Vehicle door pinch detection system and method with improved detection performance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle door pinch detection system and method with improved detection performance, the vehicle door pinch detection method comprising: a door closing request step in which a controller determines whether there is a request to close a vehicle door; a rainy day determination step, wherein the controller determines whether it is rainy or not through a rainwater detection sensor arranged on the sealing strip; a door closing activation step in which the controller loads the pinch threshold and starts actuating a door motor for closing the door of the vehicle; and a pinching determination step in which the controller determines whether pinching exists through a pinching sensor provided on the sealing strip, in which the controller loads different pinching thresholds in response to rainy days or non-rainy days, and if pinching is detected in the pinching determination step, the controller opens the vehicle door.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door pinch detection system and method for detecting pinching of an occupant's body while closing a vehicle door, and more particularly, to a vehicle door pinch detection system and method that adjusts detection sensitivity in rainy conditions to eliminate poor detection and improve detection performance. Background Art

[0002] Anti-pinch sensors are provided on vehicle doors to detect pinching of a passenger's body or articles between a closing vehicle door and the vehicle body, or between vehicle doors, when a passenger enters or exits the vehicle.

[0003] The anti-pinch sensor is usually arranged on the inner side of the sealing strip arranged around the periphery of the vehicle door, so that when pinching occurs, the sealing strip is deformed first, and then the anti-pinch sensor detects the deformation of the sealing strip, thereby detecting the occurrence of pinching.

[0004] Purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) that operate on demand and are based on autonomous driving are expected to be used as passenger transport vehicles. Since PBVs operate without a driver, the reliability of their onboard safety systems needs to be improved.

[0005] For example, when there is no driver involved, it is necessary to very accurately detect the pinching that occurs when a car door is closed to avoid unnecessary failures and safety accidents.

[0006] On rainy days, the anti-pinch sensor may malfunction due to direct contact with moisture or high humidity. In other words, even though there is no pinching situation, frequent false detection of pinching due to anti-pinch sensor failure can cause the door to open and close repeatedly, delaying the vehicle's departure and preventing it from moving quickly.

[0007] The information included in this Background of the Invention section is only intended to enhance understanding of the overall background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a vehicle door pinch detection system and method configured to detect vehicle door pinching with different pinch thresholds for rainy or non-rainy conditions, thereby preventing malfunctions and improving detection performance.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door pinch detection system and method, wherein, when pinching or contact occurs on a vehicle door, the occupants are notified of the pinching or contact through an alarm, and the vehicle door is reopened to prevent injury to the occupants, thereby improving detection performance.

[0010] One aspect of the present invention can provide a vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance, the system comprising: an interior pinch sensor, a rain detection sensor, and a controller, wherein the interior pinch sensor is configured to detect pinching around a vehicle door ("door") disposed on one side of the vehicle during a closing operation; the rain detection sensor is separately disposed from the interior pinch sensor and configured to detect rainy days; the controller is operably connected to the interior pinch sensor and the rain detection sensor, and is configured to determine whether current weather is rainy or non-rainy based on an output of the rain detection sensor, to load different pinch thresholds in response to rainy days or non-rainy days, and to determine that pinching has occurred if the output of the interior pinch sensor is equal to or greater than the pinch threshold.

[0011] The controller may set the pinching threshold on non-rainy days to be lower than the pinching threshold on rainy days.

[0012] The internal pinching sensor and the rain detection sensor may transmit respective output values ​​according to impedance changes, and the controller may compare the output value of the internal pinching sensor with a preset value to determine pinching or approaching of the body, and compare the output value of the rain detection sensor with a preset value to determine rainy days.

[0013] The interior pinch sensor and the rain detection sensor may be mounted on an interior sealing strip of a vehicle.

[0014] The system may further include an external pinch sensor operatively connected to the controller and provided at the external sealing strip to detect pinching based on a change in resistance value when an occupant is pinched.

[0015] The controller may include: a rain detection controller, an internal pinching controller, and an external pinching controller, wherein the rain detection controller is configured to receive an output value from a rain detection sensor and control the rain detection sensor; the internal pinching controller is configured to receive an output value from an internal pinching sensor and control the internal pinching sensor; and the external pinching controller is configured to receive an output value from an external pinching sensor and control the external pinching sensor.

[0016] The controller may be connected to a door controller to control the opening or closing of a vehicle door.

