Amsafe, Inc.

Ronald A Shields

Peter Anthony Settles

Willard F Hagan

Giuseppe Gullotto

Andre Baca

Todd Humbert

Daniel Nick Foubert

Trenton Dirk Moeller

Thomas H Barth

André Baca

Greg Vargas

Todd Joseph Humbert

An electronic module assembly (EMA) for use in controlling one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor within the EMA is configured to determine when a personal restraint system associated with each seat in a vehicle should be deployed. In addition, the programmed processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test to determine if the EMA and the personal restraint systems are operational. In one embodiment, results of the diagnostic self-test routine are displayed on a display included on the electronic module assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the results of the diagnostic self-test routine are transmitted via a wireless transceiver to a remote device. The remote device can include a wireless interrogator or can be a remote computer system such as a cabin management computer system.

Inflatable personal restraint systems

Circuitry for testing inflatable personal restraint systems

Active airbag vent systems and associated systems and methods are described herein. An airbag system having an active vent configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, a first inflator operably coupled to a first hose for inflating an airbag in response to a rapid deceleration event. The airbag system can further include a second inflator operably coupled to a second hose configured to release a vent or seam on the airbag to rapidly deflate the airbag after initial deployment of the airbag.

Active airbag vent system

Electronics module assemblies ('EMAs') for inflatable personal restraints and associated systems are described herein. An EMA configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, a housing having a body portion, cover portion that attaches to the body portion to form an enclosure, and protrusion extending outwardly from the cover portion. The protrusion can have an outer boundary at which the protrusion projects away from the cover portion. The EMA can further include a crash sensor within the enclosure in an area defined by the outer boundary of the protrusion. The protrusion can form an envelope of space around the crash sensor that defines a minimum distance an external object with a magnetic field can come to the crash sensor without activating it. The EMA can optionally include a magnetic field configured to disable the crash sensor upon the detection of an external magnetic field.

Electronic module assembly for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated methods

A system for testing a number of electronic module assemblies (EMAs) that control one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor with a computer system transmits signals that instruct the EMAs to perform a diagnostic self-test. The results of the self-test are received by the computer system and stored in a computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the computer system is a cabin management computer system for use on an aircraft.

Computer system for remote testing of inflatable personal restraint systems

Computer system and graphical user interface for testing of inflatable personal restraint systems

Buckle connectors and airbag assemblies for inflatable personal restraints, and associated methods of use and manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, an inflatable personal restraint system for use in an aircraft includes a web configured to restrain an occupant in a seat, a connector attached to a distal end portion of the web, and an airbag carried by the web. The restraint system further includes an airbag cover at least partially enclosing the airbag and engaging a portion of the connector. The connector can include a tongue portion configured to be releasably engaged with a corresponding buckle to secure the web around a portion of the occupant.

Buckle connectors for inflatable personal restraints and associated methods of use and manufacture

Connector for a seatbelt airbag

Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.

Activation systems for inflatable personal restraint systems

An air bag deployment system includes circuitry for preventing the accidental deployment of the air bag during exposure of the system to an excessive external magnetic field. In a first exemplary embodiment of the system, the system includes an accelerometer comprised of first and second Hall effect magnetic devices which are associated with the impact detection circuitry of the deployment system. These are the sensors which would normally trigger deployment of the air bag system upon detection of an impact or acceleration of sufficient magnitude. A sensed magnetic field is used in determining the presence of an acceleration which is of sufficient magnitude to require deployment of the air bag in order to prevent injury to the occupants of a vehicle. The advanced system of the present invention further includes circuitry which senses large external magnetic fields. This sensing circuitry may be comprised of one or more additional Hall effect magnetic sensors which are located preferably outside the magnetic shield that contains the primary circuitry for triggering deployment of the air bag. When these external sensors identify the presence of an external magnetic field of sufficient magnitude, the sensors trigger circuitry which disables the air bag deployment circuit, thereby preventing inadvertent triggering of the deployment mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Ronald A Shields