Trunk Or Hood Patents (Class 340/426.29)
  • Patent number: 9199578
    Abstract: A tonneau cover device moves a tonneau cover, which is coupled to a hatchback door of a vehicle, between an extension position and a storage position. The tonneau cover device includes a detection unit and a controller. The detection unit detects whether a pre-operation for opening the hatchback door has been performed. The controller permits movement of the tonneau cover to the extension position when a courtesy switch, which is arranged in the vehicle, detects that the hatchback door is closed and the detection unit does not detect that the pre-operation has been performed. The controller restricts movement of the tonneau cover to the extension position when the courtesy switch detects that the hatchback door is closed and the detection unit detects that the pre-operation has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, HAYASHI TELEMPU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nagao, Hiroyuki Mori, Zhengtai Yu
  • Patent number: 8938337
    Abstract: A laser sensor is located close to a rotation axis of a vehicle door and configured to emit a laser beam to a surface of the vehicle door and accept reflected light reflected from an obstacle for scanning a scanning plane shifted in a door-opening direction, in which the vehicle door is openable. A determination section determines whether an obstacle, which is possible to make contact with the vehicle door, exists in the door-opening direction of the vehicle door, based on a result of emission and acceptance of the laser beam of the laser sensor. An opening regulating section regulates an opening of the vehicle door in response to determination of the determination section that the obstacle exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yohei Nakakura, Toshiyuki Konishi, Hideki Hioki, Yoshihisa Okada, Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Toshiki Isogai
  • Patent number: 8798858
    Abstract: An emergency release locking system for a trunk lid, with a lid lock and a catch device which has a catch hook and in the case of the opened rotary latch limits the opening movement of the lid, with an emergency release system disposed in the trunk, and with an actuator that is controlled by a control unit of the vehicle and drives a blocking element, which above a predetermined or predeterminable recommended speed of the vehicle stops at least the releasing action of the emergency release system on the catch hook of the catch device. The control unit is assigned, apart from a sensor unit for detecting the current driving speed of the vehicle, one sensor unit each for detecting the current operating position of the emergency release system and of the catch hook of the catch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Florian Zysk
  • Patent number: 8587403
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing relay attack on a passive entry system (PES) or other passive system (PS) included within a vehicle or other entity. The relay attack prevention may be based in part on an assessment of whether the fob is able to distinguish signal strength relative to messages communicated form different antennas within the vehicle and/or amongst different signal amplitude communicated from the same antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, Nikolay Yakovenko, Hilton W. Girard
  • Patent number: 8482383
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing relay attack on a passive entry system (PES) or other passive system (PS) included within a vehicle or other entity. The relay attack prevention may be based in part on an assessment of whether the fob is able to distinguish signal strength relative to messages communicated form different antennas within the vehicle and/or amongst different signal amplitude communicated from the same antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, Nikolay Yakovenko, Hilton W. Girard
  • Patent number: 8441366
    Abstract: An arrangement of a sensor device with at least one sensor for a contactless activation of at least one moving part of a vehicle, especially a vehicle hatch, the sensor being arranged on at least one support element on the vehicle, in order to permit a detection of an object in at least one detection range adjacent to the vehicle, so that activation of the hatch can be activated via the detection, where the sensor is arranged in shape-mated and/or force-fit fashion on support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Buss
  • Patent number: 8400284
    Abstract: A method for controlling headlights on a vehicle includes detecting for a wiper switch state for a wiper switch on a vehicle, detecting wiper operations, incrementing a counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight ON threshold, counting toward a time threshold, decrementing the counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight OFF threshold value, and changing a state of the headlights based on the counter value reaching one of the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. Incrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each detected wiper operation. Counting toward the time threshold can occur in response to detecting a wiper switch OFF state. Decrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each instance of the time threshold elapsing with no change from the wiper switch OFF state. A plurality of intermediate counter values can be found between the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. A control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Kracker, Tony D. Wang, John Sgueglia, David G. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7843363
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor for determining when a latch for securing an engine cowl on an aircraft is secured by detecting the proximity of a latch hook and a latch pin. The sensor includes a resonant circuit configured and adapted to transmit a status signal when the latch is in a secured state. The sensor also includes a means for conveying status information of the latch to a location remote from the latch based on the status signal, the conveying means being operably connected to the resonant circuit. The invention also provides a method of determining when a latch is open or secured by detecting the proximity of a latch hook and a latch pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Grichener, Chuang-Chia Lin
  • Patent number: 7844377
    Abstract: Current position of a vehicle and current time are acquired. A user recognizing unit recognizes a user. A pattern recognizing unit detects location of a portable device and movement thereof. Operation state of an engine is acquired from an engine control mechanism. Based on the information, processes are performed such as switching communication stand-by mode of the portable device to active stand-by mode, notifying the portable device of a transition of an on-board terminal to automatic locking mode, preventing needless unlocking and locking of doors, and setting warning mode of the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuru Oota, Tetsuya Nomura, Satoshi Harumoto, Yuusaku Matsuda, Yasushi Seike
  • Patent number: 7804858
    Abstract: A transmission ECU on a transmission side and reception ECUs on a reception side are connected through communication lines and junction connectors. A delay circuit is provided in each of the junction connectors on the side of the reception ECUs. One end of the delay circuit is connected to the communication line on the side of the transmission ECU and the other end of the same is connected to the communication line on the side of the reception ECU. The communication lines on the both ends of the delay circuit are grounded through termination resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tamai
  • Patent number: 7734382
    Abstract: A vehicle remote control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device connected to the data communications bus. The vehicle remote control system includes a remote transmitter, and a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus, and based upon the remote transmitter. The true controller also controls the vehicle device via a respective counteracting command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue command on the data communications bus. The true controller may thus counteract a rogue controller attempt to start the engine, unlock vehicle doors, roll down windows, and/or disarm the vehicle security system, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 7649443
    Abstract: An antitheft apparatus includes a control section. When a status change from a closed state to an open state of a luggage door caused by regular means is detected in an arming state being ready to output an alarm, the control section shifts a status from the arming state to a disarmed state being not ready to output an alarm; when a status change from the open state to the closed state of the luggage door is detected in the disarmed state, the control section shifts the status from the disarmed state to the arming state after a predetermined length of preparatory period; and when an arming command to shift the status from the disarmed state to the arming state is given within the length of preparatory period, the control section shifts the status from the disarmed state to the arming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Matsubara, Minoru Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7561029
    Abstract: A remote controller for automobile trunk is disclosed, wherein a frequency receiving host device is coupled to a device or component of an anti-burglary host device that is originally installed in an automobile by an automobile maker. The frequency receiving host device is connected by a cable to a driving motor for a trunk of the automobile and is set to receive the frequency of a user-operated remote-control transmitter originally provided by the automobile maker. The frequency receiving host device, after detecting a releasing operation initiated by a signal transmitted from the remote-control transmitter to the anti-burglary host device to release an anti-burglary system of the automobile, receives a continuously transmitted signal from the remote-control transmitter, which signal extends for a predetermined period of time, and consequently the frequency receiving host device issues a control signal through the cable to the trunk driving motor to open the trunk lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventor: Pei-Cheng Chiu
  • Publication number: 20090102625
    Abstract: A constructive improvement to an anti-theft lock device applied to automobile trunks, whose innovative solution implies a new anti-theft lock (1), applicable both to common trunk locks and to trunk locks having electric assembly elements, wherein said improvement provides greater productivity during the assembly of said item, in addition to providing greater reliability to the anti-theft safety system, and this is achieved thanks to a constructive concept wherein the anti-theft lock item (1) comprises a clench ring element (A), sealing joint (B), lock cylinder element (C) and fastening clinch element (D). The clench ring element (A) comprises a hollowed latch area (A1), an upper latch element (A2) and a lower latch element (A3), also having a relief lock (A4), in addition to structural grooves (A5). In turn, the fastening clinch element (D) has upper (D1) and lower (D2) latch ends, having an inflexion segment (D3) in its middle section, and both these elements are fitted into the lock cylinder element (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO SISTEMAS AUTOMOTIVOS LTDA.
    Inventors: Homero de Andrade, Antonio de Oliveira Silva, Jose de Jesus Pin
  • Patent number: 7441414
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Ziehr, Gregory A. Major, Mark D. Nemesh, George M. Claypole
  • Patent number: 7403099
    Abstract: A smart key system for a vehicle determines that a mobile communicator is not in the passenger compartment and that an in-trunk communicator communicates with the mobile communicator when the trunk gets locked. Then the smart key system executes a recovery process for the mobile communicator locked in the trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hodaka Kamiya, Masachika Kamiya, Tomoo Kakegawa, Akihiro Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7327250
    Abstract: System for providing a virtual vehicle boundary. The system includes a method for activating a virtual fence for use with a delivery vehicle. The method comprises steps of detecting a protection event, determining that the protection event is an activation event, and activating a selected virtual fence based the activation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: John Harvey
  • Patent number: 7245997
    Abstract: A smart key carried with a user is provided with switches for monitoring a vehicle in remote places, such as a departure-time monitor switch, a return-time monitor switch and an all item monitor switch. The switches are associated with monitor information indicating various vehicle states. When the departure-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information such as parking position, rainfall state, etc. useful to the user at departure time from the vehicle. Similarly, when the return-time monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information useful at return time such as door open/closed state and lock state. When the all item monitor switch is operated, the cellular phone receives monitor information of all monitor items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Kitao, Ifushi Shimonomoto, Toshio Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7242282
    Abstract: The wireless anti-lockout system automatically unlocks a driver's side door when the driver locks the car keys within the car. The anti-lockout system includes door-lock and trunk-lock sensors, a key chain transponder, transponder sensors and an occupant presence sensor. When the doors and trunk are locked, the key chain transponder is detected in the car, and an occupant is not detected, signals are sent to a microprocessor, which alerts a door lock control to unlock the driver's side door and activates an alarm. Additional sensors may be added. The system may include a transmission sensor and a driver detection sensor, so that when a driver is not detected, or when the transmission gear is in park or neutral, in addition to the other three signal conditions, the door lock control unlocks the driver's side door and an alarm is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Edward Pinckney, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7215242
    Abstract: A vehicular burglar-proof system includes (i) a plurality of alarm unit, (ii) a detection unit for detecting movement, opening, and closing of a movable body, and (iii) a control unit connected to the plurality of alarm unit and the detection unit. A predetermined operation of the movable body allows the control unit to turn off the plurality of alarm unit or change the alarm unit into a predetermined alarming state. This structure can provide a user-friendly vehicular burglar-proof system in which an alarming state can easily be selected according to the use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsurugi Sawai
  • Patent number: 7196612
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle including at least one trunk provided with a lid, an opening/closing mechanism for permitting and rejecting the opening and closing of the lid, and a radio signal receiving unit which receives a radio signal for remotely operating the opening/closing mechanism, whereby the radio signal receiving unit is disposed on top of the trunk. A rear trunk is mounted on a rear portion of a body of the vehicle, a lid having a projection formed outside on top of the trunk, and a radio signal receiving unit is disposed inside the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Sumada, Yoshifumi Mochizuki, Koji Kano, Koichi Nozoe
  • Patent number: 7109853
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system automatically detects the presence of a person sealed in the trunk of an automobile by sensing the CO2 respiration of the person. Visible, audio and radio alarms are generated in response to the detection of a person in the trunk. If the vehicle is stopped, the trunk will automatically open and allow the person to escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Cherry Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Mattson, Kerry S. Berland, Kenneth C. Kunin
  • Patent number: 7075416
    Abstract: Latch control methods and systems include a latch that receives power from a motor associated with an H-bridge circuit. A sensor can be provided for monitoring the latch, wherein the sensor obtains latch feedback data from the latch. A microcontroller controls the latch based on the latch feedback data, by controlling an interaction of the H-bridge circuit and the motor with the latch. Additionally, a microprocessor processes instructions for controlling the interaction of the H-bridge circuit and the motor with the latch. Such instructions can be implemented as Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis B. Johnson, Peter Suknaich, Ajaykumar Vaidhyanathan
  • Patent number: 7071818
    Abstract: A device includes a base secured in a car, a stopping block displaceable on the base, an actuating member for displacing the stopping block with, and a lock block secured around a steel rope of a control of a hood of the car, which control can be used to pull the steel rope for making the hood become openable; the stopping block has a big hole, and an horizontal slot communicating with the big hole and as high as center of the hole; the rope is passed through the stopping block with the lock block arranged behind the stopping block; the lock block can't pass through the slot; the stopping block is displaceable to such position as to exactly face the lock block at the slot, preventing the rope from being displaced; thus, thieves can't open the hood to cut off the power to the alarm for stopping sounding of the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Jui-Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 7049943
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk safety device indicates the presence of an individual within the trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Wyatt Barton Pratt
  • Patent number: 7012508
    Abstract: A door opener control system for outdoor power equipment. The system may generally include a transmitter coupled to the outdoor power equipment, a switch in communication with the transmitter, and a power supply, such that the transmitter is operable to remotely control the door between an open position and a closed position in response to a condition of the switch. The power supply may include a battery and the transmitter may be programmed to operate with a variety of receivers. The switch may be implemented with a variety of contact and non-contact type switches mounted on an instrument panel of the outdoor power equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Vince Shiely, Jeffrey C. Blonski, Paul A. Tharman
  • Patent number: 6977581
    Abstract: A method for identifying and authorizing unlocking or starting of a motor vehicle for a hands-free access system includes a central unit exchanging identification messages with identification units according to a communication procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Electronique
    Inventor: Kathleen Dechamps
  • Patent number: 6930592
    Abstract: A system for protecting the loading space of vehicles, in particular passenger cars, with sensors for sensing loaded material in the loading space, detectors for sensing the state of protective devices in the loading space and being configured for signal generation indicative of the state of the loaded material and as a function of the sensing of loaded material and the sensing of the state of the protective devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Werner P. Schlecht, Andreas Kobiela, Klaus Haspel, Thomas Laudenbach, Thomas Seeg
  • Patent number: 6836209
    Abstract: An improved system for detecting the presence of an object in the path of a liftgate relies upon the sensor/transmitters that are used for collision avoidance systems to detect the presence of an object rearwardly of a vehicle moving in a reverse direction. Known sensors are provided to look for the presence of an object when the vehicle is being moved in a reverse direction. The sensors are now also actuated when the liftgate is being moved to its closed position. Should an object be detected, further movement of the liftgate is stopped. The present invention thus detects the presence of an object in the path of a liftgate prior to any contact. Further, the invention combines two prior control modules into a single control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph E. Ploucha
  • Patent number: 6831376
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for unlocking a trunk lid of a motor vehicle is suggested which ensures that a person in the interior of the trunk can free himself from this trunk. For this purpose, an unlocking handle is provided in the interior which, when it is operated and the vehicle is standing still, unlocks the trunk lid. If, when the unlocking handle is operated, the vehicle is driving, a delay time is started after whose expiration the trunk lid is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Harald Franke, Stefan Adams
  • Patent number: 6825755
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk release mechanism for releasing a trunk lid of a vehicle from within the interior of the trunk has a contact mat and an actuator, which is responsive to repeated contact with the contact mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Wyatt Barton Pratt
  • Patent number: 6812830
    Abstract: The emergency operating device for releasing a trunk lock mechanism of a motor vehicle, in which a human, especially a small child, or an animal could be locked, includes a sensor device in the trunk and an evaluation device connected to the sensor device. The sensor device generates and transmits sensor signals that indicate whether or not the human or animal is present in the trunk. The evaluation device receives and evaluates or analyzes the sensor signals to ascertain whether or not the human or animal is present in the trunk. The evaluation device generates an operating signal for automatic activation of the release mechanism if the human or animal is present in the trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ian Faye
  • Publication number: 20040189450
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk release mechanism for releasing a trunk lid of a vehicle from within the interior of the trunk has a contact mat and an actuator, which is responsive to repeated contact with the contact mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Wyatt Barton Pratt
  • Patent number: 6762676
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting the presence of a human in a compartment of a vehicle that comprises a pyroelectric sensor and a control coupled to the pyroelectric sensor. The pyroelectric sensor comprises a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element is arranged in an opposed electrical connection with respect to the second sensing element whereby infrared radiation from a human moving within the compartment is selectively detected by one of the first sensing element and the second sensing element, thereby producing an output signal of the pyroelectric sensor. This output signal is received by the control, and the control generates a control signal indicative of detection of a human within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corp.
    Inventors: Gimtong Teowee, Kevin McCarthy, Anoop Agrawal
  • Patent number: 6761384
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for opening a lid of a trunk of a motor vehicle, there being mounted in the trunk an actuating element whose actuation results in the lid of the trunk being unlocked, if appropriate, and the lid being opened, the motor vehicle furthermore having a remotely operable closing system, and when the actuating element is actuated, the actuating element emits beams which correspond to the beams of the remotely operable closing system in such a manner that the lid is unlocked, if appropriate, and opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Haaf, Dieter Trumpfheller
  • Patent number: 6642838
    Abstract: A system detects the presence of an occupant in a land vehicle after the engine of the land vehicle has been turned off. The system activates an alarm and a cooling system as well as unlocks the doors of the vehicle. Thus, help can be notified and the temperature of the vehicle near the occupant can be maintained cool until help arrives. A GPS system can be included in some forms of the invention as well as a plurality of different alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventors: Charles A. Barnas, Linda Barnas