Control system and method for movement of window panes in convertibles

Vehicle window panes for a convertible including a door window pane and a rear window pane which adjoin one another at a joint pane boundary line. When the door window pane is closed, the rear window pane may be in the open or closed end position and, when the door window pane is partially or completely lowered, the rear window pane is in an open position in every case.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the control of the window panes in motor vehicles in which the windows have no frames. Such frameless window panes have the problem that, in the closed condition, the window pane has to be disposed in the door seal with a good fit and, when the window panes are opened, no edges or corners should be formed which may cause injuries.

German Patent Document DE 42 33 775 A1, a method of operating two drives for vehicle window panes is known, a window pane and a rear window pane each being separately movable by a drive, and the two panes adjoining one another at a pane boundary line without an additional window frame. When one of the panes is driven, the second pane, for avoiding friction losses, also is to be brought into a receded position by an activating of the second drive.

The problem of controlling the panes is even increased in the case of convertibles. Particularly when the folding top is lowered, it is critical here that only the front pane be lowered and the possibly existing rear part of the side pane be left standing. Solutions are known in which this rear window pane is brought into a correspondingly folded-away position directly with the opening of the convertible top. However, in some cases, particularly when passengers are seated in the rear area, it is desirable to let this window pane stand in order to avoid unnecessary discomfort caused by wind.

The arrangement and control of the rear window pane of a motor vehicle according to the invention has the advantage that, on the one hand, the discomfort to the passenger caused by wind is minimized, and, on the other hand, the risk of injury is reduced.

When the convertible top is open, the control according to the invention causes a lowering of the rear window pane in a restrictedly controlled manner during the lowering of the front window pane of the motor vehicle. This restricted control has the effect that the opening and closing of the rear window pane will not be forgotten but that the latter will always be brought into the correct position by being coupled to the operation of the front window pane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As an overview,FIG. 1shows the door window pane10and the rear window pane11, each in the closed condition. It is very clearly shown here that the door window pane10is arranged at the same height as the rear window pane11.

In contrast,FIG. 2shows that the door window pane10is lowered, while the rear window pane11is still in the closed condition. This arrangement is not desirable particularly when the top of a convertible is open because it may easily be overlooked as a result of its framelessness and therefore represents a risk of injury.

FIG. 3is a combined overview of the conditions for the positions of the rear window pane as a function of the position or the movement control of the door window pane.

The door window pane can take up three positions. These are the closed position30A; the intermediate position30B; or the open position30C. Based on these three defined positions, two positions are permissible for the rear window pane, generally, an intermediate position being prohibited for the rear window pane. Possible positions are: Rear window pane closed31or rear window pane open32.

It is illustrated that in positions30B—door window pane in the intermediate position—and30C—door window pane open—, the rear window pane has to be brought into the completely open position—rear window pane open32. When the door window pane is closed, the rear window pane may be between the end positions—rear window pane open32—and—rear window pane closed31.

Because of the definition of the positions to be taken up by the rear window pane, different movements are controlled in a restricted manner.

If, for example, after an operation of the rear window pane while the door pane is completely closed, the operation takes place from one of the two end positions and if this operation is interrupted before the end position has been reached, the rear pane will automatically always move into an open position32. If the door window panes and the rear window panes are completely closed and the door window pane is partially lowered, the rear window pane will automatically move into the open position as soon as the door window pane leaves the upper end position.

Another restricted control takes place when the rear window pane is to be closed and the door window pane is in an only partially closed or open position. After an operation of the “close rear window pane” key, first, the door window pane will be moved into the closed position30A and subsequently the rear window pane will be moved into the closed position31.

In contrast, in the case of a vehicle with a closed top, each of the two panes can be moved into any position independently of the other.