# US 2013/0154792 A1 · Cost effective auto-actuation door check

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- Number: US 2013/0154792 A1
- Document ID: US20130154792A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/325,241
- Filed: 2011-12-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Eric L. Reed; Brian Bennie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154792A1

## CPC

- E05F 15/43: responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
- E05F 2015/433: {using reflection from the obstruction}
- E05Y 2400/32: Position control, detection or monitoring
- E05Y 2800/10: Additional functions
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A system for controlling movement of a motor vehicle door includes at least one sensor that detects a distance from the vehicle to an object near the vehicle. The sensor is also configured to provide input to an automatic parallel parking system of the vehicle. The system may include at least one ultrasonic sensor on each side of the vehicle to detect the distances to objects on opposite sides of a vehicle. The system utilizes a plurality of detected distances and vehicle positions or velocities to determine a location of the detected object relative to the vehicle. The system selectively actuates the door brake to prevent the vehicle door from contacting the detected object as the door is opened.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling movement of a vehicle door relative to a primary vehicle structure, the system comprising:
at least one ultrasonic sensor configured to detect a distance from a vehicle to an object in the vicinity of a vehicle and to provide input to a vehicle automatic parallel parking system;
a door brake configured to prevent a vehicle door from opening beyond a variable maximum distance;
the system utilizes a plurality of detected distances to a detected object taken at different times before a vehicle stops and a plurality of vehicle positions or velocities at different times before a vehicle stops corresponding to the times at which the detected distances are taken to determine a location of the detected object relative to the vehicle; and wherein:
the system selectively actuates the door brake to prevent the vehicle door from contacting the detected object as the door is opened.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, including:
a position sensor that determines a position of a vehicle door; and wherein:
the system includes a controller configured to determine if a vehicle in which the sensor is mounted is in motion and if a vehicle door is open, and to determine if a position of the door is within a predefined allowable position relative to the detected object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein:
the controller utilizes a rolling buffer of data concerning a position of the detected object relative to the sensor to determine if a position of the door is within the predefined allowable criteria.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein:
the door pivots, and the position sensor determines an angle of the door relative to the vehicle as the door is opened.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein:
the controller does not actuate the door brake unless the door is open.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein:
the system includes an adjacent object buffer, and the controller determines if the vehicle is in motion, and populates the adjacent object buffer if the vehicle is in motion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein:
the controller utilizes sequential pairs of data corresponding to vehicle velocity and measured distance to sequentially determine a plurality of positions of the vehicle relative to a detected object at specified intervals.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein:
the controller populates the adjacent object buffer with positions at the specified intervals.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein:
the ultrasonic sensor is operably connected to an automatic system for parallel parking whereby data from the ultrasonic sensor is utilized to control both the door brake and the automatic system for parallel parking.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the system includes first and second ultrasonic sensors configured to detect distances to objects on opposite sides of a vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the system utilizes a plurality of vehicle odometer positions to determine a relative position of a detected object.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the system utilizes measured yaw rates of a vehicle to determine a position of an object relative to the vehicle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the system utilizes pluralities of sequential vehicle velocities, yaw rates, and object distances measured at specified time intervals to determine a plurality of sequential positions of a detected object relative to the vehicle.

### Claim 14

A vehicle door system comprising:
at least two object detecting sensors;
a door that moves relative to the sensors, the door including a powered brake that stops motion of the door;
a door position sensor;
a controller that populates a buffer with sequentially measured vehicle velocities or positions, yaw rates, and distances to a detected object, the controller determining a position of the vehicle relative to a detected object after the vehicle has stopped, and selectively actuating the powered brake to prevent the door from contacting the object.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle door system of claim 14;
the controller utilizes velocities, yaw rates and distances to a detected object that are taken at equal time intervals.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle door system of claim 15, wherein:
the object-detecting sensors comprise ultrasonic sensors configured to detect objects located laterally on opposite sides of a vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle door system of claim 16, wherein:
the ultrasonic sensor form part of a vehicle automatic system for parallel parking.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vehicle door system of claim 17, wherein:
the controller populates the buffer unless the vehicle is not in motion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicle door system of claim 18, wherein:
the controller is configured to determine if the vehicle is in Park if the vehicle is not in motion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vehicle door system of claim 19, wherein:
the controller is configured to determine if the door is open if the controller has previously determined that the vehicle is not in motion and that the vehicle is in Park.