Patents by Inventor Ian Hall
Ian Hall 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).
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Patent number: 7905191Abstract: A liquid cargo carrying maritime vessel including a plurality of liquid cargo carrying tanks and a plurality of gas expansion trunks wherein each gas expansion trunk is above, associated with, and in fluid communication with a respective tank therebelow, via slotted apertures in the deck. Each gas expansion trunk is fixedly positioned on a portion of a deck of the vessel above the associated tank and in fluid/tight relationship with the deck over a periphery of the trunk which encloses the totality of slotted apertures in the deck. Depending on the attributes of the ship, the expansion trunk is preferably located directly above the tank and at the highest point available of the tank and as far forward on the tank as possible. Alternatively, and depending upon obstructive constraints and vessel conditions, the trunk may be placed in other locations such as aftmost on the tank or inbetween.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Ian Hall, Thomas J. Scott
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Patent number: 7789455Abstract: A pull cup in a vehicle door is fitted to a door trim panel substrate and is connected to the door inner sheet metal panel of the vehicle door by way of a bracket or by one of a pair of inner and outer support brackets. The pull cup is provided with a bending initiator feature which is positioned a trigger area formed in the door trim panel substrate. In the event that a horizontal force is applied to the vehicle door, the vehicle inward movement of the door inner sheet metal panel causes the pull cup to be pushed upward. The bending initiator feature pushes on the trigger area causing the door trim panel substrate to buckle, thus substantially preventing vehicle inward movement of the door trim panel substrate during the impact event. The bending initiator feature also reduces the lateral stiffness of the door trim sub-system.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, John Pinkerton, Jeff Chickola, Brian Spahn, A. Mangala Jayasuriya
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Patent number: 7690681Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle airbag assembly and method for deployment. An inflator is connected to an airbag wherein the inflator generates gases that cause inflation of the airbag. A housing substantially encloses the airbag and the inflator. The housing includes a vent hole for venting gases. An airbag tether is included having at least a first and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the airbag and the second end is attached to a venting member. The venting member, being configured to cover the vent hole, is moveable with respect to the housing. During a first airbag deployment stage, the venting member is forced away from the vent hole as the inflator generates gases. An actuator releases the second end of the airbag tether from the venting member during a second airbag deployment stage for the passage of gases through the vent hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Sean Ryan
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Patent number: 7618059Abstract: A system and method for venting an airbag is provided. The system includes a set of vent doors, thereby reducing the overall package spaced that would otherwise be required to allow the doors to swing open. The vent doors are connected by a single tether or by multiple tethers to the primary surface of the airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Sean Ryan, Jeff Vinton, Nial Wykes
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Publication number: 20090039629Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle airbag assembly and method for deployment. An inflator is connected to an airbag wherein the inflator generates gases that cause inflation of the airbag. A housing substantially encloses the airbag and the inflator. The housing includes a vent hole for venting gases. An airbag tether is included having at least a first and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the airbag and the second end is attached to a venting member. The venting member, being configured to cover the vent hole, is moveable with respect to the housing. During a first airbag deployment stage, the venting member is forced away from the vent hole as the inflator generates gases. An actuator releases the second end of the airbag tether from the venting member during a second airbag deployment stage for the passage of gases through the vent hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Sean Ryan
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Publication number: 20080311992Abstract: A game controller comprising: a hand-held base unit comprising one or more base unit actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input; and a module comprising two or more module actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input. The module is mounted to the base unit and can be rotated horizontally between two or more orientations to adjust the configuration of the module actuators relative to the base unit actuator(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: Saitek P.L.C.Inventors: Andrew Brian Young, Robert Ian Hall, Stephen Thomas Bright
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Patent number: 7448646Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle airbag assembly and method for deployment. An inflator is connected to an airbag wherein the inflator generates gases that cause inflation of the airbag. A housing substantially encloses the airbag and the inflator. The housing includes a vent hole for venting gases. An airbag tether is included having at least a first and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the airbag and the second end is attached to a venting member. The venting member, being configured to cover the vent hole, is moveable with respect to the housing. During a first airbag deployment stage, the venting member is forced away from the vent hole as the inflator generates gases. An actuator releases the second end of the airbag tether from the venting member during a second airbag deployment stage for the passage of gases through the vent hole.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Sean Ryan
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Publication number: 20080272614Abstract: A pull cup in a vehicle door is fitted to a door trim panel substrate and is connected to the door inner sheet metal panel of the vehicle door by way of a bracket or by one of a pair of inner and outer support brackets. The pull cup is provided with a bending initiator feature which is positioned a trigger area formed in the door trim panel substrate. In the event that a horizontal force is applied to the vehicle door, the vehicle inward movement of the door inner sheet metal panel causes the pull cup to be pushed upward. The bending initiator feature pushes on the trigger area causing the door trim panel substrate to buckle, thus substantially preventing vehicle inward movement of the door trim panel substrate during the impact event. The bending initiator feature also reduces the lateral stiffness of the door trim sub-system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, John Pinkerton, Jeff Chickola, Brian Spahn, A. Mangala Jayasuriya
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Publication number: 20080258447Abstract: A system and method for venting an airbag is provided. The system includes a set of vent doors, thereby reducing the overall package spaced that would otherwise be required to allow the doors to swing open. The vent doors are connected by a single tether or by multiple tethers to the primary surface of the airbag cushion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Sean Ryan, Jeff Vinton, Nial Wykes
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Publication number: 20080185826Abstract: A system and method for regulating the deployment of an airbag inflator in response to an out-of-position occupant is provided. An airbag tether is operatively associated with a tether position sensor which is itself operatively associated with a restraints control module (RCM) through an interface. Upon normal in-position deployment, the primary surface of the airbag cushion deploys car-rearward. In this event the tether acts on the tether position sensor at a normal time. If the airbag cushion contacts an out-of-position occupant, the expansion of the airbag cushion will be slowed and the tether will act on the tether position sensor at a later time. The resistor element signals the RCM of the slowed airbag expansion and, with this information, the RCM may decide to modify the deployment of the airbag by adjusting the inflator's second stage deployment time delay. The decision criteria for the deployment of the second inflator are thus time-based.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, David Tippy, Sean Ryan
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Patent number: 7320478Abstract: A smart airbag (14) is monitored by a vehicle restraint control module (24) and includes a state sensor (42) that generates an airbag state signal. A smart airbag fault circuit (40) is coupled to the state sensor (42) and includes multiple state devices (50). Each of the state devices (50) has a characteristic that is indicative of the state of the smart airbag (14). The state devices (50) are configured to be monitored by the vehicle restraint control module (24). A smart airbag state monitor (44) is separate from the vehicle restraint control module (24), is coupled to the state devices (50), and alters the state in response to the airbag state signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventors: Scott Gaboury, David Tippy, Ian Hall, Mariquis Edwards
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Publication number: 20070228704Abstract: A method of operating a restraint system comprises deploying an airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system prior to collision in a first stage and controlling an inflation of the airbag in a second stage in response to acceleration signals of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Cuddihy, Manoharprasad Rao, Ian Hall
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Publication number: 20070102911Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle airbag assembly and method for deployment. An inflator is connected to an airbag wherein the inflator generates gases that cause inflation of the airbag. A housing substantially encloses the airbag and the inflator. The housing includes a vent hole for venting gases. An airbag tether is included having at least a first and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the airbag and the second end is attached to a venting member. The venting member, being configured to cover the vent hole, is moveable with respect to the housing. During a first airbag deployment stage, the venting member is forced away from the vent hole as the inflator generates gases. An actuator releases the second end of the airbag tether from the venting member during a second airbag deployment stage for the passage of gases through the vent hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2005Publication date: May 10, 2007Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ian Hall, Manoharprasad Rao, Sean Ryan
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Publication number: 20070034131Abstract: A liquid cargo carrying maritime vessel including a plurality of liquid cargo carrying tanks and a plurality of gas expansion trunks wherein each gas expansion trunk is above, associated with, and in fluid communication with a respective tank therebelow, via slotted apertures in the deck. Each gas expansion trunk is fixedly positioned on a portion of a deck of the vessel above the associated tank and in fluid/tight relationship with the deck over a periphery of the trunk which encloses the totality of slotted apertures in the deck. Depending on the attributes of the ship, the expansion trunk is preferably located directly above the tank and at the highest point available of the tank and as far forward on the tank as possible. Alternatively, and depending upon obstructive constraints and vessel conditions, the trunk may be placed in other locations such as aftmost on the tank or inbetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: February 15, 2007Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventors: Ian Hall, Thomas Scott
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Publication number: 20060082110Abstract: A smart airbag (14) is monitored by a vehicle restraint control module (24) and includes a state sensor (42) that generates an airbag state signal. A smart airbag fault circuit (40) is coupled to the state sensor (42) and includes multiple state devices (50). Each of the state devices (50) has a characteristic that is indicative of the state of the smart airbag (14). The state devices (50) are configured to be monitored by the vehicle restraint control module (24). A smart airbag state monitor (44) is separate from the vehicle restraint control module (24), is coupled to the state devices (50), and alters the state in response to the airbag state signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2004Publication date: April 20, 2006Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Scott Gaboury, David Tippy, Ian Hall, Mariquis Edwards
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Patent number: 4793543Abstract: A power component such as a power transistor is mounted on an insulating substrate of, e.g., beryllia by using a thick film deposition technique. A first layer (2) is deposited and a second layer (3) is deposited over the first layer to produce a regular series of troughs and lands, in the preferred embodiment troughs and ridges, whereby voiding in the solder bond is minimized if not eliminated to thus maintain a good thermal conductivity between the component and the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1987Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: STC PLCInventors: Trevor C. Gainey, Ian Hall, Alan R. Jones
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Patent number: D543536Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Saitek P.L.C.Inventor: Robert Ian Hall
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Patent number: D548223Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Saitek P.L.C.Inventor: Robert Ian Hall