Patent Publication Number: US-2007119100-A1

Title: Panel member control system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-342727 filed on Nov. 28, 2005.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a panel member control system.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      In a previously proposed window glass lifting system (a panel member control system), a rotational drive force, which is generated from an electric motor, is transmitted to a lifting mechanism to raise or lower a window glass of a vehicle&#39;s door. According to one technique, when the motor of the lifting system is driven to lower the window glass, the window glass is stopped before the window glass reaches a lower end locking position (a mechanical stop position).  
      Specifically, when the window glass is lowered to the lower end locking position, which is the lower end moving limit of the window glass, the window glass is mechanically restrained by a stopper. At that time, an excessively large impact is applied to the drive system to deteriorate a durability of the drive system, and an unpleasant impact sound is generated. Thus, in order to avoid the above inconveniences, the current position of the window glass is accurately monitored, and the window glass is stopped before the window glass reaches the lower end locking position (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2277092).  
      Also, some window glass lifting systems have a pinch sensing function to sense pinching of an external object (e.g., a hand of a vehicle occupant) by the window glass. In the lifting systems having the pinch sensing function, a pinch sensing operation ceasing range is provided below the fully closed position of the window glass. In the pinch sensing operation ceasing range, the sensing operation for sensing the pinching of the object is ceased to limit an erroneous sensing of the pinching.  
      Specifically, at the location adjacent to the fully dosed position of the window glass, the moving speed of the window glass in the closing direction (upward direction) is reduced due to a slide resistance between the window glass and a weather strip or the like of the door. Thus, in order to limit erroneous sensing of this speed reduction as the occurrence of the pinching of the object, the pinch sensing operation ceasing range is provided on the lower side of the fully closed position.  
      Thus, also, in these lifting systems having the pinch sensing function, it is important to accurately identify the current position of the window glass at the time of driving the window glass.  
      Although it is important to accurately identify the current position of the window glass in the lifting systems, the memorized positions, such as the full open position, the fully closed position and the any other position(s), may deviate from the corresponding actual positions due to aging of the system. When this happens, a relative positional deviation may possibly occur between the actual current position of the window glass and the sensed position of the window glass.  
      The above inconvenience may be addressed as follows. That is, when it is determined that the window glass is stopped in a predetermined range before the fully closed position or the full open position, the movement of the window glass is kept in the same direction as before to further move the window glass to the fully closed position or the full open position in order to reset the fully closed position or the full open position. Upon reaching of the window glass to the fully closed position or the full open position, the window glass is stopped, and the fully closed position or the full open position is reset (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-166761).  
      However, in the case of the technique recited in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-166761, the window glass cannot be stopped in a position, which is inside the pinch sensing operation ceasing range and at which the window glass still leaves a small remaining open space in the window opening of the door. Furthermore, according to the technique recited in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-166761, every time the window glass is raised or lowered, the resetting operation for resetting the fully closed position or the full open position is performed. Thus, the resetting operation is performed even when the resetting operation needs not be performed. Therefore, the electric power consumption is unnecessarily increased.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention addresses the above disadvantages. Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a panel member control system that enables appropriate resetting of a moving range of a panel member, which is driven to open and dose its associated opening, through a relatively easy operation.  
      To achieve the objective of the present invention, there is provided a panel member control system for controlling a panel member that is driven in an opening direction to open an opening of an opening defining member and is driven in a closing direction to dose the opening of the opening defining member. The panel member control system includes a driving means, a position sensing means, an operating means and a controlling means. The driving means is for driving the panel member. The position sensing means is for sensing a position of the panel member. The operating means is for outputting an operational command signal to drive the panel member through the driving means in the opening direction or the closing direction based on an operation performed by a user on the operating means. The controlling means is for controlling the driving means based on both of the operation signal, which is received from the operating means, and the sensed position of the panel member, which is sensed by the position sensing means. The controlling means normally stops the driving means to stop the panel member at a preset stop position, which is placed on an opening center side of an opening end locking position, in an opening operation of the panel member. The controlling means drives the driving means to move the panel member to the opening end locking position beyond the preset stop position and thereby to forcefully stop the panel member at the opening end locking position and resets the preset stop position based on an actual stop position of the panel member at the opening end locking position in a preset stop position resetting operation when the controlling means senses that the operating means is continuously operated by the user for a predetermined time period or longer to perform the opening operation of the panel member based on the operational command signal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention, together with additional objectives, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a descriptive view of a power window system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an electrical structure of the power window system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing an electrical structure of an operational switch of the power window system;  
       FIG. 3B  is diagram showing a modification of the electrical structure of the operational switch shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 4  is a descriptive diagram showing a relationship between preset positions and pulse count values;  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a part of a window control operation executed by a controller of the power window system;  
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing another part of the window control operation executed by the controller of the power window system; and  
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a window position control operation executed by the controller of the power window system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following structure and operational sequences are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a descriptive view of a power window system  1  (hereinafter, simply referred to as a system  1 ), in which a panel member control system of the present invention is implemented.  FIG. 2  is an electrical structural diagram of the power window system  1 . In the power window system  1  of the present embodiment, a motor  20  is driven to lower and raise (open and close) a window glass  11 , which is arranged in a door (an opening defining member)  10  of a vehicle and serves as a panel member of the present invention. The system  1  includes a driving apparatus (a driving means)  2 , a control apparatus (a controlling means)  3  and an operational switch  4 . The driving apparatus  2  is for driving the window glass  11  to lower and raise the window glass  11  and thereby to open and close an window opening  10   a , which is defined by a window frame  10   b  of the door  10 . The control apparatus  3  is for controlling an operation of the driving apparatus  2 . The operational switch  4  serves as an operating means for receiving an operational command from an occupant of the vehicle.  
