp  64  is associated with a “mirror common” line, which is a common ground line tied to each of the UP/DOWN and LEFT/RIGHT motors for adjusting the exterior mirrors of the vehicle. Op amp  66  is associated with the mirror UP/DOWN motor and op amp  68  is associated with the LEFT/RIGHT motor (not shown) of the mirror. A connector  78  enables a window regulator circuit  74  and the door lock motors  80  to communicate with the microprocessor  44 . With brief reference to FIG. 4, an interface circuit  70  provides appropriate level shifting of signals received from the window controls and window motors such that the microprocessor  44  can monitor operation of these motors. 
     In the preferred embodiment the motors used to move the windows are permanent magnet dc motors and a voltage is applied to the armature of the dc motors in the window regulator circuit  74 . In alternate embodiments, pulsed current is applied to stepper motors in the window regulator circuit  74  to cause rotation of the stepper motor and positioning of the windows. Additional electrical motors such as induction motors and dc brushless motors are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     With further reference to FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  and  5 , circuit line  72  enables pulses received from the window regulator  74  to be counted by the microprocessor  44  in order for the position of the window being adjusted to be tracked. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the output shaft of each window motor preferably includes a Hall effect sensing arrangement in which rotation of the output shaft generates a series of pulses. In alternate embodiments a proximity switch or optical encoder may also be used. In the case of a stepper motor being used as the window motor, these pulses in combination with a pulsed position command for the stepper motor ensures redundant feedback for the position of the window. If the window is lowered completely, the total number of pulses generated by the pulsed sensor can be divided as needed by the microprocessor so that the microprocessor  44  can determine when the window is lowered halfway, one quarter down, etc. In this manner the microprocessor  44  can readily keep track of the position of each window. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views of a switch control assembly  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As in the first embodiment of the switch control assembly  10 , the slide switches  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , having pushbuttons  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 , allow each window to be raised or lowered to a relatively precise position simply by moving the appropriate slide switch  118 - 124  to the desired point in slots  118   a,    120   a,    122   a,  and  124   a  and then actuating the pushbuttons  126 - 132 . The pushbuttons  126 - 132  are used to complete an electrical circuit and provide the trigger for an associated control circuit to receive the position command from the slide switches  118 - 124 . As in the first embodiment, the slide switches  118 - 124  provide an analog voltage position command signal proportional to the contact of the slide switch position on the potentiometers and interpreted by a window control circuit similar to the circuit used in the first embodiment. The control circuit will not act upon the position command from the slide switches  118 - 124  until triggered by the pushbutton  126 - 132 . Position feedback in this second embodiment of the switch control assembly  110  is no longer provided by slide switch position, but rather by LED banks  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140 . 
     The LED banks  134 - 140  provide direct feedback for the position of each door window in a vehicle within the forward visual perspective of a driver or passenger. In the preferred embodiment, each LED bank  134 - 140  includes five LED&#39;s having a lit or unlit state corresponding to generally a closed position, a ⅕ open, a ⅖ open, a ⅗ open, a ⅘ open, and completely open position for the door window, although any number of LED&#39;s is considered within the scope of this invention. The LED banks include dual color LED&#39;s  141  that emit either a green or red light, with green indicating position information and red indicating a locked state for the door window. An additional window lock switch may be included to lock all the door windows in position. The position indicating functions of the LED banks  134 - 140  allow the slide switches  118 - 124  to be used only to generate position commands without providing position feedback. In this manner, multiple controls in the front and rear of a vehicle may be used to control a single window without confusion, as position feedback for a vehicle occupant is not dependent on the position of the slide switches  118 - 124 , but rather on the lit or unlit states of the LED banks  136 - 140  proximate each vehicle occupant. As in the first embodiment  10  of the present invention, the driver or passenger does not need to watch the window move up or down, and does not need to hold a switch depressed until the window is at a desired position, as with previous window control switch arrangements. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of slide switch module  142  used in the switch control assembly  110  and FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional diagrams of the slide switch module  142  used in the switch control assembly  110 . The slide switch module  142  includes the previously discussed slide switch  118  (alternatively, slide switches  120 ,  122 , and  124 ) and pushbutton  126  (alternatively, pushbuttons  128 ,  130 , and  132 ) and slot  118   a  (alternatively, slots  120   a,    122   a,  and  124   a ). As seen in FIG. 8, the push button  126  is coupled by a flexible collar  144  in an aperture  154  formed in the slide switch  118 . The flexible collar  144  provides a spring-like resistance for returning the pushbutton  126  to its original position after it has been pushed. The push button  126  further includes a post  155  that is fitted to a support member  156  via a channel  158  for the pushbutton  126 . A housing  157  is used to mount the switch module  142  in the switch control assembly  110 . The channel  158  and a grommet  159  guides and directs the pushbutton  126  as the pushbutton post  155  travels up and down the channel  158  in response to being actuated or pushed by a driver or passenger. A conductive flexible membranes  160  having a conductive portion  162  on its underside is normally spaced apart from a potentiometer  164 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, the conductive portions  162  of the membrane  160  will make electrical contact upon the movement of the pushbutton post  155  forcing the conductive portions  162  into contact with the potentiometer  164 . This contact will generate a trigger to the vehicle control system to execute a window position command based on the position of the slide switch  118  and its associated electrical signal within the slot  118   a.    
     The switch assemblies  10  and  110 , being very compact, can easily be mounted such that they can be manually lifted to expose an associated auxiliary storage compartment formed in the interior door panel of the vehicle. Such a storage compartment is represented in phantom by line  76  in FIG.  1 . There are no electrical wires or bulky mechanical switch assemblies associated with the switch assemblies  10  and  110 , which enables them to be placed in areas on the door panel  12  where conventional window switch control assemblies could not be placed. The switch control assemblies  10  and  110  thereby form a low current control system for remotely controlling the various motors associated with the windows, door locks and mirrors of a vehicle. 
     It will also be appreciated that, while the switch control assemblies  10  and  110  have been shown as comprising four slide switches  18 - 24  and  118 - 124 , the switch assemblies  10  and  110  could be readily modified to provide for a greater or fewer plurality of window control slide switches. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of an interior door panel of a vehicle illustrating the dial control assembly  180  of the present invention. The dial assembly  180  includes a molded plastic housing  182  having a contour which blends in with the surface of the door panel  12 . Four window dials  188 ,  180 ,  192 , and  194  control the driver/rear, driver/front, passenger/front and passenger/rear windows, respectively. Four corresponding slots  188   a,    190   a,    192   a,  and  194   a  allow the dials  188 - 194  to be rotated within the housing  196 . Each slot  188   a - 192   a  includes indentations  198  formed in the housing on the tops and bottoms of the dials  188 - 194  to allow easy access to the rotation of the dials  188 - 194  by an operator. The dials  188 - 192  may include a rotational potentiometer with a wiper assembly to generate an analog position signal command or in an alternate embodiment, an optical encoder (incremental or absolute) may be used to provide a digital position command signal. As the dials  188 - 194  are rotated, a position command signal will be generated and transmitted to a window control circuit, similar to the circuit shown in FIGS. 3-5, to actuate the window motors. 
     The dials  188 - 194  also serve the dual function of a window lock/unlock pushbutton. Each dial  188 - 194  is not only rotatable but also may be depressed as a pushbutton. The depressing of each dial  188 - 194  will serve to lock out the specific door window to which the particular dials  188 - 194  are associated. Accordingly there is no need for an additional window lock/unlock pushbutton and each door window may be locked individually, where in the past only one window lock button was included and all the windows were locked or unlocked with the single window lock button. As in the second embodiment  110  of the present invention, LED banks  206 ,  208 ,  210  and  212  provide position feedback for each window and operate in a similar manner. 
     Also included on the dial assembly  180  is a mirror control switch  202 . The mirror control switch  202  includes a rocker switch  204  for enabling the driver&#39;s side mirror to be adjusted or the passenger&#39;s side mirror to be adjusted. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.