METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AVOIDING A COLLISION OF AN OBJECT WITH A FIRST VEHICLE DOOR OF A STATIONARY VEHICLE

• US 20110141593A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: ILLIUM, Justus, KANNING, Torsten
• Application Number:
  US12/904,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/843
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for avoidance of a possible collision of an object with a first vehicle door of a stationary vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to determining at least one first parameter of the vehicle, with the first parameter characterizing the stationary state of the vehicle. In addition, a first outside mirror of the vehicle is displaced from a first position into a second position. The first outside mirror in the second position makes a first dead angle region of the vehicle substantially visible for a first vehicle occupant. The first outside mirror is disposed on the same vehicle side as the first vehicle door. Furthermore, at least one second parameter of the vehicle is determined and the first outside mirror is displaced from the second position into the first position.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for avoidance of a possible collision of an object with a first vehicle door of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining at least a first parameter of the vehicle that characterizes a stationary state of the vehicle;

displacing a first outside mirror of the vehicle from a first position into a second position,

wherein the first outside mirror in the second position makes a first dead angle region of the vehicle that is substantially visible for a first vehicle occupant, and

wherein the first outside mirror is disposed on a side of the vehicle with the first vehicle door;

determining a second parameter of the vehicle, and

displacing the first outside mirror from the second position into the first position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle is a stationary vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first parameter is a switching-off of an ignition of the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first parameter is a transfer of the vehicle to an idling.

20. The method according any to claim 16, wherein the second parameter is a locking of the vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second parameter is a closing of the first vehicle door.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the closing of the first vehicle door is determined by a door contact switch.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second parameter is determined a predetermined time after determining the first parameter.

24. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining a third parameter of the vehicle, wherein the third parameter characterizes a possible leaving of the vehicle by the first vehicle occupant and wherein displacement of the first outside mirror from the first position into the second position takes place depending on the third parameter.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the third parameter is an occupation of a seat of the vehicle by the first vehicle occupant.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the occupation of the seat is determined by a seat occupation mat.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the third parameter is an approach of the first vehicle occupant to the first vehicle door.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the approach is determined with a proximity sensor.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the third parameter is a release of a belt lock.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein the third parameter is an opening of the first vehicle door.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the opening of the first vehicle door is determined with a door contact switch.

32. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second position is a predetermined position.

33. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second position is preselectable.

34. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

displacing a second outside mirror of the vehicle from a third position into a fourth position after determining the first parameter of the vehicle,

wherein the second outside mirror in the fourth position makes a second dead angle region of the vehicle that is substantially visible for a second vehicle occupant,

and wherein the second outside mirror is disposed on a side of the vehicle side with a second vehicle door; and

displacing the second outside mirror from the fourth position into the third position after determining the second parameter of the vehicle.

35. An apparatus for avoidance of a possible collision of an object with a first vehicle door of a vehicle, comprising:

a first detector configured to determine at least a first parameter of the vehicle that characterizes a stationary state of the vehicle;

a first outside mirror configured to displace from a first position into a second position,

wherein the first outside mirror in the second position makes a first dead angle region of the vehicle that is substantially visible for a first vehicle occupant, and

wherein the first outside mirror is disposed on a side of the vehicle with the first vehicle door;

a second detector configured to determine a second parameter of the vehicle, and

a displacement mechanism configured to displace the first outside mirror from the second position into the first position.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the vehicle is a stationary vehicle.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first parameter is a switching-off of an ignition of the vehicle.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first parameter is a transfer of the vehicle to an idling.

39. The apparatus according any to claim 35, wherein the second parameter is a locking of the vehicle.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the second parameter is a closing of the first vehicle door.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a door contact switch configured to determine the closing of the first vehicle door.

42. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the second parameter is determined a predetermined time after determining the first parameter.

43. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a third detector configured to determine a third parameter of the vehicle, wherein the third parameter characterizes a possible leaving of the vehicle by the first vehicle occupant and wherein displacement of the first outside mirror from the first position into the second position takes place depending on the third parameter.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the third parameter is an occupation of a seat of the vehicle by the first vehicle occupant.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising a seat occupation mat configured to determine the occupation of the seat.

46. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the third parameter is an approach of the first vehicle occupant to the first vehicle door.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising a proximity sensor configured to the approach.

48. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the third parameter is a release of a belt lock.

49. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the third parameter is an opening of the first vehicle door.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, further comprising a door contact switch configured to determine the opening of the first vehicle door.

51. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

a second outside mirror of the vehicle configured to displace from a third position into a fourth position after determining the first parameter of the vehicle,

wherein the second outside mirror in the fourth position makes a second dead angle region of the vehicle substantially visible for a second vehicle occupant,

and wherein the second outside mirror is disposed on the same vehicle side as a second vehicle door; and

a second displacement mechanism configured to displace the second outside mirror from the fourth position into the third position after determining the second parameter of the vehicle.