      In the present embodiment, the window glass  11  is guided by a rail (not shown) such that an upper end of the window glass  11  is moved between an upper fully closed position (a closing end locking position) P 0  and a lower full open position (an opening end locking position) P 3 . The fully closed position P 0  and the full open position P 3  are an upper moving limit and a lower moving limit, respectively, of the window glass  11 , at which the further raising movement and the further lowering movement of the window glass  11  are respectively limited.  
      Here, it should be noted that the fully closed position P 0  and the full open position P 3  may slightly change due to, for example, aging in some cases. For example, the upper and lower moving limits of the window glass  11  may slightly change due to a change in an engaged state between the window glass  11  and a weather strip provided to the window frame  10   b  of the door  10  in some cases.  
      In the present embodiment, the window glass  11  is controlled to stop at a preset stop position P 2  at the time of fully opening the window glass  11 . The preset stop position P 2  is located on a fully closed position P 0  side (an opening center side where a vertical center or a window glass travel path center in the opening  10   a  is located) of the full open position P 3 . With this construction, at the time of lowering the window glass  11 , it is possible to limit occurrence of abutment of the window glass  11  to a member of the drive system at the lower end position of the window glass  11 , and thereby it is possible to limit generation of an impact sound, which normally occurs upon the abutment of the window glass  11  to the member of the drive system.  
      Thus, in the present embodiment, the window glass  11  is normally raised and lowered between the fully closed position P 0  and the preset stop position P 2  during the normal operation time.  
      The control apparatus  3  includes a pinch sensing function (a pinch sensing means) for sensing pinching of an external object between an upper end edge of the window glass  11  and the window frame  10   b  based on an amount of change in the moving speed of the window glass  11  at the time of closing the window glass  11 . When the pinching of the object is sensed, the control apparatus  3  reverses the raising operation of the driving apparatus  2  to lower the window glass  11  to release the pinched object.  
      A slide resistance, which is applied to the window glass  11  from, for example, the weather strip (not shown), is increased at or around the fully dosed position P 0 . Thus, the moving speed of the window glass  11  is reduced. In view of this point, in the system  1  of the present embodiment, a pinch sensing operation ceasing range is provided around the fully closed position P 0 . In the pinch sensing operation ceasing range, the pinch sensing operation for sensing the pinching of the object is ceased to limit erroneous sensing of the speed reduction of the window glass  11  as the pinching of the object by the window glass  11 .  
      Specifically, in the system  1  of the present embodiment, a pinch sensing operation ceasing position P 1  is set on a full open position P 3  side (opening center side) of the fully closed position P 0 . When the window glass  11  is in the range (the pinch sensing operation ceasing range) between the sensing operation ceasing position P 1  and the fully closed position P 0 , the pinch sensing operation is not performed in the system  1 .  
      The driving apparatus  2  of the present embodiment includes the motor  20 , a lifting arm  21 , a driven-side arm  22 , a stationary channel  23  and glass-side channels  24 . The motor  20  is fixed to the door  10  and includes a speed reducing mechanism. The lifting arm  21  includes a fan-shaped gear  21   a , which is driven by the motor  20 . The driven-side arm  22  is connected with the lifting arm  21  in a crisscross like fashion and is pivotably supported. The stationary channel  23  is fixed to the door  10 . The glass-side channels  24  are integral with the window glass  11 .  
      When the control apparatus  3  supplies the electric power to the motor  20 , a winding of a rotor of the motor  20  is energized, so that a magnetic attractive action occurs between the rotor and a stator having magnets in the motor  20 . In the driving apparatus  2 , when the motor  20  is driven, the lifting arm  21  and the driven-side arm  22  are swung. At this time, movement of corresponding ends of the lifting arm  21  and of the driven-side arm  22  are limited by the channels  23 ,  24 , so that the lifting arm  21  and the driven-side arm  22  function as an X-linkage to raise or lower the window glass  11 .  
      A rotation sensing device  27  is integrally provided in the motor  20 . The rotation sensing device  27  outputs a pulse signal (a rotational speed signal), which is synchronized with the rotation of the motor  20 , to the control apparatus  3 . The rotation sensing device  27  includes a plurality of Hall elements to sense a change in magnetism of a magnet, which rotates integrally with an output shaft of the motor  20 . Specifically, the pulse signal is outputted from the rotation sensing device  27  at every predetermined moving amount of the window glass  11  or at every predetermined rotational angle of the motor  20 . In this way, the rotation sensing device  27  can output the signal that corresponds to the movement of the window glass  11 , which is generally proportional to the rotational speed of the motor  20 . The control apparatus  3  senses, i.e., determines the position of the window glass  11  based on the pulse signal transmitted from the rotation sensing device  27 . In the present embodiment, the rotation sensing device  27  and the control apparatus  3  constitute a position sensing means of the present invention.  
