US5955854A — Power driven venting of a vehicle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the openining including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising: a housing, an emitter held by the houing and configured to emit energy across an area defined by the opening, a detector held by the housing and configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter, and a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening, wherein the vent comprises a window, and the housing holding both the emitter and the detector is positioned in a lower front corner of the opening.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the openining including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising: a housing, an emitter held by the houing and configured to emit energy across an area defined by the opening, a detector held by the housing and configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter, and a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening, wherein the vent comprises a window, and the housing holding both the emitter and the detector is positioned in a lower front corner of the opening.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector, and the detector delivers the detection signal when the durations of a predetermined number of consecutive pulses exceed a predetermined value.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits energy modulated at a first modulation frequency and wherein the detector includes a band pass filter that passes energy modulated at the first modulation frequency.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the emitter emits energy having a first wavelength and wherein the detector includes a second band pass filter that passes energy having the first wavelength.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter includes a lens that emits the energy signal as a fan-shaped energy curtain.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for activating the detector and the emitter only when the vent is closing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the detector delivers the detection signal when the duration of at least one pulse exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the predetermined value is related to the duration of a pulse when no obstruction is present.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined value is related to the average duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present and the vent moves between an opened position and a closed position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predetermined value includes a correction factor that accounts for variations in the duration of pulses produced when no obstruction is present.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the emitter comprises a lens that is shaped to produce the fan-shaped beam.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the emitter comprises multiple light emitting diodes.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is spaced from the lens.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein vertical sections of the common lens in a first dimension have upper surfaces that conform to circular arcs and vertical sections of the common lens in a second dimension have curved upper surfaces that do not conform to circular arcs.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the common lens has a flat lower surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the common lens comprises epoxy resin.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the detector further comprises a plano-convex lens formed from the epoxy resin.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a plano-convex lens having a planar side in contact with the common lens.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: the emitter and the detector share a common lens, and the detector farther comprises a plano-convex lens having a planar side in contact with the common lens and a filter positioned between the photo IC and a convex side of the plano-convex lens.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to activate the emitter in response to an input signal.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change a state of the output signal from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change the state of the output signal from the second state to the first state when no obstruction is detected and to maintain the state of the output signal in the second state when an obstruction is detected.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to deliver the output signal along only a single wire.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is operable to receive an input signal along only a single wire.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an external interface that comprises an input wire and an output wire.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the external interface further comprises a power wire and a ground wire, and wherein the input wire, output wire, power wire and ground wire are the only wires that extend externally from the housing.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 79 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an input connection and an output connection accessible from outside the housing, wherein the controller is held by the housing and connected to the emitter, the detector, the input connection, and the output connection, and the controller has circuitry that responds to a signal at the input connection by analyzing signals from the detector and providing a signal at the output connection indicative of whether an object is present in the opening.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, comprising: an automatic vent actuator for automatically activating the power driven vent, a manual vent actuator for manually activating the power driven vent, a detector configured to detect an obstruction in the opening without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal when an obstruction is detected, the detector being activated to produce the detection signal only when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator, a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal, and a manual switch that, while pressed, enabes the manual vent actuator, wherein: when the manual switch is pressed for less than a predetermined time, the controller enables the automatic vent actuator, and when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator and the detection signal is received, the controller deactivates the vent.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, comprising: an automatic vent actuator for automatically activating the power driven vent, a manual vent actuator for manually activating the power driven vent, a detector configured to detect an obstruction in the opening without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal when an obstruction is detected, the detector being activated to produce the detection signal only when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator, a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal, and a manual switch that, while pressed, enabes the manual vent actuator, wherein: when the manual switch is pressed for less than a predetermined time, the controller enables the automatic vent actuator, and when the power driven vent is activated by the automatic vent actuator and the detection signal is received, the controller deactivates the vent.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the controller disables the manual vent actuator during the predetermined time to prevent activation of the power driven vent until the controller determines whether to enable the automatic vent actuator.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 150 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising: an emitter that emits energy, a detector configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter, a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening, circuit connected to activate the detector and the emitter only when the vent is closing, and to verify that the emitter is emitting energy immediately after activating the emitter.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 150 words

Apparatus for closing a power driven vent within an opening, the vent including a first closing edge that moves as the vent is closed and the opening including a second closing edge that is contacted by the first closing edge when the vent is in a fully closed position, the apparatus comprising: an emitter that emits energy, a detector configured to detect energy from the emitter reflected by an obstruction without requiring contact between the obstruction and the vent and to deliver a detection signal in response to detection of reflected energy from the emitter, a controller connected to the detector for receiving the detection signal and delivering an output signal indicative of whether an obstruction is present in the opening, circuit connected to activate the detector and the emitter only when the vent is closing, and to verify that the emitter is emitting energy immediately after activating the emitter.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector, and the detector delivers the detection signal when the duration of one pulse exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector and the emitter share a common lens.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector produces pulses having durations related to the intensity of the energy received by the detector.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to activate the emitter in response to an input signal.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to change a state of the output signal from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller is operable to deliver the output signal along only a single wire.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 147 words

A sensor for detecting an obstruction in an opening, comprising: an emitter operable to emit energy, a detector operable to detect energy emitted by the emitter and to deliver a detection signal in response to an increase in detected emitter energy, control circuitry connected to the emitter and detector, the control circuitry being operable to control the emitter and the detector and to produce an output signal indicative of the detection of an obstruction in the opening in response to the detection signal, and a housing in which the emitter, detector and control circuitry are held, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens, and vertical sections of the common lens in a first dimension have upper surfaces that conform to circular arcs and vertical sections of the common lens in a second dimension have curved upper surfaces that do not conform to circular arcs.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 147 words

A sensor for detecting an obstruction in an opening, comprising: an emitter operable to emit energy, a detector operable to detect energy emitted by the emitter and to deliver a detection signal in response to an increase in detected emitter energy, control circuitry connected to the emitter and detector, the control circuitry being operable to control the emitter and the detector and to produce an output signal indicative of the detection of an obstruction in the opening in response to the detection signal, and a housing in which the emitter, detector and control circuitry are held, wherein the emitter and the detector share a common lens, and vertical sections of the common lens in a first dimension have upper surfaces that conform to circular arcs and vertical sections of the common lens in a second dimension have curved upper surfaces that do not conform to circular arcs.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 20 words

The sensor of claim 46, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in an opening of an automobile.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 21 words

The sensor of claim 47, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in a window opening of an automobile.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 21 words

The sensor of claim 47, wherein the housing is sized and configured for positioning in a door opening of an automobile.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 17 words

The sensor of claim 46, wherein the emitter is operable to emit energy as a fan-shaped beam.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 13 words

The sensor of claim 46, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 13 words

The sensor of claim 46, wherein the detector further comprises a photo IC.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-20	2003-03-22	2003-09-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-20	2007-03-22	2007-09-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-20	2011-03-22	2011-09-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Power driven venting of a vehicle

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag