A smart opening system is provided. The smart opening system includes a vehicle defining an aperture, a door coupled to the vehicle to assume a first position at which the aperture is closed and multiple second positions at which the aperture is open and to move between the first and second positions, a sensor disposed to sense obstructions surrounding the vehicle and a processing element coupled to the sensor and configured to determine whether any of the obstructions are within a range of motion of the door.

An open roof assembly is configured for providing a closable roof opening in a vehicle roof. Thereto, the open roof assembly comprises a closure member that is moveably arranged for opening and closing the roof opening and a detection system for detecting an object in the roof opening. The detection system is configured to provide an entrapment signal if a foreign object is detected in the roof opening, when the closure member is moving and a collision may occur. The detection system is further configured to provide an operating signal, when an object is detected performing a predefined action. Based on the operating signal a control unit may execute an associated function.

A method for identifying and classifying objects in the surroundings of a motor vehicle, which method uses merely a single sensor for object detection. The method is characterized in that this single sensor moves in space while the object is being detected. In this case, during the measurement, the single sensor would act to a certain extent like a second sensor. The echo signals, reflected by the object, of different measurement cycles can be used to determine the differential speed, distance and angle. The method provides the possibility of being able to classify, by means of a single sensor, objects and items in the surroundings of a motor vehicle in terms of their size.

A door control device includes: a sensor device that acquires target information; a door operation unit operated by an occupant; an actuator that changes a door from a closed state to an open state; and a control unit that drives the actuator to change the door from the closed state to the open state. When it is determined that an obstruction is not detected at an operation detection point of time when operation of the door operation unit is detected while the vehicle is stationary, and when it is determined that the obstruction is detected during a period from an operation start point of time of the door operation unit to a point of time when operation continuation time reaches a first time, the control unit keeps the door in the closed state regardless of the operation continuation time.

A monitoring system and method are configured to detect a status of a door for a component on a vehicle. The monitoring system includes a sound sensor positioned within an auditory range of the door. The sound sensor detects sound energy generated in relation to a closed position of the door and an open position of the door. The sound sensor outputs a sound signal indicative of the sound energy. A monitoring control unit is in communication with the sound sensor. The monitoring control unit receives the sound signal and analyzes the sound signal to determine the status of the door.

A powered tailgate opening system having object collision protection is disclosed for reducing the risk of collision with an object during opening of the tailgate. The opening system has an object distance sensor to sense a distance to an object during movement of the tailgate and an opening angle sensor for sensing an angle of opening of the tailgate. A memory stores limit distance values which vary according to different angles of opening of the tailgate and a controller controls a tailgate movement drive mechanism according to a determination of whether a sensed distance at a sensed angle of opening is less than the stored limit distance value for that sensed angle of opening.

A door opening and closing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set at least a part of one of a first detection range and a second detection range as a start zone in which a first phase of a setting movement made by a detection target is to be detected, and to set a part of another one of the first detection range and the second detection range as a trigger zone in which a second phase of the setting movement is to be detected, based on first distances measured by a measurement unit. Upon determining that the detection target has made the setting movement including a movement between the start zone and the trigger, based on changes in the distances measured by the measurement unit, the control unit causes a driving unit to open or to close the door.

A vehicle control apparatus has doors provided on a vehicle, including at least one first door which has a first maximum opening amount and at least one second door which has a second maximum opening amount smaller than the first maximum opening amount. The vehicle control apparatus sets a distance threshold to a first value when an opening operation is carried out or is about to be carried out to at least one first door, and sets the distance threshold to a second value smaller than the first value when the opening operation is carried out or is about to be carried out to the at least one second door.

A system for closing a door of a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes: at least one sensor configured to detect a velocity and a position of the door; a brake configured to decrease the velocity of the door; an actuator configured to move the door to a closed position; and a controller configured to control operation of the at least one sensor, the brake, and the actuator.

An apparatus can be used to control a door for a vehicle. A sensor unit is provided in the door and is configured to sense an object adjacent to a region outside of the door. A controller is configured to calculate a distance at which the object is positioned based on a signal received from the sensor unit and to control the door to be opened while the distance to the object is gradually reduced in a state where the door is closed, such that the object is sensed within a predetermined range.