Unified power window switch for vehicle

The present invention relates to a unified power window switch for a vehicle that can open and close all the windows of the vehicle and further provide a window lock function. The unified power window switch comprises a substrate including on its top surface a rear left (RL) side first conductive line, a front left (FL) side first conductive line, a front right (FR) side first conductive line, a rear right (RR) side first conductive line, and a power supply first conductive line, and on its bottom surface an RL side second conductive line, an FL side second conductive line, an FR side second conductive line, an RR side second conductive line, and a power supply second conductive line. The switch further comprises: an RL, FL, FR, and RR side motors; a guide body attached on the top surface of the substrate; a left/right moving plate movably connected to the up and down inner surfaces of the guide body; an up/down moving plate movably connected to the inner surfaces of the left/right moving plate; a contact plate positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate; a case connected to the top portion of the substrate; and a selector switch knob connected to the top of the up/down moving plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0125265 filed on Dec. 11, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a unified power window switch for a vehicle and, more particularly to a unified power window switch for a vehicle that can open and close all windows of the vehicle and further lock the windows.

2. Background Art

A power window switch for a vehicle is used to open and close a front left (FL; driver's seat side) window, a front right (FR; passenger's seat side) window, a rear left RL window and a rear right RR window.

Typically, a power window switch is mounted on front doors of a vehicle and another power window switch is mounted on rear doors. However, in light of the safety, a unified switch which is mounted on driver's seat and can be controlled by a driver may be preferred.

As depicted inFIG. 5, a typical unified power window switch comprises four separate switches for opening and closing FL, FR, RL and RR side windows, respectively, and lock switches for locking the respective windows. However, such a power window switch hardly serves as a ‘unified’ switch since it is composed of a plurality of separate switches, not a single switch. Due to the structure, a driver may feel inconvenient to operate the switches for opening and closing the respective windows.

Japanese Patent No. 2002-075132 discloses a window switch which includes a joystick-like operating element for opening and closing plural windows. With the joystick-like operating element, however, a driver cannot precisely perceive a direction of the operating element. For this reason, the driver oftentimes is required to visually confirm the direction of the operating element and the driver can be distracted, which can cause a serious safety problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to provide a unified power window switch that can execute eight opening/closing operation modes, such as a single opening/closing operation of an FL side window, a single opening/closing operation of an FR side window, a single opening/closing operation of an RL side window, a single opening/closing operation of an RR side window, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and FR side windows, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the RL and RR side windows, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and RL side windows and a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FR and RR side windows, and can execute locking functions.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a unified power window switch for a vehicle comprising a substrate having conductive lines, motors coupled to the conductive lines, a guide body attached on the substrate, left/right and up/down moving plates, a contact plate, a selector switch knob and a case.

The substrate includes on its top surface a rear left (RL) side first conductive line, a front left (FL) side first conductive line, a front right (FR) side first conductive line, a rear right (RR) side first conductive line, and a power supply first conductive line, which lines are arranged spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. The substrate includes on its bottom surface an RL side second conductive line, an FL side second conductive line, an FR side second conductive line, an RR side second conductive line, and a power supply second conductive line, which lines are arranged spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.

An RL side motor is coupled between the RL side first conductive line and the RL side second conductive line. An FL side motor is coupled between the FL side first conductive line and the FL side second conductive line. An FR side motor is coupled between the FR side first conductive line and the FR side second conductive line. An RR side motor is coupled between the RR side first conductive line and the RR side second conductive line.

The guide body is in a rectangular ring shape and attached on the top surface of the substrate.

The left/right moving plate is movably connected to the up and down inner surfaces of the guide body for applying an electric current to at least one of the conductive lines on the substrate.

The up/down moving plate is inserted into a connecting hole penetrating the middle of the substrate and movably connected to the inner surfaces of the left/right moving plate for applying an electric current to at least one of the conductive lines on the substrate.

The contact plate is positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate and connected to the up/down moving plate in a body for applying an electric current to at least one of the conductive lines on the substrate.

