Obstruction Detection Device for Vehicle Door and Method

• US 20080294314A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• 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: Morris, Steven E., Chernoff, Adrian B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/21 by controlling the viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

An obstruction detection device for a motor vehicle having a door assembly movably connected to a vehicle body is provided. The device controls the vehicle door'"'"'s opening angle to prevent inadvertent contact with an object foreign to the vehicle, while providing the largest opening for vehicle ingress and egress. The obstruction detection device includes a controller that is operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to actively monitor and transmit signals to the controller indicative of the presence and corresponding proximity of the object relative to the door assembly. An actuator is operatively connected to and controlled by the controller. The actuator is configured to apply a selectively variable force that restricts the movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body when the door is a predetermined distance from the object.

Claims

1. An obstruction detection device for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door assembly movably connected with respect to the vehicle body, the obstruction detection device comprising:

a controller;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller and configured to monitor the presence and proximity of an object relative to the vehicle door assembly and to transmit signals indicative thereof to the controller; and

an actuator operatively connected to and controlled by the controller in response to the sensor signals and configured to apply a selectively variable force restricting the movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body when the door assembly is a predetermined distance from the object.

2. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface configured to allow users of the vehicle door assembly to control the actuator.

3. The obstruction detection device of claim 2, wherein the interface is further configured to allow users of the vehicle door assembly to selectively lock the vehicle door assembly at any position along the trajectory.

4. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transducer operatively connected to the controller and configured to measure the displacement of the vehicle door assembly along a trajectory and transmit signals indicative thereof to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively command the actuator to lock the vehicle door assembly at any position along the trajectory in response to at least one of the transducer signals and the sensor signals.

5. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a friction device configured to apply a selectively variable frictional resistance to the vehicle door assembly thereby restricting movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

6. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an electro-magnetic device configured to apply a selectively variable magnetic resistance to the vehicle door assembly thereby restricting movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

7. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a magnetorheological fluid device configured to apply a selectively variable viscoelastic resistance to the vehicle door assembly thereby restricting movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

8. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic device configured to apply a selectively variable hydraulic resistance to the vehicle door assembly thereby restricting movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

9. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle door assembly is any of a swing door or trunk lid, an engine hood, a sliding door, a lift gate, a tailgate, or a winged door.

10. The obstruction detection device of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the vehicle door assembly.

11. The obstruction detection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a warning signal indicative of the proximity of the object relative to the door assembly.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a door assembly rotatably connected with respect to the vehicle body;

a power source disposed on the vehicle body;

a controller disposed on the vehicle body and operatively connected to the power source;

an actuator operatively connected to and controlled by the controller and configured to apply a selectively variable force restricting the rotation of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body;

an interface configured to allow users of the door assembly to control the actuator;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller and configured to monitor the presence and proximity of an object relative to the door assembly and to transmit signals indicative thereof to the controller; and

a transducer operatively connected to the controller and configured to measure the rotational displacement of the door assembly along a trajectory and transmit signals indicative thereof to the controller, wherein the controller instructs the actuator to apply the selectively variable force to the door assembly in response to at least one of the transducer signals and the sensor signals.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively command the actuator to lock the door assembly at any position along the trajectory in response to at least one of the transducer signals and the sensor signals.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the interface is further configured to allow users of the door assembly to selectively lock the door assembly at any position along the trajectory and override the actuator thereby allowing free motion of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a structural check link and a friction device configured to apply a selectively variable frictional resistance to the check link thereby restricting rotation of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a structural check link and an electro-magnetic device configured to apply a selectively variable magnetic resistance to the structural check link thereby restricting rotation of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a structural check link and a magnetorheological fluid device configured to apply a selectively variable viscoelastic resistance to the structural check link thereby restricting rotation of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

18. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a structural check link and a hydraulic device configured to apply a selectively variable hydraulic resistance to the structural check link thereby restricting rotation of the door assembly with respect to the vehicle body.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the vehicle door assembly is any of a swing door or trunk lid, an engine hood, a sliding door, a lift gate, a tailgate, or a winged door.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the door assembly.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the vehicle body.

22. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

a vehicle rear view mirror, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the rear view mirror.

23. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a warning signal indicative of the proximity of the object relative to the door assembly.

24. A method of selectively varying the movement of a vehicle door assembly, comprising:

creating a predetermined detection zone;

monitoring movement of the vehicle door assembly within the detection zone;

sensing a presence or absence of an object within the detection zone;

sensing a proximity of the object relative to the door assembly in response to movement of the door assembly along a predetermined trajectory;

sensing if the proximity of the object is less than a predetermined first length; and

responding to the proximity being less than the first length by selectively resisting movement of the door assembly along the trajectory to a point sufficiently less than the first length so as to prevent impact between the door assembly and the object, and sufficiently close to the first length to maximize the movement of the door assembly short of the first length to provide the largest opening for vehicle ingress and egress without such impact.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

sensing if the proximity of the object is less than a predetermined second length; and

responding to the proximity being less than the second length by locking the door assembly at any position along the trajectory at a point sufficiently less than the second length so as to eliminate any impact with the object, and sufficiently close to the second length to maximize the movement of the door assembly short of the second length to provide the largest opening for vehicle ingress and egress without any impact.

26. (canceled)