Vehicle Swing Door Obstacle Detection Using Distributed Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic door opening and closing systems for vehicles fail to accurately detect obstacles on the door's circumference before contact, leading to potential collisions, with previous methods relying on current variations, electrostatic capacity changes, or ultrasonic sensors that may miss obstacles due to blind spots.
Innovation Solution
An automatic door opening and closing system equipped with a distance measuring device using multiple sensors (ultrasonic, LiDAR, or high-frequency radar) placed dispersively over the door to measure the distance between the door's external surface and objects, a door lock device, a drive device, and a control device that stops the door from opening when an obstacle is detected within predetermined distances to avoid contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single ultrasonic sensor is placed in the vehicle pillar to measure distance, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to blind spots on the door circumference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door surface into multiple measurement zones by placing multiple distance sensors dispersively over the swing door. Each sensor covers a specific area, and together they provide comprehensive coverage of the entire door circumference, eliminating blind spots and improving obstacle detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single measurement point in the vehicle pillar to multiple measurement points distributed across the door surface. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions ensures complete coverage of the door's circumference during opening and closing operations.
2Reliability
If multiple distance sensors are placed dispersively over the swing door to cover the whole external surface, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door surface is segmented into multiple measurement zones, each monitored by a dedicated distance sensor. This segmentation ensures that every part of the door circumference is covered, improving the reliability of obstacle detection across the entire door surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple distance sensors continuously measure distances to potential obstacles before the door comes into contact with them. This preliminary detection allows the control device to stop the door opening operation in advance, preventing contact with obstacles and enhancing safety reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the door opens automatically without manual operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of contact with obstacles increases due to delayed detection
Solution Approach 1:
The distance measuring device performs preliminary measurements of the door circumference area before automatic door opening is initiated. This advance detection identifies obstacles in the door's path, allowing the control device to prevent automatic opening when obstacles are present, thus eliminating contact risk while maintaining ease of operation when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously receives feedback from multiple distance sensors during the door opening process. Based on real-time distance measurements, the control device can dynamically adjust or stop the door operation, providing a safe automatic opening function that responds to detected obstacles.
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
Accurately detects obstacles on the door's circumference before contact, ensuring the door does not collide with them, by using a comprehensive sensing system that covers the entire door surface and adjusts its operation based on measured distances to prevent collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a distance measuring device using multiple sensors (ultrasonic, LiDAR, or high-frequency radar)
Implementation Method 2
a distance measuring device using multiple sensors (ultrasonic, LiDAR, or high-frequency radar)
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic door opening and closing system includes a distance measuring device measuring a distance between an external surface of a swing door of a vehicle and an object lying on a circumference of the swing door, a door lock device locking the swing door, a drive device opening and closing the swing door, a door opening operation input device receiving an operation to cancel the locking of the swing door and to open the swing door, and a control device controlling the door lock device and the drive device based on the distance measured in response to receiving the operation. The distance measuring device includes a plurality of distance sensors placed dispersively over the swing door, a measurement target by the distant measuring device including a whole of the external surface of the swing door.