The case is connected to the top portion of the substrate to cover the substrate. The case defines a through-hole formed in the middle of the case.

The selector switch knob is connected to the top of the up/down moving plate via the through-hole of the case.

In a further preferred embodiment, the left/right moving plate has the shape ofand includes a first guide groove formed in the left and right directions on the top and bottom surfaces thereof and a second guide groove formed in the up and down directions on the inner surfaces thereof.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the guide body is provided with a first guide end which is formed in the left and right directions on the up and down inner surfaces of the guide body so as to be inserted into the first guide groove of the left/right moving plate.

In yet a still further preferred embodiment, the up/down moving plate is provided with a second guide end which is formed in the up and down direction on the left and right lateral surfaces of the up/down moving plate so as to be inserted into the second guide groove of the left/right moving plate.

In another preferred embodiment, the up/down moving plate is provided with a connecting rod which is formed in the middle of the bottom surface of the up/down moving plate in a body and the contact plate defines therein a connecting hole through which the connecting rod is inserted.

In still another preferred embodiment, the selector switch knob is provided with a connecting projection which is formed on the bottom surface of the selector switch knob and the up/down moving plate defines in the middle of its top surface a connecting groove through which the connecting projection is inserted.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the up/down moving plate comprises a first conducting plate on its bottom surface and the contact plate comprises a second conducting plate on its top surface, both of which conducting plates have same shape and arranged symmetrically. Further, each of the first and second conducting plates may comprise on its surface a main conducting terminal, upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals. Preferably, the upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals are cross-shaped. Also preferably, the main conducting terminal is electrically connected to the power supply first and second conductive lines, the upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals.

In still yet another preferred embodiment, a unified power window switch may further comprise a window up/down operation switch between the power supply first and second conductive lines. Preferably, the UP side of the window up/down operation switch is connected to the power supply first conductive line and the DOWN side of the window up/down operation switch is connected to the power supply second conductive line.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like. The present unified power window switches will be particularly useful with a wide variety of motor vehicles.

Other aspects of the invention are discussed infra.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The preferred embodiments are provided so that those skilled in the art can sufficiently understand the present invention, but can be modified in various forms and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare exploded perspective views depicting a unified power window switch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2is a top view depicting a unified power window switch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention aims at unifying eight opening/closing operation modes, such as a single opening/closing operation of a front left (FL) side window, a single opening/closing operation of a front right (FR) side window, a single opening/closing operation of a rear left (RL) side window, a single opening/closing operation of a rear right (RR) side window, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and FR side windows, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the RL and RR side windows, a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and RL side windows and a simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FR and RR side windows, and a window lock function to a single power window switch.

The unified power window switch in accordance with the present invention comprises a substrate10, an up/down moving plate56, a left/right moving plate50, a contact plate64, a selector switch knob88and a case86.

The substrate10is made of an insulating material in the form of a rectangular plate. The substrate10defines therein a connecting hole12.

An RL side first conductive line14, an FL side first conductive line16, an FR side first conductive line18, an RR side first conductive line20and a power supply first conductive line22are arranged spaced apart from each other at regular intervals on the top surface of the substrate10from the left to the right side.

In more detail, the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20in the form of “L” are attached on left and right sides on the top surface of the substrate10. The FL side first conductive line16and the FR side first conductive line18in the form of an approximate straight line having a shorter length are attached between the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20.

Moreover, the power supply first conductive line22is arranged on the substrate10so as to be positioned below the FL side first conductive line16and the FR side first conductive line18and between the lower ends of the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20.

On the bottom of the substrate10are conductive lines which are electrically connected to and symmetrically arranged with the RL side first conductive line14, the FL side first conductive line16, the FR side first conductive line18, the RR side first conductive line20and the power supply first conductive line22, respectively.

That is, an RL side second conductive line24, an FL side second conductive line26, an FR side second conductive line28, an RR side second conductive line30and a power supply second conductive line32, which have the same forms as those conductive lines14,16,18,20and22, are arranged in the same arrangement on the bottom of the substrate10.

