Windshield barrier
First Claim
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1. A vehicle system, comprising:
- a computer programmed todetermine from received vehicle operating data a risk of objects striking the windshield,then, upon determining that the risk exceeds a threshold and that the vehicle is in an autonomous mode, and while the vehicle is traveling, instruct an actuator to move a barrier from a retracted position that exposes the windshield to an expanded position covering a majority of the windshield, andupon determining that the risk exceeds the threshold and that the vehicle is in a semi-autonomous mode or a manual mode, and while the vehicle is traveling, instruct the actuator to maintain the barrier in the retracted position.
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Abstract
A vehicle includes a windshield, a barrier, a barrier actuator drivably coupled to the barrier, and a computer in communication with the barrier actuator. The barrier is movable between a retracted position exposing the windshield and an expanded position extending along a portion of the windshield. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that a risk of objects striking the windshield exceeds a threshold while the vehicle is traveling, instruct the barrier actuator to move the barrier from the retracted position to the expanded position.
29 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a computer programmed to determine from received vehicle operating data a risk of objects striking the windshield, then, upon determining that the risk exceeds a threshold and that the vehicle is in an autonomous mode, and while the vehicle is traveling, instruct an actuator to move a barrier from a retracted position that exposes the windshield to an expanded position covering a majority of the windshield, and upon determining that the risk exceeds the threshold and that the vehicle is in a semi-autonomous mode or a manual mode, and while the vehicle is traveling, instruct the actuator to maintain the barrier in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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while a vehicle is traveling, upon determining from received vehicle operating data that a risk of objects striking a windshield of the vehicle exceeds a threshold and that the vehicle is in an autonomous mode, instructing an actuator drivably coupled to a barrier to move the barrier from a retracted position exposing the windshield to an expanded position extending along a portion of the windshield; and while the vehicle is traveling, upon determining that the risk exceeds the threshold and that the vehicle is in a semi-autonomous mode or a manual mode, instructing the actuator to maintain the barrier in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a barrier movable between a retracted position that exposes a windshield and an expanded position covering a majority of the windshield; and a computer programmed to determine from received vehicle operating data a risk of objects striking the windshield, and then, upon determining that the risk exceeds a threshold, and while the vehicle is traveling, instruct an actuator to move the barrier from the retracted position to the expanded position; wherein the barrier includes a first rod, a second rod pivotally coupled to the first rod at a pivot point, and a barrier sheet extending from the first rod to the second rod; the barrier sheet includes a plurality of folds extending in a direction from the pivot point; and an angle between the rods at the pivot point is greater when the barrier is in the expanded position than the retracted position.
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Specification