# US 2023/0053760 A1 · Running board activated vehicle powered closure member systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0053760 A1 - Document ID: US20230053760A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/406,840 - Filed: 2021-08-19 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER; Kristopher Karl BROWN; Heather WOYCIK; Paul Kenneth DELLOCK; Hussein BERRY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053760A1 ## CPC - B60R 3/02: Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} - E05F 15/75: responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object - B60R 3/002: {Running boards (for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02)} - E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement - E05Y 2400/45: Control modes - E05Y 2900/531: Doors - 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 Motor vehicles may be equipped with running board activated powered closure member systems. A powered opening or closing sequence of a closure member may be initiated by activating a running board assembly of the powered closure member system in response to a user input. The user input can be provided by a limb of the user, for example. In some embodiments, the running board assembly may include integrated sensors for receiving the user input. In other embodiments, the running board assembly may be configured to function as a switch for receiving the user input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powered closure member system for a vehicle, comprising: a closure member; and a running board assembly configured to initiate a powered opening or closing sequence of the closure member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 1, wherein the running board assembly includes a first sensor configured to receive a user input for initiating the powered opening or closing sequence of the closure member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 2, wherein the running board assembly includes a second sensor configured to receive a second user input for initiating a second powered opening or closing sequence of a second closure member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first sensor is integrated within a running board of the running board assembly and is a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first sensor is mounted to a running board of the running board assembly and is a membrane switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 1, comprising an actuator system configured to move the closure member from a closed position to an open position or from the open position to the closed position in response to initiating the powered opening or closing sequence. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 6, comprising a control module programmed to command the actuator system to move the closure member to the open position in response to receiving notification of a user input for initiating the powered opening sequence of the closure member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 7, wherein the control module is programmed to distinguish between the user input for initiating the powered opening sequence and a second user input that is not designed to initiate the powered opening sequence. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 8, wherein the control module is programmed to determine that the second user input has been received based on an amount of time a sensor of the running board assembly has been actuated or based on a measured amount of weight being applied to the running board assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 1, wherein a running board of the running board assembly is configured to function as a switch for initiating the powered opening or closing sequence of the closure member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 10, wherein the running board is configured to receive a user input for moving the running board from a partially deployed position to a fully deployed position, and further wherein a motor of the running board is configured to supply a current necessary for raising the running board back to the partially deployed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 11, comprising a control module configured to determine that the switch has been activated when the running board returns to the partially deployed position in response to the current. ### Claim 13 A powered closure member system for a vehicle, comprising: a closure member; an actuator system configured to move the closure member between a closed position and an open position; a running board assembly configured to receive a user input for indicating that a powered opening or closing sequence of the closure member has been initiated; and a control module programmed to command the actuator system to move the closure member to the open position or the closed position in response to the user input. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 13, wherein the closure member is a side door of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 13, wherein the running board assembly includes a capacitive sensor configured to receive the user input for initiating the powered opening or closing sequence. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 15, wherein a running board of the running board assembly comprises a thermoplastic olefin, and the capacitive sensor comprises a conductive polymer that is encapsulated within the thermoplastic olefin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 13, wherein the user input includes placement of a limb of the user on a running board deck of the running board assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 13, wherein the control module is programmed to distinguish between the user input for initiating the powered opening or closing sequence and a second user input that is not intended to initiate the powered opening or closing sequence. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 13, wherein a running board of the running board assembly is configured to function as a switch for initiating the powered opening or closing sequence of the closure member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The powered closure member system as recited in claim 19, wherein the control module is programmed to determine that the switch has been activated subsequent to the user input when the running board moves from a fully deployed position to a partially deployed position in response to a current supplied by a motor of the running board assembly.