Anti-pinch window control system

1. A method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, a security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window by determining the position of the window and determining the time required to close the window based on the position of the window, wherein the position of the window is determined by designating a fully closed window position as a reference time value; determining the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position; adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value; determining the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position; and subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine the position of the window;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation;

d) determining that the current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed.

2. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 1 further comprising the step of dividing the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position by the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position to determine a position compensation factor for vehicles having windows that open at a faster rate than the windows close.

3. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the compensation factor is multiplied by the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to a fully closed position for the purpose of determining a compensated window close time.

4. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the compensation factor is multiplied by the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position for the purpose of determining a compensated window open time.

5. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the step of subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value is replaced with the step of subtracting the actual window close time from the reference time value.

6. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 1 further comprising the step of dividing the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to a fully closed position by the time required for the window to travel from a fully closed position to a fully open position to determine a position compensation factor for vehicles having windows that close at a faster rate than the windows open.

7. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the step of adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value is replaced with the step of adding the compensated window open time to the reference time value.

8. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 1 further comprising the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system.

9. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs each time the window reaches a fully closed position without detecting the pinching of an object.

10. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs each time the window control switch provides a continuous close window input and the window reaches a fully closed position without detecting the pinching of an object.

11. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs after each time the resulting reference value reaches zero before the window reaches a fully closed position and the window continues closing until the window reaches a fully closed position.

12. A method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, a security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation; and

d) determining that the current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed;

e) opening the window for a predetermined time interval such that the motor current does not equal the current threshold;

f) pausing the window close operation for a predetermined time interval;

g) determining if the current threshold has been reached a subsequent time before the time required to close the window has elapsed;

h) opening the window for a predetermined time interval such that the drive unit motor current draw does not equal the current threshold;

i) pausing the window close operation for a predetermined time interval; and

j) resuming the window close operation.

13. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the steps repeat for a maximum of three repetitions.

14. The method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the steps repeat until the drive unit motor current reaches the current threshold after ninety-five percent of the time required to close the window has elapsed.

15. A method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, a security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window, the method further comprising:

(i) designating a fully closed window position as a reference time value;

(ii) determining the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position;

(iii) adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value;

(iv) determining the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position;

(v) subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value, wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine if the window is in an open, fully open, closed, or fully closed position;

(ii) determining the time required to close the window based on the position of the window; and

(v) determining the position of the window;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation;

d) determining that the drive unit motor current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed; and

e) positioning the window such that the drive unit motor current is less than the current threshold.

16. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 further comprising the step of dividing the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position by the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position to determine a position compensation factor for vehicles having windows that open at a faster rate than the windows close.

17. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the compensation factor is multiplied by the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to a fully closed position for the purpose of determining a compensated window close time.

18. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the compensation factor is multiplied by the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position for the purpose of determining a compensated window open time.

19. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the step of subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value is replaced with the step of subtracting the compensated window close time from the reference time value.

20. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 further comprising the step of dividing the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to a fully closed position by the time required for the window to travel from a fully closed position to a fully open position to determine a position compensation factor for vehicles having windows that close at a faster rate than the windows open.

21. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the step of adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value is replaced with the step of adding the actual window open time to the reference time value.

22. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the step of positioning the window such that the motor current is less than the current threshold is replaced with the step of positioning the window such that a time value is added to the reference time value.

23. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

a) maintaining the position of the window such that a time value is added to the reference time value for a predetermined time interval; and

b) allowing the window to reach the fully closed position after maintaining the position of the window such that a time value is added to the reference time value for a predetermined time interval.

24. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 15 further comprising the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system.

25. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 24 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs each time the window reaches a fully closed position without detecting the pinching of an object.

26. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 24 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs each time the window control switch provides a continuous close window input and the window reaches a fully closed position without detecting the pinching of an object.

27. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 24 , wherein the step of resetting the resulting reference value to clear any discrepancies during normal operation of the window control system occurs after each time the resulting reference value reaches zero before the window reaches a fully closed position and the window continues closing until the window reaches a fully closed position.

28. A method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, a security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation;

d) determining that the drive unit motor current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed;

e) positioning the window such that the drive unit motor current is less than the current threshold;

f) pausing the window close operation for a predetermined time interval; and

g) resuming the window close operation;

h) determining if the current threshold has been reached a subsequent time before ninety-five percent of the time required to close the window has elapsed;

i) opening the window for a predetermined time interval such that the motor current does not equal the current threshold;

j) pausing the window close operation for a predetermined time interval; and

k) resuming the window close operation.

29. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 28 , wherein the steps repeat for a maximum of three repetitions.

30. The method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 28 , wherein the steps repeat until the window reaches the current threshold after ninety-five percent of the time required to close the window has elapsed.

31. A method for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window by determining the position of the window and determining the time required to close the window based on the position of the window, wherein said step for determining the position of the window further comprises:

(i) designating a fully closed window position as a reference time value;

(ii) determining the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position;

(iii) adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value;

(iv) determining the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position; and

(v) subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine if the window is in an open, fully open, closed, or fully closed position;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation; and

d) determining if the current threshold has been reached before ninety-five percent of the time required to close the window has elapsed.

32. A method for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, comprising:

a) determining a current threshold for the drive unit motor;

b) determining the time required to close the window, including the steps of determining the position of the window and determining the time required to close the window based on the position of the window;

c) monitoring the drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation;

d) determining if the current threshold has been reached before ninety-five percent of the time required to close the window has elapsed;

e) positioning the window such that the drive unit motor current is less than the current threshold, wherein determining the position of the window further comprises:

i) designating a fully closed window position as a reference time value;

ii) determining the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position;

(iii) adding the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value;

(iv) determining the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position; and

(v) subtracting the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value, wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine if the window is in an open, fully open, closed, or fully closed position.

33. A window control module for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, security system remote control, or security system controller, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a microcontroller disposed within the housing;

c) a means for receiving input operatively coupled to the microcontroller;

d) a means for transmitting output operatively coupled to the microcontroller; and

e) at least one means for storing memory, the at least one means for storing memory further comprising:

(1) anti-pinch programming to determine:

(i) a current threshold for the motor,

(ii) the time required to close the window,

(iii) monitor a window close operation,

(iv) determine that the current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed,

(v) determine the position of the window and determine the time required to close the window based on the position of the window; and

(2) programming to designate a fully closed window position as a reference time value, determine the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position, add the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value, determine the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position, and subtract the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine if the window is in an open, fully open, closed, or fully closed position.

34. A window control module for alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor that opens and closes the window based upon current signals received from a window control switch, a security system remote control, or a security system controller, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a microcontroller disposed within the housing;

c) a means for receiving input operatively coupled to the microcontroller;

d) a means for transmitting output operatively coupled to the microcontroller; and

e) at least one means for storing memory, the at least one means for storing memory containing anti-pinch programming to determine a current threshold for the drive unit motor, determine the time required to close the window, monitor a window close operation, determine that the current threshold has been reached before the time required to close the window has elapsed, position the window such that the motor current is less than the current threshold, determine the position of the window and the time required to close the window based on the position of the window, designate a fully closed window position as a reference time value, determine the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position, add the time required for the window to travel from the fully closed position to a fully open position to the reference time value, determine the time required for the window to travel from a fully open position to a fully closed position, and subtract the time required for the window to travel from the fully open position to the fully closed position from the reference time value, creating a resulting reference time value wherein the value of the resulting reference time value will determine if the window is in an open, fully open, closed, or fully closed position.

35. The window control module for detecting the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle of claim 34 further comprising a switch coupled to the housing and operatively connected to the microcontroller for turning the anti-pinch programming on and off.