With Actuating Means For Moving Patents (Class 296/97.4)
  • Patent number: 12043252
    Abstract: An advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and method for a vehicle include a light intensity detection system configured to detect a set of light density changes proximate to a face of a driver of the vehicle, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication system, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) system, and a controller configured to detect a current glare condition based on the set of detected light density changes from the light intensity detection system, share, using the V2X communication system, the detected current glare condition and the corresponding GNSS location, based on the sharing and another set of parameters, determine whether the vehicle is likely to experience a future glare condition during a future period, and in response to determining that the vehicle is likely to experience the future glare condition during the future period, at least one remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Nandita Mangal, Michael H. Laur
  • Patent number: 12012150
    Abstract: A windshield and roof system of a vehicle includes: a windshield that includes glass and that is transparent; a front cross-member that extends laterally between A-pillars of the vehicle, that is disposed rearward of the windshield, and that has a thickness in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle of less than 50 millimeters (mm); and a roof portion that is transparent, that is located rearward of the windshield, where the windshield and the roof portion are joined with the front cross-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Allen Newcomb, Julien P. Mourou
  • Patent number: 11858319
    Abstract: An automatic sunvisor assembly for vehicle is disclosed. The automatic sunvisor assembly comprises sunvisor(s) positioned over the front seats of the vehicle, ambient light sensor positioned inside the vehicle adapted to sense the intensity of sunlight; a processor to collect and compare the intensity of sunlight sensed by the ambient sensors in real time; and two high-torque servo motors connected to each of the sunvisors to move the at least one sunvisor. The processor identifies the ambient light sensor sensing higher intensity of sunlight, generates signals, and transmits signals to the high-torque servo motor, and the signals received by the high-torque servo motor determines a direction of movement of the sunvisor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Mirza Faizan
  • Patent number: 11858318
    Abstract: A system for vehicular power shade control is provided. The system includes a power shade operable to selectively deploy and retract in relation to a corresponding window of a vehicle, a sensor providing data related to the vehicle, and a computerized power shade controller. The computerized power shade controller operates programming to monitor the data from the sensor, compare the data to a threshold value, and generate a command to the power shade based upon the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Elliott D. Keen
  • Patent number: 11837112
    Abstract: A display device or a driving support system which enables a driver to obtain information easily is provided. A display device or a driving support system which is unlikely to impose a burden on a driver is provided. A display device or a driving support system which is suitable for space saving is provided. A display device or a driving support system which is capable of large-area display is provided. A display device or a driving support system which does not impair the aesthetic appearance of the car interior is provided. The display device includes a display panel which has flexibility and can be transformed between a first form and a second form, and a driving means having a function of reversibly changing the display panel between the first form and the second form. The first form is a form in which a display surface of the display panel is suspended, and the second form is a form in which the display panel is stored upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Yoshizumi, Ryota Tajima
  • Patent number: 11780301
    Abstract: A blinding arrangement for shielding a vehicle front windshield. The blinding arrangement includes at least one blinding system which includes a cassette, a spannable blinding body which can be moved out of and into the cassette, a horizontal upper guide rail for guiding the spannable blinding body in a horizontal direction, and a cassette locking arrangement. The horizontal upper guide rail is fixedly mounted above the vehicle front windscreen. The cassette pivots within a cassette pivot plane between a horizontal non-use position in which the cassette is arranged parallel to the horizontal upper guide rail and a lowered use position in which the cassette is arranged perpendicular to the horizontal upper guide rail. The cassette locking arrangement locks the cassette in the horizontal non-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: REMIS GESELLSCHAFT FUER ENTWICKLUNG UND VERTRIEB VON TECHNISCHEN ELEMENTEN MBH
    Inventors: Alexander Bornholdt, Thomas Borowski
  • Patent number: 11697328
    Abstract: A door curtain assembly having a sub-curtain unit is provided and includes a main fabric that is wound in a trim of a vehicle door; and a main shade bar that is installed in an upper end of the main fabric and fixed to a hook provided in the door when the main fabric is deployed. A sub-curtain part is additionally deployed after the main curtain part is deployed. The sub-curtain part includes a sub-housing having a first side hinge-coupled to the door and a second side interlocked with ascending or descending of the main shade bar. Additionally, a sub-fabric is wound in the sub-housing and a sub-shade bar is installed in an end portion of the sub-fabric in a length direction of the sub-housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 11505040
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a vehicle body including a vehicle cabin; at least one wheel disposed along one direction in the vehicle body; a seat disposed inside the vehicle cabin; a first planar member that is fixed to the vehicle body, separates the vehicle cabin from an outside of the vehicle, is disposed further toward the outside of the vehicle than the seat in the one direction, and has a first transmittance for visible light; a second planar member that is allowed to be disposed between the first planar member and the seat, and has a second transmittance for visible light that is smaller than the first transmittance; and an input device. The second planar member is disposed between the first planar member and the seat in a case where a predetermined input is performed on the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishio, Takuma Masuda, Motohiro Aoki, Yuhei Yamamoto, Naoki Usui, Satoshi Tanigawa, Takayuki Moriwaki, Takeshi Kiritoshi, Kazuhiko Kaneuchi
  • Patent number: 11498399
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roller blind system for a vehicle roof, comprising two roller blind assemblies, wherein he roller blind web of the first roller blind assembly is designed to be longer in the extension direction than the roller blind web of the second roller blind assembly. At least one compression-resistant drive cable is provided, a first section of which is firmly attached to a pulling hoop of the first roller blind assembly and a second section of which can be detachably engaged with a pulling hoop of the second roller blind assembly. According to the invention, a locking mechanism is provided, which has an elastically deformable clip-on connection, by means of which the second section of the drive cable can be detachably engaged with the pulling hoop of the second roller blind assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Vasile-Marius Alban, Werner Winkler, Constantin Ardelean, Andrei Popovici, Josef Haas
  • Patent number: 11454814
    Abstract: A display panel with a pixel matrix has control circuitry designed to actuate at least one pixel element of the pixel matrix for displaying at least one graphic display object. The display panel is flexible and is movably supported by a controllable supporting arrangement. An electronic control unit can adjust a position of the display panel as a function of a position signal between a first position, where the display panel can cover at least one portion of a vehicle roof, and a second position, where the display panel can cover at least one portion of a windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Lena Rittger, Joris Mertens, Sung Jun Park, Seung Mo Kang, Jiwon Oh
  • Patent number: 11148509
    Abstract: An automated retractable sun shield system for a vehicle, comprising a sun shield, a deployment mechanism, a roller, a tension bar, and a controller. The sun shield includes a flexible material which blocks sunlight. The deployment mechanism operates to deploy and retract the sun shield. The sun shield wraps around the roller so that the sun shield is in a rolled configuration when the sun shield is retracted and stored. The tension bar guides the sun shield to match a shape of the tension bar when the sun shield is deployed. At least one element comprising the sun shield system is installed and concealed behind a dashboard valence panel of the vehicle. At least one element comprising the sun shield system is installed and concealed behind an interior trim covering a vertical support of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
    Inventor: Onix Isaac Carmona
  • Patent number: 11052859
    Abstract: A roof airbag apparatus including: a first cushion disposed on one side of a panoramic sunroof in a width direction of the panoramic sunroof and connected to an inflator; a second cushion disposed on the other side of the panoramic sunroof in the width direction and connected to the inflator; a first wire connected to the second cushion and connected to the first cushion to pull the second cushion toward the first cushion when the first cushion is deployed; a second wire connected to the first cushion and connected to the second cushion to pull the first cushion toward the second cushion when the second cushion is deployed; and guide anchors on which the first wire and the second wire are movably supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: You Hoe Koo
  • Patent number: 11048105
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle comprising a cabin having a windshield, a tablet holder pivotally connected to an interior surface of the cabin, the tablet holder being pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a tablet detachably mounted to the tablet holder. In one embodiment, the tablet is a transparent tablet that may be configured to dynamically shade its display screen to attenuate incoming light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew Roy
  • Patent number: 9902239
    Abstract: A sun visor system is provided for a motor vehicle. That sun visor system includes a first guide track carried on an A-pillar and a second guide track carried on the rearview mirror support. A retractable sun visor panel has a first end received in the first guide track and a second end received in the second guide track. The retractable sun visor panel is displaceable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position wherein it provides protection from the sun's glare across the entire width of the windshield between the A-pillar and the rearview mirror support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Nania
  • Patent number: 9446714
    Abstract: A vehicle overhead console is provided which includes a conversation mirror assembly having a housing capable of storing a conversation mirror. The conversation mirror may travel between a stored and a use position. The conversation mirror is releasably secured to the stored and use positions by way of magnetic, tab, and spring arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhavani Thota, Ricardo Juarez Favila, Salvador Soriano, Mark Haradean
  • Patent number: 9381791
    Abstract: An electrical system for shading the front windshield of vehicles that comprises a pair of upper cylinders, a pair of inner rods, a pair of sun shade screens, a motor, a pair of lower rods, a lead rod, a spring mechanism, and a vertical rod. The upper cylinder is shaped like a long, hollow pipe with a longitudinal slit, the inner rod is inserted into the upper cylinder and can rotate about its longitudinal axis and the upper edge of the sun shade screen is attached to the inner rod. The spring mechanism includes a spring that its top end is attached to the lead rod. The lead rod is a straight and long rod with a downward bend in the middle. The lead rod is attached to the bottom of the sun shade screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventors: Mordechai Cohen, David Davidi Levi Shatal
  • Patent number: 9108492
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for blocking incident rays from entering an interior cabin of a vehicle. More specifically, an imaging device provided at a predetermined position in the vehicle and photographing an area around a driver's hands and eyes when a driver raises his or her hand to block rays in the direction of a driver's seat. A control unit which receives photographs from the imaging device, acquires an extension line which extends from the eye area to the hand area. A ray blocking mechanism installed in the vehicle accordingly is then controlled and accordingly operated to block the point where the extension line and the windshield glass or the side glass of the driver's seat meet each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Un Kim, Gi Beom Hong, Kwang Myung Oh
  • Publication number: 20140138981
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly to be disposed in a housing unit at a bottom of a vehicle window comprises a shade member having a free end portion adapted to extend outwardly from the housing unit through the slot, a side bar unit, a driving unit, and a pair of guiding units. The side bar unit includes a side bar member connected to the free end portion of the shade member, and a cover member removably connected to the side bar member for covering the slot. The driving unit drives the side bar unit to move the shade member between a retracted state and an extended state. Each guiding unit includes a wheel that contacts rotatably on the vehicle window when the shade member is moved toward or away from the retracted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: MACAUTO INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Publication number: 20140021734
    Abstract: Proposed is a movement device for an interior trim part in a motor vehicle, wherein the movement device comprises a first component and a second component, wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component between a first position and a second position, wherein the movement device comprises an energy store element which is provided for moving the second component in the direction of the first position and/or in the direction of the second position, and wherein the movement device furthermore has a retardation element which partially retards the movement of the second component in the direction of the first position and/or in the direction of the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Welter
  • Publication number: 20130328344
    Abstract: A sunshade apparatus includes: a light blocking sheet to block light at an opening of a vehicle and open the opening; a winding member to which a first edge of the sheet is fixed and which is capable of winding and unwinding the sheet; turning members disposed on both sides of the opening in the width direction; a single rope member adjustably engaged with a second edge of the sheet in the operating direction, extending from both end portions of the second edge respectively toward the light-blocking side in the operating direction, and turning at both of the turning members respectively toward the opening side in the operating direction, and whose both side terminals are respectively fixed to both end portions of the winding member to be capable of being wound and unwound by the winding member; and an urging member to urge the winding member to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Takashi Kitani, Kazuhiko Yoshizawa, Jun Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20130328343
    Abstract: Moto-Auto Visor is an automobile windshield visor that is placed on the dashboard and stuck by 2 suction cups. Moto-Auto Visor helps protect the interior of the vehicle from the Sun's Ultraviolet rays and also keeps it cooler. Moto-Auto Visor is also beneficial to Handicapped Individuals that can't easily remove and install a Sunshade. Moto-Auto Visor opens and closes its shades with Rods connected to the center console, which move in a circular up and down motion. Moto-Auto Visor in its Center Console has a compartment that can store a monetary expressway device and other belongings. Moto-Auto Visor has 3 Variations called Super Deluxe, Deluxe, and Basic. The Super Deluxe can be made to operate by either of 3 ways. First, by on off switch powered by direct or alternating current, secondly by an auxiliary remote control device and third manual. The Deluxe can be made to operate by either of 2 ways, on off switch and manually. While the Basic on manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Gulfstream Visors Inc.
    Inventor: Abel Martinez
  • Patent number: 8511735
    Abstract: A panoramic roof apparatus for a vehicle may include a front roll blind and a rear roll blind that may be slidably mounted to a rail, a worm wheel gear coupled to a motor, first cables connected to both sides of the front roll blind respectively and disposed in parallel each other across the worm wheel gear, and second cables connected to both sides of the rear roll blind respectively and disposed in parallel each other across the worm wheel gear, wherein the first and second cables may be spaced in a predetermined distance along an axial direction of the worm wheel gear, and wherein the worm wheel gear selectively moves along the axial direction thereof and may be selectively engaged with and actuates the first cables or the second cables so as to individually open and close the front roll blind or the rear roll blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ho Ryul Lee
  • Publication number: 20130113234
    Abstract: An Automatic Window Cover of the invention allows a vehicle user to activate motorized window shades that may include a reflective surface to reflect light that may otherwise cause the vehicle to heat up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Eliyahu Horowitz
  • Publication number: 20130076058
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sun visor for shielding sunlight. The sun visor includes a housing. A coupler is inserted at one end into the housing to be taken into or out of the housing, with a fitting member provided on the other end of the coupler. A mover is coupled to one end of the coupler in such a way as to be provided in the housing, with a stopping means provided on one or both sides of the mover. A shielding panel movably is coupled to the fitting member of the coupler to adjust an angle thereof, and shields a driver's eyes from sunlight. A mover guide is provided in the housing, and includes an interference face to control movement of the mover by interference with the stopping means, and a mover guideway to guide the movement of the mover in a space defined by the interference face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HUMMER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hong sub SHIN
  • Patent number: 8246099
    Abstract: A sun visor for a vehicle and method of operating the same which prevents glare caused by light from the sun or headlights and which promotes safe driving without obstructing the field of view of a driver. The invention also features methods for operating the sun visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120146357
    Abstract: An electrically-operated storage assembly for vehicles comprises a car visor, a sliding rail kit, two sliding blocks, a coupling piece, an electrical transmission component, a clamping apparatus, and an object. The car visor is disposed on the vehicle ceiling and has an interior space with an opening on one side of the car visor. The sliding rail kit includes two relatively parallel sliding bars. The two sliding blocks are respectively assembled to correspond to the sliding bars. On the sides of the two sliding blocks facing each other are assembling surfaces whereon radial teeth are disposed. The coupling piece connects the two sliding blocks. The electrical transmission component is fixedly joined to the coupling piece to drive it to move along the axis of the sliding bar. The clamping apparatus has an axial side and two lateral end surfaces, whereon are disposed axle seats to be respectively embedded in corresponding assembling surfaces of the sliding blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Wen-Tse Huang
  • Publication number: 20120139284
    Abstract: A panoramic roof apparatus for a vehicle may include a front roll blind and a rear roll blind that may be slidably mounted to a rail, a worm wheel gear coupled to a motor, first cables connected to both sides of the front roll blind respectively and disposed in parallel each other across the worm wheel gear, and second cables connected to both sides of the rear roll blind respectively and disposed in parallel each other across the worm wheel gear, wherein the first and second cables may be spaced in a predetermined distance along an axial direction of the worm wheel gear, and wherein the worm wheel gear selectively moves along the axial direction thereof and may be selectively engaged with and actuates the first cables or the second cables so as to individually open and close the front roll blind or the rear roll blind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ho Ryul Lee
  • Patent number: 8162376
    Abstract: An electrically-deployable sun visor system for use on motor vehicles wherein the sun visor retracts upward and deploys downward upon a track system, are located on the front windshield and alternately on the side window. The sun visor is operated by a motor-operated gear system wired into the electrical system of the motor vehicle. The sun visor is operated by a dash-mounted switch. The amount of deployment is controlled by holding the switch in either an up or down position for the necessary period of time similar to an electrically operated window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Geoffrey J. Grossmith
  • Patent number: 8146980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle sunshade device 20, which can cover and uncover a rear window provided between a pair of rear pillars 11R and 11L formed in both sides in the vehicle width direction with a screen body 21, and comprising: a winding device 30 for biasing the screen body 21 in its winding-up direction; a pair of guide rails 40R and 40L in both sides in the vehicle width direction of the winding device 30, and capable of being attached to the inner wall of the rear pillar; a pair of sliders 50 fixed at both edges in the vehicle width direction of the screen body 21 respectively, and capable of reciprocately moving within the pair of guide rails 40R and 40L; a drive unit 60 for reciprocately moving the sliders 50 within the guide rails 40R and 40L so as to spread out the screen body 21 against the biasing force of the winding device 30 and wind up the screen body 21 in a spread-out state with the winding device; a temporary joint part 80 for temporarily connecting the pair of guide rails
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Takeuchi, Yoshitaka Joukaku, Daisaku Katou
  • Patent number: 8104822
    Abstract: A vehicle roller blind or a sunshield roller blind for motor vehicles includes a roller blind web which is connected to a thrust element, which is rigid in compression and/or bending-resistant, for tensioning the roller blind web, and having an adjusting device which actuates the thrust element, which is embodied in the manner of a single-strand cable window lifter and which is at least partially encapsulated together with the thrust element. The thrust element and the adjusting device are arranged in a housing which holds the thrust element and the adjusting device and which comprises a drive housing for the roller blind drive and a preferably tubular guide channel which holds the thrust element and the flexible traction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Olaf Kriese, Markus Schultz
  • Patent number: 8104820
    Abstract: Methods of deploying and stowing a sunshade utilizing a wiper-based system, including selectively engaging the sunshade and wiper, actuating the wiper, so as to deploy the shade, locking the wiper in the deployed position, so as to reduce the thermal load in a confined space, and returning the wiper after use, so as to stow the shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander
  • Patent number: 8100459
    Abstract: A sun visor device is provided for the window of a motor vehicle with a cover that can be moved in a first direction and in an opposite second direction. A locking mechanism is also provided for locking the cover in different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Carsten Glaser
  • Patent number: 8061757
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle interior is provided having an elongated rotatable member, a flexible shade wrapped around the elongated rotatable member having a first edge connected to the rotatable member, and a second edge connected to an elongated extension member. Two support arms extend between the elongated extension member and the base profile and are operable to unroll the flexible shade from a elongated rotatable member thereby covering a vehicle window. Furthermore, an end cap is affixed to at least the first end of the elongated extension member. The elongated extension member further having at least one channel or track disposed therein. A biasing member is positioned within the at least one channel between the support arm and the end cap operable to force movement of the support arm during retraction of the flexible shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime Nicole Moore, Devon Marie Ross
  • Publication number: 20110264333
    Abstract: A vehicle glare reducing system comprising automatically optically detecting when an oncoming vehicle with lit headlights is approaching the driver and automatically operating a glare reducing means attached to the driver's side of a vehicle's windshield to block the glare, and automatically optically detecting when no oncoming vehicle with lit headlights is approaching the driver and automatically operating the glare reducing means to allow the driver to see through the glare reducing means, with part of an inside edge of the glare reducing means substantially vertically aligned with substantially the horizontal center of the vehicle's steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Seymour C. Yuter
  • Patent number: 8033313
    Abstract: A side window roller blind is provided. The roller blind includes a support rod having a free end connected to a tension bar. In order to prevent rattling noises, the ends of the tension bar are provided with rollers that contact the window pane such that the support rod is elastically bent during extension of the blind. In addition, the window blind is provided with aligning aids that prevent the tension bar from hitting on the slot edges during retraction of the blind, and from blocking additional retraction, due to vibrations about the longitudinal axis of the tension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: BOS GbmH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Melf Hansen
  • Patent number: 7967362
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a windowpane and a protective sunscreen for the windowpane, and the protective sunscreen exhibits a cover that can be moved from a non-use position into a use position, in which the cover at least partially covers the windowpane. The cover exhibits a rigid load-bearing section that accommodates at least one sun visor, which can be moved from a non-use position into a use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Carsten Glaser
  • Patent number: 7965051
    Abstract: A user selectable optional power tinting system. A typical OPTS includes a user selection interface operable to allow a user to select a tinting option from a plurality of tinting options, a panel selection assembly coupled to the user selection interface and operable to engage a window panel corresponding to an option selected by the user selection interface, an actuator motor operable to engage the panel selection assembly when an option is selected from the user selection interface, and a plurality of differently tinted panels operable to be engaged by the panel selection assembly when an option is selected from the user selection interface, each differently tinted panel corresponding to one of the plurality of tinting options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Wayne Walker, Earnie Lee Walker
  • Publication number: 20110133510
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a sun-shade line on a vehicle driver's face so as to automatically position a sun blocker at the appropriate location to block the sun. The method includes providing a detected image of the vehicle driver using, for example, a camera. A saturation analysis is performed on the detected image to generate a saturation image that includes bright dots and dark dots as a binary image. The method then performs a region enhancement of the saturation image to filter the saturation image. A histogram analysis is performed on the filtered saturation image to generate a graph that identifies a count of the bright dots in the image on a row-by-row basis. The method then performs a sharp change analysis on the graph to identify the largest transition from a row with the most dark dots to a row with the most bright dots to identify the sun-shade line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Wende Zhang
  • Patent number: 7918490
    Abstract: A drive device for moving a covering element for covering an opening in a motor vehicle such as a roller blind, a baggage space cover or a sunroof cover, includes a drive, a guide device and a thrust element which is coupled to the drive. The thrust element is guided in the guide device and is connectable to the covering element in order to move the covering element. The drive for driving the thrust element is coupled to the thrust element via a transmission device being subjected to tensile stress, wherein the transmission device extends at least in certain sections in the guide device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Olaf Kriese, Werner Stammberger, Christian Bätz, Arnd Herwig, Sebastian Höhn
  • Patent number: 7854464
    Abstract: A sun visor apparatus for a vehicle includes a sun visor body, a supporting member supported on a roof panel and supporting the sun visor body so that the sun visor body moves in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a first position where the sun visor body is positioned in a storage space provided on an underside of the roof panel and a second position where a rear end of the sun visor body is positioned behind a mirror body of an interior rearview mirror when viewed from a driver, and a shade extending from the sun visor body to the storage space in accordance with a movement of the sun visor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Mori
  • Patent number: 7823955
    Abstract: A sunshade device comprises a sunshade in the form of a roller blind forming part of a roller-blind device, comprising a supporting structure, a shaft for rolling of the sunshade blind, mounted so that it can rotate on the aforesaid supporting structure, and a shape-memory actuator device for causing displacement of the blind from the rolled-up condition to the distended condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Alacqua, Gianluca Capretti, Marco Biasiotto, Alessandro Zanella
  • Publication number: 20100201149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sun shield for a vehicle, wherein the sun shield can be rotated from a storage position about a horizontal rotational axis in front of the windshield into at least one first shading position. The sun shield comprises a sun shield body, whereon a shield segment is mounted in a movable manner. The present invention further relates to a method for retracting and extending a shield segment relative to a sun shield body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Frotz
  • Patent number: 7718923
    Abstract: A sunshade for an automobile placed upon a dashboard in the interior of the vehicle provides a reflective outer surface to deflect heat and sunlight through the windshield into a vehicle during hot weather conditions and also provides the outer surface with heat strip elements when enabled during cold weather to provide a radiant heat to the windshield to prevent ice build-up on the windshield maintaining a clear windshield during freezing temperatures, the heat strip elements drawings a low voltage current from a rechargeable battery supply or a 12 volt DC power from a cigarette lighter plug, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventors: Scott P. Hansen, Mary J. Hunt-Hansen
  • Publication number: 20100114439
    Abstract: A vehicle glare blocking system comprising automatically optically detecting when an oncoming vehicle with lit headlights is approaching the driver and automatically operating an electric motor to close the slats of a window blind attached to the driver's side of a vehicle's windshield to block the glare, and automatically optically detecting when no oncoming vehicle with lit headlights is approaching the driver and automatically operating the electric motor to open the slats to allow the driver to see through the slats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Seymour C. Yuter
  • Patent number: 7690712
    Abstract: An antidazzle apparatus for movable bodies is capable of not hiding something a user wants to see while dimming sunlight. A transmissive display is disposed above ahead of a driver, and two dimmer portions are formed in the transmissive display. The dimmer portions are positioned on straight lines linking the driver's right and left eyes with the sun, respectively, and are set to sizes a bit larger than the sizes of the pupils. In this case, sunlight is dimmed by the dimmer portions. Nevertheless, lines of sight leading to an entity which is located much closer than the sun is and which the driver wants to see are not intercepted by the dimmer portions. This allows the driver to see the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7686375
    Abstract: A vehicle window sunshade assembly includes a vehicle structure, a trim member, a sunshade and a close-out member. The trim member is dimensioned to at least partially cover the vehicle structure. The trim member also has a sunshade opening and attachment portions for coupling to the vehicle structure. The sunshade has an end supported by the vehicle structure. The sunshade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position such that in the extended position at least a portion of the sunshade extends through the sunshade opening. The close-out member is supported by the vehicle structure and positioned such that with the trim member installed to the vehicle structure the close-out member extends generally around the end of the sunshade to conceal an area behind the end of the sunshade from view through the sunshade opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Schlotterer, David She
  • Patent number: 7686372
    Abstract: A spot sun visor for use in transportation vehicles having a body of a little larger area than the disk of the sun. By moving the body in the direction of the penetrating sunlight and place the body directly in front of the position of the sun, the sunlight from the front view can be blocked or effectively reduced without undue interference of the field of the front view. The body has at least one arm to support and move the body and an axle of the arm is equipped with a slide device stored in a unit case, which stores the body during non-use. The arm pulls out the body along the front glass and is controlled by a brake device installed at the end of the arm. An electric control and drive system may be used to manually or automatically position the spot sun visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Toshimi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7673925
    Abstract: A drive motor assembly for a vehicle sunshade assembly includes a motor and a stabilizing unit. The motor has a housing, and an axle extending through the housing and having two ends respectively protruding outwardly of the housing. The stabilizing unit is connected to and provides an urging force to one of the ends of the axle in an axial direction thereof toward the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 7665793
    Abstract: A shade system for a motor vehicle roof, with at least one first and one second shade arrangement which are arranged in line with one another in the lengthwise direction of the roof and each have a take-up shaft, a shade on which can be taken up thereon, and a pull which acts on the free end of the shade, and at least one compressively stiff drive cable which is driven by a drive and which is securely coupled at a first location to the pull of the first shade arrangement. The drive cable is securely coupled at a second point to the pull of the second shade arrangement in a first segment of motion of the second point and in a subsequent second segment of motion of the second point is decoupled from the pull of the second shade arrangement, the coupling or decoupling taking place automatically a locking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Norbert Elbs, Horst-Martin Schulz, Thomas Stemmer
  • Publication number: 20100013261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle sunshade device 20, which can cover and uncover a rear window provided between a pair of rear pillars 11R and 11L formed in both sides in the vehicle width direction with a screen body 21, and comprising: a winding device 30 for biasing the screen body 21 in its winding-up direction; a pair of guide rails 40R and 40L in both sides in the vehicle width direction of the winding device 30, and capable of being attached to the inner wall of the rear pillar; a pair of sliders 50 fixed at both edges in the vehicle width direction of the screen body 21 respectively, and capable of reciprocately moving within the pair of guide rails 40R and 40L; a drive unit 60 for reciprocately moving the sliders 50 within the guide rails 40R and 40L so as to spread out the screen body 21 against the biasing force of the winding device 30 and wind up the screen body 21 in a spread-out state with the winding device; a temporary joint part 80 for temporarily connecting the pair of guide rails
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouichi TAKEUCHI, Yoshitaka JOUKAKU, Daisaku KATOU