HANDS-FREE REAR VECHICLE ACCESS SYSTEM AND IMPROVEMENTS THERETO

A vehicle access system includes: an infrared detector assembly for detecting an object within a sensing region of the infrared detector assembly; at least one controller operatively connected to the infrared detector assembly, the at least one controller operative (i) to determine from inputs from the infrared detector assembly if a detected object exhibits a predefined gesture and, if the detected object exhibits a predefined gesture, (ii) to direct the execution of one or more pre-defined vehicle commands; and a plurality of lights operatively connected to the at least one controller, the plurality of lights selectively illuminable to produce visible light in one or more colors, wherein one or more of the plurality lights (i) are selectively illuminated by the at least one controller to visibly indicate the detected presence of an object within the sensing region by the infrared detector assembly, and (ii) are selectively illuminated by the at least one controller to visibly indicate that the detected object exhibits a predefined gesture.