Touchless Control System

Abstract

To provide a touchless door system that eliminates the need for a person to touch a surface to open a door and / or come very close to the door.SOLUTION: A control system includes a sensor system 106 that may detect entry of a person into a detection curtain in front of a door 102, and a controller 108 that may receive a first signal from the sensor system 106 indicating the entry of the person into the detection curtain. The controller 108 may determine a state of the door 102 and generate a second signal responsive to receiving the first signal and while the state of the door 102 indicates that the door 102 can be opened. The control system also may include one or more actuators 110 that may be coupled with the door 102 and to open the door 102 without the person touching the door 102 responsive to receiving the second signal from the controller 108.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 276,034 (filed November 5, 2021), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to a system for opening a door (or actuating another device) without requiring an operator to touch the door and without requiring the operator to touch a control associated with the door. [Background technology]

[0003] Currently, opening a door may require the touch of a handle or button associated with the door, or may require a person to move very close to the door (so the operator's hands or feet are within the sensing area of ​​a sensor associated with the door). This may require or involve the person touching or landing on a door panel or other part of the door. For example, the range of the sensor may be limited such that the door operator may end up touching the door or other surface to open the door because the operator must move his or her hand very close to the door to be detected by the sensor. This may increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases, especially in situations where the door is used by many people (e.g., the door of a transportation vehicle or the door of a publicly accessible building).

[0004] There may be a need for a touchless door system that eliminates the need for a person to touch a surface to open a door and / or to get very close to the door (e.g., within a few centimeters of the door or a surface associated with the door). Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one example, a control system is provided that includes a sensor system that can detect entry of a person into a detection curtain in front of a door and a controller that can receive a first signal from the sensor system indicative of the person's entry into the detection curtain. The controller can determine a state of the door and generate a second signal in response to receiving the first signal while the state of the door indicates that the door can be opened. The control system can also include one or more actuators that can be coupled to the door and in response to receiving the second signal from the controller, for opening the door without the person touching the door.

[0006] In another example, a method is provided that includes using a sensor system to generate a detection curtain in front of a door, detecting entry of a person into the detection curtain, determining whether a state of the door indicates that the door can be opened, and opening the door without the person touching the door by using one or more actuators responsive to detecting entry of the person into the detection curtain and determining that the state of the door indicates that the door can be opened.

[0007] In another example, a control system is provided that includes a sensor system that can detect the intrusion of a person into a detection curtain in front of a device and a controller that can identify the intrusion of a person into the detection curtain based on an output from the sensor system. The controller can determine a state of the device and output a signal in response to identifying the intrusion of a person into the detection curtain and a state of the device that indicates that the device is operational. The control system can include one or more actuators that can be coupled to the device and that can change the state of the device without the person touching the device in response to receiving a signal from the controller. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] The subject matter of the present invention can be understood by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a touchless door system. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates the door system of FIG. 1 with the door opened by the door system; [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method for controlling touchless operation of a door or other device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An example of the subject matter described herein relates to a touchless control system for a device that can sense an operator before the operator contacts a door or other device. The operator may be a passenger in the vehicle or another person. The operator may contact the door by touching the door with the operator's hand, foot, elbow, etc., and the subject matter described herein attempts to avoid this contact while still allowing the operator to control the door or other device. The system can optionally further reduce contact with the door or other device by providing a visual indication of the operation of the device (e.g., a door) and / or the state of the door or other device (e.g., open or closed, locked or unlocked, etc.) to inform the operator when it is safe to operate the device (e.g., open a door), when the device may be moving between states, etc.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a touchless door system 100. FIG. 2 illustrates the door system of FIG. 1 with the door 102 opened by the system. The system can operate the door without requiring an operator 104 to touch the door or a surface associated with the door and / or without requiring the operator to come close (e.g., less than one centimeter) to the door or a surface associated with the door. The door and system may be located on board a transportation vehicle, such as a transportation rail car or a bus. Optionally, the door and system may be located in a building or other location. Although embodiments are illustrated as relating to controlling the opening of doors, other embodiments relate more generally to controlling devices through touchless actuation.

[0012] The system includes one or more sensor systems 106 that can detect the presence of an operator, a controller 108 that can communicate with the sensor systems to receive signals indicative of the presence of an operator, and one or more actuators 110 that can move (e.g., open or close) the door. The controller can represent hardware circuitry that can include and / or be connected to one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors, integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, etc.) that control the operation of the system as described herein. The actuators can represent actuators, controllers, sensors, or motors or other devices that can open or close the door without the need for an operator to touch the door.

[0013] The sensor system may include a proximity sensor that detects an operator's entry into a defined area associated with the door (e.g., in front of the door). The sensor system may include a sensor that emits a sensor signal and detects the sensor signal (e.g., detects a variation in the signal indicative of a person being detected). Alternatively, the sensor system may include a sensor emitter that emits the sensor signal and a separate sensor detector that senses / detects the change in the sensor signal. In one example, the sensor system may include an electromagnetic (EM) radiation sensor. The EM sensor may emit an EM radiation signal and detect the change in the EM radiation signal. Examples of EM radiation signals include infrared (IR), visible light, short wavelength or other radio (e.g., radar), laser, lidar, etc. In one embodiment, the sensor system may include an infrared (IR) sensor that detects IR or heat emitted or emanating from an operator while the operator is within the detection curtain or volume of the sensor.

[0014] The sensor system may detect the entry or passage of an operator into or through the detection curtain 112. The detection curtain has a trapezoidal shape in the illustrated example. The shape may be projected along an obtuse angle 124 that is less than 180 degrees and oriented away from the sensor. The shape may extend along this angle from the sensor to opposite or opposing lateral vertical limits or boundaries 126, 128. These lateral boundaries may be parallel to each other and oriented transversely relative to the vehicle floor 114. In one example, the detection curtain shape may be oriented at an acute angle relative to the vehicle floor. For example, the lateral boundaries of the detection curtain may intersect the vehicle floor at a lower horizontal boundary or limit 130 of the detection curtain that extends along the floor from one lateral boundary to the other lateral boundary.

[0015] The detection curtain can be a two-dimensional plane (e.g., area) or a three-dimensional volume in which IR light or other EM radiation is emitted by the sensor system and reflection of the IR light or other EM radiation is detected. When a person or other object moves beyond the plane or into the area, the IR light (or other EM radiation) emitted by the sensor system is reflected back to the sensor system and detected by the sensor portion of the sensor system. In response to detecting the intrusion of a person or object, the sensor can send a signal to a controller, which can generate a signal to instruct the actuator to open the door.

[0016] The detection curtain may be oriented at an acute angle such that a plane extending between or defined by the lateral and horizontal boundaries of the detection curtain is oriented at an acute angle that may be closer to 90 degrees than 45 degrees. Alternatively, the detection curtain may be oriented at 90 degrees relative to the floor. For example, the detection curtain may be a plane defined or bounded by lateral and horizontal boundaries such that an operator inside the detection curtain (e.g., the detection curtain is between a door and the operator) and / or an operator outside the detection curtain (e.g., the operator is between the detection curtain and a door) is not detected by the sensor. However, the movement or presence of the operator through or within the plane of the detection curtain is sensed by the sensor. The angle at which the detection curtain is oriented may be varied to control when and / or where the presence of the operator is detected. For example, the detection curtain may be more upright (closer to 90 degrees or perpendicular to the floor) to avoid detecting persons farther from the door and to detect persons closer to the door, while the curtain may be tilted less upright (further from 90 degrees to the floor) to detect persons farther from the door. This angle may be changed to control or limit how far a person must be from the door before they are detected. In one embodiment, the sensor may be tilted manually or automatically (e.g., by a controller directing an actuator, such as a motor included in or connected to the sensor) to change the orientation of the detection curtain relative to the floor. This angle may be changed to increase or decrease the number of operators detected, may be changed based on the number of people aboard the vehicle, etc. For example, if there are too many detections of passengers not attempting to open the door, the angle may be steeper (closer to 90 degrees to the floor), and if there are too few detections of passengers attempting to open the door, the angle may be less inclined (further from 90 degrees to the floor).

[0017] Optionally, the sensor system may include another type of sensor capable of detecting the presence or ingress of an operator, for example, the sensor may be an ultrasonic sensor that emits sound waves and detects the reflection when a person passes through a detection curtain, or a camera that detects a person within the camera's field of view, etc.

[0018] The detection curtain may extend to or near the floor 114 on which the operator is standing or walking. This may be the floor of a vehicle, a building floor, or a room floor, etc. The detection curtain may extend across the width dimension 116 of the door. For example, the closest distance between the lateral boundaries or limits of the detection curtain may be wider than the door. The width dimension of the door may be the width of the opening through which the operator may pass while the door is open and the width of the opening that is blocked by the door while the door is closed. The width dimension may not extend to or across the side elements of the door portal, such as a dividing wall or a screen panel 118. Optionally, the width dimension may be wider than the opening to provide a larger detection area, or narrower than the opening to prevent unintentional opening of the door. The controller and / or sensor system may be modified or programmed to change the dimensions (e.g., size) of the detection curtain.

[0019] The shape and extent of the detection curtain is defined by the configuration of the sensor system (in terms of how it is configured to project EM radiation, etc.) and / or by the dimensions of the structures surrounding the door (or other device) onto which the detection curtain is generated or projected. In one aspect, as described above, the detection curtain may extend in a trapezoidal shape, meaning that the two furthest edges, such as the top and bottom edges of the detection curtain, are parallel to each other but have different lengths. In another aspect of a trapezoidal curtain, the boundary of the detection curtain that defines the closest extent of the curtain to the door (or other device) may include one edge or other portion that is closer to the door than another edge or other portion of the boundary. For example, the top edge or point of the detection curtain that faces the door may be closer to the door than the bottom edge of the detection curtain that also faces the door. In another embodiment, the range / boundaries of the detection curtain may be defined by an upper end (with respect to the floor or other supporting surface), such as a top end that is the end / portion of the top region of the detection curtain closest to the door or other device, and a lower end (with respect to the floor or other supporting surface) that is parallel to the upper end, such as a bottom end that is the end / portion of the bottom region of detection closest to the door or other device, such that the upper end is shorter than the lower end (and therefore the lower end is longer than the upper end) and the upper end is also closer to the door (or other device) than the lower end (and therefore the lower end is further away from the door or other device) than the upper end.

[0020] During the period when the door is in the permitted state, an operator's entry into or across the detection curtain can cause the controller to command the actuator to open the door without any further or additional operator intervention. The door can be in the permitted state in response to an input provided to the controller. This input can be received from another controller, a speed sensor (e.g., detecting if the vehicle in which the door is located is moving), or input from an operator (e.g., the driver of the vehicle), etc.

[0021] Optionally, the sensor system may include or be coupled with a light generating device, such as a lamp or light emitting diode, and / or a lens. This example of a sensor system may project light onto the floor or other surface of the vehicle to create a visual indicator 120. This visual indicator may be positioned at the interface between the detection curtain and a surface near the door, such as the floor of the vehicle, room, or building. For example, the visual indicator may be a visible line (or other shape) displayed on the floor to inform the operator where he or she must move or cross to be detected by the sensor (to open the door).

[0022] The controller can instruct the sensor system to change the appearance of the indicator generated by the sensor system to communicate information to an operator. For example, the controller can instruct the sensor system to change the color of the visual indicator, include or display text along with or as an alternative to the line, etc., to indicate whether the door is in an allowed state, a disallowed state, a locked state, an unlocked state, an open state, a closed state, an actuated state, etc. A door may be in an allowed state while the door can be opened or closed by an operator. For example, the controller may place the door in an allowed state while the vehicle including the door is stationary and / or while the driver of the vehicle provides an input indicating that the door may be opened. A door may be in a disallowed state while the operator cannot open or close the door. For example, the controller may place the door in a disallowed state while the vehicle including the door is moving and / or while the driver of the vehicle provides an input indicating that the door should not be opened. A door may be in an open state while the door is currently open. A door may be in a closed state while the door is currently closed. The door may be in an operational state while the door is currently moving between an open and closed state. Optionally, the sensor system may generate a visual indicator, such as including text to inform a person of the door's status, including a company logo, or including an advertisement.

