Virtual Protecting System for the Edge of an Object and a Detecting System Therefor

BACKGROUND

[0001] Systems and methods are known in the art to detect the presence of a person or object at the entrance of an automatic door, power window, power roof, and other similar systems. These systems usually include infrared (IR) and/or microwave detector above the door which register the increase of frequency of the emitted beam returning to the detector as a person moves towards the entrance or stands in the door path, and more generally sense the presence of the objects to be detected and that may be obstructed by the door movements. Other systems using active IR and acoustic sensor are also known.

[0002] It is also known in the art to use such systems on both sides of a pivoting door, for example so as to prevent the door from colliding a person arriving on one side thereof while the door is caused to open by another person on the other side.

[0003] A drawback of such systems is that they use relatively wide detecting beams which aim at covering a wide area/volume.

[0004] Another drawback of these systems from the prior art is that they are unreliable when the door or more generally the protected area is not straight. [0005] Such systems are therefore inappropriate when more limited space is to be covered, for example, when it is desired to prevent collision with the edge of a door. It is indeed well known that the more important is the space to cover by a detecting system, the more it is prone to false reading.

[0006] A system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object is therefore desired.

[0007] A virtual protecting system to protect from a collision with an edge of an object a body adjacent the edge is also desired.

SUMMARY

[0008] According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more ultrasonic waveguides are used to create a controlled wave leak to yield a virtual wall having a predetermined length, as measured from the waveguide, and a controlled width which may be used to detect the presence of an object in the vicinity of the wave guide system.

[0009] A virtual edge protecting system according to embodiments of the present invention includes ultrasound emitter and receiver assemblies each mounted to a waveguide. When such a system is mounted to a door assembly including a single door, the system includes a single or two ultrasound assemblies and corresponding waveguides that are mounted to the door or to the door frame, along the edge thereof. An ultrasound emitter/receiver assembly project ultrasound beams to a predetermined distance from the edge thereby creating a virtual edge in front the physical edge of the door. An ultrasound receiver assembly is provided to detect the entrance of a body in the virtual edge. [0010] The ultrasound emitter and receiver assemblies are connected to a controller which is configured to excite the transmitter and receive signals from the ultrasound receiver and to command the operation of the door should a body or target contact/enter the virtual edge or to send a signal indicative of the body contacting the virtual edge to a dedicated door controller. Alternatively or additionally, the virtual protecting system is configured so that a sound or audio alarm signal is emitted when the body contacts the virtual edge or so as to modify the operation of the door.

[0011] A virtual protecting moving or stationary edge protector and or perimeter protection according to other embodiments of the present invention can be adapted to operate on a door assembly having two edges such as in a door assembly provided with two doors.

[0012] In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object, the system comprising:

[0013] at least one waveguide mounted to the edge of the object therealong; the at least one waveguide including at least one wave leaking aperture; and

[0014] a detector assembly mounted to the at least one waveguide i) for emitting detecting waves along the waveguide and through the wave leaking aperture, ii) for detecting a reflection indicative of the body adjacent the waveguide, and iii) for generating a signal responsive to the reflection; the detector assembly together with the waveguide being characterized by a detecting range defined by a travelling distance of the detecting waves from the edge; [0015] whereby, in operation, the body is detected by the detector assembly when it is within the detecting range.

[0016] According to still other embodiments there is provided a virtual protecting system to protect from a collision with an edge of an object a body adjacent the edge:

[0017] at least one waveguide mounted to the edge of the object therealong; the at least one waveguide including at least one wave leaking aperture;

[0018] a detector assembly mounted to the at least one waveguide for emitting detecting waves along the waveguide and through the at least one wave leaking aperture, for detecting a reflection indicative of the body adjacent the waveguide, and for generating a detecting signal responsive to the reflection; the detector assembly together with the waveguide being characterized by having a detecting range defined by a travelling distance of the detecting waves from the edge; and

[0019] a system controller connected to the as least one detector assembly to receive the detecting signal and to trigger an alarm signal in response to the detecting signal;

[0020] whereby, in operation, the body being detected by the detector assembly when it is within the detecting range, which results in the controller triggering the alarm signal.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the movable edge is the edge of a door such as, without limitation, a power door, and for a window, a sunroof trunk closure, etc.

