Patents Assigned to Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9840167
    Abstract: A walk-in apparatus for a seat of a vehicle, including an upper rail connected to the seat; a lower rail connected to a floor of the vehicle; a lead screw connected to the lower rail; a male helical gear connected to the lead screw, the male helical gear including external splines; and a female helical gear connected to the upper rail. The female helical gear includes internal splines configured to engage with the external splines of the male helical gear, and the male helical gear and the female helical gear are selectively separable. A torque transferred between the internal splines of the female helical gear and the external splines of the male helical gear when connected moves the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Mixon, Ryosuke Mizuno, Kamin Manatpon
  • Patent number: 9821683
    Abstract: A seat mounting apparatus of a vehicle, including a plurality of seat tracks mounted in the vehicle; a plurality of seat sliders at least equal in number to a number of the plurality of seat tracks, each of the plurality of seat sliders being slidable along one of the plurality of seat tracks; and a seat mounting bracket that aligns and fixes a relative position in the direction of a number of the plurality of seat sliders equal to the number of the plurality of seat tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Mizuno, Michael Mixon
  • Patent number: 9821643
    Abstract: A guide block for a sunroof of an automobile including a front channel extending upwards and connecting to a lower channel at a first angle with respect to the lower channel forming a first path, and a rear channel extending upwards and connecting to an upper channel at a second angle with respect to an upper channel forming a second path, where the first path intersects the second path at a cross-over region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Heins, Shintaro Katsura
  • Publication number: 20170182933
    Abstract: A visual communication apparatus affixed to a vehicle. The visual communication apparatus includes a smart key system that detects a key fob of a user within a keyless detection zone, a projector projecting visual indications on a projecting zone lying on a ground surface of the vehicle, a sensor optically capturing gestures of the user of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit capable of actuated key elements of the vehicle. The visual indications include passive visual indications requiring no activation from the user and active visual indications requiring activations from the user. The activations are performed by gestures of the user on the active visual indications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi KIRIYAMA, Shogo KIMURA, Mineo KURITA
  • Patent number: 9688124
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for a sliding door of a vehicle, including a lower rail including a mid stopper bracket; and an arm affixed at an external extremity to the sliding door and connected at an internal extremity to the lower rail, the arm including a mid stopper lever that is rotatable. In an open position, the mid stopper lever contacts the mid stopper bracket and contacts a tongue of the internal extremity of the arm to prevent the sliding door from exceeding a mid open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OR AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emiko Okuma
  • Publication number: 20170174054
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for a sliding door of a vehicle, including a lower rail including a mid stopper bracket; and an arm affixed at an external extremity to the sliding door and connected at an internal extremity to the lower rail, the arm including a mid stopper lever that is rotatable. In an open position, the mid stopper lever contacts the mid stopper bracket and contacts a tongue of the internal extremity of the arm to prevent the sliding door from exceeding a mid open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emiko OKUMA
  • Patent number: 9682657
    Abstract: A running board apparatus including a first component with a hollow cross-section having an open end, the first component extending in a longitudinal direction; a second component with a closed cross-section that slides relative to the first component in a lateral direction, the second component extending in the longitudinal direction; and a positioning device with a first end attached to the first component and a second end attached to the second component. The positioning device is configured to move the second component with respect to the first component in the lateral direction and lock the second component and the first component in a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Baskin, Katsuhiko Takeuchi, Eric Archambeau, Joseph Elghoul
  • Publication number: 20170166135
    Abstract: A running board apparatus including a first component with a hollow cross-section having an open end, the first component extending in a longitudinal direction; a second component with a closed cross-section that slides relative to the first component in a lateral direction, the second component extending in the longitudinal direction; and a positioning device with a first end attached to the first component and a second end attached to the second component. The positioning device is configured to move the second component with respect to the first component in the lateral direction and lock the second component and the first component in a plurality of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley BASKIN, Katsuhiko Takeuchi, Eric Archambeau, Joseph Elghoul
  • Patent number: 9663014
    Abstract: A platform apparatus for a vehicle including a first structure including a first surface and a first interlocking joint; a second structure including a second surface and a second interlocking joint to receive the first interlocking joint; and a linkage that connects the first structure and the second structure and articulates the apparatus from a closed position to an open position. In the closed position the first surface and the second surface are vertically stacked and in the open position the first structure and the second structure are interlocked through the first interlocking joint and the second interlocking joint and the first surface and the second surface are horizontally adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Welter, Eric Archambeau, Bradley Baskin
  • Patent number: 9650816
    Abstract: A locking system including a latch assembly that actuates a cancel cable and thereby a cancel lever of a lock device includes a latch lever that has a first engaging surface and receives a striker positioned at the end of a rail of a vehicle, a cancel latch lever including an engagement tab that is engaged by the first engaging surface of the latch lever in an overstroke position of the latch lever, and a cancel cable that interrupts a transmission of power from an actuator to a lock device in accordance with a rotation of the latch cancel lever occurring from an engagement of the engagement tab with the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emiko Okuma
  • Publication number: 20170120798
    Abstract: A visual communication apparatus affixed to a vehicle. The visual communication apparatus includes a smart key system that detects a key fob of a user within a keyless detection zone, a projector projecting visual indications on a projecting zone lying on a ground surface of the vehicle, a sensor optically capturing gestures of the user of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit capable of actuated key elements of the vehicle. The visual indications include passive visual indications requiring no activation from the user and active visual indications requiring activations from the user. The activations are performed by gestures of the user on the active visual indications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi KIRIYAMA, Shogo KIMURA, Mineo KURITA
  • Publication number: 20170113698
    Abstract: A smart sensor system and method for a vehicle are described. The smart sensor includes at least one sensing element installed on a suspension of the vehicle and coupled with a wheel of the vehicle, and a digital signal processing circuitry configured to receive signal from the at least one sensing element in the form of a digital signal, correlate the digital signal to an air gap data, and determine a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, a suspension condition, a tire condition, a brake condition, a wheel condition, and a road condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Corey ZWEGERS
  • Patent number: 9616802
    Abstract: A visual communication apparatus affixed to a vehicle. The visual communication apparatus includes a smart key system that detects a key fob of a user within a keyless detection zone, a projector projecting visual indications on a projecting zone lying on a ground surface of the vehicle, a sensor optically capturing gestures of the user of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit capable of actuated key elements of the vehicle. The visual indications include passive visual indications requiring no activation from the user and active visual indications requiring activations from the user. The activations are performed by gestures of the user on the active visual indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiriyama, Shogo Kimura, Mineo Kurita
  • Patent number: 9617764
    Abstract: An outside handle of a vehicle that releases a door latch, including a slot that includes a rotatable flap that sits flush against an outer panel of the vehicle in a closed position. The rotation of the flap provides an opening to an inside of the handle in an open position. The handle includes a rotating lever behind the outer panel, and a lock rod attached to the rotating lever. Downward rotation of the lever moves the rod downward, and the downward motion of the rod then triggers the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie Vasi, Eric Archambeau, Mike Howlett
  • Publication number: 20170001541
    Abstract: A walk-in apparatus for a seat of a vehicle, including an upper rail connected to the seat; a lower rail connected to a floor of the vehicle; a lead screw connected to the lower rail; a male helical gear connected to the lead screw, the male helical gear including external splines; and a female helical gear connected to the upper rail. The female helical gear includes internal splines configured to engage with the external splines of the male helical gear, and the male helical gear and the female helical gear are selectively separable. A torque transferred between the internal splines of the female helical gear and the external splines of the male helical gear when connected moves the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael MIXON, Ryosuke MIZUNO, Kamin MANATPON
  • Patent number: 9518410
    Abstract: An outside handle of a door of a vehicle that opens a latch, including a rotatable flap that sits flush against an outer panel of the vehicle in a closed position and that provides an opening to an interior of the handle in an open position, and a rotating lever behind the outer panel, movement of the lever opening the latch of the door. The handle is arranged such that the flap rotates to the open position when the door is unlocked and rotates to the closed position when the door is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie Vasi, Eric Archambeau, Mike Howlett, Patrick Stewart
  • Publication number: 20160339807
    Abstract: A seat mounting apparatus of a vehicle, including a plurality of seat tracks mounted in the vehicle; a plurality of seat sliders at least equal in number to a number of the plurality of seat tracks, each of the plurality of seat sliders being slidable along one of the plurality of seat tracks; and a seat mounting bracket that aligns and fixes a relative position in the direction of a number of the plurality of seat sliders equal to the number of the plurality of seat tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryosuke MIZUNO, Michael MIXON
  • Publication number: 20160339808
    Abstract: A seat arrangement apparatus for a vehicle seat that includes at least two tracks fixed to a floor of a vehicle each track including a base separating a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion, at least two seat mounting assemblies movable along the at least two tracks, and a stopper movably installed inside each of the at least two tracks between the at least two seat mounting assemblies to prevent the at least two seat mounting assemblies from touching each other when positioned together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryosuke MIZUNO, Michael MIXON
  • Patent number: 9493057
    Abstract: A window assembly mounted in a roof of an automobile vehicle having an opening with a sunshade receiver. The window assembly includes a glass panel moveable from a fully closed position, through a slightly open to a fully open position in a two-step motion. The glass panel includes at least one auto release and a roll-up sunshade disposed beneath it having a spring loaded retractable screen via a tensioning and rewinding device and a sunshade latch. The at least one auto release stopper has a predetermined shape and size to engage with the at least one auto release bracket when the glass panel begins to be slightly open in order to disconnect the sunshade latch from the sunshade receiver and let the screen move from a fully closed position to a fully open position under the action of the tensioning and rewinding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Noda, Steve Chlapecka, Robert E. Gore
  • Patent number: 9463725
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest, including two side wings at opposite ends of the headrest that rotate around respective axes; and a locking mechanism that locks each of the side wings, and backwards movement is restricted by the locking mechanism when each side member is rotated around the respective axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Lindsey Szczygiel, Mike Howlett, Eric Archambeau, Katsuhiko Takeuchi