[0023] The system may include an output device 122 that presents information to a person at or near the door. This output device may be located above or beside the door. The controller may send signals to the output device to control what is output by the output device. For example, the output device may be an electronic display, a light (e.g., a light emitting diode or another lamp), a speaker, or the like. The controller may instruct the output device to present information indicative of the door's status. For example, the output device may present different colors, or different sets of text, or the like, to represent different states of the door. Presenting different colors may be more quickly recognized (compared to a set of text) to indicate the door's status and / or may be recognized by more people to indicate the door's status. As another example, the output device may continuously display a color indicating the door's status while the door remains in that state, and switch to another color when the door's status changes. The output device may switch between continuously displaying the color and intermittently displaying the same or different colors to indicate different states of the door. The color and / or the frequency at which the color changes or flashes may be customized by the controller or an operator of the system. Optionally, the output device may switch between displaying information at different intensities to indicate different states of the door. In one example, the output device may include or be embodied in a sensor system that generates light on a floor or other surface, as described above.

[0024] In addition to or as an alternative to opening the door in response to detecting the presence of a person, the controller may send a signal to an output device to notify the presence of a person. For example, the controller may send a signal to a display device, generate a sound, flash a light, etc. to notify the operator of the vehicle that a person is within the detection curtain. This may be useful to notify the operator of a person who is not authorized to be near the door, such as while the vehicle is moving.

[0025] The system may optionally be used to operate or control other devices. For example, instead of being used to open a door, the system may be used to turn a water faucet on or off, a water cooler on or off, or to call an elevator, etc. The sensor system may detect the presence of a person or part of a person (e.g., a foot), and the controller may turn on a water faucet, turn on a water cooler, call an elevator, etc. in response to detecting the person. The sensor system may detect the exit of a person or part of a person from a detection curtain, and the controller may turn off a water faucet, turn off a water cooler, etc. in response to detecting the person's exit.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method 300 for controlling touchless operation of a door or other device. The method may represent operations performed by one or more examples or aspects of the system described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. In step 302, a state of the door is determined. For example, the state of the door may be determined to be an authorized state, where a driver or operator of the vehicle has provided an input indicating that the door is in an authorized state while the vehicle is not moving, etc. The state of the door may be determined to be a disallowed state while the vehicle is moving and / or the driver has provided an input indicating that the door is in a disallowed state. The state of the door may be determined to be a locked state while the door is locked, an unlocked state while the door is unlocked, and an active state while the door is moving between an open and closed position or between an open and closed state.

[0027] In step 304, a visual indication of the door status may be generated. This visual indication may be color, or text, etc., which may be displayed on an electronic display above or beside the door, which may be displayed on the floor near (e.g., in front of) the door, etc. In one example, a visual indication may be created where a detection curtain (described above and below) intersects with the floor.

[0028] In step 306, a determination may be made as to whether the state of the door has changed. For example, a determination may be made as to whether the door has switched between an allowed and a disallowed state, whether the door has switched between an open and a closed state, whether the door has switched between an unlocked and a locked state, etc. If the state of the door has changed, the visual indicator may need to be changed. As a result, the method flow may proceed to step 308. If the state of the door has not changed, the visual indicator may not need to be changed. As a result, the method flow may proceed to step 310.

[0029] In step 308, the visual indicator may be changed. For example, the output device and / or the sensor system may change the color that may be generated, switch between a continuous display and an intermittent or blinking display, change the text that may be displayed, etc. In step 310, a detection curtain may be generated. For example, the sensor system may create a detection curtain on one side of the door (e.g., in the vehicle), or if a detection curtain has already been generated, the sensor system may maintain (e.g., continue to create) the detection curtain. In step 312, a determination may be made as to whether a person or object has crossed or entered the detection curtain. If a person or object has crossed or entered the detection curtain, this may indicate that the door needs to be opened. As a result, the method flow may proceed to step 314. If no person or object has crossed or entered the detection curtain, this may indicate that the door does not need to be opened. As a result, the method flow may return to another step (e.g., step 302), or the method may end.

[0030] In step 314, a determination may be made as to whether the state of the door allows the door to be opened. For example, in response to determining that a person or object has crossed the detection curtain, the controller may check the current state of the door. If the current state is closed and / or permitted, the method flow may proceed to step 316, where the controller may instruct the actuator to open the door. This allows the door to be safely opened without the person touching any part of the door. However, if the current state of the door is open or not permitted, the method flow may proceed to step 318, where the controller may not need to instruct the actuator to open the door (because the door is already open) or the controller may not allow the actuator to open the door. This may prevent the door from being opened during an unsafe situation, such as while the vehicle is moving, while the vehicle is not at an entrance or other location where a person can safely exit the vehicle without falling. The method flow may then return to the previous step (e.g., step 302) or may end.

