IP Library › Granted Patent US 12704007
Granted Patent B2
US 12704007 · App. 18/488,614 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Emergency door braking system

Inventors: Besi Rrumbullaku (Rochester, MI); Phillip C. Storck (Washington, MI); Bryan Alexander Pena-Cruz (Royal Oak, MI)
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
E05C17/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704007
App. No.
18/488,614
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An emergency door braking system for an autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle processor for storing vehicle data including door latch status and vehicle sliding door location. The emergency door braking system also includes a server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor and configured to stop a sliding vehicle door at a predetermined vehicle sliding door location based on the door latch status.

Claims (35)

1 . An emergency door braking system for an autonomous vehicle, the emergency door braking system comprising:

a vehicle processor configured to store vehicle data including door latch status and vehicle sliding door location, wherein the vehicle sliding door location is indicative of a change in the vehicle sliding door location, and wherein the door latch status includes detection of a transition of a latching mechanism from a latched state to an unlatched state without a command from a server; and

the server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor and configured to:

determine that an emergency condition exists based on one or more of the transition of the latching mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state without a command from the server, or the change in the vehicle sliding door location not matching a last known location commanded by the server;

based on determining the emergency condition exists, apply an active door brake to stop a sliding vehicle door for a predetermined time at a predetermined vehicle sliding door location based on the door latch status; and

after the predetermined time, transition control to a passive braking mode to allow continued opening at a controlled speed.

2 . The emergency door braking system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is midway between a door-open position and a door-closed position.

3 . The emergency door braking system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is less than 200 Hall counts from a door-closed position.

4 . The emergency door braking system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is more than 100 Hall counts from a door-open position.

5 . The emergency door braking system of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to stop the sliding vehicle door by disengaging an emergency locking function of the autonomous vehicle.

6 . The emergency door braking system of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle incorporates the emergency door braking system.

7 . The emergency door braking system of claim 6 , wherein the autonomous vehicle further includes a plurality of sliding doors.

8 . The emergency door braking system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of sliding doors includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door configured to move in opposite directions and engage one another in a door-closed position.

9 . An emergency door braking system for an autonomous vehicle, the emergency door braking system comprising:

a vehicle processor configured to store vehicle data including door latch status and vehicle sliding door location, wherein the vehicle sliding door location is indicative of a change in the vehicle sliding door location, and wherein the door latch status includes detection of a transition of a latching mechanism from a latched state to an unlatched state without a command from a server; and

the server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor and configured to:

determine that an emergency condition exists based on one or more of the transition of the latching mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state without a command from the server, or the change in the vehicle sliding door location not matching a last known location commanded by the server; and

based on determining the emergency condition exists, pause a sliding vehicle door for five seconds or less at a predetermined vehicle sliding door location.

10 . The emergency door braking system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is midway between a door-open position and a door-closed position.

11 . The emergency door braking system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is less than 200 Hall counts from a door-closed position.

12 . The emergency door braking system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined vehicle sliding door location is more than 100 Hall counts from a door-open position.

13 . The emergency door braking system of claim 9 , wherein the autonomous vehicle incorporates the emergency door braking system.

14 . The emergency door braking system of claim 13 , wherein the autonomous vehicle further includes a plurality of sliding doors.

15 . The emergency door braking system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of sliding doors includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door configured to move in opposite directions and engage one another in a door-closed position.

16 . An emergency door braking system for an autonomous vehicle, the emergency door braking system comprising:

a vehicle processor configured to store vehicle data including one or more of door latch status or vehicle sliding door location, wherein the vehicle sliding door location is indicative of a change in the vehicle sliding door location without a command from a server; and

the server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor and configured to:

determine whether an emergency condition exists based on one or more of the door latch status or the vehicle sliding door location not matching a last known location commanded by the server; and

apply a door brake to slow or stop movement of a sliding vehicle door if it is determined that the emergency condition exists based on one or more of the door latch status and the vehicle sliding door location not matching a last known location commanded by the server.

17 . The emergency door braking system of claim 16 , wherein:

the vehicle data further includes one or more of vehicle incline or vehicle door speed; and

the server is also configured to slow movement of the sliding vehicle door based also on one or more of the vehicle incline or the vehicle door speed.

18 . The emergency door braking system of claim 16 , wherein the autonomous vehicle incorporates the emergency door braking system.

19 . The emergency door braking system of claim 18 , wherein the autonomous vehicle further includes a plurality of sliding doors.

20 . The emergency door braking system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sliding doors includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door configured to move in opposite directions and engage one another in a door-closed position.