Patent Publication Number: US-11021904-B2

Title: Vehicle door window position control system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to vehicle door windows and systems for adjusting the position of vehicle door windows. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles doors may be designed without a window frame that extends over the top of the door. The window pane disposed within the door may extend upward from the door and engage a seal along the vehicle frame in order to transition the window to a closed position and isolate the interior of the vehicle from the outside environment. Such a door may be referred to as a frameless door. 
     SUMMARY 
     A frameless vehicle door includes a window pane, a regulator motor, and a controller. The window pane is configured to being movable between at least a first and a second open position and a closed position. The window pane is configured to extend upward from a top of the door and into a vehicle frame when the window pane is in the closed position. The regulator motor is disposed within the door and is configured to transition the window pane between the open positions and the closed position. The controller is programmed to, in response to a voltage of a battery, that is configured to power the regulator motor, decreasing to less than a threshold and the window pane being in the closed position, transition the window pane to the second open position that is between the first open position and the closed position. 
     A vehicle door window system includes a regulator motor and a controller. The regulator motor is configured to transition a window pane between at least a first and a second open position and a closed position. The window pane is configured to extend upward from a frameless door and into a vehicle frame when in the closed position. The controller is programmed to, in response to a voltage of a battery, that is configured to power the regulator motor, decreasing to less than a threshold and the window pane being in the closed position, operate the regulator motor to transition the window pane to the second open position that is between the first open position and the closed position. 
     A vehicle door window controller includes input channels, an output channel, and control logic. The input channels are configured to receive signals indicative of a position of a window pane that is disposed within a frameless door and a voltage of a battery that is configured to power a regulator motor to transition the window pane between at least a first and a second open position and a closed position. The output channel is configured to provide a command to adjust the position of the window pane from the closed position to the second open position that is between the first open position and the closed position. The control logic is programmed to, in response to receiving signals indicative of the window pane being in the closed position and the voltage decreasing to less than a threshold, issue the command. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a representative vehicle having a frameless door that includes a window pane; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the position of the window pane. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  having a frameless door  12  that includes a window pane  14  is illustrated. Like other vehicle doors, the frameless door  12  includes a window pane  14  that extends upward from the door when the window is in a closed position. The window pane  14  of the frameless door  12 , however, is not received within an upper frame that extends upward from and is part of the door  14  when the window pane  14  is in the closed position. Instead, the window pane  14  is received within a portion of the vehicle frame when both the frameless door  12  is closed and the window pane  14  is in the closed position. A seal may be disposed between the vehicle frame and the window pane  14  when the window pane  14  is in the closed position in order to isolate the interior of the vehicle from the external conditions (e.g., rain, snow, cold air, hot air, etc.). Since the window pane  14  of the frameless door  12  is disposed within a portion of the vehicle frame when in a closed position, the window pane  14  may need to be transitioned to an opened position or at least a partially opened position when the frameless door  12  is either opening or closing in order to prevent any interference between the window pane  14  and the vehicle frame. Such interference, when the frameless door  12  is either opening or closing, could damage the window pane, which may result in requiring that the window be replaced. 
     The window pane  14  is disposed within the frameless door  12  when in the window pane  14  is in a fully open (or fully down) position  16 . The window pane  14  is configured to extend upward from a top of the frameless door  12  and into a frame  18  of the vehicle  10  when the window pane  14  is transitioned from the fully open position  16  and into a closed (or fully up) position  20 . The specific portion of the vehicle frame  18  that the window pane  14  extends into, when in the closed position  20 , may be a roof rail and/or a pillar (e.g., A-pillar or B-pillar). The window pane  14  may be secured to sliding mechanism  22  that is disposed within the frameless door  12 . The sliding mechanism  22  allows the window pane  14  to transition between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20 . A regulator motor  24  is also disposed within the frameless door  12 . The regulator motor  24  is configured to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20  along the sliding mechanism  22 . The regulator motor  24  may adjust Bowden cables that are secured to the sliding mechanism  22  in order to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20 . The disclosure should not be construed as limited to the sliding mechanism  22  depicted in  FIG. 1 . For example, the door window system (which includes the window pane  14 , sliding mechanism  22 , regulator motor  24 , and an associated controller) may include a scissor type lifting mechanism that is configured to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and closed position  20  as opposed to the sliding mechanism  22 . 
     An associated controller  26  may be configured to operate the regulator motor  24  in order to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20 . A door window switch (not shown) may be disposed within the cabin of the vehicle  10 . A vehicle operator may interact with the door window switch in order to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20 . The controller  26  may be configured to direct power from a battery  28  to the regulator motor  24  in order to transition the window pane  14  between the fully open position  16  and the closed position  20 . The controller  26  may also operate the regulator motor  24  in order to transition window pane  14  to any partially open position that is between the fully open position  16  and closed position  20 . The controller  26  may transition the window to any partially open position in response to an operator interacting with the window switch to partially open the window pane  14 . The controller  26  may track the position of the window pane  14  based on the indexing position of the regulator motor  24 . Alternatively, sensors may be disposed within the frameless door  12  that track the position of the window pane  14  and communicate the position of the window pane  14  back to the controller  26 . 
     Alternatively, the controller  26  may include control logic and/or an algorithm that may automatically transition the window pane  14  to a partially open position under certain conditions. For example, the controller  26  may transition the window pane  14  to a first partially open position  30  in response to receiving a signal indicative that the frameless door  12  is about to be opened so that window pane  14  is sufficiently clear of the vehicle frame  18  and so that the frameless door  12  may be opened without damaging the window pane  14 . A micro switch or limit switch  32  may be connected to a door handle  34  or to the latching mechanism of the frameless door  12 . The limit switch  32  may relay such a signal to the controller  26  that the frameless door  12  is about to be opened in response to a vehicle operator engaging the door handle  34 . The signal that the frameless door  12  is about to be opened may be relayed while the operator is engaging the door handle  34 , but before the door handle  34  has been engaged to the point where the frameless door  12  actually begins to open. Additionally, or in the alternative, a signal from a wireless key fob or a signal from a sensor (e.g., a sonic, infrared, radar, etc. sensor) that is configured to detect hand gestures from a vehicle operator may relay such a signal to the controller  26  that the frameless door  12  is about to be opened 
     As another example, the controller  26  may transition the window pane  14  to a second partially open position  36  that is between the first partially open position  30  and the closed position  20 . When they window pane  14  is in the second partially open position  36 , there is enough clearance between the window pane  14  and the vehicle frame  18  to prevent interference between the window pane  14  and the vehicle frame  18 . However, in the second partially open position  36  the window pane  14  is sufficiently close enough to the vehicle frame  18  to better isolate the interior of the vehicle from the external conditions relative to when the window pane  14  is in the first partially open position  30 . When the window pane  14  is in any of the partially open positions (e.g., first partially open position  30  or second partially open position  36 ) a top  38  of the window pane  14  may be disposed below the vehicle frame  18 . Also, when the window pane  14  is in any of the partially open positions at least a portion of the top  38  of the window pane  14  may be disposed above the top  40  of the frameless door  12 . 
     The controller  26  may also be in communication with an ignition switch  42  of the vehicle  10 . The ignition switch  42  may transition the vehicle  10  between an “on” state and an “off” state (i.e., where the vehicle  10  has been shut down). The ignition switch  42  may communicate to the controller  26  whether the vehicle  10  is in the “on” state or if the vehicle  10  has been shut down. A vehicle user may not operate (e.g., shift the gears of the transmission or depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle) the vehicle  10  unless the vehicle  10  is in the “on” state. The controller  26  may also include a receiver  44  that is configured to receive wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, radio, dedicated short range communications, etc.). For example, the controller  26  may receive information, via the receiver  44 , that is indicative that the vehicle  10  has entered into a covered position or structure. The vehicle  10  may be in a covered position when the vehicle  10  has entered a building that protects the vehicle  10  from the outside elements. For example, the building may include a roof that protects the vehicle from rain and snow. The vehicle  10  may receive such information from other vehicles, the infrastructure, or any other source. Alternatively, the vehicle  10  may include sensors (e.g., sonic, infrared, radar, etc. sensors) that are disposed on the vehicle  10  itself that are configured to detect whether or not the vehicle  10  has entered into a covered position or structure. 
