Vehicle Door Control Using User Trajectory to Prevent Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor-vehicle closure control systems fail to consider the current traffic situation, leading to potential collisions with road users such as cyclists or pedestrians during the opening or closing of vehicle doors.

Innovation Solution

A method using two locally spaced closure-element receiving units to determine the relative position and speed of a personal transmitting unit, allowing for controlled actuation of vehicle closure elements based on the user's trajectory and speed to prevent collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the motor-vehicle closure element is opened automatically after authorization check, then user convenience is improved, but collision risk with road users increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the personal transmitting unit's position and trajectory before opening the closure element. The receiving units detect the transmitter in advance and evaluate its relative position and speed to determine if it poses a collision risk, allowing the system to prepare appropriate control actions before the closure element actually opens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the relative position and speed of the personal transmitting unit during the closure element operation. Based on this feedback information about the user's movement trajectory and speed, the control unit adjusts the closure element's opening behavior in real-time to prevent collisions while maintaining convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the closure element opening is delayed to check user position, then collision safety is improved, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision safetyVSAvoidaccess time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The detection of the personal transmitting unit and the evaluation of its position and trajectory occur continuously during the user's approach to the vehicle, not as a separate delayed step. This continuous monitoring allows the system to maintain readiness to open the closure element immediately when safe, eliminating unnecessary delays while ensuring safety through constant position assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12516557B2Method and device for controlling at least one motor-vehicle closure element

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

A method for controlling at least one motor-vehicle closure element, more particularly a motor-vehicle door. A personal transmitting unit is sensed by at least one closure-element receiving unit. According to the invention, the personal transmitting unit is located by means of at least two spatially distanced closure element-side receiving units and is evaluated in accordance with its relative position and/or velocity in comparison with the motor-vehicle closure element.