Vehicle Door Clearance Warning System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety systems do not effectively alert drivers to obstructions that prevent the full opening of vehicle doors, such as a trunk liftgate, which can interfere with safe operation and access to vehicle compartments.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle warning system that monitors specific zones around the vehicle using active safety systems, including sensors and algorithms, to generate distinct warning signals when an object is detected within critical zones, ensuring the door has sufficient clearance to move to the fully open position, utilizing audio, visual, and haptic alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the vehicle is parked close to an object to save space, then parking space utilization is improved, but the door cannot open fully due to insufficient clearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking space utilizationVSAvoiddoor opening operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of objects in the door's path before the driver attempts to open the door. The active safety system continuously monitors the area around the vehicle and identifies potential obstructions, allowing the system to prepare warning signals in advance when the door is commanded to open but clearance is insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback to the driver when an obstruction is detected that would prevent full door opening. The audio and visual warning systems communicate the clearance issue back to the driver, enabling them to adjust the door opening action or vehicle position accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If existing safety systems are used without door clearance monitoring, then system complexity is reduced, but drivers are not alerted to obstructions preventing door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety system complexityVSAvoiddoor operation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing active safety system's sensors and processing capabilities to perform door clearance monitoring in addition to its primary functions. By making the active safety system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding a completely separate detection system, thus minimizing increased complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The door clearance monitoring function is merged with the existing active safety system rather than being implemented as a separate system. The same sensors, processors, and warning output devices used for collision avoidance are also utilized for door clearance detection, consolidating functions and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9266472B2Systems and methods to indicate clearance for vehicle door

Publication Date: 2016.02.23 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a vehicle warning system is provided. The system includes a vehicle having a door movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and an outer zone associated with the door. The outer zone defines an area providing a sufficient clearance to move the door to the fully open position. The system further includes an active safety system that monitors the outer zone and generates a warning signal if an object is located within the outer zone such that the door does not have sufficient clearance to move to the fully open position.