Trw Limited

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Timothy A Swann

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Brian R Pitstick

Ernst M Faigle

Bryan W Shirk

Paul A Bowers

John P O'Loughlin

Eric R McFarland

Lee D Bergerson

Ivan L Stonich

Craig M Fischer

Dean M Esterberg

Halley O Stevens

Christopher C Shih

Robert R Debbs

Eric N Streif

Keven D Thomas

Jess A Cuevas

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Vincent J Mramor

Douglas P Campbell

David H Lewis, Jr

Todd R Bailey

Glenn Raymond Chatley, Jr

Daniel R Hake

Eric Streif

An actuatable fastener () includes a body () including a head () and a shank (). The body () includes an interior chamber () partially defined by a side wall () extending from the head () into the shank () and an end wall () positioned in the shank. A member () is disposed in the chamber (). An initiator () is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber () that act on the member () to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (). The member () strikes the end wall () creating a fracture () in the shank () separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder () of the shank. The combustion products moving the member () beyond the fracture () at least a predetermined distance () to move the portion of the shank () at least the predetermined distance from the remainder () of the shank.

Actuatable fastener

An apparatus ( ) comprises a first assembly ( ) and a second assembly ( ). The first assembly comprises a base ( ) and an electrically energizable mechanism ( ), and has a first mounting portion ( ). The second assembly ( ) comprises an ignitable material ( ) in a sealed container ( ). The container ( ) has a first wall portion ( ) that is rupturable to enable ignition of the ignitable material ( ). The container has a second wall portion ( ) that is rupturable in response to ignition of the ignitable material ( ) to enable flow of combustion products out of the container ( ). The container ( ) has a second mounting portion ( ). The first mounting portion ( ) of the first assembly ( ) is in abutting engagement with the second mounting portion ( ) of the second assembly ( ) thereby to fix the first assembly for movement with the second assembly.

Electrically actuatable initiator with output charge

A pretensioner ( ) tensions vehicle seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) has a member ( ) movable by an actuating fluid to tension the seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) further has at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device ( ) energizable to supply actuating fluid to move the member ( ).

Seat belt webbing pretensioner using MEMS devices

An inflator ( ) includes an assembly ( ) comprising a plurality of individually energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ) for, when energized, actuating the inflator. The assembly ( ) further comprises a sensor mechanism ( ) for sensing a condition of the inflator ( ) and for generating a control signal indicative of the sensed condition. The plurality of MEMS devices ( ) are responsive to the control signal to control actuation of the inflator ( ).

Air bag inflators

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus ( ) comprises a sensor ( ) for sensing a vehicle crash condition and a control module ( ) for receiving a signal from the sensor ( ) and generating a demand-to-fire signal if the crash condition is above a threshold level. The apparatus ( ) further comprises a plurality of restraint modules ( ) for, when actuated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant. Each restraint module ( ) has at least one initiator ( ) that is energizable to actuate the restraint module ( ). A restraint communication bus ( ) transfers the demand-to-fire signal from the control module ( ) to the restraint modules ( ). A connector ( ) is associated with each initiator ( ). Each initiator ( ) and the associated connector ( ) collectively form a transformer ( ). The demand-to-fire signal is inductively coupled to the initiator ( ) for actuating the restraint module ( ).

Vehicle occupant safety apparatus with restraint communication bus and transformer connections

An electromagnetically lossy liquid- or gas-tight fusion seal for use as a low pass radio frequency signal filter constructed as a matrix of glass binder and ferrimagnetic and/or ferroelectric filler. Metal cased electrical filters are made by reflowing the material to form fused glass-to-metal seals and incorporating electrical thru-conductors therein which may be formed as inductive windings.

Hermatically-sealed electrically-absorptive low-pass radio frequency filters and electro-magnetically lossy ceramic materials for said filters

A pyrotechnic device comprises a body of ignitable material ( ). A pair of electrodes ( ) and ( ) provide electrical energy to heat and ignite the body of pyrotechnic material ( ). The electrodes ( ) and ( ) extend through an electrical insulation housing ( ). The electrical insulation housing ( ) has surfaces defining a chamber ( ) through which the electrodes ( ) and ( ) pass. A body ( ) of a solid electromagnetically lossy, substantially gas impermeable material is positioned within the chamber ( ). The lossy material comprises a vitreous ceramic matrix consisting essentially of about 5% to about 50% by weight of a multi-component glass binder and about 50% to about 95% by weight of an electromagnetically lossy ferromagnetic and/or ferroelectric filler. The body ( ) of lossy material is fused to the surfaces defining the chamber ( ) in the electrical insulation housing ( ) and to the electrodes ( ) and ( ).

