Patents by Inventor James Chih Cheng
James Chih Cheng 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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Publication number: 20170080981Abstract: A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Mohammed Omar FARUQUE, Fubang WU, Michael M. AZZOUZ, Yijung CHEN, David Anthony WAGNER, James Chih CHENG
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Patent number: 9561774Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering wheel having a steering wheel cover and an airbag module. The airbag module includes an airbag arrangement and an inflator disposed behind the steering wheel cover. The inflator is configured to inflate the airbag arrangement. The airbag arrangement has a primary bag configured to cushion an occupant and a secondary bag disposed on a side of the primary bag adjacent to a driver's side of the vehicle. The secondary bag is configured to catch an occupant during impact of the vehicle. The airbag arrangement further includes a patch having a seam. The patch partitions the primary and secondary bags. The seam is configured to split when a pressure in the primary bag exceeds a threshold allowing gas to inflate the secondary bag.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James Chih Cheng, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque
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Patent number: 9550465Abstract: An airbag system includes an inflator and an airbag in communication with the inflator. The airbag system includes a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag. A controller is programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor. The controller is programmed to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Jamel E. Belwafa, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 9550532Abstract: A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Fubang Wu, Michael M. Azzouz, Yijung Chen, David Anthony Wagner, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20170015266Abstract: An airbag system includes an inflator and an airbag in communication with the inflator. The airbag system includes a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag. A controller is programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor. The controller is programmed to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Jamel E. Belwafa, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 9533710Abstract: A method for optimizing a twelve-cornered strengthening member comprises: modeling a vehicle assembly including a strengthening member having a twelve-cornered cross section; parameterizing a geometry of the strengthening member with a plurality of control parameters; defining a design of experiment using the plurality of control parameters; modeling a vehicle using the vehicle assembly; simulating a frontal impact event with the vehicle; generating a response surface based on the frontal impact event; and determining a set of optimized control parameters for the strengthening member based on the response surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: James Chih Cheng, Raj Jayachandran, Ching-Hung Chuang, Yiping Xie, Yuan Wang, Tau Tyan, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Yu-Kan Hu
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Patent number: 9511734Abstract: A passenger protection system includes a rotatable arm, a rotation mechanism rotatably attached to the rotatable arm, and a flexible sheet connected to the rotatable arm and connectable to a vehicle roof.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Parakrama V. Weerappuli, James Chih Cheng, Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Mohammed Omar Faruque
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Patent number: 9499120Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle includes a bladder that inflates an interior trim area of the vehicle to provide a cushion to an occupant during an impact. The bladder has a first wall and a second wall cooperatively defining an interior cavity. The bladder has a two stage vent for venting inflation gas supplied into the cavity during an impact event. The vent has a first aperture defining a first predetermined flow area when a pressure difference across the vent is substantially zero. A bendable member defines at least in part the first aperture. A weakened seam joins the bendable member to an adjacent feature of the bladder. When there is a predetermined pressure difference across the vent, the weakened seam is ruptured and the bendable member deflects to a second position defining a second flow area greater than the first flow area.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Cortney Stancato, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20160288761Abstract: A vehicle includes an instrument panel, a front airbag, a first side curtain airbag, and a second side curtain airbag and two front seats. The front seats are disposed between the first side curtain airbag and the second side curtain airbag. The vehicle includes a roof, and the front airbag is supported by the roof. The front airbag extends from the first side curtain airbag to the second side curtain airbag between the instrument panel and the front seats to absorb energy from occupants during an impact event to reduce the likelihood of head injury and to urge the occupants to remain seated in an upright position to reduce chest loading by seat belts. The front airbag may protect an unbelted occupant ejecting out of the vehicle through a windshield in a crash event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20160280273Abstract: A vehicle chassis includes a pair of rails spaced from each other. A beam is disposed between the pair of rails and defines a cavity. The beam includes walls and hinges connected in alternating arrangement about the cavity. Each hinge is connected to two of the walls. A wedge is disposed between one of the rails and the beam adjacent the cavity for driving the walls and hinges toward an expanded position during a side impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Saied Nusier, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, James Chih Cheng, Jamel E. Belwafa
