Slider window assembly with sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016121699-A1
Application number	US-201514920172-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2015
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame portion having upper and lower rails, at least one fixed window panel having an opening, and a movable window panel that is movable along the upper and lower rails between a closed position and an opened position. A sensing system is operable to determine when the movable window panel is in its closed position and when it is not in its closed position. The sensing system includes a magneto-responsive sensor disposed at the frame portion and a magnetic element disposed at the movable window panel. When the movable window panel is in its closed position, the sensor detects the proximity of the magnetic element. Responsive to the sensing system determining that the movable window panel is not in its closed position, an indicator is activated to alert the driver of the vehicle that the movable window panel is not closed.

First claim

1 . A slider window assembly for a vehicle, said slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail; at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said at least one fixed window panel defining an opening; a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said first fixed window panel; a sensing system operable to determine when the movable window panel is in its closed position and when the movable window panel is not in its closed position, wherein said sensing system comprises a non-contacting magneto-responsive sensor disposed at said frame portion and a magnetic element disposed at said movable window panel; wherein, when said movable window panel is in its closed position, said magneto-responsive sensor detects the proximity of said magnetic element; wherein, when said movable window panel is not in its closed position, said magneto-responsive sensor does not detect the proximity of said magnetic element; and wherein, responsive to said sensing system determining that said movable window panel is not in its closed position, an indicator is activated to alert the driver of the vehicle that the movable window panel is not closed.

2 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor generates an LED activating output signal responsive to determining that said movable window panel is not in its closed position, and wherein said magneto-responsive sensor generates a reduced output signal responsive to determining that said movable window panel is in its closed position.

3 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said movable window panel is movable between its opened and closed positions by a cable drive system, and wherein cables of said cable drive system are guided by cable guides disposed at opposite ends of a channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said magneto-responsive sensor is disposed at one of said cable guides.

4 . The slider window assembly of claim 3 , wherein said magnetic element is disposed at an end region of a carrier that is disposed at a lower region of said movable window panel and that is slidably received in said channel portion of said lower rail.

5 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises first and second fixed window panels defining an opening therebetween.

6 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough.

7 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

8 . The slider window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor is disposed at an end of one of said upper and lower rails.

9 . The slider window assembly of claim 8 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor and associated circuitry are part of a unit that is embedded at said end of said one of said upper and lower rails.

10 . The slider window assembly of claim 9 , wherein said unit is embedded at a cable guide at said end of said lower rail.

11 . The slider window assembly of claim 8 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor and associated circuitry are part of a sensor unit that attaches at a cable guide at an end of said lower rail.

12 . A slider window assembly for a vehicle, said slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail; at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said at least one fixed window panel defining an opening; a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein a lower region of said movable window panel is partially received in a carrier that is movably received in a channel of said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said first fixed window panel; wherein said movable window panel is movable between its opened and closed positions by a cable drive system, and wherein cables of said cable drive system are guided by cable guides disposed at opposite ends of a channel portion of said lower rail, and wherein said magneto-responsive sensor is disposed at one of said cable guides; a sensing system operable to determine when the movable window panel is in its closed position and when the movable window panel is not in its closed position, wherein said sensing system comprises a non-contacting magneto-responsive sensor disposed at said frame portion and a magnetic element disposed at said movable window panel; wherein said carrier comprises a cable receiving portion at an end of said carrier and wherein said magnetic element is disposed at said cable receiving portion and above said cable receiving portion; wherein, when said movable window panel is in its closed position, said magneto-responsive sensor is positioned at least partially above said cable receiving portion such that said magneto-responsive sensor detects the proximity of said magnetic element at and above said cable receiving portion; wherein, when said movable window panel is not in its closed position, said magneto-responsive sensor does not detect the proximity of said magnetic element; and wherein, responsive to said sensing system determining that said movable window panel is not in its closed position, an indicator is activated to alert the driver of the vehicle that the movable window panel is not closed.

13 . The slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor generates an LED activating output signal responsive to determining that said movable window panel is not in its closed position, and wherein said magneto-responsive sensor generates a reduced output signal responsive to determining that said movable window panel is in its closed position.

14 . The slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises one of (i) first and second fixed window panels defining an opening therebetween and (ii) a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough.

15 . The slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

16 . The slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said magneto-responsive sensor and associated circuitry are part of a unit that is embedded at said cable guide.

17 . The slider window assembly of claim 12 , wherein said carrier comprises a molded plastic carrier and wherein magnetic element is disposed at a portion of said cable receiving portion that is molded with said carrier.

18 . A slider window assembly for a vehicle, said slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail; at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said at least one fixed window panel defining an opening; a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein a lower region of said movable window panel is partially received in a carrier that is movably received in a channel of said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Snider Darin J
• Young Qi Xiao

Classifications

• E05Y2900/55

  Windows · CPC title

• E05F15/643

  operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables (by flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/635) · CPC title

• E05F11/535

  for vehicle windows · CPC title

• G01V3/08

  operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) · CPC title

• E05F15/60

  using electrical actuators · CPC title