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.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein that may be used to monitor a movable barrier operated by a movable barrier operator. In some embodiments, a system includes a camera configured to capture frames, and a control circuit. The camera has a field of view that defines a boundary of each of the frames. The control circuit is configured to receive a first frame, identify a stationary object in the first frame, and define a region of interest “ROI” relative to the stationary object in the first frame. The control circuit is further configured to receive a second frame, identify the stationary object in the second frame, determine whether at least a portion of the ROI is outside of the second frame, and cause the movable barrier operator to enter a failsafe mode upon the at least a portion of the ROI being outside of the second frame.

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 vehicle doorway camera includes vehicle doors and a vicinity of the doors in a cabin within an imaging range. A vehicle interior monitoring ECU is provided with a gravity center calculating section and a determining section. The gravity center calculating section calculates an occupant's gravity center position included in a captured image. The determining section determines whether or not the gravity center position is included in a keep out area provided in the vicinity of the doors. A loudspeaker issues an alarm inside the cabin when it is determined by the determining section that the gravity center position is included in the keep out area.

A system that performs a method is disclosed. Image data from a first camera mounted on a vehicle is received, the vehicle including a first element configured to open into a first space external to the vehicle, and the image data indicative of motion of a first object during a first time period, the first object located outside of the first space. Whether the motion of the first object during the first time period indicates that the first object will interfere with operation of the first element during a second time period, after the first time period, is determined. In accordance with a determination that the motion of the first object indicates that the first object will interfere with the operation of the first element during the second time period, an action that avoids the interference is performed.

A window can be used to detect objects located within an opening. A structure can define the opening. The window can be operatively positioned within the opening. The window can be movable to selectively open and close the opening. The window can include an optical grating operatively positioned near a closing edge of the window. A light source configured to emit light toward the optical grating. A detector operatively positioned to acquire spectroscopic data of the light emitted from the light source after the light has interacted with the optical grating. A processor can be operatively connected to the detector. The processor can be configured to: determine a temperature based on the spectroscopic data; determine, based on the temperature, whether an object is located in the opening; and responsive to determining that an object is located in the opening, control a movement of window.

There is disclosed an automatic door installation 100 configured to determine the presence of an obstacle 150 in one or more detection zones remote from a door opening, comprising: at least a first door 104 slidable in a door opening along a horizontal door axis from an open configuration to a closed configuration during a door closing operation; a plurality of transmitter-receiver pairs, each transmitter-receiver pair comprising: a transmitter 116 for transmitting a beam 140 and a receiver 118 for receiving a reflection of the beam, wherein one of the transmitter 116 and the receiver 118 is coupled to the first door so that, in use, the transmitter and receiver move closer together during the door closing operation; wherein the transmitter 116 defines a transmitter axis 120 corresponding to the optical axis of the beam; wherein the receiver 118 has a field of view 142 for receiving the beam, which is oriented around a receiver axis; and wherein the transmitter axis 120 and the receiver axis 122 are configured so that the beam and the field of view overlap to define a detection zone for the transmitter-receiver pair in at least one operational configuration of the door installation. At least one of the transmitter axis 120 and the receiver axis 122 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and the transmitter 116 is vertically spaced apart from the receiver 118.

A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect an obstacle and cease movement of the closure member in response to the obstacle being detected. Additionally, the control unit is configured to release a latch and apply power to a motor in response to the obstacle not being detected. The control unit is also configured to determine whether the closure member is in a full open position, and continue to apply power to a motor coupled to the closure member if the closure member is not in the full open position.

A method is disclosed of operating an automatic door installation comprising door sensor equipment including a door sensor. The automatic door installation is operable in at least a standard mode, in which the door sensor equipment conducts an obstacle check to determine whether an obstacle is present according to a first obstacle check procedure, and a contingency mode, in which the door sensor equipment conducts the obstacle check according to a different second obstacle check procedure. The method includes the steps of evaluating an operating condition of the automatic door installation; determining whether the operating condition lies within a standard operating range; and operating the automatic door installation in the contingency mode when the operating condition lies outside a respective standard operating range.

A vehicle door controller is disclosed. The vehicle door controller is in communication with an actuator configured to control a door and is further in communication with a temperature sensing device. The controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensing device. Based on the temperature signal, the controller is configured to identify an actuator condition. In response to the actuator condition, the controller is configured to control the actuator to move the door to a resting position.