The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.

An opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door element, having an electric drive and an actuating means, wherein the actuating means can be displaced by means of the drive and a gear mechanism arranged between the actuating means and the drive, such that a movement of the door element can be made possible, and a sensor for detecting the door movement, wherein at least one gear mechanism component is pivotably received in the opening apparatus, and the pivoting movement of the gear mechanism component can be detected by means of the sensor.

An opening device for a motor vehicle door element having an electric drive and an actuating means, wherein the actuating means is adjustable by means of the drive and a gear mechanism arranged between the actuating means and the drive, with the result that a movement of the door element can be made possible, and a sensor for detecting a force on the opening device, wherein the door element can be held by way of the actuating means.

A motor drive system configured to detect and prevent undesired movement of an item that is configured to be driven by the motor drive system. The motor drive system having: an electronic control unit operatively coupled to a rotor of the motor drive system, the electronic control unit being configured to detect undesired rotation of a shaft of the rotor, wherein the undesired rotation of the shaft is not caused by a force applied by the rotor; and wherein the electronic control unit of the motor drive system is configured to short windings of the motor drive system after a predetermined amount of undesired rotation of the shaft is detected by the electronic control unit such that further rotation of the rotor is prevented.

A method for the operation of a motorized flap arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the flap arrangement has a flap which is pivotable with respect to a motor vehicle body, wherein the flap arrangement has a back-driveable drive arrangement for the motorized adjustment of the flap and a control arrangement for controlling the drive arrangement. It is proposed that an, in particular gravitationally induced, predetermined flap deflection is detected by means of the control arrangement from a de-energized intermediate position of the flap in a monitoring routine and, in response to the detection of the predetermined flap deflection, a holding routine is triggered in which the drive arrangement is adjusted to a flap-holding position in a holding control circuit.

An automated door system includes a hinge assembly having a movable hinge portion coupled to a door and a fixed hinge portion coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge pillar. The movable hinge portion includes first and second mounting portions. The first mounting portion is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge portion for rotation about a hinge axis of the hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the fixed hinge portion and further coupled to the second mounting portion of the movable hinge portion by a drive shaft. The power assist device includes a motor that is configured to drive the drive shaft for providing at least one of an opening and a closing movement of the door about the hinge axis of the hinge assembly.

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.

An automatic door operator (30) for a swing door assembly (10) having a door leaf (14) rotationally supported by a door frame (12) is disclosed. The automatic door operator has a motor (34) for causing opening of the door leaf (14) with respect to the door frame (12), and a controller (31) being configured for performing different functions (60) of the automatic door operator. The controller (31) is configured to detect (42) a movement of the door leaf (14), not caused by the motor (34), identify (44) a predefined movement matching the detected movement, determine (46), among the different functions, a function (61-A, 61-B) being associated with the predefined movement, and perform (48) the determined function.

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 combination door operator assembly and door, wherein the door operator assembly includes an operator unit mounted to the door on the pulling side or the pushing side thereof, an arm linkage having a driving arm and a driven arm, a mounting bracket preferably mounted on the frame to which the door is hinged, a rechargeable power storage pack having at least one of a rechargeable battery and one or more capacitors, and a controller, for monitoring a speed and a position of the door, wherein when the door moves faster than a predetermined speed, the motor is used as a generator to charge the rechargeable power storage pack and the speed of the door is reduced.