Patent ID: 8217612

Claim:
Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor coupled to a motor vehicle window or panel for moving said window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered by the window or panel, said apparatus comprising: a) a sensor for sensing movement of the window or panel and providing a sensor output signal related to a speed of movement of the window or panel; b) a switch for controllably actuating the motor by providing an energization signal; c) one or more switches for use by the controller to determine window or panel position; and d) a controller having an interface coupled to the sensor and the switch for controllably energizing the motor; said controller sensing a collision with an obstruction when power is applied to the controller by: i) monitoring movement of the window or panel by monitoring a signal from the sensor related to the movement of the window or panel; ii) adjusting an obstacle detection threshold in real time based on immediate past measurements of the signal sensed by the sensor to adapt to varying conditions encountered during operation of the window or panel; iii) identifying a collision of the window or panel with an obstacle due to a change in the signal from the sensor that is related to a change in movement of the window or panel by comparing a value based on a most recent signal from the sensor with the obstacle detection threshold; and iv) outputting a control signal to said switch to deactivate said motor in response to a sensing of a collision between an obstacle and said window or panel.