Electrically powered sliding unit for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11396247-B2
Application number	US-202117167562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Priority date	Sep 15, 2020
Publication date	Jul 26, 2022
Grant date	Jul 26, 2022

Abstract

A sliding unit for a vehicle includes: a rail including a first extension part, a second extension part, and a bending part connecting the first extension part and the second extension part; a movable part slidably disposed on the rail, and including a magnetic part configured to be locked with or unlocked from the rail; a power supply part disposed in the rail, having a shape extending in a lengthwise direction along the rail, and electrically connected to a power source of the vehicle; and a first contact part and a second contact part disposed in the movable part, and electrically connecting the power supply part and the magnetic part when contacting the power supply part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sliding unit for a vehicle, comprising:
a rail comprising a first extension part, a second extension part, and a bending part connecting the first extension part and the second extension part in a way that the first and second extension parts are perpendicularly connected to each other;
a movable part slidably disposed on the rail along the rail, the movable part comprising a magnetic part configured to be locked with or unlocked from the rail;
a power supply part disposed in the rail, having a shape extending in a lengthwise direction along the rail, and electrically connected to a power source; and
a first contact part and a second contact part disposed in the movable part, the first and second contact parts electrically connecting the power supply part and the magnetic part by contacting the power supply part,
wherein the power supply part includes a first power supply part disposed on the first extension part and a second power supply part disposed on the second extension part,
wherein the first contact part and the first power supply part contact each other when the movable part is slid along the first extension part, and
wherein the second contact part and the second power supply part contact each other when the movable part is slid along the second extension part.

2. The sliding unit of claim 1 , wherein the first contact part and the second contact part are configured to contact the first power supply part and the second power supply part, respectively, in the bending part of the rail,
wherein, when the movable part is slid along the first extension part, a contact between the second contact part and the second power supply part is released, and
wherein, when the movable part is slid along the second extension part, a contact between the first contact part and the first power supply part is released.

3. The sliding unit of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wires, each having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, are connected to the first contact part and the second contact part, and
wherein, when the first power supply part contacts the first contact part or the second power supply part contacts the second contact part, electric power is supplied to the magnetic part of the movable part through the plurality of wires.

4. The sliding unit of claim 3 , wherein the movable part includes:
a first voltage sensor connected to the first contact part through the plurality of wires;
a second voltage sensor connected to the second contact part through the plurality of wires; and
a switching part, to which the first voltage sensor and the second voltage sensor are connected through the plurality of wires,
wherein the first voltage sensor and the second voltage sensor are configured to measure voltage data of the first contact part and the second contact part, respectively, and
wherein the switching part is configured to control connection of the first contact part or the second contact part and the magnetic part according to the voltage data measured by the first voltage sensor and the second voltage sensor.

5. The sliding unit of claim 4 , wherein the switching part is configured to connect the first contact part and the magnetic part according to the voltage data measured by the first voltage sensor when the movable part is slid along the first extension part,
wherein the switching part connects the second contact part and the magnetic part according to the voltage data measured by the first voltage sensor and the second voltage sensor when the movable part slid along the first extension part is located in the bending part of the rail, and
wherein a connection between the first contact part and the magnetic part is released when the movable part is slid along the second extension part.

6. The sliding unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of wires, each having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, connected to the first contact part and the second contact part; and
a wire groove extending, on an upper surface of the movable part, from the first contact part and the second contact part to a central portion of the upper surface of the movable part,
wherein the plurality of wires connected to the first contact part and the second contact part are extend through the wire groove.

7. The sliding unit of claim 1 , wherein the movable part has a rectangular frame shape,
wherein the magnetic part is disposed in an interior space of the movable part, and
wherein the first contact part and the second contact part are disposed on the movable part and face the first power supply part and the second power supply part, respectively.

8. The sliding unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the first contact part and the second contact part include a spring part configured to apply an elastic force to the first contact part and the second contact part such that the first contact part and the second part remain attached to the first power supply part and the second power supply part, respectively.

9. The sliding unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second power supply parts are disposed on side surfaces of the rail, respectively, along the rail.

10. The sliding unit of claim 9 , wherein a fixing part composed of a material, through which a magnetism can flow, is disposed on the bottom surface of the rail, and
wherein the magnetic part disposed in the movable part is disposed to face the fixing part, defining a magnetic path.

11. The sliding unit of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic part is configured to be locked with the fixing part when the magnetic part and the fixing part together form the magnetic path, and
the magnetic part is configured to be unlocked from the fixing part when the magnetic path is formed only in the magnetic part.

12. The sliding unit of claim 9 , wherein a plurality of bearing parts are: (i) disposed on an outer surface of the movable part,
(ii) to be rotatably supported by the rail, and
(iii) to control a movement of the movable part in a transverse or vertical direction when the movable part is slid.

13. The sliding unit of claim 9 , further comprising:
a rail cover having a slit hole and extending along the rail on the upper surface of the rail; and
a connection part connected to the movable part through the slit hole on an upper side of the rail cover.

14. The sliding unit of claim 13 , wherein the rail has a rectangular ring shape, and
wherein the connection part is configured to couple an electronic device thereon such that the electronic device moves in a forward, rearward, leftward, and rightward direction along the rail with the connection part.

15. The sliding unit of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of wires, each having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, are connected to the first contact part and the second contact part,
wherein the plurality of wires pass through the slit hole from an upper end of the movable part to be connected to the electronic device, and
wherein, when the first contact part or the second contact part contacts the first power supply part or the second power supply part, respectively, electric power is supplied to the electronic device through the plurality of wires.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Hwang Jin Ho
• Cha Dong Eun
• Lee Sang Heon

Classifications

• B60N2/067

  by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/08

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title

• B60N2/0722 Primary

  Constructive details · CPC title

• B60R7/04

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/062

  transversally slidable · CPC title