Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

William Francis Weber

Daniel Cornelius Bach

Michael Joseph Walraven

Frederick Abraham Karam

Mark Russell Henault

Scott Ming-Hua Tang

Sean James Sevrence

Gregory Thomas Hedderly

Thomas Junior Luckett

Joseph J Moon

Patricia Kaye Kutsche

Nicholas D McGuire

Timothy James Hall

William L Fisher

Kumar Balakrishna Kulkarni

Robert Daniel Restauri

Jared Clark

Daniel Comelius Bach

Michael Patrick Rodgers

Ramon Banuelos

A method of parametric design of an instrument panel support structure for an instrument panel on a vehicle includes the step of determining an input parameter, such that the input parameter is a three dimensional coordinate defining the instrument panel support structure relative to the vehicle. The method also includes the step of generating a design of the instrument panel support structure using the input parameter and determining if the design of the instrument panel support structure meets a predetermined criteria. The method further includes the step of modifying the input parameter if the design of the instrument panel support structure does not meet the predetermined criteria.

Method of parametic design of an instrument panel support structure

A method for designing a HVAC air handling assembly for a climate control system on a vehicle includes the step of selecting an architecture for the HVAC air handling assembly from a library stored in a memory of a computer system and selecting a HVAC component part from the library. The method also includes the step of generating a HVAC design using the HVAC architecture and the HVAC component part, determining if the HVAC design meets a predetermined criteria, and regenerating the HVAC design if the predetermined criteria is not met.

Method for designing a HVAC air handling assembly for a climate control system

A vehicle includes a receiver forming an aperture therethrough. A steering column armature assembly is received within the receiver aperture and includes a steering column. The steering column armature assembly includes a tilt locking feature for selectively locking the steering column at desired tilt locations with respect to the receiver, and a telescope locking feature for selectively locking telescoping movement of the steering column armature assembly with respect to the receiver. A single handle is operatively connected to the tilt locking feature and to the telescope locking feature for selectively disengaging the tilt locking feature and telescope locking feature for adjustment of the steering column.

Single release lever for steering column tilt and telescope

A vehicle includes a receiver forming an aperture therein and having first and second gear racks at opposing sides of the aperture. A steering column armature assembly is received within the receiver aperture and includes first and second gears engaged with the first and second gear racks, respectively, in a manner to facilitate counter-rotation of the first and second gears as the steering column armature assembly is moved along the first and second gear racks. The first and second gears are selectively lockable together to prevent movement of the steering column armature assembly along the first and second gear racks. The first and second gears include an energy absorber positioned therebetween for dissipating energy when the first and second gears are forcibly displaced and counter-rotate with respect to each other in a high energy impact.

Rotating, traveling energy absorber for steering column

A vehicle includes first and second A-pillars with a cross-car beam connecting the first and second A-pillars. A steering column assembly is positioned within the vehicle and includes at least one pivot joint. A single attachment component directly connects the pivot joint to the cross-car beam.

Integrated steering column and instrument panel structure apparatus

A computer based system and method orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reach study is electronically performed to determine occupant reach with respect to the at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the vehicle, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or any combination thereof, so that the design meets the reach criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reach criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant reach relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular reach criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant reach may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors reach studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant reach zones

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle based on occupant vision orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors vision study is electronically performed to determine occupant vision with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined vision criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the vision criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from all electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant vision relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular vision criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant vision may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors vision studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant vision zones

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant interaction relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the interaction may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Occupant based design method for an automotive vehicle

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors occupant-to-vehicle interaction study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined interaction criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the interaction criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant-to-vehicle interaction relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular interaction criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant-to-vehicle interaction may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors occupant-to-vehicle studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant-to-vehicle

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reflection study is electronically performed to determine occupant reflection reception with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined reflection criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reflection criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of vehicle system-to-occupant reflection may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular reflection criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant reflection reception may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors reflection studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

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Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

William Francis Weber