IL260911A - Automatic smart car window controller - Google Patents

Description

Automatic Smart Car Window Controller Technical Field The present invention pertains to automatic car control systems and particularly to adaptive sensing means that can be installed in car control systems for improving their safety, comfort utilities and capabilities.

Background The present invention discloses an adaptive automatic SmartWindow controller for comfort and safe utilities of various types of electrically controlled windows of vehicles also known as "power windows". Power windows which are installed in most cars today have come under some scrutiny after several fatal accidents of children that were trapped in the space between the glass and top edge of the window and severely injured using these systems. To prevent this, many vehicles feature a driver-controlled lockout switch, preventing rear-seat passengers (usually smaller children) from accidentally triggering the switches. This feature also prevents children from playing with the window switches and activating the power window switch. However, this locking feature has a pronounced deficiency, because it does not enable the back-seat passenger respond in case of a trapping accident at one of the rear windows, not using the advantage of superior visibility and proximity to that event.

At present, most cars are equipped with an automatic "one-touch" system and apparatus. The "one-touch" system enables a simple lifting including a full closing of the car's partially opened windows, which is executed by a "one-touch" command and related signal. The signal is sent by a remote, or non-remote, control means. In most cases, these systems are triggered into operation of the windows closing by certain pre-programmed conditions, or a specific command, which is actively sent by car's user/driver through the car's remote control means. Furthermore, many designed window pane/glass electronic elevators are equipped with an "anti-trap" sensing and control means, which results in an auto-reverse window closing and/or disable the window automatic or non-automatic closing. The anti-trap system is triggered into operation in case of detection of an obscuring object/subject which is positioned along the window closing trajectory. The "anti-trap" systems are installed in the car's front 1260911/3 and rear pairs of windows. When the window reaches the obstruction, it can cause bodily harm, or the window can shatter if the obstruction is hard. In these designs, each of the window motor/engine has a pressure sensor that detects window motor/engine movement when the glass window stops moving. If this occurs, the system triggers the auto-reverse of the window, which reverses the window elevation motor/engine and direction of the glass window downwards.

In other prior arts these systems are equipped with a variety of sensing means, which are able to detect the certain load counter-pressure on the window along the opposite direction of its closing path. Such loads can be subjected by a certain object or a subject.

There are several problems and deficiencies of the one-touch and anti-trap systems in cars. One of the main problems of the one-touch system is that in most cases it is not autonomic and configured to be disabled/enabled only by the car's driver. These deficiencies are pronounced in case a load/obstacle, such as a children head or hand, is trapped in the car rear windows with absence of good visibility of the driver. In such case, a trap accident can potentially occur with a subsequent severe injury to the subject in the back seat. Hence, in "one-touch" systems, it is also required to enable manual bypass and release of the driver control to the back seat passengers due to absence of easy visual feedback and quick response of the driver. The problem of absence of manual by-pass of the diver control by the back seat passenger is also pronounced in cars which are equipped with "anti-trap" systems in case of failure.

This can result in trapping accidents in cars, since the back seat passengers cannot respond quickly, covering for the driver poor visibility, and releasing the trapped passenger organ, such as head or hand.

One advantage of the SmartWindow system with the anti-trap is that it enables superior response with respect to existing systems. This is because the SmartWindow system can also process information regarding the smallest gap between the window and its frame, unlike the existing systems, which where the final gap is assumed to not have loads on (when in fact, fingers, for example, could still be put in).

To elaborate on this, current sensing anti-touch systems lack sufficient sensitivity.

Particularly in cases where the final gap between the window glass and its 2260911/3 corresponding frame-edge is relatively small. The current systems do not assume to have a load trapped in such small gaps. This is particularly dangerous for small diameter or thin objects such as fingers which are trapped between the window glass and its frame part. Hence, the sensitivity of the system of the present invention to small size loads including the small size gap weak pressure between the window glass and the frame they induced is a highly important parameter and factor in the safety level, efficiency and reliability.

Another issue is that in current cars the one touch-automatic lowering and lifting modules are configured for all windows at once and not separately for every window.

Another problem is that the present sensing means, systems and apparatuses are able to detect a load only when it is located at the window top-side which is the window frame edge which the glass window is closed upon.

Another problem is that the "anti-trap" feature and its controlled module are often integrated into the power window switches on the driver’s door. Therefore, if the vehicle loses battery power or the power window needs repair, the power window will not identify their upper and lower limits. The window motor/engine will need to be re- calibrated, so it can learn the window travel limits.

Another problem is that in the existing systems, the sensing means cannot solely identify the mechanical properties of the obstructing load such as stiffens. This feature is highly important, because it defines the system sensitivity, enabling it to tune its response to different cases of trapped object/subject. As an example, a passenger hand is made of soft tissue around a rigid bone and has a more elastic response to pressure, relative to the head, for example. The problem is the anti-trap system cannot distinguish on time and in a quick and proper manner to the two different cases here such response is highly important to the total damage of such trap accident.

Another main problem of the present systems is that after electrical shut-down that can result from the car battery drainage or sudden disconnection, these systems cannot record the window last position. The system, then, cannot function and cannot be automatically reset. It, therefore, requires a hard reset by a car certified technician. 3260911/3 Finally, the present invention provides a smart window controller that can resolve all the problems detailed above, providing a higher level of safety, control, comfort and utility in resolving other deficiencies of the prior art. As detailed above, the prior art describes sensing and control means for car control windows systems, such as auto- reverse window systems and the like for window controlled closing and opening operations in cars/vehicles. These systems are absent of adaptive sensing means and capabilities. More particularly such sensing means provide easy and safe installation and utility in various cars with different designs of window opening and closing systems. Absence of such systems and apparatuses can result in unwanted accidents in which both the window and the trapped subject/object, which block its trajectory path, can be unnecessarily damaged or injured.

An anti-pinch feature is controlled by a small module which is now often integrated into the power window switches on the driver’s door. If the vehicle loses battery power or the power windows require a repair, the power windows will not know their upper and lower limits. The window motor/engine will need to be re-trained so it can learn the window travel limits.

When the window reaches the obstruction, it can cause bodily harm or the window can shatter if the obstruction is hard. To add a safety device to the express-up feature, car makers use an anti-pinch device. The window motor/engine has a pressure sensor that detects window motor/engine movement when the glass has stopped moving, even minutely. If this occurs, the window reverses direction and moves downward.

CN 201024823 describes an automatic car window controller with an anti-pinch shutter that detects objects between a car window and the window frame. This shutter uses a two point load comparison to identify a human body part leaning on the window glass and a heavier object. The controller stops closing the window glass in a first cycle, when detecting a lighter weight, which is characteristic of a human body part. The controller stops lifting the glass in the second cycle when detecting a heavier object.

US 2005/0088130 describes a window driving apparatus that reverses the closing of a car window glass when sensing an increase in current of the window motor, which is 4260911/3 caused by an obstacle jamming. The apparatus has a diode between the positive side of the power supply and the control circuit for protecting the control circuit when the power supply is inversely increased.

US 5,436,539 describes a computer based, power window system with a sensor that is sensitive to application of pressure on the car window glass. An accumulated force is synchronized with the position sensor, and an offset of the window glass relative to window seal is recorded and used as reference. The rate of deceleration in the window rise towards the seal is used to identify an object pressing the glass and its rigidity.

Above a certain rate of deceleration that indicates the force that the object applies the system stop the rise and reverses its direction downwards.

None of these apparatuses describes or suggests simulation and sampling the highest voltage outputted by the motor of the apparatus for lifting the window glass and calculating limit voltages several time in proportion to the highest voltage. The limit voltage is defined as the voltage above which the window glass completes its travel to the window seal.

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide smart, automatic window control apparatus and system with sensing means and software adaptive means which provide automatic, accessible, comfort and safe control of various types of electrically controlled windows and vehicles.

It is yet another object of the present invention, to adapt current car automatic window control, enabling manual by-pass to the back and front passenger seats and a separate and autonomic control for each window of the car windows in its front and back sides in case of a trap accident.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide one-touch automatic lowering and lifting of every window separately with one click.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide automatic smart window control apparatus and system that track and record the glass window temporal position along the window vertical direction path, enabling to recall its last position and further automatically reset full opening or closing of the car windows system after sudden 5260911/3 electrical shut-down or battery drainage. This is done by study of the stream property of the window adjusting and stating the stream of the movement of the window in said field.

It is yet another object of the present invention, to adapt current car automatic window control, enabling manual by-pass to the back and front seat's passenger and a separate and autonomic control for each window of the cars windows in its front and back sides in case of trap accident.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide one-touch automatic lowering and lifting of every window separately with one click.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide automatic smart window control apparatus and system that track and record the glass window temporal position along the window vertical direction path enabling to recall its last position and further automatically reset full opening or closing of the car windows system after sudden electrical shut-down or battery drainage. This is done by study of the stream property of the window, adjusting and stating the stream of the movement of the window in said field.

It is yet another object of the present invention, to equip car control systems with sensing means, which can sense a load located at any possible position along the window closure trajectory.

It is a further object of the present invention to significantly improve the system sensitivity enabling it to detect small-size and/or thin objects including the weak loads they apply on the window's glass. An exemplary case of such objects with relatively weak load are passenger fingers, trapped between the window glass and the window top edge frame.

It is yet another object of the present invention to equip car control systems with sensing and data processing means with high sensitivity and quick response to loads made of hard, soft or elastic materials. 6260911/3 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a smart window control apparatus and system with sensing means which provide a higher degree of safety, identifying loads and obstructions in car windows space, and checking for objects or subjects which block the window closing trajectory path thus ensuring automatic and safe closure of the car's windows.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide smart window control apparatus which can be easily installed in various types of vehicles and transferred from one car to another.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide smart window control apparatus which can be used as an individual solution, or as a complementary solution to the manufacturer original system.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a smart window control apparatus, which can be configured according to preferred parameters, designed according to preferences of use of the system and functions cooperatively with cars manufacturer's settings.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide smart window control apparatus that integrates well with the one-touch and/or anti-trap car systems enabling the windows auto-lifting and lowering with operational personalization such as lifting order, lifting sensitivity and other parameters.

This and other objects and embodiments of the invention shall become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary In one aspect, the disclosed system of the present invention offers a smart control window system which can be easily installed in old and new vehicles taking over the command on the car windows opening and closing functionalities. 7260911/3 In another aspect, the smart window control system and apparatus of the present invention is equipped with sensing means which provide safety and accessibility requirements of the utility of that system.

In still a another aspect of the present invention, the SmartWindow controller takes the control on the car sensing means, upgrading its capabilities, and providing safety and accessibility features and capabilities to the car window control system. The sensing means identifies obstructions in open windows, and checks if there is an object or subject that blocks the window closing trajectory path.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow sensing means features high sensitivity enabling it to detect small diameter or thin objects, such as passenger fingers, trapped between the window glass and top edge of the window frame, inducing weak load on the glass. The sensitivity of the system to small size loads is a highly important parameter of the system safety level, efficiency and reliability. The superior capabilities of the SmarWindow system of the present invention with respect to other prior art anti-touch systems is due to the fact that the SmartWindow system can also process information regarding the smallest gap between the window and its frame. This is unlike existing systems, wherein the final gap is assumed to not have loads on, where in fact, fingers, for example, could still be put in and be trapped between the windows glass and the window frame edge side).

This results in a superior level of performance, safety and performance of the current system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow controller is configured to be installed as individual solution setup, comprising a remote control interface. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the smart window controller comprises a complementary solution setup with interface means with the car system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow is an automated window closer which is integrated into the car window motors and controlled by the car's remote locking system. 8260911/3 In another embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow unique mechanism instantly lowers the window if a blocking object is detected such as a passenger hand on the window while lifting.

In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow senses an interface and commands the power window system to immediately stop and lower the window back down.

In still another particular embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow is configured as an individual or complementary solution to the vehicle original system.

In still another particular embodiment of the present invention, the SmartWindow can be easily configured according to the following statuses combined and separately with the following car elements: • Starter switch • Lights signalling system • Locking motor/engine • Locking buttons The present invention, the SmartWindow controlling system and apparatus, comprises one or several of the following key Features and items: • Easy installation; • Smart safety system, which identifies obstructions in windows; • Automated 4 windows roll-up when the car is locked; • Can be configured according to preferred parameters, configured according to preferences of use of the system; • A 12V24 pins hardware connector interface assembled with the car window system.

