Operating dual closures utilizing a common system
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsTravis James Lonas, Nicholas Kalayjian, Thorsten Luedtke, Jacob Wasser, Marcus Edward Merideth, Geoffrey Young, Hao Sun, Richard Sukhdeo, Phillip Whitton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for actuating closures of a vehicle includes drive units and latches. The drive units may couple to one of the closures and may be used to control movement of the closure relative to another closure. Using the latches, the closures may be coupled together and the same drive units can be used to control movement of both closures together. The controlled movement of the closures may be automated by using a controller and one or more motors.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a drive unit;
- a first closure coupled to the drive unit;
- a second closure coupled to the first closure;
- a first hinge configured to couple with the first closure and the second closure;
- a second hinge configured to couple with the second closure and a vehicle body;
- and
- a latch configured to releasably couple the first closure with the second closure, wherein:
- in a first position of the latch, movement of the drive unit causes the first closure to move relative to the second closure based on the first hinge, and
- in a second position of the latch, movement of the drive unit causes the second closure to move with the first closure based on the second hinge.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
- a liftgate configured to carry a glass substrate;
- a first latch configured to releasably couple the glass substrate with the liftgate;
- a drive unit;
- a second latch configured to releasably couple the liftgate with the body;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- provide a first set of instructions that causes the first latch to release the glass substrate from the liftgate,
- provide a second set of instructions to cause i) the first latch to link the glass substrate to the liftgate and ii) the second latch to release the liftgate from the body, and
- provide a third set of instructions that causes the drive unit to move the glass substrate in accordance with a speed of the vehicle, wherein;
- in a first mode, the drive unit is configured to position the glass substrate at a first predetermined angle, and
- in a second mode, the drive unit is configured to position the glass substrate at a second predetermined angle different from the first predetermined angle.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
- a liftgate configured to carry a glass substrate;
- a first latch configured to releasably couple the glass substrate with the liftgate;
- a first hinge configured to rotate, about a first axis of rotation, the glass substrate relative to the liftgate;
- a second latch configured to releasably couple the liftgate with the body;
- a second hinge configured to rotate, about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation, the glass substrate and the liftgate;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a first command that causes a first latch to release the glass substrate from the liftgate;
- and
- receive a second command that causes i) the first latch to link the glass substrate to the liftgate and ii) the second latch to release the liftgate from the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.