Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell, Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 6549836
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device having a plurality of actuatable stages (24, 26), the apparatus including a crash sensor (14, 16) for sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (22) determines a velocity value (74) and a displacement value (80) from the crash acceleration signal. A safing function controls enabling and disabling of a deployment control circuit in response to the determined velocity (74) and displacement (80) values. A displacement based velocity threshold (133) and a displacement threshold value (125) define an immunity box. The velocity threshold value (133) varies as a step function of displacement. If the velocity/displacement values are within the immunity box, the safing function is in a disabling condition. If either value is outside of the immunity box, the safing function is in an enabling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Huahn Fern Yeh, Chek-Peng Foo, Paul Leo Sumner, Anne Marie Shields, Tien Hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 6547278
    Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system has a combustion chamber delimited by a combustion chamber wall and filled with propellant granules. A structure is arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule, which has a disc-shaped holding face with grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form- and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall. The structure for holding down the propellant granules is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granules thereby arresting the propellant granules at a preselected filling level and at a variable distance from the combustion chamber cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Unterforsthuber, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Ingrid Hofbauer, Georg Schönhuber
  • Patent number: 6540257
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes a sensor (86) for sensing a vehicle crash. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (38) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (12). A housing (16) directs inflation fluid under pressure from the inflation fluid source (38) toward the inflatable device (12) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source. The housing (16) has at least one burst panel (44) attached to the housing. Initiating means (76), when actuated, enables the at least one burst panel (44) to detach from the housing (16) to a condition spaced apart from the housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of the housing through an opening (74) in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Magoteaux
  • Patent number: 6541929
    Abstract: A power window control apparatus for controlling vehicle power windows (12-18) includes window control switches (52-58) for controlling power window control motors (20-26). When two window control switches (52-58) are simultaneously and momentarily actuated downward, a controller (40) controls the motors (20-26) to lower the windows (12-18) to a predetermined position from an initially closed position. In the event that one or more windows are initially open, the controller (40) lowers the windows for the time interval that the two window control switches are actuated downward. When the two window control switches (52-58) are moved in the upward direction, the controller (40) simultaneously controls all the motors (20-26) to raise all open windows (12-18) to a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Cregeur
  • Patent number: 6524320
    Abstract: A cannula (10) for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on a body includes a tubular structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments are inserted into the body. The tubular structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16). The expandable portion (40) of the tubular structure (12) has a slot (100) and a guide member (114) disposed in the slot. The guide member (114) is movable from a first end (102) of the slot (100) toward a second end (104) of the slot to enable the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) to increase. The expandable portion (40) has a stop (106) between the first and second ends (102 and 104) of the slot (100) engageable with the guide member (114) to retain the guide member in a position relative to the slot and resist movement of the guide member from the position relative to the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Endius Incorporated
    Inventor: Gene P. DiPoto
  • Patent number: 6525605
    Abstract: A power amplifier system for use in amplifying an RF input signal exhibiting a given operating frequency within a known range of frequencies. The system includes a signal modulator that receives and modifies the input signal and provides therefrom a modified first signal. A power amplifier receives and amplifies the modified first signal. A first power detector detects the input signal and provides therefrom an average input power signal representative of the average input power thereof. A second power detector connected to the output of the amplifier provides an output average power signal representative of the average output power thereof. A controller adjusts the magnitude of said average input power signal and the magnitude of said average output power signal as a function of the operating frequency. The controller compares the adjusted said input average power signal and said adjusted output average power signal and controls said modulator in accordance therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqun Hu, Dmitiry Borodulin
  • Patent number: 6520032
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes first and second members (20, 22) that are connected to each other and pivotable relative to each other about an axis (46). A spring (120) biases the first member (20) to pivot in a first rotational direction relative to the second member (22). A seat belt (14) engages the first member (20) and urges the first member to pivot against the bias of the spring (120) in a second rotational direction as tension in the seat belt increases. The relative angular position of the first and second members (20, 22) changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. The apparatus (10) also includes a sensor (24) for measuring the angular position of the first member (20) relative to the second member (22) and providing a signal corresponding to the angular position. The signal is proportional to the amount of tension in the seat belt (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Resh, William J. Fleming
  • Patent number: 6520588
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a guide assembly (52), a guide member (120) supported by a base member (80) for rotation about an axis (200), and an opening (140) through which a seat belt (20) extends in a first direction parallel to the axis. A retainer member (180) has end walls (184 and 186) extending through respective channels (160 and 162) in the guide member (120) to block the guide member from movement in opposite directions along the axis (200) and maintain the guide member supported on the base member (80). The channels (160 and 162) include walls (166 and 170) that engage the end walls (184 and 186) to block movement of the guide member (120) in opposite directions along the axis (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Busch
  • Patent number: 6520536
    Abstract: An apparatus (22) for controlling an actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) of a vehicle (20) includes crash sensors (28, 50, 52) sensing a vehicle crash condition and providing associated crash sensor signals (60, 62, 42) indicative thereof. An actuator controller (70) enables actuation of the actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) in response to enhanced discrimination and safing determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Scott Andrew William Martin, Baozhu Paula Li, Shun-Hsin Chang
  • Patent number: 6520534