      In the present embodiment, although the Hall elements are used in the rotation sensing device  27 , an encoder may be alternatively used as long as it can sense the rotational speed of the motor  20 . Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rotation sensing device  27  is provided integrally in the motor  20  to sense the rotation of the output shaft of the motor  20 , which corresponds to the movement of the window glass  11 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, any known appropriate means or any known appropriate device may be alternatively used to directly sense the position of the window glass  11 .  
      The control apparatus  3  of the present embodiment includes a controller  31  and a drive circuit  32 . The controller  31  and the drive circuit  32  receive required electric power form a battery  5  of the vehicle.  
      The controller  31  includes a microcomputer, which has a CPU, memories (e.g., a ROM, a RAM), an input circuit, an output circuit and the like. The CPU is interconnected with the memories, the input circuit and the output circuit through a bus. The structure of the controller  31  is not limited to the above one. For example, the controller  31  may be constructed from a logic IC(s), a DSP(s), a gate allay(s) and/or a transistor(s).  
      The controller  31  drives the motor  20  in a normal direction or a reverse direction through the drive circuit  32  based on the operational signal (operational command signal), which is transmitted from the operational switch  4  to lower or raise the window glass  11  and thereby to open or close the opening  10   a  of the door  10 . Furthermore, the controller  31  senses the position of the window glass  11  based on the pulse signal received from the rotation sensing device  27  to adjust the drive electric power, which is supplied to the motor  20  through the drive circuit  32  according to the sensed position of the window glass  11 . Specifically, the controller  31  adjusts the drive voltage or a duty ratio in a case of performing a PWM control operation. In this way, the controller  31  adjusts the motor output power.  
      The drive circuit  32  includes an IC, which has FETs. The drive circuit  32  switches a polarity of the electric current supplied to the motor  20  based on a control signal received from the controller  31 . Specifically, when the drive circuit  32  receives a normal rotation command from the controller  31 , the drive circuit  32  supplies the electric power to the motor  20  in a manner that causes the rotation of the motor  20  in the normal rotational direction. In contrast, when the drive circuit  32  receives a reverse rotation command from the controller  31 , the drive circuit  32  supplies the electric power to the motor  20  in a manner that causes the rotation of the motor  20  in the reverse rotational direction. Alternative to the FETs, the drive circuit  32  may include a relay circuit to change the polarity. Furthermore, the drive circuit  32  may be integrated in the controller  31  in some cases.  
      The controller  31  senses a leading edge and a trailing edge of the supplied pulse signal (pulse edges). Then, the controller  31  computes the rotational speed (a rotational cycle) of the motor  20  based on an interval between the pulse edges and also senses the rotational direction of the motor  20  based on a phase difference between the pulse signals. That is, the controller  31  computes the moving speed of the window glass  11  based on the rotational speed (the rotational cycle) of the motor  20  and determines the moving direction of the window glass  11  based on the rotational direction of the motor  20 . Furthermore, the controller  31  counts the pulse edges. This pulse count value N is incremented or decremented in response to the opening or closing movement of the window glass  11 . The controller  31  determines the position of the window glass  11  based on the pulse count value N.  
      Specifically, in the present embodiment, the fully closed position P 0  is set as a reference position, and therefore the pulse count value N at the fully closed position P 0  is set as zero (0). When the window glass  11  is moving toward the full open position P 3 , the controller  31  increments the pulse count value N by one (1) every time the pulse signal is received. In contrast, when the window glass  11  is moving toward the fully closed position P 0 , the controller  31  decrements the pulse count value N by one (1) every time the pulse signal is received.  
       FIG. 3A  indicates the electrical structure of the operational switch  4 . In the present embodiment, the operational switch  4  is implemented as a rocker switch, which is operable in two steps and includes an up switch (closing switch)  4   a , a down switch  4   b  (opening switch) and an automatic switch  4   c . One electrical contact of each of these switches  4   a - 4   c  is connected to a corresponding terminal of the controller  31 , and another electrical contact of each of these switches  4   a - 4   c  is grounded to a vehicle body. When the vehicle occupant operates the operational switch  4 , the command signal, which commands the opening or closing of the window glass  11 , is outputted from the operational switch  4  to the controller  31 . In the present embodiment, when the operational switch  4  is operated, i.e., depressed or pulled one step, a manual operation is performed. In contrast, when the operational switch  4  is operated, two steps, an automatic operation is performed.  
      Specifically, when one end of the operational switch  4  is operated, i.e., depressed or pulled one step to an up position, the up switch  4   a  is switched on, and thereby the electric potential of the corresponding terminal of the controller  31 , to which the up switch  4   a  is connected, is reduced. The controller  31  recognizes this electric potential drop as a normal closing command signal (a manual operational signal) for performing a normal closing operation of the window glass  11  (an operation for closing, i.e., raising the window glass  11  only through a period of operating the up switch  4   a ). Throughout the period of receiving the normal closing command signal from the operational switch  4 , the controller  31  sets, i.e., turns on a closing operational flag, so that the controller  31  controls the drive circuit  32  based on the dosing operational flag.  
