With Belt Or Harness For Restraining Occupant, And Means Whereby The Belt Or Harness Controls, Or Is Controlled By, The Functioning Of A Vehicle System Or Component Patents (Class 180/268)
  • Patent number: 10434979
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device includes a spool, a motor that includes a rotation shaft, and an A-gear, a B-gear, a holder gear, an input gear, a clutch gear, an idle gear, and a spool gear that transmit rotation of the rotation shaft to the spool. The webbing take-up device further includes clutch weights that are moved toward a rotation-radial direction outside by being rotated together with the input gear such that rotation force of the input gear is transmitted to the clutch gear. Moreover, axial centers of rotations of the A-gear, the B-gear, the input gear and the clutch gear, and the idle gear are disposed between an axial center of rotation of the holder gear and an axial center of rotation of the spool gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tomonari Umakoshi, Takuhiro Saito, Yuya Nagata, Takahiro Osaki
  • Patent number: 10426685
    Abstract: A mobile patient bed may be used for moving a patient between at least two locations during a medical procedure. The mobile patient bed may comprise an interface configured to selectively couple the mobile patient bed to at least one medical system and at least one processor configured to receive a medical system command via the interface and process the medical system command when the mobile patient bed is coupled to the at least one medical system, receive and process a user command when the mobile patient bed is not coupled to the at least one medical system, and refrain from processing the user command when the mobile patient bed is coupled to the at least one medical system. The mobile patient bed may also comprise a seat and a plurality of motors configured to independently position the seat along a plurality of axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: OPTIMEDICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven S. Christensen, Antonio D. Lucero, Brian Riley, Eric B. Lafay, David D. Scott
  • Patent number: 10427641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a signal transmitter ring (6) for a magnetic sensor (34), comprising a hub (14) which is connected to the belt reel in a rotationally fixed manner and comprising a signal transmitter portion (20) exhibiting periodically varying material properties when viewed in the circumferential direction, wherein the signal transmitter portion includes a stop (30) by which it abuts against a contact surface (32) associated therewith, and comprising a spring portion (18) acting on the signal transmitter portion relative to the hub so that the stop abuts against the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 10422812
    Abstract: A diagnostic method executed by a processor included in an information processing device, the information processing device including an acceleration sensor and a plurality of devices and having a function of executing a diagnosis of each of the plurality of devices, the diagnostic method includes storing threshold information that is set regarding each of the plurality of devices and includes a plurality of directions and thresholds of acceleration components each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of directions; receiving acceleration information from the acceleration sensor; calculating acceleration components each corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of directions by using the acceleration information when shock is detected from the acceleration information; extracting one or more devices having a possibility of a breakdown from the plurality of devices by comparing the acceleration components and the threshold information; and executing a diagnosis regarding the one or mor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Fujitsu Client Computing Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Nomoto, Takaaki Cho
  • Patent number: 10407176
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a seat is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to a centerline of an aircraft fuselage, the seat having an Aircraft Passenger Restraint System (APRS) with a pre-tensioner and integral retractable shoulder and seat belt webbing. In an illustrative example, the ARPS may be a three-point restraint to control a seat occupant's upper body, head and torso area. In some embodiments, the ARPS may further control the forces on the lower spine and torso. In some applications, the ARPS may operate to control the Head Injury Criteria (HIC) levels for the seat occupant's head, as well as the neck twist and upper spinal forces, to meet aircraft certification requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In response to a deceleration event, the ARPS may rapidly retract the belt webbing to substantially remove slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Benji Shane Meadows, Randy Penley, Alen Wyss, Michael P. Kurtzman
  • Patent number: 10406984
    Abstract: A storage structure for mounting on an interior mounting surface of a vehicle is described. The storage structure includes a sheet of flexible fabric that forms a pocket on the interior mounting surface. The fabric pocket can be opened and closed with one or more shape memory alloy actuators. The interior mounting surface can be a seatback, door trim, a wall of a cargo area, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Teng Hu
  • Patent number: 10399697
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining seatbelt status are disclosed. An example system includes a plurality of seats including seatbelts. Each of the seatbelts includes a sensor to detect a position of a respective seatbelt, the position including at least one of a fastened position or an unfastened position, and a transceiver to wirelessly communicate the position of the respective seatbelt. The system includes a remote monitoring unit to receive the positions of the seatbelts. The remote monitoring unit is to determine if one or more seats are occupied and, in response to determining that one or more seats are occupied, the remote monitoring unit is to display an overview the seats and the respective positions of the seatbelts for the one or more occupied seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gerald Pollard, Joseph M. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 10393768
    Abstract: A method and system for a sensor system of a device is disclosed. The sensor system includes a first MEMS sensor (FMEMS), a second MEMS sensor (SMEMS) and a signal processor (SP). An excitation is imparted to the device along a first axis (FA). The FMEMS has a first primary sense axis (FPSA), moves in response to a component of the excitation along the FA aligned with the FPSA and outputs a first signal proportional to an excitation along the FPSA. The SMEMS has a second primary sense axis (SPSA), moves in response to a component of the excitation along the FA aligned with the SPSA and outputs a second signal proportional to an excitation along the SPSA. The SP combines the first signal and the second signal to output a third signal proportional to the excitation along the FA. The FA, the FPSA and the SPSA have different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Julian Thompson, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 10391972
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat. The seatbelt securing system further comprises a seatbelt coupled to the seat. The seatbelt comprises a first strap and a second strap. The seatbelt further comprises a latch configured to selectively secure the first strap relative to the second strap. The latch further comprises a latch sensor configured to provide a secured indication in response to detection that the latch properly secures the first strap of the seatbelt to the second strap of the seatbelt and provide an unsecured indication in response to detection that the latch does not properly secure the first strap of the seatbelt to the second strap of the seatbelt. The latch further comprises a latch indicator to provide a warning in response to the unsecured indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mahesh K. Chengalva
  • Patent number: 10383406
    Abstract: An illuminated belt buckle for a seat belt device of a motor vehicle including a housing (1), a push button (2) displaceable in the housing (1), an insertion slot (12) delimited by an edge section (23) of the housing (1) and the push button (2) for insertion of a belt tongue that can be locked in the belt buckle, and at least one light-emitting surface (13,14). The light-emitting surface (13,14) having a linear contour, the shape of which matches the shaping of a laterally positioned edge side (24) of the push button (2) when viewed toward the insertion slot (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Arndt Sohnchen, Iulian Rotariu
  • Patent number: 10351092
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus capable of protecting an occupant by restraining movement of the occupant in an obliquely forward direction and towards a far side during a collision. A far side airbag apparatus (102), which is an airbag apparatus, deploys between a driver seat (106) and a front passenger seat (108) arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction of a vehicle cabin (100). The apparatus (102) includes a cushion (120) which is embedded in a floor of the vehicle cabin (100) and reaches a height at least equal to that of a pelvis region (160) of an occupant (156) seated in either one of the driver seat (106) and the front passenger seat (108) during inflation and deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Yutaka Nakajima, Hideho Fukuda, Mitsuo Nogami, Yuto Kobayashi, Makoto Fuma
  • Patent number: 10328966
    Abstract: A steering column adjustment assembly includes a steering column that is automatically adjustable in an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode. Also included is a controller receiving information from at least one detection component, the controller adjusting the steering column in the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode to a position that is selected for an impact event, the position determined by at least one factor related to the information received from the at least one detection component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard K. Riefe
  • Patent number: 10322718
    Abstract: A vehicle stability control system includes a signal collection sensor and a vehicle controller (10). The signal collection sensor is configured to collect a vehicle condition information parameter, and the vehicle controller (10) is configured to calculate a control yaw moment according to the vehicle condition information parameter. The control yaw moment is used to cancel a difference between an estimated yaw moment and an actual yaw moment. The vehicle controller (10) is further configured to determine according to the vehicle condition information parameter whether the vehicle (100) is in a stable region or a non-stable region in the case of tire blow-out, and allocate the control yaw moment to four wheels (101) according to a vehicle stability condition, thus implementing vehicle stability control. A vehicle stability control method and a vehicle (100) with the vehicle stability control system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yubo Lian, Heping Ling, Ning Wang, Yanfei Xiong, Ting Wen
  • Patent number: 10315619