[0022] According to other embodiments the edge is stationary and is for example part of a door frame, a window frame etc. [0023] A system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object according to embodiments of the present invention can be used as part of a perimeter detection system. Such a perimeter protecting system for detecting a body entering at least the edge of a zone to protect comprises:

[0024] at least one waveguide positioned along the edge; the at least one waveguide including at least one wave leaking aperture; and

[0025] a detector assembly mounted to the object i) for emitting detecting waves along the waveguide and through the wave leaking aperture, ii) for detecting a reflection indicative of the body adjacent the waveguide, and iii) for generating a signal responsive to the reflection; the detector assembly together with the waveguide being characterized by a detecting range defined by a travelling distance of the detecting waves from the edge;

[0026] whereby, in operation, the body is detected by the detector assembly when it is within the detecting range.

[0027] It is to be noted that the expression "body" is to be construed herein broadly so as to include any animate or inanimate object, any living entity including a person, an animal or plant, an object, a projectile, or any part or combination thereof.

[0028] The expression "hole" is not to be limited to a circular opening and should be construed to an opening of any shape. Also, in the context of a hole in a waveguide, it is to be construed also as including or not a horn in the waveguide which has its distal end terminating at the hole or extending partially through the hole. [0029] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non restrictive description of illustrated embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the appended drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 is a front elevation of a system for detecting a body adjacent the edge of a door according to a first embodiment; Figure 1 illustrating the use of two waveguides, each with a set of holes to create a controlled leak of ultrasounds and create a virtual edge; one waveguide emitting ultrasound beams and the other receiving reflections of the beams on a target;

[0032] Figure 2 is partly a top plan view of the detector system from

Figure 1 , and partly a schematic view of a virtual protecting system to protect from a pivoting door edge a body adjacent the edge according to a first embodiment, the protecting system including the moving edge detecting system from Figure 1 ;

[0033] Figure 3 is a front elevation of an edge detecting system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrating the use of a slit so as to control the leak of ultrasounds and create a virtual edge;

[0034] Figure 4 is a front elevation of the detecting system from

Figure 3, illustrating that the detecting path (time of flight) is constant for all body located at a same distance from the door edge; [0035] Figure 5 is a cross section view of the system from Figure 4;

[0036] Figures 6 is a top plan view of a virtual edge detecting system according to a third embodiment;

[0037] Figure 7 is a front elevation of a virtual edge detecting system according to a fourth embodiment;

[0038] Figure 8 is a front elevation of an edge detecting system according to a fifth embodiment; illustrating the use of holes as a leak method; and

[0039] Figures 9A-9B are respectively a front elevation and a top plan view of an edge protecting system according to a sixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.

[0041] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one", but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or more. [0042] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words

"comprising" (and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises"), "having" (and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"), "including" (and any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or "containing" (and any form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements.

[0043] A virtual protecting system 10 for an edge protecting system according to a first embodiment is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. According to the first embodiment, the movable edge is the distal edge of a pivoting power door (not shown).

[0044] The system 10 comprises a detector assembly including ultrasound emitter 12 and receiver 14, each mounted in a respective ultrasound waveguide 16 and 16' adjacent one of their respective longitudinal end. Each waveguide 16 and 16', together with the respective emitter 12 and receiver 14, define an ultrasound leaking channel as will be explained hereinbelow, the emitter /receiver being switchable even while the system is in operation.

[0045] The two ultrasound waveguides 16 and 16' are mounted side by side on a door side edge (not shown) along thereof. The length of the waveguides 16 and 16' and their position along the edge of the door depend on the desired zone of coverage as will be become more apparent upon reading the following description.

