Anti-pinch device for motor vehicle doors

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preventing an object (32) from becoming trapped in a door area (30) of a vehicle (10), wherein the door area (30) is located between an open door (20) and a body area (40) of the vehicle (10) belonging to the open door (20), comprising the steps of: providing image data (58) of the door area (30) to a control unit (90) by means of a camera device (50) of the vehicle (10) which captures the door area (30) of an open door (20); checking, using the provided image data (58), whether an object (32) is located in the door area (30) by means of the control unit (90);Activating a blocking device (60) by means of the control unit (90) when the check reveals that an object (32) is located in the door area (30) of the door (20), thereby at least inhibiting a closing movement of the door (20) by means of the blocking device (60), wherein the check as to whether an object (32) is located in the door area (30) is additionally carried out by means of the reflection of infrared radiation (72) at infrared reflectors (70), wherein the infrared reflectors (70) are arranged on the door (20) and / or the body area (40) of the vehicle (10) belonging to the door (20). Furthermore, the invention relates to an anti-pinch device (80) for a vehicle and to a motor vehicle (10) with such an anti-pinch device (80).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preventing an object from becoming trapped in a door area of ​​a vehicle, as well as an anti-pinch device for carrying out such a method and a vehicle with such an anti-pinch device.

[0002] Limbs getting caught in car doors is a well-known problem. Rubber door seals and the introduction of electric locking systems already reduce the risk of entrapment. However, there is still a certain risk of entrapment when the door is closed forcefully.

[0003] Anti-pinch devices for motor vehicle doors are known from the prior art.

[0004] US 2002 / 0 093 420 A1 relates to safety systems for vehicle doors and, in particular, a new safety system for vehicle door stops that prevents a vehicle door from closing when an object moves between the open door and the vehicle body. The invention includes, inter alia, a field-generating device, e.g., a fan-shaped laser system or an infrared beam-generating device, a sensor device, and a blocking device, e.g., in the form of an extendable cylinder that is moved by a magnet. To block the door, the cylinder is extended so that an obstacle is created between the vehicle body and the door, preventing it from closing.

[0005] US 6,145,918 A relates to a method and device for preventing a user from being caught and trapped in the path of a vehicle door. These include a laser curtain as a sensor to detect the presence of an obstacle when the door is closed. If an obstacle is detected, an actuator attached to the door lock is activated, which blocks the closing mechanism and thus prevents the door from moving into its fully locked position.

[0006] EP 3 683 394 B1 relates to a system for preventing entrapment in vehicle doors, comprising capacitive proximity sensors mounted on each door along the closing surfaces. The system includes an accelerometer located in the door and a stop bar that prevents the door from closing completely. The release mechanism for the stop bar, the capacitive proximity sensors, the accelerometer, and the release mechanism are connected to a control unit. The stop bar is moved into a locked position when the capacitive proximity sensor for the door detects an object and the door has finished accelerating.

[0007] German patent DE 10 2016 106 867 A1 concerns a vehicle equipped with a light field camera that monitors the swing range of a door to detect the presence of objects (including those on a collision course). Based on this detection, a vehicle control system regulates the door actuator to prevent the door from opening, closing, or moving further, or vice versa.

[0008] The purpose of the invention is to provide a solution that offers particularly effective and efficient pinch protection in vehicles.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. Features, advantages, and possible embodiments set forth in the description for one of the subject matter of the independent claims are to be regarded, at least analogously, as features, advantages, and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other independent claims, as well as of any possible combination of the subject matter of the independent claims, optionally in conjunction with one or more of the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, a method is provided for preventing an object from becoming trapped in the door area of ​​a vehicle. The door area is located between an open door and a body section of the vehicle belonging to the door. Image data of the door area is provided to a control unit by means of a camera device in the vehicle, the camera device capturing the door area. The control unit uses the provided image data to check whether an object is located in the door area. Furthermore, if the check confirms that an object is located in the door area, the control unit activates a locking device, thereby at least inhibiting the closing movement of the door by means of the locking device.

[0011] The invention has the advantage that the entire door area can be visually detected by the camera device. This allows objects located anywhere in the doorway to be detected very reliably and early, which in turn allows the blocking device to be activated very quickly. This reliably prevents objects from becoming trapped in the doorway. Using a camera device to detect objects in the doorway offers a number of further advantages. For example, with systems based on light barriers, light can unintentionally enter people's eyes and cause glare. Furthermore, components such as light sources, lenses, or photoelectric elements can become dirty over time, which can lead to impairment or total failure of such systems.In systems that rely solely on touch detection, detection may occur too late or not at all because the object is particularly small or the force exerted by the object on the touch detector may not be sufficient to activate it. For example, such systems still pose a risk of entrapment, such as if a child's hand is in the doorway while it is closing. Using cameras with comparatively high resolution offers the advantage of reliably detecting even very small objects.

