Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Aisin Corporation

Ryan Heins

Nicholas Ozog

Yasuyuki Noiri

Gowtham Harsha Pulikonda

Takashi Nishio

Shintaro Katsura

Toshio Machida

Jacob Grimaldo

Eric Archambeau

Yoji Nagashima

Shinsuke Takayanagi

Norman Kerr, Iii

Alexander Wells

A powered latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a latch having a slot structured to receive a striker therein during closing of a tailgate. The latch is structured to be rotatable about a rotational axis into a latched position of the latch when the striker is received in the slot so as to maintain the tailgate in at least one closed position of the tailgate associated with the latched position. The latch is also structured so that, with respect to a vertical plane extending through the rotational axis, a centroid of a cross-section of the striker taken through a portion of the striker residing inside the slot resides along a first side of the plane when the latch is in a fully-latched position.

Latch assembly for a power tailgate system

Embodiments of a system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate are described. The system includes a motor operably connectible to a tailgate and configured to open the tailgate at any of at least a first opening speed and a second opening speed lower than the first opening speed. The system is operable to, responsive to a determination that an external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in a closed condition, control operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the second predetermined tailgate opening speed if an estimated magnitude of the load is below a predetermined threshold load.

Automatic control of a power tailgate under external loading

A system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate includes a latch structured to be movable to a latching position when the latch is engaged with a portion of a tailgate so as to maintain the tailgate in a closed position associated with the latching position of the latch. A latch actuator operably connected to the latch to control operation of the latch. A memory is communicably coupled to the processor and stores a tailgate control module including instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to, responsive to receipt of a tailgate opening command, control operation of the latch actuator to attempt move the latch to an over-stroke position of the latch and, responsive to a failure to move the latch to the over-stroke position within a predetermined time period, control operation of the latch actuator to move the latch to a fully-latched position of the latch.

System and method for operating a power tailgate system

Embodiments of a system for controlling a vehicle power tailgate are described. The system includes a motor operably connectible to a tailgate to open and close the tailgate, a processor, and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory stores a tailgate control module including instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to, responsive to a value of a motor speed parameter being above a predetermined motor speed threshold and a value of a motor acceleration parameter being above a predetermined motor acceleration threshold during opening of a tailgate, control operation of the motor to apply a braking force to the tailgate.

A vehicle tailgate structure of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle tailgate structure includes a tailgate located at the rear of the vehicle; a garnish covering a top surface of the tailgate and configured to deform when an external load applies on the garnish, the garnish including a plurality of rib structures along an interior surface of the garnish and a screw portion including the garnish around a screw of the screw portion; and a touch sensor extending along the top surface of the tailgate and covered by the garnish, the touch sensor configured to detect deformation of the garnish, the touch sensor including touch sensor wires connecting to a control system of the vehicle.

Power tailgate cargo load sensor

Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a power tailgate system are disclosed. A vehicle includes a rotatable element structured for operable connection with, and disconnection from, a tailgate when the rotatable element resides in a predetermined tailgate removal orientation. A motor is connected with the rotatable element for interdependent movement, and a motor circuit is provided for the motor. During a driving event, the system identifies when no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element. If no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element, the system determines if the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation. If the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation, the system may check the rotatable element against rotation during the driving event by operating a motor circuit to electrically brake the motor to prevent the rotatable element from rotating out of the predetermined tailgate removal orientation.

Counteracting backdrive in a power tailgate system

A hinge assembly includes a tailgate bracket securable to a vehicular tailgate, a support bracket securable to a vehicular bed, a torque shaft, and a crank. The tailgate bracket includes a socket. The support bracket includes a support. The torque shaft is supported by the support for axial rotation. The torque shaft includes a tailgate-side head and a crank-side head. The tailgate-side head and the socket are configured to make a head-and-socket connection with one another. The crank-side head includes an external profile. The crank includes a shaft-side base and an actuator-side base, a load arm extending therebetween, and at least one of a dogleg along the shaft-side base, the load arm and the actuator-side base, and an embossed rib extending along the load arm. The shaft-side base includes an internal profile. The external profile and the internal profile are configured to make a shaft-and-hub connection with one another.

Hinge assembly for a power tailgate system

Embodiments of an actuator assembly for a power tailgate system are disclosed. The actuator assembly includes an actuator having a housing, a guide with a first end extending from the housing and a second end opposite the first end, and a slide coupled to the guide so as to be movable with respect to the guide second end. The actuator assembly also includes a bellows having a first end attached to the guide first end, a second end opposite the first end and attached to an end of the slide, and a body extending between the first and second ends. At least one hole is formed in the bellows proximate the bellows second end and enables fluid communication between an interior of the bellows and an exterior of the bellows. The bellows may expel moisture collected therein during operation of the actuator.

Power tailgate actuator assembly including bellows

A sliding apparatus for a sunroof of an automobile including a shoe having a first channel and a second channel slidably connected to a rail, a guide block including a front channel connecting a lower channel to form a first path, and a rear channel connecting to an upper channel to form a second path, and a lever with a first pin projecting from a first side and a second side, a second pin projecting from the first side and a third pin projecting from the second side. The first pin is connected to the front channel and the second pin is connected to the rear channel on the first side, and the first pin is connected to the first channel and the third pin is connected to the second channel on a second side.

Sliding apparatus for sunroof of an automobile

A system to reduce wind noise and turbulent airflow from entering into a sunroof opening of a vehicle, including a sunroof panel slideably connected to the sunroof opening; a rail on a side of the sunroof opening; and a holder fixed in the rail; a deflector assembly including an upper panel pivotally connected to holder and a lower panel connected to the rail. The sunroof panel covers and compresses the deflector assembly in a closed position and covers the sunroof opening, and the deflector assembly rotates and extends when the sunroof panel retracts to an at least a partially open position.

Sunroof wind deflector system

A guide block for a sunroof of an automobile including a front channel extending upwards and connecting to a lower channel at a first angle with respect to the lower channel forming a first path, and a rear channel extending upwards and connecting to an upper channel at a second angle with respect to an upper channel forming a second path, where the first path intersects the second path at a cross-over region.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Ryan Heins