    Abstract: A vehicle includes seats having both a primary three-point seatbelt and a supplemental two-point seatbelt. Occupation of a first seat is determined. The three-point seatbelt is determined as being one of buckled and unbuckled. The two-point seatbelt is determined as being one of buckled and unbuckled. A warning signal is initiated upon determining that one of the seatbelts is unbuckled and the seat is occupied. The warning signal is terminated upon determining that both of the seatbelts are buckled and that the signal has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 10266146
    Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a base (12) adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle and a carriage (14) being movably supported on the base (12) to which carriage a belt buckle (20) can be coupled and which can be moved by a drive arranged on the base (12). The drive includes an electric motor (26) and a worm gear comprising a worm shaft (34) which has a worm (36) as well as drive spur wheel teeth (40), with the shaft (28) of the electric motor (26) including a pinion (30) which is engaged in the drive spur wheel teeth (40) and drives the worm shaft (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Klaassen, Karl Birk
  • Patent number: 10232740
    Abstract: A method of correcting a seatback recline angle is provided. The method includes a vehicle seat having a seat portion and a seatback portion, wherein the seatback portion is configured to recline to a plurality of reclined positions. The method further includes the steps of (a) measuring a recline angle of a seatback; (b) comparing the recline angle of the seatback to a predetermined recline angle threshold; (c) determining if the recline angle exceeds the recline angle threshold; (d) providing a warning to a seat occupant when the recline angle exceeds the recline angle threshold, wherein the warning is configured to prompt a corrective action from the seat occupant; and (e) moving the seatback to a corrected position when the corrective action from the seat occupant is not received after a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Michael James Andrus, S. M Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque
  • Patent number: 10220811
    Abstract: A reduction in the durability of a coupling member coupled to a buckle is suppressed. A lift-up buckle device includes a buckle that engages with a tongue inserted through webbing worn by an occupant, and wires that each have a portion fixed to the buckle and that are displaced to move the buckle. The lift-up buckle device also includes a wire guide that includes a guide groove that guides the wires, and a soft lower cover that engages with the wire guide and covers the wires. A dimension of an end portion on the buckle side of the guide groove is set so as to increase on progression toward the buckle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Murasaki, Takuhiro Saito, Yasunori Hata, Yusuke Watada, Koji Hayashi, Makoto Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10196035
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a safe driving method, a safe driving device and a safe driving system, for a vehicle. The safe driving device includes an information processor, and a brake controller connected to the information processor. The information processor is configured to acquire vehicle information and information about a driving license of a driver, and determine, in accordance with the vehicle information and the information about the driving license of the driver, whether or not the driver meets a requirement for driving the vehicle. The information processor is further configured to, in the case that the driver does not meet the requirement for driving the vehicle, control the brake controller to brake the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deming Liu, Jiantao Liu
  • Patent number: 10179563
    Abstract: A vehicle safety release system effecting an automated release and having, inter alia, a seatbelt, an integrated circuit (control unit), a power source, a transmitter, and a collision detection sensor, is contemplated. The safety release system also contemplates a manual release built to work in tandem with the system's automated release. The safety release system may be operated by both a manual input and the input from one or more collision detection sensors. When a push button is depressed a signal is sent to the control unit to release the seatbelt. Aspects of embodiments of the invention also contemplate access to the seatbelt's base latch to enable removal, if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Albert Ammons
  • Patent number: 10140869
    Abstract: A first determination unit provisionally determines collision or non-collision between a vehicle and another vehicle on the basis of positional information of the vehicle and positional information of the other vehicle. A second determination unit changes a determination result to collision when the provisional determination result has been collision N times in succession and when the determination result was previously non-collision, and changes the determination result to non-collision when the provisional determination result has been non-collision M times in succession and when the determination result was previously collision. Here, N is smaller than M. N and M are positive integral numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teppei Shibata
  • Patent number: 10112577
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt retractor includes a belt reel configured to wind a seat belt and a sensor configured to permanently record a rotational speed of the belt reel. The sensor cooperates with an element that is speed-coupled to the belt reel to record the rotational speed. The automatic seat belt retractor includes a brake unit configured to decelerate the seat belt being unwound from the belt reel with a restraining force and a control module configured to control the brake unit with respect to the restraining force as a function of the rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Jenny, Juergen Maier
