Cover panel system for vehicular lighting and camera-based vision system

A vehicular cover panel opening system, the vehicular cover panel opening system comprising:a hinge assembly configured to pivotably mount a cover panel at a compartment area of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cover panel opening system;wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, the cover panel is movable between (i) a closed position where the cover panel covers an opening of the compartment area of the vehicle, (ii) an opened position where the cover panel is moved away from the opening of the compartment area to allow access to the compartment area and (iii) a partially opened position between the closed position and the opened position;a latch assembly that, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, is configured to (i) secure the cover panel in the closed position and (ii) release the cover panel to allow the cover panel to move from the closed position;

• wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the closed position, the vehicular cover panel opening system is operable to control the latch assembly to release the cover panel;
• wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and when the vehicular cover panel opening system operates the latch assembly to release the cover panel, the cover panel moves from the closed position to the partially opened position;
• wherein the latch assembly comprises a ratchet disposed at a body of the vehicle, and wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the closed position, the ratchet is in a striker capture position where the ratchet retains a striker fixed to the cover panel, and with the cover panel in the partially opened position, the ratchet retains the striker fixed to the cover panel, and with the cover panel in the opened position, the ratchet releases the striker to allow the cover panel to move relative to the body of the vehicle;
• wherein the vehicle comprises at least one lighting device;
• wherein the vehicle comprises a driver-side camera and a passenger-side camera;
• wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the closed position, (i) the cover panel extends over and along the at least one lighting device to conceal the at least one lighting device from view and (ii) the cover panel extends over the driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera and the driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera are concealed from view;
• and
• wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the partially opened position, (i) when the at least one lighting device is electrically operated to emit light, the at least one lighting device is exposed and light emitted by the at least one lighting device is viewable exterior the vehicle, (ii) the driver-side camera is exposed and views exterior of the vehicle and at least rearward of the vehicle and along a driver side of the vehicle and (iii) the passenger-side camera is exposed and views exterior of the vehicle and at least rearward of the vehicle and along a passenger side of the vehicle.

A vehicular cover panel opening system, the vehicular cover panel opening system comprising:a hinge assembly configured to pivotably mount a cover panel at a compartment area of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cover panel opening system;wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, the cover panel is movable between (i) a closed position where the cover panel covers an opening of the compartment area of the vehicle, (ii) an opened position where the cover panel is moved away from the opening of the compartment area to allow access to the compartment area and (iii) a partially opened position between the closed position and the opened position;a latch assembly that, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, is configured to (i) secure the cover panel in the closed position and (ii) release the cover panel to allow the cover panel to move from the closed position;a seal that, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the opened position or in the partially opened position, seals the opening of the compartment area;wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the closed position, the vehicular cover panel opening system is operable to control the latch assembly to release the cover panel;wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and when the vehicular cover panel opening system operates the latch assembly to release the cover panel, the cover panel moves from the closed position to the partially opened position;wherein the latch assembly comprises a ratchet disposed at a body of the vehicle, and wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and

• with the cover panel in the closed position, the ratchet is in a striker capture position where the ratchet retains a striker fixed to the cover panel, and with the cover panel in the partially opened position, the ratchet retains the striker fixed to the cover panel, and with the cover panel in the opened position, the ratchet releases the striker to allow the cover panel to move relative to the body of the vehicle;wherein the hinge assembly comprises a hinge that, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, is mounted to the cover panel and a body of the vehicle, and wherein the hinge is adjustable between (i) a collapsed state corresponding to the cover panel being in the closed position, (ii) an expanded state corresponding to the cover panel being in the opened position and (iii) a deployed state corresponding to the cover panel being in the partially opened position;wherein the vehicle comprises at least one lighting device;wherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the closed position, the cover panel extends over and along the at least one lighting device to conceal the at least one lighting device from view;
• andwherein, with the cover panel mounted at the compartment area of the vehicle, and with the cover panel in the partially opened position, and when the at least one lighting device is electrically operated to emit light, the at least one lighting device is exposed and light emitted by the at least one lighting device is viewable exterior the vehicle.