Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle door

• US 7,438,346 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US11/230,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 296/155, 296/146.4, 296/146.12
• US Class Current: 296/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/30 with pivoted arms and sliding guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

Vehicle including a door frame alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by a driver, a driver door having a first, closed position arranged in the door frame and a second, fully open position outside of the door frame, and an infinite door check mechanism which enables the door to be moved between the first and second positions and to any open position therebetween. The infinite door check mechanism includes a motor arranged to move the door between the first and second positions and to any of the open positions therebetween. A control mechanism controls the motor to initiate movement of the door and stop the movement when the door is in any one of the different open positions and maintain the door in the stopped position in the absence of applied force to hold the door in the stopped position.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a door frame alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by an occupant of the vehicle;

a door having a first, closed position arranged in said door frame and a second, fully open position outside of said door frame;

a door check mechanism which enables said door to be moved from said first position to said second position and from said first position to any one of a plurality of different open positions between said first position and said second position, said door check mechanism comprising a motor arranged to move said door from said first position to said second position and from said first position to any of the plurality of different open positions between said first position and said second position before said door reaches said second position;

control means for controlling said motor to initiate an opening movement of said door from said first position and stop said opening movement of said door before said door reaches said second position when said door is in any one of the different open positions between said first position and said second position and maintain said door in said stopped position in the absence of applied force to hold said door in said stopped position;

lever means coupled to said door; and

rotation means coupled to said motor and said lever means for enabling said motor to cause said lever means to exert a force on said door in order to cause said door to open or close, said rotation means comprising a gear engaging with said motor and a shaft arranged to be rotated by said gear,

said lever means comprising lever arms coupled to said shaft and arranged to exert a force on said door upon rotation of said shaft in order to cause said door to open and close.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control means comprise a pressure detecting sensor arranged to detect applied pressure and a processor coupled to said pressure detecting sensor to direct said motor to move or cease the opening movement of said door based on the detected pressure.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said motor is arranged to move said door to any one of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a first lateral edge of said door and an edge of said door frame toward which said first lateral edge of said door moves during closing movement of said door is varied, the space enabling access into and from the passenger compartment when said door is in an open position, said door having a second lateral edge on an opposite side of said door from said first lateral edge, said sensor being arranged at said second lateral edge of said door and having a pressure sensitive surface oriented in an opening direction in which said door moves laterally during the opening movement of said door.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said motor is arranged to move said door during its opening movement from said first position to any one of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a lateral edge of said door and an edge of said door frame against which said lateral edge of said door is positioned when said door is situated in said door frame is varied, the space enabling access into and from the passenger compartment when said door is in said second position.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding movement of said door as said lever means exert the force on said door causing the front edge of said door to initially move outward and then forward.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said guide means comprise a track arranged in said door frame, said lever arms being arranged to exert a force on said door upon rotation of said shaft in order to cause a front edge of said door to initially move outward and then forward as a rear edge of said door moves in said track.

7. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said control means are arranged to control said motor to initiate a closing movement of said door from an open position to said first position, said control means comprising an additional pressure detecting sensor arranged to detect applied pressure, said processor being coupled to said additional pressure detecting sensor and directing said motor to cease the closing movement of said door based on the detected pressure.

8. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said control means are arranged to control said motor to initiate a closing movement of said door from an open position to said first position, said control means comprising an additional pressure detecting sensor arranged to detect applied pressure, said processor being coupled to said additional pressure detecting sensor and directing said motor to cease the closing movement of said door based on the detected pressure, said additional pressure sensor being arranged on said first lateral side of said door.

9. The vehicle of claim 4, said control means comprising a sensor arranged to detect an object in proximity to or in contact with said lateral edge of said door and a processor coupled to said sensor to direct said motor to cease the opening movement of said door based on the detection of an object in proximity to or in contact with said lateral edge of said door.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said sensor is a pressure detecting sensor arranged at said lateral edge of said door and having a pressure sensitive surface oriented in an opening direction in which said door moves laterally during the opening movement of said door, said pressure detecting sensor being arranged to detect contact between an object and said pressure sensitive surface.

28. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a front seat, said door frame being arranged alongside a position in the passenger compartment normally occupied by an occupant of said front seat.

11. A method for enabling a door to be opened to any one of a plurality of different positions, comprising:

mounting the door in a door frame;

coupling a motor to the door via a shaft and a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism including lever arms coupled to the shaft and arranged to exert a force on the door upon rotation of the shaft in order to cause the door to open and close;

actuating the motor to move the door from a closed position in the door frame into any one of a plurality of different open positions; and

stopping the opening movement of the door when the door is positioned in any one of the plurality of different open positions and maintaining the door in the stopped position in the absence of applied force to hold the door in the stopped position; and

enabling the motor to cause the lever mechanism to exert a force on the door upon rotation of the shaft in order to cause the door to open and close, the step of coupling the motor to the door comprising engaging a gear with the motor and arranging the shaft to be rotated by the gear.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising arranging a pressure detecting sensor to detect applied pressure, the opening movement of the door being stopped by applying pressure to the sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the door is mounted such that the door moves in a lateral direction alongside the door frame during the opening movement of the door, the motor being actuated to move the door from the closed position into any one of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a first lateral edge of the door and an edge of the door frame toward which the first lateral edge of the door moves during closing movement of the door is varied, the space enabling access through the door frame when the door is in an open position, the door having a second lateral edge on an opposite side of the door from the first lateral edge, the sensor being arranged at the second lateral edge of the door and having a pressure sensitive surface oriented in an opening direction in which the door moves laterally during the opening movement of the door.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the door is mounted such that the door moves in a lateral direction alongside the door frame during the opening movement of the door, the motor being actuated to move the door from the closed position into any one of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a lateral edge of the door and an edge of the door frame against which the lateral edge of the door is positioned when the door is situated in the door frame is varied, the space enabling access through the door frame when the door is in an open position.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising guiding movement of the door.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the movement of the door is guided by a track arranged in the door frame and the lever arms shaft and to exert a force on the door upon rotation of the shaft in order to cause a front edge of the door to initially move outward and then forward as a rear edge of the door moves in the track.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the motor is actuated to move the door from the closed position to any one of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a first lateral edge of the door and an edge of the door frame toward which the first lateral edge of the door moves during closing movement of the door is varied, the space enabling access into and from the passenger compartment when the door is in an open position, the door having a second lateral edge on an opposite side of the door from the first lateral edge, the method further comprising:

