# US 10,246,009 B2 · User notification of powered system activation during non-contact human activation

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- Number: US 10,246,009 B2
- Document ID: US10246009B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/696,657
- Filed: 2017-09-06
- Published: 2018-03-08
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-08
- Assignees: Magna Colsures Inc.
- Applicants: Magna Closures Inc.
- Inventors: Gerard McMahon; Liviu Bolbocianu; Samuel Ricardo Baruco; Pratibha Jagdish Pose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246009B2

## CPC

- E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
- B60Q 1/32: for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights}
- B60Q 1/324: {for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened}
- B60Q 1/503: {using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text}
- E05F 15/76: responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors (E05F15/77 takes precedence)
- B60Q 2400/50: Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
- B60Q 2900/30: Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A user-activated, non-contact power closure member system and method of operating a closure member of a vehicle are provided. The system includes at least one sensor for sensing an object or motion. An indicator is located on the vehicle to inform the user of the appropriate location to make an activation gesture, which initiates opening of the closure member. The indicator is located adjacent the at least one sensor. The indicator also informs the user if the system is activated, in motion, and/or waiting for the activation gesture. An electronic control unit is connected to the at least one sensor and the indicator. When the object or motion is detected by the at least one sensor, the control unit notifies the user with the indicator, determines if the object or motion is the correct activation gesture, and initiates movement of the closure member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A user-activated, non-contact power closure member system for operating a closure member of a vehicle, comprising:
at least one sensor for sensing at least one of an object and motion adjacent the closure member and outputting data corresponding to at least one of an object and motion;
at least one indicator disposed on the vehicle in a location indicating an appropriate location to make a correct activation gesture;
an electronic control unit coupled to said at least one sensor and said at least one indicator and configured to:
receive and process data corresponding to the at least one of the object and motion from said at least one sensor,
determine whether the data associated with the at least one of the object and motion is the correct activation gesture required to move the closure member,
initiate movement of the closure member in response to the at least one of the object and motion being the correct activation gesture, and
notify the user using said at least one indicator of the appropriate location to make the correct activation gesture and inform the user that that they are making the activation gesture in the correct location.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to receive data corresponding to the at least one of the object and motion in response to detection of a fob associated with the vehicle being located within a predetermined distance of the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indicator is disposed directly adjacent said at least one sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure member is a rear liftgate and said indicator is disposed on a rear bumper of the vehicle below the rear liftgate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure member is a sliding door and said indicator is disposed on the vehicle below sliding door.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indicator is at least one of a projected image and a light.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said indicator has a different color in an on state and in an off state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes a pair of sensors and one of said pair of sensors is a transmit sensor and the other is a receive sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit is further configured to notify the user that said system is activated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit is further configured to notify the user that said system detects a key fob.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit includes at least one light emitting diode and is disposed within a housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system as set forth in claim 11, further including an image cover disposed over said housing including a cutout of a graphic lit by said at least one light emitting diode.

### Claim 13

A method of operating a closure member of a vehicle using a non-contact power closure member system comprising the steps of:
notifying a user of an appropriate location to make a correct activation gesture using at least one indicator disposed on the vehicle in a location indicating the appropriate location;
detecting at least one of an object and a motion located adjacent the closure member using at least one sensor;
determining whether data associated with at least one of the object and the motion is the correct activation gesture which is required to initiate opening of the closure member; and
initiating movement of the closure member in response to determining that the data associated with the at least one of the object and the motion is the correct activation gesture.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of registering a false signal in response to determining that the data associated with the at least one of the object and the motion is not the correct activation gesture.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of notifying the user in response to the system beginning powered system activation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of notifying the user that the system is activated.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of notifying the user that the system detects a key fob.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of notifying the user that the closure member is in motion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of notifying the user in response to the system waiting for the activation gesture.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of detecting at least one of the object and the motion located adjacent the closure member using at least one sensor includes detecting at least one of the object and the motion located adjacent the closure member using at least one sensor in response to a key fob associated with the vehicle being within a predetermined distance of the vehicle.