A method for detecting potential pinches caused by at least one powered movable panel between a closed position and an open position, by: measuring a physical quantity at a plurality of panel positions when the panel is moved towards the open position so as to get a first profile, measuring said physical quantity in a reference position, when the panel is moved towards the closed position, and determining an offset value, determining a second profile by shifting the first profile of a shifting value, measuring said physical quantity in a repetitive manner when the panel is moved towards the closed position so as to get a third profile, and detecting a potential pinch if the third profile crosses the second profile.

A vehicle opening and closing body control device includes a drive control unit that opens and closes an opening and closing body of a vehicle using a motor as a drive source, wherein the opening and closing body performs the opening and closing operation based on an operation of a link mechanism formed by first and second link arms having a first rotation connection point with respect to a vehicle body and a second rotation connection point with respect to the opening and closing body, wherein an opening and closing body engagement portion is provided at a closed-side end of the opening and closing body, and an engagement failure detector that detects a failure in engagement of the opening and closing body engagement portion with the vehicle body engagement portion based on a change in a motor current value in the specific operation section at a time of full-closing control of the opening and closing body.

An automated window mechanism has a motor that moves a sliding window along a frame to open and close the window. A position sensor, such as an encoder, monitors a position of the sliding window relative to the frame. The automated window mechanism can receive an instruction to calibrate to the frame by disengaging the motor while the position sensor remains engaged. The user then manually moves the sliding window between two end points and then reengages the motor. The position sensor records the end points, and then the automated window mechanism uses the end points as limits of movement for the sliding window.

A system for monitoring a closed state of a cover of an exposure machine includes a servo motor, a photoelectric encoder, and a controller. A shaft of the servo motor is coaxially fixedly connected to a shaft of the cover. The photoelectric encoder is provided on the servo motor, and is configured to detect an angle of rotation of the shaft of the servo motor. The controller is connected to the servo motor and the photoelectric encoder, and is configured to control rotation of the shaft of the servo motor and determine whether the cover is in the closed state according to the angle.

A counterbalance mechanism for assisting in opening and closing of a closure panel of a vehicle between a closed position and an open position, the counterbalance mechanism including: a housing for mounting a biasing mechanism of the counterbalance mechanism between the body and the closure panel; the biasing mechanism including: a fixed primary abutment of the housing having a primary biasing element mounted thereon; a fixed secondary abutment of the housing having a secondary biasing element mounted thereon; a movable plate variably positioned on a bias axis, the moveable plate between the primary biasing element and the secondary biasing element, an axial position of the movable plate movable in relation to the fixed primary abutment and the fixed secondary abutment to selectively change a primary spring constant of the primary biasing element and a secondary spring constant of the secondary biasing element; and an actuator connected to the movable plate, the actuator responsive to a control signal in order to adjust the position of the movable plate; wherein the primary biasing element applies a spring force to moderate extension of the counterbalance mechanism affecting movement of the closure panel between the open and closed positions.

Multi-mode personal transportation and delivery devices and methods of use are disclosed herein. A method can include providing a preview of an opening height of a tailgate to a user, where the opening height is defined by a distance of liftgate that is measured relative to a ground plane, receiving feedback to adjust the opening height, creating a customized liftgate opening height from the feedback, and storing the customized liftgate opening height in a user account.

A gate system and related control systems and methods include a frame assembly and a tracking assembly coupled to the frame assembly. A door is in mechanical communication with the frame assembly. Related methods for operating a gate of a gate system, where the gate is set to manual mode to manually open or close the gate. Additionally, control systems include a fail-safe programmable logic controller (PLC) circuit for controlling the gate for opening and closing a gate that employs redundant fail-safe features. The control system includes a safety PLC circuit having a PLC including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and a light curtain switch electrically coupled to the first and second input terminals.

A trunk door opening/closing assistance apparatus including: a torque detection part which detects a torque input by a user to open/close the trunk door of a vehicle; a control unit which provides assist torque support in addition to the torque applied by the user within a total torque range required to open/close the door when the user manually opens or closes the trunk door; and a motor drive part which drives a motor for assisting the opening or closing of the trunk door with a direction and a strength which are controlled by the control unit.

A profile learning system for cooperative control of a dual actuator applied to opposite sliding doors may include a first position sensor configured to detect a position of a door that operates in a first direction along a rail; a spindle assembly including a spindle that operates in a second direction with respect to the door to prevent the door from rattling; first and second motors engaged to the door and the spindle assembly and configured to provide driving power to the door and the spindle assembly, respectively; a memory unit configured to store the position of the door; and a control unit configured to adjust an output of the second motor configured for a predetermined time period and to determine learning success or learning failure for complete opening or closing of the door based on the position of the door when a stall state is detected due to a difference in stroke between the first motor and the second motor.

A dump gate system for a fluid hopper in a firefighting aircraft. A gate sealably engages a gate opening in the hopper at a closed position. The gate is hingedly connected about the gate opening, and a drive shaft is supported within the hopper. A crank arm is fixed to the drive shaft and is further coupled to the gate by a connecting link. The crank arm and the connecting link define an over-center geometry while the gate is at the closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the gate induces torque on the drive shaft in a gate-closing direction. An electric motor is selectively coupled to rotate the drive shaft in a gate-opening direction to thereby enable control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.