arranging a sensor to detect an object in proximity to or in contact with the second lateral edge of the door; and

stopping the opening movement of the door when an object in proximity to or in contact with the second lateral edge of the door is detected.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a pressure detecting sensor arranged at the second lateral edge of the door and having a pressure sensitive surface oriented in an opening direction in which the door moves laterally during the opening movement of the door, the pressure detecting sensor being arranged to detect contact between an object and the pressure sensitive surface.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising arranging the door frame alongside a position in the passenger compartment normally occupied by an occupant of a front seat of the vehicle.

20. A vehicle, comprising:

a door frame;

a door mounted in said door frame;

a door check mechanism for enabling said door to be moved in an opening direction from a closed position in said door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions;

a motor coupled to said door and arranged to move said door from the closed position to any of the open positions;

a pressure sensor arranged on the door and having a pressure sensitive surface oriented in the direction of opening of said door whereby pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive surface when a side of said door which is a leading side of said door during opening movement of said door encounters an obstacle to the opening movement of said door;

a processor coupled to said sensor and directing said motor to stop the opening movement of said door and maintain said door in its stopped position when pressure above a threshold is applied to said pressure sensitive surface of said pressure sensor;

lever means coupled to said door; and

rotation means coupled to said motor and said lever means for enabling said motor to cause said lever means to exert a force on said door in order to cause said door to open and close, said rotation means comprising a gear engaging with said motor and a shaft arranged to be rotated by said gear,

said lever means comprising lever arms coupled to said shaft and arranged to exert a force on said door upon rotation of said shaft in order to cause said door to open and close.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, further comprising a front seat and wherein said door frame is situated alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by an occupant of said front seat.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein said motor is arranged to move said door from the closed position to any of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a first lateral side of said door and an edge of said door frame toward which said first lateral side of said door moves during closing movement of said door is varied, the space enabling access through said door frame when said door is in an open position, said pressure sensor being arranged on a second lateral side of said door opposite said first lateral side.

23. A vehicle, comprising:

a door frame;

a door mounted in said door frame;

a door check mechanism for enabling said door to be moved from a closed position in said door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions;

a motor coupled to said door and arranged to move said door from the closed position to any of the open positions in which a space between a first lateral edge of said door and an edge of said door frame toward which said first lateral edge of said door moves during closing movement of said door is varied, the space enabling access through said door frame when said door is in an open position;

a sensor arranged to detect an object in proximity to or in contact with a second lateral edge of said door on an opposite side of said door from said first lateral edge;

a processor coupled to said sensor and arranged to direct said motor to cease the opening movement of said door based on the detection of an object in proximity to or in contact with said second lateral edge of said door;

lever means coupled to said door; and

rotation means coupled to said motor and said lever means for enabling said motor to cause said lever means to exert a force on said door in order to cause said door to open and close, said rotation means comprising a gear engaging with said motor and a shaft arranged to be rotated by said gear,

said lever means comprising lever arms coupled to said shaft and arranged to exert a force on said door upon rotation of said shaft in order to cause said door to open and close.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a front seat and wherein said door frame is situated alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by an occupant of said front seat.

25. A method for enabling a door to be opened to any one of a plurality of different positions, comprising:

coupling a motor to the door via a shaft and a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism including lever arms coupled to the shaft and arranged to exert a force on the door upon rotation of the shaft in order to cause the door to open and close;

arranging the motor to move the door from the closed position to any of a plurality of different laterally open positions in which a space between a first lateral edge of the door and an edge of the door frame toward which the first lateral edge of the door moves during closing movement of the door is varied, the space enabling access through the door frame when the door is in an open position;

actuating the motor to move the door from a closed position into an open position;

arranging a sensor to detect an object in proximity to or in contact with a second lateral edge of the door on an opposite side of the door from the first lateral edge;

directing the motor to stop the opening movement of the door and maintain the door in the stopped position when an object in proximity to or in contact with the second lateral edge of the door is detected by the sensor; and

enabling the motor to cause the lever mechanism to exert a force on the door upon rotation of the shaft in order to cause the door to open and close,

the step of coupling the motor to the door comprising engaging a gear with the motor and arranging the shaft to be rotated by the gear.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of arranging the sensor comprises arranging a pressure detecting sensor at the second lateral edge of the door and which has a pressure sensitive surface oriented in an opening direction in which the door moves laterally during the opening movement of the door, the pressure detecting sensor being arranged to detect contact between an object and the pressure sensitive surface, the motor being directed to stop the opening movement of the door and maintain the door in its stopped position when pressure above a threshold is applied to the pressure sensitive surface of the pressure sensor.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising arranging the door frame alongside a position in a passenger compartment of the vehicle normally occupied by an occupant of a front seat of the vehicle.