The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 27, 2018

Filed:

Jan. 04, 2016
Applicant:

GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);

Inventors:

Jason D. Fahland, Fenton, MI (US);

Joshua R. Auden, Brighton, MI (US);

David Dominguez, Tucson, AZ (US);

Samantha J. Bray, South Bend, NE (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 35/02 (2006.01); B62D 37/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 35/02 (2013.01); B62D 37/02 (2013.01);
Abstract

The vehicle has a vehicle body including a first body end facing incident ambient airflow, a second body end opposite of the first body end, an underbody section spanning a distance between the first and second body ends, and vehicle subsystem arranged proximate the underbody section. A panel is moveably mounted to the underbody section and configured to regulate access of an underbody portion of the incident airflow to the subsystem. A mechanism is configured to shift the panel to selectively expose at least a part of the subsystem to the underbody portion of the incident airflow and shield the subsystem to thereby enhance aerodynamics of the vehicle body. A sensor detects a vehicle operating parameter and communicates the detected operating parameter to a controller. The controller is configured to regulate the mechanism and thereby shift the panel in response to the detected vehicle operating parameter.


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