IP Library Granted Patent US 11,660,239
Granted Patent B2
US 11,660,239 · App. 16/593,908 · Granted May 30, 2023

Electronic device for controlling an access ramp to vehicle door, vehicle, steering method and computer program therefor

Inventors: Thomas Darnaud (Versailles, FR); Nicolas Desmoineaux (Courbevoie, FR); Cem Karaoguz (Palaiseau, FR)
Assignee: TRANSDEV GROUP INNOVATION
A61G3/061G05D1/0088A61G2203/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,660,239
App. No.
16/593,908
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device for controlling an access ramp to a door of a vehicle, the ramp being able to move from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration. The electronic device includes: a detection module configured to detect, via at least one sensor, at least one element of interest located in an area near the door, each sensor being able to be connected to the detection module; a command module configured to command the passage of the ramp from one configuration to the other configuration as a function of the detection of an element of interest.

Claims (24)

1. An electronic device for controlling an access ramp to a door of a vehicle, the ramp being able to move from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, the electronic device including:

a detection module configured to detect, via at least one sensor, at least one element of interest located in an area near the door, each sensor being able to be connected to the detection module; and

a command module configured to command the passage of the ramp from one configuration to the other configuration as a function of the detection of at least one element of interest,

wherein the at least one element of interest is a characteristic of a person with reduced mobility, and

wherein the command module is configured to command the passage of the ramp from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration only if a characteristic of a person with reduced mobility is detected.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the sensors is a camera embedded in the vehicle.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, for each point of the nearby area, the distance between the door and said point is smaller than a maximum predetermined distance, and

wherein the maximum predetermined distance is between 20 cm and 75 cm.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further includes an activation module configured to command the detection module, the activation module being able to detect the presence of a person in an area near the door of the vehicle.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each element of interest is chosen from the group consisting of:

the characteristic of a person with reduced mobility; and

an obstacle that may hinder the passage of the ramp from one configuration to the other.

6. A electronic device for controlling an access ramp to a door of a vehicle, the ramp being able to move from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, the electronic device including:

a detection module configured to detect, via at least one sensor, at least one element of interest located in an area near the door, each sensor being able to be connected to the detection module; and

a command module configured to command the passage of the ramp from one configuration to the other configuration as a function of the detection of at least one element of interest,

wherein the detection module is configured to assign each element of interest a confidence index as a function of predetermined parameters, the command module being able to command the passage of the ramp from one configuration to the other configuration as a function of the result of the comparison of the confidence index of each element of interest to at least one predetermined threshold value.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further includes a generating module configured to generate an information signal relative to the configuration of the ramp, the information signal being intended for a user or an electronic supervision system.

8. A method for controlling an access ramp to a vehicle door, the control method being implemented by an electronic control device and comprising the following steps:

detecting, via at least one sensor, at least one element of interest located in an area near the door, wherein the at least one element of interest is a characteristic of a person with reduced mobility;

commanding the passage of the ramp from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration only if a characteristic of a person with reduced mobility is detected as a function of the detection of at least one element of interest.

9. A method for controlling an access ramp to a vehicle door, the control method being implemented by an electronic control device and comprising the following steps:

detecting, via at least one sensor, at least one element of interest located in an area near the door;

assigning each element of interest a confidence index as a function of predetermined parameters

commanding the passage of the ramp from one configuration to another configuration as a function of the result of the comparison of the confidence index of each element of interest to at least one predetermined threshold value.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2023
From: DARNAUD, THOMAS; DESMOINEAUX, NICOLAS; KARAOGUZ, CEM
To: TRANSDEV GROUP
Reel/Frame 062796/0478 →
PARTIAL TRANSFER OF ASSETS Recorded Jul 24, 2020
From: TRANSDEV GROUP
To: TRANSDEV GROUP INNOVATION
Reel/Frame 053310/0533 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 18 59246 · Oct 5, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200155385A1 · May 21, 2020