[0017] The door controller may be connected to a door button that outputs an operation signal when the door needs to be opened, and an alarm device that warns when the door opening or closing is completed.

[0018] The controller may be configured to increase a count when a body pinching or approaching is detected around the periphery of the door during closing of the door, and to request the door controller to open the door for a predetermined period of time and then close the door again if the increased count is below a predetermined count threshold.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance, the method including the following steps performed by a controller: determining whether there is a request to close the vehicle door; determining whether it is a rainy day or a non-rainy day by a rain detection sensor provided on a sealing strip; starting the closing of the door by the controller by loading a pinching threshold and actuating a door motor that will close the door; determining whether pinching occurs by a pinching sensor provided on the sealing strip, wherein the controller loads different pinching thresholds according to whether it is a rainy day or a non-rainy day, and if pinching is detected in the pinching determination step, the controller is configured to open the door.

[0020] If it is a rainy day in the rainy day determination step, a pinching threshold for rainy days may be loaded.

[0021] If it is determined in the rainy day determination step that it is a non-rainy day, the squeeze threshold for a non-rainy day may be loaded.

[0022] The pinch threshold on rainy days may be set higher than the pinch threshold on non-rainy days.

[0023] In the door closing initiation step, the controller may be configured to reset the count, wherein the method further includes the following steps performed by the controller: if pinching is detected in the pinching determination step, incrementing the count; determining whether the incremented count has reached a predetermined count threshold at which the controller stops the control operation; and if the count is below the count threshold in the incrementing count determination step, temporarily opening the vehicle door and then closing the door again after a predetermined period of time.

[0024] The method may further include the following steps performed by the controller: if the count is determined to have reached the count threshold in the increasing count determination step, opening the vehicle door to interrupt the control operation; determining whether the opening of the vehicle door has been completed; and if the opening of the vehicle door has been completed, stopping the actuation of the vehicle door motor and warning that the actuation of the vehicle door motor has stopped.

[0025] The rain detection sensor may be mounted on an inner sealing strip of a vehicle.

[0026] The pinch sensor may include: an internal pinch sensor and an external pinch sensor. The internal pinch sensor is arranged on the internal sealing strip to detect the pinching or approach of the occupant through impedance changes; the external pinch sensor is arranged on the external sealing strip to detect the pinching of the occupant through resistance value changes when the occupant is pinched.

[0027] The method may further include the following steps performed by the controller: if it is determined that no pinching is detected in the pinching determination step, determining whether closing of the vehicle door has been completed, and if it is determined that closing of the vehicle door has been completed, the controller may be configured to stop actuation of the vehicle door motor and warn of the stop of actuation of the vehicle door motor.

[0028] According to the vehicle door pinch detection system and method including the above configuration with improved detection performance, pinching can be detected on the outside of the vehicle by an exterior sensor of a resistance detection type, and can be detected on the inside of the vehicle by an interior sensor of an impedance detection type.

[0029] Rainy or non-rainy days can be detected by impedance detection, and according to weather conditions, the body detection level of the sensor can be changed to eliminate detection defects.

[0030] Furthermore, if body pinching or contact is detected, the doors open and an alarm is triggered so that the occupants can be aware of the pinching or contact and then avoid injury.

[0031] By incorporation into this document of the accompanying drawings and Figure 1 Other features and advantages of the methods and apparatus of the present invention will become more clearly apparent or elucidated with reference to specific embodiments that illustrate certain principles of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a side view showing a vehicle including a vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 To follow Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II;

[0034] Figure 3 is a perspective view from the outside of a vehicle, wherein an outer sealing strip and an inner sealing strip are provided on a rear door, and the rear door has an outer sensor and an inner sensor of a vehicle door pinch detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective view from the interior of a vehicle, wherein an outer sealing strip and an inner sealing strip are provided on a rear door, and the rear door has an outer sensor and an inner sensor of a vehicle door pinch detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an external sensor of a vehicle door pinch detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided on an external weather strip;

[0037] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner sensor of a vehicle door pinch detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided on an inner weather strip;

[0038] Figure 7 2 is a block diagram showing a vehicle door pinching detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 A distribution diagram showing measured values ​​in selected parameters for determining whether it is rainy or non-rainy weather in a vehicle door pinching detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 9 A distribution diagram showing measured values ​​of selected parameters for determining whether a vehicle door is pinched in rainy and non-rainy conditions in a vehicle door pinching detection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0041] Figure 10 1 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle door pinch detection method with improved detection performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather show a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment.

