Patents by Inventor Ernest M. Faigle

Ernest M. Faigle 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).

  • Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 5531472
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle (10) comprises storing in a ROM memory (220) a block of image data representative of a viewing field within the vehicle (10). The viewing field includes an unoccupied vehicle seat (18) located in the occupant compartment (12) of the vehicle. A new block of image data is obtained which is representative of the viewing field with an occupant (202) on the seat (18). This image data is obtained with an image sensor (200), such as a CCD sensor, mounted in the vehicle (10) for viewing the field. The new block of image data is compared with the stored block of image data by a controller (30) to obtain the occupant's size and/or position in the vehicle. The controller (30) provides a control signal having a value which is a function of the comparison. A restraint regulator (120), such as a vent valve, responds to the control signal for controlling the occupant restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Semchena, Ernest M. Faigle, Richard J. Thompson, Joseph F. Mazur, Charles E. Steffens, Jr.