Patent ID: 7333021

Claim:
An opening/closing apparatus for a vehicle door comprising: a door handle secured to an outer surface of the vehicle door, the door handle being manipulated by a user for opening and closing the vehicle door; an unlocking condition detecting portion for checking whether or not the door handle is manipulated by the user to open the vehicle door, the unlocking condition detecting portion being provided in the door handle so as to be opposite to the outer surface of the vehicle door; a first light-emitting portion provided in the door handle and emitting a light beam to the outer surface of the vehicle door so as to illuminate a space defined between the door handle and the outer surface of the vehicle door; and a controller establishing a wireless communication with a mobile system held by the user to recognize the user, the controller causing the first light-emitting portion to emit the light beam when the user is recognized to be in approaching the vehicle, the controller bringing the vehicle door from its locked condition to unlocked condition when the unlocking condition detecting portion is indicative of the user's manipulation of the door handle to open the vehicle door.