A system for assisting a user in moving a device relative to a structure comprises a magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuator unit including at least one torque source and at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus having an input coupled to the at least one torque source to receive torque from the at least one torque source, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of assistance force via an output thereof. An interface is configured for coupling the output of the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus to the device or surrounding structure. At least one sensor provides information about a movement of the device. A processor unit for controlling the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting the variable amount of assistance force as a function of said information, wherein the system is configured for one of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the structure, and for the other of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the device for the assistance force from the MR fluid actuator unit to assist in moving the device.

A door drive device for adjusting and/or locking a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body including an adjustment member, a drive element operatively coupled to the adjustment member such that the adjustment member is movable with respect to the drive element for moving the vehicle door, a sensor device for measuring a measuring quantity indicative of a movement of the vehicle door to provide a sensor signal, a brake device operatively connected to the drive element for braking a movement of the vehicle door, and a control device for controlling operation of the door drive device. The control device is configured to compute, from the sensor signal obtained from the sensor device, an acceleration value indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle door and evaluate the acceleration value to distinguish movement of the vehicle door caused by a gravity force from movement caused by a user action.

A method and an assembly for pivoting a movable component having a drive device with an electric drive motor in order to influence a pivoting of the component between a first setting and a second setting. A position sensor detects a position measure for a setting of the component and a speed parameter for a displacement speed of the component. During a displacement of the component with the speed parameter, an electrical setpoint current intensity for the electric drive motor is ascertained, and an associated setpoint voltage is set. The setpoint voltage is increased if a current intensity flowing through the drive motor is lower than the electrical setpoint current intensity, and the setpoint voltage is reduced if the current intensity flowing through the drive motor is higher than the electrical setpoint current intensity.

The proposed solution in particular relates to a method for adjusting an adjusting part (1) on a vehicle (F), wherein an adjustment of the adjusting part (1) is controlled by using an electronic detection device (2) which detects a potential obstacle in an adjustment path of the adjusting part (1) on the basis of at least one first measured value and generates at least one control signal (r(t)) for controlling the adjustment of the adjusting part (1). At least over a defined time period, a curve of the control signal (r(t)) and/or of the first measured value as well as a curve of at least one second measured value (a(t), i(t), v(t)) changing significantly on collision of the adjusting part (1) with an obstacle are stored so as to be read out and correlated with each other for a subsequent plausibility check.

A power drive mechanism includes an electric motor configured to rotate a drive member, a housing having an inner wall bounding a cavity, and an extensible actuation member linearly moveable in a first direction to move a vehicle swing door in an opening direction and in a second direction to move the vehicle swing door in a closing direction. A clutch/brake assembly is disposed in the cavity of the housing. The clutch/brake assembly operably connects the drive member with the extensible actuation member. The clutch/brake assembly is moveable from a disengaged state, whereat the extensible actuation member is inhibited from moving relative to the housing, to an engaged state, whereat the extensible actuation member moves relative to the housing. The clutch/brake assembly moves mechanically from the engaged state to the disengaged state in response to the electric motor changing from the energized state to the de-energized state.

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 vehicle door assembly including a vehicle door pivotally arranged on a vehicle body, a force-transmitting device for adjusting and/or fixing the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body, wherein the force-transmitting device includes a transmission element for producing a flux of force between the vehicle door and the vehicle body in order to adjust the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body or hold it in position relative to the vehicle body, and a control device for controlling the force-transmitting device. In addition, there is provided a sensor device in the form of an acceleration sensor arranged on the vehicle door for measuring the acceleration of the vehicle door, or a gyrosensor arranged on the vehicle door for measuring the angular velocity of the vehicle door, or a force sensor arranged in the flux of force between the vehicle door and the vehicle body.

An assembly of a vehicle comprises a vehicle door, a control element arranged on a door portion of the vehicle door, and a control device for controlling a closing function for closing the vehicle door and an opening function for opening the vehicle door. The control element comprises at least one first operating device for generating an operating signal on user operation at an outer portion and at least one second operating device for generating an operating signal on user operation at an inner portion. The control device is configured to trigger a closing function for closing the vehicle door with reference to an operating signal of the at least one first operating device and to trigger an opening function for opening the vehicle door with reference to an operating signal of the at least one second operating device.

A door opening and closing assisting apparatus includes: an information obtainer that obtains information on an opening and closing velocity of a door on a vehicle; a door actuator that performs driving for assisting the opening and closing operation of the door; a target assisting power computer that computes a target assisting power for assisting the opening and closing operation of the door; and a controller that performs driving control for the door actuator based on the target assisting power. The target assisting power computer calculates, based on the opening and closing velocity of the door obtained by the information obtainer, a standard assisting power which is assisting power required to maintain the opening and closing velocity, makes a correction by decreasing the calculated standard assisting power according to a predetermined rule, and sets the standard assisting power after the decrease correction as the target assisting power.

A door opening and closing assisting apparatus that assists an opening and closing operation of a door on a vehicle is provided. The door opening and closing assisting apparatus includes: an information obtainer that obtains information on an opening and closing acceleration of the door; a door actuator that performs driving for assisting the opening and closing operation of the door; a target assisting power computer that computes a target assisting power for assisting the opening and closing operation of the door; and a controller that performs driving control for the door actuator based on the target assisting power. The controller starts the driving control for the door actuator at a timing at which the information obtainer obtains the opening and closing acceleration of the door.