[0043] In the figures, like reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Reference will now be made in detail to various specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are presented in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be appreciated that this description is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments thereof. On the other hand, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments thereof, but also various alternative forms, modifications, equivalent forms, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0045] Hereinafter, a vehicle door pinch detection system and method with improved detection performance according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1An example of a vehicle 1 including a vehicle door ("door") pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The present invention can be applied to a vehicle 1 having a pair of doors 11 and 12 slidably provided thereto. The present invention can be applied to the vehicle 1 between the front door 11 and the rear door 12 (e.g., a build-on-demand vehicle (PBV)).

[0047] exist Figure 1 In the vehicle 1 shown, the front door 11 can be oriented toward the front of the vehicle 1 (along the Figure 1 The rear door 12 can be slidably opened toward the rear of the vehicle 1 (along the left direction in FIG. Figure 1 The vehicle door pinch detection system of the present invention is configured to detect pinching between the front door 11 and the rear door 12. Of course, the vehicle door pinch detection system can also be applied to vehicles whose doors open or close in a swinging manner to detect pinching between the vehicle door and the vehicle body.

[0048] Figure 2 To follow Figure 1 The external pinch sensor 22 and the internal pinch sensor 25 for detecting pinching between the front door 11 and the rear door 12 may be provided on the external sealing strip 21 and the internal sealing strip 23, respectively.

[0049] The front door 11 and the rear door 12 may include door panels 11 a and 12 a as basic door frames, and the door panels 11 a and 12 a are mounted to door trims 11 b and 12 b as finishing materials on the inner side of the vehicle 1 .

[0050] The outer weather strip 21 and the inner weather strip 23 may be provided on either the front door 11 or the rear door 12 to provide a seal between the front door 11 and the rear door 12 when both are closed.

[0051] For example, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the outer sealing strip 21 and the inner sealing strip 23 may be provided at the front end portion of the rear door 12 such that the outer sealing strip 21 is mounted on the outside of the front end portion of the rear door 12 and the inner sealing strip 23 is mounted on the inside of the front end portion of the rear door 12. Thus, the outer sealing strip 21 and the inner sealing strip 23 may seal the outside and inside of the vehicle 1, respectively, between the rear end portion of the front door 11 and the front end portion of the rear door 12.

[0052] The external pinch sensor 22 may be integrally formed with the external sealing strip 21 .

[0053] The external sealing strip 21 may include: a first fixing portion 21a, a first insert 21b, a first hollow sealing portion 21c, a first hollow sensor portion 21d and a bridging portion 21e, wherein the first fixing portion 21a is fixedly assembled to one side of the vehicle door 11 or 12, the first insert 21b is inserted into the interior of the first fixing portion 21a, the first hollow sealing portion 21c is formed on the outside of the first fixing portion 21a to be adjacent to the body of the vehicle 1 or the other vehicle door 12 or 11, the first hollow sensor portion 21d is formed to be connected to the first sealing portion 21c from the outside of the first fixing portion 21a, and the bridging portion 21e is formed between the first sealing portion 21c and the first sensor portion 21d to separate the first sealing portion 21c and the first sensor portion 21d.

[0054] The external pinch sensor 22 may be provided inside the first sensor portion 21d. The external pinch sensor 22 may be a contact type sensor configured to detect pinching through variable resistance occurring when two spaced-apart members 22a and 22b come into contact.

[0055] The first member 22a and the second member 22b forming the external pinch sensor 22 can be spaced apart from each other and disposed on the inner surface of the first sensor portion 21d. The first member 22a and the second member 22b can be formed of a conductive rubber material. When the first and second members come into contact due to pinching, pinching is detected by a voltage difference generated by a change in resistance in a circuit connected to the external pinch sensor 22. The circuit for detecting pinching by the external pinch sensor 22 can include two resistors connected in parallel, one of which is connected in series with the external pinch sensor 22. In this case, current can normally flow through only one resistor. However, when pinching occurs, current flows through both resistors, causing a change in resistance across the entire circuit, thereby generating a voltage difference, indicating the occurrence of pinching.

[0056] The inner pinch sensor 25 may be integrally formed with the inner sealing strip 23 .

