Vehicle front end structure providing pedestrian protection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle front end structure, comprising:
- an energy absorbing structure movable between a deployed position, spaced apart from an engine support structure a first distance, and a non-deployed position, spaced apart from the engine support structure a second distance less than the first distance; and
an actuator system including a motorized latch device slidably carried by the engine support structure and configured to move the energy absorbing structure between the positions.
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Abstract
An exemplary vehicle front end structure may include an energy absorbing structure movable between deployed and non-deployed positions. The structure may further include an actuator system that moves the energy absorbing structure from the deployed position to the non-deployed position. The energy absorbing structure in the deployed position may be spaced apart from an engine support structure by a first distance that is greater than a second distance by which the energy absorbing structure in the non-deployed structure is spaced apart from the engine support structure.
29 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle front end structure, comprising:
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an energy absorbing structure movable between a deployed position, spaced apart from an engine support structure a first distance, and a non-deployed position, spaced apart from the engine support structure a second distance less than the first distance; and an actuator system including a motorized latch device slidably carried by the engine support structure and configured to move the energy absorbing structure between the positions. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A pedestrian protection system for a vehicle comprising:
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an energy absorbing structure movable between deployed and non-deployed positions; a controller configured to generate a deactivation signal in response to detection of a predetermined time lapse passing after the energy absorbing structure is moved to the deployed position; and an actuator system configured to move the energy absorbing structure from the deployed position to the non-deployed position in response to the deactivation signal, wherein the energy absorbing structure in the deployed position is spaced apart from an engine support structure by a first distance that is greater than a second distance by which the energy absorbing structure in the non-deployed position is spaced apart from the engine support structure. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a pedestrian protection system comprising:
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moving an energy absorbing structure from a non-deployed position to a deployed position in which the energy absorbing structure is spaced apart a first distance from an engine support structure; in response to detection of a false crash condition or a predetermined time delay, generating, by a controller, a deactivation signal; and returning the energy absorbing structure to the non-deployed position in response to the deactivation signal, wherein the energy absorbing structure in the non-deployed position is spaced apart a second distance from the engine support structure and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A pedestrian protection system for a vehicle comprising:
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an energy absorbing structure movable between deployed and non-deployed positions; a pre-crash sensing module configured to generate an activation signal in response to detecting a potential collision; a controller configured to generate a deactivation signal; and an actuator system configured to move the energy absorbing structure from the deployed position to the non-deployed position in response to the deactivation signal, wherein the energy absorbing structure in the deployed position is spaced apart from an engine support structure by a first distance that is greater than a second distance by which the energy absorbing structure in the non-deployed position is spaced apart from the engine support structure.
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14. A pedestrian protection system for a vehicle comprising:
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a hood structure movable between deployed and non-deployed positions; a controller configured to generate a deactivation signal; and an actuator system including a first supplemental fastener attached to the hood structure, a latch device including a second supplemental fastener configured to engage the first supplement fastener, and a motor configured to move the second supplemental fastener to engage the first supplemental fastener and move the hood structure from the deployed position to the non-deployed position, wherein the actuator system is configured to move the hood structure from the deployed position to the non-deployed position in response to the deactivation signal, and wherein the hood structure in the deployed position is spaced apart from an engine support structure by a first distance that is greater than a second distance by which the hood structure in the non-deployed position is spaced apart from the engine support structure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification