SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ALERT VEHICLE DOOR-OPENING

• US 20170021759A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: ZHENG, YONG, ZHANG, KADIN
• Granted Patent: US 9,821,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a door-opening alert system of a vehicle includes a light-emitting unit to be connected and at least partially external to the vehicle at a light-emitting position, a sensing unit to signal a door-opening event at the vehicle, and a control unit to communicate between the sensing unit and the light-emitting unit such that the light-emitting unit is to emit a light pattern indicative of a dimension of a side door of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A door-opening alert system of a vehicle, comprising:

a light-emitting unit to be connected to the vehicle;

a sensing unit to signal a door-opening event at the vehicle; and

a control unit to communicate between the sensing unit and the light-emitting unit such that the light-emitting unit is to emit a light pattern indicative of a dimension of a side door of the vehicle.

2. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a rearview mirror of the vehicle.

3. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a roof-side rim of the vehicle.

4. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a lower body of the vehicle.

5. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a telescopic arm via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be positioned externally to the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

6. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a retractable arm via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be positioned externally to the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

7. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, further comprising a direction adaptor via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to emit light directed toward a ground surface upon which the vehicle stands.

8. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit includes an array of lights to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an outer contour of a side door of the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

9. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit includes a lens to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an outer contour of a side door of the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

10. The door-opening alert system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit includes an array of lights to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an opening movement of a side door of the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

11. A method of alerting a door-opening event at a vehicle, comprising:

providing a door-opening alert system to the vehicle, the door-opening alert system including a light-emitting unit to be connected to the vehicle, a sensing unit to signal a door-opening event at the vehicle, and a control unit to communicate between the sensing unit and the light-emitting unit such that the light-emitting unit is to emit a light pattern indicative of a dimension of a side door of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided to include a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a rearview mirror of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided to include a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a roof-side rim of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided to include a connector via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be connected to a lower body of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided to include at least one of a telescopic arm and a retractable arm via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to be positioned externally to the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided to include a direction adaptor via which at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is to emit light directed toward a ground surface upon which the vehicle stands.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided such that the light-emitting unit includes an array of lights to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an outer contour of a side door of the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided such that the light-emitting unit includes a lens to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an outer contour of a side door of the vehicle at a light-emitting position.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the door-opening alert system is provided such that the light-emitting unit includes an array of lights to form on the ground surface a light pattern indicative of an opening movement of a side door of the vehicle at the light-emitting position.

20. A door-opening alert system of a vehicle, comprising:

a light-emitting unit to be connected and at least partially external to the vehicle at a light emitting position;

a sensing unit to signal a door-opening event at the vehicle; and

a control unit to communicate between the sensing unit and the light-emitting unit such that the light-emitting unit is to emit a light pattern indicative of a dimension of a side door of the vehicle.