Electronics

INTELLIGENT WINDOW REGULATOR

People’s fascination with cars should be constantly reinforced with technological advancements and superior customer benefits. Within this context, growing importance is attached to safety and user comfort via the consistent use of electronic assemblies. These days, almost all new cars are fitted with electric power window regulators. As well as opening and closing the window, they also offer a host of additional functions.

For example, when opening and closing frameless doors, the windows are automatically raised and lowered into the window seal via a “short-stroke function”. A pre-defined gap, such as a small “smoker’s gap”, may be opened and closed. Back windows may be operated “blind” from the driver’s seat. In convertibles, the windows are raised and lowered automatically when the top is opened or closed. Communication between the window regulator mechanism and electronic switchgear facilitates these types of functions.

When one considers the wealth of functions which can be executed automatically by a modern vehicle without the operator needing to pay particular attention, it becomes clear how sensitive and “intelligent” such assemblies need to be.

KÜSTER has faced up to this challenge. One outcome of our efforts, which has become a huge market success, is the KÜSTER PLL anti-trap system. Development work is now being extended to complete door control systems.

KÜSTER PLL anti-trap system

Electric power window regulator systems without closing force limiters can have very unpleasant consequences under certain circumstances. For this reason, KÜSTER window regulators are intelligent systems which afford extensive protection. The KÜSTER PLL closing force limiter reliably and sensitively detects any obstructions and the window is immediately lowered in the event of jamming.

In accordance with the statutory requirements, the squeezing force when closing the window must not exceed 100 Newtons under certain conditions. The KÜSTER concept is designed to promptly identify soft or yielding obstructions below this value, and pressure is only exerted to the extent needed for detection purposes. The technology used limits the squeezing force even under unfavourable conditions, generally to well below the permitted 100 N. The electronics are tailored to the vehicle’s specific door situation, so that any additional resistance is incorporated into the calculation as a modifying factor. The control system is likewise capable of adapting to altered conditions, such as the friction resistance occurring when fast-closing a window or fluctuations in the on-board power supply, and guarantees a consistently high level of protection.

The KÜSTER PLL anti-trap system is not restricted to standard side windows but also operates reliably with triangular windows for back window regulators in convertibles and coupés, with the crescent-shaped gaps that typically occur during opening and closing. Jams are reliably detected in both directions (up and down).