PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11851926-B1
Application Number: US-202217868830-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Panel with pivoting and translational motion

Abstract:
A panel is supported by a track for movement along the track between a closed position and an open position, and is further supported by a pivot assembly that is configured to pivot the track and the panel with respect to a body portion.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A window assembly that is connectable to a vehicle body portion,
 the window assembly comprising: 
 a window; 
 a track that supports the window for movement along the track between a closed position and an open position; and 
 a pivot assembly that includes a pivot assembly frame, support rods that are supported by the pivot assembly frame and are coupled to the track to support the track relative to the pivot assembly frame, and a pivot actuator that is configured to extend and retract the support rods to pivot the track and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion to allow movement of the window between the closed position and the open position. 
 
     
     
       2. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot assembly is controlled to pivot the track and the window inward prior to movement of the window along the track. 
     
     
       3. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot actuator is connected to drive members that are configured to extend and retract the support rods relative to the pivot assembly frame in response to rotation of the drive members in order to cause the pivoting of the track and the window. 
     
     
       4. The window assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the drive members are pulleys that are rotated by a drive actuator that is operably connected to the pulleys. 
     
     
       5. The window assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the support rods are threaded shafts, and the drive members are threadedly connected to the threaded shafts. 
     
     
       6. The window assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot assembly frame is fixed relative to the vehicle body portion. 
     
     
       7. The window assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the support rods are connected to the pivot assembly frame by spherical joints. 
     
     
       8. The window assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a first pair of the support rods is connected to the track by pivot joints, and a second pair of the support rods is connected to the track by fixed joints. 
     
     
       9. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the window includes a panel that is at least translucent and a seal that is formed on the panel, the seal is located along a peripheral edge of the window, and the seal is in engagement with the vehicle body portion when the window is in the closed position. 
     
     
       10. The window assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lift actuator that is configured to move the window between the closed position and the open position. 
 
     
     
       11. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the window is located inside the vehicle body portion when the window is in the open position. 
     
     
       12. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the window is flush relative to a body surface of the vehicle body portion when the window is in the closed position. 
     
     
       13. The window assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot assembly is configured to pivot the window about a pivot axis located at or above a top edge of the window. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space; 
 a window that has an inner surface; 
 a window support member that is connected to the inner surface of the window; 
 tracks that are located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and are connected to the window support member so that the window support member is movable along the tracks to move the window between a closed position and an open position; 
 a pivot frame that is fixed to the vehicle body portion; 
 support rods that are supported by the pivot frame and are connected to the tracks; and 
 drive members that are configured to extend and retract the support rods relative to the pivot frame in response to rotation of the drive members in order to pivot the tracks and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion to allow movement of the window between the closed position and the open position. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the drive members are pulleys that are rotated by a drive actuator that is operably connected to the pulleys, the support rods are threaded shafts, and the pulleys are threadedly connected to the threaded shafts. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a pivot actuator that is configured to cause rotation of the drive members in order to cause pivoting of the tracks and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the tracks are part of a track assembly that includes a first track that is connected to the window support member, a second track that is connected to the window support member, and a lift actuator that is connected to the window support member by cables so that operation of the lift actuator causes movement of the window between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the support rods are connected to the pivot frame by spherical joints, a first pair of the support rods is connected to the track assembly by pivot joints, and a second pair of the support rods is connected to the track assembly by fixed joints. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the window is located inside the vehicle body portion when the window is in the open position and an outer surface of the window is flush relative to a body surface of the vehicle body portion when the window is in the closed position. 
     
     
       20. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space; 
 a window that is movable between a closed position, in which the window obstructs a window opening, and an open position, in which the window is located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and does not obstruct the window opening; 
 tracks that support the window; 
 a lift actuator that is configured to move the window relative to the tracks between a closed position and an open position; and 
 a pivot actuator that is configured to pivot the window and the tracks between a first angular position, in which the window is in alignment with the window opening, and a second angular position, in which the window is pivoted out of alignment with the window opening, 
 wherein the lift actuator and the pivot actuator are controlled to initiate pivoting of the window from the first angular position toward the second angular position using the pivot actuator prior to lowering the window using the lift actuator. 
 
     
     
       21. The vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the lift actuator and the pivot actuator are controlled to commence lowering the window using the lift actuator after the window reaches the second angular position. 
     
