Patents Issued in May 14, 2024
  • Patent number: 11981236
    Abstract: A convertible seat for a vehicle includes a base frame having a predetermined dimension of storage space, a plurality of individual blocks disposed to be ascendable and descendable in the storage space of the base frame and configured to serve as a seatback and a seat cushion, and a raising and lowering drive device installed in each of the individual blocks and configured to raise or lower a corresponding one of the individual blocks so that a seat position can be changed into various forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jang Hyeon Lee, Dae Sung Kwon, Dong Gu Kim, Il Seon Yoo
  • Patent number: 11981237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a padding for a motor vehicle seat having a sheet for measuring multizone pressure. The sheet has a flexible support layer, with a first electrode having first contact elements, a second electrode having second contact elements and a plurality of intermediate contact elements having piezoresistive properties, each of the intermediate elements being inserted between a first and a second element to form a plurality of pressure sensors. The support layer is made of mesh. The first electrode is made from conductive ink printed on the support layer. The second electrode is made from printed conductive ink, and the intermediate contact elements are made from printed conductive ink with less conductivity than the inks of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TESCA FRANCE
    Inventors: Mohamed Ben Lagha, Santi Sanchez, Christine Tonellato
  • Patent number: 11981238
    Abstract: An anti-submarining seat cushion for a vehicle includes a main body constructed of an anisotropic material. The anisotropic material includes a primary material including a primary stiffness and a plurality of inserts that are dispersed throughout the primary material. The plurality of inserts exert an axial compressive force in response to the main body of the anti-submarining seat cushion experiencing a submarining load, where the axial compressive force is exerted in a direction that opposes the submarining load to increase an overall stiffness of the main body in a direction that aligns with the submarining load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Chin-Hsu Lin, Daniel W. Booth, Brennon L. White
  • Patent number: 11981239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sound-equipped headrest comprising —at least one woofer associated with an open rear part, comprising a rear grid and/or open cell or semi-open cell foam with a density of between 8 and 60 kg/m3, so that said at least one woofer is two-directional; and —at least one mid-range/tweeter, associated with a closed rear part comprising a solid wall and/or a closed cell foam so that at least one mid-range/tweeter is mono-directional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventors: Léo Guadagnin, Arnaud Cazes Bouchet
  • Patent number: 11981240
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to controlling temperature inside a receptacle 102 in a vehicle. In an embodiment, a temperature-controlled system for a vehicle is disclosed. The temperature-controlled system may include a receptacle 102 having at least one inlet 104, and a housing 106 fitted to the receptacle 102. The housing 106 may include an opening 108. The opening 108 may be configured to be fluidically coupled to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vent of the vehicle. The housing 106 may further include an open front face 110 fluidically coupled to the at least one inlet 104 of the receptacle 102, and a gate assembly mounted on the housing 106. The gate assembly 106 may include a gate configured to engage or disengage with the opening 108 to fluidically couple or fluidically decouple, respectively, the opening 108 to the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: L&T TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Hariprasad V Prabhakar, Ratheesh Kizhakke Valappil, Ashish Singh
  • Patent number: 11981241
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining a status of an intermediate support of a dump body arrangement included in a working machine, the dump body arrangement including a support frame, a dump body for receiving a load and pivotally attached to the support frame at a rear pivot point, a hydraulic support for raising and lowering a front part of the dump body, wherein the intermediate support is arranged between the hydraulic support and the rear pivot point to support the dump body, wherein the method includes the steps of receiving a signal indicating that the hydraulic support changes between a load-free state and a loaded state relative the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Pierre Orvegren, Martin Nyström
  • Patent number: 11981242
    Abstract: A pallet and a transport device for the pallet. The pallet, includes a frame having side parts and a rod that extends between the side parts. A span of the rod is at least half of the length of the rod. The pallet includes foot arrangements having parts configured to guide the pallet onto a bed of the transport device. The transport device includes the bed, a chassis and articulations enabling rotation of the bed relative to the chassis. The bed includes side beams that are configured to engage with the parts of the foot arrangements thereby guiding the pallet onto the bed. A system includes the pallet and the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VERICREA
    Inventors: Seppo Narinen, Antti Luomala
  • Patent number: 11981243
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle (100) comprising at least a towing vehicle (102), the towing vehicle comprising steerable wheels and is arranged to convey the vehicle in at least a major longitudinal forward direction (104) of the vehicle (100), wherein the vehicle further comprises a load handling arrangement (200) arranged to support transportation of material to or from the vehicle (100), the load handling arrangement (200) being configured to assume a material handling mode in which the load handling arrangement (200) is arranged to support transportation of the material between the vehicle (100) and a stationary ground portion (106) in the vicinity of the vehicle (100), wherein the load handling arrangement (200) extends substantially in the major longitudinal forward direction (104) of the vehicle over at least a portion of the towing vehicle (102) when assuming the material handling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Christina Hernvall, Lars Johansson, Mikael Lennartsson, Marcus Fasth, Bo Larsson
