A vehicle operation detection device includes sensors laid out in a vehicle along an axis in an opening-closing direction of a door of the vehicle. When the user moves a part of a body toward the sensors and a motion of moving the part of the body along the axis is detected, the sensors detect an opening-closing operation for the door. The vehicle operation detection device further includes light-emitting members laid out in the vehicle along the axis in the opening-closing direction and an operation direction indicator configured to drive the light-emitting members in sequence in a first direction in a fully-closed state of the door and drives the light-emitting members in sequence in a second direction in a fully-open state of the door.

A transportation vehicle trim with display functionality having a light shade unit with at least one window section which is transparent at least area by area in the visible wavelength area for a transillumination, and a functional unit having at least one illuminant or at least one illuminant and one input unit, wherein the functional unit is formed as a basic module having a self-contained, water-tight housing, in the interior of which the at least one illuminant and the input unit are arranged, wherein the basic module is mechanically connected to the light shade unit. A front side of the housing of the basic module facing a viewing side of the light shade unit may be smaller than an area across which backlit information areas of the transportation vehicle trim extend. Individual light exit areas of the basic module are coupled via light guiding elements to the backlit information areas.

A method to actuate a locking element for a vehicle including detecting a movement of an object using an optical sensor, activating an ultrasound sensor in accordance with the detected movement, detecting a gesture using the ultrasound sensor, and actuating the locking element in accordance with the detected gesture.

Security systems for secured assets such as vehicles, are described in which facial recognition systems or other biometrics systems provide enhanced security for an authorized user. Subtle or covert cues provided by the user during authentication or subsequent monitoring of the user by the facial recognition system and other input systems are used to invoke user-editable personal security rules that respond to the cues to implement the user's desired responses for added security in various situations. Related security systems, methods, and devices are described to protect an asset such as an automobile or other vehicle or other secured asset through the use of biometrics and personal security rules. In such systems, a training module may provide periodic training and practice sessions to assist the user in being prepared to properly use the personal rules system in response to various scenarios and threats, and can guide adjustment of personal rules for better success.

In an embodiment, a method for authenticating a user of a car includes: transmitting a plurality of radiation pulses through a predetermined portion of a surface of the car towards a portion of a hand of the user using a millimeter-wave radar; receiving a reflected signal from the portion of the hand using the millimeter-wave radar; generating a fingerprint signature based on the reflected signal; comparing the fingerprint signature to a database of authorized fingerprint signatures; and authorizing the user based on whether the fingerprint signature matches an authorized fingerprint signature of the database of authorized fingerprint signatures.

A system and method for operating a closure panel of a vehicle. The system includes at least one optical interface unit for detecting motion of an object and a controller unit coupled to the at least one optical interface unit and in communication with an actuator for operating the closure panel. The controller unit is configured to monitor the at least one optical interface unit to detect the motion of the object. The controller unit determines whether the motion of the object matches a predetermined touch or gesture command. The controller unit is also configured to control the actuator in response to the touch or gesture matching the predetermined touch or gesture command.

A message is received that a mobile device is in proximity to a vehicle. For example, a cloud system may receive a message that the mobile device is in proximity to the car of a specific person. Based on the mobile device being in proximity to the vehicle, sensor information is received from one or more sensors on the vehicle. For example, an array of cameras on the vehicle may be used to detect a gesture. The received information from the one or more sensors on the vehicle is processed to identify one or more actions to implement on the vehicle. One or more commands are then sent to implement one or more actions on the vehicle. For example, the one or more commands may be to open a specific door on the vehicle and to turn on a specific heating system in the vehicle.

A key unit includes: a first communication module; a second communication module; an authentication unit configured to perform authentication using authentication information when an operation request including the authentication information has been received via the first communication module; and a control unit configured to perform locking and unlocking with a key in response to the operation request when the authentication using the authentication information has succeeded and to transmit a control signal for performing an operation other than the locking and unlocking with the key to the control device via the second communication module after the authentication.

A non-contact obstacle and gesture detection system and method are disclosed. The system includes first and second electronic control units in communication with one another and obstacle and gesture sensors coupled to the first electronic control unit. First and second power actuators are coupled to the first and second electronic control units for moving first and second closure members, respectively. The first electronic control unit detects the obstacle or gesture using the obstacle and gesture sensors, communicates the detection of the obstacle or gesture to the second electronic control unit, and controls movement of the first closure member using the first power actuator. The second electronic control unit is configured to request the detection of the obstacle or gesture adjacent the motor vehicle from the first electronic control unit and control movement of the second closure member using the second power actuator accordingly.

A method for controlling at least one locking element of a vehicle is disclosed. A mobile identification transmitter is detected at a position in a certain access region around the vehicle. Furthermore, a user signal is output to a user carrying the mobile identification transmitter after the mobile identification transmitter has stayed at the position for a first predetermined duration. In addition, the at least one locking element is unlocked/opened after the mobile identification transmitter further stays at the position for a second predetermined duration after the user signal is output. For the targeted control of the automatic unlocking or opening of the vehicle door, the process of unlocking or opening is terminated if a termination signal from the user is detected within the second predetermined duration.