Patents Assigned to Automotive Systems Laboratory
  • Patent number: 8672351
    Abstract: A side curtain airbag (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for use with a linear gas generator or inflator. In one embodiment, the airbag (110, 210, 310, 410) includes a first longitudinal panel (113, 213, 313, 413), a second longitudinal panel (114, 214, 314, 414) adjacent the first panel, and a plurality of seams (116, 220, 320, 420) connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages (117, 217, 317, 417) between the scams. The seams extend along a substantial portion of a lateral extent of the airbag. The seams are also distributed along substantially an entire length of the airbag. In another embodiment, the airbag includes a first panel (513), a second panel (514) adjacent the first panel, and a plurality of substantially straight seams (520) connecting the adjacent panels to define a plurality of inflation fluid flow passages (517) between the seams (520).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8622419
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle component is presented, wherein the vehicle component has at least one dimensional length, the method containing the steps of: providing an elongated perforated inflator substantially coextensive with said at least one dimensional length; fixing said elongated perforated inflator within said vehicle component along said at least one dimensional length, such that said inflator functions as a structural member of said vehicle component; providing a propellant bed substantially coextensive with said elongated perforated inflator; and providing an airbag in fluid communication with said inflator and substantially coextensive therewith, said airbag stored within said vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Paresh S. Khandhadia, Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 8594370
    Abstract: A range map of a visual scene generated by a stereo vision and associate image processing system, and is filtered to remove objects beyond a region of interest and for which a collision is not possible, and to remove an associated road surface. Objects clustered in range bins are separated by segmentation. A composite range map is generated using principale components analysis and processed with a connected-components sieve filter. Objects are identified using one or more of a harmonic profile and other features using an object recognition processor using a combination of inclusive, exclusive and harmonic networks to generate a classification metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Schamp, Owen A. Davies, James C. Demro
  • Patent number: 8172027
    Abstract: A vehicle protection system includes an exterior airbag system housed about a vehicle exterior. The system includes at least one first airbag, at least one second airbag, and an inflator system for inflation of the airbags. The inflation system includes at least one inflator operably communicating with the airbags. A sensor system senses impending or actual collision data. The sensor system includes at least one sensor and at least one central computer processing unit for receipt and processing of the data and for selective activation of the inflator system. Upon activation of the inflator system, the at least one first airbag is inflated. The at least one second airbag is sequentially deployable after the at least one first airbag based on measurement of system operating conditions and processing of the operating conditions by the central computer processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Indu B. Mishra
  • Patent number: 8104791
    Abstract: A mechanism (10) for releasably confining pressurized fluid in a container (18) is provided. The mechanism includes a rupturable membrane (22) in fluid communication with an interior of the container (18), thereby exposing the membrane (22) to the fluid. The membrane (22) is configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid. The membrane (22) is also rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against the pressure exerted by the fluid. A support member (28) is provided for externally supporting the membrane (22) against pressure exerted by the fluid. The support member (28) is configured to be fracturable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator (66) at least partially encased within the support member (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery S. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 7988186
    Abstract: An airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The airbag includes an airbag body (12) defining an interior (15) of the airbag (10). A series of substantially sinusoidal seams (20) join together portions of the airbag body (12) to partition the airbag interior (15) into a plurality of fluidly communicating chambers (22). It is believed that characteristics of the airbag (10) during inflation and after inflation may be controlled by varying the characteristics of the sinusoidal seams (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery S. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 7934749
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a flexible gas generator (10) is provided which includes a first flexible housing (14) defining an interior, the first housing (14) having an exterior surface. A first flexible, porous covering (15) is positioned in contact with substantially the entire exterior surface of the first housing (14). The first housing (14) and covering (15) are positioned within a second flexible housing (12). The first (14) and second (12) housings may be formed from polymeric or metallic tubing. A second flexible, porous covering (19) may be positioned to cover substantially the entire exterior surface of the second housing (12). The flexible first covering (15) may comprise multiple layers of, for example, a braided or a mesh material. The flexible coverings (15, 19) provide structural support for the housings (12, 14) while cooling and filtering the generated gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 7814838
    Abstract: A gas generating system (10) including a baffle system (42) for modifying the temperature and pressure of a gas generated by the system, and to remove particulates from the gas. The gas generating system includes a first combustion chamber (34a), a second combustion chamber (36a), and the baffle system (42) adjacent both the first and second combustion chambers so as to enable fluid communication with the combustion chambers upon activation of the gas generating system. In another aspect of the present invention, a baffle system (42) is provided including a first end plate (44) having an opening (44b) formed therein for enabling fluid communication with a first fluid source (34a), a second end plate (46) having an opening (46b) formed therein for enabling fluid communication with a second fluid source (36a), and a sequence of baffle elements (48) extending between the first and second end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems, Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. McCormick
  • Patent number: 7806221
    Abstract: A vehicle protection system 7 contains an airbag system 8 employing a plurality of sets of airbags 118a-118c external to the vehicle 9. Each set 118a-118c contains one or more airbags 118 wherein the plurality of sets 118a-118c are sequentially operated based on initial collision data, and then based on operating parameters such as pressure differentials over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Indu B. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7806954
    Abstract: A gas generator 10 contains a baffle assembly for cooling of gases. An imperforate housing 46 is contained within the gas generator 10. A perforate housing 30 is contained within the imperforate housing 46. At least one orifice 70/72 is formed within the baffle assembly, where the orifice 70/72 is formed at the juncture 57 of the baffle assembly 12 and the perforate housing 30, at a second end of the perforate housing 30. Upon activation of the gas generator 10, gases produced are shunted through the orifice 70/72 and into the baffle assembly 12 for cooling and filtration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory Inc.
