A method for generating an output for controlling a vehicular function of a vehicle includes providing (i) a vehicular sensing device having at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a respective vehicle function, and (ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and the sensors sense movement of a person's hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors, and a controller generates an output to control the vehicular function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.

A vehicle control system includes a vehicle control apparatus mounted on a vehicle, a first portable device (electronic key) performing communication with the vehicle control apparatus, and a second portable device (smartphone) performing communication with the first portable device. The second portable device transmits, based on a predetermined operation by a user, a notification signal notifying about the operation to the first portable device. When the first portable device receives the notification signal from the second portable device, the first portable device transmits the notification signal with an identification code of the first portable device to the vehicle control apparatus. When the vehicle control apparatus detects a gesture of the user after receiving the notification signal and the identification code from the first portable device, the vehicle control apparatus extracts a feature of the gesture from a detection signal, and stores the feature to be associated with the identification code.

A detector includes a plurality of sensors and is configured to detect a user in preliminarily set detection areas. The sensors are arrayed horizontally at a rear portion of a vehicle such that the detection areas of the adjacent sensors overlap with each other. If any one of the sensors detects the user and outputs a detection signal (first detection signal), a threshold for a detection signal of one of the sensors adjacent to the sensor (second detection signal) is raised and the first and second detection signals are converted to first and second binary signals, respectively. A rear door is opened if the second binary signal has an output period that is contained in an output period of the first binary signal.

The invention relates to a detection device (1) for a motor vehicle (VI) comprising at least one optical detector (3). Said at least one optical detector (3) being configured for detecting the approach of a person (U) in a predefined area in the vicinity of the vehicle in order to activate opening command means of a device for opening a movable panel (5, 7) of the vehicle (VI). According to the invention: —said detection device (1) comprises switching means for switching the function of the at least one optical detector (3) to a detecting function of an obstacle (V2) at a predefined distance of the vehicle (VI) when the identifier of an authorized person (U) is detected inside the vehicle (VI) and the vehicle movable panels (5, 7) are closed, and wherein—said detection device (1) comprises processing means configured to react depending on a detection of an obstacle (V2) by the optical sensor (3). The invention also relates to corresponding methods for detecting obstacles and for opening a movable panel of the motor vehicle.

The present invention includes: a vehicle exterior image acquisition unit acquiring a vehicle exterior image being an image of an external surrounding of a vehicle; a vehicle interior image acquisition unit acquiring a vehicle interior image being an image of an interior of the vehicle; a person recognition unit respectively recognizing, based on the vehicle exterior and interior images, motions of a person outside the vehicle and a person in the vehicle; and a door control unit controlling a state of a door of the vehicle, wherein, if a person outside the vehicle approaching the vehicle has been recognized based on a recognition result of the person recognition unit, the door control unit executes an opening operation on the door if it has been determined that the person in the vehicle has performed a specific motion determined in advance regarding the approaching person outside the vehicle.

Methods and systems are provided for an automated door system for a vehicle. In one example, the automated door system may include a set of manual actuating devices and a set of hands-free actuating devices for automatically unlocking and opening the doors of a commercial vehicle used for transporting cargo. The manual and hands-free actuating devices may be used in response to the operating state of the vehicle.

A sensor electrode has an upper side portion arranged on an automobile, a lower side portion arranged with a predetermined spacing from the upper side portion, and a connecting portion that connects the upper side portion and the lower side portion. A control unit inputs a signal for detecting a user to the upper side portion, the lower side portion, and the connecting portion, which are electrically connected. The lower side portion is arranged farther from an area through which the user passes than the upper side portion. The installation height of the upper side portion is greater than or equal to the installation height of the lower side portion.

A method for actuating a motorized closure element arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement comprises a closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement, wherein the sensor measurement values of the sensor arrangement are monitored by the control arrangement as to whether a triggering operating situation exists, which is defined by at least one operating situation condition, and wherein when the triggering operating situation is detected by the control arrangement actuation of the closure element arrangement is triggered. It is proposed that a portable haptic transducer is provided and that in at least one predetermined trigger state of the control arrangement haptic information associated with the trigger state is output by the transducer.

An opening and closing body control device is applied to a vehicle that includes a vehicle body having an opening, an opening and closing body configured to open and close the opening, a drive unit configured to operate the opening and closing body, and a detection device configured to detect a gesture operation of a user. The opening and closing body control device includes: a position acquisition unit configured to acquire a position of a portable device carried by the user by wireless communication; an operation determination unit configured to determine whether the gesture operation is executed in a situation where the portable device is present in a detection area of the detection device; and an opening and closing body control unit configured to operate the opening and closing body based on a content of the gesture operation when it is determined that the user executes the gesture operation.

The invention relates to automotive electronic technologies, and in particular, to an automobile remote control key, a vehicle control method using an automobile remote control key, and a computer-readable storage medium for implementing the method. According to an aspect of the invention, a vehicle remote control key includes: a sensor configured to obtain movement data of the automobile remote control key; a control unit coupled to the sensor and configured to recognize a motion pattern of a user based on the movement data; and a wireless communication module coupled to the control unit and configured to send a message about the motion pattern to a vehicle control system, so that the vehicle control system generates a corresponding control command.