[0031] Method operations may be performed simultaneously or in parallel, for example, steps related to determining and displaying the state of the door (e.g., steps 302-308) and steps related to detecting a person near the door (e.g., steps 310-318) may be performed at the same time or during overlapping time periods.

[0032] In an embodiment, the system may be configured such that the determination that a person or object has entered into or through the detection curtain (sensor signal) for opening the door is further based on the length of time that the detection curtain may be considered entered. For example, the system may have a specified time threshold, and if the length of time of the detected or determined curtain entry is longer than the threshold, the sensor system may send a signal to the controller, which may generate a signal to instruct the actuator to open the door. On the other hand, if the length of time is shorter than the threshold, the sensor system will not send such a signal to open the door. The specified time threshold may be relatively small, such as 1 or 2 seconds. Such a time threshold (for registering a person's entry into the detection curtain for opening the door) may help to mitigate "false positives" when an object such as a handbag or umbrella inadvertently moves briefly into the detection area of ​​the detection curtain. A person or other operator may recognize the time threshold by the system being configured to change the displayed visual and / or audio indicator from a first state, in which the visual or other indicator indicates that the door has not received a signal to open, and a different second state, in which the visual or other indicator indicates that the door has received a signal to open, e.g., yellow and green, respectively, or red and green, respectively, or no sound and a designated chime, audio phrase, etc.

[0033] In other embodiments, the system may look at aspects of the sensor signal other than the length of time the detection curtain is entered to determine whether to generate a control signal or multiple control signals to open the door. For example, the number of times the detection curtain is entered during a specified period of time, or where the detection curtain is entered. With respect to the former, multiple entries during a specified period of time may indicate multiple people signaling to open the door, and with respect to the latter, an entry at the very top of the detection curtain or an entry towards the bottom, but higher than a typical shoe height, may indicate a false positive. Note that due to differences in person height, the system may be configured to use other data, such as data from a camera, to indicate or verify possible false positive correlations.

[0034] One or more embodiments are described in relation to a rail vehicle system, but not all embodiments are limited to rail vehicle systems. Unless expressly disclaimed or otherwise specified, the subject matter described herein extends to other types of vehicle systems, such as automobiles, trucks (with or without trailers), buses, ships, aircraft, mining vehicles, agricultural vehicles, or other off-highway vehicles. The vehicle systems described herein (rail vehicle systems or other vehicle systems that do not run on rails or tracks) may be formed from a single vehicle or multiple vehicles. For multi-vehicle systems, the vehicles may be mechanically coupled to each other (e.g., by couplers) or may be non-mechanically but logically coupled. For example, the vehicles may be non-mechanically but logically coupled when separate vehicles communicate with each other to coordinate the movement of the vehicles with each other so that the vehicles run together (e.g., as a train).

[0035] In one embodiment, the door system may deploy a local data collection system that may use machine learning to enable derivation-based learning outcomes. The controller may learn and make decisions from a set of data (including data provided by various sensors) by making data-driven predictions and adapting according to the set of data. In an embodiment, machine learning may include performing multiple machine learning tasks with a machine learning system, such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Supervised learning may include presenting a set of example inputs and desired outputs to the machine learning system. Unsupervised learning may include a learning algorithm that structures its inputs by methods such as pattern detection and / or feature learning. Reinforcement learning may include a machine learning system performing in a dynamic environment and then providing feedback regarding accurate and inaccurate decisions. In an example, machine learning may include multiple other tasks based on the output of the machine learning system. In an example, the tasks may be machine learning problems such as classification, regression, clustering, density estimation, dimensionality reduction, anomaly detection, and the like. In an example, machine learning may include multiple mathematical and statistical techniques. In examples, many types of machine learning algorithms may include decision tree-based learning, association rule learning, deep learning, artificial neural networks, genetic learning algorithms, inductive logic programming, support vector machines (SVMs), Bayesian networks, reinforcement learning, representation learning, rule-based machine learning, sparse dictionary learning, similarity metric learning, learning classifier systems (LCS), logistic regression, random forests, K-means, gradient boosting, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), a priori algorithms, etc. In embodiments, certain machine learning algorithms may be used (e.g., to solve both constrained and unconstrained optimization problems that may be based on natural selection). In one example, the algorithms may be used to address mixed integer programming problems, where some components are restricted to be integer-valued. The algorithms and machine learning techniques and systems may be used in computational intelligence systems, computer vision, natural language processing (NLP), recommendation systems, reinforcement learning, building graphical models, etc.In one example, machine learning may be used for vehicle performance and behavior analysis, etc.