[0012] Objects within the scope of the invention can be limbs and body parts of humans and animals, for example, heads, necks, arms, legs, hands, and fingers. Other objects within the scope of the invention can be items such as umbrellas, suitcases, bags, purses, handbags, articles of clothing, and the like. Other objects within the scope of the invention can be branches of trees and plants.

[0013] A door within the scope of the invention can be understood as synonymous with any type of door or hatch for vehicles, i.e., manually, electrically, and / or hydraulically operated doors for vehicles. Non-limiting examples of such doors for vehicles include: side doors, tailgates, trunk lids, hoods, sliding doors, or sunroofs. A door within the scope of the invention can, in particular, be a side door and / or tailgate.

[0014] The door area within the scope of the invention can be understood as the volume located between the open door and the corresponding body section of the vehicle. In this sense, the door area can therefore be described as a three-dimensional region defined by the outermost edges of the door and the outermost edges of the corresponding body section of the vehicle.

[0015] A vehicle within the scope of the invention can be understood as a powered or non-powered vehicle. Non-limiting examples of powered vehicles include: passenger cars, trucks, or agricultural machinery. Non-limiting examples of such passenger cars include: small cars, compact cars, mid-size cars, luxury cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), station wagons, sedans, pickup trucks, light commercial vehicles, minibuses, minivans, and the like. A vehicle within the scope of the invention can, in particular, be a motor vehicle, especially a passenger car. Non-limiting examples of non-powered vehicles include: trailers, car trailers, horse trailers, car transport trailers, cargo trailers, refrigerated trailers, special trailers, caravans, camper trailers, and the like.

[0016] A camera device within the scope of the invention can be understood as an image and / or video camera comprising a lens or objective, a light-sensitive image sensor, a shutter for controlling the exposure time, and an image processing unit. A camera device within the scope of the invention can also include image and / or video cameras configured as stereo cameras.

[0017] A camera device within the scope of the invention can comprise a lens or objective lens having a horizontal field of view of 0° to 180° and a vertical field of view of 0° to 90°. A camera device within the scope of the invention can also comprise a lens or objective lens having a horizontal field of view of 0° to 180°, a vertical field of view of 0° to 180°, and a diagonal field of view of 0° to 180°. Such lenses are known to those skilled in the art, for example, under the term fisheye lens. Other camera devices within the scope of the invention can comprise a wide-angle lens. Such wide-angle lenses have, for example, focal lengths of less than 35 mm.

[0018] The camera device is specifically designed to fully capture the aforementioned door area, and can therefore produce images of the entire door area.

[0019] A locking device within the scope of the invention can, for example, comprise a locking element in the form of a pin located in a housing, which is operated by an electric motor or magnetically. Such a locking device can be operated by an electric motor or magnetically. If the locking device is operated by an electric motor, an electric motor can be located inside the locking device and connected to the pin via a gearbox. The electric motor can thus drive the gearbox, which converts the rotary motion of the motor into a linear motion. This allows the pin to extend as soon as the locking device is activated. If the locking device is operated by an electric motor, two magnets can be located inside the locking device, arranged so that they repel each other.One magnet can be fixed to the housing of the locking device, while the second magnet can be movable and attached to the cylindrical pin. The pin can be secured by a locking mechanism that is released as soon as the locking device is activated. Once the repulsive force between the magnets is overcome, the pin can quickly move into the desired position. A magnetically operated locking device has the advantage of particularly fast activation; that is, the pin can be extended practically without any time loss. This can contribute to a particularly short reaction time of the process. A locking device within the scope of the invention can also provide for the control of an electric motor, which is primarily used for the electric opening and closing of a vehicle door.

[0020] It may also be provided that the blocking device is deactivated again after its activation, as soon as a check based on the provided image data to see if there is an object in the door area shows that there is no longer an object in the door area.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that at least part of the image data is supplied to the camera device by means of an exterior mirror camera and / or an interior camera. An exterior mirror camera, also referred to as a camera-based mirror replacement system or simply a digital camera mirror, is a camera system used in place of conventional side mirrors in vehicles. It can be provided that all image data is supplied to the camera device by means of an exterior mirror camera and / or an interior camera. The use of at least one exterior mirror camera and / or an interior camera offers the advantage that these can also be used to monitor the door area without requiring additional cameras installed in the vehicle. Thus, no existing vehicle components are used; no separate cameras need to be installed in the car to carry out the method.

