Abstract:
A vehicle door handle assembly, comprising: a door handle having opposite first and second ends, the first end including a handle leg connectable to a bellcrank; a door handle end-cap; a slide-lock cassette supporting the bellcrank; and a frame mounting the door handle and the door handle end-cap. The frame is securable to a vehicle door and defines an opening receiving the slide-lock cassette therein. The opening is dimensioned to permit sliding movement of the slide-lock cassette therein. The slide- lock cassette is slidingly moveable relative to the frame between a first position, in which the handle leg is not connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end cap is not secured in place relative to the frame, and a second position, in which the handle leg is connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end-cap is captured by the slide-lock cassette against removal from the frame.
Abstract:
A center high-mount brake-light system for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of selectively-illuminatable lights arranged to define each of a center section comprising at least one of the plurality of lights, and at least two outer sections disposed on either side of the center section. A controller is operative to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights of the center and at least two outer sections in response to changes in the rate of travel of the vehicle and/or actuation of the vehicle's brakes, and whereby the plurality of lights are characterized by at least the following illumination states: (a) an illumination state in which the lights of each of the center and at least two outer sections are illuminated in their entireties in response to actuation of the vehicle's brakes; (b) an illumination state in which illumination of the lights of each of the at least two outer sections ceases or diminishes perceptibly relative to illumination of the center section after a predetermined period of time following actuation of the vehicle's brakes if there has been less than a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration; and (c) an illumination state in which increasing numbers of the plurality of lights of each of the at least two outer sections are progressively illuminated in response to corresponding and progressively increasing amounts of vehicle deceleration above a predetermined threshold.
Abstract:
A side-view mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising a housing for securement to a side of a vehicle, the housing defining an internal cavity opening toward a rear of the housing, the internal cavity having a mirror disposed therein, and the housing having an exterior surface at least partially formed from a light-transmissive material all but a portion of which has been covered with an opaque material. At least one light source is disposed within the housing and is operable to illuminate the uncovered, light- transmissive portion of the housing. The at least one light source is operativeiy connectable to a controller programmed so as to selectively illuminate the at least one light source in response to the occurrence of one or more predefined activities.
Abstract:
A vehicular door handle assembly (10) comprises a secondary latch with a default active condition for preventing inadvertent movement of the door handle assembly during an impact, such as a collision. The door handle assembly comprises a primary actuator (12) and a secondary actuator (10) in operative communication with the secondary latch for selective deactivation thereof. When the user's hand grasps and pulls the primary actuator in a normal fashion to open the vehicle door, the user's hand simultaneously grasps the secondary actuator and moves the secondary actuator to deactivate the secondary latch and allow movement of the primary actuator and thereby open the vehicular door.
Abstract:
A fluid-damped automotive door latch actuator (14) comprising a fluid cylinder (30) mounted adjacent the inside surface of an escutcheon plate (10) between the door handle crank arms (20, 22). A shaft (24) connected to and extending between the crank arms (20, 22) is rotated to actuate the door latch. Damping action is caused in one embodiment by rotation of a shaft-mounted vane (32) relative to a cylinder housing (34) fixed to the escutcheon plate (10). In a second embodiment, the damper (30) is designed to provide a fluid shearing action.
Abstract:
A gesture access and object impact avoidance system for a motor vehicle, includes a radar signal assembly configured to be mounted to the motor vehicle and to transmit radar signals and detect reflected radar signals, and a processor to operate in (i) a gesture access mode when the motor vehicle is not moving or is disabled from moving by controlling an access closure actuator to lock, unlock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle if an object is within a sensing region of the radar signal assembly and exhibits a predefined gesture, and (ii) an object impact avoidance mode when the motor vehicle is moving or enabled to move by activating a warning device or controlling an impact avoidance device actuator if an object is within a predefined distance of the radar signal assembly.
Abstract:
A vehicle trim component with interior and exterior surfaces, the vehicular trim component includes a light-transmissive substrate having opposite front and rear surfaces; an illumination source disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the substrate, the illumination source actuatable between a non-illuminated state and an illuminated state for transmitting light through the substrate; and an outer layer disposed over the front surface of the substrate, the outer layer having at least partially defined therethrough a plurality of micro-holes which transmit light from the illumination source through the micro-holes. The plurality of micro-holes are arranged so as to define indicia which are visually perceptible from the exterior of the vehicle trim component when the illumination source in its illuminated state.
Abstract:
A touchless vehicle control apparatus includes an array of infrared light-emitting LEDs; an array of infrared light sensors for receiving reflected light from an object in accordance with a time sequence in which one or more of the infrared light-emitting LEDs is activated and outputting a plurality of reflected signals; and a processing unit for receiving the reflected signals, identifying a signal function of time by comparing a predetermined threshold with signal levels of the reflected signals, determining motion of the object by referring to the signal function of time, and directing the execution of one or more pre-defined vehicle commands when the determined motion of the object corresponds to a pre-defined motion associated with a vehicle command.
Abstract:
A door handle and actuation assembly for opening a door of a vehicle includes a striker and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch biased to engage the striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position. A first latch actuator is configured to receive an electronic signal for disengaging the latch from the striker. A second latch actuator is redundant to the first latch actuator and a power source is available for providing an electrical signal to the second latch actuator. The second latch actuator includes a shape memory alloy having a first configuration and a second configuration that different from the first configuration when subject to an electrical current. The second configuration is cooperable with the latch assembly for disengaging the latch from the striker.
Abstract:
A handle assembly for actuating a latch of a vehicle door of a vehicle includes a grip assembly with a grip disposed between opposing mounts. The mounts are disposed adjacent a door panel of a vehicle door and space the grip from the door panel. A mounting member is disposed upon an opposite side of the door panel from the grip assembly to secure the grip assembly to the door panel. An indicator is separate from the grip assembly and is disposed at an opposite side of the door panel from the grip assembly. The indicator identifies an intent to actuate the door of the vehicle from an operator clasping the grip assembly. The indicator signals the latch to disengage the vehicle door from the vehicle upon identifying an intent to actuate the door.