In addition, an RL side motor34is coupled between the RL side first and second conductive lines14,24for driving the RL side window up and down. An FL side motor36is coupled between the FL side first and second conductive lines16,26for driving the FL side window up and down. An FR side motor38is coupled between the FR side first and second conductive lines18,28for driving the FR side window up and down, and an RR side motor40is coupled between the RR side first and second conductive lines20,30for driving the RR side window up and down.

A window up/down operation switch44connected to a battery42is coupled between the power supply first and second conductive lines22,32so as to supply battery power to the respective motors34,36,38and40.

Here, an UP side of the window up/down operation switch44is connected to the power supply first conductive line22and a DOWN side of the window up/down operation switch44is coupled to the power supply second conductive line32.

In addition, a guide body46is attached on the top surface of the substrate10. The guide body46is made of an insulating material in the form of a rectangular ring.

As depicted inFIGS. 3A to 3H, the top end of the guide body46is arranged so as to cross the RL side first conductive line14, the FL side first conductive line16, the FR side first conductive line18and the RR side first conductive line20. The bottom end of the guide body46is arranged so as to cross the power supply first conductive line22. The left and right ends of the guide body46are spaced outside the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20, respectively.

A first guide end48extending in the left and right directions is formed on the top and bottom insides of the guide body46. The first guide ends48are inserted into first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50.

The left/right moving plate50is an insulating structure connected to the guide body46so as to be movable in the left and right directions. The left/right moving plate50is in the form ofwhen viewing from the top.

A first guide groove52extending in the left and right directions is formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the left/right moving plate50, and a second guide groove54is established on both insides the left/right moving plate50.

The left/right moving plate50can be moved in the left and right directions in the guide body46as the first guide ends48of the guide body46are inserted into the first guide grooves52formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the left/right moving plate50so as to be moved slidably along the first guide grooves52.

Next, the up/down moving plate56is connected to the inside of the left/right moving plate50so as to be moved in the up and down direction, in which a connecting groove58is formed in the middle of the top surface thereof and a connecting rod60is formed in a body in the middle of the bottom surface thereof.

Accordingly, the up/down moving plate56is inserted into the connecting hole12which penetrates the middle of the substrate10and, at the same time, connected to the second guide grooves54formed in the inside of the left/right moving plate50so as to be moved straight in the up and down directions.

That is, as second guide ends62formed protruding from the left and right lateral surfaces of the up/down moving plate56are inserted into the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50so to be slidably movable, the up/down moving plate56can be moved in the up and down directions in the inside of the left/right moving plate50.

Meanwhile, a contact plate64connected with the up/down moving plate56so as to be moved along the same is positioned on the bottom of the substrate10. Here, the connecting rod60of the up/down moving plate56is inserted into a connecting hole66formed on the top surface of the contact plate64to be connected with each other.

Conductive means are arranged on the up/down moving plate and the contact plate as follows. A first conducting plate70applying an electric current to at least one of the conductive lines on the top surface of the substrate10is attached on the bottom surface of the up/down moving plate56. A second conducting plate72applying an electric current to at least one of the conductive lines on the bottom of the substrate10is attached on the top surface of the contact plate64. The first and second conducting plates70,72are arranged symmetrically and have the same shape.

Each of the first and second conducting plates70,72comprises on its surface a main conducting terminal, upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals. The upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals are cross-shaped. The main conducting terminal is electrically connected to the power supply first and second conductive lines, the upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals.

That is, although each of the first and second conducting plates70,72is divided into the main conducting terminal74, the upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals, it is an integrated conducting plate comprised of those terminals, in which the top end of the main conducting terminal74and the bottom end of the lower conducting terminal78are connected to each other in a body, the left and right conducting terminals80and82are coupled to each other in a body on the top of the lower conducting terminal78, and the upper conducting terminal76is connected to the top ends of the left and right conducting terminals80and82in a body.

