Vehicle Door Sensor Pivoting for Near-Field Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing obstacle identification systems for vehicles are costly and not effectively suited for reliable near-field obstacle detection, particularly in the vicinity of the vehicle door.
Innovation Solution
A sensor with a restricted field of vision and/or resolution is integrated into a movable part of the vehicle, such as the vehicle door, allowing for an increased monitoring range and resolution through pivoting movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive sensors with wide field of vision and high resolution are used for obstacle identification, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring region is divided into multiple subregions, with different sensors (or sensor regions) assigned to different subregions. This segmentation allows each sensor to have a restricted field of vision focused on specific areas, reducing the need for expensive wide-angle high-resolution sensors while maintaining overall monitoring precision through coordinated coverage of all subregions.
2Device complexity
If sensors with restricted field of vision are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the monitoring range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single static sensor viewpoint to a multi-viewpoint system by mounting sensors on movable parts (doors, windows) that change position during opening/closing movements. This dimensional change in observation perspective allows restricted-field sensors to collectively cover a much larger monitoring range as the vehicle components move through their range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system leverages the dynamic movement of vehicle parts (doors opening/closing, windows moving) to expand the effective monitoring range. Sensors with restricted fields of vision mounted on these moving components automatically sweep through different spatial regions, dynamically covering the entire area around the vehicle without requiring expensive stationary wide-angle sensors.
3Measurement precision
If high-resolution sensors are used for near-field obstacle detection, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using inexpensive restricted-field sensors mounted on moving components before the door or window completes its opening movement. This preliminary action allows the system to identify obstacles in the near field early in the opening sequence, maintaining high detection precision for critical near-field regions while using lower-cost sensors that only need to monitor their specific subregions.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include a system for a vehicle having a body a door held on the body and pivotable about a pivot axis. An example includes: an obstacle identification system to detect a collision event occurring between the door and an object within surroundings of the vehicle; and a sensor pivotably held on the body, the sensor having a field of vision covering an angle about the pivot axis in plan view along the pivot axis. The field of vision covers a subregion of a total monitoring region of the obstacle identification system, wherein the field of vision is smaller than the total monitoring region.