  • Patent number: 11981244
    Abstract: Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio Gil, Mallory Freeman
  • Patent number: 11981245
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a trunk defining an enclosure for storing an object, a camera to capture an image of the object prior to being placed into the trunk and a processor to execute a machine-vision module to process image data to identify the object. The processor outputs a thermal control signal to a thermal controller to control a temperature of the trunk compartment by setting a setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Matthew MacGregor Roy
  • Patent number: 11981246
    Abstract: A lift system for a roof of a camper trailer, including a plurality of actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly for operative engagement with a respective roof support that extends/retracts to raise/lower the roof; at least one control unit for controlling the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: JACKA INDUSTRIES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Stuart Badman, Malcolm Badman
  • Patent number: 11981247
    Abstract: A tie-down secures a load onto a vehicle. The tie-down has a pivot, a winch, and an anchor. The pivot has a pin, a rotatable sleeve, a cap, and a base. The pin can be either a solid bar, or an annular tube. The winch is attached to the sleeve. The winch has a U-shaped frame comprising two flanges and a wall interconnecting the flanges. The wall is parallel with and attached to the sleeve. The anchor is attached to the base of the pivot. The anchor can be a solid bar, or C-shaped, or two channels sandwiching part of the pin, or annular. The vehicle has a support surface for supporting the load, and a plurality of the tie-downs. The anchor is either attached to the support surface, or, when the vehicle has stake pockets, is removably mountable within a stake pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Maners Mount LLC
    Inventors: Jay R. Maners, Bryce Maners
  • Patent number: 11981248
    Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Collin MacGregor
  • Patent number: 11981249
    Abstract: A headlamp control device includes a headlamp control unit for controlling headlamps so as to regulate an irradiation amount, the headlamps being installed in a vehicle equipped with an autonomous driving mode driven in accordance with images acquired by a visible light camera for capturing the circumference of the vehicle and a manual driving mode driven by a driver of the vehicle. The headlamp control unit decreases the irradiation amount of the headlamps in the autonomous driving mode so as to be smaller than the irradiation amount of the headlamps in the manual driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Obata, Takashi Ashida, Maya Fujita
  • Patent number: 11981250
    Abstract: A method for controlling a lighting device of a host motor vehicle in order to emit a beam for lighting the road that is non-dazzling to a target object on this road. The method includes acquiring, with a sensor system of the host motor vehicle, the position (xtarget_t0, ytarget_t0) of the target object on the road at a given time (t0), and predicting, with a predicting unit, the position (xtarget_t1, ytarget_t1) of the target object on the road at a time (t1) that is in the future with respect to the given time. Also included is correcting, with the predicting unit, the acquired position of the target object at a given time depending on the predicted position at the future time, and generating, with the lighting device, a non-dazzling zone (Z) in a beam for lighting the road, which beam the device emits depending on the corrected position (PG,PD) of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Mickael Mimoun
  • Patent number: 11981251
    Abstract: An autonomous search light system for being mounted to an aircraft includes a search light for emitting an adjustable light output; an RF receiver with at least two RF antennas for receiving RF signals emitted by an RF transmitter; and a controller for determining a position of the RF transmitter in relation to the search light from the received RF signals and for controlling the search light based on the determined position of the RF transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Anil Kumar Jha, Jens Leuschner, Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl
  • Patent number: 11981252
    Abstract: A light bar assembly for a vehicle. The light bar assembly including a light bar and a first bracket assembly. The light bar configured to receive a light source. The first bracket assembly including a first light bar receiving portion and a first rocker attachment portion. The first light bar receiving portion being configured to receive a first portion of the light bar. The first rocker attachment portion being configured to receive a first portion of a vehicle rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Weber, Dale Butterworth
  • Patent number: 11981253
    Abstract: A vehicle light module, a headlight assembly, and a method for communicating information at a panel having transparent and opaque states; a projector device projects visual representations toward the panel where visual representations are displayed on the panel when in an opaque state and through the panel when in a transparent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivi Singh, John Orisich
  • Patent number: 11981254
    Abstract: A system prevents activation of strobe lights on a vehicle in response to events calculated to indicate a nuisance activation. Directional strobing may be activated based on input from vehicles systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ESS-Help, Inc.