    Abstract: An inflatable occupant protective cushion for use along an upper side area in vehicles between an A-column and an C-column, comprising at least two inflatable chambers connected to each other and spaced from each other in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle. The chambers include a front chamber that extends, when inflated, next to typical sitting positions of front occupants and a rear chamber that extends, when inflated, next to typical sitting positions of rear occupants, wherein the front and rear chambers have front and rear delineation lines that are curved in a manner to correspond to a perpendicular projection of the typical sitting positions onto the inflated cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philipp Ritter
  • Patent number: 6520539
    Abstract: A gas bag for occupant protection in vehicles is provided in which the outflow of gases at the seams is largely prevented. At least one strip of sealing material extends along the seam. The sealing effect which exists by means of the sealing material strip prevents the gas from escaping in the areas of the seam holes, because these are closed by the sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Philipp Ritter
  • Patent number: 6520522
    Abstract: A side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag which in an inflated state at least partially covers at least one side window of a vehicle. At least one emergency opening device is provided on the gas bag, by means of which the gas bag can be vented. The invention further relates to a side impact protection device comprising an inflatable gas bag and a tensioning band by means of which the gas bag is fastened to the vehicle. A separation device is provided by which the fastening, via the tensioning band, of the gas bag to the vehicle can be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Rothweiler, Lothar Zink
  • Patent number: 6516724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator comprising a generator housing which has a base part, and an electric igniter which has a rear side, is fastened in the base part and has connection lines on the rear side. The gas generator further comprises a propellant charge in the generator housing, the propellant charge being provided outside the igniter and an insulating bush surrounding the connection lines and fastened to the generator housing. The insulating bush consists of plastic and contains electrically conductive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Ernst Enzmann
  • Patent number: 6518565
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing and a plurality of lenses. The lenses are connected with a lens carrier by a plurality of releasable connector elements. A circuit board is disposed on the lens carrier. The circuit board has a black coating. A connector assembly connects the circuit board with an electrical conductor. The connector assembly includes a body portion and a flange portion. The flange portion engages a recess in the sensor housing to hold the body portion of the connector assembly against axial movement relative to the sensor housing. A retainer extends from a cover portion of the sensor housing into engagement with the flange portion of a connector assembly to hold the flange portion against rotation to thereby block unauthorized access to the interior of the sensor housing. A light detector is movable relative to a light source to enable the distance from the light source to a location from which reflected light is received by the detector to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steve S. Wu, Martin L. Dickrell, George F. Nicholas, Timothy A. Christensen
  • Patent number: 6518859
    Abstract: The filter is composed of a series of cells (E1-E4) Coupled to each other by coupling capacitors (Cc12, Cc23 and Cc34), each cell forming a resonant circuit composed of at least one inductor (Ip1-Ip4) connected in parallel with at least one variable capacitor (Cp1-Cp4). The coupling capacitors (Cc12, Cc23 and Cc34) are variable capacitors. The filter is substantially symmetrical between its signal input (FI) and its signal output (FO). It finds applications notably for the transmission of channels in the UHF band, where it provides frequency agility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Itis Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Daniel Jean Philippe Spampinato
  • Patent number: 6519010
    Abstract: A transmission system (14) broadcasts a signal. Within the system (14), a power amplifier (20) causes non-linear distortion. A pre-amp component, such as a band-pass filter (32), causes linear distortion. A high power filter (38) is located downstream of the power amplifier (20) and causes linear distortion. A linear equalizer (42) compensates for the distortion caused by the high power filter (38). A non-linear corrector (44) compensates for the distortion caused by the power amplifier (20), and is located downstream of the linear equalizer (42). A linear equalizer (46) compensates for the distortion caused by the pre-amp components (e.g., 32). The compensating components (42-46) are located upstream of the distorting, pre-amp component (e.g., 32). Signal sampling points (70-74) are located downstream of each distorting component (20, 32, and 38). Sampling selectively occurs at one of the sample points (70-74) for use to update compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin Ray Twitchell, Wayne D. Duello, Robert J. Plonka
  • Patent number: 6518875
    Abstract: A tire condition sensor module (14) for a vehicle (10) comprises at least one actuatable tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) for sensing a tire condition of an associated vehicle tire (20) and a motion detector (32) for detecting movement of the associated vehicle tire (20). The module (14) further includes a transmitter (44) for transmitting a tire condition indicating signal having a characteristic based on the sensed tire condition signal. A controller (74) controls actuation of the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) and the transmitter (44). The controller (74) is continuously energized and has first and second operating modes. The controller (74) operates in the first operating mode when movement of the associated tire (20) is greater than a predetermined value and operates in the second operating mode when movement of the associated tire (20) is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy DeZorzi
  • Patent number: 6517102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a side gas bag module extending along a roof frame of the vehicle. The gas bag module comprises a gas bag and a housing with two separate side pieces which define an ejection channel for the gas bag. One of the side pieces is to be located close to the frame and the other of the side pieces is to be located close to an interior of the vehicle. The side pieces each have upper and lower ends constituting marginal sections. The side piece close to the interior is constructed to be so elastic and to have such a shape adapted to a shape of the side piece close to the frame, that the side piece close to the interior only rests against an outside of side piece close to the frame and embraces the latter in the manner of a clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Kolb
  • Patent number: 6517109
    Abstract: An air bag (10) includes first and second panels (31, 32) that are substantially identical to each other and that are secured to each other to define a first bag section (30). The first panel (31) has an inflation fluid inlet (38) and the second panel (32) has an inflation fluid outlet (70). The air bag (10) includes third and fourth panels (93, 94) that are substantially identical to each other and that are secured to each other to define a second bag section (90). The third panel (93) is secured to the second panel (32) and is spaced apart from the first panel (31). The third panel (93) has an inflation fluid opening (106) that is aligned with the inflation fluid outlet (70) of the second panel (32) for enabling flow of inflation fluid from the first bag section (30) into the second bag section (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Jean A. Van Poppel
  • Patent number: 6517576
    Abstract: A patch prosthesis includes at least one cusp extending from a length of an associated valve wall. An elongated sheet of biocompatible material is attached to the valve wall, such that a portion of the elongated sheet extends beyond an inflow end of the cusp. A measurement system may be employed to measure the size of a patient's native cusp(s), which measurement may be utilized to select a patch prosthesis having an appropriately sized cusp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Shlomo Gabbay