Patent Application
20200190869
The disclosure relates to automatic vulnerable object detection triggered release of a motor vehicle hood latch.
In motor vehicles, a hood or bonnet is a moveable, typically hinged, panel configured to selectively cover and permit access to a compartment defined by the vehicle body. In vehicles with a front-mounted power-plant, the hood permits access to the power-plant for maintenance and repair. In vehicles with a rear-mounted power-plant, and in some vehicles with a mid-mounted power-plant, the hood covers a main storage compartment or trunk.
Commonly, a vehicle hood is held down by a concealed latch. Such a latch is generally designed to protect the vehicle or the compartment contents from theft, damage, and sudden opening of the hood while the vehicle is in motion. A hood release system is common on vehicles, and typically includes an interior compartment hood latch handle, a hood release cable, and a hood latch assembly. The hood latch handle is usually located for convenient access by the vehicle's operator. In such systems, when the hood latch handle is pulled, the release cable actuates the hood latch assembly, thus permitting the hood panel to be opened for access to the covered compartment.
A vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a compartment and a hood panel configured to cover the compartment and thereby define an under-hood compartment. The vehicle also includes a mechanism configured to selectively fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body such that the hood panel maintains closure of the compartment in a first hood position and maintains the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body in a second hood position. The vehicle additionally includes a release system configured to regulate the mechanism to release the hood panel from the first hood position to the second hood position. The release system includes an electronic controller and a sensor arrangement configured to detect the presence of a vulnerable object in a path of the vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to ascertain whether the vehicle is in motion and receive from the sensor arrangement a signal indicative of the detected presence of a vulnerable object. The electronic controller is further configured to trigger the mechanism, in response to the signal, to release the hood panel from the first hood position to the second hood position when the vehicle is in motion. Such a release of the hood panel to the second hood position is intended to reduce a magnitude of forces on the vulnerable object in the event the object impacts the vehicle in the area of the hood panel.
The sensor arrangement may include a 3-dimensional laser scanning apparatus and a camera, each configured to monitor an environment surrounding the vehicle.
The vehicle may also include an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system configured to automatically apply brakes of the vehicle upon the detected presence of an object. In such an embodiment, the AEB system may include the sensor arrangement and the electronic controller.
The electronic controller may be in communication with an earth orbiting satellite and may be further configured to ascertain whether the vehicle is in motion via a signal received from the earth orbiting satellite.
The release system may additionally include a speed sensor in communication with the electronic controller and configured to detect a road speed of the vehicle. In such an embodiment the electronic controller may be further configured to ascertain whether the vehicle is in motion using a signal received from the speed sensor.
The mechanism may include a striker configured for engagement with a pivotable latch. In such an embodiment, the pivotable latch may include a primary catch portion configured to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel, and a secondary catch portion configured to establish the second hood position.
The release system may additionally include an electromechanical device, such as a solenoid, in communication with the controller and configured to trigger the mechanism. Such triggering of the mechanism releases the primary catch portion from engagement with the striker and engages the secondary catch portion to establish the second hood position in response to the signal indicative of the detected presence of a vulnerable object.
The release system may additionally include a primary resilient element configured to urge the hood panel from the first hood position to the second hood position and a secondary resilient element configured to assist the primary resilient element in urging the hood panel from the first hood position to the second hood position when the controller triggers the mechanism.
The predetermined distance between the first hood position and the second hood position may be at least 10 mm.
The electronic controller may be further configured to trigger a sensory signal indicative of the hood panel having been released from the first hood position to the second hood position.
A method of controlling a release of a vehicle's hood panel from a first hood position to a second hood when the vehicle is in motion includes ascertaining, via an electronic controller, whether the vehicle is in motion, is also disclosed. The method also includes detecting, via a sensor arrangement in communication with the electronic controller, the presence of a vulnerable object in a path of the vehicle. The method additionally includes receiving, by the electronic controller from the sensor arrangement, a signal indicative of the detected presence of a vulnerable object. The method further includes triggering, via the electronic controller in response to the signal, a mechanism configured to selectively fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body such that the hood panel maintains closure of the compartment in a first hood position and maintain the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body in a second hood position, to release the hood panel from the first hood position to the second hood position when the vehicle is in motion.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) and best mode(s) for carrying out the described disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
Each of the left side, right side, top, and underbody body sections, 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively, is configured to span a distance 28 between the front and rear ends 16, 18 of the body 14. As shown in
The vehicle body 14 defines a compartment 40 for housing the powertrain 34. As shown, the vehicle body 14 also includes a vehicle fascia 42 arranged at the front end 16. The fascia 42 defines an opening 42A configured to receive at least some of the oncoming ambient airflow 25, which may be used for cooling the powertrain 34. The vehicle 10 also includes a hood panel or bonnet 44 configured to cover the compartment 40 and thereby define an under-hood compartment 40A (shown in
The vehicle 10 also includes a mechanism 50 (shown schematically in
As shown in
The vehicle 10 includes an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system 72 configured to automatically apply brakes of the vehicle upon the detected presence of the object 66. The AEB system 72 may use camera 72-1, laser light imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) 72-2, and all-weather radar 72-3, in a fusion of the three technologies to monitor their environment, i.e., surrounding the vehicle 10, and detect and identify potential threats to help the vehicle 10 avoid various types of road hazards. For example, LIDAR 72-2 measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with pulsed laser light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths are then used to make digital 3-D representations of the target. The camera 72-1 complements the radar's ranging ability by enabling object detection and classification, and so adds to the overall performance capabilities of the AEB system 72. Camera 72-1 and LIDAR 72-2 sensors are generally mounted behind a windscreen 14A of the vehicle, and are therefore well protected. LIDAR 72-2 sensors typically clip onto the windscreen 14A for easy removal and re-fitment during windscreen replacement, while radar 72-3 sensor assemblies are frequently mounted directly to the vehicle body 14.
