Vehicle door control system with dynamic obstacle detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door, comprising:
- a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door;
a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein at least one of the check arm holder and the check arm is manually movable relative to the other of the check arm holder and the check arm to permit movement of the vehicle door between a closed position and a fully open position relative to the vehicle body;
a motor that is operatively connected to at least one of the check arm and the check arm holder to selectively cause a resistive force to be applied to at least one of the check arm and the check arm holder so as to inhibit movement of the vehicle door;
a controller that is programmed to;
a) determine whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle;
b) determine data relating to the obstacle;
c) determine the position of the vehicle door;
d) apply the resistive force on the vehicle door via the motor, based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c); and
wherein the resistive force has a magnitude that is selected based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c).
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Abstract
In an aspect, a vehicle door control system is provided for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door. The door control system includes a check arm mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and a controller. The controller is programmed to apply a resistive force on the vehicle door based on a determination of whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle, data relating to the obstacle, and a position of the vehicle door.
66 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door, comprising:
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a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, wherein at least one of the check arm holder and the check arm is manually movable relative to the other of the check arm holder and the check arm to permit movement of the vehicle door between a closed position and a fully open position relative to the vehicle body; a motor that is operatively connected to at least one of the check arm and the check arm holder to selectively cause a resistive force to be applied to at least one of the check arm and the check arm holder so as to inhibit movement of the vehicle door; a controller that is programmed to; a) determine whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle; b) determine data relating to the obstacle; c) determine the position of the vehicle door; d) apply the resistive force on the vehicle door via the motor, based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c); and wherein the resistive force has a magnitude that is selected based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door, comprising:
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a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; a controller that is programmed to; a) determine whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle; b) determine data relating to the obstacle; c) determine the position of the vehicle door; and d) apply a resistive force on the vehicle door based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c); and a door position sensor in communication with the controller and positioned to detect whether the vehicle door is open by less than a selected amount, wherein, during situations in which there is no obstacle detected, the controller is programmed to prevent checking of the vehicle door, and during situations in which the controller detects an obstacle in step a) and determines that the obstacle is a motor vehicle in step b), the controller is programmed to apply the resistive force on the vehicle door even if the vehicle door is open by less than the selected amount. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door, comprising:
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a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; and a controller that is programmed to; a) determine whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle; b) determine data relating to the obstacle, including a type of the obstacle, including at least one category including motor vehicles but is free of non-motorized vehicles, and at least one category including obstacles that are not vehicles but is free of motorized vehicles; c) determine the position of the vehicle door; and d) apply a resistive force on the vehicle door based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c). - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A vehicle door control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door, comprising:
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a check arm having an end that is mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door; and a controller that is programmed to; a) determine whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle; b) determine data relating to the obstacle; c) determine the position of the vehicle door; and d) apply a resistive force on the vehicle door based on the determinations made in steps a), b) and c), wherein the vehicle includes at least one occupant position detection sensor that communicates with the controller and wherein, in a situation in which the controller determines that a vehicle occupant has a body part outside a door opening for the vehicle door, the controller is programmed to determine a minimum acceptable door open angle and a safe amount of available travel for the vehicle door to inhibit contact of the vehicle door with the vehicle occupant.
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Specification