# US 2019/0376333 A1 · Power door closing algorithm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376333 A1 - Document ID: US20190376333A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/149,795 - Filed: 2018-10-02 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-12 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Besi Rrumbullaku; Jeffrey L. Konchan; Eric Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376333A1 ## CPC - E05F 15/43: responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - B60J 5/00: Doors (B60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00 {; side board or tailgate structures for open load compartments B62D33/023}) - B60J 5/047: {characterised by the opening or closing movement} - E05F 15/40: Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions - E05F 15/44: responsive to changes in electrical conductivity - E05F 15/46: responsive to changes in electrical capacitance - E05F 15/659: Control circuits therefor - E05F 2015/432: {with acoustical sensors} - E05F 2015/433: {using reflection from the obstruction} - E05F 2015/434: {with cameras or optical sensors} - E05Y 2400/45: Control modes - E05Y 2400/54: Obstruction or resistance detection - E05Y 2400/81: Feedback to user, e.g. tactile - E05Y 2400/852: Sensors - E05Y 2900/531: Doors - E05Y 2900/536: Hoods - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - E05Y 2900/548: Trunk lids - 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 - 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) - 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 system for operating an automatically movable panel that forms a portion of an exterior of a vehicle, and provides access to an interior of the vehicle; a motivator connected to the panel and moving the panel through a range of motion; a proximity sensor; and a control module disposed within the motor vehicle, the control module having a processor configured to execute control logic, the motivator and the proximity sensor in electronic communication with the control module. The control logic including: determining a position of the panel; receiving a plurality of passive inputs; selectively utilizing the motivator to move the panel through the range of motion based on the passive inputs; utilizing the proximity sensor to selectively determine when to initiate movement of the movable panel through the range of motion with the motivator; and informing a motor vehicle occupant of movement of the panel via a human-machine interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle comprising: a movable panel forming a portion of an exterior of the motor vehicle, and providing access to and from an interior compartment of the motor vehicle; a motivator physically connected to the movable panel and operable to move the movable panel through a first range of motion; a proximity sensor; a control module disposed within the motor vehicle, the control module having a processor configured to execute control logic stored within a non transitory computer readable memory and a plurality of input/output ports, the motivator and the proximity sensor in electronic communication with the input/output ports of the control module, the control logic comprising: a first control logic determining a position of the movable panel; a second control logic receiving a plurality of passive inputs; a third control logic selectively utilizing the motivator to move the movable panel through the first range of motion based on the plurality of passive inputs; a fourth control logic utilizing the proximity sensor to selectively determine when to initiate movement of the movable panel through the first range of motion with the motivator; and a fifth control logic informing a motor vehicle occupant of movement of the movable panel via a human-machine interface (HMI). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor further comprises a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a LiDAR sensor, a resistive sensor, and a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 2 wherein the first control logic determines the position of the movable panel based on a movable panel latch position, the second control logic receives a position of a transmission ratio selector position, a position of a brake pedal, a vehicle speed, and a status of a seat belt buckle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 3 wherein the control module further comprises a body control module (BCM) in communication with a side access module (SAM), the SAM. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 4 wherein the third control logic further comprises commanding the SAM to begin a powered movement event for the movable panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 5 wherein the third control logic further comprises commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from an open position to a closed position when the movable panel is in an open position, the transmission ratio selector is moved out of a park position, the brake pedal is in a released position, the vehicle speed is greater than zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle buckles a seat belt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 5 wherein the third control logic further comprises commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from a closed position to an open position when the movable panel is in a closed position, the transmission ratio selector is moved into a park position, the brake pedal is in a depressed position, the vehicle speed is approximately zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle unbuckles the seat belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the fourth control logic further comprises utilizing the proximity sensor to determine whether an obstacle is present within the first range of motion, and selectively preventing a powered movement event for the movable panel if an obstacle is present. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the fifth control logic further comprises presenting on the HMI a notification for an occupant of the motor vehicle, the notification informing the motor vehicle occupant of an in-process powered movement event for the movable panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the notification further comprises a cancellation option allowing the occupant of the motor vehicle to selectively cancel the in-process powered movement event. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system for operating an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 10 wherein when the occupant of the motor vehicle selectively cancels the in-process powered movement event the control module executes a sixth control logic continuously notifying the occupant of the motor vehicle of a movable panel position when the movable panel is in an open position. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle comprising: determining a position of a movable panel of the motor vehicle, the movable panel forming a portion of an exterior of the motor vehicle, and providing access to and from an interior compartment of the motor vehicle; receiving by a control module disposed within the motor vehicle a plurality of passive inputs, the control module having a processor configured to execute control logic stored within a non transitory computer readable memory and a plurality of input/output ports, the plurality of input/output ports in electronic communication with a proximity sensor and a motivator, the motivator physically connected to the movable panel and operable to move the movable panel through a first range of motion; selectively utilizing the motivator to move the movable panel through the first range of motion based on the plurality of passive inputs; selectively determining when to initiate movement of the movable panel through the first range of motion with the motivator based on outputs from the proximity sensor; and informing a motor vehicle occupant of movement of the movable panel via a human-machine interface (HMI). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising: determining the position of the movable panel based on a movable panel latch position; and receiving within the control module a position of a transmission ratio selector, a position of a brake pedal, a vehicle speed, and a status of a seat belt buckle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 12 wherein the proximity sensor further comprises a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a LiDAR sensor, a resistive sensor, and a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 12 wherein the control module further comprises a body control module (BCM) in communication with a side access module (SAM), the SAM managing the position of the movable panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising: commanding the SAM to begin a powered movement event for the movable panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from an open position to a closed position when the movable panel is in an open position, the transmission ratio selector is moved out of a park position, the brake pedal is in a released position, the vehicle speed is greater than zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle buckles the seat belt buckle, and commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from a closed position to an open position when the movable panel is in a closed position, the transmission ratio selector is moved into a park position, the brake pedal is in a depressed position, the vehicle speed is approximately zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle unbuckles the seat belt buckle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 10 further comprising: determining whether an obstacle is present within the first range of motion utilizing the proximity sensor, and selectively preventing a powered movement event for the movable panel if an obstacle is present. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising: presenting on the HMI a notification for the motor vehicle occupant, the notification informing the motor vehicle occupant of an in-process powered movement event for the movable panel; presenting a cancellation option allowing the occupant of the motor vehicle to selectively cancel the in-process powered movement event; and continuously notifying the occupant of the motor vehicle of the movable panel position when the movable panel is in an open position. ### Claim 20 A method for controlling operation of an automatically movable panel of a motor vehicle comprising: determining a position of a movable panel of the motor vehicle based on a movable panel latch position, the movable panel forming a portion of an exterior of the motor vehicle, and providing access to and from an interior compartment of the motor vehicle; receiving by a body control module (BCM) disposed within the motor vehicle a plurality of passive inputs including a position of a transmission ratio selector, a position of a brake pedal, a vehicle speed, and a status of a seat belt buckle, the BCM having a processor configured to execute control logic stored within a non transitory computer readable memory and a plurality of input/output ports, the plurality of input/output ports in electronic communication with a proximity sensor and a motivator, the proximity sensor comprising a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a LiDAR sensor, a resistive sensor, or a capacitive sensor, and the motivator physically connected to the movable panel and operable to move the movable panel through a first range of motion; selectively commanding a side access module (SAM) to utilize the motivator to move the movable panel through the first range of motion based on the plurality of passive inputs; selectively determining when to begin a powered movement event for the movable panel through the first range of motion with the motivator based on outputs from the proximity sensor; determining whether an obstacle is present within the first range of motion utilizing the proximity sensor, and selectively preventing a powered movement event for the movable panel if an obstacle is present; commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from an open position to a closed position when the movable panel is in an open position, the transmission ratio selector is moved out of a park position, the brake pedal is in a released position, the vehicle speed is greater than zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle buckles a seat belt buckle, and commanding the SAM to begin powered movement of the movable panel from a closed position to an open position when the movable panel is in a closed position, the transmission ratio selector is moved into a park position, the brake pedal is in a depressed position, the vehicle speed is approximately zero, and an occupant of the motor vehicle unbuckles a seat belt buckle; presenting on a human machine interface (HMI) a notification for the motor vehicle occupant, the notification informing the motor vehicle occupant of an in-process powered movement event for the movable panel; presenting a cancellation option allowing the occupant of the motor vehicle to selectively cancel the in-process powered movement event; and continuously notifying the occupant of the motor vehicle of the movable panel position when the movable panel is in an open position.