A drive assembly, in particular for driving a flap (5), includes a hinge assembly (2), comprising a first hinge part (3) connectable to a vehicle body and a second hinge part (4) connectable to a vehicle flap (5), a joint assembly (7) comprising at least a first joint part (8) hingedly connecting said first hinge part (3) with said second hinge part (4) and a first actuator (10) for driving the second hinge part (4) to move between an opened and a closed position during a normal operation. The first actuator (10) has a first end (10a) coupleable to a vehicle body pivotally about a first pivot axis (P1) and a second end (10b). The drive assembly also includes a bearing element connected (16) to the first actuator (10) and a coupling assembly (14) for coupling the first actuator (10) to the hinge assembly (2), comprising a first coupling part (15) having a first end (15a) and a second end (15b). The first end (15a) of the first coupling part (15) is coupled to one of the second hinge part (4) and first joint part (8) pivotally about a second pivot axis (P2). The bearing element (16) of the first actuator (10) is coupled to the second end (15b) of the first coupling part (15) pivotally about a third pivot axis (P3) spaced apart from the second pivot axis (P2). The drive assembly provides a possibility to move a vehicle flap drivingly between a closed and an opened position and further provides a reliable pedestrian protection function.

A closure latch system and method for capturing, releasing, and recapturing a striker of a hood of a motor vehicle are provided. The closure latch system includes at least one power actuator configured for communication with at least one sensor. The at least one power actuator is actuatable in response to a signal from the at least one sensor indicating an imminent impact with a pedestrian to pivot the hood to a partially open position, and thereafter, to pivot the hood to a closed position in response to an indication of there being no impact from the at least one sensor.

A closure latch system and method for capturing, releasing, and recapturing a striker of a hood of a motor vehicle are provided. The closure latch system includes at least one power actuator configured for communication with at least one sensor. The at least one power actuator is actuatable in response to a signal from the at least one sensor indicating an imminent impact with a pedestrian to pivot the hood to a partially open position, and thereafter, to pivot the hood to a closed position in response to an indication of there being no impact from the at least one sensor.

An advanced driving assistance system (ADAS)-linked active hood apparatus for always-on operation is provided. The apparatus includes a rotary arm that is fixed to a hood of a vehicle, a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and a rotary bracket that rotates upward and downward by applied rotation force. A first link interconnects the rotary bracket and the stationary bracket. A motor unit is integrally connected to the rotary arm and applies driving force to the rotary bracket. A controller receives driving information of the vehicle via an ADAS and sets a pop-up height of the hood. The motor unit then performs pop-up and restoration of the hood when a collision is expected based on the received driving information.

An advanced driving assistance system (ADAS)-linked active hood apparatus for always-on operation is provided. The apparatus includes a rotary arm that is fixed to a hood of a vehicle, a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and a rotary bracket that rotates upward and downward by applied rotation force. A first link interconnects the rotary bracket and the stationary bracket. A motor unit is integrally connected to the rotary arm and applies driving force to the rotary bracket. A controller receives driving information of the vehicle via an ADAS and sets a pop-up height of the hood. The motor unit then performs pop-up and restoration of the hood when a collision is expected based on the received driving information.

A deployable flap hinge includes a flap part (2) corresponding to a flap (A). The flap part (2) has a flap upper part (4) and a flap lower part (5), a body part (3) corresponding to a vehicle body (B), a first joint assembly (6) connecting the flap part (2) and the body part (3) in an articulated manner, and a second joint assembly (7) connecting the flap upper part (4) and the flap lower part (5) to one another in an articulated manner. The flap upper part (4) can be swivelled relative to the flap lower part (5) between a resting position and a deployed position. The deployable flap hinge also includes a locking assembly (40) for locking the deploying movement of the flap upper part (4), and a pretensioning device (10) for pretensioning the flap upper part (4) in the direction of the deployed position. The pretensioning device (10) includes a pretensioning element (11) formed as a single piece from a part of the flap hinge (1).

A deployable flap hinge includes a flap part (2) corresponding to a flap (A). The flap part (2) has a flap upper part (4) and a flap lower part (5), a body part (3) corresponding to a vehicle body (B), a first joint assembly (6) connecting the flap part (2) and the body part (3) in an articulated manner, and a second joint assembly (7) connecting the flap upper part (4) and the flap lower part (5) to one another in an articulated manner. The flap upper part (4) can be swivelled relative to the flap lower part (5) between a resting position and a deployed position. The deployable flap hinge also includes a locking assembly (40) for locking the deploying movement of the flap upper part (4), and a pretensioning device (10) for pretensioning the flap upper part (4) in the direction of the deployed position. The pretensioning device (10) includes a pretensioning element (11) formed as a single piece from a part of the flap hinge (1).

An active hinge including a hood bracket for attachment to a vehicle hood, a body bracket for attachment to a vehicle body, and a deploy bracket pivotally connected to the hood bracket and the body bracket. A pawl is pivotally connected to one of the hood bracket and the deploy bracket. A bolt is fixed to one of the hood bracket and the deploy bracket. The pawl is moveable between an unlocked position in which the pawl is spaced from the bolt, and a locked position wherein the pawl engages the bolt to fix the hood bracket to the deploy bracket. An actuator is configured to move the locking hook from the first to the second position and to cause the hood bracket to move. At least one locking element limits movement of the hood bracket relative to the body bracket.

An active hinge including a hood bracket for attachment to a vehicle hood, a body bracket for attachment to a vehicle body, and a deploy bracket pivotally connected to the hood bracket and the body bracket. A pawl is pivotally connected to one of the hood bracket and the deploy bracket. A bolt is fixed to one of the hood bracket and the deploy bracket. The pawl is moveable between an unlocked position in which the pawl is spaced from the bolt, and a locked position wherein the pawl engages the bolt to fix the hood bracket to the deploy bracket. An actuator is configured to move the locking hook from the first to the second position and to cause the hood bracket to move. At least one locking element limits movement of the hood bracket relative to the body bracket.

Technology is provided which allows the amount of a hood protruding forward from a striker to be reduced at a normal time before the pop-up hood system is operated, and allowing the stroke when the front end of the hood rotates downward when the pop-up hood system is operated to be reduced, such that it is possible to effectively utilize the space. A hood retraction structure includes: a slider provided at a front side lower portion of a hood; and a rail that is provided on an upper portion of a striker body constituting a hood locking mechanism, movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the slider, and is longer than the slider in a length in the longitudinal direction. Retraction of the slider relative to the rail allows the hood to retract relative to the hood locking mechanism.