Accordingly, the upper, lower, left and right conducting terminals76,78,80and82are connected to each other in the cross arrangement on the top of the main conducting terminal74.

Meanwhile, a case86defining therein a through-hole84is mounted to the top portion of the substrate10. The case covers the substrate and protects the left/right moving plate50, the up/down moving plate56and the respective conductive lines from the outside.

Also, a selector switch knob88to be operated in the up and down directions and in the left right directions is mounted in the middle of the top surface of the case86. A connecting projection90is formed on the bottom surface of the selector switch knob88. Accordingly, as the connecting projection90is inserted into the through-hole84of the case86and then inserted into the connecting groove58formed in the middle of the top surface of the up/down moving plate56, the selector switch knob88is connected to the up/down moving plate56.

Next, the respective operation modes of the unified power window switch in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention as described above will be described as follows.

FIGS. 3A to 3Hare top views illustrating the respective operation modes selected according to the moving directions of the up/down moving plate and the left/right moving direction of the unified power window switch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIGS. 4A to 4Hare top and bottom views illustrating contact operations according to the respective operation modes of the unified power window switch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(1) Single Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the FL Side Window (Refer toFIGS. 3A and 4A)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the up direction and, at the same time, straight in the left direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the up direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the up direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and the up/down moving plate56is thereby moved in the up direction.

Subsequently, according to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the left direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and the left/right moving plate50is thereby moved left. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the left direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Accordingly, only the upper conducting terminal76of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the FL side first conductive line16on the substrate10.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the FL side first conductive line16through the upper conducting terminal76of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the FL side motor36coupled to the FL side first conductive line16, thus moving the FL side window upward.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and only the FL side second conductive line26of the bottom side of the substrate10is thereby being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the upper conducting terminal76of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connection of the FL side motor36is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor36, the FL side second conductive line26, the upper conducting terminal76of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the second conducting plate72through the power supply second conducive line32and, at the same time, supplied to the FL side second conductive line26through the upper conducting terminal76of the second conducting plate72so as to drive the FL side motor36coupled to the FL side second conductive line26in the opposite direction, thus moving the FL side window downward.

Of course, the ground connection of the FL side motor36is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor36, the FL side first conductive line16, the upper conducting terminal76of the first conducting plate70, the power supply first conductive line22and the window up/down operation switch44.

(2) Single Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the FR Side Window (Refer toFIGS. 3B and 4B)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the up direction and, at the same time, moved straight in the right direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the up direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the up direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the up/down moving plate56is moved in the up direction.

Subsequently, according to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the right direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the left/right moving plate50is moved right. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the right direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Accordingly, only the upper conducting terminal78of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the FR side first conductive line18on the substrate10.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the FR side first conductive line18through the upper conducting terminal78of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the FR side motor38coupled to the FR side first conductive line18, thus moving the FR side window upward.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby only the FR side second conductive line28of the bottom side of the substrate10is being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the upper conducting terminal78of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connection of the FR side motor38is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor38, the FR side second conductive line28, the upper conducting terminal78of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the second conducting plate72through the power supply second conducive line32and, at the same time, supplied to the FR side second conductive line28through the upper conducting terminal78of the second conducting plate72so as to drive the FR side motor38coupled to the FR side second conductive line28in the opposite direction, thus moving the FR side window downward.

Of course, the ground connection of the FR side motor38is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor38, the FR side first conductive line18, the upper conducting terminal78of the first conducting plate70, the power supply first conductive line22and the window up/down operation switch44.

(3) Single Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the RL Side Window (Refer toFIGS. 3C and 4C)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the down direction and, at the same time, moved straight in the left direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the down direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the down direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the up/down moving plate56is moved in the down direction.

