Optoelectronic system for an automatic vehicle door closure

• US 20010042820A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/751,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/435 by interruption of the beam
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/487 Fault detection of safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A non-contact optoelectronic system for an automatic vehicle door closure to detect the presence of an obstruction and a method of detecting the presence of the obstruction. The non-contact optoelectronic system includes at least one transmitter for emitting an electromagnetic energy signal and at least one sensor for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the at least one transmitter. A control module in communication with the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor monitors and processes the signal interrupts detected by the at least one sensor to sense an obstruction between the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor. The control module generates a motor control signal to stop and open a vehicle door upon detection of an obstruction between the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A non-contact optoelectronic system for an automatic vehicle door closure to detect the presence of an obstruction, the system comprising:

at least one transmitter for emitting an electromagnetic energy signal;

at least one sensor for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the at least one transmitter;

a control module in communication with the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor for monitoring and processing the signal interrupts detected by the at least one sensor to detect an obstruction between the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor, wherein the control module generates a motor control signal to stop and reverse a vehicle door upon detection of an obstruction between the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor.

2. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the control module processes the electromagnetic energy signal interrupts from the at least one sensor by comparing the interrupts against stored values to determine whether an obstruction is present in an entry area of the vehicle.

3. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the entry area of the vehicle is defined by a passage in a vehicle body, a door jamb defining an outer periphery of the passage and a vehicle door selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position adjacent the passage of the vehicle.

4. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the at least one transmitter further comprises a pair of transmitters disposed on an inner surface of the vehicle door.

5. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a single sensor disposed on an inner surface of the door jamb.

6. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a plurality of sensors disposed on the inner surface of the door jamb.

7. The optoelectronic system of

claim 6

wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged as an array on the inner surface of the door jamb to detect signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter.

8. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

further comprising a first reflective surface disposed on the inner surface of the vehicle door and a second reflective surface disposed on the inner surface of the door jamb to reflect the emitted signal from the at least one transmitter to the at least one sensor.

9. The optoelectronic system of

claim 8

wherein the first and second reflective surfaces comprise a reflective coating applied to the inner surfaces of the vehicle door and door jamb.

10. The optoelectronic system of

claim 8

wherein the first and second reflective surfaces comprise a polished metal surface disposed on the inner surfaces of the vehicle door and door jamb.

11. The optoelectronic system of

claim 1

wherein the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the at least one transmitter is infrared light.

12. An automatic vehicle door closure system comprising:

an entry area for a vehicle, the entry area defined by a passage in a vehicle body, a door jamb defining an outer periphery of the passage and a vehicle door selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position adjacent the passage of the vehicle;

a drive motor operatively connected to the motor for selectively positioning the door between an open and closed position;

at least one transmitter for emitting an electromagnetic energy signal into the entry area of the vehicle;

at least one sensor for detecting the electromagnetic energy signal emitted by the at least one transmitter in the entry area of the vehicle;

a control module in communication with the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor for monitoring and processing the signal interrupts detected by the at least one sensor to sense an obstruction in the entry area of the vehicle during the closing of the vehicle door, wherein the control module generates and sends a motor control signal to the motor to stop and open the vehicle door upon detection of an obstruction between the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor in the entry area of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle door closure system of

claim 12

wherein the control module compares the interrupts detected by the at least one sensor against stored values to determine whether an obstruction is present in the entry area of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle door closure system of

claim 12

wherein the control module activates the at least one transmitter and at least one sensor upon receiving a signal from a switching mechanism to operate drive motor to close the vehicle door.

15. The vehicle door closure system of

claim 12

wherein the at least one transmitter further comprises a pair of transmitters disposed on an inner surface of the vehicle door.

16. The vehicle door closure system of

claim 12

wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a plurality of sensors disposed on the inner surface of the door jamb.

17. The vehicle door closure system of

claim 16

wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged as an array on the inner surface of the door jamb to detect signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter.

19. The method of

claim 19

further comprising the step of performing a hardware fault detection of the obstruction detection during the opening of the automatic vehicle door.

18. The method of

claim 19

wherein the step of emitting an interrupt signal from the at least one transmitter further comprises emitting an infrared light signal from the at least one transmitter.

20. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of performing a hardware fault detection of the non-contact optoelectronic system further comprises sending a pulse of infrared light from the at least one transmitter to the at least one sensor to test the optoelectronic system.