  • Patent number: 10099653
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 10093275
    Abstract: A method of controlling the motor speed of an electric retractor motor (18) of a belt retractor (10) for reducing a belt slack in the comfort mode comprises the following steps of: a) measuring the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18) as well as the voltage applied to the retractor motor (18), b) estimating the motor speed taking the time curve of the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18), the curve of the voltage as well as plural motor parameters (RM, IM, KM) into account, c) adapting the motor current (IM) in response to the estimated motor speed, and d) repeating the steps a) to c) until the estimated motor speed has reached a defined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Autmotive Safety Systems GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Norbert Staudt
  • Patent number: 10086793
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine compartment and two rockers fixed relative to the engine compartment. The two rockers define a passenger cabin. A first water sensor is disposed in the engine compartment, and second and third water sensors are disposed in the passenger cabin at the rockers. A seatbelt buckle is disposed in the passenger cabin and has an actuator. A control module is in communication with the water sensors and the actuator. The control module is programmed to actuate the actuator based on signals from the water sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNGLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 10059296
    Abstract: A vehicle interior includes an interior compartment and a table in the interior compartment. The table has a top surface including a perimeter. An airbag extends around the perimeter of the top surface of the table. The airbag is inflatable in response to a vehicle impact to limit the likelihood of an occupant impacting the table and/or to absorb energy from the occupant during the vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque
  • Patent number: 10053053
    Abstract: Load sensors are disposed on four corners of a seat cushion. An occupant decision section of an occupant detection ECU decides a type of an occupant on a vehicle seat based on loads detected by the load sensors. A CRS changing section that prohibits the occupant decision section from changing a decision to a decision result that an adult is seated in the vehicle seat and changes the decision to a decision result that a child seat is attached on the vehicle seat when an engagement of a tongue plate with a buckle of a seat belt device is detected by a buckle switch and a buckle load calculated by buckle load calculation section is less than a predetermined buckling load threshold in a case where the occupant decision section decides that an adult is seated in the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Hosokawa, Yusuke Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10040422
    Abstract: A seat belt attachment apparatus for providing an alert notification that is secured to a conventional seat belt buckle and initiates an audible alert message each time the seat belt buckle is engaged to release the seat belt comprises a mounting member fixedly mounted to the seat belt buckle and an actuator housing is slidably disposed on the mounting member. The actuator housing is positioned such that when it is depressed, it slides into the seat belt buckle's disengaging button, thereby enabling a user to indirectly disengage a locked conventional seat belt assembly by supplying manual pressure in an actuating direction to the actuator housing. This simultaneously causes a sound module integrated with said actuator housing to emit an alert notification concerning a vehicle condition, such as a reminder to not forget a child in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Jennifer Demeritte
  • Patent number: 10035491
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a time of activation of a restraint system in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat belt associated to a seat, the restraint system being a reversible restraint system, the method comprising the steps of a) determining a current length (L) of pulled out seat belt, b) detecting a collision or an imminent collision involving the vehicle, c) predicting a time (T0) when the collision is predicted to affect a user of the seat belt, d) activating the reversible restraint system a selectable time period (?1) before the time (T0) when the collision is predicted to affect the user of the seat belt, wherein a length of the selectable time period (?1) is a function of the determined current length (L) of pulled out seat belt. The disclosure further relates to a safety arrangement of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Harda, Anders Axelson, II, Stefan Berge, Par Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10011213
    Abstract: A system for monitoring operating parameters of a moving vehicle comprises an aftermarket device adapted to be in electrical communication with at least one vehicle protocol data bus. The aftermarket device is adapted to be connected to, in communication with, or in control of aftermarket components such as fins, flaps, or suspension and steering components. The aftermarket device communicates with, and monitors communications from, vehicle electronic control modules. The aftermarket device monitors vehicle operating parameters or conditions to detect when vehicle stiffness or aerodynamic performance or efficiency may be usefully altered, and then alters one or more of those aftermarket components, for example, to reduce or increase vehicle drag, stiffness, or to obtain other benefits. In some embodiments, the aftermarket device is adapted to detect certain conditions and locations, and usefully alter the aftermarket components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Palmer