In one embodiment, the SmartWindow controlling system and apparatus are configured for cooperative function with the manufacturer's car settings. 9260911/3 In another embodiment, the SmartWindow controlling system and apparatus are configured to be easily transferred from one car to another.

In yet another embodiment, the SmartWindow controlling system and apparatus incorporate one-touch feature for windows auto-lifting and lowering.

In yet another embodiment, the SmartWindow controlling system and apparatus are configured to utilize operational personalization preferences such as lifting order, lifting sensitivity etc.

Apparatus In one embodiment, the Smartwindow control system comprises: - a 12V 24 Pins bridge-connector component, which is installed in the car by electrically plugging it into the car window control system; - a hardware and software controller component, which is electrically connected to the 12V 24 Pins bridge-connector.

The smart window system and its components are designed to be installed into the car window control system, and are able to track, monitor, and control the window control system.

The assembly of the bridge connector unit with hardware and software controller unit enable to bypass the car computer enabling a higher degree of safety, an automatic and autonomic control on all of the cars windows with additional new features capabilities which were absent in the car window control system original design.

For calibration and recording location of the window glass, the SmartWindow system studies and maps the velocity-current relation of the window motor/engine according to every information gathered from every close/open action of a window.

Method i. Smartwindow load acknowledge protocol and calibration method: In one embodiment of the present invention, the smart window system performs the following steps: 10260911/3 • The SmartWindow controlling the system studies the stream property of the window lifting by mapping area of the window in the car. This is done by stating location points in the field of the window and adjusting and stating the stream of the movement of the window in said field. The system studies and maps the relation between the velocity of lifting of the window glass and current of the window motor/engine according to the information gathered from every close/open action of the window.

• Once the window is moving, the system automatically analyses the movement using the map of the location points and stream of the window's movement again.

This allows the system to compare and know the window's location at any time.

• Any disturbance in the comparison with the data stored in memory will be acknowledged as a load (as shown in Fig.1) that will trigger the window to lower down automatically.

• The system will make two additional attempts to close the window again.

• This enables the system to detect a wrong system load acknowledgement or if the disturbance was temporary and removed.

• On the third attempt, the window will stay lowered down and the driver will receive an alert by sound or by light.

• The driver will have the option to decide whether to allow the window to close or to stay lowered.

• A single mechanism identifies a closed window, so lifting will not occur if a window is closed.

• An integrated product controls all four windows included in one package and installed once.

• One touch-automatic lowering and lifting of every window separately with one short click.

• A singular 24 pin connection, each pin has its own designation. 11260911/3 ii. Recognition methods of the glass windows positions/locations: In one embodiment, the SmartWindow control system measures the instantaneous current of the window motor/engine. In a further embodiment, the measurements are done separately for each of the front and rear car windows. These measurements are preformed through the dedicated testing pins of the 12V 24 pin connector bridge unit.

The system performs the window position calibration experiments, measuring the current values of window glass elevation over an at least one cycle of a full closing and opening of the window's glass. Using that data, the system can calculate the average, and more particularly the instantaneous velocity of the windows glass and use this data to track its location at each point.

In another embodiment, the SmartWindow controlling the system studies the stream property of the window lifting by mapping the area of the window in the car. This is done by stating location points in the field of the window and adjusting and stating the stream of the movement of the window in said field. Once the window is moving, the system automatically analyses the movement using the map of the location points and stream of the window's movement again. The system studies and maps the relation between the window glass velocity and current of the motor/engine according to every information gathered from every close/open action of the window. This allows the system to compare and know the window's location at any time. The system utilizes these methods to identify and track the window's glass position. iii. Load pressure response measurements with window motor current measurements: In one embodiment, designed particularly for car window control system equipped with window "anti-trap" module, the system utilizes the driving current measurement values of the window motor/engine to sense the pressure response of a certain load.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the system measures directly the pressure sensor data. The driving current of the motor/engine of the window glass elevator varies for different pressures. The correlation between the last two values is proportional to applied pressure values for specific loads on the window glass. 12260911/3 In a further embodiment, calibration of the pressure sensor of the anti-trap system versus the driving current of the window motor elevator is preformed after installation of the smart window control system.

The correlation between driving current and pressure is recorded in tests before installation of the system in the vehicle or a record table is built during use, while recording events of applying loads on a window glass or trapping objects in the space between a window glass and the top edge of the window frame.

A driving current of the motor is measured in response to a gradually increasing load pressure. These experiments are done under controlled conditions and further used to study and distinguish between different materials of trapped load.

The calibration measurements can be done directly through the 12V 24 bridge connector or indirectly with pressure measurement tool that interfaces externally with the pressure sensor and reads its measurements.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the correlation between the driving current of the car window motor/engine and the anti-trap sensor pressure can be extracted in the following methods: i. Experimental calibration. ii. Extracting by calculation which utilizes a window motor/engine and sensor specifications data to extract their approximated correlation values. iii. Extracting from simulations of the pressure sensor versus driving current of the window motor/engine data.

Using each the above methods, it is easy to extract the response of the motor/engine of a specific window and correlation between its driving current value, and the corresponding anti-trap sensor pressure. These data enable the system to track directly the driving current of the windows motors instead of, or in addition to, the pressure sensor data, increasing significantly its sensitivity and time response to a specific trapped load with different martial properties. 13260911/3 Using this method, the smart window system is able to acknowledge quickly and correctly different loads or objects/subjects with made from hard and/or soft materials or materials with different levels of elasticity, any possible combination of material types, or any other possible mixtures and combinations of such materials types. An experimental demonstration of recognition of a flexible vs. hard load material is illustrated in Figs. 7-A-D.

The importance of this method is that it enables the SmartWindow system of the present invention to react correctly to different organs and artefacts which may be trapped in one of the car windows. As an example, the SmartWindow system of the present invention can acknowledge trapping of a semi-elastic load such as child’s hand, which is made of elastic tissues and flesh with embedded bone made of hard material or a load such as a child head which has a shell made of hard material. As demonstrated in Figs. 7-A-D, the SmartWindow can utilize the different response of the driving current of the windows motor/engine in response to a gradually increasing load pressure, to distinguish between hard and elastic materials of a certain trapped load. This way, the system can respond quickly and efficiently to various types of loads, minimizing the damage to the trapped subject organ/object and glass windows as well.

