# US 2023/0265708 A1 · Systems and methods for hands-free liftgate activation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0265708 A1 - Document ID: US20230265708A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/652,056 - Filed: 2022-02-22 - Published: 2023-08-24 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-22 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Pietro Buttolo; Kirsen J. Quan; Jeremy Alan Rawlings - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230265708A1 ## CPC - E05F 15/76: responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors (E05F15/77 takes precedence) - B60R 25/01: operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - B60R 25/245: {where the antenna reception area plays a role} - E05F 2015/763: {using acoustical sensors} - E05F 2015/765: {using optical sensors} - E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement - E05Y 2400/45: Control modes - E05Y 2400/858: by body parts, e.g. by feet - 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 - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 This disclosure describes systems and methods for hands-free liftgate activation. An example method may include receiving a liftgate activation signal. The example method may also include receiving first data from a sensor of a vehicle at a first time and second data from the sensor at a second time. The example method may also include determining that a first difference between a second value associated with the second data and a first value associated with the first data is greater than a first threshold amount. The example method may also include disabling, based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount, activation of a liftgate of the vehicle. The example method may also include receiving third data from the sensor. The example method may also include determining that a second difference between a third value associated with the third data and the first value is less than a second threshold amount. The example method may also include enabling, based on the determination that the second difference is less than the second threshold amount or a determination that a first timer has elapsed, activation of the liftgate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a liftgate; a sensor; a processor; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a liftgate activation signal; receive first data from the sensor at a first time and second data from the sensor at a second time; determine that a first difference between a second value associated with the second data and a first value associated with the first data is greater than a first threshold amount; disable, based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount, activation of the liftgate; receive third data from the sensor; determine that a second difference between a third value associated with the third data and the first value is less than a second threshold amount; and enable, based on the determination that the second difference is less than the second threshold amount or a determination that a first timer has elapsed, activation of the liftgate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to: initiate, based on receiving the liftgate activation signal, a second timer associated with a first time period; wherein the first timer is initiated based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount occurring during the first time period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein disabling activation of the liftgate is further based on a determination that the liftgate is open. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the liftgate activation signal comprises at least one of: a value measured by the sensor being above a threshold value and/or a signal from a key fob associated with a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to: receive a second liftgate activation signal; receive third data from the sensor at a third time, wherein the sensor is a radar transceiver, and wherein the third data indicates a range of a user or object from the vehicle; determine that the range is greater than a threshold amount; and initiate a timer based on the range being greater than the threshold amount. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data indicate proximity of a user or object to a bumper of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of: a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, radar, and/or lidar. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: receiving a liftgate activation signal; receiving first data from a sensor of a vehicle at a first time and second data from the sensor at a second time; determining that a first difference between a second value associated with the second data and a first value associated with the first data is greater than a first threshold amount; disabling, based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount, activation of a liftgate of the vehicle; receiving third data from the sensor; determining that a second difference between a third value associated with the third data and the first value is less than a second threshold amount; and enabling, based on the determination that the second difference is less than the second threshold amount or a determination that a first timer has elapsed, activation of the liftgate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: initiating, based on receiving the liftgate activation signal, a second timer associated with a first time period; wherein the first timer is initiated based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount occurring during the first time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein disabling activation of the liftgate is further based on a determination that the liftgate is open. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the liftgate activation signal comprises at least one of: a value measured by the sensor being above a threshold value and/or a signal from a key fob associated with a user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a second liftgate activation signal; receiving third data from the sensor at a third time, wherein the sensor is a radar transceiver, and wherein the third data indicates a range of a user or object from the vehicle; determining that the range is greater than a threshold amount; and initiating a timer based on the range being greater than the threshold amount. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first data and the second data indicate proximity of a user or object to a bumper of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is at least one of: a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, radar, and/or lidar. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations of: receiving a liftgate activation signal; receiving first data from a sensor of a vehicle at a first time and second data from the sensor at a second time; determining that a first difference between a second value associated with the second data and a first value associated with the first data is greater than a first threshold amount; disabling, based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount, activation of a liftgate of the vehicle; receiving third data from the sensor; determining that a second difference between a third value associated with the third data and the first value is less than a second threshold amount; and enabling, based on the determination that the second difference is less than the second threshold amount or a determination that a first timer has elapsed, activation of the liftgate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to perform operations of: initiating, based on receiving the liftgate activation signal, a second timer associated with a first time period; wherein the first timer is initiated based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount occurring during the first time period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein disabling activation of the liftgate is further based on a determination that the liftgate is open. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the liftgate activation signal comprises at least one of: a value measured by the sensor being above a threshold value and/or a signal from a key fob associated with a user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to perform operations of: receiving a second liftgate activation signal; receiving third data from the sensor at a third time, wherein the sensor is a radar transceiver, and wherein the third data indicates a range of a user or object from the vehicle; determining that the range is greater than a threshold amount; and initiating a timer based on the range being greater than the threshold amount. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first data and the second data indicate proximity of a user or object to a bumper of the vehicle.