  • Patent number: 10012983
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes an abnormality determining unit and a seat belt controller. The abnormality determining unit determines presence of impaired consciousness of a driver on a condition that the vehicle traveling control apparatus performs, to an own vehicle, automatic driving on a basis of traveling environment information on a traveling environment in which the own vehicle travels and traveling information of the own vehicle. The seat belt controller causes a seat belt of a driver's seat of the own vehicle to be retracted, when the abnormality determining unit determines the presence of the impaired consciousness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Seki
  • Patent number: 10000186
    Abstract: A plus-two-point belt system is disclosed. The plus-two-point belt system includes a longitudinal webbing anchored at a first end to a seat and fixed at a second end to a retractor. The webbing is extendable from the retractor to allow an occupant to slip their arm under the webbing to provide a supplemental restraint. The webbing includes first and second portions where the second portion is retractably coiled on the retractor and the second portion has at least one conductive marker. A sensor is provided to sense the marker and a processor is provided to set an alarm when the marker is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Raed Essa El-Jawahri, Robert William McCoy
  • Patent number: 10000183
    Abstract: In a belt retractor (10) for a seat belt comprising a belt reel (12) onto which webbing (14) can be wound while being spring-loaded and comprising a tensioning device (16) which is adapted to act on the belt reel (12) in a winding direction (A), a control (18) is provided which is adapted to activate the tensioning device (16) when the seat belt is unloaded and not fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Mark Mages
  • Patent number: 9950682
    Abstract: A motor vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The system may include an occupant seat, a vehicle electronic control unit, a seat electrical circuit, and an electrical coupling between the vehicle electronic control unit and the seat electrical circuit. The occupant seat may have a mounting mechanism for enabling the seat to be removably mounted to a structural component of the motor vehicle, the occupant seat may further include at least one occupant restraint mechanism. The vehicle electronic control unit may be affixed to the motor vehicle for controlling the occupant restraint mechanism. The electronic coupling may utilize electrical conductors that are attached to and extend along the webbing of the seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: James Gramenos, George Evans, Jackie Wang, Kevin Joseph Dewey, David Funnell, Christmann Xavier
  • Patent number: 9902354
    Abstract: A vehicle pre-crash seat belt device includes: a buckle moving mechanism that moves a buckle, with which a tongue that has a webbing inserted therein engages, between a normal position and a raised position that is further toward a seat upper side than the normal position; a retractor that includes: a spool and a lock mechanism that locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction, and that releases the locked state by causing rotation of the spool in the take-up direction; and a controller that, due to a signal from a collision prediction sensor that predicts a collision of a vehicle, causes rotation of the spool in the take-up direction and increases tension acting on the webbing, and actuates the buckle moving mechanism to move the buckle from the normal position toward the raised position in a case in which the vehicle collision has been avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Shimazu, Akihisa Miyata
  • Patent number: 9896006
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for pre-tensioning an occupant restraint harness coupled to a seat portion of a motor vehicle seat and/or for pulling down the seat portion of the vehicle seat toward a seat base in embodiments in which the seat portion is suspended above the seat base. An elongated housing is secured to the seat portion, a web is coupled between the restraint harness or seat portion and the seat base or a support structure to which the seat base is mounted, and a piston carried by the housing defines a web guide in contact with the web between its two ends. As the piston moves along and relative to the housing in response to actuation thereof, the web guide displaces the web within the housing to pre-tension the occupant restraint harness and/or to pull the seat portion toward the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Carr Duncan, Douglas W. Bittner, Guy R. Dingman, Marius Magdun
  • Patent number: 9880534
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor is disclosed including a passive infrared (PIR) sensing element, a temperature sensing element, and a processor. The processor receives temperature signals from the temperature sensing element and configures the occupancy sensor into a selected operating mode based the received temperature signal. The operating mode may be associated with a predetermined sensing threshold of the PIR sensing element. The processor controls an associated load based on the selected operating mode and the received occupancy signals. The occupancy sensor can alternatively include an occupancy sensing element and a photodetector. Based on the amount of light detected by the photodetector over time, the occupancy sensor can calculate a rough estimate of time of day, and can automatically adjust one or more sensing and/or operational characteristics based on that time of day determination. A photosensor may implement daylight harvesting based on different light levels associated with different times of day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hick, Richard A. Leinen
  • Patent number: 9859998
    Abstract: A wireless mobile device for personalizing the control and IVI settings of a connected vehicle according to a seat position of a user of the mobile device. The wireless mobile device is configured to: i) receive a radio signal from each of a plurality of beacons in the vehicle; ii) determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value for each received radio signal; iii) apply a seat prediction model M to the RSSI value for each received radio signal to predict a seat position P; and iv) transmit a predicted seat position P to a server. The seat prediction model M is generated by a machine learning process and stored in a server. A beacon array configuration, data collection and generalization procedure optimizes the coverage and accuracy of the model M. The wireless mobile device is further configured to receive an identification (ID) value of the vehicle. The wireless mobile device retrieves the seat prediction model M from the server and caches in memory in the wireless mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiyun Li, Pei Zheng, Jiaming Liu, Jae Young Lee, Daping Guo
  • Patent number: 9847009
    Abstract: Arrangements related to the confirmation of component connections made during manufacturing or assembly processes are described. Acoustic data resulting from the connection can be received by a microphone. A controller can analyze the acoustic information to determine if a predetermined acoustic signature is present in the acoustic information. Responsive to the determination, a confirmation signal can be generated and transmitted by the controller. One or both of the microphone and controller can be included in a wearable device and worn by a user. In some arrangements, a motion sensor can be included in the wearable device to allow determination whether motion data during a connection is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jake Ryan Walker, Touraj Pejouyan, Slavko Saric, Jason James Dennis, Gregory Joseph Healy, John D. Purse, Amit Bhalla
  • Patent number: 9802570
    Abstract: An adjustable occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes a floor bracket configured to couple to a vehicle floor, a link system rotatably coupled to the floor bracket, and a seat belt buckle coupled to the link system. The link system rotates in response to and along with the fore/aft adjustment of the vehicle seat to substantially maintain the seat belt buckle at a hip point of a seat occupant throughout the fore/aft adjustment of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Robert Elton, Steven J Schenten
  • Patent number: 9751433
    Abstract: A child seat or child restraining system for securing a child to a vehicle seat, and method of installing the car seat are provided. The child seat, which is configured to be secured to a seat of a vehicle, includes: a seat base secured to the seat of the vehicle; a child receiving portion supported by the seat base; and a belt tensioning system incorporated into the seat base. The belt tensioning system is configured to receive a belt that couples the seat base to the seat of the vehicle. The child seat also includes a controller operatively connected to the belt tensioning system and configured to automatically actuate the belt tensioning system. The belt tensioning system may be configured to drive the at least one belt in a pay-in direction to apply tension to the at least one belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
    Inventors: Richard P. Juchniewicz, Rochak Chadha, Justin Cole, Robert Daley, Sun Jan Huang, Robert Pike, Chad Staller, David Szakelyhidi, Henry Thorne, Parker Trow
  • Patent number: 9725087
    Abstract: Safety device for a motor vehicle, having at least one sensor which is configured to detect an impending impact or an impending collision and possibly to generate a triggering signal, and having a control device which is configured to trigger a protective device if a triggering signal is present, wherein the safety device is configured to check whether the predicted impact or the collision has taken place within a predicted time period, and to transfer the motor vehicle into a safe state in the case of erroneous triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Franz Fürst
  • Patent number: 9707925
    Abstract: A seatbelt control device for controlling a seatbelt provided in a vehicle, and a seatbelt apparatus having the seatbelt control device, are provided with a restricting circuit that restricts control of the seatbelt in a case in which restricting the control of the seatbelt is permitted, and the restricting circuit, in a case in which a door provided on the vehicle is open, restricts the control of the seatbelt at a timing slower than that for a case in which the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tombe
  • Patent number: 9702315
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling operating parameters of a moving vehicle comprises a device adapted to be removably attached to a vehicle diagnostic data port. The device communicates through the vehicle diagnostic data port with various vehicle electronic control modules (such as an engine, transmission, exhaust, or other control modules). The device monitors vehicle operating parameters or conditions to detect when vehicle performance or efficiency or operation may be altered in a useful way. If so, the device commands the vehicle electronic control modules to alter the normal vehicle behavior to perform a different behavior. The device may be removable, and may command a moving or stationary vehicle. The device may also monitor and control an aftermarket exhaust valve attached to a vehicle, based on monitored vehicle operating parameters and conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Brian Palmer