The AEB system 72 may further employ the above technologies together with image recognition to detect and identify impending impact with a particular object 66. Through the use of the above technologies, the AEB system 72 may specifically identify a vulnerable road user embodiment of the object 66, for example, a pedestrian, cyclist, or a large animal in the vehicle's path, as part of a more general collision avoidance or mitigation strategy. The AEB system 72 uses the above technologies together with image recognition software to detect an impending impact with a vulnerable road user. Complex algorithms are also used in analyzing sensor data to identify collision partners, and in conjunction with vehicle motion data determine their relative position, speed, and hence the collision threat. If a critical situation is identified and the vehicle 10 operator fails to react appropriately, the AEB system 72 may automatically apply the vehicle's brakes to avoid the collision altogether or lessen the impact. Teaming camera 72-1, LIDAR 72-2, and radar 72-3 sensors in “fusion” enables the AEB system 72 to specifically address collisions between the vehicle 10 and vulnerable road users. Vehicle Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors are also able to detect fixed, i.e., stationary, dangers in the moving vehicle's path such as approaching stop signs via an earth orbiting satellite 74, or a location database, such as on an IT cloud. The AEB system 72 is designed to prevent or reduce severity of a collision or impact between the vehicle 10 and the identified object 66.
As shown in
Non-volatile media used by the controller 80 may include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media may include, for example, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which may constitute a main memory. Such instructions may be transmitted by one or more transmission medium, including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computer. Memory of the controller 80 may also include a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, other optical medium, etc. The controller 80 may be equipped with a high-speed primary clock, requisite Analog-to-Digital (A/D) and/or Digital-to-Analog (D/A) circuitry, input/output circuitry and devices (I/O), as well as appropriate signal conditioning and/or buffer circuitry. Algorithms required by the controller 80 or accessible thereby may be stored in the memory and automatically executed to provide the required functionality.
The electronic controller 80 is configured, i.e., structured and programmed, to operate the release system 76, and may also be configured to operate the AEB system 72. Specifically, the electronic controller 80 is configured to ascertain whether the vehicle 10 is in motion. The electronic controller 80 is additionally configured to receive, from the sensor arrangement 78, a signal 82 indicative of the detected presence of a vulnerable object 66 in a path of the moving vehicle 10. The electronic controller 80 is further configured to trigger the mechanism 50, in response to the signal 82, to release the hood panel 44 from the first hood position P1 to the second hood position P2 when the vehicle 10 is in motion. The subject release of the hood panel 44 from the first hood position P1 to the second hood position P2 is intended to mitigate a high-energy impact of the vulnerable object 66 with the vehicle 10, specifically in the area of the hood panel 44 near the latch 52 and generally proximate the vehicle fascia 42. Additionally, release of the hood panel 44 to the second hood position P2 may mitigate a high-energy impact of the vulnerable object 66 with the hood panel 44 above the power-plant 36.
The controller 80 may be in electronic communication with the earth orbiting satellite 74, and be further configured to ascertain whether the vehicle 10 is in motion using a signal 74A received from the satellite. The vehicle 10 may additionally include a speed sensor 84 configured to detect a road speed of the vehicle. The speed sensor 84 may be used as part of the release system 76 in communication with the electronic controller 80, and the electronic controller may be further configured to ascertain whether the vehicle 10 is in motion using a signal 84A received from the speed sensor.
As shown in
With resumed reference to
In frame 106, the method includes monitoring for and detecting, via the sensor arrangement 78 in communication with the electronic controller 80, the presence of a vulnerable object 66 in the path of the vehicle 10. As described above with respect to
In frame 110 the method includes triggering, via the electronic controller 80 in response to the signal 82, the mechanism 50 to release the hood panel 44 from the first hood position P1 to the second hood position P2 when the vehicle 10 is in motion. After frame 110, the method may advance to frame 112. In frame 112 the method includes triggering, via the electronic controller 80, a sensory signal 86 indicative of the hood panel 44 having been released from the first hood position P1 to the second hood position P2. Following either frame 110 or frame 112, the method may proceed to frame 114 for ascertaining or detecting whether the hood panel 44 has been re-latched to the first hood position P1, for example, via the hood position sensor 90, as described above with respect to
The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the disclosure, but the scope of the disclosure is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed disclosure have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings or the characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the present description are not necessarily to be understood as embodiments independent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of the characteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment may be combined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics from other embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in words or by reference to the drawings. Accordingly, such other embodiments fall within the framework of the scope of the appended claims.