[0022] Another embodiment of the invention provides that the image data supplied by the camera device also includes infrared image data. This offers the advantage of additional safeguarding for the method according to the invention, for example, in the case of otherwise comparatively low-contrast or dark camera images. It is conceivable, for instance, that the vehicle is used in dark environments, such as at night or when parked in a parking garage or underpass. In such environments, it can be advantageous for the image data to also include infrared image data. If the detected object is, for example, a human hand, the heat radiation emitted by the hand can be captured, thus further improving visibility.

[0023] According to the invention, checking whether an object is located in the door area is additionally carried out using infrared reflectors, wherein the infrared reflectors are arranged on the door and / or the body area of ​​the vehicle belonging to the door. In this context, it can be provided that the reflected infrared radiation is a component of the natural ambient light and / or that the infrared radiation is emitted by a source arranged on the vehicle. For example, it is conceivable that the vehicle is used in dark environments and at cold outside temperatures, such as at night or when parked in a parking garage or underpass during the winter months. In such environments, it can be advantageous for the image data to additionally include infrared image data and for infrared light to be available that does not originate from the object.If the detected object is, for example, a human hand, it may be obscured by a glove and jacket, resulting in little or no infrared radiation emission from the hand. In such a case, it is conceivable that infrared light originating from the environment and / or emitted by a source located on the vehicle is reflected by infrared reflectors positioned on the door and / or the bodywork area adjacent to the door. If the image data provided by the camera system also includes infrared image data, this reflected infrared light can be detected. If an object is located in the door area, it can interact with the reflected infrared light, thus enabling its detection.In one embodiment of the invention, the infrared source arranged on the vehicle can be at least partially arranged in the infrared reflectors, for example in the form of infrared LEDs.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, checking whether an object is located in the door area can be additionally carried out using at least one touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor is arranged on the door and / or the body area of ​​the vehicle belonging to the door. Multiple touch sensors can also be provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the touch sensors can be capacitive and / or pressure-sensitive sensors. This offers the advantage of additional security for the method according to the invention, for example, in the case of otherwise comparatively low-contrast or dark image data, when no infrared image data is available, or as a further, supplementary safeguard for the method according to the invention.For example, a situation could arise where a first object is located in front of a second object, with the first object being in the doorway and the second object immediately behind the first, but outside the doorway. In such a case, checking whether an object is in the doorway can be difficult, potentially delaying the activation of the blocking device. In such a situation, additional security measures can be implemented using the aforementioned touch sensors.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, activating the locking device may include extending a locking element which, in the extended state, prevents the door from closing completely. In another embodiment of the invention, the locking element may comprise a material such as rubber, which possesses a certain degree of elasticity, thereby preventing damage to the vehicle and / or the door.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, activating the locking device may include controlling a door drive designed to close and / or open the door, whereby the door drive is controlled such that it opposes the closing movement of the door with a force that at least inhibits the closing movement. In another embodiment of the invention, this inhibition of the closing movement may be overcome by the user by continuing to push against the door with a certain force. This prevents potentially unintentional activation of the locking device. This can be advantageous in cases where an object is only briefly in the doorway but has already moved out of the doorway by the time the locking device is triggered.For example, imagine a person rushing out of a vehicle, still holding onto the door handle, and simultaneously trying to close the door. While the door is closing, the person removes their hand, but the locking mechanism has already been activated. In this case, the person can overcome the locking mechanism by gently pushing against it with some force, thus saving time.

[0027] The anti-pinch device according to the invention for preventing an object from becoming trapped in a vehicle door area is configured to carry out the method according to the invention or possible embodiments thereof. The anti-pinch device can therefore comprise a camera device, a control unit, and a locking device. The control unit can be configured to use the image data provided by the camera device to check whether an object is located in the door area, i.e., between the open door and the corresponding body area. If so, the control unit can actuate the locking device such that the locking device at least inhibits or even completely prevents the door from closing. In the latter case, the door can therefore no longer be closed.

[0028] The vehicle according to the invention comprises the anti-pinch device according to the invention or possible embodiments of the anti-pinch device according to the invention.

