Craig T Harston

Title: Craig T Harston: Innovator in Vehicle Occupant Sensing Systems

Introduction

Craig T Harston is a notable inventor based in Signal Mountain, TN (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of automotive safety through his innovative designs and systems. With a total of 2 patents, Harston has focused on enhancing vehicle occupant safety.

Latest Patents

Harston's latest patents include a Vehicle Occupant Sensing System. This system is designed to sense the presence of an object within a vehicle's passenger compartment, including an occupant. It comprises one or more safety restraint devices, such as airbags or pretensioners, to protect the occupant during a crash. The system features an actuating device within the restraint device that activates the safety restraint to protect an occupant during a collision. A first occupant sensor is fixedly positioned in the vehicle to generate a reflected electric field within the passenger compartment. This sensor produces an output signal indicative of the presence of an object, with the electric field being of predetermined size. The presence of an object affects the reflected electric field, causing a change in the output signal of the sensor. The sensor can be mounted on the vehicle's steering wheel assembly for driver position detection or on the instrument panel near the passenger airbag module for passenger position detection. Additionally, a crash sensor is coupled to an electronic control unit to sense an actual or impending crash and generate an output signal indicative thereof. The electronic control unit reacts to a combination of the output signals from the crash sensor and occupant sensor to determine whether to activate the safety restraint device.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Craig T Harston has worked with several prominent companies, including Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. and AlliedSignal Inc. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in automotive safety technologies.

Collaborations

Harston has collaborated with notable professionals in the field, including John C Thompson and Steven K Underwood. These collaborations have likely enriched his work and contributed to the development of innovative safety solutions.

Conclusion

Craig T Harston is a distinguished inventor whose work in vehicle occupant sensing systems has significantly impacted automotive safety. His patents reflect a commitment to enhancing the protection of vehicle occupants during collisions.