Vehicular power door sensing and operating system
AssigneeMagna Mirrors of America, Inc.
InventorKenneth C. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicular access system includes a sensing panel at a door of a vehicle including a panel, at least one capacitive touch sensor for sensing proximity of a user at a touch sensing region of the panel, and a radar sensor sensing exterior of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a data processor for processing sensor data captured by the radar sensor to detect presence of objects exterior of the vehicle. At least one indicator visually indicates status of the system. Responsive to receiving an open door command, (i) the at least one indicator illuminates and (ii) the system determines, using the sensor data, whether a detected object is within a swing path of the door. The system, responsive to determining that no object is within the swing path of the door, opens the door.
Claims25
A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
- a sensing module disposed at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular access system, wherein the sensing module comprises (i) a panel disposed at the door, the panel having an exterior surface that corresponds with an exterior surface of the door, (ii) at least one capacitive touch sensor for sensing proximity of a user at a touch sensing region of the panel and (iii) a radar sensor sensing exterior of the vehicle and capturing sensor data;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software;
- wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor for processing sensor data captured by the radar sensor to detect presence of an object exterior of the vehicle;
- at least one indicator for visually indicating status of the vehicular access system;
- wherein, responsive to touch or proximity of the user at the at least one capacitive touch sensor, an open door command is provided to the ECU;
- wherein, responsive to receiving the open door command, (i) the at least one indicator illuminates and (ii) the vehicular access system determines, using the sensor data, whether a detected object is within a swing path of the door;
- and
- wherein the vehicular access system, responsive to determining that no object is within the swing path of the door, opens the door.
A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
- a sensing module disposed at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular access system, wherein the sensing module comprises (i) a panel disposed at the door, the panel having an exterior surface that corresponds with an exterior surface of the door, (ii) at least one capacitive touch sensor for sensing proximity of a user at a touch sensing region of the panel, (iii) a radar sensor sensing exterior of the vehicle and capturing sensor data and (iv) at least one indicator for visually indicating status of the vehicular access system, and wherein the at least one indicator comprises a light pipe;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software;
- wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor for processing sensor data captured by the radar sensor to detect presence of an object exterior of the vehicle;
- wherein, responsive to touch or proximity of the user at the at least one capacitive touch sensor, an open door command is provided to the ECU;
- wherein, responsive to receiving the open door command, (i) the at least one indicator illuminates and (ii) the vehicular access system determines, using the sensor data, whether a detected object is within a swing path of the door;
- and
- wherein the vehicular access system, responsive to determining that no object is within the swing path of the door, opens the door.
A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
- a sensing module disposed at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular access system, wherein the sensing module comprises (i) a panel disposed at the door, the panel having an exterior surface that corresponds with an exterior surface of the door, (ii) at least one capacitive touch sensor for sensing proximity of a user at a touch sensing region of the panel and (iii) a radar sensor sensing exterior of the vehicle and capturing sensor data;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software;
- wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor for processing sensor data captured by the radar sensor to detect presence of an object exterior of the vehicle;
- at least one indicator for visually indicating status of the vehicular access system;
- wherein, responsive to touch or proximity of the user at the at least one capacitive touch sensor, an open door command is provided to the ECU;
- wherein, responsive to receiving the open door command, (i) the at least one indicator illuminates to indicate the open door command is received and (ii) the vehicular access system determines, using the sensor data, whether a detected object is within a swing path of the door;
- and
- wherein, responsive to determining that the detected object is within the swing path of the door, illumination of the at least one indicator changes to indicate that the door will not open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.