A non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system that allows a common door to be opened and closed automatically through use of a voice-activated sensor, optical switch or mobile app.

A refrigerator and a controlling method thereof are provided. The refrigerator includes a main body including first and second doors, a first motor for opening the first door and a second motor for opening the second door, and a processor configured to, based on a user command for opening the door being obtained, start driving the first motor to open the first door, and after a first time from the time when the first motor has started being driven, start driving the second motor to open the second door.

A method for automatically controlling a vehicle to provide a safety zone to an individual. The method detects, at the vehicle, a condition indicating that an individual outside of the vehicle is in distress. In response, one or more vehicle services are automatically made available to the individual. A corresponding system is also disclosed and claimed herein.

A door opening/closing device drives a slide door to a locked state under authentication communication between an authentication ECU of a vehicle side and a mobile device, when the slide door is in a closed and unlocked state and the presence of a user is detected by a detection unit.

A refrigerator for recognizing an object to be stored and automatically opening a door based on the recognized object, and a method therefor are provided. The refrigerator includes a main body, at least one door provided on a front surface of the main body, one or more storage rooms provided in the main body or the at least one door and configured to store an object, a cooler configured to cool the one or more storage rooms, a door driver configured to generate power for automatically opening and closing the at least one door, a camera configured to photograph an image of surroundings around the at least one door, and at least one processor configured to, in the case in which an object is recognized from the image of surroundings photographed by the camera, transmit a control signal for opening the at least one door to the door driver based on the recognized object.

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.

Disclosed is a method (50) of providing finger pinch protection at a hinge area of a swing door-based entrance system (1) having a motorized automatic door operator (30) for opening (2) of the swing door (10) in an automatic mode of the entrance system (1), wherein the entrance system (1) also has a manual mode in which a human user may cause opening and closing of the swing door (10) by manual force. The method involves monitoring (52), by a first sensor function (S1), for presence of a person or object in a first zone (PD) at the first door leaf surface (12-1) and non-proximate to a vertical door edge (14). The method also involves monitoring, by a second sensor function (S2), for presence of a person or object in a second zone (PDHA) at the first door leaf surface (12-1) and proximate to said vertical door edge (14). When any of the first sensor function (S1) or second sensor function (S2) detects presence in the first zone (PD) or second zone (PDHA) in the automatic mode during an ongoing opening of the swing door (10), the automatic door operator (30) is controlled so as to stop opening of the swing door (10). When the second sensor function (S2) detects presence in the second zone (PDHA) in the manual mode, the automatic door operator (30) is controlled so as to counteract an attempt by a human user to manually open the swing door (10). A corresponding entrance system (1) is also disclosed.

A trashcan assembly can include a body portion, a lid portion pivotably coupled with the body portion, and a sensor assembly configured to generate a signal when an object is detected within a sensing region. The sensor assembly can include a plurality of transmitters having a first subset of transmitters and a second subset of transmitters. A transmission axis of at least one transmitter in the first subset of transmitters can be different from a transmission axis of at least one of the transmitters in the second subset of transmitters. An electronic processor can generate an electronic signal to a power-operated drive mechanism for moving the lid portion from a closed position to an open position, such as in response to the sensor assembly detecting the object.

A door opening/closing device includes a detection unit which detects a foot of a person present near a front door; and a vehicle door opening/closing device main body which opens a rear slide door, when the detection unit detects the foot of the person, wherein when the foot of the person is not detected within a prescribed time after being detected, the detection unit outputs a pseudo outer door handle switch on signal which demands the vehicle door opening/closing device main body to open the rear slide door, and when detection is continuously performed during a prescribed time or longer from when the detection unit has detected a detection target, the detection unit does not output the pseudo outer door handle switch on signal.

A control device and method for a vehicle having an automatically opening and/or automatically closing flap includes an operating switch which can be operated contactlessly in the form of a proximity sensor and a programmable functional module. The method includes the following steps: firstly, an operating requirement signal is generated upon recognition of a predetermined proximity pattern consisting of the raw sensor signal of the proximity sensor for output of a resulting control signal to an unlocking and locking mechanism for the actual automatic opening or closing the valve, secondly, it is determined whether a predetermined absolute limit value of the raw sensor signal is exceeded, and thirdly, when the predetermined limiting value is exceeded, the output of the control signal is also suppressed when the operating requirement signal is generated, wherein this provision is also designated in short below as suppression mode.