Patent ID: 7616977
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for automated control of a radio cover assembly present in an automobile, comprising: (a) a Printed Circuit Board assembly which is mounted to a radio cover of said radio cover assembly to provide mechanical support and a common point of attachment; (b) a Servo Motor mounted to said Printed Circuit Board assembly for providing actuation motion; (c) a Linkage System to couple said actuation motion from said Servo Motor to said radio cover; and (d) a microcontroller to control said Servo Motor and operatively coupled to an override switch, wherein said apparatus contains said Servo Motor, said Linkage System, and said microcontroller, and wherein said microcontroller operates said Servo Motor to move said radio cover from an opened to a closed position and visa-versa in an automated manner by way of said Linkage System, ignores an ignition switch and opens said radio cover if said override switch is in a first position, ignores said ignition switch and closes said radio cover if said override switch is in a second position, and opens said radio cover upon detecting said ignition switch turned to an ON position, if said override switch is in a third position, closes said radio cover upon detecting said ignition switch turned to an OFF position if said override switch is in said third position, and determines when a user physically opens or closes said radio cover of said radio cover assembly, and if so, overrides control of said apparatus to permit said user to open and close said radio cover.