Door swing detection and protection

• US 20050280284A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: McLain, Kurt D., Kropinski, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/043 Door edge guards
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/00 Devices for holding wings open; Devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing; Braking devices, stops or buffers, combined therewith combined with hinges E05D11/00; combined with operating apparatus for wings E05F; other braking devices, stops, buffers E05F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• 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 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/816 Voice emitters
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the occurrence of vehicle door bumps against an adjacent object facing the door. The apparatus comprises one or more distance sensors mounted on the vehicle for measuring distance D from the door to the object, a brake for inhibiting outward movement of the door toward the object, a warning system and a controller coupled to the distance sensors, warning system and brake for applying the brake to inhibit further outward movement of the door when D≦D(MIN), a predetermined minimum distance away from the object. In a preferred embodiment, a first driver warning is activated when the initial door-to-object spacing D(INIT)≦D(SAFE), the maximum outward door reach. A second warning is desirably added when the door begins moving toward the object or has reached about (D(INIT))/2 and a third warning is activated when the brake is engaged.

Claims

1. A system for reducing the occurrence of vehicle door bumps against an adjacent object, comprising:

one or more distance sensors mounted on the vehicle for measuring distance D from the door to the object;

a brake for inhibiting the outward movement of the door toward the adjacent object; and

a controller coupled to the one or more distance sensors and the brake for applying the brake to inhibit further outward movement of the door when D≦

D(MIN) where D(MIN) is a predetermined distance.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a warning system coupled to the processor for warning the driver that there is a risk of a door bump against the adjacent object.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the warning system comprises an audible warning unit and a visual warning unit.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein one of either the audible warning unit or the visual warning unit is activated by the controller if an initial separation distance D=D(INIT) from the door to the object with the door closed is less than a safe distance D=D(SAFE) where a fully opened door would not contact the object, and the other is activated when the door has opened to an intermediate position part way between D=D(INIT) and D=D(MIN).

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the output of the warning system is changed in one or more of brightness, repetition rate, color or volume when D substantially equals D(MIN).

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more angle sensors coupled to the controller for measuring the opening angle of the door.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more distance sensors comprise at least one distance sensor mounted on a door and moving with the door.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one distance sensor is mounted adjacent an outer edge of the door.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more distance sensors comprise at least one distance sensor mounted on a body of the vehicle and not moving with the door.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the one or more distance sensors is recessed and does not significantly protrude from the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the brake is a friction brake.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the brake is a unidirectional brake, inhibiting outward movement of the door when applied but not significantly inhibiting inward movement of the door.

13. A method for reducing the likelihood of a bump between a vehicle door and an adjacent object facing the door, comprising:

measuring the distance D between the door and the object;

turning on a first warning when D(INIT)≦

D(SAFE) where D(INIT) is the distance to the object before the door is opened and D(SAFE) is a distance from the vehicle reached by the door at its maximum outward movement absent the object;

turning on a second warning different than the first warning when D approximates (D(INIT))/2; and

engaging a door brake to inhibit further outward movement of the door when D≦

D(MIN) where D(MIN) is a predetermined minimum door to object separation distance.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first turning on step comprises turning on a visual alarm.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the second turning on step comprises turning on an audible alarm.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising before or after the engaging step, turning on a third alarm.

17. A method for reducing the likelihood of a bump between a vehicle door and an adjacent object facing the door, comprising:

measuring the distance D between the door and the object;

comparing D(INIT) to D(SAFE) where D(INIT) is the distance to the object before the door is opened and D(SAFE) is a distance from the vehicle reached by the door at its maximum outward movement absent the object; and

determining whether the door is moving toward the object, and

turning on a warning if the door is moving toward the object.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising after the turning on step:

determining whether the distance D≦

D(MIN) where D(MIN) is a predetermined minimum distance value, and if so

engaging a brake to inhibit further outward movement of the door.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising before or after the engaging step, turning on a further warning.

20. A method of providing a warning that a first vehicle may be bumped by a door of an adjacent second vehicle, comprising:

determining that the first vehicle is stopped;

measuring the distance D between opposed portions of the first and second vehicles;

measuring an angle of opening of a door of the first vehicle facing the second vehicle, and if the distance D is decreasing while the angle remains substantially constant;

then

energizing an alarm indicating that a door bump from the second vehicle may occur.