Vehicle panel opening mechanism

Abstract

A vehicle panel opening mechanism 300, particularly for a tailgate 310, is provided. Opening mechanism 300 comprises a lifting mechanism 304, 305 arranged to lift a carriage 306 associated with panel

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle panel opening mechanism. Aspects of the invention relate to a vehicle panel opening mechanism, to a vehicle panel system, to a tailgate fora vehicle, to a method of opening a vehicle panel of a vehicle, to a control system and to a vehicle. BACKGROUND It is known to provide moveable vehicle panels such as doors and tailgates in order to allow access to interior spaces of vehicles such as passenger compartments and storage compartments. Conventionally, the moveable vehicle panels may be coupled to the vehicle body via hinges and in some cases devices such as gas struts or electrical actuators may be included in order to assist a user in moving a vehicle panel. Generally, the movement of vehicle panels may be difficult and the vehicle panels may require a significant area around the vehicle for opening into. Moreover, the arrangement of a hinge may leave a vehicle panel partially obscuring the opening, allowing suboptimal access to the vehicle interior. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle panel opening mechanism, a vehicle panel system, a tailgate for a vehicle, a method of opening a vehicle panel of a vehicle, a control system and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle panel opening mechanism comprising: a lifting mechanism comprising: a base coupleable to a vehicle body; and a carriage moveable relative to the base; and a sliding mechanism comprising: a rail coupleable to a vehicle panel, wherein the rail of the sliding mechanism is slidably coupled to the carriage of the lifting mechanism. With such an arrangement, the lifting mechanism may move the vehicle panel outwardly from an opening in the vehicle body in a direction normal to the plane of the opening, and the rail may move the vehicle panel substantially parallel to the opening to allow access to the opening. The lifting mechanism may allow the vehicle panel to be arranged flush with the surrounding panels of the vehicle body when closed and moved out of the opening, while the rail and carriage may allow the vehicle panel to be moved along the vehicle body to allow access to the opening. By arranging the vehicle panel to be flush with surrounding panels, the vehicle may be made more aerodynamic. The movement of the vehicle panel along the vehicle body by the rail may also allow easier opening of the vehicle panel where the vehicle is situated in enclosed spaces. Further, by coupling the rail to the vehicle panel and moving the rail with the vehicle panel, relative to the first mechanism, the first mechanism may remain in place relative to the vehicle body, reducing the number of parts that must be moved with the vehicle panel. This may provide a more efficient mechanism, requiring less energy and / or smaller actuators. A vehicle may be formed of one or more vehicle panels and a vehicle body. The vehicle body is a central portion of the vehicle that includes a passenger compartment and power source, while the vehicle panel is a separate panel that is moveable relative to the vehicle body. Generally, the vehicle body may be considered as stationary for the purpose of describing a mechanism for moving a vehicle panel and the vehicle panel may be considered as moveable. The rail may be fixed to the vehicle panel to move with the vehicle panel and the base may be fixed to the vehicle body to move with the vehicle body (or to remain stationary with the vehicle body as the case may be). The lifting mechanism may further comprise a first lifting member arranged to move the carriage relative to the base. The first lifting member may provide support to the carriage when the carriage is in a lifted position. The first lifting member may have a first end pivotally coupled to the base about a first axis and a second end pivotally coupled to the carriage about a second axis. The rotation of the first member about the first axis may result in the carriage initially moving away from the vehicle body normal to the opening and then moving along the vehicle body, parallel to the opening. This may reduce the range of movement required for the rail and / or may improve access to the vehicle panel. The lifting mechanism may further comprise a second lifting member, the second lifting member having a first end pivotally coupled to the base about a third axis and a second end pivotally coupled to the carriage at a fourth axis, and each one of the first, second, third and fourth axes may be spaced apart from the other three. By providing a second member, the lifting mechanism may be arranged to move the sliding mechanism and the vehicle panel and to determine an orientation of the lifting mechanism and vehicle panel relative to the vehicle body. The second lifting member may be arranged to remain parallel to the first lifting member. In this way, the vehicle panel may be opened and closed by a translational movement, allowing the panel to be sealed securely and avoiding rubbing of the vehicle panel against adjacent parts of the vehicle. The first lifting member and the second lifting member may be arranged to move in a common plane. The first member and / or the second member may be received in a slot in the vehicle panel, optionally in a slot in an interior trim of the vehicle panel. By arranging the first and second lifting members to sit in a common plane and move in a common plane, the two members may be received in a common slot in the vehicle panel. This may allow a simpler arrangement of the interior of the vehicle panel and may also reduce the chance of ingress of dirt into a volume within the vehicle panel. The rail and the first lifting member may be arranged in a common plane. Optionally, the first lifting member, the second lifting member and the rail may all sit within a common plane. This may allow the first and second lifting members to remain in a single slot as the vehicle panel passes through its entire range of movement. Further, a slot cover may be provided, which may cover the slot in which the first and, optionally, second lifting member(s) move. The slot cover may be actuated to cover the slot when the vehicle panel is in a closed position to prevent ingress of dirt into the slot. The vehicle panel opening mechanism may further comprise a first actuator arranged to rotate the first lifting member relative to the base, wherein the first actuator is arranged proximate the base and / or fixed to the base. By providing an actuator proximate the base, optionally fixed to the base, the first actuator may move with the vehicle body, as opposed to with the vehicle panel. This may reduce energy and torque requirements for the actuators as the mass moved by the actuator may be reduced. Further, a thinner vehicle panel may be provided as there is no requirement to accommodate the first actuator. The vehicle panel opening mechanism may further comprise a second actuator arranged to slide the rail relative to the carriage. By providing separate actuators for sliding the rail along the carriage and for actuating the first mechanism, the motion of the vehicle panel may be more easily controlled. Further, each actuator may be made smaller, reducing the overall weight of the vehicle panel opening mechanism. The second actuator may be arranged to move with the rail. In this case, the second actuator may be arranged within the vehicle panel. This may allow improved access to the opening in the vehicle body covered by the vehicle panel as the actuator may be moved away from the opening with the vehicle panel. The second actuator may be arranged to rotate a threaded rod, the threaded rod being received in a nut coupled to the carriage. In this way, the vehicle panel may be moved relative to the carriage by a screw drive. A screw drive may provide a large range of movement relative to the size of the actuator, along the vehicle panel to move a distance relative to the carriage that is substantially similar to a length of the vehicle panel. In this way, improved access to the opening in the vehicle may be provided. The rail may be a first rail, and the vehicle panel opening mechanism may further comprise: a second lifting mechanism comprising: a second carriage moveable to translate relative to the base; a third lifting member arranged to move the carriage relative to the base; and a second sliding mechanism comprising: a second rail, the third lifting member may be arranged to be parallel to the first lifting member; and the first rail and the second rail may be parallel. The second lifting mechanism may have any of the optional properties and features described above in relation to the first lifting mechanism. The first and third members may be pivotable about a common axis and / or may be rigidly coupled together by a shaft and a common first actuator may apply a linear force or a torque to the shaft to rotate or otherwise move the first and third members. In this way, a more stable vehicle panel opening mechanism may be provided. The members may also be constructed to be thinner, allowing each to be received in a smaller slot, providing the advantages of smaller slots in the interior trim of the vehicle panel as described above. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle panel system comprising: the vehicle panel opening mechanism of the first-mentioned aspect; and a vehicle panel fixed to the rail(s). According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tailgate fora vehicle comprising: the vehicle panel system of the another aspect, wherein the vehicle panel is a tailgate hatch arranged to cover an opening in a vehicle. Such a tailgate hatch may allow improved access to a boot or trunk space of the vehicle and may allow the tailgate to be opened when the vehicle is parked in an enclosed space, such as a car park with a low ceiling. According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of opening a vehicle panel of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a command signal indicating a requirement to open a vehicle panel; outputting a first control signal in response to receiving the command signal, the first control signal being arranged to cause a first lifting actuator to move a first lifting mechanism to move the vehicle panel; outputting a second control signal, the second control signal being arranged to cause a sliding actuator to move the vehicle panel relative to the lifting mechanism; wherein the outputting of the second control signal is performed while the lifting actuator is moving the lifting mechanism. It will be understood that that method of opening the vehicle panel may comprise using the vehicle panel opening mechanism of the first-mentioned aspect and that any aspect or feature of the vehicle panel opening mechanism may be combined with the above-described method. In this way, the vehicle panel may be moved by two separate actuators where the actuations of the two actuators overlap, such that the vehicle panel does not stop moving in the middle of an opening sequence. This reduces juddering or shaking of the vehicle panel and may also allow the vehicle panel to be opened in a shorter time. The method may further comprise: obtaining a distance of movement of the lifting mechanism by the lifting actuator; comparing the distance of movement of the lifting mechanism to a first distance threshold; obtaining a further distance of movement of the vehicle panel by the first actuator; comparing the further distance of movement of the vehicle panel to a stopping distance threshold; and based on the comparison of the further distance of movement of the vehicle panel to the .ping distance threshold, outputting a stopping control signal arranged to cause the first actuator to stop moving the vehicle panel; the first distance threshold may be smaller than the stopping distance threshold, and the outputting of the second control signal may be based on the comparison of the distance of movement to the first distance threshold. In this way, a control system may carry out the simultaneous actuation of the lifting and sliding actuators. Obtaining the distance of movement of the vehicle panel and / or the further distance of movement of the vehicle panel may comprise receiving a signal from a position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first mechanism. By using data from a position sensor, the second actuator may be actuated at a more reliable point in the travel of the first mechanism. Further, by using data from a position sensor, the system may be operated with smaller tolerances. This may allow the second actuator to be actuated earlier in the travel of the first mechanism, further reducing the opening time for the vehicle panel. According to a yet still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a control system arranged to carry out the method of the still further aspect when coupled to the vehicle panel opening mechanism of the first-mentioned aspect, the vehicle panel system of the another aspect or the tailgate of the further aspect. According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising: the vehicle panel opening mechanism of the first-mentioned aspect, the vehicle panel system of the another aspect, the tailgate of the further aspect, or the control system of the yet still further aspect. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in anyway and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a vehicle in accordance with the invention with a tailgate in a closed position; Figure 2 shows a rearview of the vehicle of Figure 1 with the tailgate in the closed position; Figure 3 shows a side view of the vehicle of Figure 1 with the tailgate in an open position; Figure 4 shows a rearview of the vehicle of Figure 1 with the tailgate in the open position; Figures 5a to 5c show a vehicle panel opening mechanism in accordance with the invention in different positions; Figures 6a and 6b show a further vehicle panel opening mechanism in accordance with the invention in different positions; Figure 7 shows a still further vehicle panel opening mechanism in accordance with the invention; Figures 8a to 8c show a yet still further vehicle panel opening mechanism in accordance with the invention in different positions; Figure 9 shows a view of an underside of a vehicle panel; Figure 10a shows a coupling plate for a vehicle; Figure 10b shows a partially assembled coupling plate for a vehicle; Figure 10c shows an assembled coupling plate fora vehicle; Figure 11 shows a cross section of a rear portion of a vehicle according to the invention; Figure 12 shows a schematic system diagram of a vehicle panel opening mechanism; and Figure 13 shows a flow chart of a method of operating a vehicle panel opening mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4 and 10. As shown in Figures 5a to 8c, there is also provided a vehicle panel opening mechanism according to the present invention. An opening method according to an embodiment of the invention is described herein with reference to Figure 13. Figures 1 to 4 show a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 has a number of vehicle panels that are arranged to allow access into the vehicle. For example, the vehicle 10 has a front door 14, which may be referred to as a driver door or a passenger door, which allows access to a passenger compartment of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 also has a rear passenger door 16, to allow access to a rear portion of a passenger compartment. The vehicle 10 also has a bonnet or hood 20 at the front of the vehicle 10, which may allow access to an engine compartment or a front storage compartment, which may be referred to as a frunk. The vehicle 10 has a rear storage compartment 12, which may be referred to as a boot or trunk 12. The rear storage compartment 12 is accessible via a movable tailgate 18. The tailgate 18 may be moved into a closed position, which is shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the rear storage compartment 12 is relatively isolated from the external environment and inaccessible to a person outside the vehicle. The tailgate 18 may be moved to an open position, shown in Figures 3 and 4, where the rear storage compartment 12 may be accessible to a person outside the vehicle 10. It will be understood that any of the vehicle panels may be opened using a vehicle panel opening mechanism described herein, and that any of the vehicle panels, such as the bonnet or doors, may be omitted, may be maintained substantially closed or immovable, or may be opened using a different vehicle panel opening mechanism. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the tailgate 18 may be positioned over the roof of the vehicle when the tailgate 18 is in the open position. This may allow the tailgate to be opened when the vehicle 10 is in a confined area, such as an area with a low ceiling. This may also allow improved access to the rear storage compartment 12 from above, due to the tailgate 18 not being situated above the rear storage compartment 12 when in the open position. Figures 5a to 5c show a vehicle panel opening mechanism 100 for moving a vehicle panel from a closed position shown in Figure 5a to an open position shown in Figure 5c via a partially open position shown in Figure 5b, and in the opposite direction. It will be understood that the vehicle panel opening mechanism 100 may be used for opening any vehicle panel, including vehicle doors or a vehicle bonnet or hood, as well as being used to open a vehicle tailgate in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 4. The vehicle panel opening mechanism 100 comprises a first lifting member 104. The first lifting member 104 has a first end 104a, which is pivotally coupled to a base 102. The base 102 may be a lug fixed to a vehicle coupling plate, described below with reference to Figures 10a to 10c, or may be any other coupling arrangement that may be fixed to, ora portion of, a vehicle body. A second end 104b of the first lifting member 104 is pivotally coupled to a carriage 106. The carriage 106, which may also be referred to as a slide block 106, is slidably engaged with a rail 108. The rail 108 is in turn fixed to the moveable vehicle panel 110, which may be a tailgate. The carriage 106 may have a fixed orientation relative to the base 102 and so may move in a pure translation relative to the base 102. The orientation of the carriage 106 may alternatively vary controllably relative to the base 102 as carriage 106 is moved. The orientation of the carriage 106 may be determined by an actuator or gear arrangement arranged between the carriage 106 and the first lifting member 104. The carriage 106 and the rail 108 may be arranged to slide relative to one another, such as by one or more rolling elements or rotating elements arranged between the carriage 106 and the rail 108, which may move within a groove of the rail 108. In the closed position, as shown in Figure 5a, the carriage 106 may be at an end of the rail 108 that is proximal the base 102. As the lifting member 104 moves the vehicle panel 110 toward a partially open position, which is shown in Figure 5b, the vehicle panel 110 may move in a direction parallel to the vehicle opening toward the base 102, as well as being moved out of the opening in which the vehicle panel 110 may sit. This may reduce a required length of the rail 108. It will be understood that the lifting member 104 may be omitted some cases, and that the carriage 106 may be moved relative to the base 102 via an hydraulic actuator or other lifting means. Together, the lifting member 104 and the carriage 106 define a lifting mechanism which is arranged to move the vehicle panel 110 outwardly relative to a vehicle body, such that the vehicle panel 110 may attain the position