Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Tesla, Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Humanetics Innovative Solutions, Inc.

Tno Madymo North America

John Cooper

John M Burdock

Mutaz A Shkoukani

Madan Gopal

Robert J Sadenwater

Jin Ho Jung

Honglu Zhang

Walter R Green

Jean-Luc Blancou

Robert L Arwood, Iii

Bruno A Luz

Michael Scott Beebe

Eric J Baumbach

Paul F Altamore

Robert L Arwood

Richard Costello

Robert H Block

Kaustubh Bedekar

William Edward Rockwell

Dave C Stein

Craig Morgan

Pat Atkinson

A vehicle seat restraint system includes a control system and a second-row restraint system. The control system receives a first-row seat value and a second-row seat value from seat sensors. The control system generates relative position data for a first-row seat and a second-row seat based upon the first-row seat value and the second-row seat value. The control system selects a load limiter setting value using a multidimensional load limiter model based upon body impact values as a function of load limiter setting values and the relative position data, a selected load limiter setting value outside a value avoidance zone for the body impact values. The second-row restraint system is configured by the control system with the selected load limiter setting value. The control system may also determine an occupant weight value and select the load limiter setting value using the occupant weight value.

Load limiter configuration using multidimensional model

A method includes: determining first and second row seat values using seat sensors; generating relative position data for the seats using the values; selecting a load limiter setting value using the relative position data and a multidimensional load limiter model including at least i) body impact values as a function of at least load limiter setting values and as a function of relative position values, and ii) restraint interaction values as a function of at least the load limiter setting values and as a function of the relative position values, the load limiter setting value selected so that the load limiter setting value is outside a first value avoidance zone defined for the body impact values, and outside a second value avoidance zone for the restraint interaction values; and configuring a second row restraint system in the vehicle with the selected load limiter setting value.

A system and method for designing a crashworthiness system is taught. The system utilizes computer models of anthropomorphic dummies having material properties which change as a function of time.

System for modeling dynamic response changes in an anthropomorphic dummy

A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Upward deploying inflatable knee bolster with mechanical guides

An air bag assembly () comprising: an air bag () and means for inflating the air bag, and a partial hood or tether () for causing the air bag to inflate in an asymmetric manner during inflation, the hood or tethers operatively disengageable from the air bag.

Air bag module with partial external hood or tether

An air bag module comprising an air bag pack including an inflator and folded air bag is disclosed; the air bag is capable of inflating upon receipt of inflation gas and includes a tether having a first portion fixedly attached in relation to one of the air bag and the inflator, the tether including a second portion, which is loosely positioned relative to the first portion.

Inflatable restraint module with external tether

Disclosed is a simulation based environment that allows a product based engineer, with a modest understanding of complex software programs, to use complex math models. The system provides an interface by which basic component models can be used within the simulation. Allowances are made for particular variables to be adaptable by the product based engineer.

Simplified modeling software interface and method

Disclosed is a safety restraint design controller for controlling the design of a safety restraint system so that a predetermined desired level of an occupant's response ( ) is produced. The controller has a database ( ) for storing an occupant restraint factor response model ( ). The model ( ) interrelates at least one predetermined restraint factor ( ) with the occupant response ( ), the restraint factors having a level that is indicative of setting values for controlling the safety restraint design. A database engine connected to the database ( ) determines a level for the occupant response ( ) based upon the model and upon a first level of the restraint factors. An optimizer is connected to the database engine for determining a second level of the restraint factors ( ), which produces the desired level of the occupant response based upon the desired level of the occupant response ( ) from the database engine; whereby the safety restraints design is controlled based upon the determined second level of the restraint factors that produces the desired level of the safety response.

Biomechanical system development of a restraint system

An occupant helmet protection system usable with an occupant helmet and a seat belt system, the seat belt system of the type including at least a first and a second shoulder belt, each of which when worn is positioned to lie across a respective shoulder of an occupant, the helmet occupant protection system including an energy absorbing, flexible tether having a first end operatively connected to the helmet in alignment with an effective center of gravity of the combined helmet and the occupant's head, the tether including a second end connected to a tether anchor point; a frame member loosely supported about the shoulders of the occupant and including a center or tower portion, the center or tower portion having a tether guide means for changing the direction of the tether and providing a low friction surface for the tether, the tether guide means located in alignment with or slightly above a first plane, which passes through the effective center of gravity of the head-helmet combination and the tether-helmet anchor point, the tether passing about and not connected to the frame member.

Helmet restraint system

The implementation of dual-stage inflators in some production vehicles is quickly becoming a common reality. A dual-stage inflator has two firing squibs that can fire independently, simultaneously or in a delayed mode. This tailorability provides the ability to fire a low level, high level or staged delay level depending on the impact velocity or other means. For each restraint condition, the inflator output threshold speeds are identified. A biomechanical gray zone, for each injury assessment reference value, is defined based on occupant performance. The upper and lower bound of each biomechanical gray zone is associated with a type of occupant, inflator output, belt restraint and injury parameter.

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Oxford, MI, United States of America

John Cooper