      Furthermore, when the other end of the operational switch  4  is operated, i.e., depressed or pulled one step to a down position, the down switch  4   b  is switched on. Thereby, the electrical potential of the corresponding terminal of the controller  31 , to which the down switch  4   b  is connected, is reduced. The controller  31  recognizes this electric potential drop as a normal opening command signal (a manual operational signal) for performing a normal opening operation of the window glass  11  (an operation for opening, i.e., lowering the window glass  11  only through a period of operating the down switch  4   b ).  
      Furthermore, when the one end of the operational switch  4  is operated, i.e., depressed or pulled two steps to an automatic up (also referred to as “ auto-up”) position, the up switch  4   a  and the automatic switch  4   c  are both switched on. Thereby, the electrical potentials of the corresponding terminals of the controller  31 , to which the up switch  4   a  and the automatic switch  4   c  are respectively connected, are reduced. The controller  31  recognizes these electric potential drops as an automatic closing command signal (an automatic operational signal) for performing an automatic closing operation (an operation for closing, i.e., raising the window glass  11  all the way to the fully closed position P 0  even if the operation of the one end of the operational switch  4  is stopped in the middle).  
      Furthermore, when the other end of the operational switch  4  is operated, i.e., depressed or pulled two steps to an automatic down (also referred to as “auto-down”) position, the down switch  4   b  and the automatic switch  4   c  are both switched on. Thereby, the electrical potentials of the corresponding terminals of the controller  31 , to which the down switch  4   b  and the automatic switch  4   c  are respectively connected, are reduced. The controller  31  recognizes these electric potential drops as an automatic opening command signal (an automatic operational signal) for performing an automatic opening operation (an operation for opening, i.e., lowering the window glass  11  all the way to the preset stop position P 2  even if the operation of the other end of the operational switch  4  is stopped in the middle).  
      Throughout the period of receiving the normal opening command signal from the operational switch  4  (the period of operating the operational switch  4 ), the controller  31  drives the motor  20  through the controller  31  to perform the normal opening operation of the window glass  11 . In contrast, throughout the period of receiving the normal closing command signal from the operational switch  4  (the period of operating the operational switch  4 ), the controller  31  drives the motor  20  through the controller  31  to perform the normal closing operation of the window glass  11 .  
      The controller  31  sets an opening operational flag (used in a manner similar to that of the closing operational flag, but in the normal opening operation) and the closing operational flag during the period of receiving the normal opening command signal and the period of receiving the normal closing command signal, respectively, so that the controller  31  controls the drive circuit  32  based on these flags.  
      Furthermore, when the controller  31  receives the automatic opening command signal from the operational switch  4 , the controller  31  drives the motor  20  through the drive circuit  32  to perform the automatic opening operation of the window glass  11 , so that the window glass  11  is lowered to the preset stop position P 2 . In contrast, when the controller  31  receives the automatic closing command signal from the operational switch  4 , the controller  31  drives the motor  20  through the drive circuit  32  to perform the automatic closing operation of the window glass  11 , so that the window glass  11  is raised to the fully closed position P 0 .  
      When the controller  31  receives the automatic opening command signal or the automatic closing command signal, the opening operational flag or the closing operational flag is set, i.e., is turned on, so that the controller  31  controls the drive circuit  32  based on these flags. Each of these flags is reset, i.e., is turned off under a predetermined condition to stop the driving of the window glass  11 .  
      In the exemplary case shown in  FIG. 3A , the one electrical contact of the up switch  4   a , the one electrical contact of the down switch  4   b  and the one electrical contact of the automatic switch  4   c  are all directly connected to the terminals, respectively, of the controller  31 . However, the present invention is not limited to this construction. For instance, this construction may be replaced with a construction shown in  FIG. 3B .  
      In the exemplary case of  FIG. 3B , the one electrical contact of the up switch  4   a , the one electrical contact of the down switch  4   b  and the one electrical contact of the automatic switch  4   c  are all connected to a network conversion controller  6 . The network conversion controller  6  is connected to the controller  31  through a network line  7 .  
      In this construction, upon turning on of one of the up switch  4   a  and the down switch  4   b  and/or the automatic switch  4   c  to ground each corresponding switch  4   a - c , this grounding state is notified to the network conversion controller  6  and then to the controller  31  through the network line  7 . In this way, the number of connecting lines can be reduced to allow weight reduction of the vehicle.  
      Next, the movement of the window glass  11  in the system  1  will be described.  
      With reference to  FIG. 4 , in an Initial state, the controller  31  initially stores the pulse count value N of the fully closed position P 0  as zero (0), the pulse count value N of the sensing operation ceasing position P 1  as N P1 , the pulse count value N of the preset stop position P 2  as N P2  and the pulse count value N of the full open position P 3  as N P3  in the memory of the controller  31 . The controller  31  compares the pulse count value N, which is incremented or decremented in response to the lowering or raising of the window glass  11 , with the above stored values, which are stored in the memory of the controller  31 , to determine the current position of the window glass  11  and to control the movement of the window glass  11 .  