In a further embodiment, the system further includes a software tool for recording correlation between the level of stiffness of a trapped object and current that drives the motor/engine of the window. A stiffness/flexibility – driving current correlation table is provided before installing the system in a vehicle and/or such table is built and/or further constructed as events of trapping are accumulated.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows a side-view illustration of a generic partially open car window, which is mechanically blocked by a load, illustrated as a baseball object, positioned at its top open side.

Figs. 2A-D shows schematic illustrations of the bridge 12V24 pins hardware connector component of the smart window controller including its related Pin's-id 14260911/3 table and interface with the car window control system and smart window controller unit.

Fig. 3 shows the pin's-id table of the bridge 12V24 pin's hardware connector component of the smart window controller including a detailed description of its connection matrix.

Figs. 4-5 show a top view schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the smart window controller unit in two particular embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a top view schematic diagram of the chip architecture of the smart window controller unit in one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 7A-D show the acknowledgement process of the automatic smart window controller and its pressure response for ball shape loads made of hard, semi-elastic material. The loads are located at the window open area in the closing path and pose a disturbing pressure on the window glass.

Figs. 8A-C schematically demonstrate the calibration mechanism of window lifting by sampling voltage levels at key points of the voltage curve of the window motor in different situations.

Fig. 9 is schematics of the hardware part electronics that operates and controls the window motor.

In what follows, we present the general concept of the smart window controller, application, method and practical implementation. The method is presented with particular exemplary data including a detailed description of several preferred particular embodiments of the present invention. The following description of preferred embodiments is presented with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments comprise a remote or a smart window controller for remote and individual solution setup including the remote control interface and complementary solution setup with the additional interface with the car system.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 illustrates schematic top perspective-view image of a car (100) with a partially open generic car window (101) which is mechanically blocked by a ball-shaped load (102) positioned at its top open part (101b). The window glass (101a) is elevated to a 15260911/3 certain point and mechanically stuck by the counter pressure applied by the ball- shaped load (102). Blocking of one of the cars windows by a certain load can be a result of an object or a subject’s organ, which are located at the windows trajectory closing path. Such mechanical pressure, applied by a certain particular load (102), can irreversibly damage the mechanical properties (101) of the window including the windows glass (101b). It can also damage the object or subject’s organ trapped in that position. In a similar case of a subject’s organ, it can result in unnecessary accident and a severe injury to said subject.

To solve these problems, the present invention provides a smart window system comprising a unique electrical bridge connector component and a dedicated hardware and software control component. The electrical bridge connector component is electrically connected to the car window control system on one side, marked as SIDE- A in Fig. 2A, and the hardware and software control unit on its other side, marked as SIDE-B. Using this architecture, the system actually bridges over the car window control unit, which in some cases is also partially controlled by car computer. This enables a full control of by the SmartWindow control unit on the car windows system, yielding a full autonomic and automatic control with technical capabilities and features which are absent in its original command of the central computer.

Figs. 2A-C show schematic diagrams of the smart 12V24 pins hardware bridge connector including its pins'-id table and electrical interfaces scheme with the car windows controller and smart window controller unit.

Fig. 2A illustrates a top perspective view image of the design of the 12V24 pin's hardware bridge connector (200) in one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector (200) comprises a frame housing part (201) with the following two interfaces at its two sides, A and B: i. The interface with the car window control system at Side-A (200a). The interface is a male-type one, comprising a 2 rows x 12 pins connection matrix (203). In that side, the 12V24 pin's hardware bridge connector (200) is inserted into a generic matched car control female controller (not shown in the image). The bridge connector (200) can be designed with various specific designs that match the windows control unit of a certain car with certain window female hardware terminal. 16260911/3 ii. The interface with the smart window control unit is located at Side-B (200b). The electrical interface is a female type, comprising a 24 pins 2 rows x 12 pins (202) matrix, with a design matching the corresponding pins matrix (203). The figure shows the pin number labelling the first row Pin No. 1-12 and the second row Pin No. 12-24.

The bridge connector (200) further comprises clip (204) for mechanical attachment of the connector to the car body. In a further embodiment this clip (204) serves also as a ground/common (with negative voltage bias) connection of the 12V24 pins hardware connector and electrical circuit of its controller with the car body/frame.

Figs. 2B-D show top and side views schematic diagrams of the electrical interface of the 12V24 pins’ hardware bridge connector (200) in one specific exemplary design and preferred embodiment of the present invention. The diagrams show two cross sections of the design of the pins’ matrix electrical interface (203) with the car windows control unit, which is located at SIDE –A, and with the smart window control unit, which is located at SIDE –B. At SIDE –A, the figure shows the 2x12 pins’ connection matrix, comprising two rows, labelled P1-P12 and P12-P24. Fig. 2C shows a side-view schematic diagram of the electrical interface connections scheme of the 12V24 pins’ connector (202), located at SIDE-B, with a corresponding matched matrix of wires (205) which are electrically connected to a smart window control unit, not shown at the figure. The electrical matrix of wires (205) length is 600 +- 10 mm.

Fig. 2D shows a table of the 12V24 pins’ hardware connector interface comprising the pins number, attached electrical cable color and default operational electrical state, which in this case is at "Open" voltage condition for all pins.

Fig. 3 shows the pins’-id table of the 12V24 pins bridge connector (200), including a detailed description of the connection matrix. The table comprises the pins Nos., colors, and electrical functionalities. The connector's pins-id table is divided to four blocks, where each block represents a group of pins and electrical connection with specific functionalities in the car control system. On Side-A of the 12V24 pins hardware connector, each block of pins is connected to a specific module of the car window control system, where on Side-B it is connected to its corresponding 17260911/3 hardware control unit module. Hence, by using this design, the 12V24 pins bridge connector (200) actually bridges between the car control system and the hardware control unit. This enables hardware control unit to bypass or utilize the computer car window control system yielding an autonomic and automatic control of the cars front and back windows. As a result, after installation of the smart window control unit with the hardware control unit, there are additional features, capabilities and functionalities which were absent in the original design. In this design, the bridge connector comprises the following four pins-id blocks: i. Voltages and operative control command: This block of pins comprises the electrical protection fuse condition, the ground voltage bias required state, the communication lines for testing the system, the command inlet for the car signal and the IGN (IGN = Ignition) input relay. ii. Front windows elevators: This block of pins comprises the opening and closing control switches of the front windows elevators on of their elevator motors/engines. iii. Rear windows elevators: This block of pins comprises the opening and closing control switches of the rear windows elevators of their elevator motor/engines. iv. IGN relay and minus voltages outlets: This block of pins comprises the IGN input and output relay voltages, the output minus voltage pin for the Front Left window voltages, which is the car driver, including the output minus voltage pin of the automatic opening elevation of the Front Left window.