     While illustrated as one controller, the controller  26  may be part of a larger control system and may be controlled by various other controllers throughout the vehicle  10 , such as a vehicle system controller (VSC). It should therefore be understood that the controller  26  and one or more other controllers can collectively be referred to as a “controller” that controls various actuators in response to signals from various sensors to control functions the vehicle  10  or vehicle subsystems. The controller  26  may include a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. Computer readable storage devices or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the CPU is powered down. Computer-readable storage devices or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the controller  26  in controlling the vehicle  10  or vehicle subsystems. 
     Control logic or functions performed by the controller  26  may be represented by flow charts or similar diagrams in one or more figures. These figures provide representative control strategies and/or logic that may be implemented using one or more processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven, multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like. As such, various steps or functions illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Although not always explicitly illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more of the illustrated steps or functions may be repeatedly performed depending upon the particular processing strategy being used. Similarly, the order of processing is not necessarily required to achieve the features and advantages described herein, but is provided for ease of illustration and description. 
     The control logic may be implemented primarily in software executed by a microprocessor-based vehicle, engine, and/or powertrain controller, such as controller  26 . Of course, the control logic may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware in one or more controllers depending upon the particular application. When implemented in software, the control logic may be provided in one or more computer-readable storage devices or media having stored data representing code or instructions executed by a computer to control the vehicle or its subsystems. The computer-readable storage devices or media may include one or more of a number of known physical devices which utilize electric, magnetic, and/or optical storage to keep executable instructions and associated calibration information, operating variables, and the like. 
     The controller  26  may be configured to receive various states or conditions of the various vehicle components illustrated in  FIG. 1  via electrical signals. The electrical signals may be delivered to the controller  26  from the various components via input channels. Additionally, the electrical signals received from the various components may be indicative of a request or a command to change or alter a state of one or more of the respective components of the vehicle  10 . The controller  26  includes output channels that are configured to deliver requests or commands (via electrical signals) to the various vehicle components. The controller  26  includes control logic and/or algorithms that are configured to generate the requests or commands delivered through the output channels based on the requests, commands, conditions, or states of the various vehicle components. The input channels and output channels are illustrated as dotted lines in  FIG. 1 . It should be understood that a single dotted line may be representative of one or more input channels and one or more output channels into or out of a single element. Furthermore, an output channel out of one element may operate as an input channel to another element and vice versa. The input and output channels may include hard wired connections or wireless connections. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a method  100  of controlling the position of the door window pane  14  is illustrated. The method  100  may be stored as control logic and/or an algorithm within the controller  26 . The controller  26  may implement the method  100  by controlling the various components of the vehicle  10 . More specifically, the controller may receive and transmit signals via the input and output channels in order to implement the method  100 . The method  100  begins at block  102  where it is determined if the vehicle  10  has been turned off (i.e., whether the vehicle  10  has been shut down). If the vehicle  10  has not been shut down the method  100  recycles back to the beginning of block  102 . If the vehicle  10  has been shut down, the method moves on to block  104 . At block  104  it is determined if signals have been received by the controller  26  that are indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  is about to be opened and that the door window pane  14  is in the closed position  20 . If the signals that are indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  is about to be opened and that the door window pane  14  is in the closed position  20  are not received by the controller  26 , the method  100  recycles back to the beginning of block  104 . If the signals that are indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  is about to be opened and that the door window pane  14  is in the closed position  20  are received by the controller  26 , the method  100  moves on to block  106  where the door window pane  14  is lowered from the closed position  20  to the first partially open position  30 . 
