The pinch detector includes a first portion that, in a first situation in which the member is being closed in a first closing movement but is stopped in an intermediate position not completely closed, obtains a reference value of a measured physical quantity of the motor, when braking the motor is ordered to stop the member, said reference value representing the physical quantity of the motor just before motor braking; a second portion that, in a second situation following the first situation and in which the member is moved in a second closing movement from said intermediate position not completely closed, compares current values of the measured physical quantity of the motor to a threshold value depending on said reference value in order to detect a pinch at closing member based on a comparison result.

A method for detecting potential pinches caused by at least one powered movable panel between a closed position and an open position, using a round including measuring a physical quantity, representative of a panel movement, when the panel is moved towards the closed position, determining if there is a lack of steadiness in said physical quantity relative to a previous round and, if not, starting a new round, determining if said lack of steadiness was already present during the previous round and, if not, storing at least one current parameter specific to the panel movement as a reference value, and starting a new round, and detecting a potential pinch if a second difference between the current parameter and the reference value is greater than or equal to a pinching threshold value, otherwise starting a new round.

A method for detecting potential pinches caused by at least one powered movable panel between a closed position and an open position, by: measuring a physical quantity at a plurality of panel positions when the panel is moved towards the open position so as to get a first profile, measuring said physical quantity in a reference position, when the panel is moved towards the closed position, and determining an offset value, determining a second profile by shifting the first profile of a shifting value, measuring said physical quantity in a repetitive manner when the panel is moved towards the closed position so as to get a third profile, and detecting a potential pinch if the third profile crosses the second profile.

A safety device (200) is provided for a movable barrier system ((100). The safety device comprises a position sensor (210) mountable, in use, to or adjacent a barrier (110). A target (220) is mountable to the other of the barrier, such that movement of the barrier causes relative movement between the position sensor and the target. A controller (240) can communicate with the position sensor. The position sensor can detect movement of the target relative to the position sensor and output a signal to the controller. The controller can receive the output signal from the position sensor, determine one or more signal characteristics from the output signal, and compare the one or more determined signal characteristics with one or more predetermined signal characteristics to determine if the relative movement between the target and the position sensor is within a predefined range. A movement detection method is also provided.

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving sensor data associated with a mobile device associated with a vehicle, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of an angular velocity vector, a linear acceleration vector, and a rotational acceleration vector recorded over a period of time, determining an event signature based on the sensor data, and detecting a door closing event associated with the vehicle based at least in part on the event signature. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.

A system for avoiding pinching in vehicle doors includes capacitive proximity sensors for being mounted at each door along closing surfaces. The system also includes an accelerometer for being arranged in each door, a stopper bar, and a release mechanism for the stopper bar. The capacitive proximity sensors, the accelerometer, and the release mechanism are connected to a control unit arranged such that the stopper bar is moved to a blocking position when the capacitive proximity sensor for the same door senses an object and the door has stopped accelerating.

A truck is provided that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section. The bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending sidewalls, respectively. The truck also includes a truck bed cover that sits over the bed section on at least the first and second upward-extending sidewalls, and includes a door portion to create selective accessibility to the bed section of the pickup truck. The door portion is movable with respect to the first and second upward-extending sidewalls between open and closed positons via an automatic bed cover drive assembly that moves the door portion between open and closed positons according to a plurality of velocities within a predetermined variance.

The pinch detector includes a first portion that, in a first situation in which the member is being closed in a first closing movement but is stopped in an intermediate position not completely closed, obtains a reference value of a measured physical quantity of the motor, when braking the motor is ordered to stop the member, said reference value representing the physical quantity of the motor just before motor braking; a second portion that, in a second situation following the first situation and in which the member is moved in a second closing movement from said intermediate position not completely closed, compares current values of the measured physical quantity of the motor to a threshold value depending on said reference value in order to detect a pinch at closing member based on a comparison result.

A method for detecting potential pinches caused by at least one powered movable panel between a closed position and an open position, using a round including measuring a physical quantity, representative of a panel movement, when the panel is moved towards the closed position, determining if there is a lack of steadiness in said physical quantity relative to a previous round and, if not, starting a new round, determining if said lack of steadiness was already present during the previous round and, if not, storing at least one current parameter specific to the panel movement as a reference value, and starting a new round, and detecting a potential pinch if a second difference between the current parameter and the reference value is greater than or equal to a pinching threshold value, otherwise starting a new round.

A safety device (200) is provided for a movable barrier system ((100). The safety device comprises a position sensor (210) mountable, in use, to or adjacent a barrier (110). A target (220) is mountable to the other of the barrier, such that movement of the barrier causes relative movement between the position sensor and the target. A controller (240) can communicate with the position sensor. The position sensor can detect movement of the target relative to the position sensor and output a signal to the controller. The controller can receive the output signal from the position sensor, determine one or more signal characteristics from the output signal, and compare the one or more determined signal characteristics with one or more predetermined signal characteristics to determine if the relative movement between the target and the position sensor is within a predefined range. A movement detection method is also provided.