ARMS FULL VEHICLE CLOSURE ACTIVATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
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.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for automatically opening a vehicle closure panel comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification