US Patent 11365578 Powered hinge assembly for vehicle doors

An automated door system includes a hinge assembly having a movable hinge portion coupled to a door and a fixed hinge portion coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge pillar. The movable hinge portion includes first and second mounting portions. The first mounting portion is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge portion for rotation about a hinge axis of the hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the fixed hinge portion and further coupled to the second mounting portion of the movable hinge portion by a drive shaft. The power assist device includes a motor that is configured to drive the drive shaft for providing at least one of an opening and a closing movement of the door about the hinge axis of the hinge assembly.