Non-contact obstacle detection system for motor vehicles
First Claim
1. A non-contact obstacle detection system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a main electronic control unit having a plurality of input-output terminals and adapted to connect to a power source;
at least one non-contact obstacle sensor coupled to said plurality of input-output terminals of said main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near at least one closure member of the motor vehicle including a front door;
a power actuator coupled to the at least one closure member and to said plurality of input-output terminals of said main electronic control unit for moving the at least one closure member; and
said at least one non-contact obstacle sensor including at least one side view mirror proximity sensor disposed on a side view mirror of the front door,wherein said main electronic control unit is configured to move the at least one closure member using said power actuator, detect an obstacle using said at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, detect the obstacle using short range detection with said at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response a determination that a rear door of the vehicle is in an open position, detect the obstacle using long range detection with said at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response to a determination that the rear door is not in the open position, and cease movement of the at least one closure member in response to the obstacle being detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect an obstacle and cease movement of the closure member in response to the obstacle being detected. Additionally, the control unit is configured to release a latch and apply power to a motor in response to the obstacle not being detected. The control unit is also configured to determine whether the closure member is in a full open position, and continue to apply power to a motor coupled to the closure member if the closure member is not in the full open position.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A non-contact obstacle detection system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a main electronic control unit having a plurality of input-output terminals and adapted to connect to a power source; at least one non-contact obstacle sensor coupled to said plurality of input-output terminals of said main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near at least one closure member of the motor vehicle including a front door; a power actuator coupled to the at least one closure member and to said plurality of input-output terminals of said main electronic control unit for moving the at least one closure member; and said at least one non-contact obstacle sensor including at least one side view mirror proximity sensor disposed on a side view mirror of the front door, wherein said main electronic control unit is configured to move the at least one closure member using said power actuator, detect an obstacle using said at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, detect the obstacle using short range detection with said at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response a determination that a rear door of the vehicle is in an open position, detect the obstacle using long range detection with said at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response to a determination that the rear door is not in the open position, and cease movement of the at least one closure member in response to the obstacle being detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a non-contact obstacle detection system for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining whether at least one closure member including a front door of the motor vehicle is in an open position in response to detecting a command signal using a main electronic control unit; commanding the at least one closure member to move from a full closed position to a full open position in response to a determination that the at least one closure member is not in the open position; commanding the at least one closure member to move from the open position to the full closed position in response to a determination that the at least one closure member is in the open position; determining whether an obstacle is detected using at least one sensor including at least one side view mirror proximity sensor disposed on a side view mirror of the front door; detecting the obstacle using short range detection with the at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response a determination that a rear door of the vehicle is in the open position; detecting the obstacle using long range detection with the at least one side view mirror proximity sensor in response to a determination that the rear door is not in the open position; continuing to move the at least one closure member in response to the obstacle not being detected; determining whether the at least one closure member is in the open position; returning to the step of determining if an obstacle is detected using at least one sensor in response to the at least one closure member being in the open position; and stopping motion of the at least one closure member in response to the at least one closure member not being in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a non-contact obstacle detection system for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a closure member is in an open position in response to detecting a command signal using a main electronic control unit; commanding the closure member to move from a full closed position to a full open position in response to a determination that the closure member is not in the open position; commanding the closure member to move from the open position to the full closed position in response to a determination that the closure member is in the open position; determining whether an obstacle is detected using at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers including a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer; continuing to move the closure member in response to the obstacle not being detected; determining whether the closure member is in the open position; returning to the step of determining if an obstacle is detected using at least one sensor in response to the closure member being in the open position; and stopping motion of the closure member, wherein the step of determining whether an obstacle is detected using at least one sensor includes; bursting the first ultrasonic transducer; determining whether a first predetermined period of time has elapsed after bursting the first ultrasonic transducer; waiting in response to a determination that the first predetermined period of time has not elapsed after bursting the first ultrasonic transducer; bursting the second ultrasonic transducer in response to a determination that the first predetermined period of time has elapsed after bursting the first ultrasonic transducer; receiving a first set of data from the first ultrasonic transducer after bursting the second ultrasonic transducer; determining whether a second predetermined period of time has elapsed after bursting the second ultrasonic transducer; waiting in response to a determination that the second predetermined period of time has not elapsed after bursting the second ultrasonic transducer; receiving a second set of data from the second ultrasonic transducer after waiting in response to a determination that the second predetermined period of time has not elapsed after bursting the second ultrasonic transducer; and determining whether there is an object that the closure member can hit using the first set of data and the second set of data. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification