Apparatus and method for controlling opening and closing of vehicle door

• US 9,870,701 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Hui Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LEON VIET Q
• Application Number:
  US15/333,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/00 Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00746 by knocking on a surface for inputting the code, e.g. detecting a series of taps on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00801 by acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle door are provided. The apparatus includes a driving unit that opens and closes a door a controller that operates the driving unit. Additionally, an acoustic wave processing unit receives and analyzes an acoustic wave signal generated by force exerted onto the door to generate a control signal for opening or closing of the door. The controller receives the control signal to thus operate the driving unit. Further, the acoustic wave processing unit includes an acoustic wave sensor disposed inside of the door and receives the acoustic wave signal, and an MCU that analyzes a signal output from the acoustic wave sensor to generate the control signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle door, comprising:

a driving unit configured to open and close a door;

a controller configured to operate the driving unit; and

an acoustic wave processing unit that includes an acoustic wave sensor disposed within the door and configured to receive an acoustic wave signal generated by force applied onto the door to generate a control signal for opening and closing of the door, a micro control unit (MCU) configured to analyze the acoustic wave signal output from the acoustic wave sensor to generate the control signal, and an acoustic wave guidance part guiding the acoustic wave signal to the acoustic wave sensor,

wherein the acoustic wave guidance part includes an acoustic wave guidance housing interposed between an internal trim and an external panel of the door, and

wherein the acoustic wave guidance housing has an acoustic wave guidance space formed therein and configured to guide an acoustic wave signal, a first opening facing the internal trim, a second opening facing the external panel, and gaskets attached to the first opening and the second opening, respectively.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave sensor and the MCU are disposed in the acoustic wave guidance space.

3. A method for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle door by receiving and analyzing an acoustic wave signal generated by force exerted onto the door, comprising:

monitoring, by a controller, the acoustic wave signal generated by the force exerted onto the door when a vehicle satisfies a stop condition;

detecting, by the controller, an occurrence of an event in which a knocking or beating is applied to the door;

analyzing, by the controller, whether the interval of the event occurrence is within a predetermined range to determine whether a rhythm pattern of the knocking or beating applied to the door corresponds to a rhythm pattern for opening or closing of the door; and

generating, by the controller, a control signal for opening or closing of the door by analyzing the monitored acoustic wave signal,

wherein the acoustic wave signal is guided to an acoustic wave sensor by an acoustic wave guidance part, and

wherein the acoustic wave guidance part includes an acoustic wave guidance housing interposed between an internal trim and an external panel of the door.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring of the acoustic wave signal includes:

receiving, by the controller, the acoustic wave signal generated by the force exerted onto the door;

converting, by the controller, the received acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal; and

monitoring, by the controller, the converted electrical signal at a constant monitoring interval.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, whether an external noise is introduced into the electrical signal after monitoring the acoustic wave signal; and

analyzing, by the controller, a pattern of the monitored electrical signal in response to determining that the external noise is not introduced.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, whether the force exerted onto the door is input at least twice consecutively between determining the noise introduction and analyzing the pattern.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the generating of the control signal includes:

generating, by the controller, the control signal for opening or closing the door when the analyzed pattern is recognized as the force exerted onto an external panel of the door.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the generating of the control signal includes:

generating, by the controller, the control signal for opening or closing the door when the analyzed pattern is recognized as the force exerted onto an internal trim of the door.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the stop condition includes the vehicle state being in a parked position.

10. An apparatus for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle tail gate, comprising:

a driving unit configured to open and close a door;

a controller configured to operate the driving unit; and

an acoustic wave processing unit that includes an acoustic wave sensor disposed within the door and configured to receive an acoustic wave signal generated by force applied onto the door to generate a control signal for opening and closing of the door, a micro control unit (MCU) configured to analyze the acoustic wave signal output from the acoustic wave sensor to generate the control signal, and an acoustic wave guidance part guiding the acoustic wave signal to the acoustic wave sensor,

wherein the acoustic wave guidance part includes an acoustic wave guidance housing interposed between the internal trim and the external panel of the door, and

wherein the acoustic wave guidance housing has an acoustic wave guidance space formed therein and configured to guide an acoustic wave signal, a first opening facing the internal trim, a second opening facing the external panel, and gaskets attached to the first opening and the second opening, respectively.

11. A method for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle tail gate by receiving and analyzing an acoustic wave signal generated by force exerted onto the door, comprising:

monitoring, by a controller, the acoustic wave signal generated by the force exerted onto the door when a vehicle satisfies a stop condition;

detecting, by the controller, an occurrence of an event in which a knocking or beating is applied to the door;

analyzing, by the controller, whether the interval of the event occurrence is within a predetermined range to determine whether a rhythm pattern of the knocking or beating applied to the door corresponds to a rhythm pattern for opening or closing of the door; and

generating, by the controller, a control signal for opening or closing of the door by analyzing the monitored acoustic wave signal,

wherein the acoustic wave signal is guided to an acoustic wave sensor by an acoustic wave guidance part, and

wherein the acoustic wave guidance part includes an acoustic wave guidance housing interposed between an internal trim and an external panel of the door.