shown in Figure 5b, where the vehicle panel may substantially overlap an opening in the vehicle body. Put another way, the vehicle panel may be moved in a direction normal to a plane of the opening, so that the vehicle panel 110 is free to slide relative to the vehicle body, which may be sliding in a direction along a contour of the vehicle body. As shown in Figure 5c, the rail 108 may slide relative to the carriage 106 to move from the partially open position shown in Figure 5b into the open position shown in Figure 5c. In this way, the vehicle panel 110 may be moved away from the opening in the vehicle body, to allow access to the interior of the vehicle body, such as to a rear storage compartment of the vehicle. Figures 6a and 6b show a further vehicle panel opening mechanism 200. Figure 6a shows the vehicle panel opening mechanism 200 in a closed position, and Figure 6b shows the vehicle panel opening mechanism in a partially opened position. The vehicle panel opening mechanism 200 comprises a base 202, a first lifting member 204 and a second lifting member 205, each of the two lifting members 204, 205 being pivotally coupled at a first end 204a, 205a to the base 202 and at a second end 204b, 205b to a carriage 206. The base 202, lifting members 204, 205 and carriage 206 may form a lifting mechanism. As can be seen by comparing Figures 6a and 6b, the base 202, first lifting member 204, carriage 206 and second lifting member 205 form a four-bar mechanism which constrains the orientation of the carriage 206 as it is moved from the closed position to a partially open position. In this way, the carriage 206 may have an orientation that is constrained relative to the base 202 without any gearing mechanism or further actuators being required. The provision of the second lifting member 205 may therefore have the benefit of providing a lightweight means of constraining the orientation of the carriage 206. Further, the first end 205a of the second lifting member 205 may be spaced a distance L2 from the first end 204a of the first lifting member 204. The lifting members 204, 205 may each have a height L1, and in particular, the first lifting member 204 may have a height L1. The height L1 of the first lifting member 204 may be less than the distance L2 between the first ends 204a, 205a of the lifting members. This may allow the first lifting member 204 to lie between the first ends 204a, 205a of the lifting members 204,205 when the vehicle panel opening mechanism 200 is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 6a. In this way, the first and second lifting members 204, 205 may be arranged in a common plane such that they are may be received in a common slot in a vehicle panel. This may allow smaller slot to be formed in the moveable vehicle panel 210, which may receive the first and second lifting members 204, 205 in an orifice therein in the closed position. It will be understood that the rail 208 may slide relative to the carriage 206 to move the vehicle panel from the partially open position shown in Figure 6B to a fully open position akin to the fully open position shown in Figure 5c. A further vehicle panel opening mechanism 300 is shown in Figure 7 in a partially open position. The vehicle panel opening mechanism 300 has a base 302, a first lifting member 304 having a first end 304a and a second end 304b, a second lifting member 305 having a first end 305a and a second end 305b and a carriage 306. These components may form a lifting mechanism. The components may be substantially similar to the same components described above with reference to Figures 6a and 6b. A rail 308 and a vehicle panel 310 of the vehicle panel opening mechanism 300 may be curved. It will be understood that in some cases the vehicle panel 310 may be substantially flat and the rail 308 may be curved or that the vehicle panel 310 may be curved, and the rail 308 straight. The rail 308 and / or the vehicle panel 310 may slide in a curve between the partially open position shown in Figure 7 and a fully open position due to the shape of the rail 308. By being curved, the vehicle panel 310 may lie flush with surrounding surfaces of a vehicle when in the closed position. By providing a curved rail 308, the vehicle panel 310 may remain close to the vehicle body when moving to the open position, further improving accessibility of the interior space of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a confined space. While Figures 5a to 7 show the lifting mechanism comprised of the lifting members being moved through their entire range of motion before sliding of the rail relative to the carriage commences, the rail may begin to side relative to the carriage before the lifting members have moved through their entire range of motion. In this way, when an instruction is received to open the vehicle panel, an actuator may begin to move the lifting members in order to move the carriage relative to the base, and subsequently a further actuator may be actuated to move the rail relative to the carriage, the second actuator being actuated before the first actuator has moved the lifting members through their complete range of movement. In this way, a smooth transition from a fully closed state to a fully open state may be achieved without jerking or juddering of the vehicle panel. Figures 8a to 8c show a yet still further vehicle panel opening mechanism 400. In Figure 8a to 8c, the vehicle panel has been omitted in order to show underlying details of the vehicle panel opening mechanism more clearly. However, it will be understood that the vehicle panel may be fixed to the rails 408a, 408b that are part of the vehicle panel opening mechanism 400. The vehicle panel opening mechanism 400 comprises a base 402, which may be a coupling plate that is formed as a single piece to support the vehicle panel opening mechanism and the vehicle panel. Such a vehicle panel opening mechanism base 402 is described in greater detail with reference to Figures 10a to 10c below. The vehicle panel opening mechanism base 402 may include lugs for coupling to a vehicle panel lifting mechanism and may support the lifting mechanism and one or more actuators arranged to move the lifting mechanism. A plurality of lugs 403 extend upwardly from the plate 402, the lugs 403 being pivotally coupled to lifting members 404a, 404b, 405a, 405b of a lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism may comprise two first lifting members 404a, 404b, which may be coupled together or fixed together via a shaft 424. By coupling the first lifting members 404a, b together via the shaft 424, the lifting members may move in tandem, allowing even lifting