    Inventor: Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Patent number: 7789414
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (180) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint device (202) positioned in the vehicle, and a gas generating system (8) coupled to the inflatable restraint device (202) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint device. The gas generating system (8) is secured to the vehicle by a mounting mechanism (10) having a first strap (12) wrapped around a portion of the gas generating system (8) and a second strap (14) coupled to the first strap (12) and wrapped around a portion (24) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery S. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 7789018
    Abstract: A gas generant tablet (24) for use in a linear inflator (10). The tablet (24) includes a body portion (102) having a first end (104), a second end (106), and a longitudinal axis (T). A first projection (108) extends from the tablet first end (104) in a first direction, with at least a portion of the first projection (108) extending non-orthogonally with respect to the tablet longitudinal axis (T). A second projection (112) extends from the tablet second end (106) in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. At least a portion of the second projection (112) extends non-orthogonally with respect to the tablet longitudinal axis (T). The tablet (24) is shaped such that a cavity (25) is formed between adjacent tablets (24) when the tablets are stacked within a combustion chamber of the inflator (10). Also disclosed is an inflator (10) for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 7776169
    Abstract: A polyvinyl(tetrazole) is formed by a water-based method. A gas generating composition 12 containing the polyvinyl(tetrazole) is contained within an exemplary gas generator 10. An article or gas generating system 200 incorporates the polyvinyl(tetrazole) therein. A vehicle occupant protection system 180 incorporates the gas generating system 200. An article or substrate 300 containing a coating 302 formed from the product of the water-based method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory G. Miller, Graylon K. Williams
  • Patent number: 7762585
    Abstract: A baffle system (30) for use in a gas generating system (10). The baffle system (30) includes a plurality of adjacent plates (82a, 82b, 86), each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein. Each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates (82a, 82b, 86) is in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates. A gas generating system (10) incorporating the baffle system (30), and a vehicle occupant protection system (180) incorporating the gas generating system (10), are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Patterson, Scott A. Mason
  • Patent number: 7698036
    Abstract: A roll angular velocity sensor and an occupant sensor are operatively coupled to a processor, which provides for detecting a rollover condition responsive to a measure of roll angular velocity and controlling a safety restraint system responsive thereto, wherein a detection criteria associated with the rollover detection process is responsive to a signal from the occupant sensor. In one embodiment, a closure time is estimated from estimates or measurements of occupant velocity or acceleration, and the estimated closure time is compared with a threshold. If the estimated closure time is less than the threshold, activation of the safety restraint system is either inhibited or advanced relative to that otherwise provided by the rollover detection process alone. Otherwise, the activation may be delayed to provide additional time for the rollover detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Todd Watson, Leonard S. Cech
  • Patent number: 7686901
    Abstract: A gas generating composition 12 containing a polyvinylazole is contained within an exemplary gas generator 10. A gas generating system 200 incorporates the polyvinylazole therein. A vehicle occupant protection system 180 incorporates the gas generating system 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory G. Miller, Graylon K. Williams
  • Patent number: 7667045
    Abstract: A vinylated tetrazole substituted at the 5-position of the tetrazole ring is formed by a water-based method. A gas generating composition 12 containing the vinylated tetrazole is contained within an exemplary gas generator 10. A gas generating system 200 incorporates the vinylated tetrazole therein. A vehicle occupant protection system 180 incorporates the gas generating system 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory G. Miller, Graylon K. Williams
  • Patent number: 7654565
    Abstract: A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. McCormick, Robert M. Hardenburg, Bernardo V. Vergara
  • Patent number: 7641232
    Abstract: A gas generator (10) is provided including a housing (12). A gas generating composition (16) produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (10), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring (50) operably coupled to the gas release member (40). As the spring (50) is compressed, at least one gas exit aperture (44), sealed prior to gas generator (10) activation, is opened as the gas release member (40) slidably engages an inner wall (11) of the housing (12). After gas generator (10) activation, the spring energy of the spring (50) gradually equalizes and then exceeds the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7626533
    Abstract: A processor operatively coupled to a speed sensor adapted to generate a measure of a longitudinal speed of a vehicle on a roadway, and to a source of a measure of yaw rate of the vehicle, provides for selecting a most likely roadway model of a plurality of different roadway models and for outputting a corresponding associated at least one curvature parameter as an estimate of curvature of the roadway, wherein the processor incorporates a plurality of curvature estimators associated with the corresponding plurality of different roadway models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Shan Cong, Shi Shen, Lang Hong
  • Patent number: 5211273
    Abstract: A unidirectional clutch of the hyperboloidal type is provided having an inner race member defining an inner race surface, an outer race member defining an outer race surface and a plurality of thrust transmitting cylindrical rollers therebetween. Each of the rollers makes line contact with the inner race surface and line contact with the outer race surface along generators of these surfaces. A biasing member is provided for biasing the inner and outer race surfaces axially toward one another to maintain the rollers in line contact with both inner and outer race surfaces. The inner race member is connected to a driven member and the outer race member is connected to a driving member. Torque is transmitted between the driven and driving members causing the biasing member to impose a net axial force on the inner race member tending to urge the inner and outer race surfaces toward one another axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Hybo Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf R. Castens