Responsive To Engagement Of Portion Of Perimeter Of Vehicle With External Object Patents (Class 180/274)
  • Patent number: 11970065
    Abstract: A vehicle control device, a vehicle control system and a vehicle are provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the vehicle control device includes a first resistor circuit, a comparator, a control switch, and a second resistor circuit; the comparator is configured to receive a first voltage from the air bag module and output a high level signal to the control switch to enable the control switch to be switched on according to the high level signal, enable a battery management system to be grounded after the control switch is switched on, and enable the battery management system to be powered off after the battery management system is grounded, where the first voltage is sent out by the air bag module when a vehicle collision event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Great Wall Motor Company Limited
    Inventors: Tengfei Guo, Zelin Gao, Wei Meng, Pengfei Xing, Chao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11964622
    Abstract: Proposed are a vehicle occupant protection apparatus and method. A vehicle sensor detects a target present around a vehicle. A drive unit is configured to increase a space between a side structure of the vehicle and an occupant in the event of a side collision between the vehicle and the target collide. A space control unit controls the drive unit in response to detection information detected by the vehicle sensor to protect the occupant from the side structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dae Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 11933889
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a vehicle includes a holding device holding a sensor and a connection arrangement connecting a holding device to a vehicle component. The connection arrangement moves the holding device between an operating position and at least one protecting position. The connection arrangement includes at least one lever arrangement that moves the holding device from the operating position to the at least one protecting position in response to an application of a collision force against the vehicle such that the holding device moves in at least one spatial direction including a first spatial direction, which corresponds to a first force component of the collision force. The connection arrangement includes at least one restoring arrangement that generates a restoring force applied against the at least one lever arrangement to move the holding device from the protecting position back to the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Max Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11914031
    Abstract: A mount for securing an element such as a radar transceiver on a vehicle includes a bracket securable to a vehicle bumper or other component. A cover plate is securable to the vehicle component opposite the bracket, and fasteners are extended through the cover plate and the bracket to clamp the bracket and the cover plate against opposite sides of the vehicle component, with the radar transceiver or other element located between the cover plate and a base of the bracket. An alignment arrangement may be included to permit changes to the positioning of the radar transceiver or other element between the cover plate and the base of the bracket for proper transceiver alignment. A process of securing a radar transceiver or other element on a vehicle is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mitchell, Robert J. Custer
  • Patent number: 11912226
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle provided with a door and a side sill includes an airbag and an application state detector. The airbag is deployed from a container to be disposed on a lower side of the door on a vehicle body to a region on a vehicle-widthwise outside of the door. The application state detector detects a load application state of a load from the airbag to the vehicle body. The airbag includes a first air chamber, a second air chamber, and an internal pressure controller. The first air chamber transmits a load applied from the vehicle-widthwise outside to a side surface of the side sill. The second air chamber couples a lower part of the first air chamber and the container. The internal pressure controller controls an internal pressure of the second air chamber based on the load application state detected by the application state detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11904676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, comprising a rear end, a front end located forwardly of the rear end, a chassis extending between the rear end and the front end, a battery protection structure provided at the rear end of the vehicle, the battery protection structure comprising a frame portion defining an opening for housing a traction battery, the frame portion having a rear side and a front side, and a projecting portion which projects forwardly from the frame portion and which is connected to the chassis at the rear end of the vehicle, wherein the projecting portion is configured to remain in a fixed connection relative to the chassis under normal operating conditions and to move forwardly along the chassis when the rear side of the frame portion is subjected to a forwardly directed impact force which is greater than a threshold force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Jesper Blomstrand
  • Patent number: 11897414
