Vehicular access system with extendable and retractable door handle assembly

A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:

• a door handle assembly comprising (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base;
• wherein the handle is movable between a recessed position, where the handle is at least partially recessed at the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle, and a partially extended position, where the handle extends partially outward from the base to be graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle;
• wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position;
• wherein the vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user via a sensor at the door of the vehicle;
• wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position;
• and
• wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is not approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system does not unlock the door handle assembly and does not control operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position.

A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:

• a door handle assembly comprising (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base;
• wherein the handle is movable between a recessed position, where the handle is at least partially recessed at the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle, and a partially extended position, where the handle extends partially outward from the base to be graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle;
• wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position;
• wherein the vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user;
• wherein the vehicular access system detects the authorized user via at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device carried by the authorized user and (c) a sensor at the door of the vehicle;
• wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position;
• and
• wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle from the partially extended position towards the recessed position responsive to elapsing of a period of time after the handle is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position.