Door swing detection and protection

• US 7,280,035 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: McLain, Kurt D., Kropinski, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/873,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/903, 340/436, 49 26- 28, 49/31, 296/246.4, 296/146.4
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/043 Door edge guards
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/00 Devices for holding wings open; Devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing; Braking devices, stops or buffers, combined therewith combined with hinges E05D11/00; combined with operating apparatus for wings E05F; other braking devices, stops, buffers E05F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/816 Voice emitters
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the occurrence of vehicle door bumps against an adjacent object facing the door. The apparatus comprises one or more distance sensors mounted on the vehicle for measuring distance D from the door to the object, a brake for inhibiting outward movement of the door toward the object, a warning system and a controller coupled to the distance sensors, warning system and brake for applying the brake to inhibit further outward movement of the door when D≦D(MIN), a predetermined minimum distance away from the object. In a preferred embodiment, a first driver warning is activated when the initial door-to-object spacing D(INIT)≦D(SAFE), the maximum outward door reach. A second warning is desirably added when the door begins moving toward the object or has reached about (D(INIT))/2 and a third warning is activated when the brake is engaged.

Claims

1. A method of providing a warning that a first vehicle may be bumped by a door of an adjacent second vehicle, comprising:

determining that the first vehicle is stopped;

measuring the distance D between opposed portions of the first and second vehicles;

measuring an angle of opening of a door of the first vehicle facing the second vehicle, and if the distance D is decreasing while the angle remains substantially constant;

then

energizing an alarm indicating that a door bump from the second vehicle may occur.