Powered Door Obstacle Detection With Broad Noncontact Sensor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current powered door systems require physical contact with obstacles to detect them, which can cause damage and raise safety concerns, as they only react after contact is made.
Innovation Solution
Implementing noncontact obstacle detection systems using sensors like radar that provide a wide field-of-view, allowing for obstacle detection and automatic action before contact, such as issuing an alarm or reversing motion, without the need for physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical contact sensors are used for obstacle detection, then the system can detect obstacles, but damage occurs to the vehicle and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using non-contact sensors (radar, ultrasonic, optical) to detect obstacles before the door makes physical contact with them. The system continuously monitors the door's path and triggers evasive actions (slowing down, stopping, or reversing) when potential obstacles are detected in advance, preventing damage before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based detection systems with non-contact sensing technologies. Instead of relying on physical contact between the door and obstacle to trigger detection, the system uses radar, ultrasonic, or optical sensors that can detect objects remotely, eliminating the need for mechanical impact to initiate the safety response.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noncontact sensors are used for obstacle detection, then vehicle damage is prevented and safety is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional sensor system where radar, ultrasonic, and optical sensors can serve multiple purposes. The same sensor array used for obstacle detection can also provide information for parking assistance, proximity warnings, and other vehicle safety functions, thereby justifying the increased complexity through broader utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensing technologies (radar, ultrasonic, optical) into a unified obstacle detection system. By combining these different sensor types, the system achieves more reliable and comprehensive detection capabilities while sharing processing and control resources, thereby managing complexity through integration rather than separate independent systems.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple sensors are added to expand field-of-view coverage, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by utilizing sensors with three-dimensional detection capabilities. Radar and ultrasonic sensors provide volumetric detection coverage, allowing a single sensor to monitor a large spatial volume rather than requiring multiple sensors for planar coverage. This approach expands field-of-view by adding spatial dimensions to the detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes detection parameters by using sensors with adjustable beam patterns, detection ranges, and sensitivity levels. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves broad field-of-view coverage with fewer sensors, as each sensor can be tuned to maximize its effective detection area and overlap with adjacent sensor coverage zones.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The noncontact sensor system effectively detects potential obstacles before they interfere with the powered door, reducing damage and enhancing safety by allowing proactive action, while being protected from environmental conditions and offering styling freedom.
Implementation Method 1
noncontact sensors are sensors that utilize a technology that does not require physical contact to perform a measurement, such as, for example sonar or radar sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting a potential object for a powered door of a vehicle. The system includes an electronic control unit and a noncontact sensor, the noncontact sensor having a field-of-view substantially including an obstacle detection zone defined for a powered door. The electronic control unit is configured to receive data from the noncontact sensor, determine, based on the data received from the noncontact sensor, an object located at a position within the field-of-view of the noncontact sensor, determine whether the position of the object is within the obstacle detection zone defined for the powered door, and in response to the position of the object being within the obstacle detection zone for the powered door, perform an automatic action with respect to the powered door before the powered door contacts the object.