Pyrotechnic igniter with radio frequency filter

An electrically actuatable igniter (,) includes a header (,), a pair of electrodes (,) and (,) in the header (,), a heating element (,) electrically connected between the electrodes (,) and (,), and a dome shaped ignition droplet (,) covering and adhering to the heating element (,). The ignition droplet (,) comprises an intimate mixture of a cured free-radical resin binder, which is at least a substantially cured in situ by ultraviolet radiation, and an ultraviolet radiation absorbing particulate pyrotechnic material in a substantial proportion effective for sustained combustion in the mixture. The resin binder prior to curing is a liquid and has a surface tension, viscosity, and wetability with the heating element (,) to achieve the dome configuration.

Preparation of an igniter with an ultraviolet cured ignition droplet

A circuit chip (,) contains a semi-conductor bridge circuit (&ldquo;SCB&rdquo;) (,). The SCB (,) initiates an actuatable device, such as an occupant protection device (,A). The circuit chip (,) also contains a memory (,) that holds an identification (,A) of the actuatable device (,A). Preferably, the circuit chip (,) is part of a vehicle occupant protection system (,). Within the system (,) is a controller (,) and a communication interconnection (,) that permits communication between the controller (,) and the device (,A) to control actuation of the device. The controller (,) includes a theft deterrent function (,) to discern the identity of the device (,A) held within the memory (,). The theft deterrent function (,) also makes a determination as to whether the discerned identity of the device corresponds to a predetermined identity and provides a signal indicative of the determination.

Vehicle occupant protection device and system having an anti-theft, anti-tamper feature

A vehicle safety apparatus (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (44) and first and second electrically actuatable devices (30, 32) for, when actuated, effecting flow of inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The apparatus (12) further includes an electrical connector (10) electrically connected with the first and second actuatable devices (30, 32) for supplying electric current to the first and second electrically actuatable devices. The electrical connector (10) includes electrical components, such as diodes, (80, 82) responsive to the direction of current flow through the electrical connector for actuating a selected one of the first and second actuatable devices (30, 32).

Electrical connector for air bag inflator

Hermetically-sealed electrically-absorptive low-pass radio frequency

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflator (16) which, when actuated, emits inflation fluid. The apparatus (10) further includes an electrically actuatable igniter (24) which, when actuated, actuates the inflator (16). The igniter (24) includes an ohmic heating element (44) connected between a pair of electrodes (40, 42). An ignition droplet (46) is adhered to the ohmic heating element (44). The ignition droplet (46) is a mixture of pyrotechnic material and a resin binder which is cured by UV irradiation.

Inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An ignition element (106) for heating temperature sensitive ignitable material (86) in an air bag inflator comprises an electrically conductive first material layer (142). An electrically conductive second material layer (144) has a portion (146) spaced from and overlying a portion (148) of the first material layer (142). A lossy dielectric material (180) is disposed between the overlying portions (146, 148) of the first and second material layers (142, 144). A high frequency alternating electric field is applied to the first and second material layers (142, 144). The temperature sensitive material (86) is located adjacent the ignition element (106). The temperature of the dielectric material (180) increases to a temperature sufficient to cause ignition of the temperature sensitive material (86) in response to the application of the high frequency alternating electric field to the dielectric material.

Ignition element

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes combustible fluid (18) and a pair of electrodes (102,104). The electrodes (102,104) have a corresponding pair of surface portions (126,128) which are spaced from each other across an electrode gap (130). An ohmic heating element (120) bridges the gap (130) in an ignitable heat transferring relationship with the combustible fluid (18). The heating element (120) has a pair of opposite end portions (132,134) which are mounted on, and fixed to, the surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104). The surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104) have arcuate contours facing oppositely across the gap (130).

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Homer William Fogle, Jr