Patent ID: 11912185
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A vehicle, comprising:
a body;
an access aperture defined by the body, wherein the access aperture permits access to a cargo area;
a closure panel that is movably coupled to the body, wherein the closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position such that the closure panel selectively covers the access aperture;
an auxiliary panel that is removably coupled to the closure panel, wherein the auxiliary panel is a work surface, wherein the auxiliary panel is movable between an engaged state and a disengaged state relative to the closure panel, wherein the auxiliary panel travels with the closure panel when the auxiliary panel is in the engaged state, wherein the disengaged state of the auxiliary panel corresponds with a use position of the auxiliary panel, wherein the auxiliary panel is free of direct coupling with the closure panel when the auxiliary panel is in the disengaged state, and wherein at least a portion of the cargo area remains accessible when the auxiliary panel is in the disengaged state and the closure panel is in the open position;
a controller that issues a first user notification in response to a first instance of a first user input when the auxiliary panel is in the engaged state, wherein the controller places the closure panel in the open position in response to a second instance of the first user input when the auxiliary panel is in the engaged state, wherein the controller transitions the auxiliary panel to the disengaged state in response to a first instance of a second user input that follows the first user notification within a predetermined timeframe when the auxiliary panel is in the engaged state, wherein the controller issues a second user notification when the first instance of the second user input is received within the predetermined timeframe.