Abstract: A proximity sensor for sensing an object in the path of or proximate to a closure panel such as a vehicle window. First and second electrodes encased in a non-conductive casing are mounted on the metallic structure near the closing edge of the aperture. The two electrodes define a capacitance CE1/2 therebetween, and parasitic capacitances CE1 and CE2 between the first electrode and chassis ground and the second electrode and chassis ground, respectively. A controller cyclically connects (1) the second electrode to a voltage reference source (Vref1) and the first electrode to chassis ground and (2) the second electrode to chassis ground and the first electrode to the reference capacitor, thereby periodically charging the capacitance CE1/2 and transferring the charge stored thereon to the reference capacitor whilst short-circuiting the parasitic capacitances.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for providing fore and aft movement of a seat along a floor of a motor vehicle includes a lower track fixedly secured to the floor. The seat track assembly also includes an upper track slidingly engaging the lower track and defining an internal channel there between. The upper track is coupled to the seat and allows for sliding movement of the seat along the lower track. In addition, the seat track assembly includes an anchor seated within the internal channel and fixedly secured to the lower track. In addition, the seat track assembly includes a reinforcement bracket seated within the internal channel and fixedly secured to the upper track. The reinforcement bracket selectively engages the anchor in response to a predetermined load to control deformation and prevent separation between the upper and lower tracks.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a recliner mechanism interconnecting the seat back and the seat cushion for selective adjustment of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded position. A riser assembly extends between the seat cushion and the floor of the vehicle. The riser assembly includes front and rear legs arranged as a four bar linkage between the seat cushion and the floor for selectively moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position. The rear legs are fixedly secured to a control rod pivotally supported by the seat cushion. Levers extend between the seat back and the control rod for automatically moving the seat cushion between the seating and stowed positions in response to a movement of the seat back between the respective seating and stowed positions.

Abstract: A lock is provided for a door of a motor vehicle. The lock includes a closing mechanism designed for coupling with a lock striker along a direction of relative coupling. The closing mechanism includes a supporting body having a housing seat for receiving an engagement portion of the lock striker. An elastically compliant buffer delimits the housing seat at least in the aforesaid direction of relative coupling in order to define a damped arrest of the engagement portion of the lock striker. The buffer is coated on its surface, in an area of interaction with the engagement portion of the lock striker by a rigid protective shield. The shield is fixedly secured to the buffer.

Abstract: An assembly for holding open a locking mechanism for a motor vehicle folding seat includes a locking mechanism having a gear shaft and a release link fixedly attached to the gear shaft that transitions the locking mechanism between an engaged and a released orientation. A hold-open pin attached to the release link is received within a follower link notch to maintain the locking mechanism in the released orientation. An actuator positions the follower link notch to receive the hold-open pin within the follower link notch.

Abstract: A reversing wiper motor system has a first detector including a detectant which rotates in synchronism with the wiper. The detector physically identifies a plurality of distinct angular zones across the entire range of motion of the wiper, including a wiper park zone, a wiping zone, and a wiper out-of-bound zone. A second detector detects incremental movement of the wiper within any given zone. Control circuitry controls the direction of the motor based on the detected zone and the incremental motion of the wiper therein. The system enables the wiper to be located upon power-up.

Abstract: A clip for retaining a trim cover assembly against a foam pad of a vehicle seat including a base having a hook end and a lock end. The base also includes a flange extending out therefrom. The hook end defines a hook, which secures the trim cover assembly to the clip. The lock end includes a lock and a lock hook. The foam pad includes a pair of inner foam pad walls that define a trench, through which the clip initially passes before contacting the foam pad. The clip is inserted into the foam pad so that the lock end passes completely through the foam pad to an underlying “B” surface. The lock hook is then rotated relative to the base until the lock hook engages the flange. The clip is firmly anchored within the foam pad by the lock end, which has a width greater than the trench.

Abstract: A door latch assembly of a motor vehicle is provided for selectively engaging a striker between latched and unlatched positions. The door latch assembly includes a ratchet for receiving and engaging the striker. The door latch assembly also includes a pawl movable between a locked position, in which the pawl abuts the ratchet into engagement with the striker, and an unlocked position, in which the pawl and the ratchet are spaced apart from one another so that the ratchet releases the striker. In addition, the door latch assembly includes an electromagnet disposed adjacent the pawl for generating a magnetic field to alter the force required to move the pawl out of the unlocked position and into the locked position.

Abstract: A sea assembly for an automotive includes a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. A riser mechanism extends between the seat cushion and a vehicle floor. The riser mechanism includes spaced apart front, center, and rear legs each pivotally movable at opposing upper and lower ends. A latch mechanism is operably coupled to each of the center legs for movement between a latched position preventing movement of the front, center, and rear legs relative to the floor and an unlatch position allowing pivotal movement of each of the front, center, and rear legs relative to the floor for moving the seat assembly between a seating position and at least one of an easy entry and forwardly dumped positions.

Abstract: A lock for a door of a motor vehicle is provided having: a closing mechanism designed for coupling with a lock striker for bringing about closing of the door; mechanical opening means for controlling release of the closing mechanism from the lock striker; mechanical means for inhibiting opening which can be selectively activated for rendering the opening means ineffective; and electrical actuator means housed in a fluid-tight way in a single casing having at least one output member which traverses, in a fluid-tight way, a through hole of the casing to interact with the means for inhibiting opening.