      In the present embodiment, when the normal opening command signal or the automatic opening command signal is received continuously from the operational switch  4 , the controller  31  supplies the drive voltage continuously to drive the motor  20  in the direction for moving the window glass  11  toward the full open position P 3 . In contrast, when the normal closing command signal or the automatic closing command signal is received continuously from the operational switch  4 , the controller  31  supplies the drive voltage continuously to drive the motor  20  in the direction for moving the window glass  11  toward the fully closed position P 0 . In this way, the motor  20  drives the window glass  11  to lower or raise the window glass  11  through the drive mechanism of the driving apparatus  2 .  
      In the present embodiment, the fully closed position P 0  and the full open position P 3  are mechanically locking positions, at which further movement of the window glass  11  is forcefully stopped. Thus, in the case where a change due to, for example, the aging of the system  1  does not exist, as long as no object is pinched by the window glass  11 , the window glass  11  reaches the fully closed position P 0  and is thereby locked when the pulse count value N reaches zero (0) at the time of moving the window glass  11  in the closing direction.  
      Alternatively, in the state where the window glass  11  is placed in the locked state without resulting in the pinching of the object, it may be determined that the window glass  11  is stopped at the fully closed position P 0 , and thereby the pulse count value N may be reset to zero.  
      As discussed above, the preset stop position P 2  is spaced by a predetermined distance from the full open position P 3  on the fully closed position P 0  side of the full open position P 3 . Specifically, the preset stop position P 2  is offset from the full open position P 3  by the predetermined distance, which corresponds to a predetermined pulse count number (the offset count number Nos in the present embodiment), on the fully closed position P 0  side of the full open position P 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the present embodiment, the preset stop position P 2  is on the lower side of a down side belt molding position (a position where a down side belt molding of the door  10  is located).  
      The sensing operation ceasing position P 1  is spaced from each of the full open position P 3  and the fully closed position P 0  by the corresponding distance, which corresponds to a corresponding predetermined pulse count number.  
      In the system  1  of the present embodiment, the preset stop position P 2 , the full open position P 3  and the sensing operation ceasing position P 1  can be reset, i.e., can be rearranged by the occupant through manipulation of the operational switch  4 . As the normal operation of the operational switch  4 , the occupant may hold the manipulation switch  4  at the down position or at the automatic down position to lower the window glass  11  to the preset stop position P 2 .  
      The lowest possible position of the window glass  11 , which can be achieved through this normal operation of the operational switch  4 , is the currently memorized preset stop position P 2 .  
      As described above, the preset stop position P 2  or the full open position P 3  may possibly be deviated from its actual position due to the aging or the like.  
      In such a case, while the window glass  11  is placed in the preset stop position P 2 , the occupant may further operate the operational switch  4  to hold the operational switch  4  at the automatic down position for a predetermined time period (3 seconds in the present embodiment). At this time, the controller  31  counts a duration time period of the voltage drop at the terminals of the controller  31 , to which the down switch  4   b  and the automatic switch  4   c  are connected, to determine whether the operational switch  4  is held in the automatic down position for the predetermined time period or longer.  
      In this way, the system  1  starts a resetting process (a preset stop position resetting process). When this resetting process is initiated, the controller  31  drives the motor  20  to move the window glass  11  toward the full open position P 3  regardless of the memorized pulse count value NP 3  of the full open position P 3 , which is stored in the memory of the controller  31 , until the movement of the window glass  11  is limited at the full open position P 3 .  
      The locked position of the window glass  11  is the actual full open position P 3  at that time point, and thereby the pulse count value N of this time point is now set as the pulse count value N P3  of the full open position P 3 .  
      Furthermore, the value, which is obtained by subtracting the offset count number Nos from the new pulse count value N P3 , is set by the controller  31  as the new pulse count value N P2  of the preset stop position P 2 .  
      Also, the controller  31  resets the pulse count value N P1  of the sensing operation ceasing position P 1  based the new pulse count value N P3 . The resetting of the pulse count value N P1  can be alternatively performed by using the fully closed position P 0  as a reference position. For example, the controller  31  may add an offset count value to the pulse count value N, which is measured at the time of locking of the window glass  11  upon the closing movement of the window glass  11  toward the fully closed position without pinching of any object. Then, the controller  31  may set this resultant count value as the new pulse count value N P1  of the sensing operation ceasing position P 1 .  
      As described above, according to the present embodiment, the occupant can easily perform the resetting process of the full open position P 3  and of the preset stop position P 2  in the manner similar to the normal operation of the operational switch  4 .  
      Next, an operational flow of the controller  31  will be described with reference to FIGS.  5  to  7 .  
      First, the window control operation of the controller  31  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This operation is repeated at predetermined time intervals.  
      The controller  31  renews and stores the current operational mode (an up mode, an automatic up mode, a down mode, an automatic down mode or a stop mode) in the memory to raise or lower the window glass  11 . In principle, this operational mode is changed according to the operation of the operational switch  4 , as will be discussed below.  
      According to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the operational switch  4  is placed in the up position or the down position in view of the closing operational flag or the opening operational flag, the operational mode is changed to and is stored as the up mode or the down mode only through the period of operating the operational switch  4 . However, when it is determined that the operational switch  4  is placed in the automatic up position or the automatic down position, the operational mode is latched to and is stored as the automatic up mode or the automatic down mode. Then, the controller  31  performs the corresponding operation based on each corresponding operational mode.  
      In the window control operation, it is first determined whether the operational mode, which is currently stored in the memory, is the up mode (step S 1 ).  
      When it is determined that the current operational mode is the up mode (i.e. Yes at step S 1 ), the controller  31  performs a closing process, which is also referred to as “an up process” (step S 20 ). Specifically, at step S 20 , the controller  31  drives the motor  20  in the direction (closing direction) for raising the window glass  11 , and the controller  31  also performs a pinch determination (sensing) process for determining (sensing) whether an object is pinched by the window glass  11  at step S 21 .  
      As described above, in the case where the current operational mode is the up mode, steps S 1 , S 20  and S 21  are repeated. Furthermore, when it is determined that the object is not pinched by the window glass  11  at step S 21 , the window glass  11  is driven to the fully closed position P 0  and is stopped. When the window glass  11  is stopped, the operational mode is renewed to the stop mode. When it is determined that the object is pinched by the window glass  11  in the pinch determination process at step S 21 , the controller  31  reverses the rotation of the motor  20  to lower the window glass  11  and thereby to release the pinched object.  
      Returning to step S 1 , when it is determined that the current operational mode is not the up mode (i.e., No at step S 1 ), it is then determined whether the current operational mode is the automatic up mode at step S 2 .  
      When it is determined that the current operational mode is the automatic up mode (i.e., Yes at step S 2 ), the controller  31  performs an automatic closing (also referred to as “auto-closing” or “auto-up”) process at step S 22 . Specifically, at step S 22 , the controller  31  drives the motor  20  in the direction (closing direction) for raising the window glass  11  through the drive circuit  32  to place the window glass  11  in the fully closed position P 0 , and the controller  31  also performs the pinch determination (sensing) process for determining (sensing) whether the object is pinched by the window glass  11  at step S 23 .  
      As described above, in the case where the current operational mode is the automatic up mode, steps S 1 , S 2 , S 22  and S 23  are repeated. Furthermore, when it is determined that the object is not pinched by the window glass  11  at step S 23 , the window glass  11  is driven to the fully closed position P 0  and is stopped. When the window glass  11  is stopped, the operational mode is renewed to the stop mode. When it is determined that the object is pinched by the window glass  11  in the pinch determination process at step  523 , the controller  31  reverses the rotation of the motor  20  to lower the window glass  11  and thereby to release the pinched object.  
      Returning to step S 2 , when it is determined that the current operational mode is not the automatic up mode (i.e., No at step S 2 ), it is then determined whether the current operational mode is the down (DN) mode at step S 3 .  
      When it is determined that the current operational mode is the down mode (i.e., Yes at step S 3 ), the controller  31  performs an opening process, which is also referred to as “a down process” or “an DN process”, at step S 24 . Specifically, at step  524 , the controller  31  drives the motor  20  in the direction (opening direction) for lowering the window glass  11  and thereafter terminates the current operation.  
      As described above, in the case where the current operational mode is the down mode, steps S 1 , S 2 , S 3  and S 24  are repeated, and the window glass  11  is driven to the preset stop position P 2  and is stopped. When the window glass  11  is stopped, the operational mode is renewed to the stop mode.  
      Returning to step S 3 , when it is determined that the current operational mode is not the down mode (i.e., No at step S 3 ), it is then determined whether the current operational mode is the automatic down (auto-DN) mode at step S 4 .  
      When it is determined that the current operational mode is not the automatic down mode at step  54  (i.e., No at step  54 ), the controller  31  determines whether a position flag of the window glass  11 , which is stored in the memory, is set to a “full open” state and also determines whether the automatic opening (auto-down) command signal is received from the operational switch  4  at step S 5 .  
      Now, a position flag setting process (a window position control operation) for setting the position flag of the window glass  11  performed by the controller  31  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . Similar to the window control operation, this process is performed repeatedly.  
      First, the controller  31  determines whether the current operational mode is the down mode or the automatic down mode at step S 31 .  
      When it is determined that the current operational mode is not the down mode or the automatic down mode (i.e., No at step S 31 ), the current process is terminated without setting the position flag to “full open”.  
      In contrast, when it is determined that the current operational mode is the down mode or the automatic down mode (i.e., Yes at step S 31 ), the controller  31  determines whether the current position of the window glass  11  is equal to or greater than the preset stop position P 2  (i.e., whether the current position of the window glass  11  is in the range between the preset stop position P 2  and the full open position P 3 ) at step S 32 .  
      When it is determined the current position of the window glass  11  is equal to or greater than the preset stop position P 2  (i.e., Yes at step S 32 ), the controller  31  sets the position flag to “full open” at step S 34 .  
