The control device relates to a vehicle having an automatically closing hatch, including at least one operating switch for outputting a closing command to automatically close the hatch by way of at least one actuator, a monitoring device for recognizing a blocking or jamming event during the closing procedure and a programmable electronic control unit which is connected with both the operating switch and the monitoring device, and which detects the vehicle speed as an input signal. The monitoring device is designed such that a risk of jamming can be recognized by monitoring the current curve and/or the rotational speed curve of the actuator. The control unit is programmed so as to only stop the closing procedure on recognition of a risk of jamming if the vehicle speed is less than a specified threshold value. Additionally or alternatively, the control unit is programmed so as to initially only react to the occurrence of comparatively large speed or current fluctuations by terminating the automatic closing procedure, for a certain time window and/or for a given distance covered by the tailgate, if the vehicle speed is above a specified threshold.

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.

An apparatus is provided an includes a measuring device that measures a physical quantity representative of a movement of a panel between a closed position and an open position. A processing device: measures the physical quantity when the panel is moved towards the open position; measures the physical quantity in a reference position when the panel is moved towards the closed position; determines, for the reference position, an offset value between the physical quantity measured when the panel is moved towards the closed position and another value of the physical quantity measured when the panel was moved towards the open position; determines a second profile by shifting the first profile based on the offset value; repeatedly measures the physical quantity when the panel is moved towards the closed position to obtain a third profile; and detects a potential pinch if the third profile crosses the second profile.

A boundary position, which determines the range of the positions of the window within which trap prevention control is disabled, is set according to the sum of a first amount of rotation and a second amount of rotation. The first amount of rotation approximates a change, in a reference amount of rotation, that corresponds to a change in a detected voltage from a reference voltage. The second amount of rotation is set to a value that is smaller than the difference between a specific amount of rotation at a stop and the reference amount of rotation and is larger than the amount of variations in the reference amount of rotation.

A system and method are provided for detecting blockages during an automatic adjustment of a movable vehicle part in a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor drive and an electronic control unit. The drive current as well as the movement speed of the drive are detected by the electronic control unit. When the movement speed increases above the normal level, the control unit suppresses the detection of a blockage event if a drive current increase required for the movement speed increase cannot be ascertained.

Controlling movable barrier movement with respect to selectively overriding a safety system includes determining whether a safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier, receiving a state change request for the movable barrier while the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state, determining whether a safety override condition exists, and overriding the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state and the safety override condition exists.

A method for detecting objects in the surroundings of a vehicle for a door opening system or a collision warning system for vehicle doors using at least one surroundings sensor is disclosed. The vehicle includes at least one movable component. The method includes detecting objects in the surroundings of the vehicle using the at least one surroundings sensor, detecting a current position of the at least one movable component, and identifying false objects from the detected objects based on their positions between the at least one movable component in its current position and in its normal position.

Controlling movable barrier movement with respect to selectively overriding a safety system includes determining whether a safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier, receiving a state change request for the movable barrier while the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state, determining whether a safety override condition exists, and overriding the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state and the safety override condition exists.

Disclosed is a detection and mitigation system to detect potential interference conditions of a potential interference condition between a tailgate or rear gate and a component attached to the hitch receiver of the vehicle.