# US 2025/0146352 A1 · Device and Method for Closing a Flap of a Vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0146352 A1 - Document ID: US20250146352A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/684,322 - Filed: 2022-08-10 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19 - Assignees: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Applicants: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Inventors: Philippe Grass - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250146352A1 ## CPC - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - E05F 15/40: Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions - E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement - E05Y 2400/446: Vehicle state sensors, e.g. parked or inclination - E05Y 2400/54: Obstruction or resistance detection - E05Y 2900/531: Doors - 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 - 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 Embodiments of the teachings herein include a device for closing a vehicle flap. An example device may include: a device to open and close the flap; a first sensor to detect a target movement of a body part in the vicinity and to provide an activation signal indicating a desired opening or closing movement of the vehicle flap; a second sensor to detect movements of the vehicle and to generate a movement signal indicating movement of the vehicle; and a control unit to receive the activation signal and the movement signal, and to actuate the opening and closing device. The control unit actuates the opening and closing device for the desired closing of the vehicle flap when an activation signal of the first sensor has been received and the movement signal of the second sensor indicates a movement of the vehicle smaller than a predetermined movement threshold value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for closing a vehicle flap of a vehicle, the device comprising: an opening and closing device to open and close the vehicle flap; a first sensor to contactlessly detect a target movement of a body part of a person in an immediate vicinity of the vehicle and to provide an activation signal indicating a desired opening or closing movement of the vehicle flap; a second sensor to detect movements of the vehicle and to generate a movement signal indicating a detected movement of the vehicle; and a control unit to receive the activation signal and the movement signal and, in response, to actuate the opening and closing device; wherein the control unit actuates the opening and closing device for the desired closing of the vehicle flap when an activation signal of the first sensor has been received and the movement signal of the second sensor indicates a movement of the vehicle smaller than a predetermined movement threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are integrated in a sensor unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor devise and the second sensor are mounted separately from each other on the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises: a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, a position sensor for detecting relative position changes of the vehicle with respect to the ground, a distance sensor for detecting distance changes of the vehicle body with respect to the ground, and/or a force sensor for detecting deformations of the vehicle body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement signal indicates: shocks, vibrations and/or accelerations of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined movement threshold value indicates the vehicle has just begun to move. ### Claim 7 A vehicle comprising: a passenger cabin; a vehicle flap; an opening and closing device to open and close the vehicle flap; a first sensor to contactlessly detect a target movement of a body part of a person in an immediate vicinity of the vehicle and to provide an activation signal indicating a desired opening or closing movement of the vehicle flap; a second sensor to detect movements of the vehicle and to generate a movement signal indicating a detected movement of the vehicle; and a control unit to receive the activation signal of the first sensor device and the movement signal of the second sensor device, and to actuate the opening and closing device; wherein the control unit actuates the opening and closing device for the desired closing of the vehicle flap when an activation signal of the first sensor has been received and the movement signal of the second sensor indicates a movement of the vehicle smaller than a predetermined movement threshold value wherein the first sensor has a detection range in which the first sensor can contactlessly detect a target movement of the body part of the person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, and is mounted on the vehicle so the detection range of the first sensor extends at least partially to the outside of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 A method for closing a vehicle flap of a vehicle including an opening and closing device to open and close the vehicle flap, a first sensor to contactlessly detect a target movement of a body part of a person in an immediate vicinity of the vehicle, and a second sensor to detect movements of the vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a target movement of the body part of the person in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle by the first sensor, the target movement indicating a desired closing of the vehicle flap; detecting a movement of the vehicle by the second sensor; and actuating the opening and closing device for closing the vehicle flap if the detected movement of the vehicle is smaller than a predetermined movement threshold value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection of the movement of the vehicle comprises: detecting shaking of the vehicle, detecting vibrations of the vehicle, and/or detecting an acceleration of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined movement threshold value indicates the vehicle has just begun to move.