[0057] The inner sealing strip 23 may include: a second fixing portion 23a, a second insert 23b, a second hollow sealing portion 23c and a second sensor portion 23d, wherein the second fixing portion 23a is fixedly assembled to the vehicle door 11 or 12, the second insert 23b is inserted into the interior of the second fixing portion 23a, the second hollow sealing portion 23c is formed on the outside of the second fixing portion 23a to be adjacent to the body of the vehicle 1 or the other vehicle door 12 or 11, and the second sensor portion 23d is formed to protrude from the second fixing portion 23a and be a certain distance away from the second hollow sealing portion 23c.

[0058] The internal pinch sensor 25 may be formed at the second sensor portion 23d.

[0059] In addition, the rain detection sensor 24 may also be formed in the second sensor portion 23d.

[0060] Looking at the arrangements of the interior pinch sensor 25 and the rain detection sensor 24 from the inner weather strip 23 , the rain detection sensor 24 may be arranged on the inner side of the vehicle compared to the interior pinch sensor 25 .

[0061] The internal pinch sensor 25 and the rain detection sensor 24 may be provided as impedance detection sensors or the like, which detect a user's touch on a flat screen or the like.

[0062] Accordingly, when the occupant's body approaches the inner pinch sensor 25 or is pinched around a portion where the inner pinch sensor 25 is provided, the impedance value may change, thereby detecting the pinching.

[0063] On the other hand, if raindrops approach the rain detection sensor 24 due to rain, the impedance value may also change, so that the controller 30 can determine whether it is rainy or not.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller 30 may determine whether the current weather is rainy or non-rainy.

[0065] When an impedance type sensor is applied as the interior pinch sensor 25 or the rain detection sensor 24, the impedance type sensor can have a high frequency band so that the output value varies according to the object in contact with the sensor, thereby being able to differentially detect pinching of the occupant's body or rain.

[0066] The controller 30 can monitor the states of the external pinch sensor 22, the internal pinch sensor 25, and the rain detection sensor 24, and determine whether the occupant's body is pinched or approaching through the external pinch sensor 22 and the internal pinch sensor 25, and whether it is raining or not through the rain detection sensor 24. In other words, the controller 30 can include an external pinch controller 31, an internal pinch controller 33, and a rain detection controller 32, which receive output values ​​of the external pinch sensor 22, the internal pinch sensor 25, and the rain detection sensor 24 by communicating with these sensors and controlling these sensors.

[0067] In the controller 30, a rainy day determination threshold value P for determining a rainy day may be stored in advance. 天气 .like Figure 8 As shown, the rainy day determination threshold P 天气The rain determination threshold value P may be set by using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) value obtained by converting the voltage value or current value measured by the rain detection sensor 24 in actual rainy conditions and non-rainy conditions using an ADC. For example, the arithmetic mean of the minimum ADC value in rainy conditions and the maximum ADC value in non-rainy conditions may be set as the rain determination threshold value P. 天气 .

[0068] Accordingly, the controller 30 may be configured to: 天气 When the output value of the rain detection sensor 24 is lower than the rain determination threshold value P 天气 , it is determined that the weather is not rainy.

[0069] on the other hand, Figure 9 An example of setting a pinching determination threshold value for determining whether pinching exists on rainy days or on non-rainy days is shown.

[0070] Rainy day squeeze threshold P 雨天 It may be set to the minimum value of the ADC value converted from the value measured by the internal pinch sensor 25 in rainy weather.

[0071] Non-rainy day squeeze threshold P 晴天 It may be set to the minimum value of the ADC value converted from the value measured by the internal pinch sensor 25 on a non-rainy day.

[0072] Therefore, the controller 30 can be configured to determine the threshold value P according to the rainy weather. 天气 To determine whether it is a rainy day or a non-rainy day, if it is a rainy day, it is determined that the internal squeeze sensor 25 is set with a rainy day squeeze threshold P 雨天 In addition, in the case of non-rainy days, the controller 30 can be configured to determine that the internal squeezing sensor 25 is provided with a non-rainy day squeezing threshold value P 晴天 There is a pinching or approach of the body at the position.

[0073] The controller 30 may be connected to a door controller 40 configured to control opening and closing of the vehicle doors 11 and 12 .

