Atoma International Corporation

Flextronics Automotive, Inc.

Magna Closures Inc.

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Intier Automotive Closures Inc.

Warren Industries Ltd.

C-mac Invotronics

Thomas P Frommer

Andrew R Daniels

Kurt Matthew Schatz

Reginald C Grills

Tomasz T Dominik

Christopher Theodore Kontos

Austin O'Neill

Marc R Plourde

Shawn Marchand

Roman Cetnar

Mirko Pribisic

Peter Lance Oxley

Gary Warren

Darren Van Roon

Wieslaw Nowicki

Grzegorz Baniak

Robert Brady Mooney

Frederick C Butler

Wasim Tahir

Victor Gusev

Shawn Murray

Andre Olivier

Jason Chinsen

Kris Tomaszewski

Douglas Broadhead

Juliusz Kirejczyk

Steven Steane

Steve Gary Steane

Leslie Joseph Marentette

Kathryn Petroff

Venkateswar Sagi

Maciek Bigoszewski

Thomas Dean

Carl W Gifford

Miroslav Janda

Brian Wood

Jan Majewski

Tad Podwysocki

Shashank Kumar Singh

Michael Schupp

Aleksander Kaczmarczyk

Tomasz Dominic

Kurt Schatz

Steve Steane

Samuel Ricardo Baruco

Stephen James Caron

Dominic Diblasio

In an aspect, a vehicle door control system is provided for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle door. The door control system includes a check arm mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, a check arm holder at least a portion of which is mounted to the other of the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and a controller. The controller is programmed to apply a resistive force on the vehicle door based on a determination of whether an obstacle is approaching the vehicle, data relating to the obstacle, and a position of the vehicle door.

Vehicle door control system with dynamic obstacle detection

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a sharpener for sharpening a snow/ice travel member such as a skate blade, a ski or a snowboard, which includes a sharpening surface that is movable lengthwise along an edge face of the item to be sharpened. The sharpening surface may be movable lengthwise by means of a motor and a reciprocating mechanism, or may be manually moved by a user.

Reciprocating skate blade sharpener

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a sharpener for sharpening a snowice travel member such as a skate blade, a ski or a snowboard, which includes a sharpening surface that is movable lengthwise along an edge face of the item to be sharpened. The sharpening surface may be movable lengthwise by means of a motor and a reciprocating mechanism, or may be manually moved by a user.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a sharpener for sharpening a corner edge of a snow travel member, which may be, for example, a ski or a snowboard. The corner edge is between a bottom face and a side face of the snow travel member. The sharpener includes an angle adjustment mechanism to adjust the angle between surfaces on the sharpener that support the bottom face and side face of the snow travel member, in order to accommodate different snow travel members, that may have different angles between their bottom face and their side face. For example, the angle adjustment member may be capable of adjusting the angle between a bottom face orienting surface on the sharpener and a side face orienting surface on the sharpener between a range of angles. The range of angles may be, for example, a range from 85 degrees and 90 degrees.

Sharpener for a snow travel member such as a ski or a snowboard

A system for dynamic braking a vehicle closure including a drive mechanism mounted to the vehicle, the drive mechanism having contacts to receive a drive signal to cause the drive mechanism to move the vehicle closure between an open and a close position in response to the drive signal, the drive mechanism capable of generating a generated drive signal during at least a portion of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position; and a controller having electrical outputs electrically coupled to the electrical contacts of the drive mechanism and electrical inputs to provide the drive signals to the drive mechanism and to receive generated drive signals from the drive mechanism, the controller configured to provide the generated drive signals back to the drive mechanism during operation of the vehicle closure to provide dynamic braking of the vehicle closure from the open to the close position.

System and method for dynamic braking a vehicle closure system

An anti-pinch assembly is used for a closure panel movable between open and closed positions on a motor vehicle. A controller operably connected to the closure panel controls operation thereof. A position sensor connected to the controller indicates the position of the closure panel between the open and closed positions. A capacitive sensor mounted on the vehicle and connected to the controller provides an output signal to the controller indicative of the presence of a foreign object in the path of the closure panel. The controller varies the function of the capacitive sensor through a plurality of threshold levels as a function of the position of the closure panel as indicated by the position indicator. In a critical zone of travel with the closure panel nearing the closed position, the capacitive sensor can be utilized in either a contact mode or a non-contact mode or a combination of both.

