Method for detecting an object in an opening area of a door of a motor vehicle, driver assistance system, and motor vehicle

• US 10,662,697 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Frapsauce, Alice
• Primary Examiner(s): Baghdasaryan, Hovhannes
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ndure, Amie M
• Application Number:
  US15/534,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20170321468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/763 using acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/53 Wing impact prevention or reduction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/937 sensor installation details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting an object in an opening area of a first door (5) of a motor vehicle (1) using at least one first distance sensor (9, 10, 11), the at least one first distance sensor (9, 10, 11) being arranged in and/or on the first door (5) and having a detection area (17, 18, 19), in which a current opening angle (α2) of the first door (5) is detected and the detection area (17, 18, 19) is adapted on the basis of the detected opening angle (α2), a state variable of at least one component of the motor vehicle (1) which differs from the first door (5) being determined, the state variable describing a position and/or an operational setting of the at least one component, and the detection area (17, 18, 19) of the at least one first distance sensor (9, 10, 11) additionally being adapted on the basis of the determined state variable.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an object in an opening area of a first door of a motor vehicle using at least one first distance sensor, the at least one first distance sensor being arranged in and/or on the first door and having a detection area, the method comprising:

detecting a current opening angle of the first door by using a corresponding sensor to detect a current position of the door;

adapting the detection area of the at least one first distance sensor on the basis of the detected opening angle;

determining a state variable of at least one component of the motor vehicle which differs from the first door, the state variable describing a position and/or an operational setting of the at least one component;

further adapting the detection area of the at least one first distance sensor on the basis of the determined state variable so as to avoid any part of the motor vehicle itself being identified as the object detected; and

detecting the object in the opening area of a first door based on the further adapted detection area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state variable describes a position and/or an operational setting of a second door of the motor vehicle and/or of a component of the second door, the second door being arranged with respect to the first door such that, for a predetermined location of the first door, the second door is pivoted in the detection area of the first distance sensor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein an opening area of the second door of the motor vehicle is determined as the state variable.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a current opening angle of the second door of the motor vehicle is determined as the state variable.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a detection area of at least one second distance sensor is determined as the state variable, wherein the second distance sensor is arranged in and/or on the second door.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a position of a body part of the motor vehicle is determined as the state variable.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a position of a wheel of the motor vehicle is determined as the state variable.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein to adapt the detection area of the at least one first distance sensor, a threshold value for a reception signal of the at least one first distance sensor is adapted.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein to adapt the detection area of the at least one first distance sensor, a reception sensitivity of the at least one first distance sensor is changed.

10. A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one first distance sensor, which is arranged in and/or on a first door of the motor vehicle; and

a control device which is designed to carry out a method according to claim 1.

11. The driver assistance system according to claim 10, further comprising an actuating device for opening the first door and/or for limiting an opening angle of the first door on the basis of an object detected using the at least one first distance sensor.

12. The driver assistance system according to claim 10, further comprising a warning device for outputting a warning signal on the basis of the object detected using the at least one first distance sensor.

13. The driver assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one first distance sensor has an ultrasonic sensor.

14. A motor vehicle having a driver assistance system according to claim 10.