Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Other

Bgm Engineering, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC

Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Trw Technar Inc.

Congress Financial Corporation

Brian K Blackburn

Scott B Gentry

Joseph F Mazur

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Edward Burley

Louis R Brown

Barney J Bauer

Thomas H Vos

James C Lotito

Mohannad F Murad

H John Miller, Iii

Gregory S Bayley

Timothy W Hill

Kurt W Schulz

Joseph E Mazur

Ernst M Faigle

Robert W Diller

Tracy S Sparks

Richard J Thompson

Joseph Robert Brown

Allen J Bronowicki

Gerald Keller

Steven G Corrion

Benjamin M Rice

Robert D Sayles

Edward W Clancy, Iii

William M Jarocha

Matthew W Owen

Wim Van De Maele

Michael P Manley

Michel Paul Rossey

John B Sparhawk

James J Manley

James G McCuskey

Sam J B W Vermeir

William R Swihart

Mark A Ross

Naushad Hossain

Henry D Frech

Steven P Kuritz

Allen J Bronowocki

John E Bessonen

Frank J Kolanko

In one embodiment, a sequencing system includes a plurality of integrated circuits connected in a daisy chain arrangement, where each integrated circuit has an LED load connection. The system includes a diagnostic circuit which signals to the control unit that an open circuit condition has been detected, thereby turning off all LED loads.

Method of forming a sequencing system and structure therefor

A seat belt load limiter employs a magnetostrictive sensor to detect the elastic loading and plastic deformation of a torsion rod forming part of a seat belt retractor. A magnet and a coil are placed about or adjacent to the torsion rod. When the torsion rod undergoes elastic or plastic strain, an electrical voltage is induced in the coil which is used to detect elastic or plastic strain of the torsion rod. A vehicle safety system uses the output of the magnetostrictive sensor to inform the vehicle operator when the seat belt load limiter is in need of replacement. The output of the magnetostrictive sensor as processed by the vehicle safety system can also be used to detect a situation where the seat occupant is not restrained by the seat belt and to make an airbag deployment decision.

Seat belt retractor torsion rod activity sensor

A sensor package which is reliable, low cost, simple, robust, and usable to input additional seat occupant information to an airbag controller to control airbag deployment, and which is insensitive to cross axis loading of a seat belt. A second housing member is internally interfaced with the first housing member, wherein a suspension system frictionlessly suspends the first housing member springably with respect to the second housing member. A pressure sensor is mounted to one of the first and second housings, and a biasing spring is mounted to the other of the first and second housings in axial abutment with the pressure sensor.

Seat belt tension sensor package

The present invention provides a method and device for simulating impact conditions which has a test sled , simulated occupant ( ), and a pre-impact force-generating device. The pre-impact force-generating device can apply force directly to the simulated occupant being ( ), thereby overcoming many of the cost problems associated with applying a low and long duration force directly to a test sled ( ). The pre-impact force-generating device can be designed such that instead of providing a low and long duration force to a simulated occupant ( ), it provides a short and high impact force to the simulated occupant ( ). An impact force-generating device provides impact force directly to the sled ( ) which simulates impact conditions.

Sled test apparatus and method for simulating pre-impact crash event

A vehicle occupant restraint system (,) has an actuatable occupant restraint device (,) with an aspect adjustable for adjusting actuation of the restraint device. An associated control method controls the system (,). Within the system (,), a sensor (,) senses a vehicle operating parameter functionally related to crash acceleration and provides a signal (,) indicative thereof. A threshold determination function (,) of a microcomputer (,) determines whether the signal (,) from the sensor (,) exceeds a threshold value. An occupant characteristic sensor (,) senses an occupant characteristic in response to a determination that the signal (,) from the sensor (,) exceeds the threshold value and provides a signal (,A) indicative thereof. A restraint adjustment controller function (,) of the microcomputer (,) determines adjustment of the adjustable aspect of the restraint device (,) in response to the determination that the signal (,) from the sensor (,) exceeds the threshold value and in response to the signal (,A) from the occupant characteristic sensor (,). The adjustment controller function (,) provides a signal (,A) indicative of the determined adjustment to cause adjustment of the restraint device (,).

Occupant restraint system and method having smart process initiation control

An occupant position measuring system (,) comprising: a transmitter for generating a pulse modulated transmitter signal; a receiver for receiving a reflection of the transmitter signal, the receiver being characterized as having a relatively low Q factor; a controller, responsive to the receipt of the reflected signal and for generating an indication of the distance between an occupant the transmitter.

Ultrasonic occupant position sensing system

The present invention is a power supply for a fluorescent light, particularly a sub-miniature fluorescent light (SFL) which provides compensation for temperature and age effects of the fluorescent light. One or more SFLs are powered by a variable output anode controller and a variable output cathode controller, wherein the illumination output of the SFLs is selectively adjustable based upon the voltage output of one or both of the anode and cathode controllers. In a first example of implementation of the invention, an illumination feedback circuit is provided to the anode/cathode controller, wherein the voltage output is adjusted to compensate for diminished illumination, caused for example by cold operating conditions or age of the sensed SFLs. In a second form of the present invention, a temperature feedback circuit is provided to the anode/cathode controller to provide the aforesaid voltage adjustment to compensate for diminished illumination. In another aspect of the present invention, the SFLs are placed into a ready-state for being presently illuminated based upon sensing of a wake-up signal.

Method and apparatus for powering fluorescent lighting

An apparatus and method of determining and tracking the position of a main target (an occupant) and secondary targets, comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal T,, of determinable period toward the location of the occupant, generating and storing a first index of data indicative of the time any received signal exceeds a determinable threshold; separating the data within the first index into definable data groups indicative of individual received signals representing potential targets; determining, in relation to each transmitted signal T,, a common group time of receipt T,for each data group; correlating the group time of receipt to the position of the main target and secondary targets occupant.

Occupant position system and method using ultrasonic technology

An occupant safety protection system (,) capable of sensing the misuse of a safety belt system (,). The invention includes: a shoulder belt portion (,), a field generator means (,) for generating a detection field (,), a disturbance tag means (,) attached to the shoulder belt portion (,) and a tag detection circuit means (,) which determines seat belt misuse and sends an output indicative thereof. When the seat belt system is being properly used the disturbance tag (,) does not disturb the detection field. Conversely, when the seat belt system is being improperly used the disturbance tag disturbs the detection field. The tag detection circuit sends an output indication (,) corresponding to the state of the seat belt system use.

Seat belt usage indicating system

A method for sensing the occurrence of a vehicle crash is provided for a vehicle having an occupant restraint system operatively connected with a crash sensor having an accelerometer, which produces an accelerometer signal, and with an occupant position sensor which produces a position signal. The crash sensor includes an adjustable filter. The method includes the steps of: a) calculating an estimated occupant displacement by integrating the accelerometer signal twice; b) comparing the estimated occupant displacement to the position signal; and c) adjusting the adjustable filter based upon the comparing step to optimize control of the occupant restraint system. In this manner, actual body position of the occupant may be more accurately predicted and measured, which allows optimization of air bag deployment.

Method and apparatus for determining time to fire an occupant restraint system using occupant sensor inputs

An apparatus (47) determines presence, type, and a size value of a vehicle occupant (14) located within a vehicle (12). A first capacitive sensor (46A) is located on a first side of an occupant location within the vehicle (12) and senses a first capacitance value. An associated drive/monitor circuit (42A) provides a first signal (44A) indicative of the first capacitance value. A controller (27) determines from the first signal (44A) whether the first capacitance value is indicative of an occupant located proximate to the first capacitive sensor (46A). The controller (27) determines a first distance between the first capacitive sensor (46A) and the occupant (14) using the first signal (44A). A second capacitive sensor (46C) is located on a second side of the occupant location and senses a second capacitance value. An associated drive/monitor circuit (42C) provides a second signal (44C) indicative of the second capacitance value. The controller (27) determines from the second signal (44C) whether the second capacitance value is indicative of an occupant located proximate to the second capacitive sensor (46C). The controller (27) determines a second distance between the second capacitive sensor (46C) and the occupant using the second signal (44C). The controller (27) determines from at least one of the first and second signals (44A and 44C) whether the occupant type is a child in a child seat. The controller (27) determines a size value of the occupant using the first and second determined distances.

Apparatus and method for discerning certain occupant characteristics

An apparatus (10) and a method for controlling a plurality of controllable devices (14, 16, 18 and 20). Preferably, the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20) are located within a vehicle. A touch pad (46) of the apparatus (10) has an array of manually touchable areas (48) and provides signals indicative of manual touches to the areas (48). The array of manually touchable areas (48) are arranged such that various swiping and non-swiping manual touch patterns to the array can be accomplished. The touch patterns include touch patterns which correspond to controllable aspects of the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20). The apparatus (10) includes a control module (52). A receiver function (60) of the control module (52) receives the signals provided by the touch pad (46). An interpreter function (64) of the control module (52) interprets information contained within the received signals to identify touch patterns to the touch pad (46). A communication function (66) of the control module (52) provides control signals to control the controllable aspects of the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20) in response to the identified touch patterns.

Method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of controllable devices

A test apparatus (20) for testing the dynamic performance and verifying the performance of at least one occupant sensor (82) used in a vehicular safety restraint system comprising: a movable sled slidably oriented relative to the occupant sensor; an object, the presence of which is to be sensed by the sensor, mounted and movable with the sled; a support (22, 24, 26a,b, 32, 36) for slidably supporting the sled relative to the sensor (82); a force producing device (90a,b, 92, 94) for moving the sled toward the sensor in a determinable manner; a data collection device (84) for comparing signals derived from the occupant sensor indicative of the relative position to the object with signals derived upon independent measurement of the motion of the sled.

Dynamic proximity test apparatus

A restraint system (10) includes an actuatable occupant restraint module (18), which is controlled in a method for restraining a vehicle occupant (12). A restraint control determination function (68) controls actuation of the restraint module (18) using information from a vehicle collision sensor (30). An occupant sensor (34) senses the occupant and provides a signal indicative thereof. A position determination function (46) determines position of the occupant (12) using the signal, and an occupant velocity determination function (70) determines velocity of the occupant relative to a vehicle reference location, as a time derivative of the occupant position. An OOP determination function (52) determines if the occupant (12) is in an occupant out-of-position zone (OOP) (62). If the occupant (12) is within the OOP zone (62), actuation of the restraint module (18) is prevented. A boundary adjustment function (72) repositions a boundary (64) of the OOP zone (62) as a function of the determined occupant velocity. Another embodiment includes an adjustable zone (258), in which adjustable aspect(s) (219) are adjusted.

Occupant restraint system and control method with variable occupant

A seat belt buckle (12) includes a latch mechanism (20) and a field effect device (26). The latch mechanism (20) includes a latch (42) which is movable into and out of a locking position in which it engages a seat belt tongue (16) to interlock the tongue (16) with the latch mechanism (20). The field effect device (26) provides a first output if the seat belt tongue (16) is not interlocked with the latch mechanism (20) and provides a second, different output if the seat belt tongue (16) is interlocked with the latch mechanism (20).

Seat belt buckle with field effect locking indicator and method of use

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Brian K Blackburn