Disclosed is a mechanical holder for a mobile device on board a vehicle, including two jaws that are rotatably hinged about an axis and close on the mobile device, the closing movement of the two jaws being such that, regardless of the mobile device engageable with the mechanical holder, the position of the mobile device is identical. The two jaws each have a gear wheel secured thereto, wherein the gear wheel is mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the jaws and engages with the other wheel to form a gearing and to allow each jaw to rotate simultaneously and identically relative to the axes of rotation of the respective gear wheels thereof.

A vehicle interior assembly includes a tambour door that is moveable along end guides between an open position and a closed position. The tambour door includes a plurality of slats interconnected by a unidirectional cord embedded in a plastic material of each one of the slats. The cord, such as yarn of aramid fibers can be molded-in to each one of the slats to simplified formation of the articulated joints between slats.

A storage device (20) is provided for a charging cable that can charge an electrically drivable motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a trunk (10) with side wall (16). A recess (22) for receiving the charging cable is formed in the side wall (16) and a receiving unit (24) is fastened detachably in the recess (22). The receiving unit (24) can be moved from a closed position, in which the receiving unit (24) is received in the recess (22), to an open position, in which the receiving unit (24) is positioned at least partially out of the recess (22). A receiving opening (26) of the receiving unit (24) is covered by the side wall (16) in the closed position and is accessible for the charging cable in the open position. The separate and detachable receiving unit (24) permits simple storing of a charging cable in an easy-to-clean storage device (20).

The present invention provides an object holding device used in a vehicle seat. The object holding device comprises an object holder coupled to an extendable device via a deployment rod and is extended and retracted in and out a map pocket of the vehicle seat. An extendable rod of the extendable device is pivotably connected with the deployment rod and lockable with the deployment rod. At a first position where the deployment rod forms a first angle with the extendable rod, the object holder is changeable at a slanted position and a leveled position to hold an object.

A storage bin for a motor vehicle includes a storage bin storage compartment and a storage bin lid hingedly connected to the storage compartment. The lid includes a light source disposed to illuminate an interior of the storage compartment. A transmitter and a receiver are provided for providing an electrical current to the hinged storage bin light source. The transmitter is a first coil disposed in a first portion of a pivoting hinge assembly of the storage bin and the receiver is a second coil disposed in a second portion of the pivoting hinge assembly, the second coil electrically communicating with the light source. In use, a current is supplied to the light source when the transmitter and receiver are disposed adjacent to one another by pivoting the storage bin lid to an open configuration.

The invention relates to a device, particularly for a rear area of a vehicle, and a related method for operating the device, where the device includes a camera unit serving to record an image of the exterior area of the vehicle with the camera unit being protectively arranged via a support element at the vehicle, particularly protected in a housing, and a mobile closing element being provided for closing the housing opening, which by a drive unit can be moved into at least two end positions, namely a closed position and an open position.

The technology relates to enhancing the operation of autonomous vehicles. Extendible sensors are deployed based on detected or predicted conditions around a vehicle while operating in a self-driving mode. When not needed, the sensors are fully retracted into the vehicle to reduce drag and increase fuel economy. When the onboard system determines that there is a need for a deployable sensor, such as to enhance the field of view of the perception system, the sensor is extended in a predetermined manner. The deployment may depend on one or more operating conditions and/or particular driving scenarios. These and other sensors of the vehicle may be protected with a rugged housing, for instance to protect against damage from the elements. And in other situations, deployable foils may extend from the vehicle's chassis to increase drag and enhance braking. This may be helpful for large trucks in steep descent situations.

The invention relates to an image capturing system with a camera unit for capturing images of the outside area of a motor vehicle, and with a protective element, wherein at least the camera unit and/or the protective element can be moved via a mechanism by means of a drive from at least a closed position (Ia) into at least an open position (IIa), wherein in the closed position (Ia) of the protective element at least one lens of the camera unit is located behind the protective element so as to be inaccessible from the outside, and in the open position (IIa) at least the lens of the camera unit is exposed for image capture by the protective element. It is essential to the invention that at least the deflecting element is arranged on the mechanism, the deflecting element serving to change the direction of force applied to the mechanism, thus allowing a compact installation space to be realized.

An assembly for deploying a device from a cavity. The assembly includes a translatable cover and a mounting surface defining an opening sized to receive the translatable cover thereover. The device is received in the cavity beneath the mounting surface and is actuatable between a first device position and a second device position. A plurality of linkages are positioned within the cavity. At least one of the plurality of linkages is coupled to a power source for actuating the plurality of linkages and at least one of the plurality of linkages is coupled to the translatable cover and to the device. Thus, when the power source actuates the plurality of linkages, the translatable cover is translated relative to the mounting surface from a first cover position to a second cover position and the device is actuated from the first device position to the second device position.

An apparatus is provided for storing and deploying a cell phone. That apparatus includes a guide track and a carriage displaceable along the guide track between a storage position and a deployed position. A drive element displaces the carriage between the two positions and a damping mechanism ensures that the carriage moves with a smooth and consistent motion along the guide track.