      In contrast, when it is determined that the current position of the window glass  11  is on the fully closed position P 0  side of the present stop position P 2  at step S 32  (i.e., No at step S 32 ), the controller  31  determines whether a distance from the fully closed position P 0  to the current position of the window glass  11  is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (250 mm in the present embodiment) on the full open position P 3  side of the fully closed position P 0  and also determines whether the locking of the window glass  11  is sensed at step S 33 .  
      Specifically, at step S 33 , it is determined whether the window glass  11  is in the locked state in the normal operational range, which does not include the pinch sensing operation ceasing range.  
      When it is determined that the window glass  11  is locked in the predetermined range at step S 33  (i.e., Yes at step S 33 ), the controller  31  sets the position flag to “full open” at step S 34 . Therefore, here, even in the case where the window glass  11  has not yet reached the preset stop position P 2 , when the window glass  11  is locked due to some reason, the position flag is set to “full open”.  
      In contrast, when the window glass  11  is not locked within the predetermined range (i.e., No at step S 33 ), the current process is terminated without setting the position flag to “full open”.  
      Returning to  FIG. 5 , when it is determined that the position flag of the window glass  11  is not set to “full open”, or the automatic opening command signal is not received from the operational switch  4  at step S 5  (i.e., No at step S 5 ), the controller  31  clears a automatic down enabling timer at step S 6  and proceeds to a process of step S 7 .  
      The automatic down enabling timer is a timer used to determine whether the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  (and/or the other positions) with respect to the full open position P 3  should be enabled.  
      At step S 7 , the controller  31  performs an operational mode changing process. Specifically, at this stage, the current operational mode is the stop mode. In this state, when the controller  31  has already received the normal closing command signal upon changing of the operational switch  4  to the up position, the controller  31  changes the operational mode to the up mode. Similarly, when the controller  31  has already received one of the normal opening command signal, the automatic closing command signal and the automatic opening command signal upon changing of the operational switch  4  to the corresponding one of the down position, the automatic up position and the automatic down position, the controller changes the operational mode to the corresponding one of the down mode, the automatic up mode and the automatic down mode.  
      For example, in the fully closed state of the window glass  11 , in which the operational mode is the stop mode, when the operational switch  4  is placed in the automatic down position, No at step S 1 , No at step S 2 , No at step S 3 , No step S 4  and No at step S 5  are respectively returned. Thus, the automatic down enabling timer is cleared at step S 6 , and the operational mode is changed to the automatic down mode at step S 7 .  
      After the operational mode is changed from the stop mode to any one of the other remaining modes, corresponding one or more of steps S 1 -S 4  is performed.  
      When it is determined that the current position of the window glass  11  is in the preset stop position P 2 , and the automatic opening command signal has been received from the operational switch  4  (i.e., Yes at step S 5 ), the controller  31  performs a process of step S 8 .  
      The process of step S 8  is performed in the following cases. That is, in one case, the window glass  11  has moved to the memorized present stop position P 2 , which is currently stored in the memory, so that the operational mode is changed to the stop mode, and then the operational switch  4  is placed to the automatic down position. In another case, the window glass  11  is placed in the full open state, i.e., is stopped in the preset stop position P 2 , and then the operational switch  4  is placed to the automatic down position.  
      At step S 8 , a process for counting up the automatic down enabling timer is performed. Specifically, a time period of continuously holding the operational switch  4  in the automatic down position is counted at step S 8 . Then, at step S 9 , it is determined whether the time counted by the automatic down enabling timer has exceeded a predetermined time period (3 seconds in the present embodiment).  
      When it is determined that the time counted by the automatic down enabling timer has not exceeded the predetermined time period at step S 9  (i.e., No at step S 9 ), the controller  31  terminates the current operation without taking any further action. Thus, for example, in the full open state of the window glass  11  in the stop mode, when the operational switch  4  is placed to the automatic down position, steps S 1 -S 5 , S 7  and S 8  are repeated, and the automatic down enabling timer is incremented.  
      When it is determined that the time counted by the automatic down enabling timer has exceeded the predetermined time period at step S 9  (i.e., Yes at step S 9 ), the controller  31  starts a process of moving the window glass  11  in the opening direction (the downward direction). Specifically, the controller  31  changes the current operational mode to the automatic down mode at step S 10 . Then, the controller  31  sets a resetting flag for resetting the preset stop position P 2  to an ON state at step S 11 . Thereafter, the controller  31  clears the automatic down enabling timer at step S 12  and terminates the current operation.  
      When the resetting flag is set to the ON state, the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  (and/or the other positions) is started.  
      As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the full open state of the window glass  11 , when the automatic down position of the operational switch  4  is maintained for the predetermined time period or longer, the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is started. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the occupant appropriately operates the operational switch  4 , the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  can be easily started.  
      Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even when the operational switch  4  is erroneously operated, the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  does not start unless the automatic down position of the operational switch  4  is maintained for the predetermined time period or longer. In this way, according to the present embodiment, only when the resetting of the preset stop position P 2  is required, the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is performed. Thus, it is possible to limit the electric power consumption.  
      Returning to step S 4 , when it is determined that the current operational mode is the automatic down mode (Yes at step S 4 ), it is sensed whether the window glass  11  is in the locked state at step S 13  ( FIG. 6 ). Specifically, when the controller  31  does not continuously receive the pulse signals from the rotation sensing device  27  for the predetermined time period or longer, the controller  31  determines that the rotation of the motor  20  is stopped, and the window glass  11  is in the locked state.  
