A method for monitoring condition of a door on a vehicle, the door includes a first panel, a second panel, a first motor, a second motor, a first striker/latch assembly, and a second striker/latch assembly. The method includes steps of generating status indicators and communicating those indicator to a computer on the vehicle. The computer processes those status indicators to determine action regarding the vehicle.

Present invention relates to an automatic door operator 10 and method of operating said automatic door operator 10. The automatic door operator 10 is arranged to operate the movable door member D1, said automatic door operator 10 comprising a drive unit 24 for moving the movable door member D1 between a closed position and an open position, a controller 32 configured to control said drive unit 24 and a sensor S1 operatively connected to said controller 32. The sensor is configured to monitor the operation of the movable door member D1 and transfer sensor data to said controller 32.

An open-close body controller includes a motor, movement interference determination unit, and disturbance determination unit. Motor is configured to open and close an open-close body of vehicle. Movement interference determination unit is configured to detect whether characteristic value of motor, which is varied in accordance with change in load applied to open-close body when moving, is in movement interference range or non-movement interference range bordering threshold value and determine that movement of open-close body has been interfered with by foreign object when characteristic value is in movement interference range. Disturbance determination unit is configured to determine whether motor is subject to effect of disturbance. Movement interference determination unit is configured to correct threshold value to narrow movement interference range based on varied amount of rotation amount of motor that corresponds to movement distance of open-close body when disturbance determination unit determines motor is subject to effect of disturbance.

Switch arrangements for powered doors are disclosed. A door includes a panel and a track to guide movement of the panel between an open position and a closed position. The track defines a track slot extending along an exterior length of the track. The door further includes a sensor target to be carried by the panel within the track. The door also includes a sensor selectively attachable to an exterior of the track via the track slot. The sensor to detect the sensor target when the panel is in a first position. The track defines an aperture to be positioned between the sensor target and the sensor when the panel is in the first position.

A functional component of a motor vehicle lock arrangement, the functional component has a drive arrangement with a motor and an adjustment element coupled to the drive arrangement. The adjustment element can be deflected out of a predetermined engaged position in a deflecting movement, and the deflected adjustment element can be reset into the engaged position in a resetting movement. The deflecting movement can be produced by means of the drive arrangement and the drive motor operates in the motor mode, and the resetting movement is spring-driven and the drive motor operates in the generator mode. The functional component may include a monitoring unit which determines the position of the adjustment element reached in the resetting movement from the motor voltage of the drive motor in accordance with a monitoring rule.

A method for operating a drive system for a body hatch, in particular a front hood of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has a motorized drive arrangement and a control device for actuating the drive arrangement, wherein the body hatch, in an opening process, is adjusted from a closed position in an opening direction. A faulty opening process of the body hatch is detected by means of the control device in a detection routine and that, upon detection of a faulty opening process, the drive arrangement is actuated by means of the control device in the closing direction.

An open-close body controller includes a motor, movement interference determination unit, and disturbance determination unit. Motor is configured to open and close an open-close body of vehicle. Movement interference determination unit is configured to detect whether characteristic value of motor, which is varied in accordance with change in load applied to open-close body when moving, is in movement interference range or non-movement interference range bordering threshold value and determine that movement of open-close body has been interfered with by foreign object when characteristic value is in movement interference range. Disturbance determination unit is configured to determine whether motor is subject to effect of disturbance. Movement interference determination unit is configured to correct threshold value to narrow movement interference range based on varied amount of rotation amount of motor that corresponds to movement distance of open-close body when disturbance determination unit determines motor is subject to effect of disturbance.

A closing device for opening and closing an opening in a vehicle is disclosed. The closing device comprises a closing system, having a closing body (SK) that is fitted on the vehicle (FZ) in a movable manner and is configured to open and close the opening (O), a drive device (AV) that is operatively connected to the closing body (SK) and is configured to move the closing body (SK), and a transmission system (US) that is arranged between the closing body (SK) and the drive device (AV) and is configured to transmit a drive force generated by the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK). The closing system (SLS) has a closing system spring rate (FRSLS) that characterizes an overall elasticity of the closing body (SLS), of the drive device (AV) and of the transmission system (US). The closing device (SV) also comprises a force transmission spring unit (KUFE) that is configured to pick up the drive force transmitted from the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK). The force transmission spring unit (KUFE) has a force transmission spring rate (FRKUFE) that is lower than the closing system spring rate (FRSLS).

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

Present invention relates to an automatic door operator 10 and method of operating said automatic door operator 10. The automatic door operator 10 is arranged to operate the movable door member D1, said automatic door operator 10 comprising a drive unit 24 for moving the movable door member D1 between a closed position and an open position, a controller 32 configured to control said drive unit 24 and a sensor S1 operatively connected to said controller 32. The sensor is configured to monitor the operation of the movable door member D1 and transfer sensor data to said controller 32.