7569results about "Bumpers" patented technology

System and method for preventing vehicle accidents in which GPS ranging signals relating to a host vehicle's position on a roadway on a surface of the earth are received on a first communication link from a network of satellites and DGPS auxiliary range correction signals for correcting propagation delay errors in the GPS ranging signals are received on a second communication link from a station or satellite. The host vehicle's position on a roadway on a surface of the earth is determined from the GPS, DGPS, and accurate map database signals with centimeter accuracy and communicated to other vehicles. The host vehicle receives position information from other vehicles and determines whether any other vehicle from which position information is received represents a collision threat to the host vehicle based on the position of the other vehicle relative to the roadway and the host vehicle. If so, a warning or vehicle control signal response to control the host vehicle's motion is generated to prevent a collision with the other vehicle.

Method for obtaining information about objects in an environment around a vehicle in which infrared light is emitted into a portion of the environment and received and the distance between the vehicle and objects from which the infrared light is reflected is measured. An identification of each object from which light is reflected is determined and a three-dimensional representation of the portion of the environment is created based on the measured distance and the determined identification of the object. Icons representative of the objects and their position relative to the vehicle are displayed on a display visible to the driver based on the three-dimensional representation. Additionally or alternatively to the display of icons, a vehicular system can be controlled or adjusted based on the relative position and optionally velocity of the vehicle and objects in the environment around the vehicle to avoid collisions.

A system for performing multi-level video processing within a vehicle includes a pre-processing module for determining an encoding mode and enabling one or more levels of encoding based on the encoding mode. The pre-processing module further receives a video stream from a camera attached to the vehicle via a vehicular communication network and encodes the video stream based on the encoding mode to produce a packet stream output. The system further includes a video decoder for receiving the packet stream output and decoding the packet stream output in accordance with the encoding mode to produce a decoded video output.

The invention relates to a monitoring device (1) for a motor vehicle (2), consisting of at least one display device (6) located in the interior of the vehicle, and at least one camera (4, 5) arranged in the front and / or rear area of the vehicle (2), with which the area to the sides of the vehicle (2) can be monitored and displayed on the display device (6), whereby the camera (4, 5) is arranged on a carrier unit located centrally on the vehicle (2), and whereby the carrier unit can be withdraw into the bodywork when not in use and can be extended when required.

Method for obtaining information about objects in an environment around a vehicle in which infrared light is emitted into a portion of the environment and received and the distance between the vehicle and objects from which the infrared light is reflected is measured. An identification of each object from which light is reflected is determined and a three-dimensional representation of the portion of the environment is created based on the measured distance and the determined identification of the object. Icons representative of the objects and their position relative to the vehicle are displayed on a display visible to the driver based on the three-dimensional representation. Additionally or alternatively to the display of icons, a vehicular system can be controlled or adjusted based on the relative position and optionally velocity of the vehicle and objects in the environment around the vehicle to avoid collisions.

Power management within a vehicle is achieved by maintaining individual and / or power island power saving options for each of a plurality of devices coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle. Upon determining that power savings should be enabled for a device, at least one of the power saving options for the device is selected and applied.

The invention provides a structure of a front part of a vehicle body that is simple and free from the risk of maloperation. In the event of a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian, a projecting part sweeps the pedestrian by parts of his or her legs lower than the knees in the event of a collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to be thrown over toward the vehicle, and after an energy-absorbing member has absorbed impact energy exerted on the legs, the pedestrian is caused to drop onto the top of a hood and protected from secondary damage. In one specific example, a structure of a front part of a vehicle body in which a bumper (9) is provided at a lower front position of a hood (1) of the vehicle comprises a lateral supporting member (7) provided in the front part of the vehicle body and extending in the direction of vehicle width, an energy-absorbing member (8) provided ahead of the lateral supporting member (7), and a projecting part (12) provided at a lower part of the bumper 9 in such a manner that a forward end of the projecting part (12) juts out more frontward than the lateral supporting member (7).

An integrated assembly includes a bumper energy absorber section with crush lobes for abutting a bumper beam, an upper air shutter section with subassembled shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a first actuator mechanism for moving the shutter members between positions, an upper fascia support section with upper leg crush lobe therein above the upper air shutter section, a lower air shutter section with subassembled lower shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a second actuator mechanism for moving the lower shutter members between the positions; and a lower leg energy absorber section attached below the lower air shutter section and configured to abut (or replace) a face of a secondary pedestrian impact bar. The shutter members may be molded to a shutter frame using over molding technology rather than separately, manually assembled.