     
       22. The vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the lift actuator and the pivot actuator are controlled to commence lowering the window using the lift actuator while the window is pivoting from the first angular position toward the second angular position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/247,585, filed on Sep. 23, 2021, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to panels with pivoting and translational motion. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some panels can be raised and lowered between a closed position and an open position. As an example, a panel may lower into an interior space. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the disclosure is a window assembly that is connectable to a vehicle body portion. The window assembly includes a window, a track that supports the window for movement along the track between a closed position and an open position, and a pivot assembly that is configured to pivot the track and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion. 
     A second aspect of the disclosure is a vehicle that includes a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space, a window that has an inner surface, a window support member that is connected to the inner surface of the window, tracks, a pivot frame, support rods, and drive members. The tracks are located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and are connected to the window support member so that the window support member is movable along the tracks to move the window between a raised position and a lowered position. The pivot frame is fixed to the vehicle body portion. The support rods are supported by the pivot frame and are connected to the tracks. The drive members are configured to cause extension and retraction of the support rods relative to the pivot assembly frame in response to rotation of the drive members in order to cause pivoting of the tracks and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion. A third aspect of the disclosure is a vehicle that includes a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space, a window, tracks, a lift actuator, and a pivot actuator. The window is movable between a closed position, in which the window obstructs a window opening, and an open position, in which the window is located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and does not obstruct the window opening. The tracks support the window. The lift actuator that is configured to move the window relative to the tracks between a closed position and an open position. The pivot actuator is configured to pivot the window between a first angular position, in which the window is in alignment with the window opening, and a second angular position, in which the window is pivoted out of alignment with the window opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic illustration of a portion of a vehicle that includes a vehicle body structure, a door, and a window. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic illustration that shows the window, a track assembly, and a pivot assembly, with the window in a closed position. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic illustration that shows the window, the track assembly, and the pivot assembly, with the window in an open position. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic illustration that shows the window, the track assembly, and the pivot assembly, with the window in the closed position. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic illustration that shows the window, the track assembly, and the pivot assembly, with the window pivoted away from a window opening. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic illustration that shows the window, the track assembly, and the pivot assembly, with the window in the open position. 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram that shows an implementation of the vehicle. 
         FIG.  8    is a block diagram that shows an implementation of a control system of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure is directed to a vehicle that has windows that can be lowered and raised between a closed (e.g., raised) position and an open (e.g., lowered) position. The windows may fully occupy and obstruct a window opening in the closed position. The windows may be partly or fully located inside a vehicle body portion, such as a door, in the open position. 
     In typical vehicle window designs, windows are typically inset relative to body panels to allow them to translate into a space inside the door or other portion of a vehicle body. Typical vehicle windows translate along a linear path in the case of a flat window, or along a curved path having a curvature that matches the geometry of a curved window. 
     The windows described herein are supported by a track assembly, and are configured to translate along the track assembly between the closed position and the open position. To allow complex movement of the window during movement between the closed position and the open position, the track assembly can be pivoted by a pivot assembly, which also causes the window to pivot. This complex motion allows an outer surface of the window to be positioned flush relative to surrounding surfaces of the vehicle body when the window is in the closed position. 
       FIG.  1    is an illustration of a portion of a vehicle  100  that includes a vehicle body structure  102 , a door  104  (e.g., a vehicle door), and a window  106 . The window  106  is depicted in a closed position (or raised position) and is movable to an open (or lowered position). The vehicle  100  may be a road going vehicle, such as a passenger automobile or a cargo vehicle, that includes features that are typically found in conventional examples of such vehicles. The vehicle  100  extends in a longitudinal direction X (e.g., front-to-back), a lateral direction Y (e.g., side-to-side, not shown in  FIG.  1   ), and in an elevational direction Z (e.g., top-to-bottom). 
