IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,174,665
Granted Patent B2
US 11,174,665 · App. 15/966,515 · Granted Nov 16, 2021

Camera based hands-free power lift gate

Inventors: Pompilian Tofilescu (Scarborough, CA); Sandor Zsombory (Richmond Hill, CA); Yarko Matkiwsky (Whitby, CA); Reginald C. Grills (Oshawa, CA); Adam Mack (Newmarket, CA)
Assignee: FLEX LTD.
E05F15/73B60Q1/0076E05F15/76G06K9/00335H04N5/23219H04N5/23241B60J5/101E05F2015/767
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,174,665
App. No.
15/966,515
Granted
Nov 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for a camera based hands free power liftgate is described herein. The system may power on following a key approach and/or the doors unlocking and then initialize. If there is an approach detected, the lights may be activated and the gesture detection feature of the system may then determine whether a gesture was detected. If a gesture was detected, the liftgate may then be activated. If no gesture was detected, the lights may be activated. For example, if there is a key approach, the system may power and initialize. The system may then determine whether an approach is detected. If an approach is detected, lights of the vehicle may activate and a determination whether a gesture is detected is made. If a gesture is detected, a liftgate of the vehicle may be activated.

Claims (34)

1. A method of activating a liftgate of a vehicle power liftgate system, the method comprising:

powering on the vehicle power liftgate system in response to a message from a vehicle bus;

initializing the vehicle power liftgate system;

determining whether an approach is detected within an activation zone for a specified period of time, wherein the specified period of time is 10 ms-10000 ms;

on a condition that an approach is detected within the activation zone for the specified period of time, activating lights of a vehicle to signal that the vehicle power liftgate system is ready for a gesture and determining whether a gesture is detected, wherein the approach is detected by a camera system;

on a condition that a gesture is detected, activating the liftgate when a gesture is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, on a condition that no gesture is detected, activating lights of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

powering on the vehicle power liftgate system when doors of the vehicle unlock.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle bus is activated when a key fob is in proximity to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lights of the vehicle are configured to flash when an approach is detected in the activation zone for the specified period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture is a kick gesture.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a liftgate warning chime indicates a successful gesture.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liftgate activating includes the liftgate opening.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle power liftgate system enters a standby and ready to close state.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liftgate activating includes the liftgate closing.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera system enters a sleep mode after the liftgate closes.

12. A method for use in a system, the method comprising:

powering on the system in response to a vehicle's doors unlocking;

initializing the system;

determining whether an approach is detected within an activation zone for a specified period of time, wherein the specified period of time is 10 ms-10000 ms;

on a condition that an approach is detected within the activation zone for the specified period of time, activating lights of the vehicle to signal that the system is ready for a gesture and determining whether a gesture is detected, wherein the approach is detected by a camera system; and

on a condition that a gesture is detected, activating a liftgate of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, on a condition that no gesture is detected, activating lights of the vehicle when no gesture is detected.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

powering on the system in response to a bus message signal when a key fob is in proximity of a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein a vehicle bus is activated when a key fob is in proximity to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lights of the vehicle configured to flash when an approach is detected in the activation zone for the specified period of time.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gesture is a kick gesture.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a liftgate warning chime indicates a successful gesture.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the liftgate activating includes the liftgate opening.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the system enters a standby and ready to close state.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the liftgate activating includes the liftgate closing.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the camera system enters a sleep mode after the liftgate closes.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2021
From: TOFILESCU, POMPILIAN; ZSOMBORY, SANDOR; MATKIWSKY, YARKO; GRILLS, REGINALD C.; MACK, ADAM
To: FLEX LTD.
Reel/Frame 057302/0149 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190330908A1 · Oct 31, 2019