Door opening limit control system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a limit to which a door may be opened, said method comprising:
- determining an obstacle distance, said obstacle distance being representative of a distance between said door and an obstacle in a door opening path of said door;
providing a limit signal related to said obstacle distance; and
applying said limit signal to a door opening limit apparatus to effectively set an allowable limit to which said door can be opened, said allowable limit being less than said obstacle distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and implementing computerized system are provided for enabling the setting of automatic door opening limits for doors. In an exemplary embodiment, distance measuring transceivers, such as radar devices, are implemented in the doors of a vehicle to determine the distance between a vehicle door and nearby obstacles which may obstruct the full opening of the door. If the measured obstacle distance is less than the predetermined clearance distance required for a full opening of the door, then the maximum allowable distance for the door to open without encountering the obstacle is determined and limits are set to prevent the vehicle door from opening more widely than the maximum allowable distance. In one embodiment, the door opening is restricted by mechanical limits which are established by a gear-driven or rack-and-pinion system controlled by a limit control motor. The limit control motor is operable to position a mechanical door opening limiting apparatus in response to the measured obstacle distance to physically limit the extent to which the door is allowed to open. Visual and audio signals are also provided to communicate related messages to the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the system may be disabled when an emergency situation is detected such as when the vehicle air bags are deployed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a limit to which a door may be opened, said method comprising:
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determining an obstacle distance, said obstacle distance being representative of a distance between said door and an obstacle in a door opening path of said door;
providing a limit signal related to said obstacle distance; and
applying said limit signal to a door opening limit apparatus to effectively set an allowable limit to which said door can be opened, said allowable limit being less than said obstacle distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry within a computer system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being selectively operable for controlling a limit to which a door may be opened by effecting the steps of:
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determining an obstacle distance, said obstacle distance being representative of a distance between said door and an obstacle in a door opening path of said door;
providing a limit signal related to said obstacle distance; and
applying said limit signal to a door opening limit apparatus to effectively set an allowable limit to which said door can be opened, said allowable limit being less than said obstacle distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for controlling a limit to which a door may be opened, said system comprising:
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a system bus;
a CPU device connected to said system bus;
a display device connected to said system bus;
memory means connected to said system bus; and
measuring means for determining an obstacle distance, said obstacle distance being representative of a distance between said door and an obstacle in a door opening path of said door, said measuring means being operable for providing a limit signal related to said obstacle distance; and
door opening limit apparatus arranged to receive said limit signal and effectively set an allowable limit to which said door can be opened, said allowable limit being less than said obstacle distance.
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30. A method for providing a perceivable indication to occupants of a vehicle when an obstacle is present in a door opening path of said vehicle, said method comprising:
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determining an obstacle distance, said obstacle distance being representative of a distance between said obstacle and a door of said vehicle; and
providing a perceivable indication to one or more occupants of said vehicle, said perceivable indication being related to said obstacle distance.
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Specification