of the vehicle panel. Further, torque may be applied to the shaft 424 in order to move the lifting mechanism and so torque may be applied at a single point and distributed by the shaft 424, This may allow a single actuator to operate the lifting mechanism. To this end, an actuator 420, which may be lifting actuator and may include an electric motor and / or a gearbox, may be coupled to the shaft 424 via a linkage 422. The linkage 422 may allow the lifting actuator 420 to be situated a distance from the shaft 424, allowing the actuator 420 to be situated under an adjacent panel of the vehicle. This may improve access to the opening covered by the vehicle panel. The lifting mechanism actuator 420 may be arranged on and / or fixed to the vehicle coupling plate 402 in order to allow the lifting mechanism to be installed more easily, as the entire lifting mechanism may be coupled to the vehicle body via the vehicle coupling plate 402. The second lifting members 405b, 405a, may be freely movable and pivoted relative to lugs 403 extending from the coupling plate 402 such that the first and second lifting members 404a, 404b, 405a, 405b may, together with the coupling plate 402 and the carriages 406a, 406b, form a four bar mechanisms to constrain the orientation of the carriages 406a, b as the carriages are moved by the lifting mechanism. The carriages 406a, 406b may therefore be moved into a partially open arrangement shown in Figure 8b, such as by the actuator 420. The rails 408a, 408b, to which the panel may be fixed, may then be moved relative to the carriages 406a, b by actuation of a second actuator 412. The second actuator 412 may also be referred to as a sliding actuator 412 and may be a screw drive that is arranged to rotate a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft being received in a nut 414, that is coupled to the carriages 406a, 406b. By rotation of the threaded shaft by the sliding actuator 412, the rails 408a, 408b may be arranged to slide relative to the carriages 406a, b in order to move the vehicle panel along the vehicle body in order to allow access to the interior of the vehicle. The sliding actuator 412 may be fixed to and moveable with the rails 408a, 408b and the vehicle panel, such that the nut 414 remains in a substantially constant position relative to the carriages 406a, b as the vehicle panel is moved by the sliding actuator 412. It will be understood that some movement between the nut 414 and carriages 406a, b may be allowed in orderto compensate forthe curvature of the rails 408a, b. The vehicle panel may therefore be moved into the fully open position shown in Figure 8c. Power may be supplied to the sliding actuator 412 and to any other actuators within the vehicle panel via a wire or cable which may pass along one of the lifting members. The wire or cable may also transfer data to and from the sliding actuator 412. The vehicle panel opening mechanism 450 may further comprise actuator sensors S1, S2. A first actuator sensor S1 is arranged to sensor a position of the lifting actuator 420 and a second actuator S2 is arranged to sensor a position of the sliding actuator 412. The actuator sensors S1, S2 may therefore determine an opening state of the vehicle panel, and may each transmit position data to a controller, the position data containing information indicative of the positions of the first and second actuators. In this way, a controller may control actuation of the actuators to move the vehicle panel more reliably between the open and closed positions. Figure 9 shows an underside of a vehicle panel 450 movable by the vehicle panel opening mechanism 400 of Figures 8a to 8c. The vehicle panel may comprise an environment-facing outer sheet and an inner trim sheet, with elements of the vehicle panel opening mechanism being received in a space between the outer sheet and the inner trim sheet. In particular, the rail and / or the carriages may be arranged between the inner and outer sheets. The vehicle panel 450 has slots 452a, 452b in the inner trim sheet, each slot being arranged to allow respective first and second lifting members to pass therethrough. For this reason, the first and second lifting members may be arranged in coplanar pairs, so that the lifting members of each pair may pass through the same slot, without the width of the slot being increased, this may allow a smaller slot 452a, 452B to be formed in the inner trim sheet, which may reduce the ingress of dirt into the interior of the vehicle panel 450. The vehicle panel 450 further comprises movable trim panels 454a, 454 b which may be moved over the slots 452a, b in orderto cover the slots 452a, b, when the vehicle panel is in the open position or closed position. The moveable trim panels 454a, b may be moved out from the slots 452a, b while the vehicle panel is being moved from the closed position to the open position or vice versa in order to allow the vehicle panel 450 to move relative to the lifting members. The movable trim panels 454a, b may be shorter than the slots 452a, b in order to allow the lifting members to extend through the slots while the vehicle panel is in the closed position and the movable trim panels 454a, b are arranged over the slots 452a, b. The vehicle panel 450 may also comprise trim panel actuators 456a, b, which may be arranged to the movable trim panels 454a, b over the slots 452 a, b, and to move the movable trim panels 454a, b away from the slots 452a, b. Figures 10a, 10b and 10c show a coupling plate 500 for supporting a vehicle panel opening mechanism in different states of assembly. Figure 10a shows a single, integrally formed item which is a vehicle coupling plate or island 500. The vehicle coupling plate 500 may be formed as a single cast and machined part and may be identifiable as being formed as a single integral part by a lack of joining lines, such as welds or bolted connections. The coupling plate 500 comprises a plate portion 502, which is substantially flat or planar, or may be shaped to follow a curvature of a vehicle body portion to which the coupling plate 500 may be fixed. The coupling plate 500 comprises vehicle body coupling arrangement 504 for coupling the plate 500 to a vehicle body. The vehicle body coupling arrangement 504 shown in Figure 10a is formed as a plurality of bolt holes arranged to receive bolts that may pass therethrough in order to bolt the coupling plate 502 a vehicle body. Alternatively, the vehicle body coupling arrangement may be formed as a plurality of lugs or interlocking portions arranged to interlock with a corresponding portion of the vehicle body. The coupling plate 500 also comprises an opening mechanism coupling arrangement, which is formed of a plurality of lugs and / or lug portion and / or a plurality of vehicle panel opening mechanism boltholes. In Figure 10a, the opening mechanism coupling arrangement is formed of two partial lugs 504, which are arranged to receive a portion of a vehicle panel opening mechanism, and a plurality of boltholes 508, which are arranged to receive bolts for coupling lugs or other mechanism parts to the coupling plate 500. The partial lugs 504 extend outwardly from the plate portion 502 and comprise semi-circular apertures. The apertures define a portion of a cutout, which may be a portion of a circular cutout. The portion of the cutout may be arranged to receive a portion of an opening mechanism, such as a bushing, bearing or shaft and the received portion of the opening mechanism may be held in place in the lug portion or in the portion of the cutout thereof, by a further lug portion that may be fixed to the lug portion. Figure 10b shows a partially assembled coupling assembly 520. In the partially assembled coupling assembly 520, further lugs 524 have been fixed to the plate portion 502 via the bolt holes 508. The lugs 524 may each be arranged to be pivotally coupled to one or more members of a vehicle opening mechanism, or to bushings or shafts of such members. The lug portions 506 are arranged together with further lug portions 522, which are bolted to the plate portion 502, and which, together with the integrated lug portions 506, form complete lugs 526. The lug portions 506 and the further lug portions 522 may each comprise a semicircular void for receiving a shaft, and the further lug portions 522 may be bolted to the vehicle coupling plate 502 to resiliently fix the shaft between the lug portions 506 and the further lug portions 522, such that the shaft is rotatable within a substantially circular aperture formed between the lug portions 506, 522. The lugs 526, which are formed by the integrated lug portions 506 and the further lugs 522 coupled to the plate portion 502 may have the benefit of being integrated in that they are resiliently fixed to the plate portion 502 and may also allow a shaft to be easily arranged within the lug 526. Figure 10c shows a coupling assembly 550 including a plurality of lifting members 562a, 562b, 564a, 564b pivotally coupled to respective lugs 524, which are fixed to the plate portion 502 of the coupling assembly 550. The coupling assembly further comprises a shaft 558, which is fixed to two first lifting members 562a, 562b, such that the first lifting members 562a, 562b are fixed together to move in tandem, allowing an even lifting of a vehicle panel coupled to the lifting mechanism. The shaft is also received in cutouts of the lugs formed by lug portions 506, 522. An actuator 552 is supported on and fixed to the plate 502, the actuator 552 being arranged to move the lifting mechanism in order to move the vehicle panel coupled to the lifting mechanism. The actuator 552 is coupled to the lifting mechanism via the shaft 558, and in particular is coupled via a linkage system formed of a crank 560 that is fixed to the shaft 558, an arm or other rotatable portion 554 that is rotatable directly by the actuator 552 and a linkage 556, that is coupled to the crank 560 and the arm 554, such that the movement of the arm 554 causes rotation of the crank 560, which in turn rotates the shaft 558 and moves the first lifting members 562a, b. The second lifting members 564 a, b may be freely pivotable relative to the lugs 524 and may act to constrain orientation of a vehicle panel movable by the lifting mechanism. By providing a linkage 556 between the actuator 552 and the lifting mechanism, the actuator 552 may be disposed a distance from the lifting mechanism, and may be concealed under an adjacent vehicle panel. This may allow improved access to an opening in the vehicle that is normally covered by the vehicle panel. Figure 11 shows a rear portion 600 of a vehicle, including a tailgate 610, which is arranged to cover a tailgate opening 605, the tailgate opening 605 allowing access to a rear storage compartment within the vehicle, such as a trunk or boot, from the exterior of the vehicle. The tailgate 610 is openable by a vehicle panel opening mechanism such as those described above, including the vehicle panel coupling assembly 550, shown in figure 10c. It can be seen that the plate portion 502 is coupled to the vehicle body, and in particular, is coupled to an interior panel 602 of the vehicle body via one or more fixing members 604, which in this case are bolts or machine screws extending through the potholes 504 of the vehicle panel coupling assembly 550. However, other fixing means may be used to couple the plate portion 502 to an interior panel. It can also be seen that a portion of the vehicle panel coupling assembly 550 is arranged underneath a roof 608 of the vehicle, and in particular that the actuator 552 is arranged under the roof 608. In this arrangement, the roof 608 and tailgate 610 are arranged to lie flush when the tailgate 610 is in the closed position, covering the opening 605. An interior trim panel 606 is arranged to cover the vehicle panel coupling assembly 550 on an interior side, such that the vehicle panel coupling assembly 550 is not visible or accessible by a user inside the vehicle. This may improve the safety of the occupants of the vehicle by reducing the prospect of a part of a user’s body or any other item being caught in the vehicle panel opening mechanism. At a rear end of the tailgate 610, a rear fender or bumper 610 of the vehicle is arranged to lie flush with the tailgate 610. The rear portion of the vehicle 600 may also comprise a rain channel or gutter 612, which is covered by the tailgate 610 when the tailgate is in the closed position, and is exposed to the environment when the tailgate 610 is in the open position. The rain channel or gutter 612 may the arranged to receive any liquid that may pass between the tailgate 610 and the surrounding vehicle body portions and so may prevent or reduce the ingress of water into the interior of the vehicle. The rain channel 612 may extend around the perimeter of the opening 605 and may channel water away from the opening 605. Figure 12 shows a schematic system diagram of a vehicle panel opening mechanism 700. The vehicle panel opening mechanism may comprise a control system 702. The controller 702 is configured to receive position data from one or more position sensors, which may also be referred to as actuator sensors S1, S2 and to determine whether to cause actuators to generate forces to move the vehicle panel. The control system 702 may