In order to notify a user of a vehicle of a sensor position in an easily understandable manner to easily open and close a vehicle door by an operation performed by the user of the vehicle, a vehicle door opening/closing device includes: a road surface projection unit configured to project a display representing a position at which shape identification is performed, on a road surface around a vehicle; a shape identification unit configured to perform identification of a shape of an object in a predetermined road surface range including the display projected by the road surface projection unit; and a control unit configured to drive opening or closing of a vehicle door when the shape that is identified by the shape identification unit for the object in the predetermined road surface range represents a shape of a foot portion of a person.

A control system comprising: a sensor configured to measure a distance to an object, and obtain a distance measurement value, the object existing in a measurement target space that is a space in which a position of an upper limb of a user who tries to operate a target object that is an object controlled by the control system is assumed to be found, and the distance measurement value being a value that indicates the measured distance; and a control section configured to execute a process related to the target object based on the distance measurement value obtained by the sensor.

A sensor outputs distance information indicating a distance to an object located in a detection area. A control device controls an operation of a device to be controlled based on a fact that the distance information satisfies prescribed conditions that include: i) a condition that the distance exhibits a change corresponding to an entry of the object into the detection area; ii) a condition that the distance maintains a first value for at least a first time length; and iii) a condition that a change of the distance including a monotonic decrease from the first value and a subsequent monotonic increase to a second value is finished within a second time length, wherein a difference between the first value and the second value is no greater than a threshold value.

A vehicle door opening/closing device including a drive mechanism for driving the opening/closing of a door of a vehicle; a first detector and second detector for detecting the distance to an item to be detected which is positioned in a first detection range outside the vehicle or a second detection range which is closer than the first detection range; and a controller for controlling the drive mechanism, based on the detection results of the detectors. The controller prepares for the opening/closing of the door by the drive mechanism, by having the first and second detectors detect that an item to be detected has moved from the start area which is an area that overlaps the first detection range, to a trigger area which is an area that overlaps the second detection range, in the range of operation at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the vehicle.

A sensor outputs distance information indicating a first distance to a first obj ect located in a detection area and a second distance to a second object located in the detection area. A control device allows an operation control of a device to be controlled based on a fact that the distance information satisfies prescribed conditions that include: i) a condition that the first distance and the second distance exhibit changes corresponding to entries of the first object and the second object into the detection area; and ii) a condition that one of the first distance and the second distance monotonically decreases and then monotonically increases while the other one of the first distance and the second distance maintains a first value.

A vehicle door apparatus includes: a moving object detector configured to detect a moving object approaching a door of a vehicle; a door opening operation detector configured to detect a door opening operation performed by an occupant in the vehicle; a door opening restriction unit configured to restrict opening of the door by the door opening operation when detecting approach of the moving object; and a door opening permission unit configured to permit opening of the door by the door opening operation when the door opening operation is detected a predetermined number of times in a state in which the opening of the door is restricted.

An independent add-on automated vehicle lift gate system utilizing existing key fob authentication circuits in combination with an independent voice control system. The system uses microphones in connection with audio acquisition hardware and voice recognition hardware that actively listen for one or more voiced commands from a user outside of a vehicle. Before activating the mechanical system, which is for example the actuator of the lift gate and lock mechanism for the lift gate, the system will wait for confirmation from a separate vehicle system that monitors and notifies the vehicle lift gate system when an identification code is received from a key fob transponder located in a predetermined proximity of the vehicle, thereby authenticating the one or more voiced commands detected by the microphones.

A method and a device for controlling door movements of a controllable door of a motor vehicle. A control device and a sensor arrangement are assigned to the door and the door has a controllable motion influencing device. A motion of a door wing of the door is controlled and influenced by the motion influencing device to alternate between a closed position and an open position. The motion influencing device includes a driving device with a drive motor. The sensor arrangement includes a current sensor which detects the motor current of the drive motor. While closing the door wing the control device detects an obstacle when the door wing is not yet closed and the power input of the drive motor rises above a predetermined threshold. Then the control device stops the drive motor.

A vehicle having a powered tailgate is provided. The vehicle includes a body, a powered tailgate pivotally connected to the body, an actuator operatively coupled to the tailgate to move the tailgate between open and closed positions, and sensors configured to sense an object in a swing path of the tailgate. The vehicle also includes a controller for processing signals output from the sensor and identifying and classifying the object, and controlling the actuator to move the tailgate between the open and closed positions based on the classified object.

A system and method for controlling motion of a door are provided. The door is moveable between an open position and a closed position and has a balanced position whereat the door does not move towards the open position nor the closed position under an effect of gravity. The system includes a power actuator for moving the door to a partially open position between the open position and the closed position. The power actuator is adapted to allow the door to move to the balanced position after the power actuator has moved the door to the partially open position.