Power swinging side door system and method

• US 7,686,378 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sanocki, Edward M Jr., Kollar, Craig A., Gisler, Maurice J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US11/756,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.4, 296/146.1, 49/26, 49/27, 493/40, 493/49, 493/58
• US Class Current: 296/146.4
• 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 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

A vehicle is provided having an automatic swinging side door with an actuator for opening and closing the door. A controller has an algorithm for moving the actuator, a sensor for detecting an obstacle via contact with the door; and a sensor for detecting the obstacle without contact with the door. The controller interrupts movement of the door when the obstacle is detected. The door has a measurable and selectable opening angle. A hydraulic pump actuates the actuator using fluid pressure, and a hydraulic fuse monitors flow through a bypass valve to detect the contact. A method of opening a side-swinging vehicle door includes recording a door opening angle; detecting a door operating mode, opening the door when one mode is detected; closing the door when a second mode is detected; and opening the door to the recorded angle when a third mode is detected.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of obstacle detection sensors, including a door angle sensor;

a door having a range of motion defining a maximum door opening angle, said door further having a variable door opening angle that is selectable by a user of the vehicle from approximately 0 degrees up to the maximum door opening angle, said door angle sensor being operable for determining a change in an instantaneous position of said door over time to determine a threshold change in velocity of said door, and to thereby detect an obstacle positioned within said range of motion in a first manner;

an actuator adapted for alternately opening and closing said door; and

a controller having an algorithm for moving said actuator in one direction to at least partially open said door to said variable door opening angle in response to a first command, and for moving said actuator in another direction to at least partially close said door in response to a second command;

wherein said controller is operable for interrupting either of said opening and said closing when said presence of said obstacle is detected in said first manner.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with said actuator, wherein said actuator is actuated using hydraulic fluid pressure provided by said hydraulic pump.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said plurality of obstacle detection sensors includes a hydraulic fuse having a bypass valve portion, wherein said hydraulic fuse is a contact-type obstacle sensor operable for monitoring a change in flow rate of hydraulic fluid flowing through said bypass valve portion upon contact between said door and said obstacle to thereby determine said presence of said obstacle in a second manner.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said plurality of obstacle detection sensors includes at least one of an anti-pinch sensor and a current sensor configured to detect a change in electrical power drawn by said hydraulic pump, and to thereby determine said presence of said obstacle in a third manner.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said plurality of obstacle detection sensors includes at least one non-contact obstacle sensor configured to detect said presence of said obstacle in a second manner without contact between said door and said obstacle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an indicator device operable for providing at least one of a visible and an audible warning when said presence of said obstacle is detected.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured with a plurality of selectable operating modes for said door, including at least a first mode commanding an opening of said door to said maximum door opening angle, a second mode commanding an opening of said door to said variable door opening angle selected by said user, a third mode commanding a stop-and-hold cycle that interrupts a motion of said door, and a fourth mode allowing said user to reprogram said variable opening angle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said plurality of obstacle detection sensors further includes each of:

a current sensor, a hydraulic fuse, an anti-pinch sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an optical sensor each adapted to detect said obstacle in a different manner.

9. An automatic door assembly for use with a vehicle comprising:

a swinging side door having a range of motion defining a maximum door opening angle;

an actuator adapted for opening and closing said swinging side door;

a controller having an algorithm for selectively moving said actuator in one direction to at least partially open said swinging side door to a variable door opening angle that is selectable by a user of the vehicle from approximately 0 degrees up to the maximum door opening angle in response to a first command, and at least partially in another direction to thereby close said swinging side door in response to a second command;

at least one contact-type obstacle detection sensor configured for detecting the presence of an obstacle positioned external to the vehicle upon contact between said swinging side door and said obstacle, including a door angle sensor adapted for determining a change in an instantaneous position of said swinging side door over time to determine a threshold change in velocity of said swinging side door; and

at least one non-contact obstacle sensor configured for detecting the presence of said obstacle within said range of motion of said swinging side door without contact between said swinging side door and said obstacle;

wherein said controller is operable for interrupting both of said opening and said closing when said presence of said obstacle is detected.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further including a door angle sensor for determining an instantaneous door opening angle of said swinging side door, and for calculating a change in velocity of said swinging side door based on a rate of change of said instantaneous door opening angle to thereby detect said presence of said obstacle.

11. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with said actuator, wherein said actuator is actuated using a variable hydraulic fluid pressure provided by said hydraulic pump.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a hydraulic fuse having a bypass valve portion, wherein said at least one contact-type obstacle detection sensor is said hydraulic fuse and is operable for monitoring a change in flow of hydraulic fluid through said bypass valve portion upon contact between said swinging side door and said obstacle.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one contact-type obstacle detection sensor includes an anti-pinch sensor having a detectable output that varies in response to resistance provided by contact between said swinging side door and said obstacle.

14. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising an indicator device operable for providing at least one of a visible and an audible warning when said presence of said obstacle is detected.