     The vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104  are portions of a vehicle body of the vehicle  100 . The vehicle body is part of a sprung mass of the vehicle  100 , and is supported with respect to a road surface or other surface by conventional structures, such as wheels, tires, and suspension components. The vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104 , in cooperation with other portions of the vehicle body, define an exterior, a passenger compartment, and/or a cargo compartment of the vehicle. To preserve clarity, these components are omitted from  FIG.  1   . 
     The window  106  is at least translucent in that part of or all of the window  106  is formed from a material, such as glass or plastic, that permits transmission of light through it (e.g., a panel formed from an at least translucent material). As used herein, the term at least translucent includes both translucent and transparent materials. The window  106  has an outer periphery  108  that is adjacent to and aligned with a body surface  103  of the vehicle body structure  102  and/or a door surface  105  of the door  104  when the window  106  is in the closed position. An outer surface  110  of the window  106  may be flush with respect to the body surface  103  and/or the door surface  105  when the window is in the closed position. In the illustrated implementation, the window  106  includes a window panel  112  (e.g., a thin see-through panel formed from at least translucent glass or plastic) and a seal  114  that is formed on the window panel  112  and extends along the outer periphery  108  of the window  106 . The seal  114  is formed from a compliant material to seal the window  106  relative to adjacent portions of the vehicle body such as the vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104  in order to resist admission of air and water into the vehicle  100 . Thus, in some implementations, the window  106  includes the window panel  112 , which is at least translucent, and the seal  114 , which is located along a peripheral edge of the window  106  (e.g., along the outer periphery  108  of the window  106 ), and the seal  114  is in engagement with a vehicle body portion, such as the door  104  and/or the vehicle body structure  102 , when the window  106  is in the closed position. 
     The vehicle body structure  102  defines an opening  116  that is formed through the vehicle body structure  102  to allow access to a passenger compartment or other space inside the vehicle  100 . The door  104  is connected to the vehicle body structure  102  in a manner that allows the door  104  to move between a closed position ( FIG.  1   ) and an open position (not shown) using a door hinge  118  or other conventional structure. As an example, the door hinge  118  may allow the door  104  to move between the closed and open positions by sliding or pivoting in any direction. In the illustrated implementation, the window  106  is implemented according to a frameless window design in which the window  106  is connected to and supported by the door  104  but engages the vehicle body structure  102  when closed. 
     In the illustrated implementation, the opening  116  is a combined door and window opening, but the portions occupied by the door  104  and the window  106  may be referred to herein as a door opening and a window opening, respectively. Alternatively, the door  104  may instead include a window frame portion that extends around the window  106 , in which case, window  106  engages the door  104  in the closed position of the window, and the door  104  engages the vehicle body structure  102  in the closed position of the door. In this configuration, separate door openings and window openings are defined by the vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104 , respectively. 
     The window  106  is connected to the door  104  by a window support member  120 , a track assembly  122 , and a pivot assembly  124 . The track assembly  122  is connected to the window  106  by the window support member  120  and supports the window  106  for movement along the track assembly  122  between the closed position and the open position with respect to a vehicle body portion of the vehicle  100 , such as the door  104  or the vehicle body structure  102 . The pivot assembly  124  is configured to pivot the track assembly  122  and the window  106  with respect to the door  104 . Pivoting the window  106  with respect to the door  104  (or other vehicle body portion) allows the outer surface  110  of the window  106  to be flush relative to a vehicle body surface of the vehicle body portion, such as the door surface  105  of the door  104 , when the window  106  is in the closed position, while also allowing the window  106  to move between the closed position and the open position. 
       FIGS.  2 - 3    are schematic illustrations that show the window  106 , the window support member  120 , the track assembly  122 , and the pivot assembly  124 . In  FIG.  2   , the window  106  is in the closed position. In  FIG.  3   , the window  106  is in the open position. The vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104  are omitted in  FIGS.  2 - 3    for clarity. 
     The window support member  120  is a structure that is connected to an inner surface  226  of the window  106  (e.g., by an adhesive) and is configured to be connected to the track assembly  122 , such as by track fittings or other structures that are formed on or connected to the window support member  120 . Connection of the window support member  120  to the track assembly  122  allows movement of the window support member  120  and the window  106  along the track assembly  122 , generally in correspondence with the elevational direction Z of the vehicle  100 . The window support member  120  functions to add rigidity and provide a structure by which the window  106  can be connected to the track assembly  122 . The window support member  120  may have a generally u-shaped configuration, with a base part adjacent to a bottom edge of the window  106 , and side parts that each extend upward from the base part, spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle  100 , along respective side edges of the window  106 . Alternatively, the window support member  120  may have a configuration other than a generally u-shaped configuration, such as a rectangular configuration or another suitable configuration. 
