Vehicle door engagement detection

• US 9,434,337 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Lange, Richard J., Proefke, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/256,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20150300046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 340/521, 292/216
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for implementing door engagement detection for a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect when an apparatus of a door of a vehicle is engaged from inside the vehicle. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to at least facilitate providing a notification if the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating exit of a passenger inside a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether a child lock of a vehicle is activated;

determining whether a condition for the vehicle is satisfied, the condition selected from the group consisting of;

an alarm of the vehicle has been set, the vehicle has been stopped, and all doors of the vehicle have been locked; and

automatically deactivating the child lock a predetermined amount of time after the condition has been satisfied, to facilitate exit of the passenger inside the vehicle.

2. A system for facilitating exit of a passenger inside a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect when an apparatus of a door of a vehicle is engaged from inside the vehicle while the child lock is activated; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to at least facilitate;

determining, using a processor, whether the engagement of the apparatus of the door has occurred from inside the vehicle; and

providing an action for facilitating exit of the passenger inside the vehicle if, and only if, it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle while the child lock is activated.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises means to unlock or open a rear door of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining whether a child lock of the vehicle is activated; and

providing the action if it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle, provided further that it is determined that the child lock is activated.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining whether an alarm of the vehicle is activated; and

providing the action if it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle, provided further that it is determined that the alarm is activated.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing an audio notification, a visual notification, or both, if it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate contacting an authorized individual if it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate deactivating a child lock of the door a predetermined amount of time after the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate automatically unlocking the door, automatically opening the door, or both, if it is determined that the apparatus of the door is engaged from inside the vehicle.