    Abstract: Please substitute the new Abstract submitted herewith for the original Abstract: A hinge system of a hood of a vehicle has a hinge which is arranged between the hood and a mating element of the vehicle. The hinge is designed both for opening the hood and for raising the hood when the latter is in the closed state, and includes a lifting-piston actuator for initiating a raising movement of the hood. The lifting-piston actuator has a piston element which can be connected to the hinge and/or the hood in a form-fitting manner in order to limit freedom of movement of the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Boiger, Michael Kelm, Walter Meierhofer, Walter Widl
  • Patent number: 11899488
    Abstract: A pedal system for a vehicle, a vehicle including such a pedal system, a method for manufacturing such a pedal system and a method for operating such a pedal system. The pedal system includes a pedal arm, a support member, a first locking unit and a second locking unit. The pedal arm is arranged at the support member pivotably around the support member. The first locking unit is arranged at the support member and couplable with the pedal arm to move the pedal arm to a first position. The second locking unit is connected to the pedal arm to release the pedal arm to a second position. The first locking unit is different from the second locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Marcel Kapocs, Mickael Larsen
  • Patent number: 11897405
    Abstract: A collision prediction determination device of a subject vehicle includes: a surrounding area sensor (a camera/radar/lidar) configured to acquire surrounding area information which is information on an object present in a first monitor area including an area ahead of the subject vehicle in a traveling direction thereof; a proximity sensor (a sonar/pressure tube sensor) configured to acquire proximity information on proximity of the subject vehicle including information on a contact thereof with an object present in a second monitor area which is an area in a proximity of the subject vehicle; an interspace sensor (a sonar) configured to acquire interspace information which is information on an interspace between an in-vehicle component (a bulkhead/bumper beam) and a bumper member (a front bumper) disposed on the subject vehicle; and a collision prediction determination part configured to predict and determine a state of a collision of the subject vehicle with a vulnerable road user, including whether or not th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Umezawa, Kenyu Okamura, Hidetoshi Nakamura, Hyejin Bae
  • Patent number: 11872951
    Abstract: An occupant protection system may comprise an airtight, deformable container having a pressure sensor configured to generate a vehicle collision signal. A side airbag may be configured to expand between a stowed state and a deployed state. A deployment control system may be configured to receive the vehicle collision signal from the pressure sensor, and based upon the vehicle collision signal, cause an inflator to provide a gas to the airbag to thereby cause the side airbag to expand from the stowed state to the deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Joao Pedro Damasio Simoes De Oliveira
  • Patent number: 11872952
    Abstract: A collision damage reduction device to be applied to a vehicle provided with a door and a side sill includes an airbag and a door beam. The airbag is deployed from a container disposed on a lower side of the door to a region on a vehicle-widthwise outside of the door. The airbag includes a first air chamber and a second air chamber. After being deployed, the first air chamber has an upper end disposed higher than the door beam and a lower end disposed lower than an upper end of the side sill, at least within a range in which its position in a vehicle front-rear direction overlaps with a seating surface of a seat. The second air chamber extends across a lower part of the first air chamber and the container, and has a lower internal pressure than the first air chamber after being deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11858741
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that cause a robot to traverse along a route based on a minimum distance to be maintained between the autonomous mobile robot and an obstacle corresponding to a first mode. The robot determines that the route cannot be continued without a distance between the robot and a detected obstacle becoming less than the minimum distance, and responsively determines whether the route can be continued without the distance between the robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than a second minimum distance less than the initial minimum distance, the second minimum distance corresponding to a second mode. Responsive to determining that the route can be continued without the distance between the autonomous mobile robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than the second minimum distance, the robot is configured to operate in second mode and continues traversal of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Gideon Brothers d.o.o.
    Inventors: Josip Cesic, Tomislav Haus, Matija Zigic
  • Patent number: 11845399
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recording video of a driver in a vehicle and a surrounding visual field of the driver. The system includes a detachable body coupled to a windshield of a vehicle. The system further includes three or more cameras coupled to the detachable body. The three or more cameras are configured to capture surrounding views from the detachable body. One of the three or more cameras faces a driver seat of the vehicle in response to the detachable body being coupled to the windshield of the vehicle. The video may be processed by the system, the cloud, or a combination of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: NETRADYNE, INC.
