Determining horizontal clearance for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025162605-A1
Application number	US-202318513956-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2023
Priority date	Nov 20, 2023
Publication date	May 22, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for determining horizontal clearance for a vehicle includes a ranging sensor configured to measure a distance between the vehicle and an object in an environment surrounding the vehicle. The system further may include a human-machine interface (HMI). The system further may include a controller in electrical communication with the ranging sensor and the HMI. The controller is programmed to determine an available clearance distance between a door of the vehicle and the object in the environment surrounding the vehicle using the ranging sensor. The controller is further programmed to compare the available clearance distance to one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds. The controller is further programmed to provide information to an occupant of the vehicle using the HMI based at least in part on the available clearance distance and the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for determining horizontal clearance for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a ranging sensor configured to measure a distance between the vehicle and an object in an environment surrounding the vehicle; a human-machine interface (HMI); and a controller in electrical communication with the ranging sensor and the HMI, wherein the controller is programmed to:
determine an available clearance distance between a door of the vehicle and the object in the environment surrounding the vehicle using the ranging sensor;
compare the available clearance distance to one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds; and
provide information to an occupant of the vehicle using the HMI based at least in part on the available clearance distance and the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds includes at least: a first clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to an entirety of a full opening distance, a second clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to two thirds of the full opening distance, a third clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to one third of the full opening distance, and a fourth clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is not openable.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds are determined based at least in part on at least one of: one or more dimensions of the vehicle and one or more dimensions of the door of the vehicle.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the HMI further comprises at least one display, and wherein to provide information to the occupant of the vehicle, the controller is further programmed to:
provide a first indication to the occupant of the vehicle using the at least one display in response to determining that the available clearance distance is greater than or equal to the first clearance distance threshold; provide a second indication to the occupant of the vehicle using the at least one display in response to determining that the available clearance distance is greater than or equal to the second clearance distance threshold and less than the first clearance distance threshold; provide a third indication to the occupant of the vehicle using the at least one display in response to determining that the available clearance distance is greater than or equal to the third clearance distance threshold and less than the second clearance distance threshold; and provide a fourth indication to the occupant of the vehicle using the at least one display in response to determining that the available clearance distance is less than or equal to the fourth clearance distance threshold.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one display includes at least one LED array, and wherein:
the first indication includes illuminating a first LED of the LED array; the second indication includes illuminating a second LED of the LED array; the third indication includes illuminating a third LED of the LED array; and the fourth indication includes illuminating a fourth LED of the LED array.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one LED array further comprises:
a first LED array affixed to an exterior surface of the door of the vehicle adjacent to an exterior handle of the door of the vehicle; and a second LED array affixed to an interior surface of the door of the vehicle adjacent to an interior handle of the door of the vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one display includes an infotainment display, and wherein:
the first indication includes a visual representation of the vehicle depicting the available clearance distance relative to the first clearance distance threshold; the second indication includes the visual representation of the vehicle depicting the available clearance distance relative to the second clearance distance threshold and the first clearance distance threshold; the third indication includes the visual representation of the vehicle depicting the available clearance distance relative to the third clearance distance threshold and the second clearance distance threshold; and the fourth indication includes the visual representation of the vehicle depicting the available clearance distance relative to the fourth clearance distance threshold.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein to provide information to the occupant of the vehicle, the controller is further programmed to:
determine a location of the occupant relative to the vehicle, wherein the location of the occupant includes one of: inside of the vehicle and outside of the vehicle; and provide at least one of: the first indication, the second indication, the third indication, and the fourth indication using the infotainment display in response to determining that the location of the occupant is inside of the vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ranging sensor further comprises one or more ultrasonic distance measurement sensors affixed to the door of the vehicle, and wherein to determine the available clearance distance, the controller is further programmed to:
determine the available clearance distance between a door of the vehicle and the object in the environment surrounding the vehicle using the one or more ultrasonic distance measurement sensors.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ranging sensor further comprises a camera system, and wherein to determine the available clearance distance the controller is further programmed to:
determine the available clearance distance between a door of the vehicle and the object in the environment surrounding the vehicle using the camera system.

11 . A method for determining horizontal clearance for a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining an available clearance distance between a door of the vehicle and an object in an environment surrounding the vehicle using a ranging sensor; comparing the available clearance distance to one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds; and providing information to an occupant of the vehicle using a human-machine interface (HMI) based at least in part on the available clearance distance and the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein comparing the available clearance distance to the one or more predetermined clearance distance thresholds further comprises:
comparing the available clearance distance to a first clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to an entirety of a full opening distance; comparing the available clearance distance to a second clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to two thirds of the full opening distance; comparing the available clearance distance to a third clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is openable to one third of the full opening distance; and comparing the available clearance distance to a fourth clearance distance threshold indicating that the door of the vehicle is not openable.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein providing information to the occupant of the vehicle further comprises:
providing a first indication to the occupant of the vehicle using the HMI in response to determining that the available clearance distance is greater than or equal to the first clearance distance threshold; providing a second indication to the occupant of

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Sarwar Azeem
• Islam Md Mhafuzul

Classifications

• B60R21/013

  including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over · CPC title

• B60Q9/008 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title