A method for controlling an automatic liftgate in a vehicle includes detecting a garage door frame of a garage using a front camera or a rear camera mounted on the vehicle, determining a garage height of the garage door frame, determining whether the vehicle has entered the garage, and setting a custom height to which the automatic liftgate can open to the garage height of the garage door frame when the vehicle has entered the garage.

Driver assistance is provided for parking a vehicle inside a garage with a powered garage door actuating system. During parking of the vehicle in the garage, remote scanning is performed around the vehicle to detect a path of a garage door. While in the parking mode, the garage door path is compared to a vehicle profile. Driver guidance is provided in order to locate the vehicle where the profile and path are non-interfering. In a parked mode, the door is monitored for actuations, and the garage door actuator is automatically commanded to reverse if the actuator is closing the door toward an interfering position with the profile. The vehicle profile may encompass an expansion zone recurrently occupied by a powered vehicle door or tailgate. If the interfering position coincides only with the expansion zone then the command to reverse the actuator is made only if the tailgate is not closed.

Driver assistance is provided for parking a vehicle inside a garage with a powered garage door actuating system. During parking of the vehicle in the garage, remote scanning is performed around the vehicle to detect a path of a garage door. While in the parking mode, the garage door path is compared to a vehicle profile. Driver guidance is provided in order to locate the vehicle where the profile and path are non-interfering. In a parked mode, the door is monitored for actuations, and the garage door actuator is automatically commanded to reverse if the actuator is closing the door toward an interfering position with the profile. The vehicle profile may encompass an expansion zone recurrently occupied by a powered vehicle door or tailgate. If the interfering position coincides only with the expansion zone then the command to reverse the actuator is made only if the tailgate is not closed.

A recreational vehicle (RV) includes a ramp door configurable as a ramp or as a patio deck. A stair is attachable to a side of the door. A railing extends about the perimeter of the door when in the deck configuration. First and second support cables may be connected between the door and the RV to support the door when in the deck configuration.

A door structure that can provide a bearing force against a load inputted from a hinge in a desirable way. The door structure includes: a tailgate; and a hinge that pivotally supports the tailgate with respect to a vehicle body. The tailgate has: an inner panel having an attachment surface portion substantially parallel to a plane whose normal is in the direction in which a rotating shaft of the hinge extends; and a hinge attachment portion, which is formed on the attachment surface portion and is for attaching the hinge thereto. The tailgate is provided with a stiffener attached together with the hinge to the tailgate. The stiffener has a first surface portion formed along the attachment surface portion.

A system for a vehicle includes a rear gate assembly of the vehicle that includes a closure panel operable to pivot vehicle-downward from a closed position to an open position. The system also includes a support feature coupled to the closure panel and operable to move relative to the closure panel between a retracted position and a deployed position. In the open position of the closure panel, the position of the support feature in the deployed position is further vehicle-downward than the position of the support feature in the retracted position. The system also includes a sensing system of the vehicle that detects a living being proximate to the rear gate assembly. The system further includes a controller that authenticates an identity and determines a position of the living being based on data received from the sensing system and prompts movement of the support feature from the retracted position to the deployed position based on the authenticated identity and determined position of the living being.

A lift gate door having hinges installed for predetermined positioning into a vehicle. And a method of attaching a lift gate door to a vehicle while maintain proper tolerances. A first fixture holds a set of hinges in predetermined locations which correspond to assembly locations on a vehicle body. Hinges are temporarily attached to the fixture corresponding to the proper vehicle location. A second fixture holds the lift gate in a position which is a final installation position for attaching the lift gate to a vehicle. Self-adjusting moveable fastening nuts are provided in a set of holes in a hinge plate fastening area of the lift gate. The first fixture is moved into aligned orientation with the second feature and the hinges are attached to the lift gate with the fastener. The hinge is aligned in the proper installation orientation for maintaining the lift gate to vehicle gap in proper tolerances when the lift gate door with hinges is installed on the final vehicle.

A back door handle device includes a switch to output a signal for unlocking or locking the back door, a switch knob to supplement actuating force of the switch, a housing for receiving the switch and the switch knob, and an outer cover that covers the housing. The switch knob includes an operating portion that is moved from an initial position to a switch position, a spring section that, when the operating portion is moved from the initial position toward the switch position, is elastically deformed to produce elastic force in such a direction as to return the operating portion to the initial position, and a temporary fixing portion that prevents such movement of the switch knob that the operating portion is moved from the initial position to the opposite side to the switch position. The signal is output from the switch when the operating portion reaches the switch position.

An actuator includes a yoke having an inner circumferential surface; an armature including a rotary shaft provided inside the yoke; a drive shaft configured to be driven to rotate when receiving a rotating force from the rotary shaft; a cylindrical first housing; a second housing relatively movable with respect to the first housing; a speed reduction gear part is disposed between the rotary shaft and the drive shaft; and a driven member is connected to the drive shaft for moving in an axial direction of the drive shaft in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The yoke is disposed within the first housing and a damper member is disposed between the first housing and the speed reduction gear part.

An electromechanical biasing member for moving a closure panel between an open and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body is provided. The electromechanical biasing member includes a housing having an inner cavity for housing an electric motor having a motor shaft and a rotary output member rotatable relative to the housing. An extension member within the housing and engageable with the rotary output member moves the closure panel between the open and closed positions in response to driving the electric motor. Also provided is a control unit positioned within the inner cavity and configured to drive the electric motor, the control unit including at least one controller board juxtaposed to the electric motor, and a plurality of control components mounted to the at least one controller board and configured to supply a drive signal to the electric motor and receive signals representative of operation of the electric motor.