System and method for detecting vehicular door movement due to non-contact using obstacle detection

Abstract

A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect movement of the closure member, detect no obstacle using the at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, and alter movement of the closure member in response to no obstacle being detected while movement of the closure member is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motor vehicle having a vehicle body and a swing door moveable between an open position and a closed position, the motor vehicle comprising:
 a mechanical block disposed within a cavity behind an outer panel of the vehicle body for preventing a pinch condition between the front edge of the swing door and the vehicle body.   
     
     
         2 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical block is provided near a hinge coupling the swing door to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         3 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical block has a surface disposed at a distance relative to the front edge as the swing door moves to its open position. 
     
     
         4 . The motor vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the surface is provided at a same distance to the front edge as the swing door moves to its open position. 
     
     
         5 . The motor vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the surface is a curved surface. 
     
     
         6 . The motor vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the surface is a concave surface. 
     
     
         7 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical block is coupled to an inside edge of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         8 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel of the vehicle body is a fender. 
     
     
         9 . The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the fender is a front fender. 
     
     
         10 . A mechanical block for preventing a pinch condition between two adjacent panels of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a body positioned behind one of the panels, wherein the body comprises a surface disposed at a distance from the front edge of the other one of the panels as the other panel swings about a hinge.   
     
     
         11 . The mechanical block of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is provided at a same distance to the front edge as the other panel. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanical block of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is a curved surface. 
     
     
         13 . The mechanical block of  claim 12 , wherein the surface is a concave surface. 
     
     
         14 . The mechanical block of  claim 10 , wherein the other panel is part of a swing door. 
     
     
         15 . The mechanical block of  claim 10 , further configured to be coupled to an inside edge of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preventing a pinch condition between a vehicle body and a swing door that is moveable between an open position and a closed position, the motor vehicle having a cavity created between an edge of the vehicle body and a front edge of the swing door as the swing door moves to its open position, the method comprising
 providing a mechanical block to prevent the formation of the cavity as the door moves to its open position from its closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the mechanical block near a hinge coupling the swing door to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the mechanical block on a fender of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising configuring a surface of the mechanical block to be at a same distance to a front edge as the swing door moves to its open position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surface is a curved surface.