Patents by Inventor Carl A. Munch
Carl A. Munch 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: 10234478Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction or defect of a sensor of a vehicle safety device uses a control unit of the vehicle safety device and at least one self-testing sensor which is separate from the control unit and transmits measuring values to the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbHInventors: Dominik Weiland, Paul Melton, Carl A. Munch, Oliver Buntz, Matthias Webert
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Patent number: 9937887Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is copied to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventor: Carl A. Munch
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Publication number: 20170269121Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction or defect of a sensor of a vehicle safety device uses a control unit of the vehicle safety device and at least one self-testing sensor which is separate from the control unit and transmits measuring values to the control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Dominik WEILAND, Paul Melton, Carl A. Munch, Oliver Buntz, Matthias Webert
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Patent number: 9175959Abstract: A measurement device (10) mounting arrangement includes a support member (30) and a sensing device (12) in a circuit housing (22). The circuit housing (22) is electrically and mechanically connected to the support member (30) through a mounting structure (32). The circuit housing (22) has a resonance frequency and the sensing device (12) has an operational resonance frequency. The sensing device (12) measures a physical parameter and provides a signal indicative thereof. An under-fill material (40) is located between the support member (30) and the circuit housing (22) for shifting the resonance frequency of the circuit housing (22) away from the operational resonance frequency of the sensing device (12).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S. LLCInventors: Mike Babala, Carl A. Munch, Paul Zatyko, Michael F. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20150100209Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is copied to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Patent number: 8996255Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is coupled to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Publication number: 20120210787Abstract: A measurement device (10) mounting arrangement includes a support member (30) and a sensing device (12) in a circuit housing (22). The circuit housing (22) is electrically and mechanically connected to the support member (30) through a mounting structure (32). The circuit housing (22) has a resonance frequency and the sensing device (12) has an operational resonance frequency. The sensing device (12) measures a physical parameter and provides a signal indicative thereof. An under-fill material (40) is located between the support member (30) and the circuit housing (22) for shifting the resonance frequency of the circuit housing (22) away from the operational resonance frequency of the sensing device (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2012Publication date: August 23, 2012Inventors: Mike Babala, Carl A. Munch, Paul Zatyko, Michael F. O'Connor
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Patent number: 7744123Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash acceleration substantially parallel with a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the side-satellite signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Carl A. Munch, Kevin Daniel Weiss
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Patent number: 7503580Abstract: A system (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes a vehicle occupant protection device (20). An event sensor (14) is operative to sense a vehicle event condition such as a vehicle crash or rollover and provides a vehicle event condition signal (22) indicative of the sensed vehicle condition. A vehicle operating condition sensor (18) senses vehicle operation conditions such as ignition starts, vehicle speed, etc. A controller (16) is operative to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event in response to the vehicle condition signal (22). The controller (16) is operative to provide an actuation signal (24) for actuating the vehicle occupant protection device (20) in response to determining the occurrence of the vehicle event. A software key (100) is provided having a disable mode (106) in which the controller (16) is inhibited from providing the actuation signal (24). The software key is responsive to the signals from the vehicle operating sensors (18).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventors: Carl A. Munch, Raad Konja
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Patent number: 7445073Abstract: A sensor assembly (14) for sensing an impact to a vehicle (10) includes a light source (34) for emitting light and a sensing channel (40) for receiving the emitted light. The sensing channel (40) is configured to deform in response to an impact to the vehicle (10) and includes at least one void (70) with dimensions that vary in response to deformation of the sensing channel (40). A detector (36) senses an intensity of the light propagating through the sensing channel (40) and provides a signal indicative of the sensed intensity. The sensed intensity varies as a function of the dimensions of the at least one void (70). The sensor assembly (14) also includes a controller (94) for analyzing the signal from the detector (36) to determine whether the sensing channel (40) has been deformed and thereby, whether an impact to the vehicle (10) has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventors: Carl A. Munch, Michael C. McCarthy
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Patent number: 6914523Abstract: An apparatus for sensing pressure in vehicle tires includes an interrogator (102) for providing a tire pressure interrogation signal, and a tire pressure monitor (70) for sensing pressure within a first tire (24) of the vehicle (20) and providing an actual tire pressure signal. A first wheel speed sensor (42) associated with the first tire (24) provides a reference wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle (20). A second wheel speed sensor (40) associated with a second tire (22) of the vehicle (20) provides a wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle. A controller (60) activates the interrogator (102), monitors the actual tire pressure signal, and correlates the reference wheel speed signal with the wheel speed signal from the second wheel speed sensor (40) for determining a tire pressure value of the second tire (22).Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Carl A. Munch, Timothy DeZorzi
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Patent number: 6734799Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (1) of a vehicle (100). The apparatus (10) includes first means (11) for non-intrusively sensing at least one health condition of the vehicle occupant (1) and for producing a first output signal (110) indicative of the health condition of the vehicle occupant (1). The apparatus (10) further includes 2ND means (21) for transmitting a health condition signal derived from the first output signal (110) to a person at a location remote from the vehicle (100) to convey health condition information to the person and to enable the person to determine a suitable type of response.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Publication number: 20030201879Abstract: An apparatus for sensing pressure in vehicle tires includes an interrogator (102) for providing a tire pressure interrogation signal, and a tire pressure monitor (70) for sensing pressure within a first tire (24) of the vehicle (20) and providing an actual tire pressure signal. A first wheel speed sensor (42) associated with the first tire (24) provides a reference wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle (20). A second wheel speed sensor (40) associated with a second tire (22) of the vehicle (20) provides a wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle. A controller (60) activates the interrogator (102), monitors the actual tire pressure signal, and correlates the reference wheel speed signal with the wheel speed signal from the second wheel speed sensor (40) for determining a tire pressure value of the second tire (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: TRW Inc.Inventors: Carl A. Munch, Timothy DeZorzi
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Patent number: 6580364Abstract: An apparatus (12) for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire (20, 22, 24) includes a receiver (62) that receives a data message having data indicative of a condition of the vehicle tire (20, 22, 24). A controller (64) is connected to the receiver (62) and is responsive to the data message received by the receiver (62). The controller (64) includes a counter that has a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition. The controller (64) adjusts the counter value as a function of the content of the received data message.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Carl A. Munch, Daniel J. Wyman, Timothy DeZorzi, Mark R. Desmarais
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Patent number: 6501371Abstract: A reflective surface positioning apparatus (10) includes first locating device (21), second locating device (22), first utilizing device (51), and second utilizing device (52). The first locating device (21) locates part (32) of an occupant (30) of a vehicle (6) and produces a first location signal (41) indicative of the location of the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30). The second locating device (22) locates an object (71) external to the vehicle (6) and produces a second location signal (42) indicative of the location of the external object (71). The first utilizing device (51) utilizes the first location signal (41) to cause positioning of a first reflective surface (61) to a first default position. The second utilizing device (52) utilizes the second location signal (42) to reposition the first reflective surface (61) to a first temporary position for providing a view of the external object (71) to the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30) for a predetermined time interval.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Publication number: 20020175810Abstract: A reflective surface positioning apparatus (10) includes first locating device (21), second locating device (22), first utilizing device (51), and second utilizing device (52). The first locating device (21) locates part (32) of an occupant (30) of a vehicle (6) and produces a first location signal (41) indicative of the location of the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30). The second locating device (22) locates an object (71) external to the vehicle (6) and produces a second location signal (42) indicative of the location of the external object (71). The first utilizing device (51) utilizes the first location signal (41) to cause positioning of a first reflective surface (61) to a first default position. The second utilizing device (52) utilizes the second location signal (42) to reposition the first reflective surface (61) to a first temporary position for providing a view of the external object (71) to the part (32) of the vehicle occupant (30) for a predetermined time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2001Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: TRW Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Publication number: 20020121981Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (1) of a vehicle (100). The apparatus (10) includes first means (11) for non-intrusively sensing at least one health condition of the vehicle occupant (1) and for producing a first output signal (110) indicative of the health condition of the vehicle occupant (1). The apparatus (10) further includes first means (21) for transmitting a health condition signal derived from the first output signal (110) to a person at a location remote from the vehicle (100) to convey health condition information to the person and to enable the person to determine a suitable type of response.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2001Publication date: September 5, 2002Applicant: TRW Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch
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Patent number: 6341252Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24) includes a controller (26) having a first sensor input effective to receive a first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) having a value indicative of a first condition of an occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The apparatus (10) also includes a second sensor input effective to receive a second sensor signal (82, 84, 86, 88, 94) having a value indicative of a second condition of the occupant of the vehicle seat (14, 16). The controller (26) is operative to determine a default value for the value of the first sensor signal (64, 66, 70) upon determining that the value of the first sensor signal is either outside an expected range of values or is absent. The controller (26) is operative to provide a control signal (136, 174, 176) to control actuation of at least one actuatable protection device (18, 20, 22, 24).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Carl A. Munch, Steven M. Cash, Timothy DeZorzi, Farid Khairallah, Stephen R. W. Cooper, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Paul Leo Sumner
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Patent number: 6292096Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus (14) includes a tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) for sensing a tire condition and providing a sensor signal indicative thereof. A transmitter (44) transmits a data message having a plurality of data locations for accommodating data. A controller (72) is electrically connected with the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) and the transmitter (44). The controller (72) controls the transmitter (44) to transmit tire condition data in selected data locations of the data message based on a parameter associated with the apparatus (14), such as an identification code of the apparatus (14).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Carl A. Munch, Daniel J. Wyman, Timothy DeZorzi
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Patent number: 6087598Abstract: A weight sensor (10) senses a load applied to a vehicle seat (12). The sensor includes a first mounting member (40; 120) and a second mounting member (42; 122) positioned opposite from and movable relative to the first mounting member (40; 120). A pair of spaced apart and opposed guide elements (44 and 46; 132 and 134) are connected between the first and second mounting members (40 and 42; 120 and 122), respectively. The pair of guide elements (44 and 46; 132 and 134) guide relative movement between the first and second mounting members (40 and 42; 120 and 122). Biasing means (44 and 46; 132 and 134) are provided for urging a spaced apart relationship between the first and second mounting members (40 and 42; 120 and 122).Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1999Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Carl A. Munch