ARMS FULL VEHICLE CLOSURE ACTIVATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20080296926A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiujie, Stauffer, Louise E., Bailey, Jack L., Kollar, Craig A., Gisler, Maurice J., Hanzel, Andrew J., Dantzler, Gregory Lynn, White, Michael Reber
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2054 by foot gestures
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/763 using acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images; Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/852 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/858 by body parts, e.g. by feet
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant'"'"'s presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner'"'"'s response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant'"'"'s presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected. A method for automatically opening the closure panel includes detecting an occupant presence and response, and automatically opening the closure panel when a predetermined response is detected.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a closure panel;

an actuator adapted to automatically move said closure panel in at least one direction;

at least one presence sensor configured for detecting the presence of a potential occupant of the vehicle;

at least one occupant response sensor for detecting a response of said occupant; and

a controller having a stored expected response of said occupant;

wherein said controller is operable for comparing said detected response of said occupant to said stored expected response of said occupant, and for activating said actuator to thereby automatically move said closure panel in said at least one direction when both said presence is detected and said detected response of said occupant equals said stored expected response of said occupant.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one presence sensor is a radio frequency (RF) receiver adapted to receive an RF signal emitted by an RF emitter positioned external to the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor is selected from the group of an optical sensor, an audio receiver, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, and a touch-sensitive sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the vehicle rests on a surface, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor is said optical sensor and includes an emitter configured to project a light beam onto said surface, and said expected response of said occupant is a predetermined movement or gesture of said occupant in the path of said light beam.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein said emitter is configured to generate a customizable logo and project said customizable logo onto said surface using said light beam.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, including voice recognition software, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor includes said audio receiver, and wherein said expected response of said occupant is a predetermined word or phrase spoken by said occupant.

7. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus for use with a vehicle having a closure panel and an actuator configured for automatically opening and closing the closure panel, the apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receiver adapted to receive an RF signal from an RF emitter that is positioned external to the vehicle to thereby detect the presence of a potential occupant of the vehicle;

a sensor configured to detect a response of said occupant; and

a controller having a stored expected occupant response, and operable for comparing said detected response of said occupant to said stored expected response of said occupant, and for activating said actuator to move the closure panel when said presence is detected and when said detected response of said occupant equals said stored expected response of said occupant.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor is selected from the group of an optical sensor, an audio receiver, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, and a touch-sensitive device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said vehicle rests on a surface, and said apparatus includes a light emitter configured to project a light beam onto said surface, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor is said optical presence sensor and said expected response of said occupant is a predetermined gesture of said occupant in the path of said light beam.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said emitter is configured to generate a customizable logo and project said customizable logo onto said surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one occupant response sensor is said audio receiver, and said expected response of said occupant is a predetermined word or phrase spoken by said occupant.

12. A method for automatically opening a vehicle closure panel comprising:

detecting the presence of a potential occupant of the vehicle;

alerting said occupant that said presence has been detected;

detecting a response of said occupant;

comparing said detected response of said occupant to a stored expected response of said occupant; and

automatically moving the vehicle closure panel in a predetermined direction when said detected response of said occupant equals said expected response of said occupant.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting the presence of a potential occupant of the vehicle further comprises receiving an RF signal that is emitted by an RF emitter positioned external to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting a response of said occupant further comprises detecting the breaking of a projected light beam.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting a response of said occupant further comprises using speech recognition software to detect an expected word or phrase spoken by said occupant.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating a warning device before opening said closure panel.