VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110196568A1
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• 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: WILLIAMS, PAUL R., NICKOLAOU, JAMES N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0953 the prediction being responsive to vehicle dynamic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Safety systems and methods are provided for use in a vehicle with a closure that defines a pivoting range when open. The safety system includes a sensor configured to collect data associated with an object in a target zone at least partially surrounding the vehicle; and a processor coupled to the sensors and configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode based on a vehicle characteristic. The processor is configured to, in the first mode, detect the object and generate a first warning based on the object; and in the second mode, detect the object and determine a collision threat between the object and the pivoting range of the closure, and generate a second warning based on the collision threat.

Claims

1. A safety system for use in a vehicle, the vehicle having a pivoting closure with a range of movement, the safety system comprising:

a sensor configured to collect data associated with an object in a target zone at least partially surrounding the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the sensors and configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode based on a vehicle characteristic, the processor further configured to

in the first mode, detect the object and generate a first warning based on a characteristic of the object; and

in the second mode, detect the object, determine a collision threat between the object and the pivoting range of the closure, and generate a second warning based on the collision threat.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the processor, in the first mode, is configured to initiate a dynamic response of the vehicle based on the object.

3. The safety system of claim 2, wherein the dynamic response includes slowing down the vehicle.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle characteristic includes vehicle speed, and wherein the processor is configured to operate in the first mode if the vehicle speed is above a threshold value and to operate in the second mode if the vehicle speed is not above the threshold value.

5. The safety system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is approximately zero.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a three-dimensional time of flight (TOF) laser.

7. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a radar sensor, an ultrasound sensor, or a LIDAR sensor.

8. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the processor, in the second mode, is configured to prevent the closure from opening based on the collision threat.

9. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the processor, in the second mode, is configured to inhibit the closure from opening based on the collision threat.

10. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the processor, in the second mode, is configured to determine a trajectory of the object, the collision threat including the trajectory of the object relative to the pivoting range of the closure.

11. A method for detecting an object in a target zone of a vehicle, the vehicle having a pivoting closure with a range of movement, the method comprising the steps of:

evaluating a vehicle operating characteristic;

selectively operating in a first mode and a second mode based on the vehicle operating characteristic;

determining, in the first mode, a first position of the object relative to the vehicle;

evaluating, in the first mode, a first collision threat of the vehicle with the object based on the first position;

generating, in the first mode, a first warning based on the first collision threat;

determining, in the second mode, a second position of the object relative to the pivoting range of the closure;

evaluating, in the second mode, a second collision threat of the closure with the object based on the second position; and

generating, in the second mode, a second warning based on the second collision threat.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein method further comprises initiating, in the first mode, a dynamic response of the vehicle based on the first collision threat.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiating step includes slowing down the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of evaluating the vehicle operating characteristic includes comparing vehicle speed to a threshold value, and wherein the selectively operating step includes operating in the first mode if the vehicle speed is above the threshold value and operating in the second mode if the vehicle speed is not above the threshold value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of evaluating the vehicle operating characteristic includes determining if the vehicle is in motion, and wherein the selectively operating step includes operating in the first mode if the vehicle is in motion and operating in the second mode if the vehicle is not in motion.

16. The method of claim 11,

wherein the step of determining, in the first mode, the first position includes determining the first position with a three-dimensional time of flight (TOF) laser;

and

wherein the step of determining, in the second mode, the second position includes determining the second position with the three-dimensional time of flight (TOF) laser.

17. The method of claim 11,

wherein the step of determining, in the first mode, the first position includes determining the first position with a LIDAR sensor;

and

wherein the step of determining, in the second mode, the second position includes determining the second position with the LIDAR sensor.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of

preventing, in the second mode, the closure from opening based on the second collision threat.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of

inhibiting, in the second mode, the closure from opening based on the second collision theat.

20. A method for detecting an object in a target zone of a vehicle, the vehicle having a pivoting closure with a range of movement, the method comprising the steps of:

evaluating a speed of the vehicle;

selectively operating in a first mode when the speed is above a threshold value and in a second mode when the speed is not above the threshold value;

determining a position of the object relative to the vehicle;

evaluating, in the first mode, a first collision threat of the vehicle with the object based on the first position;

generating, in the first mode, a first warning based on the first collision threat;

evaluating, in the second mode, a second collision threat of the closure with the object based on the second position; and

generating, in the second mode, a second warning based on the second collision threat and inhibiting movement of the closure based on the second collision theat.