Camera based hands-free power lift gate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11174665-B2
Application number	US-201815966515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2018
Priority date	Apr 30, 2018
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Tofilescu Pompilian
• Zsombory Sandor
• Matkiwsky Yarko
• Grills Reginald C
• Mack Adam
• Flex Ltd

Inventors

• Tofilescu Pompilian
• Zsombory Sandor
• Matkiwsky Yarko
• Grills Reginald C
• Mack Adam

Classifications

• H04N23/611

  where the recognised objects include parts of the human body · CPC title

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• E05F15/73 Primary

  responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects · CPC title

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• G06V40/20

  Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition (recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16) · CPC title