Figs. 4-5 show a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the smart window control unit in two particular embodiments of the present invention. In both figures, the images represent real images of the electrical circuit of the smart window control unit. Both designs (400, 500) comprise a plurality of electrical circuits of the logic components/chips (410-412, 510-512) and the analogue components/chips (401-409, 501-509) of the smart window control unit.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the chip architecture design of the smart window control unit in one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The image represents an in-scale image of the chip design of the SmartWindow comprising the 18260911/3 logic and along components. The chip electrical design includes one of its corresponding electrical circuits (400, 500) shown in Figs. 4, 5, respectively.

Utilization of the measured current value of the Windows motor/engine for sensing means: In what follows we demonstrate the SmartWindow system response to loads with different material properties. This is done by measuring the current/voltage response of the system, particularly the system motor to trapped loads, made of different materials. The background and explanation of the next part is given in the method section of the summary part Figs. 7A-D shows the acknowledgement procedure of the smart window controller for loads made of hard and flexible material located at one the windows closing path and posing a disturbing pressure on the window glass. Using the SmartWindow apparatus and system acknowledges both hard and flexible disturbing pressures on the window as load shown in Figs. 7 A-B, respectively. Using the SmartWindow control unit, the system identifies the load pressure type (hard or flexible) according to the change in the growing angle of the current-voltage pulses stream, when a pressure occurs.

A hard object (for example, a ball as shown in Fig. 7A) will create a sharp growing angle change of stream as a result of a static pressure (as shown at Fig. 7C), while a flexible object (for example, a human hand – shown in Fig. 7B) will create a growing angle change of stream that is not sharp (shown in Fig. 7D). Hence, the pressure response, which is not static but growing, implies that the change is not immediate but growing accordingly. This difference of the growing angle change of stream implies the load's type (hard or flexible), as demonstrated in Figs. 7C-D. By sensing the pressure response, the system can react more appropriately and differently to various object or subject trapping situations.

Figs. 7C-D actually demonstrate the response of the SmartWindow system to levels of stiffness/flexibility and load applied by the trapped object. The system is configured to measure, calculate and/or produce the values of stiffness/flexibility and load according to accumulated data received from preliminary calibration tests and/or 19260911/3 ongoing real-time measurements and stored in corresponding calibration table.

Accordingly, the system further includes a software tool for recording the correlation between the level of stiffness of a trapped object and current that drives the motor/engine of the window. The stiffness/flexibility – driving current correlation table is provided before installing the system in a vehicle and/or such table is built and/or further constructed as events of trapping are accumulated. The stiffness/flexibility of the trapped object as demonstrated in Figs. 7A-B is then known.

Further, the load applied on the window glass is also known from tests conducted and recorded before installation of the system in the vehicle and/or a record table, which is built from real-time events. The loads in such table are correlated with the driving current of the motor/engine applied. The SmartWindow system is then configured to measure, calculate and correlate the level of load of a trapped object with known loads in the record table-based. Accordingly, a combination of values of load and stiffness/flexibility of a particular trapped object are drawn, which identify this object, and a corresponding alarm may be activated accordingly to the driver.

In line with the description above of the mechanism for operating the window motors for lifting and lowering the windows, Figs. 8A-C schematically demonstrate how the calibration mechanism is done by sampling voltage levels at key points of the voltage curve of the window motor in different situations. Voltage sampling is done be connecting relays along the electric circuit that connects the motor to a power source.

The relays are located at voltage rise from the power source to the motor and voltage fall from the motor back to the power source. In effect, measurements are made at the second point of voltage decrease from the motor to the power source. In general, calibration of voltage for the three typical situations illustrated in Figs. 8A-C is done by attaching relays to the electric circuit of the window motor from the start point to the end point of the circuit where the voltage changes from highest to lowest. Fig. 8A shows schematics of a change of voltage along the path of the window motor for a regular lifting of the window, namely without obstructions at all. The lifting start point is marked as 2 in the diagram, where point 1 marks the corresponding voltage peak at the start of lifting. Measurement of voltage is actually done at point 3, where a sharp increase in voltage indicates initiation of window lifting. The length of the plane 20260911/3 between points 3 and 5 corresponds to the time of rise in the electric current, where this time is constant for a normal situation of normal window lifting. In a normal situation, where no objects obstruct the window path, the current will sharply increase until reaching a constant value throughout the lifting period, point 4 in the diagram, and will keep its constant value until reaching the upper edge of the window frame.

When the voltage of the motor is sampled and shows a sharp increase relative to the constant voltage during the lifting stage, then this indicates that the window is reaching the edge of the window frame. Point 5 shows the sampling of the start point of the sharp slope of the voltage in a normal situation, when the lifting reaches its termination. Point 6 shows the slope of voltage increase at this termination of window lifting. As shown, the slope is sharp in absence of any obstructions on the window’s path. Point 7 marks the end point of lifting and operation of the window motor and absolute stop of lifting.

Fig. 8B schematically illustrates the change of voltage in a situation of a rigid object that obstructs the window’s path. In general, the behaviour of the voltage is similar to that in a normal situation. However, the presence of the rigid body on the path shortens the plane of continuous lifting time and corresponding current as measured between points 3 and 5. In turn, the shorter continuous lifting time followed by sharp increase in voltage, represented in the change between points 5 and 6, indicates the presence of this rigid object that obstructs the lifting of the window and prevents it from reaching absolute stop. Fig. 8C schematically illustrates the third scenario in which a soft object is obstructs the window’s path. The indication of the presence of such soft object is a combination of the shorter plane of current (and corresponding time) increase to a constant maximum value between points 3 and 5 followed by a gradual or step increase in voltage, point 6, until reaching the end point of the lifting at point 7. The soft object obstructs the lifting of the window on its path in a non- absolute manner, because unlike the rigid object, the system will identify it as an organ of a living being, i.e., person or animal, and thus will decrease the speed of lifting as a precaution before reversing direction and lowering the window down.