A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

A bumper construction for a vehicle includes a swept tubular bumper beam having a pair of spaced-apart brackets and a pair of towers configured to attach to the brackets and support the bumper beam on a vehicle. The towers each include a platform configured for attachment to one of the brackets, and further include an elongated portion configured for connection to the vehicle. A swivel connection connects the tower to the bumper beam. The connection includes a protruding section on one of the bracket and the tower, and a socket receiving the protruding section on the other of the bracket and the tower. The protruding section and the socket are configured to draw the tower toward an impacting force during a catastrophic impact, such that the tower is more likely to crush with a high-energy absorbing, accordion-like collapse (as opposed to a low-energy absorbing parallelogram-like collapse).

A power distribution system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of network node modules coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

A grill shutter unit comprises a shutter unit provided in back of a traveling-air introductory port formed at a front end of a vehicle body and including shutter members, and a traveling-air guide member including a guide frame portion provided at an outer peripheral edge portion of the shutter unit and a seal portion provided to extend forward continuously from a front end of the guide frame portion and be made from soft synthetic resin having more flexibility than the frame portion, wherein the grill shutter unit is configured such that when the shutter members are closed, a seal portion of the traveling-air guide member is pressed against an outer peripheral wall face of the traveling-air introductory port by pressure of traveling air shut off by the shutter members closed.

Crash attenuator for protecting a truck or stationary structure from damage resulting from impact of an object including a frame mountable to the structure, a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive an impact from the object, a movable displacement structure interposed between the frame and bumper and having a first position in which the bumper is relatively distant from the frame and a second position in which the bumper is relatively proximate to the frame, and an energy dissipation system coupled to the displacement structure for dissipating impact energy of the object received by the bumper which causes the displacement structure to be moved from the first position toward the second position. The energy dissipation system includes one or more deformable members which deform upon movement of the displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of impact energy.

An energy absorber that incorporates pedestrian protection and vehicle protection into a front bumper system on automotive vehicles comprises a unitary molded glass mat of thermoplastic material having a plurality of outwardly extending crushable lobes. The energy absorber is combined with a fascia and a reinforcing beam with the energy absorber interdisposed to form a bumper system for automotive vehicles.

An integrated assembly includes a bumper energy absorber section with crush lobes for abutting a bumper beam, an upper air shutter section with subassembled shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a first actuator mechanism for moving the shutter members between positions, an upper fascia support section with upper leg crush lobe therein above the upper air shutter section, a lower air shutter section with subassembled lower shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a second actuator mechanism for moving the lower shutter members between the positions; and a lower leg energy absorber section attached below the lower air shutter section and configured to abut (or replace) a face of a secondary pedestrian impact bar. The shutter members may be molded to a shutter frame using over molding technology rather than separately, manually assembled.

A bumper assembly (10) for an automotive vehicle is described. In an example embodiment, the assembly comprises a beam and a fascia at least partially covering the beam. The beam comprises at least one crush can (12).

An automotive vehicle support structure assembly includes a bumper extending across the front of the vehicle, a longitudinal side member extending rearwardly from the bumper, and a link member extending between the end of the bumper and the side member. The link member is mounted to the side member and bumper via a pair of hinged connections. In the event of a small overlap collision, the link member is configured to contact a colliding barrier and pivot rearwardly in response while maintaining contact with the barrier to transfer the force of the collision inwardly toward the side member.

A partitioned impact absorber comprising an array of partitions extending parallel to a given impact direction. The absorber is constituted by at least two mutually-engageable blocks, each block having partitions, the partitions of each block interfitting between the partitions of the other block so as to build up the array of partitions of the absorber.

An integrated one-piece polymeric molded component includes an energy-absorbing section, a fascia-supporting beam section, and a plurality of connecting section connecting the energy-absorbing and fascia-supporting beam sections. The energy-absorbing section engages a front of a bumper beam and includes crush boxes configured to absorb impact energy during a vehicle crash. The connecting sections are strong enough to hold the energy-absorbing section and the fascia-supporting beam section together during assembly of the one-piece component onto a vehicle, but are flexible to allow collapse of the energy-absorbing section during a vehicle crash without damaging the fascia-supporting beam section. The beam section is channel-shaped and extends cross-car generally between headlamps of the vehicle, for providing added support structure to a front-end of the vehicle. The beam section includes air-redirecting ridges for optimal air flow and integral clips for wire management.

The present invention relates to a recyclable thermoplastic composite sheet which is excellent in mechanical properties, such as bending strength, bending elastic modulus, impact strength and linear thermal expansion coefficient, and also in secondary processability, and suitable for molding into various structures, such as panels for use as building materials, and automobile parts, as well as a manufacturing method thereof and an article manufactured therefrom. The sheet comprises: a center layer of a thermoplastic composite material comprising 40% by weight of reinforcing fibers with an average length of 1-30 mm and 60% by weight of a thermoplastic resin containing an organic filler; and a continuous reinforcing fiber-impregnated prepreg layer laminated on at least one surface of the upper surface and lower surface of the center layer, the prepreg layer comprising 5-65% by weight of reinforcing fibers and 35-95% by weight of a thermoplastic resin containing a small amount of inorganic filler.