    Inventors: John Zachariah Cobb, Daniel Anthony Tucker, David M. Tucker, Stephen T. Powers, Austin Reece Tucker, Kenneth E. Wagner, Mike Incorvaia
  • Patent number: 11981255
    Abstract: A vehicle control device configured to control a self-vehicle, the vehicle control device comprising: a first detection unit configured to detect a direction change of an oncoming vehicle; a second detection unit configured to detect another vehicle on a diagonally rear side of the self-vehicle; and a control unit configured to control a notification unit on the basis of detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, wherein the control unit controls the notification unit to notify the other vehicle of the direction change of the oncoming vehicle in a case where the direction change of the oncoming vehicle has been detected and the other vehicle has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Mimura, Tsuyoshi Nojiri
  • Patent number: 11981256
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a passenger display with a switchable view protection device that is actively switched in predetermined operating states so that display contents shown on the passenger display cannot be seen from the seating area of the driver. The vehicle includes a shading device having an illuminant oriented toward the passenger display and is controlled by a control unit and which, in order to prevent moving residual fragments that can still be detected from the driver's seat despite a view protection device which is switched to shading, externally illuminates the passenger display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Burger, Steffen Klapper
  • Patent number: 11981257
    Abstract: A light control apparatus includes a diffuser plate, a light source, a light pipe, and a light blocker. The diffuser plate includes at least one opening therein. The diffuser plate includes feature located around the opening in the diffuser plate that exposes a portion of the diffuser plate. A light source positioned proximate a second surface of the diffuser plate is optically coupled to a light pipe positioned around a portion of the opening near the second surface of diffuser plate. A light blocker is positioned near a second portion of the at least one feature. The light blocker is positioned between the light source and the second portion of the feature, the light blocker having an opening therein to allow light to pass from the light source to the diffuser plate proximate the second portion of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Mhamed Ben Moussa, Wojciech Krajewski
  • Patent number: 11981258
    Abstract: A component for a vehicle interior may comprise a display system comprising a light source and a composite structure comprising a base layer, an intermediate layer and a cover layer. The base layer may comprise a surface comprising a set of elements. The composite structure may present a composite visual effect contributed by the composite structure and/or a visual effect contributed by light from the light source. The visual effect contributed by the composite structure may comprise a visual effect without light from the light source and/or a visual effect with light from the light source transmitted through the composite structure. The composite visual effect of the display system may comprise a visual effect of the form/elements of the base layer and/or the form/visual object/pattern of the intermediate layer and/or the form/visual object/pattern of the cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jixiang Zhang, Jing Gu
  • Patent number: 11981259
    Abstract: A sound generation device for a vehicle, the sound generation device being installed in a vehicle which travels using an electric-powered motor as a power source, includes a sound control apparatus which sets a plurality of frequencies corresponding to a motor rotation speed and generates a synthetic sound signal indicating a synthetic sound including sounds at the plurality of frequencies and a speaker which outputs the synthetic sound based on the synthetic sound signal generated by the sound control apparatus, and the sound control apparatus sets an increase amount of an output of a sound in a low frequency band large compared to an increase amount of an output of a sound in a high frequency band in a frequency range of the synthetic sound in accordance with an increase in a motor torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yukifusa Hattori, Seisuke Mitsunaga, Hidekazu Shiraishi, Katsuya Shimizu, Ryuichi Yamada, Chieko Nakagami
  • Patent number: 11981260
    Abstract: A vehicle warning device causes a buzzer to generate a warning sound and vibrates a steering wheel using a steering vibration actuator when a monitoring target object for a right monitor range is present with a right turn signal changed from off to on, that is, generates a warning. The vehicle warning device does not generate the warning even though the monitoring target object for the right monitor range is present when any of cases where a lane change by one lane from an original lane to a first right adjacent lane is completed during an on state of the right turn signal, a distance between a right side surface of the host vehicle and a right lane marking of the first right adjacent lane is a threshold distance or less, and a time to enter a second right adjacent lane is a threshold time or less does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11981261
    Abstract: A vehicle projection control device includes: a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including a vehicle speed of a vehicle; an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information identifying a tunnel through which the vehicle travels; a virtual vehicle video generation unit that generates a virtual moving body video of a virtual moving body that moves ahead of the vehicle in a direction that is the same as the vehicle, the virtual moving body video being for projection by a projection unit of a head-up display device; and a projection control unit that controls projection of the virtual moving body video, such that a virtual image of the generated virtual moving body video is visually recognized ahead of the vehicle with use of a projection unit. The projection control unit controls the projection of the virtual moving body video based on the acquired identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Matsuo, Makoto Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11981262
