Vehicle Door Exit Alarm Logic for Blocked Passing Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drop-off assist devices issue unnecessary alarms when an approaching object is unable to pass between a stationary object and a host vehicle, as they fail to accurately determine if the approaching object's movement path will intersect with the host vehicle's door, leading to false safety warnings.

Innovation Solution

A drop-off assist device that uses a processor to detect approaching and stationary objects, predicting their movement paths and determining if the approaching object will pass by the host vehicle's door, and only issues an alarm if the predicted movement path intersects with the door and the object is not stopped by a nearby stationary object, thereby suppressing unnecessary alarms by setting criteria for the transverse distance and arrival time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an alarm is issued when an approaching object is detected, then occupant safety is improved, but unnecessary alarms occur when the approaching object cannot pass between the stationary object and host vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm accuracyVSAvoidunnecessary alarms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters used for alarm determination by incorporating transverse distance measurements and comparing the approaching object's position relative to both the host vehicle and stationary objects. This allows the system to distinguish between approaching objects that pose a real threat and those that are blocked by stationary objects, thereby reducing unnecessary alarms while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary object acts as an intermediary element in the safety assessment. By detecting whether a stationary object exists between the approaching object and the host vehicle door, the system uses this intermediary to block false alarm conditions, allowing alarms to be issued only when the approaching object's path is unobstructed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the detection criteria for approaching objects is broadened, then more potential hazards are detected, but false positives increase when objects are stopped by stationary objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehazard detection capabilityVSAvoidmovement path prediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different detection and assessment criteria to different spatial zones. It specifically evaluates the transverse distance relationship between the approaching object, host vehicle, and stationary objects to determine whether the approaching object is in a position where it could potentially collide with the door, rather than applying uniform detection to all approaching objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of stationary objects and their positions before finalizing the alarm decision. By pre-identifying stationary objects that could block approaching objects, the system can filter out false hazard detections in advance, improving measurement precision for movement path prediction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the system monitors all approaching objects, then safety coverage is maximized, but computational complexity and false alarms increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety coverageVSAvoiddetection and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system segments approaching objects into different categories based on their transverse distance relationships. Objects are divided into those that could potentially reach the door (requiring alarm) and those blocked by stationary objects (no alarm needed), simplifying the processing logic while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial monitoring by focusing computational resources only on approaching objects that meet specific transverse distance criteria relative to stationary objects. Rather than analyzing every approaching object in detail, it applies simplified assessment to objects clearly blocked by stationary objects, reducing computational complexity while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4064243B1Drop-off assist device
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4064243B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4064243B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4064243B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A device (10) includes a processor configured to: issue an alarm when a movement path condition is met and a prohibition condition is not met, the movement path condition being met when an approaching object (200T) of which a predicted movement path (R200) is a path along which the object passes by a door (100D) of the host vehicle (100) is present; and not issue the alarm when the prohibition condition is met, even when the movement path condition is met, wherein the prohibition condition includes a condition to be met when a difference between a distance in a transverse direction from the host vehicle (100) to a stationary object (300T) and a distance in the transverse direction from the host vehicle (100) to the approaching object (200T) is equal to or less than a predetermined value in a case where the stationary object (300T) is present, the stationary object (300T) being stationary at a side of the host vehicle (100).