[0046] The waveguides 16 and 16' are in the form of elongated tubular bodies including evenly or unevenly distanced holes 18 and 18' practiced therein. The waveguides 16 and 16' are made of any hard or resilient materials including without limitations, a polymeric material, a metal, wood, a composite material, etc. [0047] The ultrasound emitter 12 is operated so as to emit ultrasound beams 20 within the waveguide 16 which then leak through the holes 18 along the door edge yielding a same number of detecting beams 20 than of holes 18 in the waveguide 16.

[0048] Similarly, the ultrasound receiver 14 is configured so that, considering its position within the waveguide 16' and the configuration of the waveguide 16', it receives the reflection 20 from a target 30 located within a similar range than the emitting range of the emitter 12, defining a virtual edge therewith.

[0049] The waveguides 16 and 16' are configured and sized for mounting onto the door edge and can take other forms, as will be described furtherin, such as the more compact arrangement illustrated in Figures 8A-8B. Alternatively, the ultrasound channels can be assembled in the door or the door frame (not shown).

[0050] The detector assembly is further configured with conventional controlling electronics 11 and algorithms that are used to trigger the ultrasound transducers 12 and 14 and to construe the signals received therefrom. Such electronics and algorithms can be conceived so as to render the system 10 switchable. In additional, the detector assembly is configured so as to generate a detecting signal responsive to reflections received from the receiver 14 as an object or more generally a body enters the virtual edge defined by the beams 20.

[0051] The detector assembly defines with the waveguides 16 and

16' a system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object. In addition to such a detecting system, the virtual protecting system 10 comprises a controller 21 coupled to the detector assembly 10, and more specifically to its controller 11 , to receive the detecting signal therefrom and to trigger an alarm/action signal in response to the detecting signal. The controller 21 can further be configured and used for controlling the detecting distance from the edge and the sensitivity therealong.

[0052] In operation, the ultrasound emitter 12 emits ultrasound waves in its waveguide 16 which exits in the plurality of corresponding holes 18 so as to create a plurality of ultrasound detecting beams 20. Controlling the position and size of the holes 18 allows creating a full or partial virtual wall by controlling the ultrasound leak and the shape thereof.

[0053] Echoes 22 resulting from the reflection of the detecting beams 20 enter the waveguide 16' of the receiving channel and are detected by the ultrasound receiver 14, which then emits a signal which is indicative of the presence of an object, person or of any physical body in the virtual edge of the door.

[0054] As can be seen in Figure 2, the virtual protecting system controller 21 is coupled to the power door controller 23 so that, upon receipt of the detecting signal from the detector controller 1 , the virtual protecting signal controller 21 generates an alarm/action signal that it sends to the power door controller 23. The power door controller 23 is programmed so as to respond to the alarm/action signal by performing a predetermined action such as, without limitations, stopping any movement of the door, reversing the movement of the door, emitting a sound alarm, etc.

[0055] In the case wherein the door is not a power door and/or that there is no door controller 23, or in cases where the detector assembly is mounted on an object having no moving parts such as bumper car, the virtual protecting system controller 21 is then for example configured to emit sounds and is further so configured or programmed that the alarm/action signal is a sound.

[0056] Even though the virtual edge protecting system illustrated in

Figure 2 includes distinct controllers for the detector assembly and the virtual protecting system, a virtual protecting system to protect from a movable edge of an object a body adjacent the edge according to another embodiment can include a single controller (not shown) programmed for both set of functions.

[0057] The coupling between the transducers 12 and 14 and the controller 11 and between the controllers 11 , 21 and 23 can be achieved using appropriate wirings or using any well-known wireless connection means.

[0058] Even though the two transducers 12 and 14 are illustrated in

Figure 2 as being mounted in the waveguides 16 and 16', a system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object according to the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. According to another embodiment, one or both of the transducers 12 and 14 are located outside the waveguides 16 and/or 16' and the produced ultrasound beams 20 and resulting echoes 22 are further guided in the waveguides 16 and 16' respectively using further waveguides, reflectors, appropriate orientations of the transducers 12 and 14 or any combinations thereof. For example, according to one of such an embodiment, the transducers 12 and 14 are mounted in the door. According to still another embodiment, a set of waveguides connected to each other is used so as to increase the length and sensitivity of the sensor system.