then output a control signal to cause the actuators to generate forces. The system 700 as illustrated in Figure 1 comprises one controller 702, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. The controller 702 comprises processing means 702a and memory means 702b. The processing means 702a may be one or more electronic processing device which operably executes computer-readable instructions. The memory means 702b may be one or more memory device. The memory means is electrically coupled to the processing means. The memory means is configured to store instructions, and the processing means is configured to access the memory means and execute the instructions stored thereon. The controller 702 comprises an input means and an output means. The input means 140 may comprise an electrical input of the controller 702. The output means may comprise an electrical output of the controller 702. The input is arranged to receive a position signal from a position sensor S1, S2. The position signal is an electrical signal which is indicative of a position of the actuator and / or of a mechanism to which the actuator is coupled. The output is arranged to output a control signal for controlling operation of the actuators 420, 412. The controller 702 may receive an input from a user input device 704, the user input device 704 may be a button or an antenna for receiving a signal from a remote control. Upon receipt of the input from the user input device 704, the controller may commence a vehicle panel opening algorithm. The vehicle panel opening algorithm is shown in Figure 13 and described below. The controller 702 may output control signals to first and second actuators 420, 412. The output signals to the actuators 420, 412 may be signals to commence movement of the actuators, which may move respective lifting and sliding mechanisms, orto cease movement of the actuators. In other cases, the controller may control a variable speed of the actuators by the control signals. The controller 702 is also arranged to receive sensor data from first and second actuator sensors S1, S2. The sensor data may include information indicative of a position of a vehicle panel opening mechanism. Each of the first and second actuators may include an encoder or other position sensor, and the encoder or other position sensor may be the sensor, i.e. the first actuator sensor and / or the second actuator sensor. The controller 702 may therefore control movement of the first and second actuators dependent on position data received from the first and second actuator sensors S1, S2. The controller may be arranged to open the vehicle panel of the vehicle panel opening mechanism according to the method 800 shown in Figure 13. At step 802, the controller receives an input, which may be an input from a user, such as a press of a tailgate opening button, which may provide a signal to the controller, the signal including data indicative of a user’s desire for opening orclosing of the vehicle panel. At step 804, the controller outputs a command signal to the first actuator to begin opening of the vehicle panel opening mechanism. This may be a lifting of the vehicle panel by a lifting mechanism. Therefore, at step 804 the lifting mechanism may begin lifting the vehicle panel out from an opening in which the vehicle panel is situated. At step 806, the processor may receive position information from the first actuator sensor indicating a position of the vehicle panel, which may be a distance that the vehicle panel has been lifted by the lifting mechanism. Step 806 may also comprise a comparison of the received vehicle panel position data to a first vehicle panel position threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller may determine that the vehicle panel has moved a first required distance and may move the method to step 808. The first required distance may be a distance less than the range of movement of the first actuator. Alternatively, step 806 may, in an open-loop arrangement, represent a time delay and the processor or controller may simply wait a predetermined amount of time after commencement of the movement of the first actuator before commencing movement of the second actuator. At step 808, the controller may output a control signal to commence movement of a second actuator, which may be a sliding actuator arranged to slide the vehicle panel relative to the opening, which may be a movement along a plane of the opening. The second actuator may move the vehicle panel substantially parallel to the opening. The second actuator may begin movement before motion of the first actuator is finished, in this way, movement of the two actuators may be blended together without a delay between the two movements. This may allow a faster movement of the vehicle panel and may also reduce the amount of jerk or vibration within the system. At step 810, the controller may receive position data from the first and second actuator sensors, which may indicate the positions of the lifting mechanism and sliding mechanism and the controller may compare the received position data to threshold values, to determine whether to cease movement of the first and second actuators. Similarly to step 806, in an open loop arrangement, the step 810 may simply comprise a delay, where no sensors are used, and the processor may, on the basis of a time delay, determine whether or not to cease movement of the actuators. At step 812, after a determination that the first and / or second actuators have moved to their final positions, the controller may output a command signal to cease movement of the first and / or second actuators. Therefore, the vehicle panel may be determined to be in the open position. To be understood that a similar method may be employed to move the vehicle panel from an open position to be closed position, with the second actuator being moved first, and the first actuator being the second. In this case, movement of the first actuator may commence before movement of the second actuator has ceased. The method 800 may be carried out by the control system 700 and may be carried out with any of the vehicle opening mechanisms described above and / or on any of the above-described vehicles. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle panel opening mechanism comprising:a lifting mechanism comprising:a base coupleable to a vehicle body;a carriage moveable relative to the base; anda first lifting member arranged to move the carriage relative to the base; anda sliding mechanism comprising:a rail coupleable to a vehicle panel, wherein the rail of the sliding mechanism is slidably coupled to the carriage of the lifting mechanism.

2. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lifting member has a first end pivotally coupled to the base about a first axis and a second end pivotally coupled to the carriage about a second axis.

3. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of claim 2, wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a second lifting member, the second lifting member having a first end pivotally coupled to the base about a third axis and a second end pivotally coupled to the carriage at a fourth axis,wherein each one of the first, second, third and fourth axes is spaced apart from the other three.

4. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second lifting member is arranged to remain parallel to the first lifting member.

5. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of claim 3 or 4, wherein the first lifting member and the second lifting member are arranged to move in a common plane.

6. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the rail and the first lifting member are arranged in a common plane.

7. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a first actuator arranged to rotate the first lifting member relative to the base, wherein the first actuator is arranged proximate the base.

8. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of any preceding claim, further comprising a second actuator arranged to slide the rail relative to the carriage.

9. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of claim 8, wherein the second actuator is arranged to move with the rail.

10. The vehicle panel opening mechanism of any preceding claim, wherein the rail is a first rail, further comprising:a second lifting mechanism comprising:a second carriage moveable to translate relative to the base;a third lifting member arranged to move the carriage relative to the base; and a second sliding mechanism comprising:a second rail, wherein the third lifting member is arranged to be parallel to the first lifting member; and wherein the first rail and the second rail are parallel.

11. A vehicle panel system comprising:the vehicle panel opening mechanism of any preceding claim; and a vehicle panel fixed to the rail(s).

12. A tailgate for a vehicle comprising:the vehicle panel system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle panel is a tailgate hatch arranged to cover an opening in a vehicle.

13. A method of opening a vehicle panel of a vehicle, the method comprising:receiving a command signal indicating a requirement to open a vehicle panel;outputting a first control signal in response to receiving the command signal, the first control signal being arranged to cause a first lifting actuator to move a first lifting mechanism to move the vehicle panel;outputting a second control signal, the second control signal being arranged to cause a sliding actuator to move the vehicle panel relative to the lifting mechanism;wherein the outputting of the second control signal is performed while the lifting actuator is moving the lifting mechanism.

14. A control system arranged to carry out the method of claim 13 when coupled to the vehicle panel opening mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 10, the vehicle panel system of claim 11 or the tailgate of claim 12.

15. A vehicle comprising:The vehicle panel opening mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 10,the vehicle panel system of claim 11,the tailgate of claim 12, orthe control system of claim 14.

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