Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080296926 | ARMS FULL VEHICLE CLOSURE ACTIVATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant's presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner's response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant's presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected. A method for automatically opening the closure panel includes detecting an occupant presence and response, and automatically opening the closure panel when a predetermined response is detected. | 12-04-2008 |
20080296927 | POWER SWINGING SIDE DOOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle is provided having an automatic swinging side door with an actuator for opening and closing the door. A controller has an algorithm for moving the actuator, a sensor for detecting an obstacle via contact with the door; and a sensor for detecting the obstacle without contact with the door. The controller interrupts movement of the door when the obstacle is detected. The door has a measurable and selectable opening angle. A hydraulic pump actuates the actuator using fluid pressure, and a hydraulic fuse monitors flow through a bypass valve to detect the contact. A method of opening a side-swinging vehicle door includes recording a door opening angle; detecting a door operating mode, opening the door when one mode is detected; closing the door when a second mode is detected; and opening the door to the recorded angle when a third mode is detected. | 12-04-2008 |
20090000196 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING MOTOR VEHICLE DOORS FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH OBSTACLES - Systems and methods are provided for preventing a door from contacting an obstacle. One system includes a camera, a sensor, and a controller. The camera and the sensor are each configured to detect if the obstacle is within a path of the door. Another system includes an ultrasonic sensor, a near field sensor, and a controller. The ultrasonic sensor and the near field sensor are each configured to detect if the obstacle is within a path of the door. The controller in each system is configured to disable the door if the obstacle is detected within the path. One method includes the steps of visually or non-visually detecting if an obstacle is within an opening/closing path of a door when the obstacle is within or outside a camera field of view, respectively, and disabling the door if the obstacle is detected. | 01-01-2009 |
20090235588 | EMBEDDED NON-CONTACT DETECTION SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus are provided for a near field detection system. The apparatus comprises a glass plate, the glass plate having a first edge and comprising a first electrode, the first electrode disposed along the first edge of the glass plate, adapted to detect the presence of an object in near proximity to the glass plate, and adapted to transmit a signal in response to the presence of the object. | 09-24-2009 |
20100027119 | RECEIVER/EMITTER COVER UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A system for protecting an emitter/receiver device, including a cover and an active material actuator operable to selectively cause the cover to move between default protective and open positions, wherein the actuator includes at least one active material element, such as an SMA wire configured to cause the retraction of the cover and present a heating net when activated, and an activation signal source, and preferably further including at least one pulley and/or jack mechanism configured to redirect a displacement force vector, synchronization means, an antagonistic element for biasing the cover towards the protective or open position, and a controller presenting overheating protection through control logic. | 02-04-2010 |
20100082206 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING MOTOR VEHICLE SIDE DOORS FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH OBSTACLES - Systems and methods for preventing a motor vehicle side door from coming into contact with an obstacle are provided. One system includes an outside rear view mirror, a camera coupled to the outside rear view mirror, and a controller coupled to the camera. The camera is configured to detect the obstacle and determine the distance between the side door and the obstacle, and the controller is configured to disable the side door if the obstacle is within a threshold distance of the side door. Another system replaces the camera with an ultrasonic sensor to detect the obstacle and determine the distance between the side door and the obstacle. A method includes determining the distance between a plurality of motor vehicle side doors and the obstacle, and automatically disabling each motor vehicle side door that is within a threshold distance of the obstacle. | 04-01-2010 |
20100185341 | VEHICLE MODE ACTIVATION BY GESTURE RECOGNITION - Methods and devices are provided for activation of a vehicle operational mode. The device includes one or more detectors and a controller. The one or more detectors visually monitor one or more predetermined spatial locations, each of the one or more detectors corresponding to one of the one or more predetermined spatial locations. The controller is coupled to the one or more detectors and activates a predetermined vehicle operational mode in response to a current vehicle operational mode and a predetermined gesture detected within one of the one or more predetermined spatial locations. | 07-22-2010 |
20100228447 | ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLE APPLICATIONS - An apparatus is provided for controlling an automated closure panel in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a command module configured to generate a control signal. A motor is configured to actuate the automated closure panel based upon the control signal. A motor sensor is configured to measure an output characteristic of the motor, with the motor sensor having a motor sensor output signal. An adaptive logic module is coupled to the command module and to the motor sensor. The adaptive logic module is configured to provide an output to the command module to thereby adjust the control signal, wherein the adaptive logic module is configured to determine when the automated closure panel is obstructed by an obstacle based upon the motor sensor output signal. | 09-09-2010 |
20110258931 | PINCH PROTECTION MECHANISM UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A pinch-protection mechanism adapted for use with a closure panel and method for use of the same, said mechanism comprising at least one structural component defining an adjustable edge section manipulable between first and second configurations and an active material element coupled to the component, such that the change causes or enables the edge section to be manipulated to one of said first and second configurations, and manipulating the edge section between said first and second configurations eliminates, warns of, or mitigates a pinch condition. | 10-27-2011 |
20120104292 | ACTIVE DRAIN PLUG FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY APPLICATIONS - A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a high voltage battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole. The plug assembly further includes a return spring coupled to the plug and causing the plug to be biased into the drain hole. The plug assembly also includes at least one shape memory alloy device coupled to the plug and a support structure. The SMA device receives an electrical current that causes the device to contract and move the plug out of the drain hole against the bias of the return spring. | 05-03-2012 |
20140190568 | Coolant Activated Rechargeable Energy Storage System Drain Plug - A battery pack with a drain plug. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A first lead and a second lead are configured to signally connect an impedance element that is cooperative with the carrier, to a circuit such that when the continuity of the circuit is interrupted, the circuit provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems. | 07-10-2014 |