Patents Assigned to Magna Closures Inc.
  • Patent number: 10822856
    Abstract: An electromechanical strut and method of moving a closure member of a vehicle between an open position and a closed position is provided. The electromechanical strut includes a power drive unit including a motor, a leadscrew, a planetary gearset operably connecting the motor to the leadscrew, and an electromechanical brake assembly. The electromechanical strut further includes a telescoping unit including an extensible tube and a drive nut for converting rotary motion of the leadscrew into linear motion of the telescoping unit. The electromechanical brake assembly is selectively moveable between an engaged state, wherein the leadscrew is prevented from rotating to prevent relative axial movement between the power drive unit and the telescoping unit, and a disengaged state, wherein the leadscrew is permitted to rotate to allow relative axial movement between the power drive unit and the telescoping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Jube Leonard, Borys M. Shchokin, Joseph Scheuring
  • Patent number: 10801245
    Abstract: A power swing door actuator configured for use in a power door actuation system in a motor vehicle having a vehicle door pivotably connected to a vehicle body for movement along a swing path between open and closed positions is provided. The power swing door actuator includes a power-operated drive mechanism connected to the vehicle door with a rotary driven member configured for rotation in response to selective actuation of the power-operated drive mechanism. An elongate rack pivotably connected to the vehicle body and the rotary driven member is maintained in engagement with the rack via a retention member. Rotational movement of the rotary driven member in a first direction causes the vehicle door to move in an opening direction, while rotational movement of the rotary driven member in a second direction causes the vehicle door to move in a closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10767412
    Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between open and closed positions relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly, flex coupling assembly, and a spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closure member closed position and an extended position corresponding to the closure member open position. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a geartrain having an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed between the output component and the power screw. The spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly generates and applies a supplemental frictional force to the flex coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Scheuring, Wieslaw Nowicki
  • Patent number: 10767396
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly for use in a motor vehicle closure system for releasably latching a vehicle door to a vehicle body. The closure latch assembly includes a latch mechanism providing a pop-off sound reduction function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: John Distefano, Ioan Dorin Ilea
  • Patent number: 10745948
    Abstract: A door latch assembly equipped with a single ratchet-double pawl latching arrangement having a ratchet, a primary pawl and a secondary pawl. The primary pawl is configured to include a first or primary lug and a second or secondary lug, with each lug having a distinct profile to respectively provide an eccentric backout characteristic and a concentric backout characteristic in relation to the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10711492
    Abstract: A low release effort eccentric double pawl vehicle latch includes a ratchet, primary pawl, auxiliary ratchet and secondary pawl in combination with a secure lock lever. The secure lock lever selectively inhibits movement of the secondary pawl to prevent premature or unintended opening of the latch. A drive mechanism sequences movement of the secure lock lever and secondary pawl to open the latch. Upon reset, the drive mechanism drives the auxiliary ratchet back to its closed state and in the process the auxiliary ratchet can engage and return the secondary pawl back to a closed state in the event of an insufficient bias force thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi
  • Patent number: 10711504
    Abstract: A power door actuation system for a vehicle door includes a power-operated presenter assembly fixed to one of the vehicle door and vehicle body and an auxiliary latch assembly fixed to the other one of the vehicle door and vehicle body. A latched relationship is maintained between the vehicle door and the vehicle body when the presenter assembly moves the door between a closed position and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Martin Roos, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10683682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a closure latch for a vehicle door, and more particularly to a closure latch for a vehicle door equipped with a passive entry feature. To this end, the present disclosure relates to the use of a power child lock actuator to manage the double pull function of the closure latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Marco Taurasi, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10683684
    Abstract: An electronic latch for a motor vehicle closure system with an electronic control circuit including a handle switch reading circuit for a two-pin handle switch and a method of operating the handle switch reading circuit are disclosed. The electronic control circuit includes a control unit. The handle switch reading circuit is controlled by the control unit for coupling with a handle switch subassembly. The handle switch reading circuit is adapted to supply an AC voltage to the handle switch subassembly and produce an output voltage waveform corresponding to the charging and discharging of a handle capacitor of the handle switch subassembly and in response to a handle switch of the handle switch subassembly being operated. The handle switch reading circuit determines a position of the handle switch and presence of faults in the handle switch reading circuit and the handle switch subassembly based on the output voltage waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Marco Marlia, Marco Bartalucci, Claudio Cambini
  • Patent number: 10683691
    Abstract: A power swing door actuator for moving a passenger swing door relative to a body portion of a motor vehicle. The power swing door actuator includes a housing rigidly fixed to the swing door, a motor mounted to the housing, a connector link having a first end pivotably coupled to the vehicle body portion and a second end pivotably coupled to a drive nut of a spindle drive mechanism. A leadscrew of the spindle drive mechanism is rotatably driven by the motor for causing relative translational movement between the drive nut and the leadscrew which, in turn, results in pivoting movement of the connector link while the vehicle door swings between open and closed positions in response to selective actuation of the motor. The power swing door actuator is further equipped with an integrated door check mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Vadym Podkopayev
  • Patent number: 10676975
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motor vehicle comprised of an outer door panel and an inner door panel interconnected to define a door panel structure having an internal door cavity. A collapsible carrier module is configured to be oriented in a collapsed arrangement to facilitate installation into the door cavity through an opening in the inner door panel. The collapsible carrier module can be moved from its collapsed arrangement into an expanded arrangement upon installation within the door cavity to facilitate subsequent mounting to the door panel structure. The collapsible carrier module includes a two-piece carrier plate formed to integrally include a pair of laterally-spaced glass run channels and a pair of laterally-spaced slider rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Fortin, Eric V. Kalliomaki, Amandeep Kalra
  • Patent number: 10655366
    Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle includes a supporting body, a closing assembly cooperating with a latch striker, an opening mechanism having an opening lever rotatable about a first axis, and an inertia lever hinged to the supporting body about a second axis and being free to rotate about the second axis between a release position in which the inertia lever is decoupled from opening mechanism, and a first blocking position and a second blocking position in which the inertia lever engages the opening lever and prevents the opening mechanism from moving the closing assembly from a closing configuration to an opening configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10654374
    Abstract: An electronic control circuit with a backup energy source subassembly for an e-latch assembly and a method of operating the backup energy source subassembly are disclosed. The electronic control circuit includes a control unit including a computing module and a memory for electrically coupling to a plurality of sensors and to a main power source. The backup energy source subassembly is electrically coupled to the control unit for providing electrical energy to the electronic control circuit in response to one of a failure and interruption of the main power source. An output module is electrically connected to the backup energy source subassembly and to the main power source for driving an actuation group. The backup energy source subassembly includes a backup low voltage source and a boost-buck converter configured to selectively supply voltage to and selectively amplify voltage from the backup low voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Marco Marlia, Marco Bartalucci, Claudio Cambini
  • Patent number: 10655378
    Abstract: A power door actuation system including a swing door actuator assembly having a rotatable drive nut assembly operable to move the door between a closed position and at least one open position to provide a power opening and closing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Vadym Podkopayev
  • Patent number: 10655368
    Abstract: An e-latch assembly and method for operating for a closure panel of a vehicle, the closure panel operable between an open state and a closed state. The e-latch assembly is configured to control via an open command to operate an electric motor of the e-latch assembly in order to change a state of the electric motor during a latch release operation from a motor home position to a motor open position; and to control via a a reset command to change the state from the motor open position to the motor home position by controlling the reset command only when one or more sensors indicate a position of at least one of the closure panel or a ratchet or a pawl of the e-latch assembly reflecting the closure panel returning from the open state to the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Antonio Frello, Davide Dente
  • Patent number: 10647183
    Abstract: A vehicle panel assembly for a motor vehicle and carrier module therefor are provided. The vehicle body panel assembly includes a structural panel body defining an internal cavity with the carrier module secured to the structural panel body at least partially in the internal cavity. The carrier module has a carrier with an actuator attachment region integrally formed thereon and providing a first attachment feature. A latch assembly is secured to the carrier module and an actuator is configured in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively cinch the latch assembly. The actuator has a housing providing a second attachment feature, wherein the first and second attachment features are configured for attachment to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Mario Magazzini, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10619385
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to integration of a manually-controlled lock release mechanism into a vehicle closure system to permit manual actuation of the lock mechanism within a closure latch assembly in the event of a power loss situation. The lock mechanism that can be manually shifted from a child-locked state to a child-unlocked state via actuation of a manually-operable lock release actuator located along the B-pillar of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Roman Cetnar
  • Patent number: 10604984
    Abstract: A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for an opening in a vehicle includes a cover panel, such as a glass pane, slidable between opened and closed positions within the opening. The system includes one or more infrared time-of-flight (IR-TOF) sensors which measure the length of a beam of infrared light by measuring the time that the infrared light in the beam takes to travel the length of the beam and to reflect back to the sensor. The IR-TOF sensors may be configured to provide a beam of light along either the side edge of the frame parallel to the sliding direction or a terminal edge generally transverse to the sliding direction. Methods are provided for detecting obstacles within the opening of the frame by controllers using the lengths of beams from each of those different beam configurations, and for self-calibrating the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt M. Schatz, Samuel R. Baruco, Stephen James Caron
  • Patent number: 10590683
    Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10584525
    Abstract: A powered actuator unit for use in a closure system of a motor vehicle. The powered actuator unit includes a common housing configured to house a brushless DC (BLDC) electronic motor unit, a gear drive unit, a shift support arrangement, and a controller arrangement. The motor unit has a stator unit that includes a plurality of electromagnetic subassemblies each having a carrier and a winding unit. The carrier includes an outer ring segment being planar and an inner ring segment being arcuate and a web segment interconnecting the outer ring segment and the inner ring segment and the plurality of electromagnetic subassemblies are each adapted to abut one another in an annular arrangement upon assembly. The outer ring segments define an outer peripheral surface of the stator unit having a polygonal cross-section and the inner ring segments define a rotor cavity having a circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Liping Wang, Steven J. Liu, Michael Bayley