ANTI FINGER PINCH

Abstract

A system for avoiding pinching in vehicle doors includes capacitive proximity sensors for being mounted at each door along closing surfaces. The system also includes an accelerometer for being arranged in each door, a stopper bar, and a release mechanism for the stopper bar. The capacitive proximity sensors, the accelerometer, and the release mechanism are connected to a control unit arranged such that the stopper bar is moved to a blocking position when the capacitive proximity sensor for the same door senses an object and the door has stopped accelerating.

Claims

1. A system for avoiding pinching in vehicle doors, comprising capacitive proximity sensors for being mounted at each door along closing surfaces, an accelerometer for being arranged in each door, a stopper bar arranged at each door such that when activated it prevents the door from closing entirely, and a release mechanism for the stopper bar, wherein the capacitive proximity sensors, the accelerometer, and the release mechanism being connected to a control unit arranged such that the stopper bar is moved to a blocking position when the capacitive proximity sensor for the same door senses an object and the door has stopped accelerating.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is a capacitive accelerometer.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stopper bar at one end is pivotally arranged such that it swings in an arc when moving between a non-triggered and triggered position.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stopper bar is spring loaded.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the stopper bar is held in the non-triggered position by a solenoid.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein a spring loaded elongate bar is arranged relative the stopper bar such that when the spring loaded elongate bar is released it moves longitudinally towards a point on the stopper bar at a distance from said end of the stopper bar such that the stopper bar moves to the triggered position.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the spring loaded elongate bar is held in the non-triggered position by a solenoid.

8. A vehicle with a system according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive proximity sensors are arranged on the vehicle body along the closing surfaces for the doors.

9. A vehicle with a system according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive proximity sensors are arranged on the vehicle doors along the closing surfaces.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the stopper bars (3) are arranged in the doors (1).

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the stopper bars are arranged on the vehicle body.

12. A method for preventing a vehicle door from pinching along closing surfaces of a door, the vehicle comprising a capacitive proximity sensor arranged at each door along the closing surfaces, an accelerometer arranged in each door, and a stopper bar arranged at each door such that when activated it prevents the door from closing entirely, the method comprising: detecting if a door is in an open position, measuring a capacitance of a field extending through the aperture of said door using the capacitive proximity sensor when the door is open, generating a signal from the capacitive proximity sensor based on the capacitance measurements, monitoring the signal from the accelerometer, activating the stopper bar if the door after accelerating stops accelerating and the signal from the capacitive proximity sensor indicates that an object is detected in the aperture anywhere along the closing surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a vehicle with open doors,

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a stopper bar mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a non-triggered position,

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a stopper bar mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a triggered position,

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a vehicle door, in part cross-sectional, in a closed position,

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a vehicle door, in part cross-sectional, in a position where the stopper bar has been activated, and

[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a vehicle door, in part cross-sectional, in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 1 a vehicle is shown having a system for avoiding pinching in the doors 1. The doors each comprise capacitive proximity sensors 2 along the closing surfaces. The capacitive proximity sensors 2 are arranged on the vehicle doors 1 along the closing surfaces.

[0032] Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the shown embodiment the system further comprises an anti-pinching unit 9, the anti-pinching unit 9 comprises an accelerometer 6, a stopper bar 3, and a release mechanism 4 for the stopper bar 3. The capacitive proximity sensors 2, the accelerometer 6, and the release mechanism 4 are connected to a control unit 7 arranged such that the stopper bar 3 is moved to a blocking position when the capacitive proximity sensor 2 for a door senses an object and the door 1 has stopped accelerating.

[0033] The stopper bar 3 is at one end 5 pivotally arranged such that it swings in an arc when moving between a non-triggered, FIG. 2, and triggered position, FIG. 3.

[0034] Also, in the shown embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 a spring loaded elongate bar 8 is arranged relative the stopper bar 3 such that when the spring loaded elongate bar 8 is released it moves longitudinally towards a point on the stopper bar 3 at a distance from said end 5 of the stopper bar 3 such that the stopper bar 3 moves to the triggered position. The spring loaded elongate bar 8 is held in the non-triggered position by a solenoid 4, i.e. the release mechanism is in the shown embodiment a solenoid.

[0035] As can be seen in FIGS. 4-6 the stopper bars 3 are arranged in the doors 1 and arranged in anti-pinching units 9 as schematically shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0036] The method of the anti-pinching system according to the present disclosure is such that capacitive proximity sensors 2 arranged at each door 1 along the closing surfaces together with an accelerometer 6. A stopper bar 3 is arranged at each door 1 such that when activated it prevents the door 1 from closing entirely, see FIG. 5.

[0037] When a vehicle door is closed manually from the outside it is pushed. When being pushed, the door initially accelerates until it reaches the desired speed. The acceleration is generally relatively fast. The desired speed usually corresponds at least to the minimum required for closing a vehicle door. When closed from the outside, the door is most often also released prior to being closed completely, i.e. the acceleration is definitely stopped when released.

[0038] If the vehicle door is closed from the inside of the vehicle it is pulled using a handle on the inside of the door. When the vehicle door 1 is being pulled, the maximum speed is reached relatively fast, i.e. the acceleration is most times immediate. However, since the “hand” pulling the door is moving back to the person pulling it, the hand remains on the handle until the door is closed.

[0039] Thus, the method of the present disclosure detects if a door 1 is in an open position. If open, the capacitance of a field extending through the aperture of said door is measured using the capacitive proximity sensor 2. When the door is open, a signal from the capacitive proximity sensor 2 based on the capacitance measurements is generated. At the same time, the signal from the accelerometer 6 is monitored. The stopper bar 3 is activated if the door 1 is open, if the door 1 after accelerating stops accelerating and the signal from the capacitive proximity sensor 2 indicates that an object is detected in the aperture anywhere along the closing surfaces.

[0040] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the accelerometer could be any type chosen from the following group: bulk micromachined capacitive, bulk micromachined piezoelectric resistive, capacitive spring mass system base, electromechanical servo (Servo Force Balance), laser accelerometer, magnetic induction, modally tuned impact hammers, null-balance, optical, pendulous integrating gyroscopic accelerometer (PIGA), piezoelectric accelerometer, Quantum (rubidium atom cloud, laser cooled), resonance, seat pad accelerometers, shear mode accelerometer, strain gauge, surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface micromachined capacitive (MEMS), thermal (submicrometre CMOS process), triaxial, vacuum diode with flexible anode, potentiometric type, and LVDT type accelerometer.