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Publication number: 20160280274Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis having a pair of rails spaced from each other and a deployable reinforcing device extending between the rails. The deployable reinforcing device includes a beam disposed between the pair of rails and including walls and hinges connected in alternating arrangement. The walls are rotatable about the hinges from a collapsed position to an expanded position. The device includes a deployment mechanism disposed between the walls. When a vehicle impact is sensed, the deployment mechanism is deployed to expand the beam to the expanded position to reinforce the rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Saied Nusier, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, James Chih Cheng, Jamel E. Belwafa
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Patent number: 9446735Abstract: A vehicle includes an instrument panel, a front airbag, a first side curtain airbag, and a second side curtain airbag and two front seats. The front seats are disposed between the first side curtain airbag and the second side curtain airbag. The vehicle includes a roof, and the front airbag is supported by the roof. The front airbag extends from the first side curtain airbag to the second side curtain airbag between the instrument panel and the front seats to absorb energy from occupants during an impact event to reduce the likelihood of head injury and to urge the occupants to remain seated in an upright position to reduce chest loading by seat belts. The front airbag may protect an unbelted occupant ejecting out of the vehicle through a windshield in a crash event.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 9415735Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a bumper, and a crush can that secures the bumper to the frame. The crush can includes a plurality of cells that are arranged in a fanned configuration relative to the frame such that walls of the cells deform during offset impact events to deflect objects away from the frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Matthew John Zaluzec, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 9415823Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a body having an interior which houses a spare wheel of the motor vehicle, a seat and removable headrest of the motor vehicle, and removable accessories stored in the motor vehicle. The removable accessories include at least a collapsible frame and a geared drive mechanism. The frame, the spare wheel, the removable headrest and the drive mechanism can be assembled together to form a bicycle which is separate from the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, James Chih Cheng, Kristin Marie Schondorf
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Publication number: 20160221525Abstract: A passenger protection system includes a rotatable arm, a rotation mechanism rotatably attached to the rotatable arm, and a flexible sheet connected to the rotatable arm and connectable to a vehicle roof.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Parakrama V. Weerappuli, James Chih Cheng, Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Mohammed Omar Faruque
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Patent number: 9399441Abstract: A vehicle airbag system comprising an airbag. The airbag may include at least one tether attached to first and second walls of the airbag, wherein each tether includes a tear seam configured to detach when the airbag is inflated with a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure. The airbag may include at least a first tether and a second tether, each tether attached to first and second walls of the airbag, wherein the first tether includes a tear seam configured to detach when the airbag is inflated with a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure. The system may further comprise a controller that may be used for determining whether to inflate an airbag with one of a high pressure and a low pressure depending on whether a detected impact is oblique.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, James Chih Cheng, Raed Essa EL-Jawahri, Jialiang Le
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Patent number: 9340176Abstract: A vehicle airbag comprises a primary chamber and a secondary chamber affixed to the primary chamber by a seam. A passage is defined between the primary chamber and the secondary chamber. The seam defines a closed shape, and an inner side of the seam is located between sides of the primary chamber, and is between sides of the secondary chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jamel E. Belwafa, Mohammed Omar Faruque, James Chih Cheng, Jaeho Cho
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Patent number: 9333931Abstract: A passenger protection system includes a rotatable attachment mountable in a vehicle seat back, a first frame member rotatably connected to the rotatable attachment, and a flexible sheet having an upper edge connected to the first frame member.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: James Chih Cheng, Parakrama V. Weerappuli, Raed Essa El-Jawahri, Mohammed Omar Faruque
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Patent number: 9327663Abstract: An energy absorption system comprises a vehicle bumper, an energy absorption member attached to the vehicle bumper, and a plurality of ribs having respective first ends that are hingedly attached to the energy absorption member. The ribs extend between the energy absorption member and the bumper. The ribs may be actuated based on the speed information from the onboard vehicle communication network.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Sudip Sankar Bhattacharjee, James Chih Cheng, Srinivasan Sundararajan
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Publication number: 20160082544Abstract: An expanded laminate and method of forming an expanded laminate are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes selectively applying a relatively high temperature-resistant material to a surface of a first metal sheet to form a covered portion and an uncovered portion and diffusion bonding the first metal sheet to a second metal sheet at the uncovered portion to form a bonded region and an unbonded region. Pressurized gas may be introduced between the first and second metal sheets to expand the first and second metal sheets in the unbonded region. The metal sheets may be aluminum sheets. The sheets may be positioned in a die having a plurality of cavities such that when the pressurized gas is introduced the sheets expand into the cavities. The diffusion bonding may be performed by applying pressure, for example, using rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Mohammed Omar FARUQUE, Kevin PLINE, Srinivasan SUNDARARAJAN, James Chih CHENG, Matthew John ZALUZEC, Fubang WU