It is evident, that these apparatus and method, which are based on voltage sampling along the path of lifting the window, provide the benefits of identifying obstructing objects at any point on the path based only on measurements of voltage and providing 21260911/3 information on the characteristics of the objects themselves. Particularly, the shortening of time length during rise of the window at constant voltage indicates the impact between an obstructing object and the window. Further, the difference in slope rise after identification of the object on the path teaches on the level of rigidity/softness of the object. This enables to distinguish between dangerous events such as a body organ, which is caught between the window and the window’s frame, for example child’s hand, and any other object that is not likely to cause harm to a person or pet if caught in the same position. As a result, the system automatically takes appropriate action and the driver and passengers on board are warned before time on the particular type of object. The scenarios of window lifting in the presence of obstructing objects with different rigidity/softness levels are controlled by a hardware that enables measuring the current consumption during a window’s rise.

Specifically, voltage-current converters sample the current passing through the window’s motor and convert it to voltage. Other components divide the voltage to a range of voltages that a processor reads. The processor is connected to the electric circuit of the window’s motor and receives voltage input after conversion of the motor current. The specific range of voltage for the processor input is 0-3.3 Volts, and the higher the current the higher the voltage input to the processor.

Dedicated software controls the command on voltage sampling at a constant rate, for example every millisecond. An initial period of time is allocated for measuring the highest voltage outputted by the motor. This voltage value is registered as maximum voltage and stored for comparison with later measurements to determine if the window completes its path. The initial time period can be 40 milliseconds but may be configured according to requirements and demands. The software also registers a limit voltage, which is defined as the voltage above which the software checks if the window has completed its travel until the end of its path. The software stores the value of this limit voltage as a parameter and calculates it as 0.8125 of the maximum voltage. Such ratio between the limit voltage and the maximum voltage can be changed and configured according requirements and demands.

After registering the maximum and limit voltage values, the software carries out the following procedure for determining the state of the window and presence of obstructing objects on its path and their type is done as follows: 22260911/3 The software counts the number of times of voltage sampling and correponding voltage values above the value of the limit voltage; Above five samplings of limit voltage, the software sends a command to stop the lifting of the window by stopping the relay. Such stop indicates obstruction by a rigid object.

Simultaneously, the software updates the average voltage value for every period of 16 samples. For every such calculation of average voltage, the software registers a sensitivity voltage value, which is the value above which the software checks if the window hits an obstructing object again. That is, the software checks if the window hits a soft object. The sensitivity value is calculated as 1.03125 of the calculated average value, and these two, the average and sensitivity voltages are recalculated continuously in periods of 16 samplings.

The software compares between the average and sensitivity voltage values, and counts the number of times in which the average voltage is higher than the sensitivity voltage that precedes it.

The software then determines if this relation repeats itself in a five times sequence, namely the recalculated average voltage is higher than the preceding sensitivity voltage. If such sequence is identified, the software determines the presence of an obstructing object in the window’s path, and stops the window lifting by cutting off the lifting command relay.

Immediately after deactivating the lifting command relay, the software activates the lowering command relay for one second.

The number of times in a sequence of calculations and comparison of average and sensitivity voltages may be configured according to requirements and demands. Also the time for activating the lowering command relay for the window may be configured according to requirements and demands.

It should be noted that all the values mentioned above in the process of determining the operation of windows in a vehicle in response to identification of obstructing objects along their paths may be different from one vehicle to another and even from one window to another in the same vehicle. Proper calibration of the control system is, therefore, required upon its installation in the vehicle for the vehicle and windows separately. 23260911/3 Fig. 9 shows schematics of the electric circuit that monitors the operation of the window motor and window lifting and lowering. This circuit comprises two current- to-voltage converting electric circuits, one for tracking the window lifting and a second the window lowering. Resistors R103 and R5, marked on points 92 and 91, respectively, are positioned in parallel to the electric circuit that drives the motor and receive the current that flows through the motor, in situations of lifting or lowering the window. These circuits convert the electric current to voltage in these two states of the motor according to the electric resistance of these resistors. In the particular case shown in Fig. 9, the electric resistance of these resistors, R103 and R5, is 30 milliohms. When lifting the window, the motor is activated and electric current flows through the hardware command control, i.e., the circuits in Fig. 9. This part is a closed electric circuit within the hardware control, and in which the current flows through its resistors. The voltage difference that falls on these resistors falls on an amplifier, marked U3 in point 93, and from which analogue voltage is outputted to the processor. The output point U-A2DWin1 is marked 94. As the current consumption increases, the analogue voltage increases and vice versa. In the processor, the software tracks the voltage and constantly calculates voltage values as indicators for determining the operation of the window motor and window as detailed above.

The issue of superior capabilities of the SmartWindow system relates to the system sensitivity to small size loads. As explained in the summary part, the SmartWindow sensing means features high sensitivity that enables it to detect small size thin objects, such as fingers which are trapped between the window glass and its corresponding window frame part. Small size loads are very hard to be detected, since they induce only a minor weak load on the window glass and feature a minor small size gap between the windows glass to the corresponding window frame part. As a result the sensitivity of the system to weak loads induced by small size loads which apply weak pressure on the window glass is a highly important performance and safety level parameter of the system. Accordingly, the SmartWindow system of the present invention offers superior utilities and higher safety level and reliability with respect to other anti-touch systems. This is due to the fact that the SmartWindow system can also process information regarding the smallest gap between the window and its frame.

Furthermore, unlike the existing systems, in which the final gap is assumed to not 24260911/3 have loads on, small objects with small loads, fingers for example, can in fact be trapped between the window glass and the top edges of the frame. 25260911/4

Claims (39)

Claims

1. A SmartWindow control system for car windows comprising: - a 12V 24 pins bridge connector configured to be installed in said car by electrically plugging it into control module of said windows including its input and output voltage and current interface; - a hardware and software controller configured to be electrically connected to said 12V 24 pins bridge connector, said controller comprising software tool component for testing, controlling and managing said control system, wherein said bridge connector and the hardware and software controller are configured to bypass main computer of said car and enable autonomic control on all windows of said car, wherein said controller is configured to sense particular load of an object or subject leaning on glass of said window or trapped in a space between glass of said window and top edge of frame of said window and respond by auto reverse of closing motion of said window, wherein said software tool component determines state of said window and presence of obstructing objects on path of said window and their materials as follows: - sampling voltage of lifting of said window at a constant rate; - allocating initial time for measuring highest voltage outputted by motor of said window; - calculating a limit voltage in selected proportion to said highest voltage, said limit voltage is defined as the voltage above which said software tool component checks if said window has completed its travel until end of its path; - registering said highest and calculated voltages as maximum and limit voltage values; - counting number of times of voltage sampling of voltage value above limit value of the voltage; - above five samplings of limit voltage, sending a command to stop lifting of said windows by stopping relay, wherein said stopping indicates obstruction by a rigid object; - simultaneously, updating average voltage value in every period of 16 samples; - checking if said window hits a soft object by registering a sensitivity voltage value, which is the value above which said software tool component checks if 26260911/4 said window hits said soft object again, for every calculation of said average voltage; - comparing between said average and sensitivity voltage values and counting number of times in which said average voltage is higher than said sensitivity voltage that precedes it; - determining if relation between said average voltage and sensitivity voltage that precedes it repeats itself in a five times sequence; - if such sequence is identified, then determining presence of said object obstructing on path of said window; - stopping lifting of said window by cutting off lifting command relay; and - immediately after deactivating lifting command relay, activating lowering command relay for one second.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said connector comprises an electric circuit for monitoring operation of window motor and window lifting and lowering, said electric circuit comprising: - two current-to-voltage converting electric circuits, one for tracking window lifting and a second for tracking window lowering, each of said electric circuits comprising a resistor positioned in parallel to electric circuit of said motor and receives current that flows through said motor; - an amplifier on which said voltage falls in parallel to said electric circuits and from which analogue voltage is outputted to a processor; and - an output point to a processor, wherein as current consumption increases in said window motor, said analogue voltage increases and vice versa, wherein a software in said processor tracks said voltage and constantly calculates voltage values as indicators for determining operation of said window motor and window.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein electric resistance of said resistors is 30 milliohms.

4. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said electric circuit further comprising components for dividing said voltage to a range of voltages that said processor reads, said processor is connected to said electric circuit of said window 27260911/4 motor and receives voltage input after conversion of current in said motor to voltage.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein specific range of voltage for input of said processor is 0-3.3 Volts

6. The control system according to claim 4, wherein the higher said current is the higher input of said voltage to said processor.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said 12V 24 pins bridge connector comprises: - a voltage operative, control command module comprising: - DC voltage fuse pins; - a minus voltage ground pin configured to match inlet pin in body of said car; - input and output pins for communication lines for control system of said car window; - testing and command inlet pins; - a front window elevator module comprising a plurality of connection pins for switches and motors/engines of front left and right car windows; - a front window elevator module comprising a plurality of connection pins switches and motors/engines for rear left and right car windows; - IGN relay and minus voltage outlet module comprising: - IGN input relay and output relay pins; - output minus and auto-up voltage pins for left front window.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises sensing means configured to provide autonomic control for every window in said car and ensure safety and utility of said system.

9. The control system according to claim 8, said system comprising sensing means configured to identify obstruction in open space of said windows by object or subject that block closing trajectory path of said windows, wherein said sensing means is selected from: 28260911/4 - optical, electro-optical, electrical and electro-magnetic sensing means; - visual-based camera or IR based camera sensing means; - ultra-sonic and sound waves sensing means.

10. The control system according to claim 1, said system comprising a plurality of mechanical adaptive connection means for said 12V 24 pins connector and said hardware controller, wherein said connection means are configured to be adjusted to various car types with specific window control system architectures.

11. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to be installed as individual solution setup comprising an electrical interface or remote control interface with said car window control system.

12. The control system according to claim 1, comprising a complementary solution setup comprising interface means with said car windows control system which feature complementary capabilities absent from said system.

13. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured as automated window closer integrated into motors of said car windows and controlled by remote locking system of said car.

14. The control system according to claim 1, said system comprising interface and controller configured to command power window system to immediately stop and lower said window back down when sensing obstruction or load at the window closing trajectory path.

15. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system can be configured together and separately with the following elements of said car: - starter switch; - light signalling system; - locking motor/engine; - locking buttons. 29260911/4

16. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said 12V24 pins hardware connector and said hardware controller are configured to functions cooperatively with manufacturer's settings of said car.

17. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said 12V 24 pins hardware connector and said hardware controller components are detachable and configured to be transferred from one car to another.

18. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said 12V 24 pins hardware connector and said hardware controller are configured to utilize one-touch feature for auto-lifting and lowering of said windows.

19. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said 12V 24 pins hardware connector and said hardware controller are configured to utilize operational personalization preferences such as lifting order and lifting sensitivity.

20. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to execute the following protocol comprising the following steps: - said SmartWindow control system studies stream property of lifting of said window by mapping area of said window in said car; - stating location points in field of said window and adjusting and stating stream of movement of said window in said field; - upon movement of said window, said SmartWindow control system automatically analyses said movement using said map of location points and stream of said window's movement again and compares and knows location of said window at any time; - any disturbance of comparison with data stored in memory is acknowledged by said SmartWindow system as a load that triggers the window to lower down automatically; - said SmartWindow system makes two additional attempts to close said window again, trying to track false positive/wrong load acknowledgement or if load disturbance is temporary and has been removed; - on third attempt, said window stays lowered down and driver receives an alert by sound or light; 30260911/4 - said driver is provided with an option to decide whether to allow said window to close or stay lowered.

21. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a single mechanism configured to identify closed window to prevent lifting if said window is closed.

22. The control system according to claim 1, said system providing integrated control on all windows of said car included in one package and installed once.

23. The control system according to claim 18, wherein said one-touch automatic lowering and lifting is configured to be applied for every window separately with one short click.

24. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprising a single 24 pin connection with discrete designation for every pin.

25. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to measure instantaneous current of motors/engines of said windows and utilize it to correlate movement of said windows motors/engines and movement and position of glass of said windows.

26. The control system according to claim 1, said system comprising: - a sensing module configured to study stream property of lifting said window by mapping area of said window, stating location points in field of said window and adjusting and stating stream of movement of said window in said field, said system is configured to study relation between velocity of glass and current of engine/motor of said window according to information gathered from every close/open action of said window; - a software tool component installed in said SmartWindow hardware and software controller, said software tool is configured to automatically analyse movement of glass window, utilizing said map of the location points and stream of said window's movement allowing said system to compare and know location of said window at any time. 31260911/4

27. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising: - an anti-trap module or any other hardware module which contains a windows pressure sensor; - a software tool component installed in said SmartWindow configured to automatically analyse pressure on said window and correlation to corresponding driving current of said window motor, enabling said control system to distinguish between loads made of different materials comprising flexible, hard, soft materials and combinations thereof.

28. The control system according to claim 27, wherein said pressure sensor is an external unit configured to read pressure on said sensor in any required calibration experiment.

29. The control system according to claim 27, wherein said software tool component is configured to receive external data derived from specification or simulation data of applied pressure on windows glass and related impact on motor movement and driving current value of said motor, calculate correlation between the two values and enable said control system to distinguish between loads made of materials comprising flexible, hard, soft materials and combinations thereof.

30. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said constant rate is one millisecond.

31. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said initial time is 40 milliseconds.

32. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said sensitivity value is calculated as 1.03125 of said average value, said average and sensitivity voltages are recalculated continuously in a period of 16 samplings.

33. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said software tool component identifies said object on path of lifting of said window according to shortening of 32260911/4 time of current increase to constant maximum value and increase in voltage upon reaching said maximum value.

34. The control system according to claim 33, wherein said shortening time is measured relative to time in absence of an object obstructing said path.

35. The control system according to claim 33, wherein said shortening of time and sharp increase of said voltage is indicative of a rigid object on path of lifting of said window and gradual increase of said voltage is indicative of a soft object on path of lifting of said window.

36. A computerized car window control system comprising a built in anti-trap module comprising at least one of the following components: - a 12V 24 pins bridge connector configured to be installed in said car by electrically plugging it into control module of said windows including its input and output voltage and current interface; - a hardware and software controller configured to be electrically connected to said 12V 24 pins bridge connector, said controller comprising software tool component for testing, controlling and managing said control system, wherein said bridge connector and the hardware and software controller are configured to bypass main computer of said car and enable automatic and autonomic control on all windows of said car, wherein said controller is configured to sense particular load of an object or subject leaning on glass of said window or trapped in a space between glass of said window and top edge of frame of said window and respond by auto reverse of closing motion of said window, wherein said software tool component determines state of said window and presence of obstructing objects on path of said window and their materials as follows: - sampling voltage of lifting of said window at a constant rate; - allocating initial time for measuring highest voltage outputted by motor of said window; - calculating a limit voltage in selected proportion to said highest voltage, said limit voltage is defined as the voltage above which said software tool component checks if said window has completed its travel until end of its path; 33260911/4 - registering said highest and calculated voltages as maximum and limit voltage values; - counting number of times of voltage sampling of voltage value above limit value of the voltage; - above five samplings of limit voltage, sending a command to stop lifting of said windows by stopping relay, wherein said stopping indicates obstruction by a rigid object; - simultaneously, updating average voltage value in every period of 16 samples; - checking if said window hits a soft object by registering a sensitivity voltage value, which is the value above which said software tool component checks if said window hits said soft object again, for every calculation of said average voltage; - comparing between said average and sensitivity voltage values and counting number of times in which said average voltage is higher than said sensitivity voltage that precedes it; - determining if relation between said average voltage and sensitivity voltage that precedes it repeats itself in a five times sequence; - if such sequence is identified, then determining presence of said object obstructing on path of said window; - stopping lifting of said window by cutting off lifting command relay; and - immediately after deactivating lifting command relay, activating lowering command relay for one second.

37. The computerized car window control system according to claim 36, comprising features, hardware and software tool components and related operation protocols as claimed in any one of claims 2-35.

38. A car comprising a computerized car window control system comprising a built in anti-trap module comprising an at least one of the following components: - a 12V 24 pins bridge connector configured to be installed in said car by electrically plugging it into control module of said windows including its input and output voltage and current interface; 34260911/4 - a hardware and software controller configured to be electrically connected to said 12V 24 pins bridge connector, said controller comprising software tool component for testing, controlling and managing said control system, wherein said bridge connector and the hardware and software controller are configured to bypass main computer of said car and enable automatic and autonomic control on all windows of said car, wherein said controller is configured to sense particular load of an object or subject leaning on glass of said window or trapped in a space between glass of said window and top edge of frame of said window and respond by auto reverse of closing motion of said window, wherein said software tool component determines state of said window and presence of obstructing objects on path of said window and their materials as follows: - sampling voltage of lifting of said window at a constant rate; - allocating initial time for measuring highest voltage outputted by motor of said window; - calculating a limit voltage in selected proportion to said highest voltage, said limit voltage is defined as the voltage above which said software tool component checks if said window has completed its travel until end of its path; - registering said highest and calculated voltages as maximum and limit voltage values; - counting number of times of voltage sampling of voltage value above limit value of the voltage; - above five samplings of limit voltage, sending a command to stop lifting of said windows by stopping relay, wherein said stopping indicates obstruction by a rigid object; - simultaneously, updating average voltage value in every period of 16 samples; - checking if said window hits a soft object by registering a sensitivity voltage value, which is the value above which said software tool component checks if said window hits said soft object again, for every calculation of said average voltage; - comparing between said average and sensitivity voltage values and counting number of times in which said average voltage is higher than said sensitivity voltage that precedes it; 35260911/4 - determining if relation between said average voltage and sensitivity voltage that precedes it repeats itself in a five times sequence; - if such sequence is identified, then determining presence of said object obstructing on path of said window; - stopping lifting of said window by cutting off lifting command relay; and - immediately after deactivating lifting command relay, activating lowering command relay for one second..

39. The car according to claim 38, comprising features, hardware and software tool components and related operation protocols as claimed in any one of claims 2-35. 36