Patents by Inventor Cliff Chou

Cliff Chou has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8165751
    Abstract: A method for rollover sensing (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method for rollover sensing (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
  • Patent number: 8014922
    Abstract: An automobile rollover detection system comprising a control module to receive a first set and a second set of signals, to determine a first threshold in response to the first set of signals, to determine a second threshold in response to the second set of signals, to provide a first signal in response to the first threshold, to provide a second signal in response to the second threshold, and to provide a control signal in response to the first and second signals. The control signal may activate an occupant restraint system in response to the detection of an automobile rollover event. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Jialiang Le, Cliff Chou, David Bauch, Kirsten Carr
  • Publication number: 20100161168
    Abstract: A method for rollover sensing (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method for rollover sensing (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
  • Patent number: 7702440
    Abstract: A rollover sensing system (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The rollover sensing system (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
  • Publication number: 20090150021
    Abstract: An automobile rollover detection system comprising a control module to receive a first set and a second set of signals, to determine a first threshold in response to the first set of signals, to determine a second threshold in response to the second set of signals, to provide a first signal in response to the first threshold, to provide a second signal in response to the second threshold, and to provide a control signal in response to the first and second signals. The control signal may activate an occupant restraint system in response to the detection of an automobile rollover event. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Jerry Jialiang LE, Cliff Chou, David Bauch, Kirsten Carr
  • Patent number: 7522982
    Abstract: An automobile rollover detection system comprising a control module to receive a first set and a second set of signals, to determine a first threshold in response to the first set of signals, to determine a second threshold in response to the second set of signals, to provide a first signal in response to the first threshold, to provide a second signal in response to the second threshold, and to provide a control signal in response to the first and second signals. The control signal may activate an occupant restraint system in response to the detection of an automobile rollover event. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Jialiang Le, Cliff Chou, David Bauch, Kirsten Carr
  • Publication number: 20060184299
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) is provided in which various dynamic control system sensors are monitored and used to activate a dynamic control system which is indicative of a vehicle instability. Vehicle instability may also be determined using an energy threshold. Once vehicle instability is determined, a roll trend is determined in response thereto. The roll trend may use an accumulative directional indicator to determine whether the trend of the vehicle is toward rolling over. If the vehicle is tending to roll over, a safety device such as an airbag may be deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Jianbo Lu, Joseph Meyers
  • Publication number: 20060178808
    Abstract: A rollover sensing system (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in the vehicle. The rollover sensing system (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (32), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of the lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) determines a rollover threshold in response to the roll rate signal, the roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point length. The control circuit generates a control signal for the deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
  • Publication number: 20060058934
    Abstract: An automobile rollover detection system comprising a control module to receive a first set and a second set of signals, to determine a first threshold in response to the first set of signals, to determine a second threshold in response to the second set of signals, to provide a first signal in response to the first threshold, to provide a second signal in response to the second threshold, and to provide a control signal in response to the first and second signals. The control signal may activate an occupant restraint system in response to the detection of an automobile rollover event. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies a corporation of Michigan
    Inventors: Jerry Le, Cliff Chou, David Bauch, Kirsten Carr