# US 2014/0195073 A1 · Method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195073 A1 - Document ID: US20140195073A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/113,750 - Filed: 2012-02-24 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-27 - Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt - Applicants: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt - Inventors: Bernd Herthan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195073A1 ## CPC - B60J 5/101: {for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans} - B60R 25/2045: {by hand gestures} - B60R 25/2054: {by foot gestures} - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - E05Y 2400/852: Sensors - E05Y 2400/858: by body parts, e.g. by feet - E05Y 2800/40: Physical or chemical protection - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 - 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 The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element that is particularly in the form of a proximity sensor, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the control arrangement being used to monitor sensor events in the sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement. It is proposed that the operator control event monitoring is based on at least one operator control event model stored in the control arrangement and that the operator control event model is produced and/or parameterized during use compliant with normal operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the control arrangement being used to monitor sensor events in the sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, wherein the operator control event monitoring is based on at least one operator control event model stored in the control arrangement and in that the operator control event model is produced and/or parameterized during use compliant with normal operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two potential operators of the motor vehicle are envisaged and in that the control arrangement ascertains which of the potential operators is active for the operation of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two potential operators of the motor vehicle each have an individual associated radio key and in that the control arrangement ascertains from the presence and/or the operation of the radio key which of the potential operators is active for the operation of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two operator control event models are stored in the control arrangement that are associated with different operators and in that the operator control event monitoring is based on the operator control event model of the respective operator who is active for the operation of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement can be put into a learning mode in which the operator performs an operator control event, and in that the control arrangement is used to produce or parameterize and subsequently store an operator control event model from the resulting sensor measured values. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the learning mode is performed on an operator-specific basis such that the operator control event model is stored for a particular operator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if a sensor event has been recognized as an operator control event in the course of the operator control event monitoring, the control arrangement is used to ascertain the operator who is active for the operation of the motor vehicle and the operator control event model on which the operator control event is based is associated with the operator who is active for the operation of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if a sensor event has not been recognized as an operator control event in the course of the operator control event monitoring and subsequently, actuation of the drive arrangement has been initiated manually, the control arrangement is used to produce or parameterize an operator control event model from the sensor event such that the sensor event is recognized as an operator control event during further operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator control event is defined as a predetermined operator movement that is sensed over the time profile of the sensor measured values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one operator control event is defined as a foot movement by the operator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one operator control event is defined as a back and forth movement of the foot of the operator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator control event model contains a series of features that are associated with the profile of the sensor measured values from at least one sensor element that is typical of the operator control event and that, in the course of the operator control event monitoring, are first of all extracted from the sensor measured values and then classified in the manner of pattern recognition. ### Claim 13 A closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the control arrangement monitoring sensor events in the sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, wherein the operator control event monitoring is based on at least one operator control event model stored in the control arrangement and in that the operator control event model can be produced and/or parameterized during use compliant with normal operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the particular operator comprises the operator who is active for the operation of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuation of the drive arrangement occurs within a predetermined period. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuation of the drive arrangement has been initiated manually using a radio key. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sensor arrangement has at least two sensor elements that are in the form of proximity sensors that are arranged in or on a rear trim portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rear trim portion comprises the rear bumper of a motor vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein during the operator control event both sensor elements produce a pulse-like time profile for the sensor measured values—sensor pulse. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the features are defined as a width and/or as a height and/or as an edge gradient and/or as a curvature of portions of the sensor pulses and/or as a time offset between two sensor pulses from a sensor element.