Arrangement and a method for operating vehicle windows

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305178-A1
Application number	US-201615133559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A window control arrangement for operating two or more windows in a vehicle includes one or several manually operated window control switches set as default to be associated with a specific one of the windows, a window actuator associated with each of the windows and configured for raising or lowering a corresponding window, a control unit connected to the window actuators for controlling raising or lowering of the windows, and an input device connected to the control unit, the input device having a multitude of input modes of which at least one mode is configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows. The arrangement is configured for activating the input device to be in the at least one mode configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows as a result of a detected intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A window control arrangement for operating two or more windows in a vehicle, the window control arrangement comprising:
one or several manually operated window control switches set as default to be associated with a specific one of the windows; a window actuator to be associated with each of the windows and configured for raising or lowering a corresponding window; a control unit connectable to the window actuators for controlling raising or lowering of the windows; and an input device connectable to the control unit, the input device having a multitude of input modes of which at least one mode is configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows; wherein the arrangement is configured for activating the input device to be in the at least one mode configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows as a result of a detected intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate one of the window actuators.

2 . The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor to be arranged in close vicinity of a corresponding window control switch, the proximity sensor connectable to the control unit and used to indicate, when activated, an intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator.

3 . The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the proximity sensor is arrangeable in a position at which it can be expected that a vehicle driver or passenger can be expected to position a hand during actuation of the window control switch.

4 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein manipulation of a corresponding window control switch is used to indicate an intention from a driver or passenger to activate a window actuator.

5 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the window control switches is mountable in a corresponding vehicle door panel.

6 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the window control switches is set to default control the window associated with each window control switch.

7 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a touch screen.

8 . The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the touch screen is designed to expand a view of switch pack for control of all windows when an intention is detected from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator.

9 . The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the input device is locatable at a position within reach from both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.

10 . A method for controlling operation of two or more windows in a vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting an intention from a driver or passenger in a vehicle to activate a window actuator; sending a control signal to an input device that there is an intention from the driver or passenger to activate the window actuator; setting the input device, having a multitude of input modes, in a mode configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows in response to the control signal indicating that there is an intention to activate the window actuator; receiving manually entered information in the input device; and transmitting the information entered into the input device to a control unit connected to the window actuators in order to influence control of the window actuators.

11 . The method according to claim 10 wherein the information transmitted from the input device to the control unit comprises control signals for one or several of the window actuators for raising or lowering the windows.

12 . The method of claim 9 wherein that the information transmitted from the input device to the control unit comprises control signals for redefining the function of a window control switch from only controlling an associated window to control one or several other window actuators for raising or lowering the windows.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein detecting an intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator is made by detecting a motion or a presence of an object in the vicinity of a window control switch.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the object comprises a hand.

15 . The method of claim 13 wherein a motion or a presence of an object in the vicinity of a window control switch is detected by a proximity sensor arranged in or close to a corresponding window control switch.

16 . A window control arrangement for operating two or more windows in a vehicle, the window control arrangement comprising:
a control unit connectable to a plurality of window actuators for controlling raising or lowering of the windows, each window actuator to be associated with one of the windows and configured for raising or lowering the corresponding window; and an input device connectable to the control unit, the input device having a multitude of input modes of which at least one mode is configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows; wherein the arrangement is configured for activating the input device to be in the at least one mode configured for receiving input concerning operation of the windows as a result of a detected intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate one of the window actuators.

17 . The arrangement of claim 16 further comprising a proximity sensor to be arranged in close vicinity of a window control switch, the proximity sensor connectable to the control unit and used to indicate, when activated, an intention from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator.

18 . The arrangement of claim 16 wherein manipulation of a window control switch is used to indicate an intention from a driver or passenger to activate a window actuator.

19 . The arrangement of claim 16 wherein the input device comprises a touch screen.

20 . The arrangement of claim 19 wherein the touch screen is designed to expand a view of switch pack for control of all windows when an intention is detected from a driver or passenger in the vehicle to activate a window actuator.

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Disley Jonathan
• Palm Niklas
• Gordh Mikael
• Lundgren Patrik
• Blomme Conny

Classifications

• E05Y2400/85

  User input means · CPC title

• E05F15/60 Primary

  using electrical actuators · CPC title

• E05Y2900/55

  Windows · CPC title

• B60J1/17

  vertically · CPC title

• E05F15/74 Primary

  using photoelectric cells · CPC title