[0074] The controller 30 may output an indication that a body has been squeezed or approached around the door 11 or 12 to the door controller 40, and the door controller 40 may accordingly control the door 11 or 12. The door controller 40 may also output a closing signal of the door 11 or 12 to the controller 30 to detect the body being squeezed or approached.

[0075] The door controller 40 may be connected to a door button 41 that outputs an operation signal when the door 11 or 12 needs to be opened, and an alarm device 43 (e.g., a buzzer, a display, a light, etc.) that warns of the situation when the door 11 or 12 has been opened or closed. Furthermore, the door controller 40 may be configured to control a door motor 42 that operates to open and close the door 11 or 12. For example, the door motor 42 may be controlled by the door controller 40 using pulse width modulation (PWM).

[0076] A vehicle door pinching detection method to be described later may be stored in the controller 30 and the door controller 40 in the form of logic executable by the controller to detect pinching around the periphery of the door 11 or 12 .

[0077] Figure 10 A vehicle door pinch detection method with improved detection performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0078] The vehicle door pinch detection method with improved detection performance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a door closing request step S112, in which the controller 30 determines whether there is a request to close the vehicle door 11 or 12; a rainy day determination step S120, in which the controller 30 determines whether it is rainy day or not by using the rain detection sensor 24 provided on the sealing strip 21 or 23; a closing start step S131 or S132, in which the controller 30 loads the pinch threshold value P 雨天 or P 晴天 , and starts to actuate the door motor 42 for closing the door 11 or 12; and a pinching determination step S142, wherein the controller 30 determines whether there is pinching through the pinching sensors 22 and 25 provided on the sealing strips 21 and 23, wherein the controller 30 loads different pinching thresholds P according to whether it is rainy or non-rainy. 雨天 and P 晴天 If pinching is detected in the pinching determination step S142 , the controller 30 opens the vehicle door 11 or 12 .

[0079] The power supply determination step S111 can determine whether the vehicle 1 is powered by a drive device or a starter device. The controller 30 can be configured to determine whether power is being supplied to various devices required to execute the vehicle door pinch detection method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, when the vehicle 1 is in the accessory (ACC)-on state (ACC ON) before the key is turned on (KEY ON) for driving, and power is supplied to the exterior pinch sensor 22, interior pinch sensor 25, rain detection sensor 24, etc., the sensors can transmit the power supply status to the controller 30. When power is supplied to the various components to execute the present invention, the controller 30 can proceed to the next step.

[0080] In the door closing request step S112, the controller 30 can be configured to determine whether there is an occupant request to close the door 11 or 12. When the door button 41 provided inside the vehicle 1 is operated by the occupant, so that the operation signal is input to the controller 30, the controller 30 can be configured to determine that there is a request to close the door 11 or 12 of the vehicle 1 and proceed to the next step. On the other hand, the request to close the door 11 or 12 can be transmitted to the controller 30 not only through the door button 41 but also through an external terminal. For example, an external administrator can control the vehicle 1 through a terminal such as a smartphone. In the present case, when the vehicle 1 is stopped at a station, etc., the opening and closing of the door 11 or 12 can be controlled through the terminal, which may mean that there is a request to close the door 11 or 12.

[0081] If either the power supply determination step S111 or the door closing request step S112 is not satisfied, the controller 30 may return to the power supply determination step S111 to cause the logic to be executed again from the beginning of the flowchart.

[0082] In the rainy day determination step S120, the controller 30 may be configured to determine whether it is rainy or not using a rain detection sensor 24 provided on the inner sealing strip 23. The inner sealing strip 23 may be provided with the rain detection sensor 24, which typically passes a high-frequency current to detect the approach of raindrops or a person through a change in impedance. The controller 30 may be configured to determine whether it is rainy or not using a signal input from the rain detection sensor 24.

[0083] In the closing start steps S131 and S132, the controller 30 can load the squeeze threshold P according to whether it is rainy or non-rainy day. 雨天 or P 晴天 , and starts to actuate the door motor 42 for closing the door 11 or 12. The controller 30 can load the pre-stored pinching threshold value P 雨天 or P 晴天 , and starts to actuate the door motor 42 for closing the door 11 or 12.

[0084] If it is rainy, the controller 30 may load the rain squeeze threshold P 雨天 , and execute the rainy day closing start step S131 to actuate the door motor 42.

[0085] On the other hand, if it is a non-rainy day, the controller 30 may load the non-rainy day squeeze threshold P 晴天 , and execute the non-rainy day closing start step S132 to actuate the door motor 42.

