Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

James Herbert Shoemaker

Paul Richard Meernik

Scott W Thorpe

Paul W Alexander

Andrew J Novajovsky

Nancy L Johnson

Alan L Browne

Andrew G Fox

Warren J Meidinger

Nilesh D Mankame

Xiujie Gao

Robert Louis Vitale

Julien P Mourou

Wonhee Michael Kim

Louise E Stauffer

Todd H Fast

Besy J Philip

Jack L Bailey

Darrel M Alton

Douglas V Melonson

Heather A Cochran

James M Stanick

Mark W Ruesink

Hitesh R Desai

Warren J Miedinger

A roof panel includes a first member and a second member. A panel is attached to and interconnects the first member and the second member. The panel is configurable between a deployed configuration for attachment to a vehicle, and a stowed configuration for storage. The panel has a planar form when in the deployed configuration, and a rolled up form when in the stowed configuration. The panel may include an adjustable stiffness panel, such as a layer jamming panel, controllable in response to a control signal to exhibit a first stiffness when in the deployed configuration or the stowed configuration, or a second stiffness for reforming the panel between the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Removable roof panel for a vehicle

A closure assembly and method of operation for a vehicle closure includes a latch for selectively securing the closure to the vehicle, and a lockable bumper assembly that includes an electronic locking mechanism that can selectively secure the bumper in a pocket of the base to add an additional mechanism for securing the closure to the vehicle. The locking mechanism may be controlled to secure the bumper to the base after a controller detects that the latch is latched and the bumper is seated in the pocket of the base.

Lockable vehicle closure bumpers

An active pressure relief valve adapted for selectively regulating a condition within an interior compartment generally includes a housing fluidly coupling the compartment to an external environment and defining an opening, an actuator including an active material element operable to effect movement of a flap relative to the opening, a load limit protector coupled to and configured to present a secondary output path for the element, when the flap is unable to move, and/or a latching mechanism coupled to, and configured to engage the flap, so as to retain the flap in a modified condition.

Active material enabled pressure release valves and methods of use

A damping assembly is disposed within a housing of a latch assembly to slow rotation of a forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between an over-travel position and a latched position within the housing. The damping assembly includes a first passage and a second passage that are each configured to allow a fluid to flow therein. A restriction passage fluidly connects the first passage and the second passage and increases the pressure of the fluid within the passages. A check valve is configured to allow unidirectional flow of the fluid through the passages. An engagement mechanism is operatively connected to the passages and is configured to engage the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position. The fluid within the passages reacts against the engagement mechanism to slow rotation of the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position.

Damping assembly for reducing vibrations in a latch for a vehicle door

A multiple position ball stud assembly for a closure strut supporting a closure pivotally attached adjacent to an opening, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The ball stud assembly may comprise a ball stud and a ball stud actuator. The ball stud may have a socket portion mounted on a closure lift assist strut and a guide pin extending from the socket portion. The ball stud actuator assembly may include a housing, a guide for receiving the guide pin, and an actuator for moving the guide pin along the guide to thereby cause the ball stud to move relative to the housing. The multiple position ball stud assembly may also include a control assembly that engages the actuator for selectively causing the actuator to move the guide pin along the guide.

Multiple position ball stud for closure strut

A door system includes a structural member and a door that is movably mounted with respect to the structural member for movement between an open position and a closed position. A spring is mounted with respect to the structural member or the door and being sufficiently positioned to bias the door toward its open position when the door is in its closed position. Active material based actuators may selectively compress the spring prior to door closure to minimize door closing effort.

Door actuation systems

A closure assembly for a vehicle pivotable between a closed position and a full open position, and a method of controlling its movement includes a closure, a hinge mechanism attached to the closure, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a damper actuator and a pneumatic closure damper, with the closure damper including a hollow bellows extending from a support base, an orifice and an end opposite the support base. The damper actuator is attached to the hinge mechanism and the support base is attached to the body structure such that the damper actuator is spaced from the end when the closure is in the closed position and the damper actuator is in contact with the end and compresses the bellows when the closure is in the full open position.

Closure damper assembly

An active body ventilation system which is dynamically responsive to vehicle status parameters, including for example the door open/closed status and the HVAC system status. An active ventilation unit is attached with a body wall which includes a portal housing defining a portal, a portal cover and a portal cover actuator for selectively adjusting the portal cover to thereby increase or decrease the unobstructed size of the opening of the portal. The active ventilation unit is interfaced electronically to various sensors of the motor vehicle, in which programming of an electronic control module determines optimum positioning of the portal covering via selective actuation of the portal cover actuator.

Active body ventilation system

A latch assembly for a swinging panel hinged to a vehicle body includes a latch body that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle body, a striker adapted to be attached to the swinging panel and engage the latch body in a closed position of the swinging panel, and a lever having first and second ends. The lever is pivotably attached to the latch body at a pivot point intermediate the first and second ends. The first end of the lever is operable to engage the striker. The latch assembly also includes a spring having one end attached to the lever between the second end and the pivot point and an opposite end fixed relative to the latch body for rotating the lever about the pivot point. A solenoid is attached to the second end of the lever. The solenoid is operable to rotate the lever about the pivot point to move the first end of the lever from a panel unlatched position to a panel latched position.

Growing community of inventors

White Lake, MI, United States of America

James Herbert Shoemaker