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.

The present invention provides an automatic animal door system. The automatic animal door system includes an animal door module, a linear motor driver and a control module. The animal door module includes a door and a frame having an opening, and the door is lively connected with the frame and configured to move between a closed position covering the opening and an open position away from the opening. The linear motor driver is connected with the door and configured to drive the door move between the closed position and the open position. The control module is electrically connected the linear motor driver and includes a processor and a non-volatile memory storing a programmed set of instructions. The processor executes the programmed set of instructions to control the linear motor driver open or close the door.

In example implementations, a method is provided. The method includes determining, by a processor, that a vehicle is approaching a door of a building based on a velocity vector of the vehicle, calculating, by the processor, a time of arrival of the vehicle at the door based on the velocity vector of the vehicle and a distance of the vehicle from the door, and controlling, by the processor, the door to begin opening at a time based on the time of arrival and an amount of time for the door to open such that the door is opened when the vehicle arrives at the door.

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 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 door sensor may include one or more emitters configured to emit an emission beam comprising IR light during an emitting phase. The door sensor may further include one or more receptors configured to receive a reception beam comprising the IR light reflected off of a surface during a listening phase and an interference beam from an adjacent door sensor. The door sensor may further include a controller operatively coupled to a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: determine one or more of the frequency and phase of the interference beam; determine whether the door sensor should be primary or secondary to the adjacent door sensor; and adjust a timing of one or more of the emitting phase and the listening phase to reduce interference from the adjacent door sensor.

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.

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.