[0086] Here, the rain squeeze threshold P 雨天Can be set higher than the non-rainy squeeze threshold P 晴天 .

[0087] When the rainy weather closing start step S131 or the non-rainy weather closing start step S132 is executed, the count N, which is the number of times the pinching or approach of the body is detected at the vehicle door 11 or 12, may be reset. That is, when the rainy weather closing start step S131 or the non-rainy weather closing start step S132 is executed, the count N may become 0 (zero).

[0088] After the rainy weather shutoff initiation step S131 or the non-rainy weather shutoff initiation step S132 , the controller 30 may perform a pinching monitoring step S141 to monitor whether a body pinching or approaching occurs using a signal from the external pinching sensor 22 or the internal pinching sensor 25 .

[0089] In the pinch determining step S142 , the controller 30 may be configured to determine whether pinching exists using signals from the pinch sensors 22 and 25 mounted on the sealing strips 21 and 23 .

[0090] If the controller 30 detects a person's pinching or approaching through the exterior pinching sensor 22 or the interior pinching sensor 25, the controller 30 may execute a temporary opening step S150 to open the vehicle door 11 or 12 and then reclose the vehicle door 11 or 12 after a predetermined period of time. Since pinching or approaching has been detected at the vehicle door 11 or 12, to prevent injury or an accident, the controller 30 may open the closing vehicle door 11 or 12 and then begin closing the vehicle door 11 or 12 again after a predetermined period of time. By temporarily opening the vehicle door 11 or 12 for the predetermined period of time through the temporary opening step S150, the occupant can remove the person or an object from the vehicle door 11 or 12.

[0091] After the temporary opening step S150 , the controller 30 may return to the pinch monitoring step S141 .

[0092] On the other hand, if body pinching or approaching at the door 11 or 12 is repeated, which may indicate other problems, the count increase step S143 and the increased count determination step S144 may be performed between the pinching determination step S142 and the temporary opening step S150.

[0093] That is, the count increasing step S143 increases the count N every time the controller 30 detects pinching or approach of a body in the pinching determining step S142 .

[0094] The controller 30 may compare the count N incremented in the count increment step S143 with the count threshold of the increment count determination step S144. That is, in the increment count determination step S144, the controller 30 may be configured to determine whether the incremented count N has reached a predetermined count threshold at which the controller 30 ceases control operations. Generally, if a person's entrapment or approach occurs temporarily while the vehicle door 11 or 12 is closed, the person's entrapment or approach can be resolved in the temporary opening step S150. However, if the person's entrapment or approach persists, causing the count N to reach the count threshold N, there may be a problem with the entire system, and further entrapment monitoring operations are unnecessary.

[0095] Therefore, when the count N reaches the count threshold, the controller 30 may execute the door opening step S161 to open the door 11 or 12 to interrupt the control.

[0096] In the door opening step S161 , the controller 30 may actuate the door motor 42 to open the door 11 or 12 .

[0097] Accordingly, the controller 30 may perform the opening completion determination step S162 to determine whether the opening of the vehicle door 11 or 12 is completed until the opening of the vehicle door 11 or 12 is completed.

[0098] In motor stop step S180, when the opening of vehicle door 11 or 12 is complete, controller 30 may stop actuating door motor 42 and warn the operator of the cessation of door motor 42. Since operation of door motor 42 is unnecessary when the opening of vehicle door 11 or 12 is complete, it may be stopped. Furthermore, the cessation of door motor 42 may be signaled by a buzzer 43, a display, or a light provided on vehicle 1, using audio, text, or lighting. On the other hand, if motor stop step S180 is executed after opening completion determination step S162, this may indicate that vehicle door 11 or 12 is abnormally open, necessitating a warning to passengers or management personnel to alert them to the situation.

[0099] On the other hand, if it is determined at the pinching determination step S142 that pinching is not detected, the controller 30 may be configured to perform a closing completion determination step S170 to determine whether closing of the vehicle door 11 or 12 is complete.

[0100] If closing of the door 11 or 12 is completed at the closing completion determination step S170 , the controller 30 may stop actuation of the door motor 42 and perform a motor stop step S180 to warn of the stop of the door motor 42 .

