Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Bgm Engineering, Inc.

Burroughs, Inc.

Other

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Louis R Brown

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Edward J Burley

Brian K Blackburn

Scott B Gentry

Joseph F Mazur

Barney J Bauer

Arnold J Herberg

Kevin M Gillis

Steven R Loxton

Timothy G Laske

Srinivasan Sundararajan

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Robert P Ellis

Wallace C Higbee

Steven G Corrion

Thomas H Vos

David J Romeo

Harry L Wallace

Roger P Daniel

Reiner Lenzen

Anthony Horak

Lawrence Dale Butts

Edward Burley

Matthew C Bollaert

Michael A Saunders

Roger H Garrell

Donald P Czarnecki

Joseph E Mazur

Brent K Olson

Frederick G Krebs

Charles F Steffens, Jr

Delmar H Robbins

Antonio Esquivel

Charles E Kroetsch

Peter F Layer

A sensor module for use in a low-cost weight-measurement and sensing system is provided. The sensor module may include a substrate configured to be mounted between a floor pan of a vehicle and a seat of the vehicle. The sensor module may further include a force sensing element disposed upon the substrate. The force sensing element may be configured to sense a force applied thereupon, and generate a reading representative of the force applied thereupon in response thereto to provide a sensor reading. The sensor module may also include a wiring harness connected to the force sensing element. The wiring harness may be configured to transmit the sensor reading to a control module. The substrate may define an aperture configured to surround a fastening element used to fasten the seat to the floor pan of the vehicle.

Sensor module for use in low-cost weight measurement and sensing system

A collision safety system for use with a motor vehicle includes a hood mounted to the vehicle movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch mechanism positioned adjacent the hood releasably engages a striker bar extending from the hood. The latch mechanism includes a spring operative to move the striker bar, a locking cam configured to releasably secure the striker bar and a pawl disposed on a latch bracket is movable between a latched position engaging the locking cam and a deployed position away from the locking cam. A primary hood release device is operatively connected to the pawl and is in communication with a remote source that is configured to transmit an activation signal to the primary hood release device.

Collision safety system for use with a motor vehicle

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

A seat belt system ( ) comprises a seat belt ( ) and a tongue assembly ( ). A buckle ( ) engageable with the tongue assembly ( ) secures the system ( ) in a buckled condition in which the belt ( ) is divided into a torso portion ( ) and a lap portion ( ). The system ( ) also includes an inflatable device ( ) comprising an inflatable portion ( ) of the belt ( ). An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid to the inflatable device ( ) only when the tongue assembly ( ) is engaged with the buckle ( ). A cinch mechanism ( ) has a cinched condition resisting movement of the belt ( ) through the tongue assembly ( ). The inflatable device ( ), when inflated, causes the cinch mechanism ( ) to move to the released condition and causes the torso portion ( ) and the lap portion ( ) of the belt ( ) to be tensioned about the vehicle occupant.

Tongue assembly and buckle for inflatable seat belt

An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant comprises a vehicle seat belt system ( ) including a buckle ( ), a tongue assembly ( ), and an inflatable seat belt portion ( ) connected with the tongue assembly. An inflation mechanism ( ) connected with the buckle ( ) includes an actuatable inflator ( ) and a first conduit ( ) in fluid communication with the inflator. A second conduit ( ) is in fluid communication with the inflatable seat belt portion ( ). The first conduit ( ) has a rupturable portion ( ) blocking fluid flow out of the first conduit toward the second conduit ( ). The first conduit ( ), upon actuation of the inflator ( ), moves from a first position in which the first conduit is not in fluid communication with the second conduit ( ) to a second position in which the first conduit is in fluid communication with the second conduit. The rupturable portion ( ) is ruptured to enable fluid flow from the first conduit ( ) to the second conduit ( ) to inflate the inflatable seat belt portion ( ). Means ( ) for venting erroneously released inflation fluids are also provided.

