Systems and methods for actuating a vehicle hood
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsWilliam Kirk Robinson, Marcus Edward Merideth, Brendan White, Suhant Ranga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus may be used to release a hood of a vehicle. In one or more implementations, the vehicle detects a pedestrian and the apparatus releases the hood. The apparatus may include a biasing component that, when released, provides a force to another component to release the hood. In order to release the biasing component, the apparatus may include shape memory alloy that deforms when heated. As an exemplary heating method, the vehicle may include a sensor that detects the pedestrian and provides a signal in the form of electrical current that passes through the shape memory allow. The hood may release prior to the pedestrian contacting the hood.
Claims20
An apparatus for a vehicle, the comprising:
- a biasing component;
- a retaining arm configured to retain the biasing component in a first position;
- and
- a trigger, wherein:
- a displacement of the trigger causes a rotation of the retaining arm,
- the rotation of the retaining arm causes the biasing component to move from the first position to a second position to displace a hood of the vehicle,
- in the first position, the biasing component is in a compressed state, and
- in the second position, the biasing component is in a decompressed state.
A vehicle, comprising:
- an apparatus, comprising:
- a retaining arm comprising an opening, and
- a spring configured to be compressed by the retaining arm to place the spring in a first state;
- and
- a shape memory alloy passing through the opening;
- and
- a sensor electrically coupled with the shape memory alloy, wherein:
- in response to an output from the sensor to the shape memory alloy, the shape memory allow is configured to actuate the retaining arm, thereby causing the retaining arm to place the spring in a second state different from the first state, and
- in the second state, the spring is configured to open a hood of the vehicle.
A method for actuating a hood of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a trigger, an electrical current configured to cause a displacement of the trigger;
- rotating, based on the displacement of the trigger, one or more retaining arms;
- releasing, based on rotating of the one or more retaining arms, a biasing component;
- and
- actuating, based on releasing the biasing component, a housing configured to contact the hood.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.