MOTOR VEHICLE AND A DOOR HINGE MECHANISM THEREFOR
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle having an apparatus for assisting with the selection of an opening mode of a door of the motor vehicle hingedly connected to a body structure of the motor vehicle by a hinge mechanism providing both swing and scissor opening modes of door opening, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- an electronic controller;
at least one human machine interface connected to the electronic controller to provide an indication from a user of the motor vehicle that opening of the door is required; and
a sensing apparatus to provide information to the electronic controller indicative of whether there are any obstructions to the side of the motor vehicle that would interfere with swing opening of the door and whether there are any overhead obstructions that would interfere with scissor opening of the door, wherein, in response to an indication from the user of the motor vehicle that door opening is required, the electronic controller is arranged to use the information provided from the sensing apparatus to select a preferred mode of door opening.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor vehicle is disclosed having a door that is attached to the motor vehicle by a hinge mechanism providing both full swing opening of the door and full scissor opening of the door. The motor vehicle includes an apparatus to assist with the selection of a preferred mode of door opening based upon an assessment of the surroundings in which the motor vehicle 1 rests. The assessment of the surroundings and selection of the preferred mode of door opening is carried out by an electronic controller based upon information received from a sensing apparatus.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A motor vehicle having an apparatus for assisting with the selection of an opening mode of a door of the motor vehicle hingedly connected to a body structure of the motor vehicle by a hinge mechanism providing both swing and scissor opening modes of door opening, wherein the apparatus comprises:
-
an electronic controller; at least one human machine interface connected to the electronic controller to provide an indication from a user of the motor vehicle that opening of the door is required; and a sensing apparatus to provide information to the electronic controller indicative of whether there are any obstructions to the side of the motor vehicle that would interfere with swing opening of the door and whether there are any overhead obstructions that would interfere with scissor opening of the door, wherein, in response to an indication from the user of the motor vehicle that door opening is required, the electronic controller is arranged to use the information provided from the sensing apparatus to select a preferred mode of door opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A hinge mechanism connecting a door to a body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of connected hinge members facilitating door opening in a swing mode where the door is rotatable about a first axis between closed and fully swung open positions and a scissor mode where the door is rotatable about a second axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the closed position and a scissor open position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
20. An apparatus for selecting an opening mode of a door connected to a vehicle by a hinge mechanism providing swing and scissor opening modes, comprising:
-
a human machine interface receiving a door opening request; a sensor sensing side obstructions that would interfere with swing opening of the door and overhead obstructions that would interfere with scissor opening of the door; and a controller selecting a mode of door opening based on the sensed obstructions.
-
Specification