    Abstract: A door mirror structure reduces vehicle width when the mirror is retracted, prevents vibration of the mirror when the vehicle is traveling, and improves visibility from the vehicle interior. Embodiments include a door mirror body unit; and a mirror base having a tip portion fixed to the door mirror body unit and a base end portion away from the tip portion. The base end portion is attached to the side door so that the door mirror body unit and the mirror base are movable between a mirror use position at which the mirror is visible from a vehicle interior and a retraction position located on an inner side in a vehicle width direction of the mirror use position. A driving unit moves the door mirror body unit and the mirror base between the mirror use position and the retraction position. The driving unit is located in the side door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Moriyama, Atsushi Yakushinji
  • Patent number: 11981263
    Abstract: The present invention includes a stationary member, a movable member, a holding member, and a driving member. The stationary member has a stationary-side spherical surface. The movable member has a movable-side spherical surface. The stationary-side spherical surface and the movable-side spherical surface together forms a gap. The stationary-side spherical surface and the movable-side spherical surface are interposed with a sealant, which seals the gap. Consequently, the present invention allows smooth adjustment of an angle of a mirror surface, and prevention of water penetrating inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Misato Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11981264
    Abstract: A device holder assembly that includes a body and a housing coupled to the body. A drive assembly is rotatably coupled to the housing. A leg assembly that includes a first leg and a second leg is coupled to the housing. A first rack gear is coupled to the first leg and the drive assembly. A second rack gear is coupled to the second leg and the drive assembly. The drive assembly permits instantaneous movement of the first leg and the second leg. A first finger is rotatably coupled to the first leg and a second finger is coupled to the second leg. The first finger has a first finger outer surface and the second finger has a second finger outer surface that are generally coplanar with the body outer surface when the first finger and the second finger are in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rafael Rego, Tuan Quoc Nguyen, Bradley Berner, Michael Arbaugh, Gary Vincent Morales, Robert Charles Shipley
  • Patent number: 11981265
    Abstract: To control appropriately whether or not outside sound will be outputted into the vehicle cabin. An in-vehicle device wherein a microphone for inputting sound from outside of the vehicle is connected so as to communicate with a speaker for outputting sound into the cabin of the vehicle identifies, from location control information that is information for expressing the location for each of one or more locations and including metadata for each location, a location that is included within a predetermined range from the current location of the vehicle, identified based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal. The onboard apparatus controls whether or not to output, through the speaker, the outside sound that is inputted through the microphone, based on whether or not the location metadata satisfies an outside sound outputting or outside sound non-outputting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Sato
  • Patent number: 11981266
    Abstract: A display device for the interior of a vehicle includes: (i) a display unit, which is designed for optical display of information and has a display element for this purpose and which can be or is arranged in a longitudinal extension direction of the vehicle behind a front row of seats, preferably on a roof lining of the vehicle; (ii) a movement unit, which is designed to move the display unit, in particular with the display element pivoted away from the roof lining of the vehicle, in the longitudinal extension direction, in particular controllably, between various working positions and/or to hold the display unit in a given working position; and (iii) a control unit which is designed to control the movement unit in such a way that the display unit and the display element are arranged at a predetermined first distance or first distance range from an element of the front row of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Harald Lathwesen
  • Patent number: 11981267
    Abstract: An apparatus for dampening at least one optical instrument on a military platform. The apparatus includes a plate adapted to hold at least one optical instrument. The apparatus also includes at least one dampening assembly having a first end operably engaged with the plate and an opposing second end operably engaged with a platform. The at least one dampening assembly is also adapted to reduce the movement of the plate and optical device from a ballistic event created by a ballistic device on the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Dube, William J. Elliott
  • Patent number: 11981268
    Abstract: An energy absorbing material includes a multi-cellular structure formed from a plurality of interconnected cells having a lattice structure. Each of the plurality of interconnected cells includes at least four nodes and at least one lattice element extending between each of the at least four nodes. The at least one lattice element has a diameter no greater than 2.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Varun Agarwal, Biswajit Tripathy, Rajamanickam Vs
  • Patent number: 11981269
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle interior member that can suppress the reflection of light to the outside, and that can reduce glare from whatever angle a passenger views the interior member. A cross-section of a groove 6 formed in a vehicle interior member 4 is substantially V-shaped, and is constituted by two flat surfaces, a first reflection surface 7 and a second reflection surface 8. The groove 6 has a groove angle ? of 32 degrees, and the reflectance at a light receiving surface 5 is no more than 2.0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Umeda
  • Patent number: 11981270
    Abstract: A vehicle strip device, wherein the vehicle strip device is a functional and/or trim strip in a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle strip device has a shell element and a fastening strip element, which are formed to have at least one fastening module and may be fastened to one another by the at least one fastening module, the shell element and the fastening strip element each being configured as a plastic injection-moulded part made of at least one plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Wittmann
  • Patent number: 11981271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle body soundproof structure Sp that is configured to block noise from outside a vehicle, and comprises a window panel 24 fixed in a window frame 22 located on a side portion of a vehicle body 10, an interior material 50 provided at a vehicle interior side of the window frame 22 and having an upper end portion 52 extending diagonally upward in a direction toward the window panel 24, and a soundproof member 60 fixed to the upper end portion 52 of the interior material 50. The soundproof member 60 is provided in contact in a compressed state with an inner surface of the window panel 24 so as to fill a gap G formed between the upper end portion 52 of the interior material 50 and the window panel 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshio Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 11981272
    Abstract: An exterior member that includes a housing in which a cable is to be housed; a first projection that is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the housing and that is formed so as to protrude toward an inside of the housing from the inner peripheral surface of the housing; and a first radiation film that covers a surface of the first projection and that has a higher emissivity than the surface of the first projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 11981273
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor for operating shift elements in an automatic transmission for a vehicle that has an actuator for operating the electric motor mounted thereon. The actuator can be coupled to a data bus for communication. The actuator also has a communication module for communicating with at least one other actuator that can be coupled to the data bus for communication in at least one other electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventor: Josef Loibl
  • Patent number: 11981274
    Abstract: An on-vehicle network system includes, for each of a plurality of zones defined in a vehicle, a zone control unit, a power distributor connected to an on-board battery, and a plurality of electronic devices supplied with power from the power distributor via a common power supply line. Each of individual relays is interposed between one of the electronic devices and a body ground of the vehicle to individually turn on and off connection between the one of electronic device and the body ground based on a control signal from the zone control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kurokawa, Tetsuhiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11981275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for energy storage, energy distribution and/or energy conversion in a hybrid or electric vehicle, comprising at least one high-voltage system having at least one high-voltage unit. In order to provide a simple, efficient and safe device, according to the invention, the high-voltage system has a hermetically encapsulated housing having at least one wall, in which housing at least one unit chamber for receiving the high-voltage unit and at least one interface chamber for receiving at least one interface region are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: EUGEN FORSCHNER GMBH
    Inventors: Janosch Ackermann, Hubert Bischof, Manuel Bremm, Holger Driesch
  • Patent number: 11981276
    Abstract: An external material for vehicles may include a non-woven fabric having a honeycomb structure and a wheel guard including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, HADO FNC CO., LTD., YONG SAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong Je Kim, Keun Young Kim, Ji Wan Kim, Jung Wook Lee, Jong Eun Ha, Young Su Kim, Sang Hoon Lee, Mu Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11981277
    Abstract: A panel for a vehicle is described. The panel includes a substrate and a hardcoat layer on a surface of the substrate configured as a vehicle front-facing surface. The panel includes a first portion having a visible light transmission equal to or greater than 40% measured in accordance with ASTM D1003-00. The substrate includes a polymer composition comprising polycarbonate. A melt volume rate of the polycarbonate is equal to or less than 15 cm3/10 min, measured at 300° C. with a 1.2 kg load in accordance with ISO1133.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Erhard Bruss, Tamara Marijke Eggenhuisen
  • Patent number: 11981278
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced downwardly from the vehicle roof. The vehicle includes a post slidably supported by one of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof and a tether slidably engaged with the other of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof. The tether extends from the other of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof toward the post. The post is slidable relative to the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof from a stowed position to a deployed position. The vehicle includes a support member mounted to the post between the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof. The vehicle includes an airbag supported by the support member. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position when the post is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11981279