      In the automatic down mode, the window glass  11  is moved toward the full open position P 3  without pinching the object in the normal situation. Therefore, in the normal situation, the locked state of the window glass  11  occurs when the movement of the window glass  11  is limited at the full open position P 3 .  
      In the unlocked state of the window glass  11  (No at step S 13 ), the controller  31  determines whether the position flag of the window glass  11  is set to “full open” and also determines whether the resetting flag is set to an OFF state at step S 14 .  
      The position flag and the resetting flag are set to “full open” and “OFF”, respectively, in the unlocked state (i.e., Yes at step S 14 ), for example, in the case where the window glass  11  in the normal operational range has been moved by the automatic opening operation, and thereby the window glass  11  has been reached the preset stop position P 2 . At this time, the controller  31  changes the operational mode to the stop mode at step S 15 . In this way, the controller  31  stops the electric power supply to the motor  20 , and thereby the window glass  11  is stopped in the preset stop position P 2 .  
      In contrast, the position flag and/or the resetting flag are not set to “full open” and/or “OFF”, respectively, in the unlocked state (i.e., No at step S 14 ), for example, in the case where the window glass  11  in the normal operational range is currently moved by the automatic opening operation, or the window glass  11  is currently moved by the automatic opening operation beyond the preset stop position P 2  in the ON state of the resetting flag after changing of the operational mode to the automatic down mode at step S 10 . At this time, the current operation is terminated to continue the automatic opening operation.  
      When the locked state of the window glass  11  is sensed at step S 13  (i.e., Yes at step  513 ), the window glass  11  has been forcefully stopped upon reaching of the window glass  11  to the full open position P 3 . Thus, the controller  31  changes the operational mode to the stop mode (step S 16 ). In this way, the electric power supply to the motor  20  is stopped.  
      Then, the controller  31  determines whether the resetting flag for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is set to the ON state at step S 17 .  
      The resetting flag for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is not set to the ON state (i.e., No at step S 17 ), for example, in the case where the window glass  11  has been locked due to some reason during the operation in the automatic down mode. Thus, the operational mode is kept in the stop mode, and the current operation is terminated. In this way, the motor  20  is kept in the stop state, and thereby the window glass  11  is also kept in the stop state.  
      In contrast, the resetting flag for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is set to the ON state (i.e., Yes at step S 17 ), for example, in the case where the window glass  11  has been stopped in the full open position P 3 . Thus, the controller  31  performs the resetting process fbr resetting the preset stop position P 2  at step S 18  and sets the resetting flag to the OFF state at step S 19 .  
      Specifically, in the resetting process, the controller  31  resets the pulse count value N P3  as the pulse count value actually measured in the full open position P 3 .  
      Furthermore, as described above, the preset stop position P 2  is offset from the full open position P 3  by the predetermined distance on the fully closed position P 0  side of the full open position P 3 . Thus, in the resetting process, the controller  31  subtracts the predetermined pulse count number Nos, which corresponds to the predetermined distance, from the pulse count value N P3  of the full open position P 3  to obtain the corresponding pulse count value (N P3 -N OS ), which is then set as the pulse count value N P2  of the preset stop position P 2 .  
      Besides resetting the preset stop position P 2 , in the present embodiment, a value, which is obtained by subtracting a count value of a predetermined distance from the pulse count value N P3 , or a pulse count value at a predetermined distance from the fully closed position P 0  is set as the pulse count value N P1  of the pinch sensing operation ceasing range P 1  in the resetting operation.  
      Therefore, starting from the next operation, the window glass  11  will stop at the position where the pulse count value N reaches the newly set pulse count value N P2 . This position is offset from the locking position of the window glass  11  by the predetermined distance, so that the generation of the impact sound at the time of stopping the window glass  11  can be reliably limited.  
      Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the pinching of the object is sensed in view of the pinch sensing operation ceasing position P 1 , which is reset, i.e., rearranged, so that the erroneous sensing of the pinching of the object can be advantageously limited.  
      In the above-described embodiment, the resetting process for resetting the preset stop position P 2  is started when the operational switch  4  is placed in the automatic down position upon positioning of the window glass  11  in the preset stop position P 2  and is held in the automatic down position for the predetermined time period (3 seconds in the above embodiment). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the above embodiment may be modified as follows. That is, the resetting process may start when the operational switch  4  is placed in and is held in the down position for the predetermined time period.  
      Alternatively, the resetting process may be started when the operational switch  4  is placed in the automatic down position or the down position upon placement of the operational switch  4  in any position and is held in the automatic down position or the down position for a predetermined time period.  
      Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the panel member control system is implemented in the power window system  1  of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For instance, the panel member control system of the present invention may be alternatively implemented in any other system, in which a panel member is moved to open or close a corresponding opening, such as a sunroof panel opening and closing system, which drives a sunroof panel to open or close its associated opening, or a slide door panel opening and closing system, which drives a slide door panel to open or close its associated opening.  
      Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader terms is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.