Inflation mechanism for inflatable seat belt

An apparatus includes a lockable element ( ) and a buckle ( ) that includes a base ( ), a latch ( ), a Hall effect device ( ), and a pair of magnets ( ) and ( ). The base ( ) defines a passage ( ) into which the lockable element ( ) is insertable. The latch ( ) is made of a ferromagnetic material and is movable from a non-locking position to a locking position in which it engages the lockable element ( ). The Hall effect device ( ) is disposed between the magnets ( ) and ( ). The magnetic fields of the magnets ( ) and ( ) oppose each other. In the locking position, the magnets ( ) and ( ) provide a net magnetic field of a first magnitude that acts on the Hall effect device ( ). In the non-locking position, the magnets ( ) and ( ) provide a magnetic field of a second magnitude acting on the Hall effect device ( ) that is different than the net magnetic field of a first magnitude. The Hall effect device ( ) thus has a first output when the latch ( ) is in the non-locking position, and a second, different output when the latch ( ) is in the locking position.

Latch sensing seatbelt buckle

An energy management device (,) for seat belt webbing (,) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a base (,) for attachment to the vehicle. The device (,) also includes a plastically deformable torsion bar (,) having a first portion (,) fixed relative to the base (,) and a second portion (,) rotatable relative to the first portion and the base. The torsion bar (,) twists upon rotation of the second portion (,) relative to the first portion (,). A spool (,) is supported on the base (,) and is fixed for rotation with the second portion (,) of the torsion bar (,) relative to the first portion (,) of the torsion bar. The spool (,) has an outer peripheral surface (,). A flexible member (,) is wound on the outer peripheral surface (,) of the spool (,). The flexible member (,) has a first end portion (,) connected with the spool (,) and a second end portion (,) extending from the spool (,) for connection with the seat belt webbing (,) of the vehicle. The torsion bar (,) twists and the spool (,) rotates in an unwinding direction upon the application of tensile force from the seat belt webbing (,) to the flexible member (,) in an amount exceeding a predetermined amount. The torsion bar (,) when twisting resists unwinding of the flexible member (,) from the spool (,). The distance between the axis of rotation (,) of the spool (,) and the outer peripheral surface (,) of the spool (,) varies to vary the resistance to unwinding of the flexible member (,) felt by the occupant. The resistance to unwinding varies as a function of the amount of the flexible member that is unwound from the spool.

Seat belt webbing energy management device

An apparatus (10) includes a crash sensor (49) which senses a crash event and provides a signal (50) indicative of the crash event. A transmitter (54) transmits a signal (58) in response to the crash sensor signal (50). A receiver (60), which is separated from the transmitter (54), receives the transmitter signal (58) and provides a control signal (80) upon receiving the transmitter signal (58). A buckle switch (34) is operable to detect a belted or an unbelted condition of a seat belt system (18). The apparatus (10) also includes an actuatable pretensioner device (49) which actuates to help to protect a vehicle occupant during a crash event. A power switch (82) receives the control signal (80) to connect the pretensioner device (49) electrically with a power source (35, 84) in response to the power switch (82) receiving the control signal (80) while the buckle switch 34 is detecting a belted condition.

Seat belt pretensioner apparatus

An apparatus comprises seat belt webbing (12) for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant. The apparatus also comprises a pretensioner (10) for pretensioning the belt webbing (12). The belt webbing (12) has a portion (84) extending through the pretensioner (10). The pretensioner (10) includes an air bag (52) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The air bag (52) when in the inflated condition acts on the belt webbing portion (84) to draw belt webbing into the pretensioner (10) to tension the seat belt webbing, and causes the belt webbing portion to be blocked from being pulled out of the pretensioner. The pretensioner (10) includes an inflation fluid source (54) actuatable to supply inflation fluid to inflate the air bag (52) into the inflated condition.

