The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Michelle R. Schaffran, Jersey City, NJ (US);
Dale W. McKim, Howell, MI (US);
Stephen R. W. Cooper, Fowlerville, MI (US);
Edward J. Gillis, South Lyon, MI (US);
Assignee:
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 1/508 ; G01S 1/588 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 1/508 ; G01S 1/588 ;
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) determines a vehicle occupant location characteristic. The apparatus ( ) includes at least one sensor (e.g., ) for echo ranging at first and second ultrasonic frequencies. A timer function portion ( ) of a microcomputer ( ) determines a time-of-flight for each frequency signal. The microcomputer ( ) determines the occupant location characteristic using at least one of the determined times-of-flight.