Multizone capacitive anti-pinch system

A closure system for controlling speed of a closure member, where the closure system includes a controller for transitioning speed of a closure member being operated in response to an obstacle being sensed in the path of the closure member. In one embodiment, a linear speed control algorithm determines the speed transitioning. In response to sensing contact with an obstacle, the controller may use a conventional contact process to stop or reverse the closure member. The closure system provides for a higher closing velocity of the closure member than conventional closure systems.

System and method for controlling speed of a closure member

A control module for controlling a rotational closure system of a vehicle. The control module may include a printed circuit board having an electronic circuit disposed thereon. The electronic circuit may be used to control a rotational closure system of the vehicle. A header may be connected to the printed circuit board. The header may include a top side and a bottom side having a relative, non-zero degree angle formed therebetween. Pins may extend from the bottom of the header to form an electrical connection with the electronic circuit on the printed circuit board. An angle sensor may be positioned on the top side of the header and be electrically connected to the pins of the header to communicate with the electronic circuit. The angle sensor may generate an angle signal for the electronic circuit to use in positioning the rotational closure system.

System and method for establishing a reference angle for controlling a vehicle rotational closure system

A system for sensing short circuits and open circuits prior to operation of a motor (i.e., while the motor is in a static state), thereby sparing the electrical system from destructive effects of these electrical problems. In addition, the system may detect a short circuit during operation of the motor (i.e., while the motor is in a dynamic state). Still yet, the system may detect an open circuit at the motor. The motor may be any electromechanical motor, such as a direct current (DC) motor, used in a vehicle or otherwise for controlling motion of a mechanical device.

System and method for look ahead detection of electrical problems at a motor of a vehicle

A system and method for controlling a rotational closure system, such as a lift gate, of a vehicle may include sensing an angle of the rotational closure system, generating a drive signal, driving a drive mechanism with the drive signal to output a mechanical force for moving the rotational closure system, generating an angle signal having a digital pulsewidth modulation form with a duty cycle based on the angle of the rotational closure system, feeding back the angle signal, and, in response to the feedback angle signal, altering the drive signal while the drive mechanism is moving the rotational closure system between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the angle signal is generated from a location disposed on the rotational closure system. A controller mounted to the rotational closure system may include an angle sensor and be configured to receive and process the angle signal to drive the drive mechanism.

System and method for controlling velocity and detecting obstructions of a vehicle lift gate

An anti-pitch assembly is used in combination with a closure device of a motor vehicle. The closure device includes a closure panel, i.e., a windowpane or door, and a motor for moving the closure panel between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the closure panel covers an aperture, i.e., a window or door opening, of the motor vehicle. The anti-pinch assembly includes a position sensor that is disposed adjacent the motor or the closure device. The position sensor generates a position signal indicative of the position of the closure panel. A capacitive sensor measures the capacitance of a field extending through the aperture. The capacitive sensor generates a signal therefrom. A controller is electrically connected to the position and capacitive sensors. The controller receives the position and capacitive signals and transmits a signal to the motor to prevent the motor from moving the closure panel toward the closed position when the output signals deviates from a series of predetermined values for more than a predetermined period of time.

Vehicle closure anti-pinch assembly having a non-contact sensor

A power drive mechanism () for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm () pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm () drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (), and a gear train () operatively engaging the crank arm (). A drive motor () is operatively connected with the crank arm () through the gear train () to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train () is disengagable from the drive motor () to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (). An actuator () is operatively connected with the gear train () to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage () is operatively associated with the gear train () to maintain the gear train () in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

Power drive mechanism for a motor vehicle liftgate having a disengageable gear train

A power drive mechanism ( ) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm ( ) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm ( ) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm ( ), and a gear train ( ) operatively engaging the crank arm ( ). A drive motor ( ) is operatively connected with the crank arm ( ) through the gear train ( ) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train ( ) is disengageable from the drive motor ( ) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor ( ). An actuator ( ) is operatively connected with the gear train ( ) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage ( ) is operatively associated with the gear train ( ) to maintain the gear train ( ) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

A power liftgate drive assembly automatically moves the liftgate of a vehicle between its open and closed positions. The drive assembly is secured to the vehicle at a position near the top of the liftgate. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives a sector gear between two positions. A guide rod is secured to the sector gear to translate the rotational movement of the sector gear into the pivotal movement of the liftgate. A slot extends through the sector gear that allows the liftgate to be moved manually. A latch locks the guide rod in position with respect to the sector gear for automated movement whereas the latch releases the guide rod to move in the slot for manual operation.

Headliner mounted power liftgate drive mechanism

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Mount Albert, Canada

Thomas P Frommer