Arms full vehicle closure activation apparatus and method

An automatic closure panel opening apparatus for use with a vehicle having a closure panel and an actuator configured for automatically opening and closing the closure panel, the apparatus comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive an RF signal from an RF emitter that is positioned external to the vehicle to thereby detect the presence of a potential occupant of the vehicle;
• an optical sensor configured to selectively generate and project a concentrated light beam from an underside of the vehicle onto a surface upon which the vehicle rests, and to detect a response of said occupant by detecting a gesture of said occupant at the underside of the vehicle with respect to said concentrated light beam;
• and
• a controller having a stored expected occupant response, including an expected interruption of the concentrated light beam in a predetermined direction, that is selectable by the occupant and recorded by the controller to provide a unique coded command, wherein said controller compares said detected response of said occupant to said stored expected response of said occupant, and activates said actuator to move the closure panel when said presence is detected and when said detected response of said occupant equals said stored expected response of said occupant.

A method for automatically opening a closure panel of a vehicle comprising:

• recording, using a controller, an expected gesture of a potential occupant of the vehicle as a unique coded command;
• detecting the presence of the potential occupant of the vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) receiver which receives RF signals from an RF emitter positioned external to the vehicle;
• alerting said occupant that said presence has been detected;
• generating a light beam, and projecting said light beam from an underside of the vehicle onto a surface on which the vehicle rests;
• detecting a gesture of said occupant with respect to said light beam, and without respect to motion of the RF emitter, as a detected response of said occupant, including detecting a direction of said gesture with respect to said light beam;
• comparing said detected response of said occupant to a stored expected response of said occupant;
• and
• automatically moving the vehicle closure panel in a predetermined direction via a controller of the vehicle when said detected response of said occupant equals said expected response of said occupant.