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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Patent number: 9067552Abstract: An energy absorption system, comprises a vehicle bumper. An energy absorption member is attached to the bumper, the energy absorption member comprising a first piece and a second piece. A linear actuator connects the energy absorption member to the bumper. The actuator may be actuated based on the speed information from the onboard vehicle communication network.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James Chih Cheng, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Iskander Farooq, Sudip Sankar Bhattacharjee
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Publication number: 20150175116Abstract: A vehicle includes a dash panel and an airbag module disposed behind the dash panel. The airbag module includes an airbag assembly that defines, upon inflation in a presence of a passenger, a primary chamber adjacent to a passenger side of the vehicle and configured to cushion the passenger upon impact, and a secondary chamber attached to the primary chamber, arranged adjacent to a center of the vehicle, and configured to catch the passenger after impact. The secondary chamber has an end portion disposed adjacent to the passenger and a base opposite and wider than the end portion arranged to sit against the dash panel to orient the airbag assembly relative to the passenger.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Jaeho CHO, Jamel E. BELWAFA, James Chih CHENG, Mohammed Omar FARUQUE
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Patent number: 9004216Abstract: An airbag system mitigates intrusion in the event of an offset rigid barrier impact to a forward corner of a motor vehicle. An airbag is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. When in the inflated condition, the airbag has an angular leading edge. An impact detection sensor generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Ping Chen, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20150097395Abstract: 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: October 9, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Fubang Wu, Michael M. Azzouz, Yijung Chen, David Anthony Wagner, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8998262Abstract: A device that limits a load of a seat belt includes various elements. For example, the device includes a seat-belt webbing and a shoulder anchor to which a portion of the webbing is secured. A button is attached to the webbing at a position that is a distance away from the portion secured to the shoulder anchor. The button is able to engage a lever, when the webbing is pulled out, to control energy absorption of the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Brian Robert Spahn, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8950800Abstract: A deployable pedestrian protection lower leg stiffen apparatus includes a left and a right linear actuator mountable adjacent to respective left and right forward frame members of a vehicle and a lower leg stiffener attached to and movable by the actuators. The actuators are extendable along respective deployment axes extending forward and downward relative to the vehicle to move the stiffener between a retracted position rearward of a forward surface of a front bumper beam and above a ground clearance plane and a deployed position forward of the retracted position and below the ground clearance plane. The actuators have rotational joints defining a horizontal pivot axis about which at least the forward portions of the piston may rotate upward along with the stiffener to prevent damage to the system if it strikes a road obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20150035250Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a body configured to house a removable frame, a spare wheel, a removable headrest, and a jack. The frame, the spare wheel, the removable headrest, and the jack can be assembled into a bicycle. Thus, the bicycle includes at least one component having a dual use in a motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, James Chih Cheng, Kristin Marie Schondorf
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Publication number: 20140375109Abstract: A device that limits a load of a seat belt includes various elements. For example, the device includes a seat-belt webbing and a shoulder anchor to which a portion of the webbing is secured. A button is attached to the webbing at a position that is a distance away from the portion secured to the shoulder anchor. The button able to engage a lever, when the webbing is pulled out, to control energy absorption of the seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Brian Robert Spahn, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8910971Abstract: An apparatus includes a mount assembly configured to rotatably couple to a vehicle beam and configured to support an airbag module. The apparatus further includes a connecting mechanism configured to selectively fix the mount assembly to the beam in a first position and configured to disengage at a threshold torque. The mount assembly includes a first stop member configured to engage the beam upon rotation of the mount to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, Fubang Wu, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20140338996Abstract: A vehicle underbody structure includes a pair of longitudinal rails. A tunnel is spaced between the longitudinal rails. A number of nonintrusive support members span between the tunnel and the longitudinal rails. The support members have a hoop shape that surrounds an enclosed area. The hoop shape of the nonintrusive support members is adapted to deform into the enclosed area for preventing a side impact force from damaging the tunnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saeed David Barbat, James Chih Cheng, Srinivasan Sundararajan
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Publication number: 20140335368Abstract: A laminate includes two pieces of metallic material bonded together at a plurality of regularly spaced-apart bonded regions. The laminate is formable during processing into a variety of vehicle structural elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Kevin Pline, Srinivasan Sundararajan, James Chih Cheng, Matt John Zaluzec, Fubang Wu
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Patent number: 8602454Abstract: An underbody structure in a vehicle includes a front rail configured to take a crash load and form a load path during a frontal impact. At least one arcuate beam is connected at one end of the front rail and is coupled at another end to at least one of a left structural member and a right structural member of the underbody structure. Here, the left and the right structural members are fixedly connected to a side structure of the vehicle, and the arcuate beam is angularly connected to the left and the right structural member. The angular connection is configured to transfer the crash load, at least partially, during the frontal impact to the at least one of the left structural member and the right structural member.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Saied Nusier, James Chih Cheng, Rahul Arora
