Vehicle Door Aperture Sensing With Multiplane Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor systems for detecting objects between vehicle doors often result in delayed, inaccurate, and insufficient responses due to inadequate coverage and inefficiencies in detecting objects within the door aperture, leading to potential harm to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A multiplane sensor system is employed to detect objects in at least two planes - one defined by the space between the doors and another within the door frame - allowing for more accurate and timely identification of objects and determining optimal door responses based on their presence and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional single-plane sensor systems are used to detect objects between vehicle doors, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and detection accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multiplane sensor systems that detect objects in multiple planes (first plane between doors, second plane within door aperture) rather than a single plane. This dimensional expansion from one plane to multiple planes enables comprehensive detection of objects at different depths and positions, significantly improving measurement precision and detection accuracy without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple independent sensor planes, each responsible for detecting objects in specific spatial zones. The first sensor plane detects objects between the doors while the second sensor plane detects objects within the door aperture. This segmentation allows each sensor plane to be optimized for its specific detection zone, improving overall detection precision.
2Loss of time
If conventional sensor systems are used for object detection between doors, then the response time is delayed, but adding more sensor planes increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplane sensor system is pre-configured with multiple detection planes covering all critical zones before door operation begins. The first sensor plane is positioned to detect objects between doors at various stages of opening/closing, while the second sensor plane is pre-positioned within the door aperture. This preliminary arrangement of sensor planes enables immediate detection of objects in any zone without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus reducing response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scanning or moving sensor systems with a static multiplane sensor arrangement. Instead of mechanically moving sensors to cover different zones, multiple fixed sensor planes are strategically positioned to cover all necessary detection zones simultaneously. This substitution of mechanical movement with spatial arrangement reduces system complexity while maintaining fast response times.
3Reliability
If conventional sensor coverage is used, then the device complexity is low, but the detection coverage is insufficient leading to safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expands detection coverage by adding a second sensor plane within the door aperture, creating a three-dimensional detection volume rather than a single two-dimensional plane. This dimensional expansion ensures that objects hidden behind or between doors are detected, comprehensive object detection in all critical zones, significantly improving vehicle safety. The first sensor plane covers the space between doors while the second sensor plane covers the door aperture interior, eliminating detection blind spots.
4Measurement precision
If single-plane detection is used, then the system is simpler to operate, but the detection precision and object location accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplane sensor system automatically determines object location and depth by comparing detections across multiple planes without requiring manual intervention or complex external calibration. The system self-calibrates by using the spatial relationship between the first sensor plane (between doors) and the second sensor plane (within aperture) to automatically calculate object positions, depths, and trajectories. This self-service capability maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for managing the doors of a vehicle are discussed herein. In some examples, a vehicle may have one or more doors configured to open and close. The doors may include one or more sensor devices located along the inside edges of the doors. The sensor devices may be configured to capture sensor data of a region between the doors. In some instances, the vehicle may have a door frame that may define a door aperture when the vehicle doors are in a non-closed state. The door frame may include one or more sensor devices located along an edge portion of the door frame. Such sensor devices may capture sensor data of the region within the door aperture. In such instances, a second plane (e.g., defined by the door frame) may be interior to a first plane (e.g., defined by the doors) relative to the vehicle.