NONCONTACT OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM USING RFID TECHNOLOGY

• US 20130125467A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ezzat, Hesham A., O'Kane, James C., Wang, Pei-Chung, Serban, Doru N., Jewell, Bradley W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/26
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

An obstacle detection system includes a first component and a second component. The motor is configured to move the second component toward the first component. Radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) are connected to one of the first component and the second component. A controller is operatively connected to the motor and has a transmitter operatively connected to the other of the first component and the second component. The transmitter is operable to create a magnetic field between the first component and the second component. Each of the RFIDs is operable to provide a respective signal in response to the field. The controller is configured to modify power delivery from a power source to the motor when the respective signals received by a receiver change due to at least a portion of the magnetic field being at least partially blocked or attenuated. A method of detecting an obstacle is also provided.

Claims

1. An obstacle detection system comprising:

a first component;

a second component;

a power source;

a motor operatively connected to the second component and the power source;

wherein the motor is configured to move the second component toward the first component when the motor is powered by the power source;

a plurality of radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) connected to one of the first component and the second component;

a controller operatively connected to the motor and having;

a transmitter operatively connected to the other of the first component and the second component;

wherein the transmitter is operable to create a magnetic field between the first component and the second component;

wherein each of the RFIDs is operable to provide a respective signal in response to the magnetic field; and

a receiver configured to receive the respective signals; and

wherein the controller is configured to cause the power source to modify power to the motor when the respective signals received by the receiver change due to at least a portion of the magnetic field being at least partially blocked or attenuated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component is a weather strip supported by a vehicle door frame around an opening in the door frame;

and wherein the second component is a vehicle window configured to close the opening when moved.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter includes a conductor secured to at least a portion of a perimeter of the vehicle window.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the RFIDs are embedded in the weather strip.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter includes a conductor secured to at least a portion of a perimeter of the vehicle window;

and

wherein the RFIDs are embedded in the weather strip.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component is a vehicle body;

and wherein the second component is a closure panel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the closure panel is one of a hood, a deck lid, a liftgate, a vehicle door, and a sun roof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFIDs are activated by the magnetic field.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFIDs are powered by the power source independent of the magnetic field.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFIDs are configured such that the respective signals provided by the RFIDs are digitally encoded with a predetermined waveform or other characteristic;

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the respective signals received by the receiver have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic; and

wherein the controller is configured to disregard any signals received by the receiver that do not have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic when determining whether the respective signals received by the receiver have changed.

11. A vehicle window assembly with obstacle detection comprising:

a door frame defining a window opening and having a weather seal secured around at least a portion of the window opening;

a window secured to the door frame and movable toward the weather seal;

a power source;

a motor operatively connected to the window and to the power source;

wherein the motor is configured to move the window toward the weather seal when the motor is powered by the power source to close the window opening;

a plurality of radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) connected to the weather seal;

a controller operatively connected to the motor and having

a transmitter including a conductor operatively connected to a periphery of the window and operable to create a magnetic field between the window and the weather seal;

wherein each of the RFIDs is operable to provide a respective signal in response to the magnetic field;

a receiver configured to receive the respective signals; and

wherein the controller is configured to cause the power source to modify power to the motor when the number of the respective signals received by the receiver changes due to at least a portion of the magnetic field being blocked or attenuated by an obstacle in the window opening, thereby preventing the window from contacting the obstacle.

12. The vehicle window assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

an operator input device operatively connected to the motor and the controller;

wherein the controller provides power to the motor to move the window to the closed position when the operator input device is depressed and released.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the RFIDs are configured such that the respective signals provided by the RFIDs are digitally encoded with a predetermined waveform or other characteristic;

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the respective signals received by the receiver have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic; and

wherein the controller is configured to disregard any signals received by the receiver that do not have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic when determining whether the number of respective signals received by the receiver has changed.

14. A method of detecting an obstacle between a first component and a second component movable by a motor toward the first component comprising:

modifying power to the motor to modify movement of the second component when signals provided by radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) mounted to the first component change due to a magnetic field between the two components being blocked or attenuated by the obstacle, wherein said modifying prevents the second component from contacting the obstacle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

comparing the signals emitted by the RFIDs to an array of stored data representative of a set of signals received by the first component when a path of travel between the first component and the second component is free of any obstacles;

and wherein said modifying power is when said signals emitted by the RFIDs are different than the array of stored data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component is a weather strip supported by a vehicle door frame defining an opening;

wherein the RFIDs are embedded in the weather strip;

wherein the second component is a vehicle window configured to close the opening when moved by the motor;

wherein a conductor secured to at least a portion of a perimeter of the vehicle window is energized to create the field.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the RFIDs are configured such that the respective signals provided by the RFIDs are digitally encoded with a predetermined waveform or other characteristic;

and further comprising;

determining whether the respective signals received by the receiver have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic; and

disregarding any signals received by the receiver that do not have the predetermined waveform or other characteristic.