This disclosure relates generally to improvements to a door closing apparatus. More particularly the present disclosure relates to improvements relating to a door fitted with a camera that operates to detect objects including human motions.
It is commonly observed that an object obstructs a door from closing or the object gets stuck between the door and a door frame. Particularly, when loading objects in the back of a vehicle, the objects may be in the path of the door and obstruct the door while closing. As such, door closing mechanisms or apparatus are provided to detect objects and to prevent the door from closing in presence of any objects.
In a conventional door closing apparatus, a camera can be enclosed in an emblem of the door such that the camera can project out from an emblem (when the vehicle is in parking or reverse mode) and stored back inside the emblem (when the vehicle is in driving mode). The back and forth motion of the camera is enabled by mounting the camera on a rotating mount operated by a motor. The camera can project out of the emblem (a housing) with sealed cover and be stored back inside by means of a motor. Further, an orientation of the camera can be optimized to obtain a wider view when the emblem door is opened. However, the conventional mechanisms allow the camera to capture only one view (e.g., a rear view) of the vehicle with the help of a motor that controls the camera position and orientation as well as the opening and closing of the emblem.
A door closing apparatus that can capture multiple views, particularly between the door and the door frame when the door is open, is desirable. Also, a non-motorized apparatus is desired to save battery power used to operate the motor and to make the vehicle energy efficient and cost effective while achieving a fast camera orientation.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided door closing apparatus. The door closing apparatus includes a camera with at least four pins, a first arm including a first open slot and a first arc slot, the first open slot rotatably supporting a first pin of the at least four pins of the camera and the first arc slot rotatably supporting a second pin of the at least four pins of the camera, and a second arm including a second open slot and a second arc slot, the second open slot rotatably supporting a third pin of the at least four pins of the camera and the second arc slot rotatably supporting a fourth pin of the at least four pins of the camera. The first arm and the second arm are configured to rotate about a first axis allowing the camera to rotate about the first axis as well as about a second axis of the at least four pins.
The forgoing general description of the illustrative implementations and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure, and are not restrictive.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. The accompanying drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Any values dimensions illustrated in the accompanying graphs and figures are for illustration purposes only and may or may not represent actual or preferred values or dimensions. Where applicable, some or all features may not be illustrated to assist in the description of underlying features. In the drawings:
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not necessarily intended to represent the only embodiment(s). In certain instances, the description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the disclosed embodiment(s). However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment(s) may be practiced without those specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the disclosed subject matter.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “length,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, steps, operations, functions, and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular configuration or orientation.
Furthermore, the terms “approximately,” and similar terms generally refer to ranges that include the identified value within a margin of 20% or preferably 5% in certain embodiments, and any values therebetween.
The door closing apparatus 10 is a complex mechanism operated mechanically to move the camera 127 such that the camera 127 captures a rear view (or a first view) of the vehicle when the backdoor 20 is closed and a second view between the backdoor 20 and vehicle when the backdoor 20 is opened. As such, the door closing apparatus 10 can detect via the camera 127 objects between the backdoor 20 and also capture the rear view of the vehicle. As opposed to conventional applications, the door closing apparatus 10 does not include a motor to move the camera 127. The components of the door closing apparatus 10 are illustrated in
Referring to
The door closing apparatus 10 can be operated to latch and unlatch manually or automatically to be engaged and disengaged with the striker 200 (in
The camera subassembly X1 includes the camera 127, a first arm 121, a second arm 122 and a camera bracket 125. Further, the camera subassembly X1 can include torsional spring 120 connected to the arms 121 and 122, and a bracket seal 126 connected to the camera bracket 125.
Referring to
The torsional spring 120 can be installed to the shafts 121c and 122c. The torsional spring 120 can compress and decompress as the first arm 121 and the second arm 122 rotate about the shafts 121c and 122c. The torsional spring 120 can provide a return force to move the first arm 121 and the second arm 122 to an initial position (or a second position of the arms 121 and 122). The torsional spring 120 can be pre-tensioned and maintain the camera 127 in the first orientation, when the backdoor 20 is closed.
The camera 127 includes four pins 127a, 127b, 127c (illustrated in
Referring back to
Referring to
Referring to
The latch 107 has an irregular profiled shape that includes a striker slot 107a (on the right side), and a pin slot 107b (on the left side). The latch pin 112 (referred as pin 112 hereinafter) is inserted in the pin slot 107b at one end (right), and clinched to the latch lever 111 at the opposite end (left) so that the pin 112 can rotate together with the latch lever 111 and the latch 107.
The latch 107 is contacted to a pawl 108 at an end 107e at full latched condition, the end 107f at half latched condition, and the end 107g at unlatched condition. The latch 107 is also contacted to the gear lever 118 at an end on the left side via the pin 112. The end 107e is a point along the circumference of the latch 107 located on the right side of the latch 107 below the striker slot 107a of the latch 107.
The latch spring 113 (in a compressed state) is connected at a center 107c of the latch 107. The latch spring 113 is a torsional spring with one end connected to the pin 112. The latch spring 113 compresses and decompresses as the latch 107 rotates about a center 107c.
