Swing Door Operator Safety Volume Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated swing doors often fail to assist users when they reach for the door handle, leading to safety issues during the opening cycle, as sensors may detect individuals in the path and prevent the door from opening.
Innovation Solution
A swing door operator system comprising a drive unit, control unit, and sensor, which defines a safety volume with two zones: the first zone halts or reverses the door if an object is detected, while the second zone allows the door to open even if an object is present, enabling manual operation by allowing the door to open if an object, like a person's arm, is in the second zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sensor is used to detect objects in the path of the swing door leaf to prevent collision, then safety is improved, but the door will not open when a person is reaching for the door handle
Solution Approach 1:
The safety volume is segmented into two distinct zones: a first volume where object detection triggers safety actions (stopping/reversing the door), and a second volume where object presence is ignored during the opening cycle. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between a person standing in the path (hazard) and a person reaching for the door handle (normal operation), resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the safety volume are assigned different functional qualities. The first volume has high sensitivity to object detection for collision prevention, while the second volume has low sensitivity or no detection response during opening cycles. This local differentiation of sensor response characteristics allows the door to be both safe and easy to operate.
2Reliability
If the sensor detects any object in the safety volume to prevent collision, then safety is improved, but the door cannot be opened manually when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor's detection sensitivity is made dynamic rather than static. During the opening cycle, the system temporarily reduces or disables detection sensitivity in the second volume to allow manual operation, while maintaining high sensitivity in the first volume for collision prevention. This dynamic adjustment of sensor behavior resolves the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of the object's position and classification before triggering any action. By determining in advance whether an object is in the first or second volume, the system can pre-determine the appropriate response: safety action for the first volume, or no action for the second volume. This preliminary classification preserves both safety function and manual operation capability.
3Reliability
If a separate button is required to initiate door opening, then safety is maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle is given multiple functions: it serves both as the manual operation interface and as part of the safety detection system. When a person reaches for the handle, their arm enters the second volume of the safety zone, which the system interprets as intentional opening behavior. This eliminates the need for a separate button while maintaining safety through the volumetric sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The door system serves itself by using the natural action of reaching for the door handle as the trigger for opening. The sensor system automatically detects the arm in the second volume and initiates opening without requiring a separate button press. This self-service mechanism reduces device complexity while maintaining safety through intelligent detection.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, a swing door system and a swing door operator (10) for moving a swing door leaf (20) between a closed and an open position (C,O). The swing door operator (10) includes at least one drive unit (100), a control unit (200) and a sensor (300). The control unit (200) is operatively connected to the drive unit and to the sensor (300) and is configured to regulate the drive unit to move the swing door leaf (20) between the closed and open position (C, O). The sensor (300) is configured to identify an object (30) in a safety volume (400) in front of a first side (21) of the swing door leaf (20), where the safety volume (400) comprises a first volume (401) and a second volume (402).