Subsequently, according to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the left direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the left/right moving plate50is moved left. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the left direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Accordingly, only the left conducting terminal80of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the RL side first conductive line14on the substrate10.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the RL side first conductive line14through the left conducting terminal80of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the RL side motor34coupled to the RL side first conductive line14, thus moving the RL side window upward.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby only the RL side second conductive line24of the bottom side of the substrate10is being electrically connected to the second conductive line32by the left conducting terminal80of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connection of the RL side motor34is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor34, the RL side second conductive line24, the left conducting terminal80of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the second conducting plate72through the power supply second conducive line32and, at the same time, supplied to the RL side second conductive line24through the left conducting terminal80of the second conducting plate72so as to drive the RL side motor34coupled to the RL side second conductive line24in the opposite direction, thus moving the RL side window downward.

Of course, the ground connection of the RL side motor34is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor34, the RL side first conductive line14, the left conducting terminal80of the first conducting plate70, the power supply first conductive line22and the window up/down operation switch44.

(4) Single Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the RR Side Window (Refer toFIGS. 3D and 4D)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the down direction and, at the same time, moved straight in the right direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the down direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the down direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the up/down moving plate56is moved in the down direction.

Subsequently, according to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the right direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the left/right moving plate50is moved right. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the right direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Accordingly, only the right conducting terminal82of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the RR side first conductive line20on the substrate10.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the RR side first conductive line20through the right conducting terminal82of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the RR side motor40coupled to the RR side first conductive line20, thus moving the RR side window upward.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby only the RR side second conductive line30of the bottom side of the substrate10is being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the right conducting terminal82of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connection of the RR side motor40is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor40, the RR side second conductive line30, the right conducting terminal82of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the second conducting plate72through the power supply second conducive line32and, at the same time, supplied to the RR side second conductive line30through the right conducting terminal82of the second conducting plate72so as to drive the RR side motor40coupled to the RR side second conductive line30in the opposite direction, thus moving the RR side window downward.

Of course, the ground connection of the RR side motor40is made through a grounding point adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motor40, the RR side first conductive line20, the right conducting terminal82of the first conducting plate70, the power supply first conductive line22and the window up/down operation switch44.

(5) Simultaneous Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the FL and FR Side Windows (Refer toFIGS. 3E and 4E)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the up direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the up direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the up direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the up/down moving plate56is moved in the up direction.

Here, the left/right moving plate50is not moved but kept in a fixed state (neutral state).

Accordingly, the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56are being electrically connected to the FL side first conductive line16and the FR side first conductive line18on the substrate10, respectively.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the FL side first conductive line16and the FR side first conductive line18through the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the FL side motor36coupled to the FL side first conductive line16and the FR side motor38coupled to the FR side first conductive line18, thus moving the FL and FR side windows upward simultaneously.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby the FL side second conductive line26and the FR side second conductive line28of the bottom side of the substrate10are being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connections of the FL and FR side motors36and38are made through grounding points adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motors36and38, the FL and FR side second conductive lines26and28, the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power flows in the opposite direction so as to drive the FL and FR side motors36and38, thus moving the FL and FR side windows downward simultaneously.

(6) Simultaneous Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the RL and RR Side Windows (Refer toFIGS. 3F and 4F)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the down direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the down direction, the second guide ends62of the up/down moving plate56are slidably moved in the down direction along the second guide grooves54of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the up/down moving plate56is moved in the down direction.

Here, the left/right moving plate50is not moved but kept in a fixed state (neutral state).

Accordingly, the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56are being electrically connected to the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20on the substrate10, respectively.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side first conductive line20through the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the RL side motor34coupled to the RL side first conductive line14and the RR side motor40coupled to the RR side first conductive line20, thus moving the RL and RR side windows upward simultaneously.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby the RL side second conductive line24and the RR side second conductive line30of the bottom side of the substrate10are being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connections of the RL and RR side motors34and40are made through grounding points adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motors34and40, the RL and RR side second conductive lines24and30, the left and right conducting terminals80and82of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power flows in the opposite direction so as to drive the RL and RR side motors34and40, thus moving the RL and RR side windows downward simultaneously.