     The track assembly  122  is located inside the door  104  in an interior space  230  of the door  104  or other vehicle body portion of the vehicle  100 , and is supported by the pivot assembly  124 . As an example, the pivot assembly  124  may be the sole load path or primary load path through which the track assembly  122  is supported with respect to the door  104 . The track assembly  122  is supported by the pivot assembly  124  in a manner that allows the track assembly  122  to be moved with respect to the door  104 , such as by pivoting of the track assembly  122  through a range of different angular orientations or positions with respect to the door  104 . Because the window  106  is supported by the track assembly  122  the window  106  pivots with the door through the same range of different angular orientations or positions with respect to the door  104 . As an example, the difference between minimum and maximum angular orientations for the track assembly  122  and the window  106  may be between one half of a degree and five degrees. 
     The track assembly  122  includes a track assembly frame  228  that serves as a primary structural component of the track assembly  122  and supports and interconnects other components of the track assembly  122 . The track assembly frame  228  may be a rigid structure, formed from metal or other suitable materials. The track assembly frame  228  may be a single part structure, or may be a multi-part structure. 
     To support the window  106  for movement along the track assembly  122  between the closed position and the open position, the track assembly  122  includes tracks, such as a first track  232  and a second track  233  in the illustrated implementation. The first track  232  and the second track  233  are located in an interior space  230  of the door  104  or other vehicle body portion and are connected to the window support member  120  so that the window support member  120  is movable along the tracks to move the window  106  between the closed position and the open position, for example, by lowering raising the window  106  into and out of the interior space  230  of the door  104 . 
     The first track  232  and the second track  233  extend generally in correspondence with the elevational direction Z of the vehicle  100 , and are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle  100  in the illustrated implementation. In alternative implementations, different numbers of individual tracks may be included, and the tracks may be oriented differently. In the illustrated implementation, the first track  232  and the second track  233  are located inward relative to respective side edges of the window  106  in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle  100 , but the first track  232  and the second track  233  may be located differently in alternative implementations, such as by locating the first track  232  and the second track  233  adjacent to respective side edges of the window  106 . 
     The first track  232  and the second track  233  may be integrally formed portions of the track assembly frame  228 , or the first track  232  and the second track  233  may be separately formed structures that are supported by the track assembly frame  228  and are connected to the track assembly frame  228  using conventional structures or techniques, such as fasteners or welding. The first track  232  and the second track  233  define sliding connections of the track assembly  122  to the window support member  120  and the window  106 , such as by disposition of portions of the window support member  120  (or included structures such as track fittings) in the first track  232  and the second track  233  in a manner that allows sliding. 
     The track assembly  122  includes a lift actuator  234  that is configured to cause movement of the window  106  relative to the track assembly  122 . In the illustrated implementation, the lift actuator  234  is configured to cause movement of the window  106  along the first track  232  and the second track  233  of the track assembly  122 , such as by lowering and raising the window support member  120  and the window  106 , to allow the window  106  to move between the closed position and the open position. The lift actuator  234  is connected to the window support member  120  by cables  236  so that operation of the lift actuator  234  causes the window  106  to move by lowering and raising along the first track  232  and the second track  233 . 
     In the illustrated implementation, the lift actuator  234  is supported by the track assembly frame  228  by connection of the lift actuator  234  to the track assembly frame  228  at a central location on the track assembly frame  228 . In the illustrated implementation, the lift actuator  234  is positioned between the first track  232  and the second track  233  in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle  100  and is positioned between top and bottom ends of the first track  232  and the second track  233  in the elevational direction Z of the vehicle  100 . The cables  236  include four cables that each extend outward from the lift actuator  234  toward one of the upper or lower ends of the first track  232  and the second track  233 . Cable guides  238  are located at the upper and lower ends of the first track  232  and the second track  233  to turn the cables  236  and guide them into the first track  232  and the second track  233 , where the cables  236  extend along the first track  232  or the second track  233  from a respective one of the cable guides to a connection with the window support member  120  that allows the cables  236  to cause movement of the window support member  120  in response to operation of the lift actuator  234 . As an example, the lift actuator  234  may be a rotary electric motor that extends and retracts the cables  236 . Other configurations may be used to actuate motion of the window  106 , such as different cable configurations, cables driven by multiple separate actuators, and actuator systems that do not use cables, such as actuator assemblies that use levers, cranks, scissor mechanism, screw drives, or other mechanical configurations driven by an electric motor or other actuation device. As will be explained further herein, a controller may be used to control operation of the lift actuator  234 , such as by coordinating operation of the track assembly  122  and the pivot assembly  124 . 