[0059] As will now become more apparent with reference to further embodiments, a system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to having one or more waveguides as illustrated in Figure 1 , and more specifically provided with holes to create a controlled wave leak.

[0060] Figures 3 to 5 illustrates a system 24 for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object (both the object and the edge thereof being not shown) according to a second embodiment.

[0061] Since the system 24 is similar to the system 10, only the differences between these two systems 24 and 10 will be described furtherin.

[0062] In the edge virtual protecting system 24, the two adjacent waveguides 28 are provided with respective longitudinal slits 26 instead of holes.

[0063] Also, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the emitter 12 and receiver 14 are mounted in their respective waveguide 28 in opposite longitudinal sides thereof. This arrangement results in the detecting paths (schematically represented by the dashed lines 34 and 36) having the same length for all bodies 30 and 32 positioned at a same distance (H) from the detecting arrangement 24 transversally thereof, regardless of their longitudinal position along the arrangement 24. Of course, in this example, the virtual edge extends at least up to the distance H. This configuration allows improving control and limiting the sensitive region.

[0064] The system controller can be configured with different sensitivity so that the distance control is based on time. The configuration illustrated in Figure 4 further allows providing in the system controller 21 different sensitivities for different distances Ή'. [0065] Since the operation of the protecting system 24 is similar to the operation of the system 10, it will not be further described herein.

[0066] It is to be noted that waveguides provided with slits can be used in a system where the emitter 2 and receiver 14 are not mounted in their respective waveguide in opposite longitudinal sides thereof.

[0067] A virtual edge protecting system 40 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 6. The system 40 allows protecting a body (not shown) from a collision with i) the free edge 42 of a pivoting door 46 and the ii) edge 44 of the door frame 45 which receives the free edge 42 of the door 46 when the door 46 is closed. Since the system 40 is similar to the system 24, and for concision purposes, only the differences between the two systems 40 and 24 will be described herein.

[0068] The system 40 includes two waveguides (shown) each receiving a respective ultrasound transducer (not shown). One of the ultrasound transducer is configured and operated as an ultrasound transmitter and other one as a receiver. An ultrasound beam is therefore emitted in one waveguide so as to create a detecting area 41 that the receiver in the other waveguide will see within its own detecting area 43. If there is a 'target' in the protected region, the reflection results in a signal on the receiving side. Both detecting plan 41 and 43 define virtual edges, or planes, on each side of the entrance 47. As long as the target intercepts the emitting beam it will be reflected into the receiving channel on the opposite side. According to a further embodiment, the emitting beam is switched from side to side to improve coverage of the gap between the door edge 44 and the frame 45 and for the edge 42 of the door 46. [0069] Similarly to the system 10 from Figure 1 , the controller (not shown) of the virtual edge protecting system is coupled to the door controller (not shown) so that in operation, the protecting system controller 40 receives door position readings from the door controller and uses these readings to adapt the detecting ranges or the detecting sensitivity of the system. More specifically, the detecting threshold can be modified as a function of the door position and as a function of the distance (Ή') from the waveguide or as a combination of both. This results in a change of shape and/or dimension of the detecting area 41 and 43.

[0070] Figure 7 shows a virtual edge detecting system 50 according to a fourth embodiment. Since the system 50 is similar to the system 40, only the differences between the two systems 50 and 40 will be described herein.

[0071] The system 50 according to this fourth embodiment comprises a first waveguide 28 mounted to the edge 52 of a sliding door 53 and a second waveguide 28 mounted to the edge 51 of the door frame 55. The system 50 further comprises two ultrasound transducers (not shown), an emitter and a receiver, each mounted in a respective waveguide 28. The range of the detecting beams 54 and of the receiver 54' are adapted to the position of the door 53 so that the receiver sees the transmitter at all time, except when a body (not shown) crosses the entrance.