[0036] In one embodiment, the door or device control system may include a policy engine that may apply one or more policies. These policies may be based at least in part on the characteristics of a given item of equipment or environment. With respect to the control policies, the neural network may receive inputs of a number of environmental and task-related parameters. These parameters may include an identification of a trip plan determined for the group of vehicles, data from various sensors, and location and / or position data. The neural network may be trained to generate outputs based on these inputs, the outputs representing an action or sequence of actions that the group of vehicles should take to accomplish the trip plan. During operation of an embodiment, a decision may be made by processing the inputs through the parameters of the neural network to generate a value at an output node that designates the action as a desired action. The action may be translated into a signal that causes the vehicle to operate. This may be accomplished via backpropagation, a feedforward process, closed-loop feedback, or open-loop feedback. Alternatively, rather than using backpropagation, the machine learning system of the controller may use evolutionary strategy techniques to tune various parameters of the artificial neural network. The controller may use a neural network architecture with functions that may not always be solvable using backpropagation, e.g., functions that are non-convex. In one embodiment, the neural network has a set of parameters that represent the weights of its node connections. Multiple copies of this network are generated, and then various adjustments are made to the parameters and simulations are performed. Once the outputs from the various models are obtained, they may be evaluated based on their performance using a determined success metric. The best model may be selected, and the vehicle controller executes a plan to achieve the desired input data to mirror the predicted best outcome scenario. Furthermore, the success metric may be a combination of optimized outcomes that may be weighted against each other.During plan execution, operational and other data (or other parameters) may be sensed or otherwise generated and stored in memory. The data stored in memory may then be used as a basis to at least partially retrain the neural network, which then generates one or more new outputs, potentially based on both the original parameters and / or the stored data. This process may be repeated iteratively and / or during ongoing operation of the vehicle or other machine or device in question, to automatically retrain and update the model in question for improved control outcomes over time.

[0037] In one embodiment, a policy engine for a door control system, as discussed above, may include a policy (e.g., a rule set) that specifies to control the opening of the door when specified conditions are met (e.g., that an EM radiation detection curtain has been breached by a person attempting to open the door, analysis of a signal generated by a sensor system that indicates that it is permissible to open the door, e.g., a vehicle parked and ready for operation, etc.). A neural network may be established that receives inputs of various operational parameters including vehicle operating conditions, the state of the sensor system signals (e.g., detection curtain), and potentially other data, e.g., camera data, passenger occupancy sensing data, and data indicative of a person exiting the door within a time window when the door is opened (e.g., the time window is the time from when the door is opened to the immediate next instance of door closure). The neural network is trained to predict the occurrence of a combination of data that indicates when the door should be opened, and generates a control signal accordingly. Over time, additional operational data is sensed and stored in memory, and this data is used to retrain the neural network. For example, data for a situation where the control system determines that the boundary of the detection curtain has been crossed by a person (i.e., a person has entered the detection curtain) may be correlated with data for the next time the door is opened and one or more people actually exit the door (during the period between the door opening and the next immediate closure of the door), as opposed to a situation or instance where no one actually exits the door. This allows the control system to evaluate the quality or nature of the variation over time of the sensor system signal (e.g., IR or other EM radiation) to eliminate "false positives" and / or to control the door opening differently than under other conditions. For example, in an embodiment where the system does not control the door opening until the detection curtain has been entered for at least a specified period of time, the specified period of time may be based on, and may be variable depending on, an evaluation or determination of the sensor signal. For example, if the sensor signal is determined to be more likely to be a false positive, the specified period of time may be longer than if the sensor signal is determined to be less likely to be a false positive.

[0038] In one example, a control system is provided that includes a sensor system that can detect entry of a person into a detection curtain in front of a door and a controller that can receive a first signal from the sensor system indicative of the person's entry into the detection curtain. The controller can determine a state of the door and generate a second signal in response to receiving the first signal while the state of the door indicates that the door can be opened. The control system can also include one or more actuators that can be coupled to the door and in response to receiving the second signal from the controller for opening the door without the person touching the door.