  • Patent number: 9704370
    Abstract: A fall impact signal transmitter device is associated with a fall arrest harness to provide an alert signal when a user has experienced a fall event and is suspended in the fall arrest harness. A transmitter is disposed within a housing and is caused to issue a distress signal when actuated by an engagement member when a fall event occurs. The transmitter may be Bluetooth® enabled to permit a distress signal to be communicated by the user's own cell phone, or to permit two-way communication through the cell phone between the user and a called number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Eric Ulner
  • Patent number: 9688238
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device including: a spool on which a webbing fitted over an occupant is taken up; a restricting member restricting a rotation of the spool in the pullout direction under specific circumstances; a force limiter mechanism permitting the rotation of the spool in the pullout direction when a force limiter load or a higher load is imparted while the restricting member is restricting the rotation of the spool in the pullout direction; a switching member being capable of switching between a disposed position at a first position and a disposed position at second position, and provided between the first position and the second position; and an operation member being capable of being switched between operation and non-operation, whereby the disposed position of the switching member is switched between the first position and the second position and the force limiter load is switched between a high-load and a low-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Wataru Yanagawa, Masaru Ukita, Yoshiaki Maekubo
  • Patent number: 9669797
    Abstract: A retainer apparatus including a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, a transceiver, and a sensor comprising a motion detector. The retainer apparatus includes the first retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a first harness strap and a second retainer portion configured to be slidably attached to a second harness strap. The first retainer portion is removably attached to the second retainer portion. The motion detector is configured to detect movement of the retainer apparatus and transmit a warning signal, via the transceiver, to a controller within a vehicle comprising the retainer apparatus to alert a user in the vehicle if the movement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Friedman IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Mark J. Friedman
  • Patent number: 9656628
    Abstract: An occupant detection apparatus, installed in a vehicle, including a seat belt configured to be extendable and rewindable, and to be worn by an occupant sitting on a seat of a vehicle, and a motor configured to rewind the seat belt, includes a counter electromotive force determination unit configured to determine whether a counter electromotive force is generated in the motor; and an occupant determination unit configured to determine whether the occupant sitting on the seat in the vehicle is wearing the seat belt, based on a determination result by the counter electromotive force determination unit while the vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Morimura
  • Patent number: 9594712
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling or regulating a component, including a processing arrangement for controlling or regulating the component for connecting the control unit to a bus for communicating with a further control unit; an application tool port for connecting the control unit to an application tool for communicating with the control unit; and a connecting arrangement for connecting the application tool port and the bus port so that the application tool is able to communicate via the bus port, and a bus, a motor vehicle, a method, an application tool, and computer program products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Laichinger
  • Patent number: 9580042
    Abstract: An apparatus, method of manufacturing, and method of using a strain gage load cell anchor are provided that include a safety belt anchor for connecting a safety belt to a vehicle. The safety belt anchor may have a first anchor opening that connects the safety belt anchor to a safety belt, and the anchor may have a second anchor opening that connects the safety belt anchor to a vehicle. One or more strain gages may be provided on the safety belt anchor to measure a force applied to the safety belt anchor, such that the safety belt anchor operates as a strain gage load cell anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Peter Patalak, Thomas Gideon, David K. Emerson, George Low
  • Patent number: 9566966
    Abstract: In a system and a method for performing a safety function of a vehicle, control signals are generated and transferred to a functional unit of the vehicle by a control unit. The safety function is performed by the functional unit in dependence on the control signals. Diagnostic tests are repeatedly performed at time intervals, the diagnostic tests being used to check if a fault that can interfere with the performance of the safety function is present. Metadata of the data are transferred to the control unit by the communication system, the metadata containing information about systems. This information is used to determine at least one reliability value of the data by the control unit. In dependence on the at least one reliability value, the control unit checks if the transferred data are sufficiently reliable for the performance of the safety function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bettina Erdem, Hans-Leo Ross