Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroof are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof dimming system for a vehicle includes a first dimmable panel of a sunroof and a second dimmable panel of the sunroof. The first dimmable panel is moveable relative to the second dimmable panel to open or close the sunroof. The sunroof dimming system also includes a controller operatively coupled to the first and second dimmable panels. The controller is configured to adjust dimming associated with the first and second dimmable panels to maintain a brightness of an external light associated with a vehicle cabin that is experienced by a vehicle occupant when the sunroof changes between a closed state and an open state.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly including a locking component. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. A guide ramp formed on the drive shoe is an angled indented surface configured to align a portion of the locking component in order to couple the drive shoe and the lift guide. The guide ramp is formed as a tapered groove that has a width in a vehicle width direction that is continuously broadened from a front end of the groove toward a rear end of the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, including a movable panel, a rail, a drive shoe, a pivot link to control tilting of the movable panel as the drive shoe slides in the forward direction, a lift guide facilitating sliding of the movable panel, and a check assembly for engaging and disengaging the lift guide and the drive shoe. The check assembly includes a mechanical lock, a locking pin, a rotatable lock rotatable about the locking pin and configured with a locked position to prevent movement of the lift guide when the check assembly is disengaged, and a lock guide to guide the rotatable lock into the locked or an unlocked position. The rotatable lock includes a notch to catch an end portion of the mechanical lock and prevent the rotatable lock from rotating into the unlocked position when the check assembly is disengaged.

Abstract: An tilt and slide apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, includes a movable panel, a rail provided at each edge portion in the opening, a receiver bracket affixed to the movable panel, a guide block having a first guide channel that extends along a length of the guide block and has an angled portion, a second guide channel positioned at an end of the guide block, an upper guide channel extending away from the second guide channel to an opposite end of the guide block and above the first guide channel, and a drive shoe that slides along the rail. A pivot link is configured to slide along the first guide channel to control tilting of the movable panel as the drive shoe slides in a forward direction. A lift guide facilitates sliding of the tilted movable panel along the upper guide channel in a rear direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, including a pivot link pivotally coupled to a drive shoe, the pivot link having a first pivot pin configured to slide along a first guide channel of a guide block to control tilting of a movable panel as the drive shoe slides, a lift guide, and a check assembly including a mechanical lock. The mechanical lock includes an inner surface having a locking guide channel to guide a second pivot pin of the pivot link, the locking guide channel includes an upper guide portion. The pivot link is configured to pivot to a raised position to tilt the movable panel when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction and becomes coupled to the lift guide by the check assembly. The upper guide portion engages the second pivot pin to lock the pivot link in the raised position.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. The check assembly includes a cylindrical portion, a cylindrical portion a locking component that is positioned on the cylindrical portion, and a check collar that is positioned on and coupled to an end of the cylindrical portion adjacent the locking component.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. The check assembly includes a pin that extends through the mechanical lock, a receptacle coupled to the drive shoe. The pin passes into the receptacle when the drive shoe moves toward the lift guide.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. The check assembly includes a cylindrical portion, a cylindrical portion a locking component that is positioned on the cylindrical portion, and a check collar that is positioned on and coupled to an end of the cylindrical portion adjacent the locking component.

Abstract: An tilt and slide apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, includes a movable panel, a rail provided at each edge portion in the opening, a receiver bracket affixed to the movable panel, a guide block having a first guide channel that extends along a length of the guide block and has an angled portion, a second guide channel positioned at an end of the guide block, an upper guide channel extending away from the second guide channel to an opposite end of the guide block and above the first guide channel, and a drive shoe that slides along the rail. A pivot link is configured to slide along the first guide channel to control tilting of the movable panel as the drive shoe slides in a forward direction. A lift guide facilitates sliding of the tilted movable panel along the upper guide channel in a rear direction.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof dimming system for a vehicle includes a dimmable panel of a vehicle sunroof. The sunroof dimming system also includes a controller operatively coupled to the dimmable panel. The controller is configured to obtain data during operation of the vehicle. The controller is also configured to determine, based on the data, that a vehicle occupant will be exposed to an external light via the dimmable panel when the vehicle is at a first predicted location of a road. The controller is also configured to control the dimmable panel before the vehicle is at the first predicted location to reduce a brightness of the external light that the vehicle occupant will encounter.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. The check assembly includes a pin that extends through the mechanical lock, a receptacle coupled to the drive shoe. The pin passes into the receptacle when the drive shoe moves toward the lift guide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, including a pivot link pivotally coupled to a drive shoe, the pivot link having a first pivot pin configured to slide along a first guide channel of a guide block to control tilting of a movable panel as the drive shoe slides, a lift guide, and a check assembly including a mechanical lock. The mechanical lock includes an inner surface having a locking guide channel to guide a second pivot pin of the pivot link, the locking guide channel includes an upper guide portion. The pivot link is configured to pivot to a raised position to tilt the movable panel when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction and becomes coupled to the lift guide by the check assembly. The upper guide portion engages the second pivot pin to lock the pivot link in the raised position.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to adjust dimming associated with dual panel sunroof are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof dimming system for a vehicle includes a first dimmable panel of a sunroof and a second dimmable panel of the sunroof. The first dimmable panel is moveable relative to the second dimmable panel to open or close the sunroof. The sunroof dimming system also includes a controller operatively coupled to the first and second dimmable panels. The controller is configured to adjust dimming associated with the first and second dimmable panels to maintain a brightness of an external light associated with a vehicle cabin that is experienced by a vehicle occupant when the sunroof changes between a closed state and an open state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, including a movable panel, a rail, a drive shoe, a pivot link to control tilting of the movable panel as the drive shoe slides in the forward direction, a lift guide facilitating sliding of the movable panel. and a check assembly for engaging and disengaging the lift guide and the drive shoe. The check assembly, includes a mechanical lock, a locking pin, a rotatable lock rotatable about the locking pin and configured with a locked position to prevent movement of the lift guide when the check assembly is disengaged, and a lock guide to guide the rotatable lock into the locked or an unlocked position. The rotatable lock includes a notch to catch an end portion of the mechanical lock and prevent the rotatable lock from rotating into the unlocked position when the check assembly is disengaged.

Abstract: A tilt and slide apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly including a locking component. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. A guide ramp formed on the drive shoe is an angled indented surface configured to align a portion of the locking component in order to couple the drive shoe and the lift guide. The guide ramp is formed as a tapered groove that has a width in a vehicle width direction that is continuously broadened from a front end of the groove toward a rear end of the groove.

Abstract: Drive link apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed herein. An example assembly for a vehicle sunroof includes a drive shoe. The drive shoe is movable along a rail and includes a ramp portion positioned thereon. The assembly also includes a drive link that is rotatably coupled to the drive shoe and supports a panel. The drive link includes a guide portion that is positioned thereon and configured to slidably engage the ramp portion to prevent the drive link from rotating during a sunroof operation. The guide portion includes an extension that is positioned thereon and interposed between the drive shoe and a guide block. The extension is configured to slidably engage the drive shoe, the ramp portion, or the guide block to prevent the drive link from twisting during the sunroof operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sunroof apparatus of an automotive vehicle. Specifically, the present disclosure describes a constraining portion of a guiding drive shoe and a constrained portion of a drive link to maintain a drive link angle during high-speed operation of the sunroof apparatus. Moreover, the present disclosure describes a guiding portion of a rear drive shoe and a guided portion of a bracket to guide a glass panel of the sunroof apparatus into a fully-closed position during high-speed operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sunroof apparatus of an automotive vehicle. Specifically, the present disclosure describes a constraining portion of a guiding drive shoe and a constrained portion of a drive link configured to maintain a drive link angle during high-speed operation of the sunroof apparatus. Moreover, the present disclosure describes a guiding portion of a rear drive shoe and a guided portion of a functional bracket configured to guide a glass panel of the sunroof apparatus into a fully-closed position during high-speed operation.

Abstract: Drive link apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed herein. An example assembly for a vehicle sunroof includes a drive shoe. The drive shoe is movable along a rail and includes a ramp portion positioned thereon. The assembly also includes a drive link that is rotatably coupled to the drive shoe and supports a panel. The drive link includes a guide portion that is positioned thereon and configured to slidably engage the ramp portion to prevent the drive link from rotating during a sunroof operation. The guide portion includes an extension that is positioned thereon and interposed between the drive shoe and a guide block. The extension is configured to slidably engage the drive shoe, the ramp, portion, or the guide block to prevent the drive link from twisting during the sunroof operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sunroof apparatus of an automotive vehicle. Specifically, the present disclosure describes a constraining portion of a guiding drive shoe and a constrained portion of a drive link to maintain a drive link angle during high-speed operation of the sunroof apparatus. Moreover, the present disclosure describes a guiding portion of a rear drive shoe and a guided portion of a bracket to guide a glass panel of the sunroof apparatus into a fully-closed position during high-speed operation.