     The pivot assembly  124  is fixed with respect to a vehicle body portion, such as the door  104 , and supports the track assembly  122 . The pivot assembly  124  is configured to pivot the track assembly  122  and the window  106  with respect to the door  104 . The pivot assembly  124  is located inside the door  104 , in the interior space  230  of the door  104 . The pivot assembly  124  includes a pivot assembly frame  240  (e.g., a pivot frame), which may be rigidly connected (e.g., fixed) to the door  104  or other vehicle body structure to rigidly connect the pivot assembly  124  to the door  104  or other vehicle body structure. 
     To connect the pivot assembly  124  to the track assembly  122 , the pivot assembly  124  includes support rods  242 , connecting structures  244 , and drive members  246 . The support rods  242  are supported by the pivot assembly frame  240  and are connected to the track assembly  122 , by which the support rods  242  are connected to the first track  232  and the second track  233 . Four of the support rods  242  are included in the illustrated implementation, but the support rods  242  may be included in other numbers. To connect the support rods  242  to the pivot assembly frame  240 , the connecting structures  244  are formed on the pivot assembly frame  240  in a number equal to the number of the support rods  242 , and are coupled to the support rods  242  either directly or indirectly through the drive members  246 . The drive members  246  are rotatable structures such as pulleys, and one of the drive members  246  is connected to each of the connecting structures  244 , for example, by a rotatable connection of each of the drive members  246  to a respective one of the connecting structures  244 . The drive members  246  are configured to cause extension and retraction of the support rods  242  relative to the pivot assembly frame  240  in response to rotation of the drive members  246  in order to cause pivoting of the first track  232  and the second track  233  of the track assembly  122  with respect to the door  104  or other vehicle body portion. 
     The pivot assembly  124  includes a pivot actuator  248  (which may also be referred to as a drive actuator), such as a rotary electric motor, that is configured to cause rotation of the drive members  246  to actuate pivoting of the track assembly  122  and the window  106 . In the illustrated implementation, the pivot actuator  248  includes an output member  250  that drives a belt  252  that is connected to the drive members  246  in a belt drive arrangement, by which the drive members  246  are rotated when the output member  250  of the pivot actuator  248  is rotated. In this implementation, the drive members  246  may be pulleys that have different sizes, so that the support rods  242  extend and retract at different rates in comparison to each other in response to operation of the pivot actuator  248 . For example, an upper pair of the drive members  246  may be pulleys that are larger in diameter than pulleys used for a lower pair of the drive members  246 , resulting in a faster rate of extension and retraction of a lower pair of the support rods  242  as compared to an upper pair of the support rods  242 , thereby resulting in pivoting about a pivot axis that extends generally in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle  100  and is located above the support rods  242 . For example, the pivot assembly  124  may be configured such that the pivot axis of the window  106  is located at or above a top edge of the window  106 . Although the foregoing description refers to extension and retraction of the support rods  242  relative to the pivot assembly  124 , it should be understood that, in some implementations, the support rods  242  can be configured so that they do not extend and retract relative to the pivot assembly  124 , but instead, can be configured so that the track assembly  122  moves along the support rods  242  in response to rotation of the support rods  242 . Thus, the drive members  246  may be pulleys that are rotated by a drive actuator, such as the pivot actuator  248 , which is operably connected to the pulleys by the belt  252 . Alternatively, the pivot assembly  124  may instead use a cable and drum system to drive extension and retraction of the support rods  242 . In a cable and drum system, the drive members  246  may be drums instead of pulleys, and the belt  252  is replaced by a cable. 
     Although pivoting the track assembly  122  and the window  106  is described herein, it should be understood that other movement patterns for the track assembly  122  and the window  106  may be implemented using the pivot assembly  124 . For example, the support rods  242  may include a combination of left-hand screw threads and right-hand screw threads that cause movement of the track assembly  122  the window  106  according to a specific movement pattern as a result of their particular configuration. As an example, the support rods  242  could be configured to cause movement of an upper edge of the window  106  outboard in the lateral direction Y of the vehicle  100 . 
     Operation of the pivot assembly  124  will be further explained with reference to  FIGS.  4 - 6   , which are schematic cross-section illustrations of the vehicle  100  taken along line A-A of  FIG.  1   , showing the window  106 , the track assembly  122 , and the pivot assembly  124 . In  FIG.  4   , the window  106  is in the closed position. In  FIG.  5   , the window is shown during movement of the window  106  from the closed position to the open position, with the window pivoted away from a window opening  454 , which may be a part of the opening  116  that is defined by the vehicle body structure  102 . In  FIG.  6   , the window  106  is in the open position. In  FIGS.  4 - 6   , the vehicle body structure  102  and portions of the door  104  are omitted for clarity. 