(7) Simultaneous Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the FL and RL Side Windows (Refer toFIGS. 3G and 4G)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the left direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the left direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the left/right moving plate50is moved in the left direction. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the left direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Here, when the selector switch knob88is moved in the left direction, the up/down moving plate56is not moved but kept in a fixed state (neutral state).

Accordingly, the upper conducting terminal76of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the FL side first conductive line16and, at the same time, the lower conducting terminal78of the first conducting plate70is being electrically connected to the RL side first conductive line14.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the FL side first conductive line16and the RL side first conductive line14through the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the FL side motor36coupled to the FL side first conductive line16and the RL side motor34coupled to the RL side first conductive line14, thus moving the FL and RL side windows upward simultaneously.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby the FL side second conductive line26and the RL side second conductive line24of the bottom side of the substrate10are being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connections of the FL and RL side motors36and34are made through grounding points adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motors36and34, the FL and RL side second conductive lines26and24, the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power flows in the opposite direction so as to drive the FL and RL side motors36and34, thus moving the FL and RL side windows downward simultaneously.

(8) Simultaneous Opening/Closing Operation Mode of the FR and RR Side Windows (Refer toFIGS. 3H and 4H)

First, the selector switch knob88is moved by hand straight in the right direction.

According to the movement of the selector switch knob88in the right direction, the first guide ends48of the guide body46are slid in situ in the first guide grooves52of the left/right moving plate50and thereby the left/right moving plate50is moved in the right direction. Here, the up/down moving plate56is being moved in the right direction along the left/right moving plate50.

Here, when the selector switch knob88is moved in the right direction, the up/down moving plate56is not moved but kept in a fixed state (neutral state).

Accordingly, the upper conducting terminal76of the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56is being electrically connected to the FR side first conductive line18and, at the same time, the lower conducting terminal78of the first conducting plate70is being electrically connected to the RR side first conductive line20.

Subsequently, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the UP side, the battery power is applied to the main conducting terminal74of the first conducting plate70through the power supply first conducive line22and, at the same time, supplied to the FR side first conductive line18and the RR side first conductive line20through the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the first conducting plate70so as to drive the FR side motor38coupled to the FR side first conductive line18and the RR side motor40coupled to the RR side first conductive line20, thus moving the FR and RR side windows upward simultaneously.

Here, the contact plate64is being moved in the same direction along the up/down moving plate56and thereby the FR side second conductive line28and the RR side second conductive line30of the bottom side of the substrate10are being electrically connected to the power supply second conductive line32by the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the second conducting plate72attached on the top surface of the contact plate64.

The ground connections of the FR and RR side motors38and40are made through grounding points adjacent to the window up/down operation switch44in the sequential order of the motors38and40, the FR and RR side second conductive lines28and30, the upper and lower conducting terminals76and78of the second conducting plate72, the power supply second conductive line32and the window up/down operation switch44.

On the contrary, if the window up/down operation switch44is operated to the DOWN side, the battery power flows in the opposite direction so as to drive the FR and RR side motors38and40, thus moving the FR and RR side windows downward simultaneously.

(9) Window Lock Mode

The window lock mode is directed to a state where the up/down moving plate56and the left/right moving plate50are not moved but kept in a neutral state.

That is, since the first conducting plate70of the up/down moving plate56and the second conducting plate72of the contact plate64are not being electrically connected to the respective conductive lines, the battery power is not supplied to the respective motors and thereby the windows are not moved up or down even if the window up/down operation switch44is operated up or down.

As described above, according to the unified power window switch in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to execute the eight opening/closing operation modes, such as the single opening/closing operation of the FL side window, the single opening/closing operation of the FR side window, the single opening/closing operation of the RL side window, the single opening/closing operation of the RR side window, the simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and FR side windows, the simultaneous opening/closing operation of the RL and RR side windows, the simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FL and RL side windows and the simultaneous opening/closing operation of the FR and RR side windows, and the window lock function only by a single switch.

Moreover, since it is possible to exclude the several switches established separately in the existing power window main switch, the present invention can provide free modifications to the design of the unified power window switch and, at the same time, reduce the cost and weight.