Abstract: A vehicle latch having a ratchet; a pawl, interacting with the ratchet; an outside release lever (66); a link (80) for selectively coupling the outside release lever (66) to the pawl; a lock link lever (116) for actuating the link (80) between an unlocked position, where the outside release lever (66) is kinematically coupled to the pawl, and a locked position, where the outside release lever (66) is not coupled to the pawl; and a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating the lock link lever (116). The key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with the lock link lever (116) so as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.

Abstract: A seat frame assembly is provided for compactly folding a motor vehicle seat. The seat frame assembly includes a pair of spaced apart and parallel side frame members defining a vertical plane, and a lower cross member extending between the pair of side frame members. An actuator is pivotally secured to one of the pair of side frame members. A linkage assembly includes first and second link members, which are pivotally secured to one another. The first link member extends between the actuator and the second link member. A control arm is fixedly secured to the second link member and pivotally secured to the lower cross member. When the actuator is pivoted, the control arm moves between a support position extending away from the side frame members and a stowed position co-planar with the side frame members.

Abstract: A method as disclosed for operating a motor bidirectionally to cinch and release a closure panel of a motor vehicle. The motor is operatively connected to a pawl, ratchet and spring of a latch for the closure panel. The method includes the step of driving the motor in a cinching direction to rotate the ratchet to cinch the closure panel in the closed position. The motor is then returned to a park position by driving the motor in a park direction opposite to the cinching direction. Power is applied to the motor to drive the motor in a release direction to drive the motor past the park position with respect to the cinching direction. In doing so, the motor contracts the spring as it moves in the release direction. Power is then removed from the motor allowing the spring to force the motor to return to the park position as the spring returns to its steady state position.

Abstract: A latching assembly for a side door of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The motor vehicle includes an electrical system and an electric power source. The side door includes a pawl which is used in the unlatching of the side door. The latching assembly includes a housing that is fixedly secured to the side door for securing the latch assembly thereto. The latching assembly also includes a primary motor fixedly secured to the housing and electrically connected to the electrical power source through the electrical system to receive electricity from the electric power source. The primary motor converts the electricity into a rotational force. The latching assembly also includes a lever that is operatively connected to the primary motor to receive the rotational force and to translate the rotational force into a linear force to move the pawl to an unlatched position.

Abstract: A power actuator assembly for a latch includes first and second articulated levers. The first lever includes cam follower surfaces and the second lever includes at least one stop member which pivots between first and second positions as each lever travels between first and second positions. A motor-driven cam having driving members and stop members drives the first lever. More particularly, each driving member has a path of travel that engages one of the cam follower surfaces for a portion of the travel path to drive the first and second levers and is in disengaging alignment with the cam follower for another portion of travel. The cam stop members abut the stop member of the second lever when the cam driving members are in the non-aligned position, whereby the levers may be activated without driving the cam. The assembly can be employed, inter alia, in a lock application or a power release application so as to preclude the necessity of having to backdrive the power actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock (1) is provided having a lock mechanism (3) cooperating with a striker (5) of a motor vehicle. The lock mechanism (3) has a fork (11), which can be set to a release position, in which it permits engagement and release of a respective seat (15) by the striker (5), and at least one lock position, in which it retains the striker (5) in, and prevents release of, the respective seat (15); a latch (12), which clicks onto the fork (11) to lock it releasably in the lock position; a release member (6) operated selectively to release the latch (12) from the fork (11) and allow the fork (11) to move into the release position; and interacting portions (42, 43) whereby the fork (11) and the release member (6) interact to define different indicating positions of the release member (6) corresponding to the release position and lock position of the fork (11) respectively.

Abstract: A headrest support system comprises a seatback support frame having an upper cross member adapted to support a headrest. The cross member has opposite top and bottom surfaces with axially aligned holes formed therethrough. A headrest guide sleeve is received through each of the axially aligned holes formed in the cross member to coupled the headrest to the support frame. The holes include outward extending flanges defining an inner contact surface for engaging and supporting the headrest guide sleeve.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided utilizing a membrane suspension for supporting an occupant seated on the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat back operatively coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a plurality of reclined positions. Both the seat back and seat cushion are similarly configured each having a frame extending between interconnected and spaced apart side members. The membrane suspension includes opposite terminal edges each fixedly secured to one of the side members to support the membrane suspension in tension between the side members. A rigid panel having an upstanding wall is fixedly secured to the seat back and seat cushion frames. The wall increasingly tensions the membrane suspension during installation of the panel.

Abstract: A power folding seat for installation within a vehicle includes a seat cushion mountable to the vehicle, a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion, and a power actuator disposed within the seat back for automatically rotating the seat back between an upright position and a folded position. The power actuator includes a power seat recliner, a latch assembly, a power head restraint adjuster, and a control system coupled to the power seat recliner, the latch assembly, and the power head restraint adjuster. The control system includes a signal receiver which is configured to receive commands from a remote transmitter, and a data processor coupled to the signal receiver. The data processor controls the power seat recliner, the power latch actuator and the power head restraint adjuster, and is configured to move the seat back between the upright position and the folded position in accordance with the received remote commands.

Abstract: A switch (60) is provided for disabling an airbag assembly (20) in an automotive vehicle when a sun visor (30) in the vehicle is positioned within a defined deployment area of the airbag assembly. The sun visor is movable in and out of the deployment area during regular use. A switch is adapted for signaling the presence or absence of the sun visor in the deployment area, and accordingly disables or enables the airbag assembly, respectively.