For latching operation, the latch 107 is rotated in counter clockwise direction by the striker 200 moving into the striker slot 107a in z direction as the backdoor is closing. During this rotation of the latch 107, the circumference 107h or 107k of the latch 107 pushes the pawl 108 to rotate in clockwise direction causing the reaction force from the pawl spring 105. When the end 107f and the end 107e of the latch 107 passes by an outer circumference surface of the pawl 108, the pawl 108 rotates back in counter clockwise direction due to the force of the pawl spring 105. The pawl 108 then blocks the clockwise rotation of the latch 107 that may be caused by a spring force exerted by the latch spring 113, so that the door closing apparatus are kept engaged with the striker 200.
For the unlatching operation, the pawl 108 is rotated clockwise by the lift lever 104 until the circumference of the pawl 108 is out from the moving area of the latch ends 107e and 107f to unblock the clockwise rotation of the latch 107. The door closer apparatus 10 can be disengaged from the striker as the backdoor is moved to open while the pawl is unblocking the clockwise rotation of the latch 107. After the striker comes out from the door closing apparatus 10, the pawl 108 rotates and returns to the position as shown in
Referring to
The camera 127 can rotate relative to the first arm 121 (and the second arm 122) about the first pin 127a (and the third pin 127c) located in the open slot 121a (and 122c). The first pin 127a (and the third pin 127c) slides along the open slot 121a (and 122c), as the second pin 127b (and the fourth pin 127d) located in the arc slot 121b (and 122b) constraints vertical movement of the camera 127. On the other hand, the second pin 127b (and the fourth pin 127d) can slide along the arc slot 121b (and 122b) as the first arm 121 (and the second arm 122) rotates about the shaft portion 119a of the worm gear 119.
The first pin 127a (and the third pin 127c) also slides along the profiled walls 125a and 125c of the camera bracket 125. For example, in the first position FPA1 of the arms 121 and 122 (i.e., corresponding to a half latch or full latch position of the door closing apparatus 10), the pins 127a and 127c are located on the left end of the profiled walls 125a and 125c and the camera 127 has the line of sight LoS1 pointing to the rear of the vehicle.
As the door closing apparatus 10 occupies an intermediate position between latched and unlatched states, the camera 127 rotates about the first axis and the second axis to occupy the intermediate orientation (in
Referring to
The camera 127 starts moving in a clockwise direction, due to the force exerted by the pins 127a and 127c, and simultaneously starts rotating about the second axis. The clockwise rotation of the arms 121 and 122 and the rotation of the camera 127 causes the pin 127b and 127d to move backward in the arc slots 121b and 122b creating an offset between the pins 127a and 127c, and pins 127b and 127d. Furthermore, the length of the arc slots 121b and 122b control excess sliding and tilting of the camera 127 to make the camera 127 move within inside of the backdoor 20.
Referring to
The arms 121 and 122 receive rotation input from the shaft portion 119a of the worm 119, which itself receives a rotational input from the gear lever 118, when the door closing apparatus 10 is latched from the unlatched state. As the backdoor 20 is closed and the door closing apparatus is latched, the components of the subassemblies X2 and X3 convert and transmit the latching action of the door closing apparatus 10 into rotational input to the shaft portion 119a, which in turn causes the camera 127 to rotate. The transmission of motion between components of the subassemblies X2 and X3 is further discussed with respect to
The gear lever 118 includes a handle portion 118a and the gear portion 118b. The gear lever 118 is hinged at a lever hinge point 118c between the gear portion 118b and the handle portion 118a allowing the lever 118 to rotate about a third axis (i.e., parallel to the x-axis). The handle portion 118a has an elongated curved shape extending below the lever hinge point 118c. The gear portion 118b is located above the lever hinge point 118c, which is a proximal end of the gear lever 118. A distal end of the gear lever 118, particularly of the handle portion 118a, is contacted to the pin 112 on an inner side (right side) of the handle portion 118a.
The pin 112 can slide on the curved shape along length of the handle portion 118a of the gear lever 118. The sliding of the pin 112 from the proximal end to the distal end of the gear lever 118 dominates the gear lever 118 to rotate about the lever hinge point 118c.
When the door closing apparatus 10 is changed from latched state (
On the other hand, when the door closing apparatus 10 is changed from unlatched state (
The door closing apparatus 10 can have several applications. For example, when the installed in a backdoor of a vehicle, the camera 127 can capture objects between the door and a floor of the vehicle and send an object presence signal to a processing circuit of the vehicle indicating presence of an object and/or to prevent the door from closing. The processing circuit can be configured to receive the signal from the camera and activate, for example, a flashing light or a sound signal to alert the user. Alternatively or in addition, the processing circuitry can be configured to prevent the door from closing.
The door closing apparatus 10 can be used in other application where an upward and downward opening and closing action is performed. For example, in aircrafts, furnace doors in manufacturing industry, solution mixing chambers in chemical industry, washing machines or dryers, etc.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosures. Indeed, the novel methods, apparatuses and systems described herein can be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods, apparatuses and systems described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosures. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosures.