Vehicle sliding closure non-contact obstable detection system

Abstract

A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for an opening in a vehicle includes a cover panel, such as a glass pane, slidable between opened and closed positions within the opening. The system includes one or more infrared time-of-flight (IR-TOF) sensors which measure the length of a beam of infrared light by measuring the time that the infrared light in the beam takes to travel the length of the beam and to reflect back to the sensor. The IR-TOF sensors may be configured to provide a beam of light along either the side edge of the frame parallel to the sliding direction or a terminal edge generally transverse to the sliding direction. Methods are provided for detecting obstacles within the opening of the frame by controllers using the lengths of beams from each of those different beam configurations, and for self-calibrating the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-contact obstacle detection system for an opening defined by a frame in a vehicle, the opening configured to be enclosed by a cover panel, the non-contact obstacle detection system comprising:
 an actuator connected to the cover panel for moving the cover panel;   at least one non-contact sensor configured for detecting an obstacle within the opening; and   a controller in communication with the at least one non-contact sensor and the actuator, the controller configured to prevent the actuator from moving the cover panel in response to the detection of the obstacle within the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover panel is one of a door, a sliding door, a liftgate, and a glass window. 
     
     
         3 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a door frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-contact sensor is configured for providing a beam within the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one non-contact sensor includes a transmitter for providing the beam and a receiver for detecting a reflection of the beam. 
     
     
         6 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller determines the time that the beam takes to travel from the transmitter to the receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to prevent the actuator from moving the cover panel in response to the detection of the beam reflecting off of the obstacle. 
     
     
         8 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 5 , wherein the detection of the beam reflecting off of the obstacle is caused by an interruption of the beam by the obstacle. 
     
     
         9 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to prevent the actuator from moving the cover panel in response to the detection of the beam reflecting off of the cover panel. 
     
     
         10 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact-type obstacle detection device in communication with the controller for detecting the obstacle within the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the contact-type obstacle detection device is one of a switch and a pad for detecting physical contact with the obstacle. 
     
     
         12 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the contact-type obstacle detection device is configured for detecting the obstacle and the controller is configured to prevent the actuator from moving the cover panel in response to the contact-type obstacle detection device detecting the obstacle and the at least one non-contact sensor not detecting the obstacle. 
     
     
         13 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the contact-type obstacle detection device is configured for monitoring a motor of the actuator to detect a slowing or an increase in force required to move the cover panel. 
     
     
         14 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured for detecting a pinch using the contact-type obstacle detection device of the obstacle within the opening as the cover panel is moved towards a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to signal to the actuator to reverse a direction of the cover panel in response to detecting the pinch using the contact-type obstacle detection device. 
     
     
         16 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 4 , wherein the non-contact sensor is configured to provide the beam along an edge of the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 16 , wherein the non-contact sensor is configured to provide the beam along a terminal edge of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The non-contact obstacle detection system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a velocity of the cover panel based on receiving the beam over time. 
     
     
         19 . A method for obstacle detection system for detecting an obstacle within an opening of a frame of a vehicle, the opening configured to be enclosed by a cover panel, the method comprising the steps of:
 transmitting a beam by at least one non-contact obstacle sensor within a plane of the opening;   receiving a reflection of the beam by the at least one the non-contact obstacle sensor;   detecting an obstacle within the opening based upon receiving the reflection of the beam; and
 controlling an actuator coupled to the cover panel from moving the cover panel in response to detecting the obstacle. 
   
     
     
         20 . An obstacle detection system for an opening defined by a frame in a vehicle, the opening configured to be to enclosed by a cover panel, the obstacle detection system comprising:
 an actuator connected to the cover panel for moving the cover panel;   at least one non-contact sensor configured for detecting an obstacle within the opening;   a contact-type obstacle detection device for detecting the obstacle within the opening; and   a controller in communication with the at least one non-contact sensor and the contact-type obstacle detection device and the actuator, the controller configured to prevent the actuator from moving the cover panel in response to the detection of the obstacle within the opening by one of the at least one non-contact sensor and the contact-type obstacle detection device.