Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.

Sai Automotive Usa-sal, Inc.

Michael J Twork

Stephen Jones

Bradley P Kusky

Cedric Ketels

Daniel Vander Sluis

Julien Rea

Kenneth Jones

Theodore Konieczny

James S Coleman

Shawn Filipowicz

John Marsh

Gaurav Agarwal

Christophe Brunard

Karl Jon Mertz

Brenton Bailo

Said Ali Shebak

An opening switch for a vehicle having a decorative cover assembly, a sensor housing region, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor mounted in the sensor housing region. The decorative cover assembly has an inner surface, an outer surface, an anchor portion, and a deflection portion. When contact from a vehicle user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly, a microdeflection occurs. The microdeflection has a microdeflection apex, and the microdeflection apex is spaced from other surfaces in the sensor housing region when the contact from the user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly. The MEMS sensor is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of a force of the contact from the user. The force integrated switch can include haptic feedback and/or backlighting.

Opening switch for a vehicle

Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel for a motor vehicle includes a substrate. The substrate includes a substrate section and an insert. The insert is disposed in the substrate section such that a frangible tear seam is formed along an interface between the insert and the substrate section defining an integrated airbag deployment door in the substrate.

Interior panels including substrates with inserts for defining integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods of making the same

A vehicle interior panel can be constructed to include accent lighting in the form of an electroluminescent element that includes a thin multi-layer film disposed over a substrate. The multi-layer film is sufficiently thin to conform to the shape of the substrate surface over which it is disposed, making it possible to integrate accent lighting with the panel in a manner that gives the impression that the light is produced at the visible outer surface of the panel. The substrate plays a dual role, providing both the overall shape, contour, and structure for the panel while additionally functioning as one of the electrodes of the electroluminescent element. The substrate includes an electrically active material that is integrated into a plastic material either by blending an additive with the plastic material prior to molding the substrate, or by insert molding and embedding electrically conductive material into the plastic material.

Vehicle interior panel surface lighting

Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel for a motor vehicle includes a substrate. The substrate includes a substrate section and a film insert. The film insert is disposed in the substrate section such that a frangible tear seam is formed along an interface between the film insert and the substrate section defining an integrated airbag deployment door in the substrate.

Interior panels including substrates with film inserts for defining integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods of making the same

Methods of making interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, a method of making an interior panel comprises contacting a molten resin in a molding tool cavity with a plurality of juxtaposed pressurized gas streams to form a series of holes, bubbles, knit lines, or combinations thereof in the molten resin. The molten resin is solidified to form a substrate. The series of holes, bubbles, knit lines, or combinations thereof define a frangible tear seam in the substrate.

Methods of making interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles

A vehicle interior panel includes an adjustable locator. The adjustable locator is operable to move a panel body after the panel body is mounted to a vehicle body and enables alignment of an aesthetic feature line with a complimentary feature line of an adjacent vehicle interior panel. A post of the adjustable locator can engage a receiver of the vehicle body at a fixed location while a working surface of the adjustable locator exerts a force on a reaction surface of the panel body to move the panel body. The adjustable locator can include gear teeth, a cam surface, ratcheting features, an adjustment rotor, or any combination thereof.

Vehicle interior panel with adjustable locator

Plastic panels for motor vehicles and methods for making plastic panels are provided herein. In one example, a plastic panel for a motor vehicle comprises a first molded microcellular polymeric substrate and a second polymeric substrate. The first molded microcellular polymeric substrate has a first outer skin, a second outer skin, a microcellular structured core that is disposed between the first and second outer skins, and a wall that extends between the first and second outer skins to define a support structure in the microcellular structured core. The second polymeric substrate comprises a weld feature that is aligned with the support structure and that is coupled to the second outer skin of the first molded microcellular polymeric substrate.

Plastic panels for motor vehicles and methods for making the same

A window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass assembly, a lift plate, and an actuator mechanism coupled with the glass assembly by the lift plate. The glass assembly has an aperture formed therethrough, and the actuator mechanism moves the glass assembly by applying a load at the aperture. A fastener may extend at least partially through the aperture from a shoulder at one side of the glass sheet to an end at an opposite side of the glass sheet. The window assembly may also include a coupling layer, such as an adhesive layer, between the fastener and the glass sheet. The window assembly can be constructed in a relatively compact configuration to save space within a vehicle door or panel.

Vehicle window assembly with lift plate

Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles, and methods for making such interior panels are provided herein. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate that comprises a first PP/TPO material. An airbag chute-door assembly comprises a chute portion that has a chute wall. The chute wall at least partially surrounds an interior space that is sized to permit passage of an airbag during deployment. A first door flap portion is disposed adjacent to the interior space. The first door flap portion comprises a first door flap section and at least one first weld feature. The at least one first weld feature comprises a second PP/TPO material and attaches the first door flap section to the substrate. A first hinge pivotally connects the first door flap section to the chute portion. The first hinge comprises a TPE material.

Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods for making the same

A door module of a vehicle includes: a panel of door glass including an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge; a lift plate coupled to the lower peripheral edge of the door glass such that a regulator may move the door glass between a full-up position and a full-down position within the door module via the lift plate; and a position block movable within the door module to: (i) a first position below the lift plate such that the lift plate rests on the position block and the door glass is at a position above the full-down position when the door glass is inserted into the lift plate during manufacture, and (ii) after such insertion, a second position that permits the lift plate to move further downward such that the door glass is at the full-down position.

Methods and apparatus for supporting a window glass lift plate

An apparatus for locking a door trim panel to a door module includes: at least one hook depending from an inwardly directed surface of said door trim panel; an elongate locking element having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to an end of the hook by way of a hinge; at least one receiver depending from an opposing surface of said door module and being operable to engage said hook, the receiver including an edge directed toward the opposing surface of the door module; and a cleat depending from the surface of the door trim panel and operable to engage the second end of the locking element when the locking element is a locking position, wherein the edge of the receiver engages the locking element and prevents the hook from disengaging from the receiver once the second end of the locking element engages the cleat.

Methods and apparatus for connecting door trim to a door module

An acoustic chamber formed in door of a vehicle includes a metal door inner panel having an aperture extending therethrough, and a door module secured in the aperture of the door inner panel. The door module includes an indentation and may be made of a polymer or a fibrous material. An interior door trim panel overlies the door module and a loudspeaker is secured between the interior door trim panel and the door module. The interior door trim panel may include a bulge opposing the indentation in the door module, with the loudspeaker located between the bulge and the indentation. A sealing element is secured between the door module and the interior door trim panel for defining an acoustic chamber between the door module and the interior door trim panel. The acoustic chamber enhances the performance of the loudspeaker, thereby allowing a smaller loudspeaker to be used.

Growing community of inventors

White Lake, MI, United States of America

Michael J Twork