POWER SWINGING SIDE DOOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a door angle sensor;
a door having a range of motion and a maximum door opening angle, said door further having a variable and detectable door opening angle that is selectable by a user of the vehicle and detectable by said door angle sensor, said door angle sensor being further operable for monitoring said variable and detectable door opening angle to determine a change in velocity of said door, and to thereby detect an obstacle positioned within said range of motion;
an actuator adapted for alternately opening and closing said door;
a controller having an algorithm for moving said actuator in one direction to at least partially open said door 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; and
at least one sensor configured for detecting the presence of said obstacle positioned within said range of motion;
wherein said controller is operable for interrupting either of said opening and said closing when said presence of said obstacle is detected.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
108 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a door angle sensor; a door having a range of motion and a maximum door opening angle, said door further having a variable and detectable door opening angle that is selectable by a user of the vehicle and detectable by said door angle sensor, said door angle sensor being further operable for monitoring said variable and detectable door opening angle to determine a change in velocity of said door, and to thereby detect an obstacle positioned within said range of motion; an actuator adapted for alternately opening and closing said door; a controller having an algorithm for moving said actuator in one direction to at least partially open said door 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; and at least one sensor configured for detecting the presence of said obstacle positioned within said range of motion; wherein said controller is operable for interrupting either of said opening and said closing when said presence of said obstacle is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automatic door assembly for use with a vehicle comprising:
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a swinging side door having a range of motion; 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 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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for automatically opening a side-swinging vehicle door having a user-selectable door opening angle, the vehicle door being operatively connected to a controllable actuator, the method comprising:
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selecting and recording the user-selectable door opening angle; detecting one of a plurality of operating modes for the vehicle door, said plurality of operating modes including a first, a second, and a third operating mode; fully opening the vehicle door using the controllable actuator when said first mode is detected; fully closing the vehicle door using the controllable actuator when said second mode is detected; and partially opening the vehicle door to the recorded user-selectable opening angle using said controllable actuator when said third mode is detected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification