SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING MOTOR VEHICLE SIDE DOORS FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH OBSTACLES

• US 20100082206A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• 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: Jones, Nigel G., Wilson, Thomas A., Kollar, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,755 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 2015/433 using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• 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 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for preventing a motor vehicle side door from coming into contact with an obstacle are provided. One system includes an outside rear view mirror, a camera coupled to the outside rear view mirror, and a controller coupled to the camera. The camera is configured to detect the obstacle and determine the distance between the side door and the obstacle, and the controller is configured to disable the side door if the obstacle is within a threshold distance of the side door. Another system replaces the camera with an ultrasonic sensor to detect the obstacle and determine the distance between the side door and the obstacle. A method includes determining the distance between a plurality of motor vehicle side doors and the obstacle, and automatically disabling each motor vehicle side door that is within a threshold distance of the obstacle.

Claims

1. A system for preventing a motor vehicle side door from coming into contact with an obstacle, the system comprising:

an outside rear view mirror configured to be coupled to the motor vehicle side door;

a camera coupled to the outside rear view mirror, the camera configured to detect the obstacle and determine a first distance between the motor vehicle side door and the obstacle; and

a controller coupled to the camera, the controller configured to disable the motor vehicle side door if the first distance is within a first threshold distance of the motor vehicle side door.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) imager.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is coupled to a bottom portion of the outside rear view mirror.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is coupled behind a glass portion of the outside rear view mirror.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the motor vehicle side door if the obstacle is detected within an opening/closing path of the motor vehicle side door.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle side door is a front-side door and the motor vehicle further includes a rear-side door adjacent to the front-side door, wherein:

the camera is further configured to determine a second distance between the rear-side door and the obstacle; and

the controller is configured to disable the rear-side door if the second distance is within a second threshold distance of the rear-side door.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle side door is a front-side door and the motor vehicle further includes a rear-side door adjacent to the front-side door, the system further comprising:

a near-field sensor coupled to the rear-side door and in communication with the controller, wherein;

the near-field sensor is configured to detect conductive obstacles, and

the controller is further configured to disable the rear-side door if a conductive obstacle is detected.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the near-field sensor is configured to operate when the front-side door is open.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle side door is a front-side door and the motor vehicle further includes a rear-side door adjacent to the front-side door, the system further comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor coupled to the rear-side door and in communication with the controller, wherein;

the ultrasonic sensor is configured to detect obstacles, and

the controller is further configured to disable the rear-side door if an obstacle is detected.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is configured to operate when the front-side door is open.

11. A system for preventing a motor vehicle side door from coming into contact with an obstacle, the system comprising:

an outside rear view mirror configured to be coupled to the motor vehicle side door;

a first ultrasonic sensor coupled to the outside rear view mirror, the first ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the obstacle and determine a first distance between the motor vehicle side door and the obstacle; and

a controller coupled to the ultrasonic sensor, the controller configured to disable the motor vehicle side door if the first distance is within a first threshold distance of the motor vehicle side door.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first ultrasonic sensor is coupled to a bottom portion of the outside rear view mirror.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the motor vehicle side door if the obstacle is within an opening/closing path of the motor vehicle side door.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle side door is a front-side door and the motor vehicle further includes a rear-side door adjacent to the front-side door, the system further comprising:

a near-field sensor coupled to the rear-side door and in communication with the controller, wherein;

the near-field sensor is configured to detect conductive obstacles, and

the controller is further configured to disable the rear-side door if a conductive obstacle is detected.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the near-field sensor is configured to operate when a front-side door is open.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle side door is a front-side door and the motor vehicle further includes a rear-side door adjacent to the front-side door, the system further comprising:

a second ultrasonic sensor coupled to the rear-side door and in communication with the controller, wherein;

the second ultrasonic sensor is configured to detect the obstacle within a second threshold distance of the rear-side door when the front-side door is open, and

the controller is further configured to disable the rear-side door if the obstacle is detected.

17. A method for preventing a plurality of motor vehicle side doors from contacting an obstacle, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the distance between the plurality of motor vehicle side doors and the obstacle; and

automatically disabling each motor vehicle side door that is within a threshold distance of the obstacle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using 3-dimensional imaging to determine if the obstacle is within the threshold distance.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of using a capacitive sensor to detect if the obstacle is within the threshold distance of a rear-side door when a front-side door is open.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using sound wave or radio waves to determine if the obstacle is within the threshold distance.