Method and system for operating a closure panel of a vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising: using a processor, determining whether a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor located on a periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated to indicate an object moving across the first proximity sensor; and, controlling the closure panel to open or close when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor have been sequentially activated.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method for operating a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising:
 using a processor, determining whether a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor located on a periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated to indicate an object moving across the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor in a single activation direction; and   controlling the closure panel to open or close when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor have been sequentially activated.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising:
 locating the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor in a horizontally spaced-apart orientation along the periphery of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are elongate capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are vertically oriented. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68  wherein each of the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor has a respective horizontal portion extending along or toward an underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are mounted or formed on a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the printed circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein the flexible printed circuit board conforms to a contour of the periphery. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the printed circuit board is enclosed in a case. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the printed circuit board has mounted thereon a controller for monitoring the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a central controller for the vehicle. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the object is moved in a volume adjacent, over, or proximate the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are sequentially activated by a horizontal movement of the object. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the object is one or more of a user's hand, foot, arm, leg, limb, and body or part thereof. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 determining an order of activation of the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor;   controlling the closure panel to close when the first proximity sensor is activated before the second proximity sensor; and   controlling the closure panel to open when the second proximity sensor is activated before the first proximity sensor.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising:
 controlling the closure panel to stop moving when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are activated simultaneously while the closure panel is moving.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the determining of the order of activation of the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor further comprises comparing respective occurrences of a capacitive signal level peak magnitude for the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 authenticating a fob with an authentication system; and   determining whether the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor located on the periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated after the fob has been authenticated.   
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein authentication of the fob with the authentication system further comprises monitoring an antenna located on the vehicle to determine whether the fob is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85  wherein the determination of whether the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor located on the periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated is performed when the fob is within the predetermined distance and has been authenticated. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the closure panel is a liftgate. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the periphery of the vehicle is at least one of a side of the vehicle, an end of the vehicle, and a corner of the vehicle. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are mounted in, on, or under a glass component or panel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89  wherein the glass component or panel is a rear quarter glass or rear quarter panel, respectively. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are mounted in a lens of a taillight or a headlight of the vehicle. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are mounted in a rear bumper of the vehicle. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are positioned at or on either side of a rear corner of the periphery of the vehicle. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are formed on, printed on, or molded into one or more of a bumper skin or fascia, a body panel or a glass component, a headlight or taillight lens or bulb housing, and a housing of a controller. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising:
 a module for determining whether the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor located on a periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated to indicate an object moving across the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor; and 
 a module for controlling the closure panel to open or close when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor have been sequentially activated.