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Publication number: 20130300134Abstract: A motor vehicle hood latch mechanism for engaging a striker of a hood having a closed locked position and a released position is disclosed. The mechanism includes a latch assembly attached to a chassis member. The latch assembly includes a latch having a locking cam and a pawl movable between a locked position engaging the locking cam and an unlocked position away from the locking cam. A sensor detects the presence of a pedestrian proximate the front of the motor vehicle and generates a signal in response thereto. A deployment spring having an energized position and a released position is retained in an energized position by a release mechanism responsive to the signal generated by the sensor, such that actuation of the release mechanism releases the resilient member and rotates the pawl to the unlocked position to release the latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, James Chih Cheng, Allan Roy Gale
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Patent number: 8491007Abstract: An airbag assembly has an airbag, a gas emitting inflator, and an airbag thickness limiting structure. The airbag thickness limiting structure limits a first body region engaging portion to having a lateral thickness within a first lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a first amount of inflation gas into the interior space of the airbag and allows the first body region engaging portion of the airbag to have a lateral thickness within a second lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a second amount of inflation gas greater than the first amount into the interior space of the airbag. A second body region engaging portion has a substantially fixed maximum attainable lateral thickness. Maximum attainable lateral thickness of the first body region engaging portion of the airbag can be dependent upon whether or not inflation of the airbag is implemented using pre-crash sensing technology.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8480143Abstract: A bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a bumper beam for connection to a frame of the vehicle and an energy absorbing component extending laterally adjacent a front surface of the bumper beam. The energy absorbing component comprises a plurality of laterally-spaced bands, each band comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a forward wall. The bands are connected along adjacent rear edges of the upper walls and/or adjacent rear edges of the lower walls, such that the bands are decoupled from one another forward of the rear edges. This construction allows the bands to deform individually during a pedestrian collision, the upper and lower walls buckling to absorb energy in an optimum manner. The energy absorbing component may be attached to the bumper beam by upper and/or lower lateral strips have mounting features for fitting into interference-fit engagement with mating features on the bumper beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthew Miinshiou Huang, James Chih Cheng, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Chunyu Wang, James Robert Pederson
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Publication number: 20130099467Abstract: An airbag assembly has an airbag, a gas emitting inflator, and an airbag thickness limiting structure. The airbag thickness limiting structure limits a first body region engaging portion to having a lateral thickness within a first lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a first amount of inflation gas into the interior space of the airbag and allows the first body region engaging portion of the airbag to have a lateral thickness within a second lateral thickness range when the gas emitting inflator delivers a second amount of inflation gas greater than the first amount into the interior space of the airbag. A second body region engaging portion has a substantially fixed maximum attainable lateral thickness. Maximum attainable lateral thickness of the first body region engaging portion of the airbag can be dependent upon whether or not inflation of the airbag is implemented using pre-crash sensing technology.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Inventors: Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8412404Abstract: A crash sensor system and method used for determining when a vehicle is involved in a frontal impact crash. The crash sensor system including at least one pressure sensor coupled to a vehicle frame member. The vehicle frame member having a cavity and the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity. The crash sensor system further including a controller configured to compare the received pressure signal against a predetermined pressure threshold. The controller also being configured to determine that a frontal impact crash has occurred when the pressure signal exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd Clark, Jialiang Le, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8267445Abstract: An energy-absorbing front end structure for a motor vehicle includes a pair of frame rails, struts (crushable members) made movable relative to the frame rails along a longitudinal axis, a bumper beam supported by the struts, and a spring resisting rearward movement of each strut relative to the frame rail. An inertia-activated locking device inhibits rearward movement of the strut when the vehicle undergoes a longitudinal deceleration above a threshold level so that the strut may absorb crash energy in a high-speed collision. If the vehicle is involved in a lower energy collision, such as with a pedestrian, the deceleration experienced by the vehicle is below the threshold level and the strut remains in an unlocked condition in which it is able to move rearward against the spring to lessen the crash energy transmitted to the pedestrian.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala M. Jayasuriya, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 8246091Abstract: An energy-absorbing front end structure for a motor vehicle includes a pair of frame rails, struts (crushable members) made movable relative to the frame rails along a longitudinal axis, a bumper beam supported by the struts, and a spring resisting rearward movement of each strut relative to the frame rail. An inertia-activated locking device inhibits rearward movement of the strut when the vehicle undergoes a longitudinal deceleration above a threshold level so that the strut may absorb crash energy in a high-speed collision. If the vehicle is involved in a lower energy collision, such as with a pedestrian, the deceleration experienced by the vehicle is below the threshold level and the strut remains in an unlocked condition in which it is able to move rearward against the spring to lessen the crash energy transmitted to the pedestrian.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mangala M. Jayasuriya, James Chih Cheng
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Publication number: 20120146347Abstract: A bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a bumper beam for connection to a frame of the vehicle and an energy absorbing component extending laterally adjacent a front surface of the bumper beam. The energy absorbing component comprises a plurality of laterally-spaced bands, each band comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a forward wall. The bands are connected along adjacent rear edges of the upper walls and/or adjacent rear edges of the lower walls, such that the bands are decoupled from one another forward of the rear edges. This construction allows the bands to deform individually during a pedestrian collision, the upper and lower walls buckling to absorb energy in an optimum manner. The energy absorbing component may be attached to the bumper beam by upper and/or lower lateral strips have mounting features for fitting into interference-fit engagement with mating features on the bumper beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Matthew Miinshiou Huang, James Chih Cheng, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Chunyu Wang, James Robert Pederson