Seat belt webbing pretensioner

An air bag module (80) mounted in a vehicle seat back (22) includes a single air bag (90) which has a thorax portion (110), a neck portion (120), and a head portion (100). The head portion (100) of the air bag (90) is mounted on a support tube (260) for sliding movement relative to an inflator (240). Upon actuation of the inflator (240), the thorax portion (110) of the air bag (90) inflates first, in a forward direction out of the seat back (22). The head portion (100) of the air bag (90), and the support tube (260), move upward out of the top of the seat back (22). The head portion (100) then inflates in a forward direction after the thorax portion (110) inflates, into a position to protect the head of the occupant. The neck portion (120) of the air bag (90), when inflated, has a relatively small width as compared to the head portion (100) and the thorax portion (110).

Air bag module

An apparatus (10) for protecting a vehicle occupant including a vehicle seat belt webbing (20) which is extensible about a vehicle occupant, a housing (134) connectable to a component of a vehicle, and a flexible member (280) having a first end portion (284), a second end portion (286), and an intermediate portion (288) extending between the first and second end portions (284, 286). A part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) is located in the housing (134) and cooperates with the housing to define an expansible chamber (308) in the housing. The housing (134) includes a surface (156) for guiding movement of the part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) in an arcuate path (224) to expand the expansible chamber. A clutch (270), actuatable in response to expansion of the expansible chamber (308), is provided to connect the first end portion (284) of the flexible member (280) with the seat belt webbing (20). A gas generator (316) is provided for, when actuated, exerting a first force on the part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) to move the part of the intermediate portion along the arcuate path (224) in the housing (134) to expand the expansible chamber (308) and actuate the clutch and to move the first end portion (284) of the flexible member (280) in a direction to move the seat belt webbing (20) a first distance and tighten the seat belt webbing against the occupant.

Seat belt pretensioner

An apparatus includes a latch (42), an armature structure (64), and a spring structure (66). The latch (42) is movable from a non-locking position to a locking position in which the latch (42) engages a seat belt tongue (16). The armature structure (64) conducts magnetic flux from a magnet (62) to a Hall effect device (60). The spring structure (66) biases the armature structure (64) into sliding contact with the latch (42) during movement of the latch (42) between the non-locking and locking positions. The latch (42) affects the magnetic flux conducted by the armature structure (66) so as to cause the Hall effect device (60) to have a first output when the latch (42) is in the non-locking position and to have a second, different output when the latch (42) is in the locking position.

Seat belt buckle with Hall effect locking indicator

An apparatus (40) for pretensioning seat belt webbing (16) which is extensible about an occupant of a vehicle seat (14) has at least two different output levels. Sensors (110, 120, 130) sense at least one characteristic of the occupant of the vehicle seat (14). A controller (100) is operatively connected to the sensors (110, 120, 130) for controlling the output level of the pretensioning apparatus (40) based on the characteristics of the occupant sensed by the sensors. The at least two output levels of the pretensioning apparatus (40) correspond to respective levels of force applied to the seat belt webbing (16) which in turn correspond to respective levels of force imposed on the vehicle occupant by the seat belt webbing.

Apparatus for pretensioning seat belt webbing

An apparatus (40) for pretensioning seat belt webbing (16) which is extensible about an occupant of a vehicle seat (14) includes a housing (70) having a fluid chamber (90) and an actuatable pyrotechnic device (150) in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. An actuatable venting mechanism, such as a pyrotechnic plug (160), when actuated, opens a vent opening (96) to enable venting of fluid from the fluid chamber (90). A controller (190) is operatively connected to the pyrotechnic device (150) and to the venting mechanism (160) for controlling the actuation of the pyrotechnic device and of the venting mechanism. The controller (190) actuates only the pyrotechnic device (150) to provide a first pretensioning output level and, alternatively, actuates both the pyrotechnic device (150) and the venting mechanism (160) to provide a second pretensioning output level.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes seat belt webbing (12), a field effect device (50) and a field source device (48) which, when energized, provides a field that energizes the field effect device (50). The webbing (12) is movable to a predetermined position in which it extends into the field to affect the field in a predetermined manner. The field effect device (50) has a first output when the webbing (12) is not in the predetermined position and has a second, different output when the webbing (12) is in the predetermined position. The output of the field effect device (50) thus indicates whether or not the webbing (12) is in the predetermined position.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Louis R Brown