[0101] Here, when the motor stop step S180 is performed after the closing completion determination step S170 , the door 11 or 12 may be normally opened, so the warning situation is different from when the motor stop step S180 is performed after the opening completion determination step S162 .

[0102] For example, in the case of warning with sound, different sounds may be used for warning, or in the case of warning with text or light, different text or light modes may be used for warning.

[0103] In addition, terms related to control devices, such as "controller," "control device," "control unit," "control device," "control module," "control circuit," or "server," refer to a hardware device including a memory and a processor, which is configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithmic structure. The memory stores the algorithmic steps, and the processor executes the algorithmic steps to perform one or more processes of the method according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The control device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be implemented by a non-volatile memory and a processor, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store algorithms for controlling the operation of various components of the vehicle or data regarding software commands for executing the algorithms, and the processor is configured to use data stored in the memory to perform the above-mentioned operations. The memory and the processor can be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor can be integrated into a single chip. The processor can be implemented as one or more processors. The processor can include various logic circuits and operating circuits, can be configured to process data according to a program provided by the memory, and can be configured to generate control signals based on the processing results.

[0104] The control device may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program, which may include a series of commands for executing the methods included in the above-described various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0105] The above invention can also be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data that can be read thereafter by a computer system, and store and execute program instructions that can be read thereafter by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc., and implemented as carrier waves (e.g., transmitted over the Internet). Examples of program instructions include machine language codes (e.g., those generated by a compiler), and high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or similar tool.

[0106] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the operations described above may be performed by a control device, and the control device may be constructed by a plurality of control devices, or by an integrated single control device.

[0107] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the memory and the processor may be provided as one chip or as separate chips.

[0108] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the scope of the present invention includes software or machine-executable commands (e.g., operating systems, application software, firmware, programs, etc.) for enabling operations according to the methods of the various embodiments to be performed on a device or computer, and non-transitory computer-readable media including such software or commands stored thereon and executable on a device or computer.

[0109] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the control device may be implemented in the form of hardware or software, or may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software.

[0110] Software implementations may include software components (or elements), object-oriented software components, class components, task components, processes, functions, attributes, programs, subroutines, program code segments, drivers, firmware, microcode, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Software, data, etc. may be stored in a memory and executed by a processor. The memory or processor may employ various devices well known to those skilled in the art.

[0111] In addition, terms (such as “unit”, “module”) included in the specification refer to units for processing at least one function or operation, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0112] In the flowcharts described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the flowcharts may be executed by a controller or a processor. The order of operations in the flowcharts may be changed, multiple operations may be combined, any operation may be divided, and predetermined operations may not be performed. In addition, the operations in the flowcharts may be performed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of the operations may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

[0113] Hereinafter, the fact that hardware is operably coupled may include the fact that a direct and / or indirect connection between the hardware is established through wired and / or wireless.

[0114] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle may be referred to as a concept based on various means of transportation. In some cases, a vehicle may be interpreted as a concept based on a concept that includes not only various land vehicles traveling on roads, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses, but also various means of transportation such as airplanes, drones, ships, and the like.

[0115] For ease of explanation and precise definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "above," "below," "upward," "downward," "front," "back," "inside," "outside," "inwardly," "outwardly," "interior," "exterior," "inner," "exterior," "forward," and "rearward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be further understood that the term "connect" or its derivatives refers to both direct and indirect connections.

[0116] The term "and / or" may include any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any one of a plurality of related listed items. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three cases, such as "A", "B" and "A and B".

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, “at least one of A and B” may mean “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of a combination of at least one of A and B.” Furthermore, “one or more of A and B” may mean “one or more of A or B” or “one or more of a combination of one or more of A and B.”

[0118] In this specification, unless otherwise stated, a singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0119] In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as “including” or “having” are intended to specify the presence of features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the possibility of adding or existing one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0120] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, components may be combined with each other to be implemented as one, or some components may be omitted.

Claims

1. A vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance, the system comprising: an interior pinch sensor configured to detect pinching at a periphery of a vehicle door disposed on a side of the vehicle during a closing operation; a rain detection sensor, which is provided separately from the internal pinch sensor and is configured to detect rain; as well as A controller is operably connected to the internal pinch sensor and the rain detection sensor and is configured to determine whether current weather is rainy or non-rainy based on an output of the rain detection sensor, to load different pinch thresholds in response to rainy or non-rainy weather, and to determine the occurrence of pinching in response to the output of the internal pinch sensor being equal to or greater than the pinch threshold.

2. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 1, wherein: When different pinching thresholds are loaded, the controller is further configured to set the pinching threshold on non-rainy days to be lower than the pinching threshold on rainy days.

3. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 1, wherein: The internal pinching sensor and the rain detection sensor transmit respective output values ​​according to impedance changes, and the controller is further configured to compare the output value of the internal pinching sensor with a preset value to determine pinching or approaching of the body, and compare the output value of the rain detection sensor with a preset value to determine rainy days.

4. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 1, wherein: The interior pinch sensor and the rain detection sensor are mounted on an interior sealing strip of a vehicle.

5. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 1, further comprising an external pinch sensor operatively connected to the controller and provided to the external sealing strip to detect pinching based on a change in resistance value when an occupant is pinched.

6. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 5, wherein: The controller includes: a rain detection controller configured to receive an output from the rain detection sensor and control the rain detection sensor; an internal pinch controller configured to receive an output from the internal pinch sensor and control the internal pinch sensor; and An external pinch controller is configured to receive an output from the external pinch sensor and control the external pinch sensor.

7. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance of claim 1, wherein: The controller is connected to a door controller to control the opening or closing of the vehicle door.

8. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 7, wherein: The door controller is connected to a door button that outputs an operation signal in response to a need to open a vehicle door and an alarm device that issues a warning in response to completion of opening or closing of the vehicle door.

9. The vehicle door pinch detection system with improved detection performance according to claim 7, wherein: The controller is further configured to, when pinching or approaching of a body is detected around a perimeter of the vehicle door during closing of the vehicle door, increment a count, and in response to the incremented count being below a predetermined count threshold, request the door controller to open the vehicle door for a predetermined period of time and then close the vehicle door again.

10. A method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance, the method comprising the steps of: determining, by the controller, whether there is a vehicle door closing request; The controller determines whether the current weather is rainy or non-rainy through a rain detection sensor provided on the sealing strip and operatively connected to the controller; initiating closing of the vehicle door by the controller by loading a pinch threshold and actuating a door motor operatively connected to the controller, thereby closing the vehicle door; The controller determines whether pinching occurs by using a pinching sensor provided on the sealing strip and operatively connected to the controller, The controller loads different pinching thresholds according to whether the current weather is rainy or non-rainy, and in response to detecting pinching when determining whether pinching occurs, the controller is further configured to open the vehicle door.

11. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 10, wherein: When loading different squeeze thresholds, in response to concluding that the current weather is rainy, the controller is further configured to load the squeeze threshold for rainy days.

12. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 10, wherein: In response to concluding that the current weather is non-rainy, the controller is further configured to load a non-rainy squeeze threshold.

13. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 10, wherein: When different pinching thresholds are loaded, the pinching threshold on rainy days is set to be higher than the pinching threshold on non-rainy days.

14. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance of claim 10, wherein: When the closing of the vehicle door is initiated, the controller is further configured to reset the count, The method further comprises the following steps performed by the controller: In response to detecting a pinch, incrementing a count; determining whether the incremented count has reached a predetermined count threshold at which the controller ceases control operation; and In response to the count being below the predetermined count threshold, the vehicle door is opened and then closed again after a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 14, further comprising the following steps performed by the controller: responsive to concluding that the count has reached a predetermined count threshold, opening a vehicle door for interrupting the control operation; determining whether opening of the vehicle door has been completed; and In response to concluding that opening of the vehicle door has been completed, actuation of the door motor is stopped and a warning is given that actuation of the door motor has stopped.

16. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 10, wherein: The rain detection sensor is installed on an inner sealing strip of the vehicle.

17. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance according to claim 16, wherein: The pinch sensor comprises: an interior pinch sensor disposed on the interior sealing strip to detect pinching or approach of an occupant through impedance changes; and The external pinch sensor is installed on the external sealing strip to detect the pinching of the occupant by the change in the resistance value when the occupant is pinched.

18. The method of detecting pinching in a vehicle door with improved detection performance of claim 16, further comprising the following steps performed by the controller: In response to concluding that no pinching is detected, determining whether closing of the vehicle door has been completed, in, In response to concluding that closing of the vehicle door has been completed, the controller is further configured to stop actuation of the door motor and to warn of the cessation of actuation of the door motor.

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