An apparatus can be used to control a door for a vehicle. A sensor unit is provided in the door and is configured to sense an object adjacent to a region outside of the door. A controller is configured to calculate a distance at which the object is positioned based on a signal received from the sensor unit and to control the door to be opened while the distance to the object is gradually reduced in a state where the door is closed, such that the object is sensed within a predetermined range.

A refrigerator comprising a door rotatable about a hinge shaft. A door opening and closing apparatus comprises a drive motor, a first gear configured to receive power from the drive motor, a second gear, spaced apart from the first gear, configured to transmit a rotational force to the hinge shaft, a clutch gear configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis of the first gear, and configured to transmit power of the first gear to the second gear based on a position of the clutch gear around the rotation axis of the first gear, and a position detection sensor configured to detect the position of the clutch gear so that while the clutch gear is at the position, the clutch gear transmits the power received from the first gear to the second gear which transmits the rotational force to the hinge shaft to open and close the door.

A refrigerator comprising a door rotatable about a hinge shaft. A door opening and closing apparatus comprises a drive motor, a first gear configured to receive power from the drive motor, a second gear, spaced apart from the first gear, configured to transmit a rotational force to the hinge shaft, a clutch gear configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis of the first gear, and configured to transmit power of the first gear to the second gear based on a position of the clutch gear around the rotation axis of the first gear, and a position detection sensor configured to detect the position of the clutch gear so that while the clutch gear is at the position, the clutch gear transmits the power received from the first gear to the second gear which transmits the rotational force to the hinge shaft to open and close the door.

A vehicle control device includes a power door control unit that executes first power-door-opening control for causing a power door to perform an opening operation, when the power door is in a closed state and a vehicle-interior-situation recognizing unit recognizes a first user who uses a predetermined seat provided in a vehicle, and when a vehicle-surrounding-situation recognizing unit recognizes that a second user who has got off the vehicle approaches the power door corresponding to the predetermined seat.

An automatic door opening apparatus for a vehicle. Two and three hinge joint embodiments with motors at each hinge joint to control motion of the door opening apparatus relative to the vehicle at that hinge joint. The motors are individually programmable to customize the door opening apparatus and movement to different vehicles. The motors can be in alignment or out-of-alignment with the hinge joints, but in either case the motor controls motion of the hinged components at the associated hinge joint. When a motor is out-of-alignment with the hinge joint it controls, then pulley wheels and belts can be used to connect the motor to the hinge joint. The door opening apparatus can also include a floor track, and a door arm that connects the door to the floor track.

An automatic door opening apparatus for a vehicle. Two and three hinge joint embodiments with motors at each hinge joint to control motion of the door opening apparatus relative to the vehicle at that hinge joint. The motors are individually programmable to customize the door opening apparatus and movement to different vehicles. The motors can be in alignment or out-of-alignment with the hinge joints, but in either case the motor controls motion of the hinged components at the associated hinge joint. When a motor is out-of-alignment with the hinge joint it controls, then pulley wheels and belts can be used to connect the motor to the hinge joint. The door opening apparatus can also include a floor track, and a door arm that connects the door to the floor track.

The invention relates to a door arrangement (1) for a door with a first enclosed volume, the arrangement permitting a sealed connection between the first enclosed volume and a second enclosed volume, and comprising a flange (2) defining passage opening and a passage axis (O) perpendicular to the opening plane, a door (4) pivotably mounted on the flange (2) and a chute for discharging (10) components which is movable between a discharge position in which the chute is positioned opposite the passage opening and a position in which the chute is spaced apart from the passage opening, the chute being attached to the flange (2) by means of a first double-jointed link mechanism (11) comprising a first link (12) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (C) parallel to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening and a second link (13) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (D) perpendicular to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening.

The invention relates to a door arrangement (1) for a door with a first enclosed volume, the arrangement permitting a sealed connection between the first enclosed volume and a second enclosed volume, and comprising a flange (2) defining passage opening and a passage axis (O) perpendicular to the opening plane, a door (4) pivotably mounted on the flange (2) and a chute for discharging (10) components which is movable between a discharge position in which the chute is positioned opposite the passage opening and a position in which the chute is spaced apart from the passage opening, the chute being attached to the flange (2) by means of a first double-jointed link mechanism (11) comprising a first link (12) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (C) parallel to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening and a second link (13) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (D) perpendicular to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening.

A vehicle roof has a roof opening system comprising a lid element displaceable between a closed and open position displacement kinematics for displacing the lid, each of the displacement kinematics comprising a guide rail, a first and second kinematic unit guided in a guide rail, and a set of drive cables for the kinematic units, the second kinematic unit comprising a tilting lever, to which a gliding element is pivotably connected on which a guide track of a lid carrier of the lid element is guided when the lid element is displaced. The first kinematic unit is driven via a first drive cable by a first drive motor and the second kinematic unit has a control rod which is hinged to the tilting lever and to a drive slide which is driven via a second drive cable by a second drive motor.

A vehicle roof has a roof opening system comprising a lid element displaceable between a closed and open position displacement kinematics for displacing the lid, each of the displacement kinematics comprising a guide rail, a first and second kinematic unit guided in a guide rail, and a set of drive cables for the kinematic units, the second kinematic unit comprising a tilting lever, to which a gliding element is pivotably connected on which a guide track of a lid carrier of the lid element is guided when the lid element is displaced. The first kinematic unit is driven via a first drive cable by a first drive motor and the second kinematic unit has a control rod which is hinged to the tilting lever and to a drive slide which is driven via a second drive cable by a second drive motor.