Abstract: A badge assembly may include a badge having a display surface and an opposite mounting surface, and a sensor module mountable to a motor vehicle and including a deflectable wall with an electrically conductive film affixed thereto, and at least one sensor spaced apart from the electrically conductive film and configured to produce at least one sensor signal. The badge is mounted to the deflectable wall with at least one protrusion extending between and in contact with the mounting surface and the deflectable wall. The at least one protrusion concentrates force applied to the display surface of the badge to the deflectable wall to cause the deflectable wall to deflect toward the at least one sensor to produce a detectable change in the at least one sensor signal, the detectable change in the at least one sensor signal causing a change of state of the access closure.

Abstract: A trailer hitch detection system may include a sensor mounted in or over an opening defined through a wall of a trailer hitch receiver mounted to a motor vehicle, the sensor configured to be responsive to receipt of a trailer hitch assembly in the trailer hitch receiver to exhibit at least a first sensor characteristic, and to absence of the trailer hitch assembly in the trailer hitch receiver to exhibit at least a second sensor characteristic discernably different from the first sensor characteristic, and signal processing circuitry operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to produce at least one trailer hitch detection signal indicating receipt of the trailer assembly in the trailer hitch receiver in response to the first sensor characteristic and indicating absence of the trailer hitch assembly in the trailer hitch receiver in response to the second sensor characteristic.

Abstract: A gesture access system includes at least one wireless transceiver to be mounted to a motor vehicle having a powered door, a motor responsive to motor control signals to open the power door and a processor to process signals from the wireless transceiver to determine whether an object is exhibiting a predefined gesture and, if so, to control an unlocking actuator to unlock the powered door, to then continually monitor and process signals from the wireless transceiver to determine object parameters including a speed of movement of the object away from, and a distance of the object relative to, the powered door, determine a door opening speed based on the object parameters, and control the motor control signals to open the powered door at the determined door opening speed.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle door may include first and second housing components configured to be secured together to form a housing with inner surfaces of the components facing one another, the housing configured to be mounted to the motor vehicle door to define a door handle, a first sensor is disposed along a first detection surface defined by at least a portion of an outer surface of the housing, and a second sensor is disposed along a second detection surface defined by at least another portion of the outer surface of the housing, wherein signals produced by the first and second sensors are configured to enable any of locking, unlocking, latching, unlatching, automatically opening and automatically closing of the motor vehicle door.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle door includes a handle base to be secured to the door, a grip cover coupled to the handle base, an inductive proximity sensor, configured to produce an sensor signal, mounted to the grip cover opposite a portion of an outer surface of the grip cover defining a detection surface thereon, and an electrically conductive layer disposed on an inner surface of the grip cover, opposite the detection surface, and spaced apart from the inductive proximity sensor, the inductive proximity sensor producing a detectable change in the sensor signal upon detection of a deflection of the portion of the grip cover defining the detection surface sufficient to move the electrically conductive layer to within a detection proximity of the inductive proximity sensor, the detectable change in the sensor signal enabling the door handle to lock or unlock.

Abstract: An inertial blocking member subassembly of a handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a blocking member pivotally rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the blocking member has a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation. The blocking member is responsive to an acceleration force acting thereon to rotate about the axis of rotation from an at rest position in which the blocking member does not prevent unlatching of the vehicle door, to an engagement position in which the blocking member prevents unlatching of the vehicle door. In the engagement position, the center of mass is positioned between the axis of rotation and a vector of the acceleration force acting in a direction toward the center of mass and the axis of rotation, and the center of mass, the axis of rotation and the vector of the acceleration force are approximately in line with one another.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle door includes a handle base configured to be secured to the door, a grip cover coupled to the handle base such that the handle base and the grip cover cooperatively define a door handle grip, a first sensor positioned relative to the handle base and configured to produce a detectable change in a first sensor signal upon detection of one of an object within a detection proximity thereof, the detectable change in the first sensor signal enabling the latch to unlock or unlatch, and a second sensor positioned relative to the grip cover and configured to produce a detectable change in a second sensor signal upon deflection of a portion of the grip cover to within a detection proximity of a sensing surface of the second sensor, the detectable change in the second sensor signal enabling the latch to lock or latch.

Abstract: A gesture access system includes at least one ultra wide band transceiver to be mounted to a motor vehicle, and a processor to operate in either of (i) a gesture access mode to control an actuator associated with an access closure of the motor vehicle to lock, unlock, open or close the access closure in response to an object within a sensing region of the at least one UWB transceiver exhibiting a predefined gesture, and (ii) an inactive mode in which the at least one processor does not receive or does not act on UWB radiation detection signals, the at least one processor to operate in the gesture access mode in response to known mobile communication device being within a perimeter defined about the motor vehicle, and to otherwise operate in the inactive mode.

Abstract: A resettable inertia lock assembly may include a chassis configured to be mounted within an access closure of a motor vehicle, a cassette, a reset structure defined on one of the chassis and the cassette, a resettable locking apparatus carried by the cassette and including an inertia-activated member and an engagement coupler, the engagement coupler movable between a first position securing the inertia-activated member in an inertia-activated position and a second position in which the engagement coupler does not secure the inertia-activated member in the inertia-activated position, and a movement device for producing a relative movement between the chassis and the cassette to cause the reset structure to engage and move the engagement coupler from the first position to the second position thereof to allow the inertia-activated member to move from the inertia-activated position to a home position.

Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle door, the assembly including a housing containing a back-up camera and at least one of an exterior light and a manually operable release operative to effect the opening of the vehicle door.

Abstract: A gesture access system for a motor vehicle, includes a radiation transmitter to emit radiation signals and a radiation receiver, an illumination device and/or an audio device, and a processor programmed to activate the illumination and/or audio device according to a first activation scheme in response to determining an object is within a sensing region of the radiation receiver, and in response to the object within the sensing region exhibiting a predefined gesture, to activate the illumination and/or audio according to a second activation scheme and control an actuator to unlock, lock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door includes: a body defining an opening dimensioned to at least partially receive therein a hand of a user, the opening communicating with a chamber defined in the body anterior of the opening; at least one pivot arm mounted on the body for pivotal movement relative thereto; a closure for the opening, the closure connected to the at least one pivot arm for pivotal movement relative thereto, and the closure selectively moveable relative to the body between a first position, in which the closure occupies the opening, and a second position, in which the closure is moved into the chamber so that the hand of the user may be at least partially received through the opening; and a motor for effecting selective movement of the closure between the first and second positions thereof.

Abstract: A gesture access and object impact avoidance system for a motor vehicle, includes a radar signal assembly configured to be mounted to the motor vehicle and to transmit radar signals and detect reflected radar signals, and a processor to operate in (i) a gesture access mode, when the motor vehicle is not moving or is disabled from moving, by controlling an access closure actuator to lock, unlock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle if an object is within a sensing region of the radar signal assembly and exhibits a predefined gesture, and (ii) an object impact avoidance mode, when the motor vehicle is moving or enabled to move, by activating a warning device or controlling an impact avoidance device actuator if an object is within a predefined distance of the radar signal assembly.

Abstract: An inertial blocking member subassembly being part of a release handle assembly associated with a vehicle door, the inertial blocking member subassembly being activated by an acceleration force associated with an impact event, the release handle assembly having a release handle framework supporting a bell crank assembly and a manually actuatable door handle grip, the door handle grip operatively coupled to the bell crank assembly to unlatch the vehicle door upon manual actuation of the door handle grip. The inertial blocking member subassembly includes a blocking member associated with the release handle assembly framework, movable in at least one of rotation about an axis of rotation and translation along the axis of rotation. The blocking member has a center of gravity which is offset from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle includes a grip disposed between opposing mounting members. The mounting members are secured in an abutting relationship to a door panel of a vehicle door. The grip is spaced from the door panel by the opposing mounting members. A plurality of digitals comprising a keypad is disposed along the grip between the opposing mounting members. The grip includes a first appearance characteristic and the plurality of digitals includes a second appearance characteristic. The first appearance characteristic is substantially indistinguishable from the second appearance characteristic.

Abstract: A spacer for a keyless-entry vehicle door handle of the type including mateable body and cover portions, and at least one electronic component disposed in an internal space of the handle defined by the body and cover portions, the at least one electronic component having first and second portions each arranged in proximity to one or the other of opposing interior surfaces of the body and cover portions of the handle. The spacer includes a compressible member disposed in the internal space of the handle, the compressible member having a body with opposite surfaces each facing one of the opposing interior surfaces of the body and cover portions of the handle, and recesses formed in each of the opposite surfaces, each recess dimensioned to receive therein one or the other of the first and second portions of the at least one electronic component.

Abstract: A user-actuatable vehicle door control, comprising: at least one force sensing member disposed beneath at least one force transfer member, the at least one force sensing member operative to detect the intensity of forces applied thereto, and the at least one force transfer member moveable upon user application thereto of one or more forces so as to transfer the one or more user-applied forces to one or more locations on the at least one force sensing member; and a controller operatively connected to the at least one force sensing member.

Abstract: A vehicle door handle assembly, comprising: a door handle having opposite first and second ends, the first end including a handle leg connectable to a bellcrank; a door handle end-cap; a slide-lock cassette supporting the bellcrank; and a frame mounting the door handle and the door handle end-cap. The frame is securable to a vehicle door and defines an opening receiving the slide-lock cassette therein. The opening is dimensioned to permit sliding movement of the slide-lock cassette therein. The slide-lock cassette is slidingly moveable relative to the frame between a first position, in which the handle leg is not connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end cap is not secured in place relative to the frame, and a second position, in which the handle leg is connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end-cap is captured by the slide-lock cassette against removal from the frame.

Abstract: An inertial blocking member subassembly includes an inertial blocking member associated with a release handle assembly framework, the blocking member having a center of gravity which is offset from an axis of rotation, and the blocking member being rotationally and/or translationally movable between an at-rest position, in which the blocking member does not prevent actuation of the release handle, and an engaged position, in which the blocking member prevents actuation of the release handle. An accelerator body, freely mounted relative to the inertial blocking member for rotational movement about the axis of rotation, has a center of gravity which is offset from both the axis of rotation and center of gravity of the inertial blocking member. As a result of a negative acceleration force acting on the accelerator body center of gravity, the accelerator body rotates about the axis of rotation and carries the blocking member toward the engaged position thereof.

Abstract: A center high-mount brake-light system for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of selectively-illuminatable lights arranged to define each of a center section comprising at least one of the plurality of lights, and at least two outer sections disposed on either side of the center section.