    Inventors: David Jonathan Julian, Sandeep Pandya, Adam David Kahn, Michael Campos, Avneesh Agrawal, Venkata Sreekanta Reddy Annapureddy, Lance Steven Hetherington, Tejeswara Rao Gudena, Suresh Babu Yanamala, Arun Valiaparambil
  • Patent number: 11814005
    Abstract: A curtain airbag apparatus which can smoothly expand an airbag cushion even with a low gas ejection pressure of an inflator. A curtain airbag apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an outer cushion provided on an upper side of a pillar constituting a vehicle along a forward and backward direction of the vehicle to be expandable; a plurality of inner cushions which are fixed to an inner side of the outer cushion along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle to be spaced apart from each other and are independently expandable; and inflators disposed in the plurality of inner cushions, respectively, so as to eject gas into the inner cushions so that the inner cushions are expanded by generation of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 11814002
    Abstract: A door-mounted air bag and a control method for deploying the same are proposed. The door-mounted air bag is configured to minimize injuries to a passenger on a two-wheeled vehicle and a passenger in a vehicle when the passenger on the two-wheeled vehicle hits a door, and the door-mounted air bag includes a door-mounted air bag including: an air bag mounted to a door, and a cushion provided in the air bag and configured to be deployed in an inward direction of the door, and configured to be deployed in a form that covers an inner surface of a door trim and an edge of a door rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Hoon Ko, Seok Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11780512
    Abstract: An active front deflector assembly having a deflector panel, actuator, and linkage assemblies each with a predetermined geometry and ratio of links to each other for movement of the active front deflector assembly between at least a deployed position and a retracted position. The deflector panel is positionable at multiple heights. The assembly deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, redirects the air flow in the front of the vehicle to improve the vehicle aerodynamics for either fuel economy or performance characteristics. Additionally, it allows for the deflector panel to retract so the vehicle meets ground clearances, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. A drive shaft transmits the drive from one side to the other side. The deflector is both rigid and semi rigid to absorb impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffry J. Zielinski, Anthony J. Povinelli, Martin R. Matthews, Jeffrey B. Manhire
  • Patent number: 11769356
    Abstract: A collision is analysed by receiving telematics data relating to a collision and determining a feature of the collision. An entity may be notified of said collision based on the determined features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Xtract360 Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Flanagan, Joseph Hitchen, Cillian Bourke
  • Patent number: 11755031
    Abstract: An automated guided vehicle system including at least one automated guided vehicle (AGV) for following predetermined magnetic paths on a ground surface to carry cargo to selected points on the paths. The AGV includes a chassis, top plate mounted on the chassis for receipt of cargo, a pair of driving wheels coupled to driving motors, and plural passive omni-wheels. Control and navigation circuitry is provided to operate the motors to drive the driving wheels to cause the AGV to follow a desired one of the paths. The AGV provides illumination indicating its direction of travel and status. It also includes laser scanners for obstacle detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Barcoding, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brucker, Jeffrey Grabner, John William Cross, Joseph Robinson
  • Patent number: 11745685
    Abstract: The present description relates to an occupant protecting system for a vehicle, a vehicle comprising such an occupant protecting system and an occupant protecting method for such a vehicle. The occupant protecting system comprises a seat assembly, a sensor unit, an actuator unit and a control unit. The sensor unit is configured to generate crash monitoring data of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to determine a crash type based on the crash monitoring data in case of a collision of the vehicle. The actuator unit comprises a pyrotechnic element. The actuator unit is arranged at the seat assembly and capable to adjust a position of the seat assembly. The control unit is configured to cause the actuator unit based on the crash type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sunitha Karthikeya Bharathi
  • Patent number: 11745695
    Abstract: A pedestrian airbag device includes an airbag, which is housed folded in a vicinity of a rear end of a hood panel, and an inflator that supplies an inflating gas to the airbag. The airbag includes a vehicle body side wall portion disposed on a body side when inflation is completed, and a pedestrian side wall portion disposed opposing the vehicle body side wall portion. An internal pressure maintenance chamber is enclosed by a peripheral wall coupled to the vehicle body side wall portion and the pedestrian side wall portion, and is configured such that an inflating gas discharged from the inflator can flow into an interior via a general inflating portion in the airbag. A check valve mechanism that prevents a backflow to the general inflating portion side of the inflating gas that has flowed into the interior is disposed in the internal pressure maintenance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ozeki, Akira Yasuda, Taizo Suemitsu, Kimihiko Hyodo
  • Patent number: 11741824
    Abstract: A vehicle with an emergency reporting function includes a processor, a vehicle communication device, a first calling device, and a vehicle outside occupant detector. The processor determines, by means of the vehicle outside occupant detector, whether an occupant who has been present inside the vehicle before an emergency is present inside the vehicle or outside the vehicle after the emergency. If the occupant is present inside the vehicle after the emergency, the processor uses the first calling device to enable a communication between an occupant inside the vehicle and an operator terminal. If the occupant is present outside the vehicle after the emergency, the processor additionally uses a second calling device to enable a communication between an occupant present outside or inside the vehicle and the operator terminal. The second calling device allows for a communication outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatoshi Tsuge
  • Patent number: 11731580
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an overall airbag system of an autonomous vehicle uses a combination of sensors to deploy one or more external airbags in advance of a collision or as a collision occurs, for the purpose of protecting vulnerable persons. By using sensor data, combined with perception and prediction algorithms, an autonomous driving system may deploy a substantially optimal combination of external airbags for a given the size of a vulnerable person, vehicle speed, and/or collision timing. In addition to cushioning impact during a collision, the deployment of multiple external airbags may also control kinematics of vulnerable persons, as for example by addressing brain injuries in pedestrians due to rotational kinematics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: NURO, INC.
    Inventor: Marshall Dickens Haltom
  • Patent number: 11719025
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle latch device including a latch body capable of being lifted up in a state of latching a striker provided to a hood of a vehicle; a position holder that holds a position of the latch body on a vehicle body side during a normal time; and an actuator that is interposed between the latch body and the position holder and lifts up the latch body at a time of pop-up. On the position holder, a striker releaser is disposed which releases a latched state of the striker latched by a latch of a latch mechanism provided to the latch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutada Sasaki, Chisato Suetsugu, Shin Saeki, Csaba Szente, Ioan Dorin Ilea
  • Patent number: 11718138
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steering actuator configured to steer a front wheel, an actuator control unit configured to control the steering actuator, a collision determination unit configured to determine whether or not a collision has occurred in a host vehicle, and a riding determination unit configured to determine whether or not an occupant is riding the host vehicle. When it is determined that a collision has occurred and determined that no occupant is riding the host vehicle, the actuator control unit executes a step of positioning the front wheel at a position deviating from a central position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Uchisasai, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Takayuki Abe, Hiroshi Maeda, Kineo Tomura
  • Patent number: 11702023
    Abstract: An assembly of a dash for a vehicle includes a first plate and a second plate movable along an axis away from the first plate. The second plate moves from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The assembly includes a spring between the first plate and the second plate that biases the second plate toward the deployed position. The assembly includes a post extending along the axis from the second plate through the first plate. The assembly includes a pin releasably engaging the post with the first plate in the undeployed position. The assembly includes a release supported by the first plate and connected to the pin. The pin is disengageable from the post transverse to the axis by the release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11702031
    Abstract: An exterior protection apparatus for a vehicle includes an exterior airbag device, a collision detector, and a controller. The exterior airbag device includes a bag body, and an inflator configured to expand the bag body over a hood of a vehicle body of the vehicle in a state of having a width corresponding to a vehicle width of the vehicle body of the vehicle. The collision detector is configured to predict or detect a collision between the vehicle body and a person outside the vehicle. The controller is configured to cause the bag body of the exterior airbag device to be expanded in a case where the collision detector predicts or detects the collision. The exterior airbag device includes a flexible crossing member configured to extend along a direction of the vehicle width on an upper surface of the bag body widely expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11691579
    Abstract: A vehicle shock absorbing structure provided on the vehicle includes a shock absorbing member and a bracket. The shock absorbing member is disposed on a front end of the vehicle so as to extend in a vehicle width direction. The shock absorbing member includes a front end serving as a collision portion. The bracket includes a front end coupled to a rear end of the shock absorbing member. The bracket interposed between the shock absorbing member and a vehicle body. A deformation control member that extends forward and obliquely upward is provided in a coupling portion at which the bracket is coupled to the shock absorbing member. The deformation control member is more fragile than a front portion of the shock absorbing member that in front of the coupling portion and a rear portion of the bracket in rear of the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11667333
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a front side frame extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body; a side frame disposed laterally outside the front side frame in a vehicle width direction and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and a damper housing disposed laterally inside the side frame in the vehicle width direction. The side frame extends obliquely in a frontward and downward direction from a bent portion formed in proximity to the damper housing, and has a rectangular cross-section formed by a U-shaped member having a generally U-shaped cross-section and a lid member disposed on an open side of the U-shaped member. A first bendable portion is formed at a front end portion of the side frame by setting a strength of the lid member lower than a strength of the U-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Abiko, Ryo Kita, Yuta Deguchi
  • Patent number: 11654846
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a front wheel well. The vehicle includes an inflatable device that is a thermoplastic elastomer. The inflatable device is inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The vehicle body defines a cavity and the inflatable device has a forward chamber and a rearward chamber disposed in the cavity in the undeployed position. The forward chamber expands vehicle-forward from the vehicle body into the wheel well from the undeployed position to the deployed position. The rearward chamber expands vehicle-rearward along the cavity from the undeployed position to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11654849
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes an airbag, a collision determiner, and an airbag deployment controller. The airbag is configured to be deployed forward of a vehicle body front of the vehicle. The collision determiner is configured to establish a human-body pre-crash determination in a case where a collision probability with a human body is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. The airbag deployment controller is configured to deploy the airbag in response to the human-body pre-crash determination. The airbag includes a pulling member configured to pull and recess a front surface of the airbag rearward of the vehicle so as to form a slit portion configured to divide a front portion of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11630477
    Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes pedal assemblies including pedal arms and pedal pads that are rotated rearwards and are thus popped up to a driver so as to be operated by the driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. Also, the pedal assemblies including the pedal arms and the pedal pads may be rotated forwards and upwards, so as to be located close to a front surface of a footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state in which exposure of the pedal assemblies to the driver is interrupted so as not to be operated by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11623593
    Abstract: A motor vehicle deformation device has two elements moveable together in a collision event and optionally locked. A locking device has a first centrifugal lever pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis located on the first element, a first torsion spring operatively connected to the first lever, a first rolling surface and a first contact surface arranged distally to same, as well as an identically designed second centrifugal lever neighboring the first lever. In a low-speed collision, the two levers each swivel such that the two rolling surfaces are in contact with one another and the two contact surfaces each rest against a corresponding receiving surface on the second element. In a pedestrian accident situation, the two levers each swivel such that the two rolling surfaces are in contact with one another, while the first and second contact surfaces are at a distance from the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oeztzan Akif, Gerhard Fichtinger, Wilhelm Riedl
  • Patent number: 11618388
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a hood at a front end, a frunk under the hood, and a cabin. The vehicle includes a cross-beam positioned between the frunk and the cabin, and configured to inhibit protrusion of the frunk into the cabin in a frontal impact. The vehicle also includes a frame and the cross-beam is coupled to the frame. The cross-beam is a unitary member that is coupled to the frame or the cross-beam includes two members separated by a gap and each member is coupled to the frame. The frame includes shock towers for coupling the cross-beam to the frame. The frame can also include a bracket for coupling the cross beam to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Gombert, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Vinay Satya, Mikolaj Tyksinski, Marcela Arana, Mary A. Mason
  • Patent number: 11615632
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device is provided to detect an abnormal posture of a driver of a vehicle based on information of an image captured by an imaging unit for which an imaging region is defined to image a head of the driver. The abnormality detection device is configured to define at least one premonition region in a range in which the head is supposed to be positioned in process of transitioning from a normal posture to the abnormal posture in the imaging region. When the head stays in a premonition region, the abnormality detection device determines that the driver is in a state of the abnormal posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukiyasu Yoshimura, Hiroshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11603062
    Abstract: A protection system for a motor vehicle having a sensor for determining an angle of inclination of the motor vehicle about its longitudinal axis. An airbag attached on an outside of the motor vehicle. A processing device designed to detect a risk that the motor vehicle may tip over, on the basis of the inclination angle determined, and in that case activates the airbag. The airbag can be pivoted in the vertical direction from an area close to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Schieß
  • Patent number: 11590926
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for adjusting a front hood of a motor vehicle including a first drivetrain for producing a first drive movement between a flap-side drive connection and a body-side drive connection and when the first drivetrain is in a normal state the first drive movement opens the flap from a closed position to an open position. A second drivetrain for producing a second drive movement between a flap-side drive connection and a body-side drive connection to open the flap from the closed position to a collision position so that by means of the second drive movement of the second drive the first drivetrain changes from a normal state to a bypass state, in which a first strand component of the first drivetrain moves relative to a second strand component of the first drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Sebastian Pfeifer, Matthias Rauscher, Rocco Di Benedetto
  • Patent number: 11584331
    Abstract: A hinge for a vehicle hood is provided. The hinge includes a hinge lower fixed to a vehicle body, and a hinge upper fixed to the hood and rotatably supported relative to the hinge lower. The hinge upper includes a first member rotatably supported relative to the hinge lower, and a second member fixed to the hood and relatively movable relative to the first member. The hinge further includes a first lock configured to be engageable with the first member to restrict rotation of the first member relative to the hinge lower. The first member and the second member are integrally rotatable relative to the hinge lower in a normal operation of opening and closing the hood. When the hood is caused to pop up, the first lock engages with the first member and the second member is relatively movable relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutada Sasaki, Chisato Suetsugu, Shin Saeki, Thomas Wood
  • Patent number: 11577595
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear structure of an electric vehicle may include: a high-voltage device arranged in a rear portion of the electric vehicle, wherein the high-voltage device is included in an electric powertrain of the electric vehicle or is electrically connected to the electric powertrain, and the high-voltage device is operable on a voltage over AC 30 or DC 60 volts; a low-voltage device arranged rearward of the high-voltage device at a same height level as the high-voltage device, wherein the low-voltage device is operable at a voltage lower than AC 30 or DC 60 volts; and a crossmember passing between the high-voltage device and the low-voltage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Iwao Furukawa, Ryotaro Takami
  • Patent number: 11568470
    Abstract: An autonomous robot vehicle includes a front side and an energy absorbing system. The front side includes a front bumper and a front face including a frame defining a cavity. The energy absorbing system includes an energy absorbing member mounted in the cavity of the frame, and an inflatable airbag. The energy absorbing member is configured to reduce impact on an object struck by the autonomous robot vehicle. The inflatable airbag is mounted on the front side of the autonomous robot vehicle such that when the inflatable airbag is deployed, the inflatable airbag is external to the autonomous robot vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NURO, INC
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu, Nick Vines, Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 11565652
    Abstract: The present invention provides an external airbag system for a vehicle, the external airbag system including a detection sensor configured to detect an object moving at a rear or lateral side of a vehicle, an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which a door of the vehicle is mounted, the airbag cushion being configured to be deployed to extend in a leftward/rightward direction of the vehicle in a state in which the door of the vehicle is opened, and a control unit configured to perform control to deploy the airbag cushion when the detection sensor detects the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Seok Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 11560118
    Abstract: A drive assembly, in particular for driving a flap (5), includes a hinge assembly (2), comprising a first hinge part (3) connectable to a vehicle body and a second hinge part (4) connectable to a vehicle flap (5), a joint assembly (7) comprising at least a first joint part (8) hingedly connecting said first hinge part (3) with said second hinge part (4) and a first actuator (10) for driving the second hinge part (4) to move between an opened and a closed position during a normal operation. The first actuator (10) has a first end (10a) coupleable to a vehicle body pivotally about a first pivot axis (P1) and a second end (10b). The drive assembly also includes a bearing element connected (16) to the first actuator (10) and a coupling assembly (14) for coupling the first actuator (10) to the hinge assembly (2), comprising a first coupling part (15) having a first end (15a) and a second end (15b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: EDSCHA ENGINERRING GMBH
    Inventors: Srinath Polisetty, Marc Milam, Christoph Meese, James Bong, Katharina Freund, Dan Tabacaru
  • Patent number: 11560109
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes airbags, a pre-crash determiner, an airbag deployment controller, and an airbag contraction controller. The airbags are configured to be deployed forward of a vehicle body front of the vehicle, and are disposed in a vehicle width direction. The pre-crash determiner is configured to establish a pre-crash determination when a probability of a collision with an object is a predetermined value or higher. The airbag deployment controller is configured to deploy the airbags in response to establishment of the pre-crash determination. The airbag contraction controller is configured to control contraction of the airbags individually, and perform side airbag contraction control by contracting one of the airbags that is on one side in the vehicle width direction and in a region where the collision with the object is occurring, and keeping deployed another one or more of the airbags in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11554748
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a system that supports an undeployed airbag is arranged to enable the airbag to be substantially cradled while undeployed, and to enable the airbag to be deployed in a manner that substantially protects a vehicle panel positioned over the airbag from being severely damaged when the airbag deploys. Such a system may enable the undeployed airbag to be attached to the vehicle panel such that the panel may deform upon deployment of the airbag to substantially absorb some deployment energy. The absorption of some deployment energy may effectively reduce the likelihood of a person being injured, or an object being severely damaged, upon contact with a deploying or deployed airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NURO, INC
    Inventor: Marshall Dickens Haltom
  • Patent number: 11549961
    Abstract: An impact detection system for a vehicle and an impact detection method therefore are provided. The impact detection system includes an impact value calculator that determines an impact value corresponding to a magnitude of an impact applied to a vehicle, an impact location estimator that estimates a location to which the impact is applied in the vehicle and generates an impact location signal including a parameter value corresponding to the estimated location, and an effective impact determining device that compares the impact value with an impact detection reference value for each location of the vehicle, corresponding to the parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyoung Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11531318
    Abstract: Embodiments of welding work cells are disclosed. One embodiment includes a workpiece positioning system, a welding power source, and a welding job sequencer. The workpiece positioning system powers an elevating motion and a rotational motion of a workpiece mounted between a headstock and a tailstock to re-position the workpiece for a next weld to be performed. The welding power source generates welding output power based on a set of welding parameters of the power source. The welding job sequencer commands the workpiece positioning system to re-position the workpiece from a current position to a next position in accordance with a next step of a welding sequence of a welding schedule. The welding job sequencer also commands the welding power source to adjust a current set of welding parameters to a next set of welding parameters in accordance with the next step of the welding sequence of the welding schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad J. Goddard, Thomas C. Banks, Mark A. Hann, Shaun A. Zahradka, Ryan J. Rezabek, Bradley R. Petersen, Charles R. Schlue, Bruce J. Chantry, Joseph A. Daniel
  • Patent number: 11518332
    Abstract: An airbag operating apparatus for a vehicle may include: a sensing signal input unit configured to receive a sensing signal; a plurality of squib driving units including input ports connected in parallel to one another, having internal resistances set different from one another, installed to correspond to a plurality of airbags, respectively, and configured to drive the corresponding airbags when reaching an ignition current value according to airbag deployment signals; a storage unit configured to store the internal resistances of the plurality of squib driving units and output voltages of the airbag deployment signals according to deployment situations; and a control unit configured to receive the sensing signal from the sensing signal input unit, determine situations for deploying the plurality of airbags, and output the airbag deployment signals as output voltages to the input ports of the plurality of squib driving units according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chung Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 11513550
    Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus of a vehicle may have a configuration in which an accelerator pedal assembly and a brake pedal assembly are rotated in a rearward direction from a vehicle body panel and are popped-up to be exposed toward a driver to allow the pedal assemblies to be capable of being controlled when in a situation of manual driving mode, and in which the pedal assemblies are rotated in a frontward direction and are inserted in respective panel grooves of the vehicle body panel so that the pedal assemblies are in a hidden state where exposure thereof toward the driver is blocked to allow the pedal assemblies to be unable to be controlled in a situation of autonomous driving mode where the driver does not directly drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11491936
    Abstract: A collision detection device includes an impact absorber and a collision detector. The impact absorber extends along a vehicle width direction between a bumper face and a bumper beam of a vehicle, and is configured to absorb impact by being deformed upon collision of the vehicle. The collision detector extends along the vehicle width direction, includes a lower collision detector and an upper collision detector, and is configured to detect that the collision has occurred by being deformed upon the collision of the vehicle. The upper collision detector has greater flexibility than the lower collision detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Yanagisawa, Issey Syudo, Yuta Kishi, Keisuke Ishigami
  • Patent number: 11485314
    Abstract: An airbag device for pedestrian protection includes means for shrinking and tying an airbag after deployment toward the storage. The airbag device includes a protecting sheet that is folded together with the airbag and stored in the storage, and a wrapping sheet that wraps the airbag as folded. The protecting sheet includes a main body and a plurality of straps disposed in a periphery of the main body. The wrapping sheet includes a rupturable portion that is configured to rupture and split the wrapping sheet into a front portion and a rear portion at airbag deployment, and a plurality of through holes each for receiving the straps in a vicinity of the rupturable portion in the front portion. The deployed airbag is shrank and tied toward the storage by passing the straps through the through holes and tying them so the straps do not come off of the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ozeki, Akira Yasuda, Taizo Suemitsu
  • Patent number: 11485256
    Abstract: A seat sliding structure for a vehicle includes: a pair of left and right slide rails that include upper rails, which are attached to a lower portion of a vehicle seat, and lower rails, which support the upper rails such that the upper rails can slide in a vehicle longitudinal direction; rail guiding members that are fixed to a floor panel, and that support the lower rails such that the lower rails can slide in the vehicle longitudinal direction between a driving position at a vehicle front side and a relaxation position at a vehicle rear side; and a locking mechanism that locks movement of the slide rails at the relaxation position, and that releases a locked state when a frontal collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shiro Nakano