Powered Door Control with Occupant and Passerby Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-powered door systems lack effective control mechanisms that consider the location of occupants and passerby, potentially leading to interference or obstruction during door operation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system equipped with interior and exterior sensors to detect occupant movement and passerby proximity, controlling powered doors to prevent closure when an occupant is exiting and to partially or fully open the door based on passerby presence, using actuators like electric motors and brake devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the powered door is controlled to open fully when an occupant intends to exit, then occupant egress is facilitated, but passerby obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door control system dynamically adjusts the door position based on real-time sensor inputs. When an occupant intends to exit, the door opens to a first position that facilitates egress. When a passerby is detected, the system dynamically repositions the door to a second position that clears the swing path, preventing obstruction while maintaining accessibility for the occupant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the door environment using sensors that detect both interior occupants and exterior passbys. This feedback loop enables the controller to adjust door position in real-time based on the detected presence of occupants and passbys, resolving the contradiction between facilitating exit and preventing obstruction.
2Reliability
If the powered door is controlled to close when no occupant is exiting, then security is improved, but occupant entrapment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of occupant exit intentions before initiating door closure. Interior sensors monitor occupant position and movement to determine exit intent. Only when no exit intent is detected does the system proceed with closing the door, thereby preventing entrapment while maintaining security through timely closure when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously receives feedback from interior sensors monitoring occupant presence and exit intentions. This feedback prevents premature or erroneous closure by detecting when an occupant intends to exit, thereby eliminating entrapment risk while maintaining security through controlled closure when the interior is clear.
3Speed
If the door actuator operates at high speed, then door response time is reduced, but control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator operates dynamically with varying speeds based on the control phase. During rapid response scenarios (such as detecting a passerby requiring immediate door closure), the actuator operates at high speed to minimize response time. During positioning and precision control phases, the actuator operates at reduced speed to achieve precise door positioning at the required angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator employs periodic control cycles that alternate between rapid movement phases and precise positioning phases. This periodic action allows the system to achieve both fast response time during transition phases and precise control during positioning phases, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, interior sensors sensing position or movement of an occupant in the cabin interior, and exterior sensors sensing a passerby proximate to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a controller determining an occupant intending to exit the vehicle via the door based on the interior sensors and determining a passerby passing by the door in an open position using the at least one exterior sensors. The controller controls the actuator to open the door when the occupant is intended to exit the vehicle and at least partially closes the door when a passerby is detected passing by the vehicle door and an occupant is determined not to be exiting the vehicle. The controller controls the actuator to open the door further when the passerby is determined to pass by the door.