     In  FIG.  4   , the window  106  is in the closed position, corresponding to the window  106  being fully raised by the track assembly  122 , and corresponding to the window  106  being in alignment (e.g., angular alignment) with the window opening  454 , so that the window  106  is located in and occupies the window opening  454 . The position shown in  FIG.  4    is a first angular position of the window  106 , which corresponds to angular alignment with the window opening  454 . In  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the window  106  is in a second angular position, in which the window  106  has been pivoted out of alignment (e.g., angular alignment) with the window opening  454 . In the second angular position, the bottom edge of the window  106  has been moved away from the window opening  454  by a first distance, and the top edge of the window  106  may have been moved away from the window opening  454  by a second distance that is less than the first distance or may not have moved away from the window opening  454 , for example, if the pivot axis of the window  106  is located at the top edge of the window  106 . Thus, the pivot assembly  124  may be configured to pivot the window  106  between the first angular position, in which the window  106  is in alignment with the window opening  454 , and the second angular position, in which the window  106  is pivoted out of alignment with the window opening  454 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  4   , the support rods  242  each extend from the track assembly  122  to the pivot assembly  124 . In the illustrated implementation, the drive members  246  are configured to cause extension and retraction of support rods  242  relative to the pivot assembly frame  240  of the pivot assembly  124  in response to rotation of the drive members  246  in order to cause pivoting of the track assembly  122  and the window  106 . To cause this extension and retraction, the support rods  242  and the drive members  246  may be configured using a cam/cam follower arrangement, for example, using a feature on each of the drive members  246  that is related to a feature on each of the support rods  242  so that rotation of the drive members  246  results in extension of retraction of the support rods  242  as a result of interaction of the corresponding features. In the illustrated implementation, this relationship is implemented as a screw drive, featuring a threaded connection of the support rods  242  and the drive members  246 . In this implementation, the support rods  242  are threaded shafts, and the drive members  246  are threadedly connected to the threaded shafts of the drive members  246  by threaded collars  456  (e.g., nuts or other threaded structures that are integral with or separate from the drive members  246 ). The threaded collars  456  rotate in unison with the drive members  246 , to cause extension and retraction of the support rods  242  with respect to the pivot assembly frame  240  of the pivot assembly  124 . 
     To allow the angular orientation of the support rods  242  to change relative to the pivot assembly frame  240  during pivoting of the window  106 , the connecting structures  244  may include spherical joints  458  that connect the support rods  242  to the pivot assembly frame  240 . In the illustrated implementation, this is an indirect connection, in which the support rods  242  are directly connected to the drive members  246  by the threaded collars  456 , and the drive members  246  are connected to the pivot assembly frame  240  by the spherical joints  458  of the connecting structures  244 . To accommodate changes in angular orientation of the track assembly  122  relative to the support rods  242  during pivoting of the window  106 , an upper pair of the support rods  242  may be connected to the track assembly frame  228  of the track assembly  122  by pivot joints  460 , and a lower pair of the support rods  242  may be connected to the track assembly frame  228  of the track assembly  122  by fixed joints  461 . Alternatively, the upper pair of the support rods  242  may be connected to the track assembly frame  228  of the track assembly  122  by the fixed joints  461 , and the lower pair of the support rods  242  may be connected to the track assembly frame  228  of the track assembly  122  by the pivot joints  460 . Thus, a first pair of the support rods  242  is connected to the track assembly  122  by the pivot joints  460 , and a second pair of the support rods  242  is connected to the track assembly  122  by fixed joints. 
     Starting from the closed position ( FIG.  4   ), the pivot assembly  124  is controlled to pivot the track assembly  122  and the window  106  inward (e.g., in the lateral direction Y of the vehicle  100 ) prior to movement of the window  106  from the closed position toward the open position. Stated differently movement of the window  106  from the closed position to the open position is controlled to initiate pivoting of the window  106  from the first angular position toward the second angular position using the pivot actuator  248  of the pivot assembly  124  prior to lowering the window  106  using the lift actuator  234  of the track assembly  122 . 
     In the illustrated example, the drive members  246  are rotated by operation of the pivot actuator  248  while the support rods  242  are restrained from rotating (e.g., by the pivot joints  460  or other anti-rotation structure), which results in translation of the support rods  242  and a corresponding translation of the track assembly  122  and the window  106 , which move in accordance with movement of the support rods  242  in this implementation. By rotating the lower pair of the drive members  246  at a higher rate of rotation as compared to the upper pair of the drive members  246 , the track assembly  122  and the window  106  pivot with respect to the door  104  and the pivot assembly  124 . The lower pair of the drive members  246  can be rotated faster than the upper pair of the drive members  246  by using a smaller diameter for the drive members  246  in a belt drive system or in a cable and drum system. Alternatively, separate actuators could be provided for the upper pair of the drive members  246  and the lower pair of the drive members  246 , or each of the drive members  246  could have its own corresponding actuator. 