[0039] The sensor system may generate a detection curtain as electromagnetic (EM) radiation. At least a portion of the detection curtain may be no closer than 1 cm to the door such that the sensor system detects a person entering the detection curtain without the person coming within 1 cm of the door. The sensor system may generate at least one of a visual indicator representative of the location of the detection curtain and / or a visual indicator representative of the state of the door.

[0040] The control system may also include an output device that may be controlled by the controller to generate a visual indicator representative of the door status. The sensor system may generate a light on the floor of the vehicle inside the door representative of the location of the detection curtain and / or the status of the door. The controller may control the sensor system to generate the light and / or control the output device to display the light in a color indicative of the door status. The controller may instruct one or more of the sensor system or output device to (a) change the color of the light, (b) switch from a continuous generation of light to an intermittent generation of light, and / or (c) switch from an intermittent generation of light to a continuous generation of light in response to a change in the status of the door.

[0041] The sensor system may include an infrared sensor and the detection curtain may be a two-dimensional plane of EM radiation. The EM radiation may include infrared light and the infrared sensor emits the infrared light for detection of a person.

[0042] In another example, a method is provided that includes using a sensor system to generate a detection curtain in front of a door, detecting entry of a person into the detection curtain, determining whether a state of the door indicates that the door can be opened, and opening the door without the person touching the door by using one or more actuators responsive to detecting entry of the person into the detection curtain and determining that the state of the door indicates that the door can be opened.

[0043] The detection curtain may include EM radiation and at least a portion of the detection curtain may be generated no closer than 1 cm to the door such that a person's entry into the detection curtain may be detected without the person coming within 1 cm of the door. The method may also include generating a visual indicator representative of the location of the detection curtain and / or a visual indicator representative of a state of the door. The method may also include generating a light on the floor of the vehicle inside the door representative of one or more of the location of the detection curtain or the state of the door.

[0044] The method may include changing a color of the light in response to a change in the state of the door, and / or switching from a continuous generation of light to an intermittent generation of light in response to a change in the state of the door. The light may be generated by a sensor system or an output device located near the door. The EM radiation of the detection curtain may include infrared light generated by the sensor system along a two-dimensional plane.

[0045] In another example, a control system is provided that includes a sensor system that can detect the intrusion of a person into a detection curtain in front of a device, and a controller that can identify the intrusion of a person into the detection curtain based on an output from the sensor system. The controller is for determining a state of the device and outputting a signal in response to identifying the intrusion of a person into the detection curtain and a state of the device that indicates that the device is operational. The control system can include one or more actuators that can be coupled to the device and that can change the state of the device without the person touching the device in response to receiving a signal from the controller.

[0046] The device may be a door of a transportation vehicle. The sensor system may generate at least one of a visual indicator representative of a location of a detection curtain or a visual indicator representative of a state of the device. The sensor system may generate the detection curtain as EM radiation, with at least a portion of the detection curtain being no closer than 1 cm to the device such that the sensor system is configured to detect a person entering the detection curtain without the person coming within 1 cm of the device.

[0047] As used herein, the terms "processor" and "computer" and related terms, such as "processing device," "computing device," and "controller," may refer to, but are not limited to, integrated circuits referred to in the art as computers, such as microcontrollers, microcomputers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), field programmable gate arrays, and application specific integrated circuits, and other programmable circuits. Suitable memory may include, for example, computer-readable media. The computer-readable media may be, for example, computer-readable non-volatile media, such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. The term "non-transitory computer-readable media" refers to tangible computer-based devices implemented for short-term and long-term storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and sub-modules, or other data within any device. Thus, the methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, including, but not limited to, storage devices and / or memory devices. Such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least a portion of the methods described herein. The term therefore includes tangible computer-readable media, including but not limited to non-transitory computer storage devices, including but not limited to volatile and non-volatile media, as well as removable and non-removable media such as firmware, physical and virtual memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and other digital sources such as a network or the Internet.

[0048] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and the description may include the cases where the event occurs and does not occur. Approximation language used herein throughout this specification and claims may be applied to modify any quantitative expression that may permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it may relate. Thus, values ​​modified by terms such as "about," "substantially," and "approximately" may not be limited to the exact value specified. In at least some cases, approximation language may correspond to the accuracy of an instrument for measuring the value. Throughout this specification and claims, unless the context or language indicates otherwise, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged, and such ranges are specified and may include all subranges contained therein.

[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments, including the best mode, and also enables one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that are substantially different from the literal language of the claims.

[0050] When any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims), they should be interpreted as specifying the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but not excluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0051] The reference in this specification to a patent document or any other matter identified as prior art should not be construed as an admission that the document or other matter was known or that the information contained therein was part of the common general knowledge as of the priority date of any of the claims.

Claims

1. A system (100), comprising: a sensor system (106) configured to detect the ingress of a person into a detection curtain (112) in front of the door (102); a controller (108) configured to receive a first signal from the sensor system (106) indicative of the entry of the person into the detection curtain (112), the controller also configured to determine a status of the door (102) and generate a second signal in response to receiving the first signal while the status of the door (102) indicates that the door (102) may be opened; one or more actuators coupled to the door (102) and configured to, in response to receiving the second signal from the controller (108), open the door (102) without the person touching the door (102), the sensor system (106) is configured to generate the detection curtain (112) as a two-dimensional plane arranged at an acute angle with respect to a floor (114) of the vehicle including the door, the two-dimensional plane exhibiting a trapezoidal shape; the sensor system (106) is configured to generate the detection curtain (112) disposed between privacy panels (118) on opposite sides of the door (102) of the vehicle; The system (100) is also configured to generate, using light, a visual indicator (120) positioned at a boundary between a lower horizontal boundary (130) of the generated detection curtain (112) and the floor (114) of the vehicle.

2. the sensor system (106) is configured to generate the detection curtain (112) using electromagnetic radiation; 2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the detection curtain (112) is no closer than 1 cm to the door (102) such that the sensor system (106) is configured to detect the person's entry into the detection curtain (112) without the person coming within 1 cm of the door (102).

3. The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the sensor system (106) is configured to control a color of the visual indicator (120) to represent the status of the door (102).

4. 3. The system (100) of claim 2, further comprising an output device configured to be controlled by the controller to generate another visual indicator (120) representative of the status of the door (102).

5. 3. The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the sensor system (106) is configured to control a color of the light of the visual indicator (120) on the floor (114) to indicate the status of the door (102).

6. 3. The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the controller (108) is configured to do one or more of: control the sensor system (106) to generate the light; and control an output device to display the light in a color indicative of the status of the door (102).

7. 7. The system (100) of claim 6, wherein the controller (108) is configured to instruct one or more of the sensor system (106) and the output device to one or more of: (a) change the color of the light; (b) switch from continuous generation of the light to intermittent generation of the light; and (c) switch from the intermittent generation of the light to the continuous generation of the light in response to a change in the state of the door (102).

8. the sensor system (106) comprises an infrared sensor; the detection curtain (112) is formed from electromagnetic radiation including infrared light; The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the infrared sensor emits the infrared light for detection of the person.

9. 1. A method comprising: generating a detection curtain (112) in front of the door (102) using a sensor system (106); Detecting the ingress of a person into the detection curtain (112); determining whether a state of the door (102) indicates that the door (102) can be opened; opening the door (102) without the person touching the door (102) using one or more actuators responsive to detection of the person's entry into the detection curtain (112) and determining that the condition of the door (102) indicates that the door (102) may be opened; the detection curtain (112) is generated as a trapezoidal two-dimensional plane disposed at an acute angle with respect to a floor (114) of the vehicle including the door; the detection curtain (112) is generated to be disposed between privacy panels (118) on opposite sides of the door (102) of the vehicle; The method further comprises using light to generate a visual indicator (120) positioned at a boundary between a lower horizontal boundary (130) of the generated detection curtain (112) and the floor (114) of the vehicle.

10. the detection curtain (112) includes electromagnetic radiation; 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the detection curtain (112) is generated no closer than 1 cm to the door (102) such that the intrusion of the person into the detection curtain (112) is detected without the person coming within 1 cm of the door (102).

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising controlling a color of the visual indicator (120) to represent the state of the door.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a light on a vehicle floor (114) inside the door (102) representing the state of the door (102).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising changing a color of the light in response to the change in state of the door (102).

14. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising switching from a continuous generation of the light to an intermittent generation of the light in response to the change in the state of the door (102).

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the light is generated by the sensor system (106 ).

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