[0072] Adapting these ranges can be achieved by implementing an algorithm in the system controller (not shown) which allows modifying the ranges dynamically so that the signals indicative of the detection of the emitting beams 54 remain within a predetermined range of values. A body would then be detected when it enters into the virtual wall created by the transmitting and receiving unit from either side. The obstruction created by the body is detected by the receiver. This corresponds to a crossing mode of operation using waveguides thereby reducing the number of sensors used to cover the complete entrance.

[0073] It is to be noted that the system 50 can be adapted for a pivoting door assembly such as illustrated in Figure 6. Furthermore, by adding receiver and transmitter waveguides on opposite sides, the system can switch between the modes of operation described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0074] Also, a virtual edge detecting system similar to the system 50 wherein the waveguides 28 are replaced with waveguides having another configuration, such as waveguides with holes, can further be provided.

[0075] Figure 8 illustrates a moving edge virtual protecting system 56 according to a fifth embodiment. The system 56 is illustrated mounted to a double sliding door assembly 58 and is operated in the crossing- mode.

[0076] The system 56 includes first and second waveguides 16, each mounted to one of the opposite facing edges 58 of the two sliding doors 60. An ultrasound emitter 62 is mounted in one of the two waveguides 6 and an ultrasound receiver 64 is received in the other. The two transducers are positioned in their respective waveguide 16 and driven so as to operate in a crossing mode as described hereinabove with reference to Figure 7. As shown by the arrows 66, which illustrates the detecting path, the beam range 68 and detection range 69 are adapted to the door position as described hereinabove so that they overlap. The receiver 64 fails to receive a signal whenever a body crosses the detecting path 66, which results in the detection of said body. [0077] The two transducers 62 and 64 are further positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the waveguides as described with reference to Figure 4.

[0078] As described with reference to the above embodiments, a virtual system to protect from a collision with an edge of an object a body adjacent the edge according to an embodiment of the present invention can be adapted so as to be mounted on a single movable edge, on two movable edges, or onto both a fixed edge and a movable edge for example.

[0079] As illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B, which illustrate an edge protecting system 70 according to a sixth embodiment, the waveguide can take other configurations as may be dictated for example by the applications. According to this embodiment, the receiver and transmitter waveguides 72 and 74 are cotangential cylinders, the transmitter cylinder 74 being inserted in the receiver cylinder 72, wherein the ultrasound detecting beam (not shown) is emitted from a central slit 76 practiced in both cylinders 72 and 74 and the reflection thereof are received in two lateral slits 78 in the cylinder 72 and which are generally parallel the central slit 76.

[0080] According to a further embodiment, the previous waveguides are provided with holes instead of slits.

[0081] Even though the above-described system referred to moving edges, a system for detecting a body adjacent an edge of an object according to embodiments of the present invention can be installed and used on an object having a fixed edge. [0082] It is to be noted that many modifications could be made to the systems described hereinabove and illustrated in the appended drawings. For example:

[0083] - the emitter and transducer pair can be substituted in most application by a single transducer configured and controlled so as to act both as emitter and receiver;

[0084] - a single waveguide can be used, with the transmitter/receiver pair mounted therein or a single transceiver can be used therein;

[0085] - the waveguides can take other forms and sizes and can for example be bent;

[0086] - the aperture(s) in the waveguide(s) can take other forms than the holes or the slit so as to allow the detecting beam to exit the first waveguide on the transmitter side and to enter the second waveguide on the receiver side;

[0087] - the controller of the system can be configured to operate so as to create one or two virtual edges in a ranging mode of operation or to create an acoustic barrier between the door and the frame or between two doors; the system can further be configured so as to switch from one operational mode to the other, depending for example on the position of the door; and [0088] - even though the system described hereinabove are configured to operate in the acoustic domain, they can be modified so as to operate with other wave, such as optical waves, etc.

[0089] According to some embodiments, an adaptive threshold method such as the one described in the United States Patent No. 7, 30,244 B2, issued on October 31 ^st , 2006 to Gal et al. and titled "Device and Method for Adaptive Ultrasound Sensing", which is incorporated herewith by reference can be used by the virtual protecting system controller or by the sensor assembly controller to determine a different sensitivity according to the distance from the edge of the object.

[0090] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of illustrated embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.