Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

University of California

University of Michigan

Timothy Jay Potter

Larry Dean Elie

John Wayne Jaranson

Michael Musa Azzouz

Robert F Novak

Jeff A Wallace

Gerald J Heath

Evangelos P Skoures

Michael Alan Tamor

Ching-Hsong George Wu

James Maurice Boileau

Aaron Fiala

Jeffrey Petty

William Chris Vassell

Matthew John Zaluzec

Richard L Allor

Daniel M Kabat

Clifford E Maki

David Alan Stephenson

Robert E Hetrick

Aric David Shaffer

Willes H Weber

Kenneth Edward Nietering

Marcus William Fried

Pravansu Sekhar Mohanty

James Robert Panyard

David Garrett Coffman

Jeffrey A Wallace

Paul George Sanders

Xia Zhang

Michael Raymond Rigley

Richard H Wykoff, Ii

Ellsworth Schanergerger

William Charron

Deborah Hopkins

Frederic Reverdy

Vikram Varadarrajan

An automated door system includes a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge axis defined by at least one hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the hinge assembly and further coupled to the door. The power assist device is configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity, thereby providing a slow and controlled close when a user attempts to slam the door. The power assist device is further configured to power opening and closing movement of the door as initiated by a user.

Automotive door power assist

A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.

Power management for vehicle door system

A power assist device includes a motor that is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle, a display for displaying a swing path of the door, a controller for controlling the motor, and a touchscreen device for supplying the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door, wherein the user-inputted selections are received by the touchscreen device via one or more touch events.

Programmable door power assist

A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle includes (a) a hinge bracket, having a first receiver and a second receiver, (b) a hinge pin pivotally connecting the door to the hinge bracket at the first receiver, (c) an actuator, having an output shaft, (d) a retention feature, connecting the output shaft to the hinge bracket at the second receiver, and (e) an actuator mounting feature securing the actuator to the door. A method of assembling an actuator in a hinge assembly that mounts a door to a frame of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Hinge assembly and method of assembling an actuator to a hinge assembly

A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.

Seal based object detection for vehicle door assist system

A door assist system for a vehicle comprises an actuator configured to control a position of a door about a hinge assembly and an interference sensor. The interference sensor is configured to generate an electromagnetic field in an interference zone between the door and a body of the vehicle. Based on changes or fluctuations in the electromagnetic field, the interference sensor is configured to detect an obstruction in the electromagnetic field and generate a detection signal. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to the detection signal.

Magnetic object detection for vehicle door assist system

A vehicle includes a door frame coupled to a vehicle frame at a hinge. A door operating mechanism is coupled to the door and vehicle frames for applying rotational force to the door frame about the hinge. The door operating mechanism including external cogs of an inner gear that mesh with inner cogs of an outer gear and a single oblong bearing that biases the inner gear in partial engagement with the outer gear.

Vehicle door assist assembly incorporating a high torque operating mechanism

An alloy composite material comprising an aluminum alloy layer and a thermal spray alloy layer of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe by weight in overlaying contact with the aluminum alloy layer. An alloy composite material comprising an aluminum alloy layer or base layer and a thermal spray alloy layer of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe by weight in overlaying contact with the aluminum alloy layer or base layer. The aluminum alloy layer or base layer and the thermal spray alloy layer have a mechanical compatibility to each other of 20-60 MPa as determined using tests specified by ASTM-C633 test. A process of thermal spraying comprising providing a base layer and a feed stock alloy of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe and thermally spraying the feed stock alloy onto the base layer to form an alloy composite material.

Composite metal alloy material

A mounting assembly for a vehicle side door motor includes an upper hinge element configured for receiving a side door motor drive shaft and a motor mounting bracket configured to receive the side door motor drive shaft and to allow a radial adjustment of the drive shaft for alignment of an axis of the motor with a side door hinge axis. The upper hinge element may define a clevis including a lower clevis portion having a motor drive shaft mounting aperture dimensioned to allow the radial adjustment feature. The motor mounting bracket includes one or more mounting apertures dimensioned to allow a vehicle fore/aft adjustment and in/out adjustment of the side door motor element. The motor mounting assembly is further configured to allow a vehicle up/down adjustment of the side door motor.

Mounting and aligning a vehicle side door motor within the current bill of process

Power Management for vehicle door system

A motor is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle. A controller controls the motor and a user-input device supplies the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door.

A moon roof module includes a first transparent panel, a second transparent panel and a third transparent panel packaged in a compartment between the first transparent panel and the second transparent panel. The moon roof module also includes an actuator configured to displace the third transparent panel between a first position and a second position. A related method of switching a moon roof module between a transparent state and an opaque state is also disclosed.

Variable transmission moon roof module with multiple transparent panels

An exemplary forming assembly includes a mold having a cavity to form a component, and an insert having first, second, and third regions. The first region provides a first passageway opening in the component. The second region provides a second passageway opening in the component. The third region provides a passageway in the component. The insert is rotatable from a first position within the passageway to a second position outside the passageway. An exemplary component forming method includes positioning a material around an insert, curing the material to provide a component, and rotating the insert relative to the component from a first position where at least some of the insert is received within a passageway of the component to a second position where the entire insert is outside the passageway.

Forming assembly and method to provide a component with a passageway

Growing community of inventors

Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Timothy Jay Potter