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US 12,179,675 B2Granted
Vehicle closure having automatic position adjusting sensor
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael S. Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Venkatesh Krishnan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure on a vehicle with a sensor mounted to the closure that pivots relative to the closure as the closure is opened and closed to maintain a desired orientation of the sensor when the closure is in different positions.
Claims14
A closure operatively engaging a vehicle, the closure comprising:
- an opening in a panel of the closure;
- a hinge about which the closure pivots;
- and
- a sensor adjustment system comprising:
- a stationary bracket affixed to the closure adjacent to the opening;
- a hinged bracket pivotably mounted to the stationary bracket to be pivotable about a sensor pivot axis;
- a sensor mounted to the hinged bracket so as to pivot with the hinged bracket about the sensor pivot axis, the hinged bracket configured to orient the sensor to align the sensor with the opening;
- and
- a cable configured to have a first end engaging the hinge and a second opposed end engaging the hinged bracket such that a pivoting of the closure about the hinge relative to the vehicle causes the sensor to pivot about the sensor pivot axis.
6 more elements
A closure operatively engaging a vehicle, the closure comprising:
- an opening in a panel of the closure;
- a hinge about which the closure pivots;
- and
- a sensor adjustment system comprising:
- a stationary bracket affixed to the closure adjacent to the opening;
- a weighted hinged bracket pivotably mounted to the stationary bracket to be pivotable about a sensor pivot axis and configured to orient the weighted hinged bracket based on an orientation relative to a direction of gravity;
- a sensor mounted to the hinged bracket so as to pivot with the hinged bracket about the sensor pivot axis, the hinged bracket configured to orient the sensor to align the sensor with the opening;
- and
- a locking mechanism configured to selectively prevent the rotation of the weighted hinged bracket relative to the stationary bracket.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.