A method of using detection devices for hazard detection when activating a physical closure member of an automobile generates a combined output signal from a first-detection device having a first-operational range and a second-detection device having a second-operational range. The combined output signal is generated for activity detected within a full-operational range, wherein the full-operational range is a mathematical union of the first-operational range and the second-operational range. A cumulative safety threshold is determined for the physical closure member using processing circuitry. Hazard-related data within the combined output signal is analyzed using processing circuitry. If the hazard-related data exceeds the cumulative safety threshold, a current state of the physical closure member is changed. If the hazard-related data does not exceed the cumulative safety threshold, a current state of the physical closure member is maintained.

A method for controlling the movements of a controllable door of a motor vehicle that has two or more doors with movable door wings. One door is a main door and at least one other door is a secondary door. A control device and a sensor arrangement are associated to the doors. The secondary door includes a controllable motion influencing device, wherein a motion of the door wing of the secondary door can be at least partially controlled and influenced by way of the motion influencing device between a closed position and an open position. The motion influencing device brakes or arrests a door wing of the secondary door in the closed position for a predetermined time period after the main door has been opened, and/or in dependence on an identified situation.

A method for operating a motor vehicle, in which an object situated in a sensor region is detected with the aid of a sensor in surroundings of the motor vehicle; A piece of position information relating to the object is created. The position information is retained when the object is moved out of the sensor region, due to a movement of the motor vehicle, the distance of the object to the motor vehicle not increasing. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle and a computer program product.

A vehicle closure assembly actuating method includes, among other things, detecting a user approaching the vehicle, and assessing an approach speed of the user. The approach speed is a speed at which the user is approaching the vehicle. The method further includes opening a closure assembly of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the approach speed from the assessing.

A method for training a classification device, the method comprising: receiving classification device constraints at an intermediary device; receiving training data at the intermediary device; matching the training data to the classification device constraints to provide constrained training data; mapping the constrained training data to classification device functionality to provide a command model; and transmitting the command model to the classification device.

An opening/closing control apparatus includes a directional microphone having a sound collecting device disposed on a vehicle and configured to collect sound outside the vehicle. The directional microphone further has directivity upward from a horizontal plane that includes a mounting position of the sound collecting device. The opening/closing control apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to control operation of one of a door and a lock of the vehicle, based on a recognition result obtained by performing speech recognition with respect to an audio signal detected by the directional microphone.

A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect an obstacle and cease movement of the closure member in response to the obstacle being detected. Additionally, the control unit is configured to release a latch and apply power to a motor in response to the obstacle not being detected. The control unit is also configured to determine whether the closure member is in a full open position, and continue to apply power to a motor coupled to the closure member if the closure member is not in the full open position.

A power swing door actuator for moving a passenger swing door relative to a body portion of a motor vehicle. The power swing door actuator includes a housing rigidly fixed to the swing door, a motor mounted to the housing, a connector link having a first end pivotably coupled to the vehicle body portion and a second end pivotably coupled to a drive nut of a spindle drive mechanism. A leadscrew of the spindle drive mechanism is rotatably driven by the motor for causing relative translational movement between the drive nut and the leadscrew which, in turn, results in pivoting movement of the connector link while the vehicle door swings between open and closed positions in response to selective actuation of the motor.

A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.

A control system for providing Cloud based commands to a garage door includes one or more Cloud servers for receiving commands from at least one mobile web enabled user device. A load balancer is used for receiving communication from a server for distributing commands from at least one web enabled device to the Cloud. A server based garage door opener is used for receiving commands and controlling operation of a garage door from the server. The status of the garage door is determined by measuring a distance of the garage door to the garage floor using a distance measuring device such that distance measuring information is communicated to the server for determining the open or closed status of the garage door before movement.