Vehicle rear door control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rear door control system, comprising:
- a vehicle body structure having an opening and a rear door that is movable between a closed orientation covering the opening and an open orientation exposing the opening;
a rear door movement device configured to move the rear door between the closed orientation and the open orientation;
a keyfob sensor array installed to the vehicle body structure configured to detect proximity of an individual with an authorized keyfob;
a movement detection sensor installed to the vehicle body structure below the rear door, the movement detection sensor being configured to detect direction of movement of a movement gesture and detect distance of the movement from the movement detection sensor;
a projector installed to the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door and aimed to selectively project a plurality of images to a ground surface rearward of the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door, the plurality of images projected by the projector include images selected from at least the following group of images;
an image indicating that the movement of the movement gesture did not include movement in a predetermined direction;
or, the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement within a predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor; and
an electronic controller connected to rear door movement device, the keyfob sensor array, the movement detection sensor, and the projector,the electronic controller determining whether or not the authorized keyfob is present in response to signals from the keyfob sensor array;
the electronic controller determining whether or not the movement gesture made by the individual standing within a prescribed location relative to the rear door is a conforming gesture, where the conforming gesture includes the movement detection sensor detecting that the movement gesture beneath the rear door is in a predetermined direction and is within a predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, and in response to determining that the movement gesture is a conforming gesture, the electronic controller operating the rear door movement device to open the rear door in further response to a determination that the authorized keyfob is present,in response to determining that the movement gesture is not a conforming gesture, the electronic controller determines whether or not the movement gesture was in the predetermined direction, and determines whether or not the movement gesture was within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, such thatin response to determining that the movement gesture did not include movement in the predetermined direction, the electronic controller operates the projector to project the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement in the predetermined direction, leaving the rear door in the closed orientation, andin response to determining that the movement gesture was not within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, the electronic controller operates the projector to project the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, leaving the rear door in the closed orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rear door control system includes an electronic controller connected to a rear door movement device, a keyfob sensor array, a movement detection sensor, and a projector. The electronic controller determines whether or not a movement gesture made by the individual standing within a prescribed location relative to the rear door is a conforming gesture, and in response to determining that the movement gesture is a conforming gesture, the electronic controller operates the rear door movement device to open the rear door in further response to a determination that the authorized keyfob is present. As well, in response to determining that the movement gesture is not a conforming gesture, the electronic controller operates the projector to project an image indicating that the movement gesture is not a conforming gesture, leaving the rear door in the closed orientation.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rear door control system, comprising:
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a vehicle body structure having an opening and a rear door that is movable between a closed orientation covering the opening and an open orientation exposing the opening; a rear door movement device configured to move the rear door between the closed orientation and the open orientation; a keyfob sensor array installed to the vehicle body structure configured to detect proximity of an individual with an authorized keyfob; a movement detection sensor installed to the vehicle body structure below the rear door, the movement detection sensor being configured to detect direction of movement of a movement gesture and detect distance of the movement from the movement detection sensor; a projector installed to the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door and aimed to selectively project a plurality of images to a ground surface rearward of the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door, the plurality of images projected by the projector include images selected from at least the following group of images;
an image indicating that the movement of the movement gesture did not include movement in a predetermined direction;
or, the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement within a predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor; andan electronic controller connected to rear door movement device, the keyfob sensor array, the movement detection sensor, and the projector, the electronic controller determining whether or not the authorized keyfob is present in response to signals from the keyfob sensor array; the electronic controller determining whether or not the movement gesture made by the individual standing within a prescribed location relative to the rear door is a conforming gesture, where the conforming gesture includes the movement detection sensor detecting that the movement gesture beneath the rear door is in a predetermined direction and is within a predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, and in response to determining that the movement gesture is a conforming gesture, the electronic controller operating the rear door movement device to open the rear door in further response to a determination that the authorized keyfob is present, in response to determining that the movement gesture is not a conforming gesture, the electronic controller determines whether or not the movement gesture was in the predetermined direction, and determines whether or not the movement gesture was within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, such that in response to determining that the movement gesture did not include movement in the predetermined direction, the electronic controller operates the projector to project the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement in the predetermined direction, leaving the rear door in the closed orientation, and in response to determining that the movement gesture was not within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, the electronic controller operates the projector to project the image indicating that the movement gesture did not include movement within the predetermined distance range from the movement detection sensor, leaving the rear door in the closed orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A rear door control system, comprising:
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a vehicle body structure having an opening and a rear door that is movable between a closed orientation covering the opening and an open orientation exposing the opening; a rear door movement device configured to move the rear door between the closed orientation and the open orientation; a keyfob sensor array installed to the vehicle body structure configured to detect proximity of an individual with an authorized keyfob; a movement detection sensor installed to the vehicle body structure below the rear door; a projector installed to the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door and aimed to selectively project a plurality of images to a ground surface rearward of the vehicle body structure proximate the rear door, the plurality of images projected by the projector include projecting images selected from at least the following group of images;
a welcome image;
a text image;
an image indicating that no authorized keyfob is present;
or a position image that provides the individual an indication of where to stand when making a gesture;a control panel configured to receive data and selections inputted by the individual, including selection of enabling automatic operation of the rear door and disabling automatic operation of the rear door, and an electronic controller connected to rear door movement device, the keyfob sensor array, the movement detection sensor, the projector and the control panel, the electronic controller determining whether or not an authorized keyfob is present in response to signals from the keyfob sensor array, and in response to determining that the authorized keyfob is present, the electronic controller selects the welcome image and operates the projector to project the welcome image; and
in response to determining that the authorized keyfob is not present, the electronic controller selects the image indicating that no authorized keyfob is present and operates the projector to project the image indicating no keyfob is present,the electronic controller determining whether or not a movement gesture made by the individual standing within a prescribed location relative to the rear door is a conforming gesture, and in response to determining that the individual is not standing in the prescribed location relative to the rear door, the electronic controller selects the position image that provides the individual an indication of where to stand when making a gesture and operates the projector to project the position image that provides the individual an indication of where to stand when making a gesture, the electronic controller determining whether the selection at the control panel includes enabling automatic operation of the rear door or disabling automatic operation of the rear door, the electronic controller being configured such that in response to determining the presence of an authorized keyfob, that the movement gesture is a conforming gesture and that the selection at the control panel includes enables automatic operation of the rear door, the electronic controller operates the rear door movement device to open the rear door, and the electronic controller being configured such that in response to determining the presence of an authorized keyfob, that the movement gesture is a conforming gesture and that the selection at the control panel includes disabling automatic operation of the rear door, the electronic controller does not operate the rear door movement device to open the rear door and further operates the projector to project an image indicating that automatic operation of the rear door is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
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Original AssigneeNissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
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InventorsRamakrishnan, Avinaash
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Primary Examiner(s)Bolourchi, Nader
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Application NumberUS15/793,312Time in Patent Office440 DaysField of SearchUS Class CurrentCPC Class CodesB60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lig...B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, g...B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or informa...E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free loc...E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or p...E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carri...E05F 15/77 using wireless controlE05F 15/78 using light beamsE05F 2015/765 using optical sensors using...E05Y 2400/858 by body partsE05Y 2900/531 DoorsG06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by us...G06V 40/11 Hand-related biometrics; Ha...G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g...G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having...G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means f...G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensorG07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional...
