A handle of a door leaf for a motor vehicle includes a gripping element and a detection device. The gripping element includes an external surface facing outside of a vehicle passenger compartment and an internal surface facing inside of the vehicle passenger compartment. The gripping element is movable relative to a support and fixed to at least one lever configured to displace the gripping element. The gripping element is flush with the door leaf in a closed position. The detection device is configured to detect a predetermined pressure exerted on the gripping element and to send, when such predetermined pressure is detected, an opening signal of the door leaf to an opening device configured to open the door leaf. The detection device is disposed relative to the gripping element on the internal surface of the gripping element.

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door of a vehicle, a handle portion, and a sensing module that includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor. With the base portion of the vehicular exterior door handle assembly mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitter, when energized, emits light. With the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, and with the light emitter energized, the light sensor senses light emitted by the light emitter. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor with the light emitter energized being below a threshold level, the sensing module determines a presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.

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 vehicle door arrangement includes a first closing element arranged on a vehicle door and a second closing element arranged on a bodywork of the vehicle. The first and closing elements can be connected to each other in a positive looking manner to hold the door on the bodywork. A door handle is connected to a sensor for detecting a pressure input or a pulling input of a user on the door handle. The sensor is connected to a control unit, which controls a locking actuator and a door opening actuator. The locking actuator separates the first and second closing elements, and the door opening actuator opens the vehicle door relative to the bodywork. The control unit controls the locking actuator to separate the first closing element and the second closing element in response to a detected pressure input or pulling input, and to control the door opening actuator to open the door relative to the bodywork.

A method for detecting actuation of a handle of a motor-vehicle opening panel-vehicle, including the steps of continuously generating the request to unlock signal, detecting an increase in the value of the request to unlock signal beyond a first predetermined detection threshold representative of the presence of a hand of a user on the handle, detecting a decrease in the value of the request to unlock signal below a second predetermined detection threshold representative of the user pulling on the handle, consecutively to the detection of the decrease in the value of the request to unlock signal below the second detection threshold, triggering a time counter, stopping the time counter at the end of a predetermined “confirmation time”, and validating the detection of a request to unlock the opening panel if the value of the request to unlock signal remained greater than a third predetermined threshold throughout the confirmation time.

A touch pad for operating an e-latch assembly of a motor vehicle entry system that includes a control circuit with a backup energy source and method of operating the entry system are provided. The touch pad includes a touch pad controller in communication with the control circuit of the e-latch assembly. The touch pad also includes at least one entry input sensor coupled to the touch pad controller for outputting a signal indicative of a touch to operate the e-latch assembly. The touch pad further includes a mechanical emergency switch assembly adjacent the at least one entry input sensor and including a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the control circuit for operating the e-latch assembly when the at least one input sensor is not operable due to one of a power loss and malfunction of the at least one input sensor.

An entry backup energy assembly is provided for an electric latch that is powered by a main power source during a normal operating condition. The entry backup energy assembly includes a backup battery electrically coupled to an activation switch that is moveable to one of an activated state and a deactivated state. The entry backup energy assembly also includes a backup controller coupled to the activation switch and the backup battery and the electric latch. The backup controller is configured to receive power from the backup battery in response to movement of the activation switch to the activated state and wirelessly communicates with a user authentication unit to authenticate a user. The backup controller provides the backup electrical energy to the electric latch and enables the user to operate the electric latch during a failure operating condition in response to the user being authenticated.

An electronic sensor module for a handle may have one sensor unit having a movable sensor element and a fixed sensor element which is arranged spaced apart from and opposite the movable sensor element. The module may also have an electronics unit which is electrically connected to the sensor elements for triggering a switching signal and on which the fixed sensor element is arranged. At least the movable sensor element may be encapsulated at least in some regions by a foam material and is designed as an integrated component in the form of a preassembly unit. Connection elements of the movable sensor element protrude from the foam material in a preassembly state and are connected to the electronics unit in an assembled state. A handle module and to a movable vehicle element are also described.

An outside door handle module for a vehicle may have one handle element having a handle outer side and a handle inner side. The module may also have one gesture sensor and an actuation sensor. The gesture sensor may be arranged on or in the handle outer side and the actuation sensor may be arranged on or in the handle inner side.

A vehicle door handle assembly with a sensor device for detecting an actuation is provided. A handle of the handle assembly has a section which can be gripped from behind and an outer wall that delimits an interior in which an electronic sensor device is arranged and fixed. The handle section is formed with a reduced outer wall thickness in an actuation region and has a deformability that is increased with respect to the remaining sections of the handle. The outer wall thickness is reduced solely on the outer wall face oriented towards the interior. The handle outer wall inner face oriented towards the interior is coated with a metal layer at least in the actuation region. The electronic sensor device comprises at least one inductive distance sensor which lies opposite the metal layer in the interior of the handle to detect a deformation of the opposing outer wall.