MANIPULATING CENTER CONSOLE COMPONENTS UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION

• US 20100066113A1
• Filed: 09/12/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Goscicki, John Thomas, Gedris, Matthew Edward, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Alexander, Paul W., Brown, James Holbrook
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/24.340
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/773 Longitudinal adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A center console comprising a manipulable structural component, such as a pivotal lid, sliding armrest, tambour door, or pivotal cup holder, and at least one active material actuator including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change, drivenly coupled to the component, and configured to autonomously cause and/or enable the component to be manipulated as a result of the change.

Claims

1. A manipulable center console adapted for use in a vehicle, said console comprising:

a manipulable structural component; and

at least one active material actuator operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, so as to be activated and deactivated respectively, and drivenly coupled to the component,

said at least one actuator being configured to autonomously cause or enable the component to be manipulated, as a result of the change.

2. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, piezoelectric materials, electrostrictives and magnetostrictives.

3. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulable component is selected from the group consisting essentially of a translatable top cover, a rollable top cover, a sliding armrest, pivotal cup holder, translatable cupholder, a sliding tambour door, a pivotal console lid, a reconfigurable interior compartment panel, and a translatable center console in the entirety.

4. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is configured to manipulate the component as a result of a first change, and reverse manipulation as a result of a subsequent change.

5. The console as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cut-off switch communicatively coupled to the actuator, operable to detect a condition undesirable to the manipulation of the component, and cause the change when the condition is detected.

6. The console as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a strain relief mechanism communicatively coupled, and presenting a secondary work output path to the actuator, when the actuator is activated and the component is unable to be manipulated.

7. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component and actuator are intermediately coupled to a holding mechanism, and a first active material actuator is configured to release the holding mechanism when activated.

8. The console as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first actuator is further configured to manipulate the component when activated.

9. The console as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second active material actuator is configured to manipulate the component when activated, after the mechanism is released.

10. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is drivenly coupled to a stored energy element, the stored energy element is retained in a stored state when a holding mechanism is engaged, the change is operable to disengage the holding mechanism, and the stored energy element is enabled to manipulate the component as a result of disengaging the mechanism.

11. The console as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stored energy element is a spring drivenly coupled to the component.

12. The console as claimed in claim 11, wherein the component is a pivotal lid, the lid defines a pivot axis, and the stored energy element is a torsion spring coaxially aligned with the axis and is in the stored state when the lid is closed.

13. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is incrementally manipulable, so as to achieve a plurality of adjusted positions, said at least one actuator being configured to cause or enable the component to achieve a first of said plurality of positions when caused to undergo a first change, and a second of said positions when caused to undergo a second change.

14. The console as claimed in claim 13, wherein the component selectively engages a ball detent, a stored energy element is drivenly coupled to the component, the actuator is configured, such that the first change releases the ball detent, so as to enable the component to be driven by the stored energy element to the first adjusted position, where the ball detent is re-engaged, and the second change subsequently releases the ball detent, so as to enable the component to be continually driven by the stored energy element to the second adjusted position, where the ball detent is re-engaged.

15. The console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator defines a stroke length when manipulating the component, and the component and actuator are operable to achieve one of a plurality of adjusted positions by modifying the stroke length.

16. The console as claimed in claim 15, wherein a selected one of a plurality of differing gears intermediately couples the actuator and component, and the stroke length is modified by selecting a second of the gears.

17. The console as claimed in claim 15, wherein a selected one of a plurality of actuators are drivenly coupled to the component and the stroke length is modified by selecting a second of the actuators.

18. The console as claimed in claim 15, wherein the actuator is operable to be exposed to a selected one of a plurality of differing signals and over a selected one of a plurality of differing periods, and the stroke length is modified by selecting a second signal or period.

19. The console as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an input device communicatively coupled to the actuator, and operable to receive an input, wherein the device and actuator are cooperatively configured to manipulate the component only when the input is received.

20. The console as claimed as claim 19, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a push button, sliding gauge, wheel, touch screen, and microphone.