     In the illustrated implementation, the support rods  242  do not rotate, and instead translate with respect to the pivot assembly  124 . In an alternative implementation, the drive members  246  of the pivot assembly could be connected to the support rods  242  in a manner that causes the support rods  242  to rotate in unison with the drive members  246 . In such an implementation, the support rods  242  could be connected to the track assembly  122  in a manner that results in translation of the track assembly  122  with respect to the support rods  242  in response to rotation of the support rods  242 . In implementations in which the support rods  242  are threaded shafts, the threaded collars  456  could be mounted to the track assembly  122  and connected to the support rods to cause translation of the track assembly  122  with respect to the support rods  242  in response to rotation of the support rods  242  with respect to the threaded collars. 
     Pivoting of the track assembly  122  and the window  106  away from the window opening  454  from the first angular position to the second angular position results in the position shown in  FIG.  5   . As illustrated, the track assembly  122  and the window  106  are fully pivoted to the second angular position prior to lowering the window  106  with respect to the track assembly  122 . It should be understood that lowering the window  106  using the track assembly  122  may commence after the window  106  begins pivoting from the first angular position toward the second angular position, and prior to the window  106  reaching the second angular position, in which case, the window  106  may continue pivoting toward the second angular position while lowering toward the open position as a result of operation of the track assembly. In either case, by operation of the lift actuator  234  of the track assembly  122 , the window  106  is lowered into the interior space  230  of the door  104  until reaching the open position, which may correspond to a fully lowered position of the window  106 , as shown in  FIG.  6   . Returning the window  106  to the closed position occurs in the opposite manner, by first lifting the window  106  using the track assembly  122  and initiating pivoting of the window  106  back to the first angular position using the pivot assembly  124  either as the window  106  approaches a fully raised position, or after the window reaches the fully raised position. 
       FIG.  7    is a block diagram that shows the vehicle  100 . As an example, the vehicle  100  may be a conventional road-going vehicle that is supported by wheels and tires (e.g., four wheels and tires). As an example, the vehicle  100  may be a passenger vehicle that includes a passenger compartment that is configured to carry one or more passengers. In the illustrated implementation, the vehicle  100  includes a vehicle body  770 , a suspension system  771 , a propulsion system  772 , a braking system  773 , a steering system  774 , a sensing system  775 , and a control system  776 . These are examples of vehicle systems that are included in the vehicle  100 . Other systems can be included in the vehicle  100 . 
     The vehicle body  770  includes structural components of the vehicle  100  through which other components are interconnected and supported as well as aesthetic components of the vehicle  100 . The structural components of the vehicle body  770  may include, as examples, a frame, subframe, unibody, monocoque, etc. The aesthetic components of the vehicle body  770  may include exterior body panels, exterior trim panels, interior trim panels, fixtures, accessories, etc. The vehicle body  770  includes the vehicle body structure  102  and the door  104 . 
     The suspension system  771  controls vertical motion of the wheels of the vehicle  100  relative to the vehicle body structure  102 , and may include passive suspension components and/or active suspension components. The propulsion system  772  includes propulsion components that are configured to cause motion of the vehicle  100  (e.g., accelerating the vehicle  100 ), such as an internal combustion engine, one or more electric motors, a battery, an inverter, one or more gearboxes, etc. The braking system  773  provides deceleration torque for decelerating the vehicle  100 . The steering system  774  is operable to cause the vehicle to turn by changing a steering angle of one or more wheels of the vehicle  100 . 
     The sensing system  775  includes sensors for observing external conditions of the environment around the vehicle  100  (e.g., location of the roadway and other objects) and conditions of the vehicle  100  (e.g., acceleration and conditions of the various systems and their components). The sensing system  775  may include sensors of various types, including dedicated sensors and/or components of various systems. 
     The control system  776  includes communication components (i.e., for receiving sensor signals and sending control signals) and processing components (i.e., for processing the sensor signals and determining control operations), such as a controller. The control system  776  may be a single system or multiple related systems. For example, the control system  776  may be a distributed system including components that are included in other systems of the vehicle  100 . 
     The control system  776  may include autonomous driving functions that are configured to control operation of vehicle actuator systems of the vehicle  100  without manual control inputs. As an example, the control system  776  may use inputs received from the sensing system  775  to understand the environment around the vehicle and may determine commands that are sent to one or more vehicle actuator systems, such as the propulsion system  772 , the braking system  773 , and the steering system  774 , to cause the vehicle  100  to travel from a current location toward a destination location. 
