Moving object detection for power door system

• US 10,161,175 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elie, Larry Dean, Novak, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/056,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 49 13, 701 49, 340 572, 340527, 340528, 307 101, 70264
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises a door actuator, at least one sensor, and a controller. The at least one sensor is configured to capture data corresponding to an environment local to the vehicle. The controller is configured to process the data to identify at least one object moving proximate the vehicle and control the door actuator to oppose an opening motion of the door in response to the identification of the object.

Claims

1. A vehicle door system comprising:

a door actuator;

at least one sensor configured to capture data identifying an object in an environment local to a vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

process the data to identify a movement rate of the object approaching the vehicle;

determine a clearance time required for the object to clear an entry region of the vehicle; and

control the door actuator to open a door after the clearance time is lapsed.

2. The vehicle door system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

monitor the data to detect the object while the door is at least partially open.

3. The vehicle door system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the door actuator to halt a motion of the door in response to the detection of the object.

4. The vehicle door system according to claim 1, further comprising an alert mechanism configured to output an alert in response to the object being detected.

5. The vehicle door system according to claim 4, wherein the alert mechanism comprises an audible alert device configured to warn an occupant of the vehicle to remain in the vehicle.

6. The vehicle door system according to claim 4, wherein the alert mechanism comprises a light emitting device configured to illuminate a portion of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle door system according to claim 6, wherein the alert device is configured to illuminate the light emitting device in response to the actuator positioning the door in an open position and the object being detected in the data.

8. A vehicle door system comprising:

a door actuator;

at least one sensor configured to capture data corresponding to an environment local to a vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

process the data to identify a movement rate of an object proximate the vehicle;

determine a clearance time required for the object to clear an entry region of the vehicle; and

control the door actuator to open the door after the clearance time is lapsed.

9. The vehicle door system according to claim 8, further comprising a warning light disposed on an intermediate surface of the door.

10. The vehicle door system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control a warning light to illuminate in response to the actuator moving the door.

11. The vehicle door system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to control the door actuator to open and pause at a detent position to open the door.

12. The vehicle door system according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control a warning signal while the door actuator is paused at the detent position.

13. The vehicle door system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to control a warning signal while the door actuator is paused at the detent position.

14. The vehicle door system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to process the data to identify the object moving proximate the vehicle while the door actuator is paused at the detent position.

15. The vehicle door system according to claim 8, wherein the clearance time is calculated based on the movement rate of the object as the time required for the object to vacates a region proximate the vehicle.

17. The vehicle door system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor corresponds to a plurality of imaging devices to image data.

18. The vehicle door system according to claim 17, wherein the imaging devices comprise a plurality of fields of view configured to capture the image data substantially around the vehicle.

19. The vehicle door system according to claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect the object in a first field of view of a first imager of the plurality of imagers at a first time and identify the movement rate by detecting the object in a second field of view of a second imager of the plurality of imagers at a second time.

20. The vehicle door system according to claim 17, wherein the opening motion of the door is caused by an external force applied to the door.

16. A vehicle door system comprising:

a door actuator;

at least one sensor configured to capture data corresponding to an environment local to a vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

process the data to identify an object moving at a movement rate proximate the vehicle;

calculate a clearance time for the object to vacate a region proximate the vehicle based on the movement rate; and

control the door actuator to oppose an opening motion of the door throughout the clearance time.