Abstract: A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a tailgate and a switch assembly operably connected to the tailgate. The switch assembly includes a switch structured to be actuatable by application of a load exceeding a predetermined threshold to the tailgate. The switch assembly is operably connected to a tailgate automatic opening/closing mechanism such that actuation of the switch controls operation of the mechanism to prevent execution of a command to automatically open the tailgate when the tailgate is in a fully closed condition.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a power tailgate assembly for a vehicle. The system can detect that a tailgate, connected to the vehicle by a pivotal connection and having an open position and a closed position, is in the open position, detect that the vehicle is being driven, detect, by one or more sensors, a movement of the tailgate, and control a motor assembly to restrain movement of the tailgate and return the tailgate to the open position in response to detecting that the tailgate is in the open position, the vehicle is being driven, and the tailgate has moved more than a threshold amount.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a tailgate and a switch assembly operably connected to the tailgate. The switch assembly includes a switch structured to be actuatable by application of a load exceeding a predetermined threshold to the tailgate. The switch assembly is operably connected to a tailgate automatic opening/closing mechanism such that actuation of the switch controls operation of the mechanism to prevent execution of a command to automatically open the tailgate when the tailgate is in a fully closed condition.

Abstract: A tailgate control system for a vehicle includes a spindle and a coupling member fixedly coupled to a tailgate of the vehicle, the coupling member having a slot formed therein. A portion of the spindle is coupled to the coupling member via the slot so as to enable relative movement between the portion of the spindle and the coupling member along the slot, and such that extension of the spindle causes a force on the coupling member which causes a closing motion of the tailgate. The portion of the spindle is also coupled to the coupling member such that a manually-generated closing motion of the tailgate causes a change in a position of the portion of the spindle along the slot.

Abstract: A tailgate control system for a vehicle includes a spindle and a coupling member fixedly coupled to a tailgate of the vehicle, the coupling member having a slot formed therein. A portion of the spindle is coupled to the coupling member along the slot so as to enable relative movement between the portion of the spindle and the coupling member along the slot, and such that extension of the spindle causes a force on the coupling member which causes a closing motion of the tailgate. The portion of the spindle is also coupled to the coupling member such that a manually-generated closing motion of the tailgate causes a change in a position of the portion of the spindle along the slot, in a first direction along the slot.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate can be being pivotally and removably attached to a cargo area of the vehicle. Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system and method of operating a power tailgate assembly for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the disclosed system can detect that a tailgate, connected to the vehicle by a pivotal connection and having an open position and a closed position, is in the open position, detect that the vehicle is being driven, detect, by one or more sensors, a movement of the tailgate, and control a motor assembly to restrain movement of the tailgate and return the tailgate to the open position in response to detecting that the tailgate is in the open position, the vehicle is being driven, and the tailgate has moved more than a threshold amount.

Abstract: A power back door for a vehicle, in which the back door is automatically opened and closed by left and right power back door drive devices, each of the power back door drive devices including an inner tube encompassed by an outer tube; a motor; a spindle screw that is turned by the motor; a spindle nut attached to one end of the inner tube and travels up and down the spindle screw to cause the inner tube to extend and contract relative to the outer tube over a length of travel; and a stopper fixed to the end of the spindle screw to stop the movement of the spindle nut. A length of travel of the left power back door drive device is different than a length of travel of the right power back door drive device so as to attenuate bouncing of the back door when the back door reaches a fully opened position.

Abstract: A power back door for a vehicle, in which the back door is automatically opened and closed by a pair of power back door drive devices, each of the power back door drive devices including an inner tube encompassed by an outer tube; a motor; a spindle screw that is turned by the motor; a spindle nut attached to one end of the inner tube and travels up and down the spindle screw to cause the inner tube to extend and contract relative to the outer tube over a length of travel; and a stopper fixed to the end of the spindle screw to stop the movement of the spindle nut at the end of travel. A length of travel of one of the power back door drive devices is different than a length of travel of the other of the power back door drive devices allowing the power back door to be quickly opened without bouncing at full open.

Abstract: Arrangements herein relate to a method and system for selectively displaying surroundings of an autonomous vehicle. The system can include a display to display a plurality of images in which some of the images are images of an environment external to the autonomous vehicle and are images unrelated to the environment external. The system can include cameras to capture the images of the environment external. The system can further include a processor that can be configured to detect a handover event associated with the operation of the vehicle. In response to the detection of the handover event and if the display is displaying images unrelated to the environment external, the processor can also cause the display to display images of the environment external in the place of the images unrelated to the environment external.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover device includes two or more hard panels formed of thin-walled, friction welded polypropylene material hermetically enclosing extruded support beams. Each panel forms an upper surface falling on a common plane when in a deployed position. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a multi-pin hinge disposed entirely below the upper surface to provide a flat overall appearance. The hinge has a first flange carried by a first panel, a second flange carried by an adjacent second panel, and an elongated free-moving link mounted to the first flange for relative rotation about a first axis and mounted to the second flange for relative rotation about a second axis. The two axes are spaced from and parallel to one another, whereby the hinge enables 180° freedom of rotation between the adjacent panels when transitioning between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a hinge enabling transitioning the panels between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position. An opposed pair of headed cantilevered striker pins, are carried with an inner surface of the opposed pair of box panels and extend inwardly within said cargo box for selective engagement with an associated rotary latch when an associated panel portion is in the deployed orientation. A release mechanism carried with the lower surface of each panel portion interconnect a single release member with both associated rotary latch mechanisms carried with said common panel portion, wherein release of a panel can only be effected by manual operation of the release member subsequent to release of an adjacent tonneau cover panel or cargo box panel.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels formed of thin-walled, friction welded polypropylene material hermetically enclosing extruded support beams. Each panel forms an upper surface falling on a common plane when in a deployed position. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a multi-pin hinge disposed entirely below the upper surface to provide a flat overall appearance. The hinge has a first flange carried by a first panel, a second flange carried by an adjacent second panel, and an elongated free-moving link mounted to the first flange for relative rotation about a first axis and mounted to the second flange for relative rotation about a second axis. The two axes are spaced from and parallel to one another, whereby the hinge enables 180° freedom of rotation between the adjacent panels when transitioning between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a hinge enabling transitioning the panels between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position. An opposed pair of headed cantilevered striker pins, are carried with an inner surface of the opposed pair of box panels and extend inwardly within said cargo box for selective engagement with an associated rotary latch when an associated panel portion is in the deployed orientation. A release mechanism carried with the lower surface of each panel portion interconnect a single release member with both associated rotary latch mechanisms carried with said common panel portion, wherein release of a panel can only be effected by manual operation of the release member subsequent to release of an adjacent tonneau cover panel or cargo box panel.

Abstract: A vehicle includes sidewalls, a tailgate located proximate to rear ends of the sidewalls, and a tailgate energy management system. The tailgate energy management system includes a governor coupled to one of the sidewalls and to the tailgate. The governor selectively applies a governing force to the tailgate to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate. The tailgate energy management system also includes a speed sensor sensing an opening speed of the tailgate and an electronic control unit electronically coupled to the governor and the speed sensor. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing an instruction set. The electronic control unit receives a speed signal indicative of the opening speed of the tailgate and the processor executes the instruction set to cause the electronic control unit to transmit a control signal to the governor to slow the opening speed of the tailgate based on the speed signal.