     The control system  776  may exercise control over various systems and components of the vehicle  100 , including controlling movement of the window  106 . As an example, the control system  776  may function as a controller that is configured to control movement of the window  106  from the closed position and the open position by initiating pivoting of the window  106  from the first angular position toward the second angular position using the pivot actuator  248  prior to lowering the window using the lift actuator  234 . 
       FIG.  8    is a block diagram that shows an example implementation of the control system  776  and/or other controllers or computer-implemented systems of the vehicle  100 . The control system  776  may be a conventional computing device that includes include a processor  880 , a memory  881 , a storage device  882 , one or more input devices  883 , and one or more output devices  884 . The control system  776  may include a bus or a similar device to interconnect the components for communication. The control system  776  may include computer program instructions (e.g., stored on the storage device  882 ) that are configured to cause the control system to perform the computer-implemented functions described herein with respect to the vehicle  100  and various systems thereof. 
     The processor  880  is operable to execute computer program instructions and perform operations described by the computer program instructions. As an example, the processor  880  may be a conventional device such as a central processing unit. The memory  881  may be a volatile, high-speed, short-term information storage device such as a random-access memory module. The storage device  882  may be a non-volatile information storage device such as a hard drive or a solid-state drive. The input devices  883  may include any type of human-machine interface such as buttons, switches, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen input device, a gestural input device, or an audio input device. The output devices  884  may include any type of device operable to provide an indication to a user regarding an operating state, such as a display screen or an audio output, or any other functional output or control. 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology is control of a window for a vehicle, which may, in some implementations, include the gathering and use of data available from various sources to customize operation based on user preferences and/or user behavior, such as by controlling the window to open automatically under certain circumstances according to user preferences. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID&#39;s, home addresses, data or records relating to a user&#39;s health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information. As an example, the vehicle may include sensors that are used to control operation of the window, and/or other aspects of operation of the vehicle, and these sensors may obtain information (e.g., still pictures or video images) that can be used to identify persons present in the image. 
     The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to develop a user profile that describes preferences for operation of the window. 
     The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country. 
     Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide personal data for use in controlling the configuration and operation of the window and doors of the vehicle. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time personal data is maintained or entirely prohibit the use and storage of personal data. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app. 
     Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user&#39;s privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods. 
     Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, control of the window of the vehicle can be performed without use of personal information data, such as by controlling the window according to default settings or according to user commands.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220720
Publication Date: 20231226
Grant Date: 20231226
Priority Date: 20210923
Inventors: SULTANA, Trevor M.
TARGHI, ALI TAVAKOLI
KLOTZ, STEVEN H.
MONROE, DONALD R.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "E05D15/56", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D15/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/695", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/697", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/434", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/654", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/668", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/684", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/702", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2400/45", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2800/102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/55", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D15/56", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D15/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/695", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/697", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/434", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/55", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/654", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/684", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/702", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2400/45", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2800/102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/668", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D15/165", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05D15/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/697", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/686", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/654", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/668", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2201/702", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2400/45", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2800/102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/55", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 89384096