[0029] Further features of the invention may become apparent from the following description of the figures and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features shown below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures themselves, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030] The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with a blocking device to prevent an object from becoming trapped in a door area of ​​the motor vehicle; Fig. 2. A perspective view of the motor vehicle, showing an exterior mirror camera, an interior camera, and infrared reflectors of the motor vehicle, which can be used to detect the object in question in the door area; furthermore, a locking device is visible; Fig. 3. A schematic flowchart to explain a procedure for preventing an object from becoming trapped in the door area of ​​a motor vehicle.

[0031] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0032] A motor vehicle 10 is shown in a schematic representation in Fig. Figure 1 shows the motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 includes an anti-pinch device 80 for preventing an object 32 from becoming trapped in a door area 30 of the motor vehicle 10. The anti-pinch device 80 comprises a camera device 50, a control unit 90, and a locking device 60. The camera device 50 provides image data 58 of the door area 30 to the control unit 90. To indicate the closing movement of the door 20, the pivoting movement and direction of the door 20 are shown by a dashed line with an arrow.

[0033] The door area 30 within the scope of the invention can be understood as the volume located between the open door 20 and the body section 40 of the vehicle 10 belonging to the door 20. In this sense, the door area 30 can thus be understood as a three-dimensional area spanned by the outermost edges of the door 20 and the outermost edges of a body section 40 of the vehicle 10 belonging to the door 20. In other words, the door area 30 is the space or area between an inner surface of the door 20 (not further specified here) and the body section 40 facing this inner surface. The inner surface of the door 20 is therefore the part of the door 20 that, when the door 20 is closed, defines the passenger compartment, whereas the door area 30 is not to be understood as a part of the door 20. The door area 30 is therefore not to be understood as a part of the door itself.

[0034] A perspective view of the right side of the motor vehicle 10 with the door 20 open is shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows a right-hand exterior mirror camera 54, an interior camera 56, infrared reflectors 70, and a touch sensor 76 of the vehicle 10, which can be used to detect the object 32 located in the door area 30 between the open door 20 and the body area 40 of the vehicle 10 belonging to the door 20. Here, the object is indicated as a hand 32. The right-hand exterior mirror camera 54 and the interior camera 56 are part of the camera device 50. When the hand 32 is detected in the door area 30, the blocking element 62 or the blocking device 60 can be activated to at least inhibit the closing movement of the door 20. A door drive 22 is also shown, which can be controlled when the blocking device 60 is activated.The double arrows 72 drawn between the infrared reflectors 70 indicate that infrared radiation is reflected at the infrared reflectors 70. This reflected infrared radiation 72 can be a component of natural ambient light and / or be emitted by the source 74 shown, which is arranged on the vehicle 10.

[0035] In Fig.Figure 3 is a schematically illustrated method for preventing an object 32 from becoming trapped in the door area 30 of a vehicle 10. In a process step S1, the image data 58 of the door area 30 is provided to the control unit 90 by means of the camera device 50 of the vehicle 10, which captures the door area 30 of the open door 20. In a further process step S2, the control unit 90 checks, based on the provided image data 58, whether the object, i.e., the hand 32, is located in the door area 30. In a further step S3, the control unit 90 then activates the blocking device 60 if the check shows that the object, i.e., the hand 32, is located in the door area 30 of the door 20, thereby at least inhibiting the closing movement of the door 20 by means of the blocking device 60.

[0036] For example, hand 32 can be detected by the camera device 50, specifically by the right exterior mirror camera 54 and the interior camera 56. Based on the image data 58 captured by the right exterior mirror camera 54 and the interior camera 56, it is then determined that hand 32 is located in the door area 30. The blocking device 60 is then activated, which at least inhibits the closing movement of the door 20. In this process, the camera device 50 can also provide image data 58, which includes infrared image data, on which hand 32 can be detected due to its natural heat radiation.

[0037] Through the reflection of infrared radiation from the ambient light at the infrared reflectors 70 and the interaction of the hand 32 with this infrared radiation 72 reflected at the infrared reflectors 70, the hand 32 can also be detected using the image data 58, which includes infrared image data. In winter, in cold conditions, little or no infrared radiation from the ambient light may be available to be reflected at the infrared reflectors 70. In such cases, infrared light can be supplied from the source 74 located on the vehicle 10 to ensure the functionality of the infrared reflectors 70.