An impact absorbing device for a vehicle may include a bumper beam disposed to extend in a traverse direction of a vehicle, a side member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle in the traverse direction thereof, a crash box connecting the bumper beam in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the side member, a fender apron member disposed at outer sides of the side member in the traverse direction of the vehicle, a connecting member connecting the fender apron member and the side member, and a side crash box of which a front tip end may be mounted to an outer portion of the bumper beam positioned at an outer direction of the side member in the traverse direction of the vehicle, and of which a rear tip end may be disposed to be spaced apart from the connecting member at a predetermined interval therebetween.

A bumper for a motor vehicle includes a cross member disposed transversely to side rails of a motor vehicle frame and having a U-shaped cross section with a wall and two legs extending from opposite ends of the wall. The cross member is supported via integral crash boxes against the side rails. Each crash box has a cross member proximal end which abuts against the wall of the cross member, and includes vertical legs and horizontal legs to define a casing-like configuration. The wall of the cross member is formed in an area of the cross member proximal end of the crash box with a depression which extends in a direction of the crash box, with the vertical legs of the crash box joined at the cross member proximal end to the wall of the cross member, and with the horizontal legs of the crash box spaced from the wall of the cross member by a distance.

A bumper beam includes an open front section made from a high-strength material such as ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) material, and further includes a mating back section made of lower-strength material attached to a rear side of the front section along abutting flanges. The front and back sections combine to define different tubular cross sections. The front section can be roll-formed, and the back section can be stamped, thus taking advantage of roll-forming processes' ability to form high-strength materials, while allowing the back section to have a more complicated shape and be stamped. The abutting flanges telescopingly overlap in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle and are welded together at locations that potentially experience shear upon impact, but the flanges of the front section are captured within the flanges of the backs section, thus providing impact strength even if the attachment locations shear off.

A collision detecting device providing the accurate and early determination of a collision with a vehicle or the like and a passive safety system using this collision detecting device. A low-rigid portion and a crash box are arranged ahead of the high-rigid portion in a front portion of a frame. The front end of a rod is fixed to a bumper. The rod is inserted into a magnetic detector disposed on the high-rigid portion. In the rod, a number of magnets are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rod such that their N poles and S poles are alternatively arranged. As a vehicle collides, the crash box is first deformed so that the rod moves backward, whereby a collision can be detected before large acceleration is generated.

A crash attenuator for protecting a truck or stationary structure from damage resulting from impact of an object such as a vehicle including a frame mountable to a truck or stationary structure, a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive an impact from an object in a crash, a movable displacement structure coupled to the frame and interposed between the frame and the bumper and having a first position in which the bumper is relatively distant from the frame and a second position in which the bumper is relatively proximate to the frame, and an energy dissipation system coupled to the displacement structure for dissipating the impact energy of the object into the bumper which causes said displacement structure to be moved from the first position toward the second position.

A vehicle black box includes a memory device for receiving and storing real-time data associated with the vehicle during a recording time window. Upon determining that an accident has occurred, circuitry freezes the recording time window and stores the real-time data within the frozen recording time window within a one-time programmable (OTP) memory.

A suspension system for a vehicle (50c) having a body (52c) and a plurality of wheel support assemblies (56c, 58c) includes a tie structure (60c) interposed between the body and the wheel support assemblies. A first interconnection system (68c) interconnects the tie structure to the wheel support assemblies, and the second interconnection system (302) interconnects the tie structure and the body. The second interconnection system includes a plurality of link structures (304, 320) pivotally connected at one end to the tie structure, and pivotally connected at the opposite end to the body. Such link structures are oriented relative to the tie structure to extend towards a common point along a longitudinal axis (33B) of the tie structure.

In a motor vehicle, a deflecting device (11) for an offset frontal collision for the motor vehicle is arranged in front of a front wheel (6). In order, in the event of a collision, to safely pivot the front wheel inward, the deflecting device (11) forms a kinematic chain, the coupling link of which is a deflector (12) which, under the action of a frontal impact, is pivoted to the rear and is displaced toward the outside of the vehicle. The kinematic chain is a slider crank mechanism comprising a swinging arm (13) which is pivotable about a bearing (14), a further bearing (16), a sliding guide (16) and the coupling link (12) which is connected to the outer end of the swinging arm at a pivot point (15) and is guided in the further bearing (16).