     Once the door window pane  14  is lowered from the closed position  20  to the first partially open position  30  at block  106  the method  100  moves on to block  108  where it is determined if a signal has been received by the controller  26  that is indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  has been closed after being opened at block  106 . If the signal that is indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  has been closed has not been received by the controller  26 , the method  100  recycles back to the beginning of block  108 . If the signal that is indicative that the vehicle frameless door  12  has been closed has been received by the controller  26 , the method  100  moves on to block  110  where the door window pane  14  is raised to the closed position  20  from the first partially open position  30 . 
     Once the door window pane  14  is raised from the first partially open position  30  to the closed position  20  at block  110 , the method moves on to block  112 . At block  112  it is determined if a voltage of the battery  28 , that is configured to power the regulator motor  24  that transitions the door window pane  14  between the closed position  20  and the fully open position  16 , is less than a threshold value. In order to minimize any battery power used by the controller  26  while the vehicle  10  is shutdown, the controller  26  may be programmed to periodically (as opposed to continuously) measure the voltage of the battery  28  and compare the measured voltage to the threshold value at block  112 . The controller  26  itself may shut down and only “wake up” periodically for short periods of time in order to measure the voltage of the battery  28  and compare the measured voltage to the threshold value at block  112  in order to minimize any battery power used by the controller  26 . The controller  26  may utilize a debounce function (e.g., the controller may make take several voltage readings of the battery  28  during each period the controller is “up” and taking measurements) at block  112  in order to prevent the controller  26  from obtaining a false reading of a low or zero voltage, which may occur if the battery voltage operates according to a cyclical pattern, such as a sine function. 
     If the voltage of the battery  28  is not less than the threshold value, the method  100  recycles back to the beginning of block  112 . If the voltage of the battery  28  is less than the threshold value, the method  100  moves on to block  114  where the door window pane  14  is lowered from the closed position  20  to the second partially open position  36 . When the voltage of the battery  28  is less than the threshold value, the controller  26  anticipates that the power of battery  28  is likely to further decrease to a value where there will no longer be sufficient power to open the window pane  14 , which will result in an interference between the window pane  14  and the vehicle frame  18  if the frameless door  12  were to be opened. Therefore, prior to any further decrease in the power of the battery  28 , the controller  26  opens the window pane  14  to the second partially open position  36 , which provides sufficient clearance between the window pane  14  and the vehicle frame  18  for opening the frameless door  12  and also minimizes any exposure of the interior of the vehicle  10  to the external conditions when compared to other partially opened positions, such as the first partially open position  30 . 
     The window pane  14  may also be lowered from the closed position  20  to the second partially open position  36  at block  112  in response to the vehicle  10  being in a covered position or structure. The window pane  14  may also be lowered from the closed position  20  to the second partially open position  36  at block  112  in response to data indicative that the vehicle  10  has been placed into storage. Such data indicative of the vehicle is placed into storage may include a history of vehicle  10  (that may be recorded by the controller  26 ) not being operated during a specific time frame within a calendar year, the vehicle  10  not being operated after being shut down for a specific period of time, the vehicle not being operated after a specific period of time while also being in a covered position or structure, etc. 
     It should be understood that the flowchart in  FIG. 2  is for illustrative purposes only and that the method  100  should not be construed as limited to the flowchart in  FIG. 2 . Some of the steps of the method  100  may be rearranged while others may be omitted entirely. It should also be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. For Example, the fully open position  16 , first partially open position  30 , and second partially open position  36  may be referred to in the claims as the first open position, second open position, and third open position in any order. 
     The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications. 
     Parts List 
     The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.
         vehicle  10     frameless door  12     window pane  14     open position  16     vehicle frame  18     position  20     sliding mechanism  22     regulator motor  24     controller  26     battery  28     first partially open position  30     limit switch  32     door handle  34     second partially open position  36     top of window  38     top of door  40     ignition switch  42     receiver  44     method  100     block  102     block  104     block  106     block  108     block  110     block  112     block  114