Abstract: A component for a vehicle comprises two or more first members each formed of a plateable resin and defining a front surface, wherein the front surfaces of the first members (i) are spaced apart from each other such that they appear discontinuous and (ii) collectively correspond to an outer surface of the component, a second member formed of a non-plateable resin and connected to each of the first members and a chrome plating applied to one or more exposed surfaces of each of the first members. A method of manufacturing the component involves utilizing one or more molds and removing a non-plated component comprising the first members and the second member from one of the one or more molds, attaching the non-plated component to a plating rack, such as via a permanent or temporary conductive circuit, and then performing the chrome plating.

Abstract: An active grille shutter (AGS) system for a vehicle can include a housing defining first, second, and third openings, the third opening being located between the first and second openings and being configured to receive an object detection device that is configured to detect objects in front of the vehicle, a first set of louvers arranged in the first opening, a second set of louvers arranged in the second opening, and a linkage connecting the first and second sets of louvers, wherein a set of actuators are configured to selectively open/close the first and second sets of louvers by driving the linkage or at least one of the first and second sets of louvers. The AGS system can be configured to be fully-integrated, semi-integrated, or standalone with respect to a grille assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: An active grille shutter (AGS) system for a vehicle comprises a housing defining at least one opening, a set of louvers disposed in the at least one opening, wherein a first louver of the set of louvers has a rotational offset with respect to a second louver of the set of louvers, and a louver compensation system connected between an actuator system of the AGS system and at least one of the first and second louvers, the louver compensation system comprising a first rotationally flexible member, wherein the actuator system is configured to rotatably drive the first and second louvers, and wherein the first rotationally flexible member rotatably flexes to compensate for the rotational offset. A grille assembly of the vehicle and/or a side vent assembly of the vehicle could incorporate the AGS system.

Abstract: A selectively chrome plated radome and its method of manufacture include molding a non-plateable resin to form one or more inner pieces, each inner piece defining an outer edge, inserting the one or more inner pieces into a final mold, injecting a plateable resin into the final mold to form an outer piece arranged about and coupled to the outer edge of each inner piece, wherein the one or more inner pieces and the outer piece collectively form a radome component, removing the radome component from the final mold, and chrome plating the outer piece of the radome component to obtain the selectively chrome plated radome. A selectively chrome plated radiator grille and its method of manufacture include molding a plateable resin portion of the grille, the plateable resin portion defining the outer piece of the radome component, and then chrome plating an exposed surface of the plateable resin portion.

Abstract: An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

Abstract: A selectively chrome plated radome and its method of manufacture include molding a non-plateable resin to form one or more inner pieces, each inner piece defining an outer edge, inserting the one or more inner pieces into a final mold, injecting a plateable resin into the final mold to form an outer piece arranged about and coupled to the outer edge of each inner piece, wherein the one or more inner pieces and the outer piece collectively form a radome component, removing the radome component from the final mold, and chrome plating the outer piece of the radome component to obtain the selectively chrome plated radome. A selectively chrome plated radiator grille and its method of manufacture include molding a plateable resin portion of the grille, the plateable resin portion defining the outer piece of the radome component, and then chrome plating an exposed surface of the plateable resin portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a chrome plated component can include performing a two-shot (2K) molding process to form a component comprising first and second \members. A non-plateable resin can be molded to form the first member defining a front surface that defines a recess. A plateable resin can be molded to form the second member defining a back surface that defines the protrusion. The component can then be removed from its mold, where (i) an exposed surface of the second member defines a front surface of the component and (ii) the recess receives the protrusion such that the front surface of the first member is substantially flush with the back surface of the second member. An exposed surface of the second member can then be chrome plated to obtain the chrome plated component.

Abstract: An active grille shutter (AGS) system for a vehicle can include a housing defining first, second, and third openings, the third opening being located between the first and second openings and being configured to receive an object detection device that is configured to detect objects in front of the vehicle, a first set of louvers arranged in the first opening, a second set of louvers arranged in the second opening, and a linkage connecting the first and second sets of louvers, wherein a set of actuators are configured to selectively open/close the first and second sets of louvers by driving the linkage or at least one of the first and second sets of louvers. The AGS system can be configured to be fully-integrated, semi-integrated, or standalone with respect to a grille assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a chrome plated component can include performing a two-shot (2K) molding process to form a component comprising first and second \members. A non-plateable resin can be molded to form the first member defining a front surface that defines a recess. A plateable resin can be molded to form the second member defining a back surface that defines the protrusion. The component can then be removed from its mold, where (i) an exposed surface of the second member defines a front surface of the component and (ii) the recess receives the protrusion such that the front surface of the first member is substantially flush with the back surface of the second member. An exposed surface of the second member can then be chrome plated to obtain the chrome plated component.

Abstract: An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

Abstract: An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

Abstract: A component for a vehicle comprises two or more first members each formed of a plateable resin and defining a front surface, wherein the front surfaces of the first members (i) are spaced apart from each other such that they appear discontinuous and (ii) collectively correspond to an outer surface of the component, a second member formed of a non-plateable resin and connected to each of the first members and a chrome plating applied to one or more exposed surfaces of each of the first members. A method of manufacturing the component involves utilizing one or more molds and removing a non-plated component comprising the first members and the second member from one of the one or more molds, attaching the non-plated component to a plating rack, such as via a permanent or temporary conductive circuit, and then performing the chrome plating.

Abstract: An active grille shutter (AGS) system for a vehicle can include a housing defining first, second, and third openings, the third opening being located between the first and second openings and being configured to receive an object detection device that is configured to detect objects in front of the vehicle, a first set of louvers arranged in the first opening, a second set of louvers arranged in the second opening, and a linkage connecting the first and second sets of louvers, wherein a set of actuators are configured to selectively open/close the first and second sets of louvers by driving the linkage or at least one of the first and second sets of louvers. The AGS system can be configured to be fully-integrated, semi-integrated, or standalone with respect to a grille assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: A radome for a vehicle can include a cover piece formed of a first resin that is transparent and defining a back surface that defines one of a first recess and a first protrusion. The radome can include an intermediate piece formed of a second resin defining a front surface that is coated with a metalloid and that defines the other of the first recess and the first protrusion. The radome can further include a back piece formed of a third resin that is non-transparent and defining a top surface that defines one of a second recess and a second protrusion configured to be mated with at least a portion of at least one of the intermediate piece and the cover piece. Manufacturing the radome can involve using three different molds for forming the cover, intermediate, and back pieces, and applying the metalloid coating.

Abstract: An active grille shutter (AGS) system for a vehicle can include a housing defining first, second, and third openings, the third opening being located between the first and second openings and being configured to receive an object detection device that is configured to detect objects in front of the vehicle, a first set of louvers arranged in the first opening, a second set of louvers arranged in the second opening, and a linkage connecting the first and second sets of louvers, wherein a set of actuators are configured to selectively open/close the first and second sets of louvers by driving the linkage or at least one of the first and second sets of louvers. The AGS system can be configured to be fully-integrated, semi-integrated, or standalone with respect to a grille assembly of the vehicle.