[0038] However, if the hand 32 has little or no interaction with the infrared radiation, for example due to the wearing of gloves, the touch sensor 76 can provide an additional safety element. If the hand 32 is poorly or belatedly detected in the image data 58 provided by the camera device 50 due to darkness and cold, the blocking device 60 can be activated by the contact of the hand 32 with the touch sensor 76.

[0039] The locking device 60 can be activated by extending the locking element 62. For example, if the vehicle 10 is parked facing forward on an incline in bad weather, a situation may arise where, due to gravity and the additional influence of a gust of wind, the door 20 closes while the driver's hand 32 is still in the door area 30. Because a comparatively large force is at work here, the locking device 60 can be activated by extending the locking element 62, which stops the closing movement of the door 20 at the moment it makes contact with the locking element 62. Depending on how far the locking element 62 extends from the locking device 60, the entrapment of the hand 32 can be effectively prevented because the door 20 strikes this locking element 62 and its movement is stopped immediately upon impact.

[0040] If the blocking element 62 comprises a material such as rubber, damage to the vehicle 10 and / or the door 20 is prevented despite the comparatively large force. If the vehicle 10 is on a horizontal surface, the blocking device 60 can also be effective in another way, because activating the blocking device 60 also involves controlling the door drive 22. For example, the passenger of the vehicle 10 may have just gotten out and wants to close the door 20, but the driver wants to hand them an object such as an umbrella. The umbrella can then be recognized as object 32, and the blocking device 60 can be activated by controlling the door drive 22 in such a way that a force is exerted against the closing movement, which inhibits the closing movement and prevents the umbrella 32 from being caught, thus preventing any potential damage to the vehicle 10.

[0041] Instead of the umbrella 32, it is also conceivable that any object 32 is located in the door area 30, which does not pose an immediate danger to a person or the vehicle 10. For example, it is conceivable that a butterfly or falling leaf gets into the door area 30 and triggers the activation of the locking device 60. In such a case, the driver can overcome the inhibition of the closing movement by pushing back with a certain force, i.e., overcome the force applied by the door drive 22. Reference symbol list 10 vehicles 20 Door 22 Door drive 30 Door area 32 objects 40 Bodywork area 50 camera device 52 Left exterior mirror camera 54 Exterior mirror camera right 56 Interior camera 58 image data 60 Locking device 62 Blocking element 70 infrared reflectors 72 Reflected infrared radiation 74 Source of infrared radiation 76 touch sensors 80 Anti-pinch device 90 Control unit

Claims

[1] Method for preventing an object (32) from becoming trapped in a door area (30) of a vehicle (10), wherein the door area (30) is located between an open door (20) and a body area (40) of the vehicle (10) belonging to the open door (20), comprising the steps: (S1) Providing image data (58) of the door area (30) to a control unit (90) by means of a camera device (50) of the vehicle (10) which captures the door area (30) of an open door (20); (S2) Check, using the provided image data (58), whether an object (32) is located in the door area (30) by means of the control device (90); (S3) Activating a blocking device (60) by means of the control device (90) when the check provides the result that an object (32) is located in the door area (30) of the door (20), thereby at least inhibiting a closing movement of the door (20) by means of the blocking device (60), wherein checking whether an object (32) is located in the door area (30) is additionally carried out by means of the reflection of infrared radiation (72) at infrared reflectors (70), wherein the infrared reflectors (70) are arranged on the door (20) and / or the body area (40) of the vehicle (10) belonging to the door (20). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the image data (58) are provided by means of an external mirror camera (52, 54) and / or interior camera (56) of the camera device (50). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image data (58) provided by means of the camera device (50) also includes infrared image data. [4] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflected infrared radiation (72) is a component of the natural ambient light and / or wherein the infrared radiation is emitted by a source (74) arranged on the vehicle (10). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein checking whether an object (32) is located in the door area (30) is additionally carried out using at least one touch sensor (76), wherein the touch sensor (76) is arranged on the door (20) and / or the body area (40) of the vehicle (10) belonging to the door (20). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein activating the blocking device (60) comprises extending a blocking element (62) which, in the extended state, prevents the door (20) from being completely closed. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein activating the blocking device (60) comprises controlling a door drive (22) designed to close and / or open the door (20), wherein the door drive (22) is controlled such that it opposes the closing movement of the door (20) with a force which at least inhibits the closing movement. [8] Anti-pinch device (80) for preventing an object (32) from being pinched in a door area (30) of a vehicle (10), which is configured to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Motor vehicle (10) with an anti-pinch device (80) for a door (20) according to claim 8.

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