SEAL BASED OBJECT DETECTION FOR VEHICLE DOOR ASSIST SYSTEM

• US 20170030127A1
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elie, Larry, Potter, Timothy J., Novak, Robert F., Jaranson, John Wayne, Wallace, Jeff A., Azzouz, Michael M., Heath, Gerald J., Skoures, Evangelos P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,797,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/047 characterised by the opening or closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/74 using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/78 using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.

Claims

1. A door assist system for a vehicle comprising:

an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly;

an interference sensor forming a portion of a door opening seal configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions; and

a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.

2. The door assist system according to claim 1, wherein the door opening seal corresponds to at least one of a of at least one of a perimeter door seal and a perimeter door opening seal.

3. The door assist system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator to adjust the position of the door between an open position and a closed position.

4. The door assist system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify a location of the obstruction based on a radial extent of the obstruction from the hinge assembly.

5. The door assist system according to claim 4, wherein the interference sensor corresponds to a plurality of proximity sensors distributed along the door opening seal.

6. The door assist system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to identify the location of the obstruction based on a position of at least one sensor of the plurality of proximity sensors relative to the hinge assembly.

7. The door assist system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to detect the obstruction at a plurality of thresholds based on the location of obstruction relative to the hinge assembly.

8. The interference sensor according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of thresholds corresponds to a sensitivity of a detection of the obstruction, wherein the controller is configured to detect the obstruction at a higher sensitivity at locations in closer proximity to the hinge assembly.

9. An interference sensor for a vehicle door comprising:

a door opening seal;

an array of proximity sensors disposed forming a portion of the seal, each of the proximity sensors configured to detect an obstruction in one of a plurality of sensory regions; and

a processor in communication with the proximity sensors and configured to detect the obstruction of a motion of the door in the sensory regions.

10. The interference sensor according to claim 9, wherein the door opening seal corresponds to at least one of a perimeter door seal and a perimeter door opening seal.

11. The interference sensor according to claim 9, wherein the array of proximity sensors is incorporated as a sensor layer of the door opening seal.

12. The interference sensor according to claim 11, wherein the door seal comprises an outer layer of at least partially flexible polymeric material.

13. The interference sensor according to claim 11, wherein the array of proximity sensors is disposed proximate an outer layer of the seal and configured to detect the obstruction in a region between the vehicle door and a body of the vehicle.

14. The interference sensor according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive a detection signal from the array of proximity sensors and identify a location of the obstruction along the door extending from a rotational interface based on the detection signal.

15. The interference sensor according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to output a control signal based on the detection signal, the control signal being configured to control a motion of the vehicle door in response to the position of the obstruction relative to a hinge assembly interconnecting the door to the vehicle.

16. A vehicle door system comprising:

a plurality of proximity sensors configured to generate a detection signal, the sensors are incorporated in at least one of a perimeter door seal and a perimeter door opening seal;

an actuator configured to control a position of the door;

an angular position sensor configured to identify an angular position of the door; and

a controller configured to control the actuator based on the angular position of the door and the detection signal.

17. The vehicle door system according to claim 16, wherein the perimeter door seal comprises at least one polymeric layer configured to connect with a surface proximate a perimeter of at least one of a door and an opening of the door.

18. The vehicle door system according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to detect an obstruction based off a detection signal from each of a plurality of detection regions positioned along a radial extent of the door relative a hinge assembly.

19. The vehicle door system according to claim 18, wherein each of the detection regions corresponds to a capacitive field generated by the proximity sensors.

20. The vehicle door system according to claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a sensory range of each of the detection regions in response to the angular position of the door.