A notification device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to acquire a distance between a door provided at a vehicle and an obstacle facing the door, and, in a case in which the distance is equal to or less than a reference threshold value determined in advance by an occupant of the vehicle, and a condition determined in advance by the occupant is satisfied, provide notification of the distance to the occupant by a method determined in advance by the occupant.

Disclosed herein is a vehicle control apparatus for preventing a trunk from striking objects when the trunk is opened. An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle control apparatus including a travel state determination unit configured to collect travel information about a vehicle and determine a travel state of the vehicle based on the collected travel information, a space information generation unit configured to collect scan information about a surrounding space of the vehicle and generate space information about the vehicle based on the collected scan information, a trunk opening allowability determination unit configured to determine whether a trunk of the vehicle is allowed to be opened based on the generated space information when the travel state of the vehicle is determined to be a parked/stopped state or a parking/stopping state, and a control unit configured to generate a control signal for controlling at least one of a notification apparatus and the trunk according to a result of determining whether the trunk is allowed to be opened.

A passenger transport vehicle that includes at least one door, an optical detection module to dynamically detect a current fill value representing a number of occupants in the passenger transport vehicle, and a control module operatively connected to the at least one door and the optical detection module. The control module is configured to automatically initiate a closing sequence that includes movement of the door to a closed position once the detected current fill value reaches a predetermined threshold fill value for the passenger transport vehicle.

A method of generating warnings associated with a vehicle is provided. The method broadly includes the steps of: (a) receiving an indication that a warning relating to operation of an electric motor is appropriate; (b) generating a drive current for the electric motor; (c) superimposing a warning signal onto the drive current; and (d) driving the electric motor with the drive current and the superimposed warning signal such that the electric motor produces the warnings. The warning signal may produce an audio warning, a tactile warning, or a combination thereof.

A system for adjusting a closure element of a vehicle comprises an adjustment drive for adjusting the closure element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle between a closed position and an open position, a control device for actuating the adjustment drive for executing an adjusting movement of the closure element between the closed position and the open position, and a light generating device for generating a light signal. The control device is configured to actuate the light generating device for generating a first light signal during an adjusting movement of the closure element and for generating a second light signal when the closure element is in the open position.

A controlling method of a vehicle includes: detecting a location of a user around the vehicle in response to receiving opening closing signals for opening and closing a power tail gate of the vehicle, respectively; and controlling opening and closing speeds of the power tail gate according to a distance between the vehicle and the user when opening and closing the power tail gate, respectively, in response to receiving the respective opening and closing signals of the power tail gate.

A method of generating warnings associated with a vehicle is provided. The method broadly includes the steps of: (a) receiving an indication that a warning relating to operation of an electric motor is appropriate; (b) generating a drive current for the electric motor; (c) superimposing a warning signal onto the drive current; and (d) driving the electric motor with the drive current and the superimposed warning signal such that the electric motor produces the warnings. The warning signal may produce an audio warning, a tactile warning, or a combination thereof.

An opening/closing controller includes an entrapment detection sensor that detects entrapment when an opening/closing body moves. A control unit performs a switch mode control using the entrapment detection sensor as an input switch for an opening/closing body operation when detecting an operation input to the entrapment detection sensor while movement of the opening/closing body is stopped.

A garage door opener system includes a garage door opener having a motor for moving a garage door and a controller coupled to a wireless communication interface, a user communication interface including a microphone, and a garage door opener accessory. The controller controls the garage door opener motor to move the garage door, detects a command from a user via the microphone, and generates a responsive control action to control the garage door opener accessory. The user interface may include a speaker that produces an audible response to the user. The accessory may include an object tracker that alerts a user with an audible or illuminating alert. Other accessories may include a video camera, a radio, a music player, a battery charger, an energy storage system, a garage door lock, a hinged lid, an entry door, and a window lock.

The present disclosure provides a barrier operator system in which a remotely located transceiver type controller is in wireless communication with a transceiver type adapter connected to a barrier operator, and in electronic communication with the barrier operator's microcontroller. The controller is operable to wirelessly transmit door operator status inquiries to the adapter. This may be effected automatically in connection with the transmission and receipt by the adapter of door toggle commands or separate and apart from same. The status information is wirelessly transmitted by the adapter in broadcast form without source or destination address to the remote device in a signal that is non-addressed broadcast door operator (and, indirectly, door) status information by relying upon the receipt of the message by the remote within the specific time limit of the reception window of the remote.