IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680362
Granted Patent B2
US 12680362 · App. 17/913,929 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Tailgate arrangement for a motor vehicle and method for operating a tailgate arrangement

Inventors: Matthias Findeis (Geltendorf, DE); Maximilian Hartl (Anzing, DE); Jan Schieschang (Scheyern, DE); Tobias Vill (Dettingen an der Iller, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
E05F15/46B60J5/10B60R16/02E05Y2400/54E05Y2600/41E05Y2600/46E05Y2900/546
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680362
App. No.
17/913,929
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tailgate arrangement is provided for a vehicle, with a tailgate having a rear window and with at least one body component to which the rear window is adjacent when the tailgate is closed and from which the rear window is spaced apart further when the tailgate is open than when the tailgate is closed. A capacitive sensor is provided for monitoring a gap between the rear window and the at least one body component for presence of an object in the gap. At least one electrode of the capacitive sensor is arranged on the rear window. A method is provided for operating the tailgate arrangement for a motor vehicle.

Claims (30)

1 . A tailgate arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a tailgate including a rear window;

at least one vehicle body component, which the rear window adjoins when the tailgate is closed, and from which the rear window is spaced apart farther when the tailgate is open than when the tailgate is closed, the at least one body component including a gutter configured to drain water from the rear window; and

a capacitive sensor for monitoring a gap between the rear window and the at least one body component for a presence of an object in the gap, wherein

the capacitive sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode,

the first electrode and the second electrode of the capacitive sensor are arranged at an outermost lateral edge of the rear window,

an inner side of the rear window faces toward a seal, which is held on the at least one body component, when the tailgate is closed,

at least a part of the first electrode and the second electrode, viewed in a transverse direction of the rear window, is arranged between the seal and the at least one body component, and

the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on the inner side of the rear window such that an electric field generated by the first electrode and the second electrode remains outside of the gutter.

2 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in an edge region of the rear window, which adjoins a narrow side of the rear window, and

the narrow side of the rear window faces toward the at least one body component when the tailgate is closed.

3 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

the inner side of the rear window is opposite to an outer side of the rear window facing toward surroundings of the motor vehicle when the tailgate is closed.

4 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

the first electrode and the second electrode extend along an entire part of the rear window in a vertical direction of the rear window, a narrow side of the rear window facing toward the at least one body component when the tailgate is closed.

5 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second capacitive sensor, wherein

respective electrodes of the first capacitive sensor of the tailgate arrangement are arranged in a first edge region of the rear window, and respective electrodes of the second capacitive sensor are arranged in a second edge region of the rear window,

wherein the second edge region is opposite to the first edge region viewed in a transverse direction of the rear window.

6 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a device for stopping the tailgate in an open position in dependence on a signal of the capacitive sensor, which signal indicates a presence of an object in the gap.

7 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode comprise conductor tracks disposed on the inner side of the rear window.

8 . The tailgate arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the conductor tracks include a section extending in a transverse direction of the rear window.

9 . A method for operating a tailgate arrangement for a motor vehicle, which has a tailgate having a rear window and at least one vehicle body component, which the rear window adjoins when the tailgate is closed, and from which the rear window is spaced apart farther when the tailgate is open than when the tailgate is closed, the at least one body component including a gutter configured to drain water from the rear window, the method comprising:

monitoring a gap between the rear window and the at least one body component for a presence of an object in the gap via a capacitive sensor that includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein

the first electrode and the second electrode of the capacitive sensor are arranged at an outermost lateral edge of the rear window and are used to monitor the gap for the presence of the object,

an inner side of the rear window faces toward a seal, which is held on the at least one body component, when the tailgate is closed,

at least a part of the first electrode and the second electrode, viewed in a transverse direction of the rear window, is arranged between the seal and the at least one body component, and

the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on the inner side of the rear window such that an electric field generated by the first electrode and the second electrode remains outside of the gutter.