    Abstract: A system for notifying an occupant of a vehicle of unauthorized interaction with his or her possessions includes one or more cameras that collect image data of a surrounding environment of the occupant. The surrounding environment of the occupant is an interior cabin of the vehicle. The system also includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the one or more cameras, the one or more controllers execute instructions to monitor, by the one or more cameras, the image data of the surrounding environment of the occupant. In response to detecting the unauthorized interaction with the one or more possessions associated with the occupant, the one or more controllers generate a notification informing the occupant of the unauthorized interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 11981280
    Abstract: A vehicle seat restraint system includes a vehicle seat of a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a leg-rest supporting lower legs and feet of an occupant of the vehicle seat. An in-vehicle occupant detection system identifies positions of the lower legs and the feet of the occupant. A restraint actuator is connected to the vehicle seat. A safety restraint element is extended by actuation of the restraint actuator from a stowed position proximate to the leg-rest into an engaged position wherein the safety restraint element contacts and restrains the lower legs and the feet of the occupant against the leg-rest, mitigating against occupant knee hyperextension due to leg straightening at an occupant knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mitesh Lalwala, Manuel Forero Rueda
  • Patent number: 11981281
    Abstract: The invention relates a vehicle seat group (10) for a vehicle (100) having at least two vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18), a table (22) and a vehicle occupant restraint system (20) having at least one restraint element, wherein at least two vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18) of the vehicle seat group (10) can be aligned toward each other in their seat length direction (S), wherein the table (22) is arranged between the vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18), in particular at a center console (30), wherein at least one restraint element of the vehicle occupant restraint system (20) is disposed in and/or at the table (22). In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising such vehicle seat group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Loreen-Marie Binder, Sina Chlod, Lisa Wagner
  • Patent number: 11981282
    Abstract: When an occupant has moved from a normal seating position, a case can occur where a hood-type airbag cannot be expanded and deployed since the airbag is stopped in the process of expansion and deployment due to contact with the head of the occupant. An airbag device is provided having an airbag, and an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag. In an expanded and deployed state where expansion and deployment of the airbag has been finished, the airbag includes a head protection chamber for blanketing an occupant from a vertex part of the head to a temporal part of the head, and a pair of lateral part protection chambers that are arranged on both of the left/right sides of the head protection chamber and that blanket lateral sides of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ito, Yutaka Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11981283
    Abstract: A rear-seat airbag configured to expand and deploy inward of a vehicle from a door trim beside a rear seat includes a first expansion air chamber and a second expansion air chamber. The first expansion air chamber is configured to expand and deploy to a space facing leg parts of a passenger in the rear seat that are above knees of the passenger. The second expansion air chamber is configured to expand and deploy to a space between the first expansion air chamber and the passenger in the rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11981284
    Abstract: A deployable flap hinge includes a flap part (2) corresponding to a flap (A). The flap part (2) has a flap upper part (4) and a flap lower part (5), a body part (3) corresponding to a vehicle body (B), a first joint assembly (6) connecting the flap part (2) and the body part (3) in an articulated manner, and a second joint assembly (7) connecting the flap upper part (4) and the flap lower part (5) to one another in an articulated manner. The flap upper part (4) can be swivelled relative to the flap lower part (5) between a resting position and a deployed position. The deployable flap hinge also includes a locking assembly (40) for locking the deploying movement of the flap upper part (4), and a pretensioning device (10) for pretensioning the flap upper part (4) in the direction of the deployed position. The pretensioning device (10) includes a pretensioning element (11) formed as a single piece from a part of the flap hinge (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: EDSCHA ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventor: Fabian Küllmer
  • Patent number: 11981285
    Abstract: Provided in this disclosure is an antitheft system for an automotive catalytic converter including a wire loop for conducting a current to establish an electrical circuit. One or more hose clamps are provided for securing some or all of the wire loop alongside a vehicle exhaust system including the catalytic converter. A monitoring circuit is in electrical communication with the wire loop, for monitoring the electrical circuit established in the wire loop. A detector circuit is connected to the monitoring circuit, for detecting a discontinuity in the electrical circuit indicative of a disconnection of the wire loop. An alarm circuit is connected to the detector circuit, for activating an alarm upon detection of the discontinuity in the electrical circuit. An arming circuit includes a detection circuit for detecting insertion of a removable key, and another detection circuit for detecting insertion of the wire loop which establishes the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SWIVLER, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. White, Nick J. Smit